However, we all know that aging brings its challenges.  Simple things like maintaining social relationships or taking care of a pet can prove to be too much for an aging loved one.  Many seniors recognize the struggles of aging in place, but aren’t sure how to fix it.  Fifty-three percent of seniors in a study conducted by Clarity were concerned about their ability, despite their desire, to remain in their own homes. They cited concerns about health, memory, ability to drive, etc.  When asked about fears, seniors ranked loss of independence the highest (26%,) moving into a nursing home (13%,) and both higher than fear of death (3%). 

These are really strong statistics and just shows how powerful staying in the home is for our aging loved ones.  So how, as caregivers, do you help them achieve this goal safely, securely and happily? Giving the gift of non-medical in-home care can help provide a bridge to keep seniors safe and active. 

What is non-medical in-home care? It’s really a fancy term for companionship and personal care help provided by a professional caregiver who comes into the home and helps with your loved one’s specific needs.  From dressing to meal planning to shopping and card playing, a professional caregiver is a great solution to help you keep your parent safe and active in their own home.  I encourage families to get creative with home care to make for a better experience for your loved one and you! 

• Is your loved one a writer? One of the best ways to keep your parent mentally stimulated is to recall family or personal memories.  Have your caregiver help them keep a journal either written by hand or on a computer. 
• Allow for a useful activity. Seniors experience a role reversal, where suddenly someone is taking care of them when they have cared for others most of their adult life.  Create an activity centered around something they can still do to help out the family with the assistance of their caregiver.  For instance, if cooking is something your loved one has always enjoyed, have the caregiver help cook a family meal and allow the senior to host. 
• Have some time set aside for crafts.  In home care isn’t always about the mundane of the day to day activities of living.  There is more to it than dressing, bathing, medication monitoring, etc.  Why not have your caregiver work on some enjoyable craft projects?  This can go a long way to developing the caregiver relationship, especially if your loved one has appeared reluctant.  For men, crafts such as woodworking often stimulate creativity and concentration. Whether Dad is whittling a toy horse or building a birdhouse, the benefits of achievement share with the benefits of continued concentration, thinking skills, and motor movements.  For the ladies, many like to knit or crochet.  Try to see if your caregiver is receptive to learning the craft from your parent!  There is much enjoyment in teaching others the craft.
• Exercise together.  Talk with your caregiver and see if there are any physical activities that they would be willing to do with your loved one.  Sharing experiences together is another creative way to make use of your professional caregiver.  Think walks around a park, water aerobics, Thai Chi, or other physical activities that your loved one is capable of. 
• Create a wish list.  Chances are your professional caregiver is spending several hours a week or a day with your loved one.  During these hours of interaction, your caregiver will most likely see or learn intimate details of your loved one’s life.  Ask your caregiver to help your family by keeping a wish list of things they say they wish they had or might happen, from a grandchild’s picture to seeing an old movie again. You might be surprised at what a caregiver will hear from your loved one. By writing it down for you, your family will have a unique opportunity to add joy to your loved one’s life by helping meet some of these wishes.

Take the time to sit down with your caregiver and ask about some of the creative activities/ideas they have implemented with other families they have worked with.  See what works with your family situation and get creative!  Caregivers are a great way to not only bring some respite care to your family but to add another layer of interaction and stimulation for your loved one as they age in their home environment.

About the Author:  Suzanne McNeely, MSW, NCG, CLPF, CMC, is president and founder of Senior Planning Services (SPS) in Santa Barbara, CA.  She began SPS in 1989 after many years of working in social services and hospital administration.  Suzanne designed SPS to help advocate and provide guidance in all aspects of daily life for the elderly, including psychological, physical, financial and legal issues.  She can be reached at smcneely@seniorplanningservices.com.

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For instance, if you’re installing new windows or doors to take advantage of federal energy efficiency tax credits, consider enhancing them with decorative window and door trim to add a sophisticated look to your home. Adding exterior trim to your house can help it stand out in a crowded market by providing a clean, crafted appearance.

