Senior Care Corner

Don’t Let Social Media and Online Deals Bypass Our Senior Loved Ones

Barry — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:14:31 +0000

Many seniors pride themselves on their ability to seek out the best deal for many of the items they need or want to purchase. The trying financial times of the last few years have made that skill even more important, turning what for many was a pastime into a necessity.

Jokes about seniors and early bird restaurant dinners are good for a stand-up laugh, but the practice demonstrates a willingness and ability of many older adults to trade on their time flexibility to save money. Eateries have known this for many years and used it in their marketing to increase revenues during periods that would otherwise see many empty tables.

Unfortunately, a sizable number of our elder loved ones are limited to finding the deals about which they read in traditional media or hear through word of mouth. They are missing out on the many discounts and special offers found only on the web because, well, they aren’t active online.

The New “Word of Mouth” is Social Media

Each day we learn of many offers in our communities via email, Facebook, Groupon and SO many other sources, including a new favorite of ours, ReferLocal.com. The key to most of these offers is that, unlike the flyers in the local paper or TV ads, they don’t come looking for us. We typically have to go where they are to express interest or otherwise sign up to receive them.

For the last year, Senior Care Corner has actively campaigned to get more of our senior loved ones connected and active online – - social media in particular. One of the drivers behind our campaign is to give them access to the deals and offers available to those who seek them out. This reason alone is motivation enough for many seniors to join the parade to the web.

Take the Lead for Senior Loved Ones

Many seniors look to the lead of their younger family members when it comes to technology, including how – and whether – they will access the web. We may have to go beyond urging them online and take a more active role by setting them up with the devices and web access best for them, then working with our senior loved ones to make sure they are comfortable and protected online.

How do you get them interested in the web? Show them some of the deals that are out there. Walk them through some of the Facebook pages offered by their favorite brands and stores. Go out to Groupon, ReferLocal and other sites so they can see a sampling of the offers available in their community. Once you do that you might find it hard to keep them away!

Related reading:

Supporting Senior Loved Ones in Their Memorial Day Remembrances

Barry — Sun, 27 May 2012 18:53:30 +0000

Memorial Day has become, to many Americans, a welcome long weekend from work or school, a reason for a BBQ with friends, time for a trip to the beach – - the unofficial start of summer. For more, including many of our senior loved ones, Memorial Day is first a day of remembrance for those who have given their lives in service to America.

Remembering those who have died serving America is especially personal to many seniors (and those of all ages), for whom those numbers include grandparents, parents, siblings, children, grandchildren and close friends from over the years. Memorial Day can be, for them, a sacred day to recall the ultimate service given by family.

Senior loved ones who want their Memorial Day to be one of remembrance may need our help in doing so. Sharing stories is a key part of remembering for many, which means patient, loving ears and hearts to listen – - not just to their words but to the feeling accompanying those words. We can help our elders by simply bringing our ears and hearts to listen.

Thinking and talking about family members and friends who are no longer around can be a very emotional time, especially for older and elderly adults who have so many to remember. Memorial Day, with its call for remembrance of SO many at one time, can be overwhelming. Being someone on whom our senior loved ones can lean for support can be a real act of love, especially when we are also remembering those important to us who are among the fallen.

Don’t let outward appearances by senior loved ones fool you. They may host or join the family for a picnic, welcoming the chance to make new memories with children and grandchildren, while keeping their remembrance and the pain out of sight. Give them a chance to let you share in their Memorial Day by asking to hear their stories and watching for signs of hidden emotion. Be one on whom they can lean for support.

Don’t carry the emotions of elder generations alone. Encourage others, especially younger family members, to join you for at least some of the stories. The story tellers will feel the love of those who care enough to listen and will appreciate that their stories of beloved heroes will carry on when they themselves are no longer around to keep the memories alive.

Let’s never forget why there is a Memorial Day, even if we also use it to celebrate the start of summer!

Preparing Seniors’ Homes for Visits by Grandchildren

Kathy — Fri, 25 May 2012 00:32:40 +0000

Bringing the family together to share memories and special moments, especially intergenerational events, is cherished time for most families especially for our senior loved ones. Seniors benefit in so many ways when they can interact with young children including improved well-being, mental and emotional health and a more positive outlook on life.

There are, however, some safety tips that family caregivers need to remember when grandchildren and great-grandchildren spend time together with seniors, especially if it is possible they’ll be left in rooms unattended. After all, it may have been a while since our senior loved ones have had small children in their homes so the house is probably ill equipped for the adventure.

Our senior loved ones might just need our help in child proofing their homes!

Safety Tips for Grandparents when Grandchildren Visit

Be aware of potential hazards in the homes of seniors who haven’t had small children around in some time.

Check for frayed wires or electric dangers, such as cords exposed where they’ll be tempting, that may present themselves to active youngsters
Move fragile items senior would not want broken out of the reach of the children, putting as much up high as you can to be sure it is safely out of reach (don’t forget to move them back later so your senior loved ones aren’t injured retrieving them)
Relocate sentimental items that could be damaged in the hands of young ones like family photo albums or other irreplaceable momentos
Move poisonous plants out of the reach of curious kids
Keep sharp objects out of reach and anything with small pieces that can be easily swallowed or choked on
Keep the number for poison control near the phone in case it is needed
Lock away chemicals that might interest young children and get swallowed
Safely store out of the reach of all children (young ones and teens) your senior’s prescription drugs or over the counter vitamins, minerals and other herbal supplements
Be sure any space heaters or other heat sources are safe for young hands and feet
Put matches, lighters and flammable liquids away so children can’t start a fire
Check out the fire extinguisher (hopefully there is one!) for proper function and replace if needed
Never let a senior drive a child in a car without a car seat (just because they did that back in ‘their day’)
Be aware of even small amounts of water around the house or yard that can cause drowning – - a child can drown in as little as an inch of water
Be careful about which type of foods are served, such as hot dogs, nuts, popcorn, grapes, hard candy; these can lead to choking especially in children under five years
Remind seniors to watch sleeping children, keeping them on their back and don’t let them nap with seniors to prevent accidents

We love spending time together, but wouldn’t want to have a wonderful experience marred with a preventable accident!

