Rescue Alert of CA

Rescue Alert of California — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 04:52:58 +0000

Like Jimmy Stewart in “It’s A Wonderful Life,” did you ever ask the universe or your spouse: “Why do we have to have all these kids?”

There are so many wonderful answers—love, desire for family, wanting to share your experience of life. As we age we realize more and more that our children are our legacy. We will be remembered only through them. They satisfy our desire for generativity: generating good things and people.

Giving birth is the ultimate act of generativity. But how we parent and follow through, to our own children or to the children of the world, is what truly matters—our commitment to nurturing and growing the next generation. As we age, we can continue to experience the rewards of generativity in two ways:

• First by creating something wonderful: a business, a song, a painting, the resolution of a problem, a scientific theory, a recipe, a novel, a hybrid rose.
• Second by creating the very future itself through teaching, nursing, volunteering, voting, or forming and helping community centers, churches, schools and health centers.

In each of these projects resides a part of us—the true good in us. Bottom line: what we generate moves into the future and provides for those coming after us. Then we can say: I am what survives me.

Psychologists agree: those who generate and create are gifted with feelings of well-being and low levels of depression. They confirm what many of us know to be true: if you are feeling sad or lonely, the best cure is reaching out to help someone else.

Though there might be some ego or maybe even a need for control in our acts of creation, when we generate for future generations we cover over those needs with love. Dan P. McAdams in his article about generativity, quotes an African Proverb to underline the positive aspects of our desire to leave something behind: The world was not left to us by our parents. It was lent to us by our children.

The very act of raising or helping a child indicates a “belief in the species.” Though we read every day of the horrific things that can happen on our planet, we continue to forge ahead believing in our own generative powers and the goodness that can still exist on our earth for the generations to come.

In McAdams’ article he includes a Self-Test. The items below are from the Loyola Generativity Scale (LGS).

Read the following six items and mark:

O if the statement never applies to you;
1 if the statement sometimes applies to you;
2 if the statement often applies to you;
3 if the statement always applies to you;

Then add up your score. Men, women in their 30s, 40s and 50s usually score 11. Younger adults and adults in their 60s and older usually score slightly lower.

___ I try to pass along knowledge I have gained through my experience.
____I have made and created things that have had an impact on other people.
____I have important skills that I try to teach others.
____If I were unable to have children of my own, I would adopt children.
____I have a responsibility to improve the neighborhood in which I live.
____I feel that my contribution will exist after I die.

Thanks to Dan P. McAdams for the inspiration from his article Generativity: The New Definition of Success (From Spirituality and Health, Issue Fall 2001)

http://www.redemptiveself.northwestern.edu/mcadams/

And to Sean Drellinger Photostream

About the Author:
Elizabeth A. Havey, navigating life’s hectic decades, blogs at Boomer Highway, I write about snags in the fabric of life that affect my generation and my children and grandchildren. I want to solve problems, to stop racing along the boomer highway.

Why You Must Consider Assisted Living Before You Think You Need To

Rescue Alert of California — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:42:34 +0000

Guest Post: Karoline Hutson

Reasons to Consider Assisted Living Before You Think You Need To

Most people tend to view assisted living as a last resort – when every other option has been exhausted and it’s no longer possible for an older adult to continue to live alone. Usually, this realization comes after there has been a crisis situation – a fall or an illness – leaving the family scrambling to find a suitable home in time for a hospital discharge. If community living was viewed as a preventative measure, rather than a sentence, many of these crisis situations could be avoided altogether. For many, moving to assisted living can feel like giving up their independence, but I would argue that it is actually one of the best ways to help support it. Those who move into a community before a serious decline, prolong their independence, sustain their abilities and have the opportunity to enjoy all the benefits assisted living has to offer.

Some benefits to consider:

Socialization and Stimulation

Studies continue to show how interacting with others provides benefits to both physical and mental health. Isolation is a common concern for an older adult living at home – days often pass without much more stimulation than the television. While quiet time alone is important, it’s also in everyone’s best interest to challenge themselves to learn something new, get physical exercise and enjoy conversation with others. Assisted living provides the best of both worlds – a private apartment that is just steps away from activities and social opportunities of all kinds.