You can find beautiful and versatile exterior trim in a wide range of styles, textures and dimensions in the Restoration Millwork line offered by CertainTeed Corporation. Restoration Millwork is made from cellular PVC that looks and feels like top-grade lumber, and it can be used in place of wood for long-lasting beauty and durability. The trim won’t rot, warp, retain moisture or support insects, and it can be cut, shaped and attached with ordinary woodworking tools. The product also comes with an optional TrueTexture finish, a highly realistic wood-grain surface molded from actual rough-sawn cedar boards for a natural look. Restoration Millwork is available in an easy-to-paint natural white and is available through lumberyards and building product distributors. Other ideas for boosting curb appeal include:

• Siding–Available in a vast array of colors, styles and textures, vinyl siding can make your home stand out and increase its value. Vinyl siding is easy to maintain and very long lasting.
• Decking–Adding a deck is one of the most dramatic ways to customize your home, and new types of building materials are making decks longer lasting and easy to maintain.
• Fencing–The wood look is often a favorite for fencing. Fortunately, homeowners can achieve that look with durable, maintenance-free vinyl fence products.
• Painting–Whether it’s on the doors, trim or the house itself, a quick coat of paint can change the look and feel of a property, but also help protect your house from the elements.
• Landscaping–A well-maintained yard, complete with manicured shrubs and a well-edged lawn, can help grab a buyer’s attention–and the right shade trees can help cut cooling costs.

For more information, visit www.certainteed.com.
 

Provided by (NAPSI)

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Step 1: Select the right caulk. Not all caulk provides energy savings over time. Silicone caulk does. Unlike acrylic caulk, silicone is permanently flexible, shrink- and crack-proof and waterproof. In fact, silicone remains unaffected by all weather and temperature conditions so gaps and cracks, where energy dollars can pass, will not form. Leaks are never a good thing but even more dangerous when you assume they don’t exist following your sealing efforts. Look for GE Silicone II* Window & Door or GE Silicone II* Paintable Silicone.

Step 2: Weatherize before “weather” hits. Don’t put off weatherizing until it’s cold out and your energy dollars have already gone up the chimney.

Step 3: Search the house for leaks and seal the gaps with silicone. Air can enter or exit a house through cracks and openings in many places. Some of the most common areas to find leaks:

• Attic: Leakage is likely to be greatest where walls meet the floor, dropped-ceiling areas and behind or under knee walls. If you find dirty insulation, this indicates a leak, as air is moving through it.
• Basement: Check along the top of the basement wall where cement or blocks come in contact with the wood frame. Flexibility is key in unheated spaces. Acrylic can lose flexibility and crack over time, which could leave the area vulnerable to energy loss. Flexible silicone caulk means sustained sealing benefits.
• Doors and Windows: If you can see daylight around the frames, air can get through, too. On a windy day, use a lighted incense stick inside to seek air leaks. Moving air makes the smoke waver. Heat and the sun’s rays can take a toll on the home’s exterior, causing acrylic caulk to crack and crumble over time. Silicone continues to fill the gap regardless of weather conditions.
• Plumbing and Wiring Entrance Sites: Holes for pipe and wire installation can be quite large, letting air flow in or out. Major leakage sites can be found around plumbing, ducts, recessed lighting, and cables and electrical wiring through floors, walls and the exterior of the home. Rain and snow can seep in around these areas.

For more information, visit www.caulkandsave.com.
 

Provided by (NAPSI)

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With the holidays approaching, hosts and hostesses across the country are looking for fun and affordable ways to entertain with friends and family. While everyone is looking to cut corners and scale back, there is no reason to sacrifice getting together with loved ones over good food and wine. With these easy, breezy tips from Livingston Cellars, your wine budget won’t break the bank, and you’ll provide a quality experience, keeping your guests happy from Thanksgiving through the New Year.