Related reading:

Optimal Nutrition for Senior Care – Put Life in Their Years

Kathy — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:16:05 +0000

Change diet now? But they’ve eaten this way their whole lives – - should we really be pushing our senior loved ones to eat better this far into their lives?

Only if we care about them! The foods older and even elderly adults eat and drink have a definite impact on their health and well-being — good and bad.

We not only want to be sure our senior loved ones are eating right when they are home alone and we go to check in on them, but often as family caregivers we are the ones who will be selecting and preparing foods for them. Sometimes we also have to feed our own family at the same time making the task that much harder as we try not only to please all the different ages and preferences, but also try to keep them all healthy at their different life stages, with their different needs.

Why Seniors Need Optimum Nutrition as They Age

Impaired immune systems lead to more risk of food borne illness if they eat risky foods
Help fight chronic diseases that are taking a toll on their bodies
To reduce the effects of high blood pressure, uncontrolled diabetes and obesity
Help maintain normal bowel function with adequate fluid and fiber in the diet
Slower metabolism requires fewer calories so they need more nutrition in the foods they do eat
Decreased gastrointestinal function leads to more difficulty with digestion and absorption of key nutrients such as B6 and B12
Medications can affect appetite, taste buds and nutrient intake
Depression or isolation can lead to inadequate intake

Foods Seniors Should Avoid to Reduce Risk of Food-Borne Illness

Raw eggs and seafood
Unpasteurized juices, ciders or soft cheeses
Ready to eat foods that are not heated to kill bacteria
Unheated leftovers or leftovers that have been left unrefrigerated for more than two hours
Sprouts of any kind
Unwashed melons, including cantaloupe, watermelon and honey dew
Undercooked meat
Unwashed produce such as lettuce and spinach
Produce cut using the same knife or cutting board as raw meat or poultry

What and How Much Should Seniors Eat?

Women over 50 years who have low activity levels, basically typical day-to-day duties, should eat about 1600 calories a day
Men over 50 years who have low activity levels, completing ordinary activities of life throughout the day, should eat about 2,000-2,200 calories a day
2 ½ cups of vegetables choosing those with the most vibrant color
2-2 ½ cups of fruits
6-8 oz servings of grains, with half from whole grains
2-3 servings of dairy foods, preferably from lower fat sources such as skim milk and part skim cheese
5 ½ ounces of protein sources, choosing lean sources such as skinless poultry, fish, dried beans, eggs and lean ground beef
Less saturated and trans fats and limited salt/sodium
Stay well hydrated, drinking water and non-caffeinated beverages – don’t let them wait until they’re thirsty!
Be sure they take necessary vitamin and mineral supplements, based on doctor’s advice, such as calcium with vitamin D, B12, folate, fish oil and multivitamins
Put a rainbow on the plate, foods that are colorful are higher in anti-oxidants and nutrients

If senior loved ones begin to lose their appetite – and consequently weight – visit the doctor to be sure there are no untreated medical issues that, if treated, could lead to better health.

Often just a few small improvements in the diet of our senior loved ones can make a real difference in how much life they have in their years!

Related reading:

4 Tips to Keep Seniors Surfing Safely Online

Barry — Sun, 20 May 2012 11:55:16 +0000

We hear from many seniors and their family members that they don’t know what they would do without the internet and social networks because the web has added so much to their lives. At the same time, there are many older adults shying away out of concern for the risks they associate with the web.

Senior Care Corner promotes the use of the web and especially social networking, or social media, sites due to the benefits that our senior loved ones can gain. We discuss some of those benefits in our post 5 Benefits of Social Media for Seniors and in other posts.

In this episode of the Senior Care Corner podcast, we discuss some tips family members and caregivers can use to show seniors and elderly adults how to use the web safely and, hopefully, overcome their fears enough to get them online.

Safe Senior Surfing Topics Discussed in the Podcast

Constant recognition of the permanent nature of information shared on the web
Avoid the major risks associated with email
Selection of passwords and password hints
Caution while using WiFi hotspots to access the web

While we want to help senior loved ones overcome the fears keeping them from the web, we want to maintain some level of apprehension. Caution while online is a healthy approach for all users, regardless of their age. As such, these tips are intended to both reduce fear and build respect for online safety.

Our list of safe surfing tips is intended to cover areas of significant risk while being short enough to be actionable and remembered by new users of the web.

If you have tips or techniques you have used to help elder loved ones overcome their fear of the internet and to become active online we hope you’ll share them with us in the comment section or on our Facebook page.

News Items in this Episode

Veterans Affairs to Equip 1000 Family Caregivers with iPads
Exercise Plus Computers May Boost Senior’s Brains
Older People with Dementia Cared For Mostly at Home
Seniors & Doctors Should Speak Freely at Checkups

We hope you enjoy this episode of the Senior Care Corner Podcast, find the information of value, and will share the podcast with others who have senior loved ones in their lives.

Podcast Transcript – so you can follow along or read at your convenience

Related reading:

So It’s Older Americans Month – But Why Should a Senior Care to Play?