24/7 Supervision

This one is pretty self-explanatory. If something happens, help is minutes away. Unfortunately, a fall at home when living alone can go unnoticed for extended period of time. In an assisted living community, someone is always there to help.

Medication Reminders

Depending on the community, medication management can come in a variety of forms. Whether receiving full medication administration or simply a reminder, this type of assistance is often a major motivation for moving to an assisted living community. Over half of all seniors make errors when taking medications, with many mistakes resulting in serious health complications. In assisted living, a nurse can set up a medication box and keep track of the frequent changes the physician makes, reducing the risk of error.

Nutrition

This is one thing that almost always suffers when an older adult is living alone. Grocery shopping becomes increasingly difficult and the energy or motivation to prepare balanced, healthy meals may not be what it once was. Living in a community where there are nutritional meal options every day can help strengthen the body and even combat some chronic illness. When you are well-fed, you have a more positive outlook on life and an increase in total wellness. Also, contrary to popular opinions about so-called “nursing home food,” the dining options in many assisted living communities are trending toward exciting and fresh selections, prepared on-site.

Karoline Hutson

Marketing Communications Specialist

Chicagoland Methodist Senior Services

www.cmsschicago.org

773-769-5500

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How Long Should I Wait for Emergency Assistance?

Rescue Alert of California — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 22:03:27 +0000

How Long Should I Wait for Emergency Assistance?

The elderly American is at an extremely high risk of falling, and many elderly individuals continue to live alone in their homes. In these situations, even if other health problems and ailments are not present, the risk of dying from a fall in the home is dangerously high. This is because with aging, the body naturally loses muscle tone and balance, and one who lives alone could fall and not be able to call for help. The stories of otherwise healthy seniors who died because they fell, and waited hours and even days to get someone’s attention, can be easily prevented by ensuring that help can be summoned quickly.

The reason for purchasing a medical alert system is a clear one—as stated above, getting help fast can mean the difference between a quick visit to the hospital, or a long and expensive rehabilitation period. So how long should it take to get help?

1 in 3 people over the age of 65 are predicted to experience a fall this year. That number increases to 1 in 2, when the age group includes only those over 80. The amount of time spent on the floor after a fall is directly proportional to the extremity of ones injuries.

With a medical alert system, there doesn’t have to be any time wasted between your injury occurring, and help being notified. As soon as an elderly individual falls, the button around their wrist or neck can be pressed easily, getting an emergency response team on the line to inquire after you.

If you truly experienced an emergency, (that is to say you didn’t accidentally press the button or activate your system), the emergency response team notifies local emergency teams immediately.

This is important because 62% of senior fall victims who don’t receive help within the first hour won’t be able to live independently at all, after they recover.

The time between the occurrence of an accident and the arrival of emergency assistance can greatly affect everything from the cost of medical expenses, to the extent of an elderly individual’s injuries, to the danger of complications and fatalities. The first hour after a senior fall is known by many as the “Golden Hour”. This is the hour after a fall happens, before dangerous complications and risk of death increase dramatically.

EMD certified attendants in every response center are trained in emergency situations, and are able to determine what measures have to be taken in each and every situation in which a call button was pressed. From a mistaken button press to being locked out of the house, to a fall or injury, any emergency can be taken care of quickly and effectively with the press of a medical alert system button.

This is important because many seniors live alone, and if they cannot reach the phone to call for help, no one may know that they are in trouble. Time is of the essence in the event of a serious senior fall, and the more time seniors are left on the floor, unable to move, the worse it is for their overall health. Complications such as sores, hypothermia, pressure damage, dehydration, pneumonia, and infections can stem from a simple fall, if an elderly individual is left to lie on the floor for extended periods of time.

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Caregiver Worry: Don’t let it Get the Best of You

admin — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 00:00:26 +0000

Coping with Caregiver Worry, By Adrienne Gruberg of the Caregiver’s Survival Network

Experience has shown me that one quality many caregivers share is concern—to the point of constant worry—about the person they are caring for. In my case, persons, because I was caring for my husband Steve, and his 92 year-old mother Sylvia—both cancer patients, living under one roof.