• Buy in Bulk–Livingston Cellars offers a variety of quality wines in 1.5-liter bottles for about $6.99. Each bottle offers approximately 10 glasses of wine, so you can serve your guests a selection of both red and white wines for under $15.
• Serve With Style–First impressions are everything. Serve wine in festive glasses that reflect your personal style or provide quirky wineglass charms for everyone’s glasses so they can easily find their own while adding a signature touch to each glass!
• Spice Things Up–Be creative and serve up your favorite mulled wine recipe, warming your way into your guests’ hearts as they come in from the cold. The spices will fill your home with an inviting aroma while enhancing the flavor of the wine.
• Pour it Out–Pre-pouring wine into glasses or a carafe before serving will shift guests’ focus to the party and encourage them to try new varietals.
• Make it Festive–Add your own touch to Livingston Cellars Sangria by creating a lively punch with fresh seasonal fruit, and celebrate “Sangria Style” with this colorful centerpiece.

Looking for your favorite Livingston Cellars varietal? It’s now easier than ever to find your go-to wine choice with the new Livingston Cellars packaging. Each varietal is now easily distinguishable, featuring its own signature color on the label and cap–yellow for Chardonnay, orange for Sangria and blue for Merlot! While you’re enjoying a glass, be sure to log on and learn about the Living the Livingston Life national essay contest, where four grand-prize winners will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to California wine country. Visit www.TheLivingstonLife.com/WineCountry and tell us how you’re living the life.

Livingston Cellars Mulled Wine

• 1½ cups boiling water
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ lemon, sliced
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 3 cloves
• 1 bottle of Livingston Cellars Merlot (1.5L)
• Nutmeg to sprinkle

Combine boiling water, sugar, lemon, cinnamon and cloves; stir until sugar dissolves. Add wine; simmer (not boil) 20 minutes. Strain. Serve hot with a sprinkling of nutmeg to keep your guests toasty! Serves 10-15.

Livingston Cellars Sangria Punch

• 1 bottle Livingston Cellars Sangria, chilled (1.5L)
• 2 bottles Gran Spumante Sparkling Wine, chilled (750mL each)
• 8 fl oz. E&J VSOP Brandy
• 1 bottle club soda (1L)
• Combine in a decorative punch bowl with seasonal fruit and enjoy! Serves 10-15.

Provided by (NAPSI)

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In honor of the day when everyone is Irish, include this recipe for Reuben Sandwiches in your celebration. May the luck of the Irish be upon you!

Ingredients

• 12 ounces thinly sliced cooked corned beef or deli corned beef
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 8 slices rye or pumpernickel bread
• 8 slices Swiss cheese
• 1-1/2 cups sauerkraut, well drained
• 1/4 cup Thousand Island dressing

Preparation

1. Lightly spread butter on one side of each bread slice.
2. Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Place 2 bread slices, butter side down, in skillet. Top each bread slice with 2 slices cheese, 1 tablespoon dressing, 3 ounces corned beef and 1/4 of the sauerkraut. Top sandwich with bread slice, butter side up.
3. Cook sandwiches 4 to 6 minutes or until bread is golden brown and cheese is melted, turning once. Repeat with remaining sandwiches. Serve with additional Thousand Island dressing, if desired.

Nutrition

Serves

Makes 4 sandwiches

Calories

Total Fat

Cholestorol

Sodium

Carbohydrates

Protien

Source

Cattlemen’s Beef Board and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

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Hearing loss is one of the most common conditions in the world. Yet there are a number of misperceptions about hearing loss which lead many to let it go untreated.

The Better Hearing Institute found that only 4 in 10 people with moderate-to-severe hearing loss use hearing aids. Many waited nearly seven years after they initially learned about their hearing loss to obtain a hearing aid, and that was after they’d lost so much hearing that their quality of life was affected. Hearing loss can create social and emotional barriers for the individuals living with it, or the families of those it affects. Research shows that when left untreated, hearing loss can lead to reduced earning power, disruptions in family life and can cause a wide range of other psychological problems. 

According to a survey conducted by Hear the World, a global initiative by leading hearing system manufacturer Phonak, frustration (46.8 percent), isolation (45.3 percent), and fear (36.8 percent) were the feelings most often associated with untreated hearing loss.

“What I see in my practice is that the unnecessary fear and frustration associated with hearing loss and hearing aids is often accompanied by a lack of information about ways to prevent or solutions available to treat the condition,” said Dr. Kasper. “This is unfortunate given that hearing loss is a condition that can be treated with great benefit for the individual, as well as for society.”