Kathy — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:04:43 +0000

Seniors Are Never Too Old to Play!

May is Older Americans Month, a perfect opportunity to show our appreciation for the older adults in our community. The theme of this year’s Older Americans Month is Never Too Old to Play!

One way we can celebrate the seniors in our lives is to encourage and provide opportunities for them and their loved ones to PLAY!

What exactly is play? It’s defined in the dictionary as the state of being active; a recreational activity; and brisk, fitful or light movement.

“Okay”, you might say, “but why is it so important for my senior loved one to play?” There are many reasons it is important to them and to us (the young’uns), but we’ll keep it brief.

For them: Lifelong participation in social, creative, and physical activities has proven to provide seniors health benefits, including retaining mobility, muscle mass, and cognitive abilities.

For us: When seniors are involved in play, especially with others of all ages, they perform an important role in sharing their experience, wisdom, and understanding, and passing on that knowledge to other generations in a variety of significant ways. Studies show their interactions with family, friends, and neighbors across generations enrich the lives of everyone involved. Young people who have significant relationships with a grandparent or elder report that these relationships helped shape their values, goals, and life choices and gave them a sense of identity and roots. Plus, we get to have fun spending time with them.

In order to provide ways for our seniors to continue to play as they age, many communities have increased their efforts to provide meaningful opportunities for older adults—many of whom remain physically and socially active through their 80s and beyond.

Here are some examples of community sponsored ways to engage your senior loved one in PLAY!

Dancing – whether it is line dancing, square dancing or ballroom dancing, many centers and agencies are hosting ongoing classes and clubs to bring together seniors for fun, sharing and exercise.
Swimming – water aerobics or swimming in the warm waters of community and neighborhood pools offers another way to play, exercise and meet other people.
Mall walking – many malls across the country open their doors for seniors who want a safe, climate controlled location to exercise. Many malls have created mall walker clubs providing times for like-minded seniors to get together to share experiences and friendship.
Senior Events – check out your local area administration on aging for month-long events such as Senior Fun days, carnivals, health fairs, play dates, whale watching, arts and crafts, quilting classes, ball games, picnics and Zumba fitness.
Tai chi – join other seniors practicing the gentle movements of this activity that connects mind and body and has been called “meditation in motion”
Take a stroll in your local botanical gardens and don’t forget to stop and smell the flowers!
Check out activities at your local American Legion post or Veterans Post. They often have socials and activities your senior would enjoy!
Urge your senior loved one to join a book club and talk with others about a good book! This keeps the mind active.
Get them to attend a performance of the local community theater. There are many showings that can tickle the funny bone!
Suggest they volunteer for a local organization such as the Red Cross, Meals on Wheels, Church group, library, hospital, nursing home, museum, service organization or school. Your senior has years of wisdom, expertise and adventures to share with others, especially children!

We encourage you and your senior to go out and PLAY today!

We would love for you to share how you played today ~ feel free to drop us a note to tell us about your adventure!

Related reading:

Pills: Too Many for Senior Loved Ones?

Kathy — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:03:42 +0000

Too many pills? As family caregivers of senior adults, many of us wonder if our senior loved one is taking more medications than are needed or healthy, not to mention so many that we fear keeping track is difficult.

It is not uncommon that elders with more than one chronic disease condition see more than one doctor to control these conditions. It is also not uncommon that medications can be prescribed without always knowing what other doctors are doing, which may lead to poly-pharmacy – or numerous medications – with numerous effects and unsafe interactions.

Over-medication in the elderly is far too common a problem, a public health crisis that compromises the well-being of older adults according to an article published in the New York Times. It reviews the recently updated Beers Criteria published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, outlining a number of medications most likely to cause adverse reactions in the elderly.

More than 40% of adults over age 65 take five or more medications and one third of these will experience an adverse side effect, which can result in serious health outcomes.

There are three groups of medication categories about which your doctor needs to be aware in order to be sure that the drugs your senior loved one takes everyday are safe for him or her. Unfortunately, not every doctor in general practice may be aware of the new guidelines especially when geriatrics is not his practice focus.

Key Medication Categories for Seniors

drugs to avoid in general in the elderly
drugs to avoid in older people with certain diseases
drugs to use with caution in the elderly if there are no acceptable alternatives

It is important to help your senior navigate the myriad of medications they are taking to be sure there are no potential interactions that can make the drug dangerous to take or make it ineffective in treating what it was designed to effect.

Advocating for Seniors Regarding Medication

Ask your senior’s doctor and pharmacist to review their drug list, including any over-the-counter medications taken regularly, vitamin or mineral supplements or herbal preparations which may cause adverse effects with their prescribed medications.
Keep track of your senior loved ones’ medications using the Geriatrics Society’s Foundation for Health Aging Drug Diary that lists your senior’s medications and dosages. They recommend this diary be completed and kept current. It should be taken with you to every doctor and health care provider visit for review to prevent duplication or adverse interaction.
Don’t forget to ask your senior’s health care professional about any side effects when being given any new prescription. Let the doctor know immediately if any reactions are experienced or the drug does not seem to be working – - but do not stop taking the medication without talking with the doctor.
Let your senior’s doctor know of any unusual symptoms or changes in behavior in your senior loved one, including pain, when you notice these changes so that he will be able to make the best decisions.
Let your elder loved one’s doctor know of any supplements or over the counter pills your senior takes to be sure there are no harmful interactions. Even something as innocent as ibuprofen or antihistamine has the potential to cause problems.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions or consult the Beers Criteria to be sure your senior is safe.
Help your senior remember to take medications as prescribed. There are several different kinds of medication organizers and reminders that can be helpful. The medication can’t work as it is intended if it is not taken as prescribed.
Trust your senior’s doctor to make the best choice for your loved one with all the available information you can provide. Remember that some of the medications that your senior needs may have no alternative and therefore the doctor will weigh the risks and benefits carefully. Be involved in the discussion but don’t make demands that you may not be qualified to make. Your senior’s doctor wants what is best for your senior too!
Don’t forget to learn about each drug. Sometimes food can also interact with medications and should be avoided while taking certain drugs. Also remember that the time of day a medication is taken is important for beneficial results so be sure that medications are taken according to the directions.