I became their mind reader, making certain anything they might need or want was on hand. But I worried; was I doing enough? Was I doing it right? Was I making any mistakes? Mother and son were so desperately worried about each other, I worried that I had to find a way to curb this behavior; that it wasn’t good for anyone concerned.

In her own home, Sylvia did everything for herself—but once she was under our roof, my husband worried about her constantly, insisting I monitor her every move to keep her from lifting a finger. Worried about his peace of mind, I sat outside the bathroom when she showered. I’d check on her during the night. She handled chemo better than anyone I know who’s been through it, but that didn’t stop her son from worrying. But I was her caregiver. I had the situation under control. She was comfortable, happy and catered to. As long as we watched “Jeopardy” together every night, life was good.

On the other hand, Syl didn’t stop worrying about her son and the extent of their mutual concern for each other was driving me crazy. I became over-vigilant and worried about everything from making it to doctor’s appointments on time (which was ridiculous in retrospect because we always had to wait once we got there) to having their favorite ice cream in the house, to making runs to the drug store for their prescriptions but filling my basket with things “we might need” as well. I continued to worry that Steve worried too much and that he should be focused on his getting better. The time finally came when they had to be separated.

In 2009, Steve needed a third lung surgery and I knew I couldn’t cope with them both under one roof. I could manage everything but her fear, and since her two rounds of chemo were completed, she went to live at home again. Syl was an amazing lady but—despite her denials to the contrary—had grown increasingly deaf and we worried for her safety. She couldn’t be alone 24/7. We found a lovely and competent companion for her, who’d come in from 10:00 a.m.—shower time, until 6:00 p.m.—dinner time.

With Sylvia back at home and well cared for, I could focus my worry on Steve. We went from our home in New York City to Boston for his operation. Steve’s brother came in from Houston to be with us. I thought I’d turned my lack of control over to a higher power, but I was worried. I worried about everything that was out of my control—the surgery; how long it was taking; how would he weather it; why was he in surgical intensive care? It was Steve’s nature to always worry, so I stayed with him in a private room during his hospitalizations—which ended up being a very good thing—because the one thing I hadn’t worried about was me, and I ended up in the emergency room and was hospitalized for six days. I had literally worried so much it made me sick to my stomach.

If you had asked me then if I was worried about anything, I would have denied it. I would have said I was concerned, but not to the point of losing sleep. I was a realist and knew from the time Steve was diagnosed with cancer exactly what that meant. Yet there were a million little things that nagged at me, or that I was anxious about, or disturbed over; all of these are just synonyms for worry. I now see that being in denial about being worried made me think I was strong enough to deal with everything that was thrown at me. This twisted logic made it possible for me to function on a daily basis. Worry is a much smaller word than fear and I could cope with the things I was worried about; they were somehow manageable. It’s the things I feared all along that have challenged me—and then I realized that both worry and fear are a waste of time; and that once I relinquished my need for control, I found I worried less and had the strength and courage to live from day to day and flourish in the now.

About the Author: Adrienne Gruberg first conceived of a social network for caregivers while taking care of her husband and mother-in-law. She was able to survive this role by connecting with other caregivers online, and The Caregiver’s Survival Network was born. Adrienne is the President and Founder of the first online social space for family and professional caregivers to share their experience, wisdom and hope with their peers.

Share your Healthy Senior Recipe and Win $50!

Rescue Alert of California — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 16:12:52 +0000

Rescue Alert of California™ is happy to announce its healthy recipe sweepstakes!

Do you have a healthy recipe that seniors would love?

We want you to share it with us, and doing so will enter you to win a $50 gift card to your choice of a selection of grocery chain stores!

Any recipe is welcome, as long as its a healthy one! Don’t shy away from your fruits and vegetables!

When the contest ends, we will choose the winning recipe, and share it on our Facebook, Google +, and right here on our blog!