Myth: Hearing loss only affects the elderly
Fact: Only 35 percent of people with hearing loss are over age 64. In fact, it affects all age groups.

• The number of Americans with hearing loss has grown to more than 34 million-roughly 11 percent of the U.S. population.
• In the United States, more than one million school-aged children have hearing problems.
• According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly 26 million Americans have high-frequency hearing loss that may have been caused by exposure to loud noise at work or in leisure activities.

Activities that put people at risk for noise-induced hearing loss include target shooting, hunting, snowmobile riding, woodworking and other hobbies, playing in a band and attending rock concerts. Harmful noises at home may come from lawnmowers, leaf blowers, and shop tools.

Myth: If I have a hearing loss, my doctor would have told me.
Fact: According to the Better Hearing Institute, only 15 percent of physicians routinely screen for hearing loss during a physical. And without special training, it may be difficult for your doctor to realize the extent of your hearing problem.

Do you:

• Have trouble hearing over the telephone?
• Often ask people to repeat what they are saying?
• Find it hard to follow conversations when two or more people are talking?
• Think that others seem to mumble?
• Have a problem hearing because of background noise?
• Have trouble understanding when women and children speak to you?

If you answered yes to three or more of these questions, visit a hearing healthcare professional and get properly tested.

Myth: Hearing aids are big and uncomfortable.
Fact: Hearing aid design and technology has developed significantly in recent years.

“Hearing loss and the solutions available to treat it have long been misunderstood,” said Dr. Craig Kasper, chief audiology officer of Audio Help Associates of Manhattan. “Hearing aids have come a long way and it is important to the well-being of those with hearing loss that these misperceptions be addressed. In fact, recent technology advances have made it possible for those who need a hearing aid to wear their devices with ease and confidence.”

Today’s hearing aids work with digital technology and are equipped with powerful computer chips, ensuring better sound quality, wireless connectivity, modern design and ever smaller dimensions to help users wear their hearing aids with minimal detection.

Good hearing plays a crucial part in quality of life. Don’t let myths about hearing loss keep you from enjoying what life has to offer. For an online hearing test and to locate a hearing health professional in your area, visit www.hear-the-world.com.

Provided by (Family Features)

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Even on familiar roads, motorists should use caution and watch for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists who will be less visible, especially during the first week of the return to standard time.

AARP urges all drivers to consider the link between night visibility and safe driving. If you have trouble seeing well at night, it urges you to get your vision checked and consider taking a driver safety course to learn more about how to compensate in dark conditions and make sure you’re driving when you feel most comfortable.

To focus attention on roadway safety, AARP is proclaiming this November Driver Safety Month. Since folks will be driving more at night, they offer the following tips:

• See and be seen. Get your headlights checked and turn them on one hour before sunset and keep them on one hour after sunrise to ensure maximum visibility.
• Stay alert on the road. With reduced visibility, it’s important to reduce your speed, be extra alert and maintain a three-second following distance.
• Recognize and prevent drowsiness. The change in time can throw off your internal clock and may cause drowsiness, so run errands in the morning when you are fresher and more alert.

Refresh Your Skills

Now celebrating its 30th anniversary, the AARP Driver Safety Program has provided instruction to more than 12 million participants nationwide seeking to refresh their driving skills. The no-test course updates drivers’ defensive driving techniques and knowledge about relevant laws and offers strategies to compensate for age-related changes that may affect driving ability.

The course also includes a section on assessing driving abilities, and since November is also National Caregiver Month, now may be a good time to have a “family conversation” about driving to help ensure your loved one stays safe on the road.

Depending on insurance providers and state regulations, participants of the AARP Driver Safety Program courses may be eligible to receive a discount on their auto insurance premiums. Check with your insurance provider for further details.

For information on course locations visit us at www.aarp.org/drive. For more information about AARP’s online course, visit www.aarp.org/drive/online.

Provided be (NAPSI)

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What to Do

The first step in arranging care from a distance is identifying what needs to be done. It’s essential to be informed about factors that limit a person’s ability to live safely and independently in the comfort of his or her home.