Knowledge is power and can lead to better health and well-being for your senior loved one!

Related reading:

10 Tips for Effective Communications with a Senior Loved One’s Doctor

Senior Care Corner Celebrates Mothers – With Gratitude and Love

Kathy — Sun, 13 May 2012 14:38:00 +0000

Mother’s Day is a special day of celebration, recognition and remembrance for the women who shaped our generation – - and us as individuals.

We celebrate the women who spent their days caring for their children and their households, many receiving very little recognition, praise or thanks.

Now it is our turn to care for our mothers. We have stepped forward to be caregivers of not only our own children and households, but possibly also our aging mothers.

Being thrust into this position is not a burden but a joy, even though at times it exhausts us physically, emotionally and financially. It can often add pressure to our days but in the long run, we will be forever grateful that we answered the call. There are many women and men who have taken on the role of family caregiver to aging mothers and who stop to take time out today to celebrate the gifts they were given.

Let us join together and show our love and respect for our mothers.

Mother’s Day Facts

It is celebrated in almost every country and is the third most popular special day worldwide.
In 1914 Congress designated the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.
In 2008 there were an estimated 85.4 million mothers in the United States.
The number one choice for flowers for mom is a mixed bouquet, roses are fourth on the list but the special flower for Mother’s Day is a carnation.
Top 5 gifts given in 2010-cards, flowers, meal out, gift certificate, and finally clothing.

Inspirational Quotes and Poem

“It is not until you become a mother that your judgment
slowly turns to compassion and understanding.”- Erma Bombeck

”The watchful mother tarries nigh, though sleep has closed her infant’s eyes.” – John Keble

Mothers Are The Gardeners by Nicholas Gordon
Mothers are the gardeners
Of wind-blown wild flowers.
They water them with happy tears,
Happy with them many years,
Even as the hours
Ring with sweet, sad melodies
Sighing through their bowers.

We hope you all have a special day with your mothers in person, from a distance – - or in your memories of them.

Thank you Mom!

We love you!

Related reading:

Sleep Evading Senior Loved Ones? 10 Sleeping Pill Alternatives

Kathy — Fri, 11 May 2012 00:54:00 +0000

Is your senior senior loved one unsuccessfully chasing sleep?

Many seniors have experienced trouble sleeping in their lifetimes and likely more often as they age, when sleep pattern changes are a normal occurrence.

Seniors have been shown in studies to not sleep as deeply, to have periods of time when their sleep is disturbed or often sleep during waking hours therefore not at night. Restful sleep goes through specific cycles and seniors need to achieve all cycles to maintain physical and mental health.

Many older adults (like their younger counterparts) turn to medications to help them fall asleep and stay asleep. Unfortunately, in our elders, sleep aids often cause side effects that are detrimental to their overall health.

Medications often prescribed by doctors to reduce anxiety and help sleep patterns are in a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines. These drugs slow down the central nervous system. Oftentimes, at the insistence of sleeping seniors, these medications are prescribed more often and in higher doses than are considered safe for elders.

Sleeping pills are not intended to be used for more than seven to ten days but many of our senior loved ones have been taking them nightly for many years, often refusing to give them up. Doctors stress pills should not be used as a ‘crutch’ to fall asleep.

Potential Side Effects of Sleeping Pills for Seniors

Confusion and lack of concentration in the middle of the night and the morning
Dizziness, lack of coordination and grogginess
Irritability, depression and changes in heart rate
Forgetfulness, anxiety and depression
Headaches, constipation or nausea

Which Can Lead to Outcomes Such As

Increased risk of falling and sustaining a fracture or other injury
Errors in medication administration
Poor safety awareness
Inability to sleep, even with the medications
Weakness, illness and hospitalization
It has been reported that some seniors have started home fires when they were in a fog after taking sleeping pills
Other reported unsafe behaviors include sleepwalking and sleep driving

Side effects of sleep aids occur most often in seniors whose bodies are more sensitive to the medications because the drugs remain in their system longer. Drug interactions can occur and alcohol consumption will increase the effects of sleeping pills. Be sure your senior loved one’s doctors are aware of other medications and over the counter pills being taken to prevent interactions and unintended side effects.

Alternatives to Sleeping Pills for Seniors

Keep your senior love one’s bedroom comfortable and free from distractions; use room darkening curtains, run an overhead fan to keep the air moving, keep the temperature comfortable, remove any annoying sounds such as tree limbs hitting the windows and get a comfortable mattress – it might be time for a new one.
If your senior is having trouble falling to sleep, don’t let them lie in bed “chasing sleep.” Encourage them to get up and do something until tired.
Don’t forget the old standby – warm milk. A glass can help your senior’s body calm down naturally enough to sleep.
Unwind before it is time for bed. Take a warm bath using lavender soap/oil, read, or listen to soothing music; make a routine and stick with it so that your senior’s body prepares itself before getting into bed.
Tire out fully each day by staying physically active and seek fresh air and sunshine. However, it is not a good idea to participate in exercise before bed because this could have the opposite effect and keep your senior awake.
Have a scheduled sleep and wake up time to again allow your senior’s own internal clock to react.
Eliminate sleeping during the day; fight the feeling to catch a cat nap because it could keep your senior from deep sleep at night. If your senior is bored, find something to do instead of sleeping.
Caffeine should be avoided in the evening.
Avoid alcohol, smoking, large meals and spicy food late in the day. These can all stimulate your senior’s body and keep him or her awake.
To reduce sleep disturbances related to frequent bathroom trips, avoid drinking fluids two hours before bedtime unless necessary to take nighttime medications.