To enter your recipe, follow this link to our contest: http://www.facebook.com/RescueAlertofCA/app_403359706360567

And good luck!

Essential Tips to Safeguarding Yourself from the Flu Outbreak

Rescue Alert of California — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 14:02:31 +0000

Across the United States of America, the flu epidemic has become a widespread problem amongst people of all ages. Seniors, especially, are a venerable population when it comes to flu season, so the proper prevention is especially vital for them.

Ensuring your elderly family member or loved one is safeguarded against this epidemic is important, as the CDC has already reported a worse flu season this year than we’ve experienced in a while. Boston, Massachusetts has already declared a state of emergency due to a dangerously high number of confirmed flu cases, and the flu season has begun earlier than it has in nearly a decade. They are also saying that one of the most at-risk age groups is seniors aged 65 and older.

Has your senior loved one gotten their flu shot? Chances are, if they have insurance, they will be able to get a free flu shot at their doctor’s office, or at many pharmacies in their area. CVS and Walgreens are offering free flu shots on a walk-in basis, but experts are saying there may be a run on vaccines, so don’t be surprised if you have to visit more than one pharmacy. However, it is said that there is enough vaccine for everyone, so anyone who wants to be vaccinated can do so.

For locations near you at which to get your Flu Vaccine, visit: http://flushot.healthmap.org/

To see the data regarding spread of the flu, you can check out this map from the CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/usmap.htm

For more information about the importance of flu shots for seniors, you can read more here: http://rescuealertofca.com/its-time-again-to-think-about-flu-shots

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Medical Alert Systems Can Combat Rising Healthcare Costs

Rescue Alert of California — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 16:59:23 +0000

Medical Alert Systems and In Home Care Can Combat Rising Healthcare Costs

A medical alert system can bring children of aging parents the peace of mind of knowing that their parents, who may live alone, can reach help if they experience a fall or other accident. The most common reason for purchasing a medical alert is wanting to make sure that an elderly loved one who is generally able to live independently is able to reach help when they need it. But can this tool for independent living also be a weapon in the fight against rising healthcare costs in the United States?

The population of the United States includes 39 million individuals over the age of 65 as of 2008, and by the year 2030, this number is expected to skyrocket to 72 million, as “Baby Boomers” reach the age of 65.

So, the aging population is growing. The individuals of the “baby boom” generation are reaching senior age, causing the senior population to increase dramatically. Not only that, but healthcare advances have allowed people to live longer; there are many more people reaching their 80’s, 90’s and even past 100. Those who reach these ages are, on average, suffering a large number of physical ailments and as a consequence, they consistently incur high medical expenses.

More seniors, fighting more physical ailments means a higher healthcare cost amongst our increasingly senior population. In fact, by the year 2030, health care for seniors is predicted to account for 25% of all the nation’s health care expenditures.

This is where a medical alert system can help. The price of equipment rental and monitoring can be less than $1 per day; a long hospital stay costs much more than that. The longer a senior waits to receive help after a fall, the more complications they will experience.

If a senior citizen falls, and is unable to summon help within the first hour, they are extremely likely to lose their independence, and most in this situation are ultimately placed in nursing homes.

With a medical alert system, an individual can get quick help, which often eliminates the need for a lengthy hospital stay, and prevents seniors from experiencing complications from their fall that land them permanently in a nursing home or care facility.

In conjunction with in-home care provided either by a professional service or a member of the senior’s family, a medical alert system can keep an elderly individual out of a hospital, out of a nursing home, and can extend the amount of time in which he or she can live at home safely.

The average cost of nursing homes can top an average pricetag of $83,585/year, or $229/day. A medical alert system rental and monthly monitoring service costs less than $1/day.

While the rapidly rising population of seniors in the United States as well as recent changes to Medicare almost certainly guarantee a drastic spike in healthcare costs, this increase can be slowed. Preventative measures are the key to lowering healthcare costs in the United States, as it decreases the amount of costly emergency care and the many expenditures that come when an individual is no longer able to live in their homes.