One way to gather this information is through a free online Independent Living Assessment, developed by Interim HomeStyle Services, a leading national provider of home care. Users answer a series of questions to identify how well the individual can perform activities of daily living and other factors that impact his or her well-being.

This unique tool is a first step in the process of making sure you or your loved one can remain safe at home. The assessment results provide valuable information about next steps, including recommendations for checking with a physician when appropriate, situations in which home care might help, “red flags” about safety issues, and general, useful information about conditions: what you should watch for and expect.

At-Home Assessment

At the end of the online assessment, you are given the opportunity to send a copy of the results to a local participating Interim HomeStyle Services office and request that someone contact you for follow-up. In almost every instance, it is equally important to have someone actually visit the individual and perform an At-Home Assessment. This involves much more detail and is conducted by a trained health professional who asks a series of questions in addition to observing the individual and reviewing the home environment.

The At-Home Assessment provides more information as well as service recommendations. You can arrange to receive a copy of the At-Home Assessment report, which indicates the types of services recommended. This helps provide peace of mind in knowing that the safety of a loved one has been professionally assessed and he or she is receiving the right level of care for the right reason.

You can also arrange with the participating Interim HomeStyle Services office for ongoing status reports that will keep you informed and involved in the care of your loved one. There may be an additional charge for the reports. To learn more, visit www.interimhealthcare.com.

 Provide by (NAPSI)

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Heart disease – or cardiovascular disease – seems like something that happens to other people. But the truth is, about one third of adult Americans have some form of cardiovascular disease. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 80 million Americans – that’s one of every three adults – live with one or more types of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

The toll this takes is enormous. In addition to reducing quality of life and raising health care costs, heart disease kills more people than any other disease, including cancer. The CDC estimates that every 37 seconds, someone dies from heart disease.

What can you do to reduce your risk of heart disease? Following these five steps can help you take control of your heart health and put you on the path to a healthier life.

1. Know the Risk Factors.
Knowledge is power. Once you know what behaviors and conditions contribute to the problem, you can take action.

• Unhealthy Diet. Foods high in saturated fats and cholesterol raise blood pressure levels and promote atherosclerosis. Too much sodium causes high blood pressure levels as well.
• Physical Inactivity. A sedentary lifestyle impacts blood pressure, the amount of good cholesterol and triglycerides in the body, and weight.
• Tobacco Use. Tobacco smoke contains more than 4800 chemicals, many of them damaging to the heart. Cigarette smoking promotes atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries) and raises the levels of blood clotting factors. Nicotine raises blood pressure and heart rates, and carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen the blood can carry. Exposure to second-hand smoke can significantly increase the risk of heart disease in non-smokers.
• Heredity. Genetic factors may play some role in high blood pressure, heart disease and other vascular conditions.

2. Know Your Numbers.
High blood pressure and high cholesterol can damage your heart and blood vessels. But without testing them, you probably won’t know whether or not you have these conditions. It’s important that you know what your levels are, to keep track of them over time, and to share them with care givers and family members. Using online personal health management applications like Mayo Clinic Health Manager, can simplify how you organize and track your numbers and assist in determining your personal blood pressure and cholesterol goals.

• Adults should have their blood pressure checked at least every two years. You may need more frequent checks if your numbers aren’t optimal, or if you have other risk factors for heart disease. Optimal blood pressure is less than 120/80 millimeters of mercury.
• Adults should have their cholesterol measured at least once every five years. You may need more frequent testing if your numbers aren’t optimal or if you have other risk factors for heart disease. The optimal cholesterol levels are determined by the number or risk factors and other diagnosis.

3. Stop Using Tobacco Products.
When you quit smoking, your risk of heart disease is dramatically reduced within just one year. No matter how long or how much you’ve smoked, you start reaping rewards as soon as you quit. Talk to your doctor about effective ways to stop smoking. In addition, you can find online tools and information at

• www.smokefree.gov
• www.lungusa.org
• www.mayoclinic.com

4. Eat a Heart-Healthy Diet.
Many doctors recommend the DASH diet – DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. That may not sound like a tempting menu description, but eating to protect your heart really can be delicious and satisfying.