Dr. William Dement, director of the sleep disorders clinic at Stanford University, said there is no medical justification for the chronic use of sleeping pills. He said that he usually prescribes them for “one to two nights, and rarely more than 10 nights.”

Other physicians agree that use of sleeping pills should be with caution. “The reason the elderly take more sleeping pills is that they don’t sleep well,” said Dr. Westbrook. “They tend to lose very deep sleep, their sleep is more fragmented, and they have a lot more arousals during the night.” Despite the widespread use of sleeping pills by the elderly, Dr. Folstein said, “it’s extraordinarily rare to find an old person who actually requires them.”

You and your senior loved one may want to carefully discuss with your doctor the options available if sleeping is problematic. There may be medical reasons for having trouble sleeping such as restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea, or insomnia that should be addressed and may be masked with sleeping pills. A good night’s sleep can payoff in many ways with improved health and wellness.

Do you have any tips for ways to get a good night’s sleep? We would love to hear your ideas!

Family Caregivers Avoiding the Unthinkable – But Preparing for It

Kathy — Wed, 09 May 2012 01:23:41 +0000

Family caregivers of elders keep things going every day. They manage their senior loved ones, their appointments, their medications, their family members, their paperwork, and their household among a myriad of other details.

We know how important it is to the health and safety of our senior loved ones to keep all our balls in the air without dropping any but sometimes we have forgotten to care for our own needs – physical and emotional but also our wishes.

As we push ourselves to the limit and beyond in meeting the needs of all who rely on us, we increase our risk of the unthinkable – a heart attack, stroke or other incident that turns us from caregiver to care recipient (hopefully not worse).

What will happen to your senior loved one if something happens to you? Who will take over your responsibilities? Have you put forth your wishes in writing or in conversation with other family members?

10 Ways to Prepare for the Unthinkable

Who will be with your senior loved one each day if you can’t be?
Who will be responsible for their finances, their health decisions and their wishes?
Who will take care of your affairs?
Who will care for your children if you are caught in the triple decker sandwich of caregiving?
What happens to your home? Will the mortgage be covered or will it need to be sold?
Do you have a will? Have you designated an executor to handle your affairs?
Have you executed your own advance directives or just made sure your senior loved one had his or hers done?
Are your end of life wishes known and documented? Do you have a DNR or living will in place?
Who will be your healthcare proxy? Who will take over your healthcare proxy duties for your elder?
Who will care for the yard, the house, and the safety considerations of your senior loved one’s home?

We all have struggled with the decisions for our seniors, but we also need to be sure that all that plans are fulfilled if you are not there to do it yourself. Certainly that situation is one about which we don’t even want to think, but we owe to those about whom we care to be prepared for the unthinkable.

12 Ways to Care for the Family Caregiver (YOU!)

Take care of yourself as a caregiver
Take time to see to your own health, see your doctor regularly for checkups and tune-ups
Eat right
Stay physically active
Relieve your stress – find out what works for you
Ask for help when you need it
Join a support group or online community for support
Enlist family and friends help
Talk to someone when you are angry or frustrated
Get respite care through an agency
Don’t ignore your feelings
Remember to pat yourself on the back from time to time – you are doing a great job!

One key is to avoid isolating yourself from others close to you by burying yourself in all the tasks you juggle. Chances are someone cares enough about you to intervene in time to protect you from overextending to the point where it harms your health.

Celebrate Older Americans Month with Senior Care Corner

Barry — Sun, 06 May 2012 23:53:23 +0000

Celebrating Older Americans Month each May is one of the ways we can acknowledge and show our appreciation for the many contributions of older adults to our nation and communities.

Building a greater understanding of seniors and their needs is one of the other ways we can tell them how we feel about what they have done for us over time and what they are still doing today.

We do some of both in this episode of the Senior Care Corner podcast. We discuss Older Americans Month, what it means and how we are asked to celebrate it. In addition, we build our knowledge and understanding of seniors by discussing some of the findings about seniors from the 2010 Census, including the growth in their numbers and where they live.

Part of understanding seniors, as with others, is learning about the problems they face. In our feature segment we also discuss a newly-released report from the Meals on Wheels Research Foundation, their annual report on hunger among American seniors.

Celebrating Older Americans Month

The theme of this year’s Older Americans Month celebration is “Never Too Old to Play”, aimed at encouraging seniors to stay active, involved and engaged, both in their own lives and their communities. The US Administration on Aging suggests getting involved by hosting a day of play in the local community, to include not just seniors but people of all ages.

Part of our feature segment focuses on types of activities that can be organized as part of a day of play, but also that the spirit of Older Americans Month can be achieved with much less formality.

As with the subject of many celebrations, older Americans are worthy of our appreciation and acknowledgment year-round. Of course, play knows not the bounds of a single month!