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Coping with Worry as a Caregiver

Rescue Alert of California — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 16:23:11 +0000

Coping with Worry as a Caregiver

By Adrienne Gruberg of The Caregiver’s Survival Network

About the Author

Adrienne Gruberg first conceived of a social network for caregivers while taking care of her husband and mother-in-law. She was able to survive this role by connecting with other caregivers online, and The Caregiver’s Survival Network was born. Adrienne is the President and Founder of the first online social space for family and professional caregivers to share their experience, wisdom and hope with their peers.

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Family Caregiving from a Granddaughter’s Perspective

Rescue Alert of California — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 15:46:43 +0000

The Memory Fixer: Caregiving From A Granddaughter’s Perspective

Guest Post by Lisa DuVal of “I Feel So Unnecessary” caregiving blog

My grandmother became ill when I was 28. A few months after I started helping take care of her she developed vascular dementia. Up until then I had handled her sickness pretty well but when she began having trouble with

her memory I became determined to “fix” it.

She always had one of the best memories I’d ever seen, was skilled at taking care of financialmatters, and could do complicated math problems in her head in no time (unlike me). She took care of everything and everybody. So when her memory started failing I took it as a personal affront. How dare the nefarious dementia steal her memory!

By sheer will I thought I could force the skills she lost back into her brain. I was a little bit wrong on that count. So…I decided to be a grown up and try to adjust to the situation. I fretted less over the person she was and focused more on the person she became. I cherished the time I spent with her and made new memories. And maybe learned some things along the way.

I found she responded better to help when I broke things down into small steps, didn’t “boss” her (she didn’t take to that too kindly), and didn’t change her routine. In the end dementia was a curse, but it was also a blessing.

Lisa DuVal writes about her caregiving experiences, marriage, and yes…books at her blog I Feel So Unnecessary. She lives with her husband, grandfather, mother, and a grumpy cat in Virginia.

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Medical Alerts & Holiday Safety: Keeping Safe this Season

Rescue Alert of California — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 21:48:58 +0000

Medical Alerts & Holiday Safety: Keeping Safe this Season

The holiday season is a time of joy, and holiday togetherness. It is also right in the middle of flu season, and icy weather conditions make traveling and even walking dangerous. We have 5 essential tips on how to keep safe this holiday season, especially seniors and their families.

1. Keep your hands clean

Constant handwashing is an easy way to prevent a whole number of diseases. Between the preparation of raw foods which are served to the whole family, to colds/flus spreading, the holiday season is one of the most important times to ensure that your hands are always clean. The amount of germs on your hand at any given time might surprise you, and the last thing you want to do is transfer those germs, especially to seniors who will be more susceptible to the germs that may not affect you.

2. Protect yourself from the cold

Don’t ignore the cold weather—the motto of the holiday season may be to “let it snow” but low temperatures can be dangerous for those that aren’t prepared. This is especially true with the elderly. Wear many layers, especially when going outside, of warm clothing like fleece, sweaters, and long underwear. Keep a jacket on hand in case of emergency, so you know you can always throw something on to make yourself warmer.

3. Make a preemptive visit to your doctor

Visit your doctor, ask about any vaccinations he may recommend, like the flu vaccine. Making sure you’re in the best condition physically is important to do before it gets too cold for you to go out, or the holidays make it impossible to get an appointment. Don’t wait until its an emergency to maintain your health!

4. Be wary of potential injury-causing situations

It’s the holidays, and you’re going to experience a lot more stress and frenzied situations than you normally would. But don’t let that prevent you from thinking logically about your safety. Obviously, drive slow during bad weather conditions. Turn off Christmas lights when you leave the house, and before you go to bed to avoid an accidental fire. Keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen for any holiday meal-preparation disasters that may occur.

5. Get a medical alert system

To ensure that everyone is safe this holiday, install a medical alert in the home of an elderly or senior relative who lives alone. If one of the accidents we warn against in this article happens, you want your loved one to be able to reach help immediately. A medical alert system allows you to call help with the press of a button, so an emergency doesn’t ruin your holiday season.

Be safe, and have a happy holiday- From Rescue Alert of California™!

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