Reducing the amounts of saturated and trans fat you eat is key. Sources of saturated fat include beef, butter, cheese, milk, and coconut and palm oils. Check package labels for “partially hydrogenated” to avoid trans fats.

Heart-healthy eating isn’t all about cutting things out. The DASH diet is rich in fruits and vegetables (the recommendation is 5 servings a day), whole grains and other foods that can help protect your heart, help you control your weight, and improve overall health. Learn more at www.dashdiet.org.

5. Get Moving.
Physical activity can reduce your risk of fatal heart disease. It helps you control weight and reduces your chances of developing other conditions that may put a strain on your heart, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. It also reduces stress, which may be a factor in heart disease.

• Guidelines recommend exercising vigorously at least 150 minutes per week.
• Keep in mind that gardening, housekeeping, taking the stairs and walking the dog all count toward your total time.

Try to maintain a BMI (body mass index) of 25 to 30.

It’s easier than you think to prevent and manage heart disease. Taking small steps can make a big difference. Start following these five steps, and track your progress using an application like Mayo Clinic Health Manager at www.healthmanager.mayoclinic.com. It’s free and you don’t have to be a Mayo Clinic patient to use it.

Online Tools for Creating Better Cardio Care

The more you know about your own health and habits, and the more proactive you are in taking care of yourself, the better off you’ll be. To help people manage their health better, Mayo Clinic and Microsoft worked together to develop Mayo Clinic Health Manager, www.healthmanager.mayoclinic.com, powered by Microsoft HealthVault.

Mayo Clinic Health Manager is a free privacy-and-security-enhanced online application where you can organize your health information and receive personalized guidance.

Features:

• Take a heart disease risk assessment to find out more about your chances for developing a fatal heart condition.
• Use the Prepare for Appointment feature to customize and print relevant information on medications, blood pressure and cholesterol before a doctor’s visit.
• Get personalized heart health guidance based on expertise of Mayo Clinic physicians. The amount of information you provide influences the recommendations you will receive.

Mayo Clinic Health Manager allows you to create custom trackers for:

• Blood pressure (you can download data directly from compatible devices like blood pressure cuffs)
• Cholesterol
• Weight
• Exercise
• And more

View the charts over time to see if everything is in check. Based on the information you enter, you’ll receive reminders for screenings you may need and the latest information on heart health.

Provided by (Family Features)

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Long-term care is the real American health care crisis. The American people know it because they’re living it. Two-thirds of American seniors recognize the need to plan for long-term care, yet only 12 percent feel they’re adequately prepared. But it is a crisis that Congress avoids, focused instead on redesigning our health care system to help the uninsured.

Meanwhile, it’s the women caregivers whose unpaid labor is helping Congress, by relieving budgetary pressures. In purely economic terms, researchers estimate the value of services that family caregivers provide at $148 billion to $188 billion a year, helping seniors enjoy the significant physical and emotional comfort of their own homes even when they can’t care for themselves.

Most Americans–because of social needs, disability, trauma or illness–will require long-term care services at some point in their lives. Focusing on those questions now not only helps bring you peace of mind, but it can also save you and your family from potentially devastating expenses later.

The Heinz Family Philanthropies has partnered with the Foundation for the Future of Aging in developing the “10 Questions to Answer” series of(www.tenquestionstoanswer.org) information to assist consumers and family caregivers who are planning for, choosing and managing long-term care. The series guides consumers in thinking about all the available long-term care options while focusing on quality of life.

Having a plan in place gives people and their families peace of mind while sparing them the emotional upheaval that comes from making decisions in the midst of a health crisis. With long-term care, there are no easy answers. Our goal is a simple one–provide information to help everyone understand that they are not alone.

Teresa Heinz is chairman of the Heinz Family Philanthropies; Jeffrey Lewis is president of the organization. To learn more, call (202) 393-1244.

As America’s population ages, long-term care is becoming a serious issue for many families.
 
Written by Teresa Heinz and Jeffrey Lewis

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