News Items in This Episode

Too many pills for aging patients
Could fat be your friend over age 85?
Dementia cases expected to triple as the world population ages
Study says that the shingles vaccine is safe but underutilized

Links Mentioned in This Senior Care Corner Podcast

Administration on Aging’s Older Americans Month website
Meals on Wheels Research Foundation’s annual report on senior hunger
My Drug Diary from the American Geriatrics Society

We love to hear how you help older Americans get out and play locally! Please leave a comment to this post or on our Facebook wall.

Podcast Transcript – so you can follow along or read at your convenience

Related reading:

Electronic Health Monitoring: Help for Seniors Aging in Place?

Kathy — Fri, 04 May 2012 00:14:57 +0000

Family caregivers of senior loved ones are anxiously awaiting demonstration of the effective use of electronic health monitoring devices. We feel that being able to get advice, treatment and monitoring from healthcare professionals on a daily basis without having to take our loved one for rounds and rounds of doctors’ offices may mean better lives for seniors, with improved healthcare and hopefully reduced cost for that care.

But Does Tele-Health Monitoring Work?

A recent study appears to cast some doubt on the effectiveness of tele-health monitoring for seniors – at least in keeping them out of the hospital – at this time. The report found that the use of electronic health monitoring did not reduce the number of emergency room visits to which seniors were sent even though they were monitored daily. The monitoring included blood pressure, weight, and other health related measurements. It also provided phone calls with nurses to discuss the health monitors with an option to videoconference if needed.

Researchers do not think that electronic health monitoring is not useful or helpful, but that more attention should be paid to which seniors qualify for the service and most importantly how doctors are using the health information that monitoring provides.

“Sometimes patients get into trouble long before they see us. The hope is that with knowledge that they’re starting to get into trouble… we can intercept before they get to the point where they have to be hospitalized,” states Dr. Harlan Krumholz, who has studied e-health.

Before drawing conclusions, let’s look more closely at the study…

This new study, conducted in Minnesota and funded by the Mayo Foundation and the National Institutes of Health with Intel providing the tele-monitoring systems, included 205 seniors who were felt to be at high risk for hospitalizations due to their chronic medical conditions. Dr. Paul Takahashi from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and colleagues found that “a year after getting their monitoring systems, patients in the tele-monitoring group were still going to the ER and being hospitalized just as often as those without the systems.”

Researchers of this study have yet to determine why there was no decrease in hospitalizations in those seniors who were closely monitored. They feel that other differences might have impacted the outcome including a difference in caregiver support and access to transportation, and also that doctors could have made changes too quickly for health measurements that might have corrected themselves over time.

Researchers state that health professionals might be acting or reacting to the health data in ways that are not wholly beneficial. They feel that more research is needed to help doctors determine how to most effectively work with the constant data they get from tele-monitors and make an effective plan of action. They remind us that it is not the computer system but how we react to the data they provide that will positively affect health in our seniors.

Give Remote Health Monitoring a Chance

We agree that over-reaction to this limited study should be avoided. There certainly will be more studies, looking at the same types of patients and others. It may be that these results are an aberration or that there are some patients this doesn’t keep out of the hospital. Of course, monitoring won’t always keep people out of the hospital, but may just get them there sooner than they would otherwise.

Senior Care Corner joins those with high hopes this new technology will be valuable to the health and well-being of our senior loved ones and encourage manufacturers, doctors and health insurers to continue to study how to best utilize electronic health monitoring. Family caregivers, especially those caring from a distance, will find access to health data a vital step forward in managing chronic diseases for long term health.

Related reading:

Insights Into a Great Generation – and a Good Read for All

Kathy — Tue, 01 May 2012 23:37:53 +0000

Enjoying a great book is something many of us set aside time to do – family caregivers and senior loved ones alike.

Seniors are readers who have read a lot of different types of things over their lifetimes – - many of them actually printed on paper. They read newspapers, magazines like Life and Readers Digest and books including poetry, mystery, romance and biography. And let’s not forget The Bible.

Recently I read a wonderful book that relates a myriad of stories about heroes and average people who struggled through the second “war to end all wars” — World War II.

The Greatest Generation, written by Tom Brokaw, is a fascinating account of the lives of people who found themselves caught up in the war, who served their country in the fight for freedom and who just ‘did what was right’ at a time when their country needed them most.

The stories are set up interview style by this famous broadcast journalist. He relates the story of men and women who were airplane pilots, factory workers, war correspondents, soldiers who landed at Normandy, couriers, nurses and others who were true patriots. He travels to France during the anniversary of the invasion and recounts tales of these heroes. Mr. Brokaw quotes those very same heroes who were bestowed honors and medals who each echo that they accept them not for themselves but for their comrades who were unable to accept.

Common Threads in This Great Generation

Patriotism and an honest love of country
Faith
Family strength
Desire to do the right thing-always
A “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” mentality
Suing someone is never an option to pursue
Pride in their workmanship and skills
Recycle and reuse philosophy before green was in
A high personal value on saving more than spending

This great generation lived through the depression and its deprivation, fought a war, created and dropped the bomb, returned home and changed the face of America with innovation, birthed the boomers, set up suburbia and fought for racial equality and women’s liberation.

If you or your senior loved ones are looking for a good summer book, we encourage you to get a copy of this one, whether check it out from your library, buy it on Amazon, or borrow someone else’s copy. Whether you read books on paper or on your Kindle, Nook or other device, this is one not to miss.

Happy reading!

Do you have a good book to share? We would love to hear from you today!

Related reading:

When Senior Loved Ones Don’t Live in Their Home Anymore

Kathy — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 23:27:49 +0000

There comes a time for many family caregivers when they must face not only the physical decline of their aging senior loved ones or perhaps the loss of those loved ones, but must also deal with an empty family home.

What should you do with the family home when your parents are no longer able to live there? Do you want to purchase it yourself and live there yourself, sell to another family member or sell it outright?

Cleaning out your senior loved ones’ personal belongings is wrenching enough without being forced to update and repair a home that has also aged. Your parent’s home may need many repairs before it can be put onto the real estate market. It may require costly renovations to make it marketable as well.

Many family caregivers find this more than they can handle emotionally, physically or financially.

Some Options for Dealing with a Senior Loved One’s Home

Companies will buy your senior loved ones home from you and do all the repairs and then sell it. Generally this type of transaction is a quick cash buyout. Companies often handle the transaction within 15 days and will pay all closing costs and take the home as is. You can agree to accept the price they offer for the convenience of freeing yourself of the burden of doing it all yourself. Keep in mind that this sort of transaction typically produces a lower price in exchange for the convenience.
Home moving companies can help you by packing up and moving your families’ belongings out of the family home for you. You will need to decide what items you wish to keep and which items to either sell or donate. You can have a yard sale or hire an estate sale agency to do it for you. Of course, if you move belongings you need to decide where to move them, be it into a family member’s home or into storage.
If you decide to put your family home on the market and are doing it all from a distance, real estate agents can give you referrals to services in the area that will help you make this transition such as maintenance people, lawn care service, movers, bankers, lawyers, etc.

Actions to Consider During the Transition Period

Pay the mortgage if there is one outstanding. If the mortgage is not paid on schedule, the lender can foreclose on the property. Many banks allow family members to assume the mortgage after the owner passes away.
Consider talking with family members about what they think should be done and come to an agreement. This may save problems later, especially if there is a disagreement. Do they all want to sell, use it as a shared vacation home, buy it themselves or use it as rental property?
Check your parents’ home insurance policy. Has it been kept up to date or has it lapsed for non-payment? If it remains in good standing, beware that insurance carriers are dropping customers whose homes are vacant for prolonged periods due to the increased risk a vacant home is due to vandals, liability issues and other potential events that can yield a claim. You may need to purchase a short term vacant-home policy to protect your assets until you make a final plan of action. If your parents’ home is vacant for 30-60 days, it could be excluded from any claim if the insurance company was not notified.
Clean out the refrigerator and freezer, empty the dishwasher and take out the trash.
Keep the home safe while no one is living there. If nobody will be using or visiting the home, you might want to consider turning off the utilities: water, gas and electricity.
Stop the mail, newspapers and any other scheduled deliveries that could make the home a target if it appears vacant.
Have someone visit the home frequently to keep an eye on things checking for unexpected deliveries, unscheduled papers, items in the mailbox, damage from a storm, fallen trees or leaves, insect or pest infestation, broken pipes, broken windows and other damage correction that may be needed.
Have the grass cut during the season, leaves raked in the fall and snow or ice cleared in the winter and other routine maintenance to prevent liability issues and maintain an image of good home care. These also keep the home from looking vacant.
You may consider having an alarm system installed so you will know if the home is breached.

Don’t Forget Legal Consideration

[You may want to consult an elder care lawyer to help you sort through the complicated legal issues so that you can protect yourself and your senior loved ones’ assets.]

Have you talked to your parents about their finances? What were their wishes for the family home (often included in their will)?
Do you know where the deed to the house is stored or other important papers? Do you have access to your senior loved ones’ legal documents? If they are in a safe deposit box, do you know which bank, who is allowed to gain entry and if there is a list of contents?
Did your parents make a will, a financial plan for their assets, or a trust? Many people choose to prepare their own wills.
Did your parents designate a financial power of attorney, an individual empowered to make legal decisions about their finances and assets on their behalf? Who is it and where is the document stored?
Where is the home insurance policy kept, what company insures the home and where is the contact information?
Be aware that only the person who owns the house can transfer it to a new buyer. If a power of attorney was designated, that person can sell the house if your senior is incapacitated. If no power of attorney was named, you probably cannot legally sell your parents’ home, according to elder law attorneys. You can apply for guardianship and then, if you get it, sell the home if your parent is mentally incapacitated without a power of attorney. If your parent has passed on, you typically must wait for probate to settle before you can take legal action.
Be aware that title companies may not accept the power of attorney during a home sale and may wish to investigate it further before they approve the transfer.

Losing your senior loved one, whether due to incapacitation or death, can be overwhelming and we know the decisions that have to be made can be as well. Dealing with the family home requires help from others, such as family, lawyers, agencies and outside companies. Bringing them all together will take planning but will help you through the situation.

We wish you well!

We would love to hear your experiences if you have already dealt with this issue.

Related reading:

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas for Seniors from the Tech World

Barry — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 00:41:47 +0000

Mother’s Day – that day each year when we honor the women who made our lives possible (though we should each of the other days as well).

For many of us Mother’s Day is an occasion that leaves us stumped, not knowing the right thing to give the mothers in our lives, especially those who are older. We search hard for something our senior mothers and grandmothers will use and which will add enjoyment to their lives.

Now, thanks to the technology industry and the web, there are many great consumer electronics gift ideas to please those special senior women in our lives.

Senior Care Corner has come up with several suggestions for gifts many grandmas (and maybe even senior moms) will love and which will bring enjoyment to their lives, especially when they get a chance to spend time with wonderful loved ones installing or setting up their gifts.

We know there are some folks looking for gift ideas that are friendlier to your wallets so we’ve got some along those lines as well as some that involve the purchase of technology.

Wallet-Friendly Technology Gift Ideas

Is there a new smartphone in Grandma’s life? There might be, since many seniors are getting them because that’s what the providers are offering. Besides, many of their peers and loved ones (maybe you??) have them already. If she has one, Grandma just might welcome the expertise of a family member to help her set up her phone, pick the right apps – such as video calling – to make the phone more useful, and simply teach her how to make the smartphone most useful.

Is your grandmother on Facebook yet, or maybe another social network her friends and family frequent? If not, help her pick the right networks and set them up. Social networking carries so many benefits for our senior loved one but, as we are reminded almost daily, present many risks and cautions. Make sure Grandma understands the privacy issues with the social network and the implications of sharing information on it.

Does Grandma have albums or boxes of family photos she treasures? Give her even more enjoyment from those pictures by scanning them and showing her how they can be viewed on her computer or TV and even shared online. A little bit of time on your part will give her a gift she will love for life!

Technology Gift Ideas for Purchase

Does Grandma have a video gaming system at home? Many seniors are enjoying video games and giving their brains and bodies workouts while having fun. Besides the benefits of physical activity, your grandmother can keep her mind sharp and help her fight off dementia as she ages.

If your grandmother has favorite television shows, she might really enjoy a DVR (digital video recorder) set up to allow her to watch them whenever she wants. If you want to really score, you might arrange and prepay the fees associated with a unit from her satellite TV provider or cable company.

Have you been thinking Grandma should get a new TV? Is her current one getting harder for her to see or is it lacking in some features that she would really enjoy? Don’t wait for her to do it — get her that flat screen yourself (or team up with some of her other loved ones). Chances are she’ll wonder why she didn’t do it earlier.

If we haven’t hit on the right idea for that senior lady in your life, hopefully we’ve helped get your thinking on that path. We’d love to hear any ideas you have!

Related reading:

Time to Play in the Dirt with Senior Loved Ones

Kathy — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 01:06:57 +0000

Seniors getting dirty – really? Yes, really!

Many have lived their lives tending gardens for themselves, their parents or their communities or grew up on a family farm. Playing in the dirt can bring back memories, stimulate brains, provide physical activity, and provide engaging activities for caregivers and seniors.

The time is perfect to get out in the yard or your community and start playing in the dirt! The sun is getting warmer and the ground softer.

Whether you decide to dig up a large plot of land and plant vegetables or pot up some containers of herbs or flowers, your senior loved one will enjoy a new experience with you and other family members.

We’re not the only ones who think this. The Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found that the percentage of green space in a person’s living environment has a positive association with the general health of seniors. The more green space, the better.

Benefits of Gardening for Caregivers and Seniors

Gaining self-esteem for what you can create. It could be beautiful flowers or food for your table. Starting something out slowly and watching it grow at your own hands will give your senior loved one and you a real sense of purpose.
Working the dirt and planting a variety of different flowers and food can reduce your senior’s and your stress level. Communing with nature, listening to the birds chirp and insects buzz, taking in the warm rays of the sun will definitely bring peace and tranquility to your days.
When you have a garden, it can increase social interactions when your senior shares it with people who are close such as neighbors, family and friends. She will love telling stories and sharing the fruits of her labor.
The physical activity you and your loved one will do to dig in the dirt, plant seeds, water the growing sprouts, weeding, and carrying away the produce by walking, bending, and digging will work muscles and improve health.
Eating the fruits, vegetables and herbs you both grow will help keep you healthy.

Tips for Gardening!

Spring is the best time to start a vegetable garden. So, it is time to get started.
Plan your garden. Get some gardening books from the bookstore or library and begin planning with your senior what types of plants he or she would enjoy. Do you want only flowers that can be cut to add color or fragrance to the house? Do you want to grow vegetables that you will enjoy eating? Do you want to use a whole plot or containers for the patio? Do you want to grow an herb garden and experiment with new flavors? This is the time to make a plan.
Once your plan is established, it is time to dig in the dirt! Use a rake, hoe or shovel to loosen up the dirt. Turn over the dirt and mix in organic elements to improve your soil for growing if it is needed. Fill your containers with potting soil whether they are big pots, barrels or planter’s boxes.
Time to begin planting. You can start with seeds or small plants. Follow the directions on the package or pot for planting depth, sun requirements and watering needed for healthiest plants.
You should water to keep the soil moist; depending on the wind and sun you may need to water only once per week or more often.
Keep your garden weed free. You may want to mulch after planting to keep the weeds down and the water in place. You may need to thin out plants if they grow too close together. For best results, you may want to fertilize your seedlings with a plant food to help them grow and fruit.
Watch the plants grow, listen to the birds and the bees in the yard, reminisce with your senior about gardens he remembers and make each day in the garden an adventure. What was your senior’s favorite plant? Did he or she ever travel to see a garden?

The benefits of gardening for seniors are well documented. It adds quality of life to their days and health to their years. So much so, that there is a therapy that is involved with gardening activities for senior’s health. Horticulture therapy involves a trained therapist who works with clients on gardening-related activities to achieve specific goals. Therapeutic gardens have become very popular and now exist in many types of health facilities including public and private schools, nursing homes and senior centers, rehabilitation centers and hospitals.

“Gardening is one of the most popular home-based leisure activities in the United States and has been reported as the second most common leisure activity, after walking, of adults older than age 65 years,” according to one research study published in HortTechnology.

The time is now to have some fun with your senior playing in the dirt!

Related reading:

Time to Get Senior Loved Ones on Social Media

Seniors’ Adoption of Consumer Electronics – - and Family Members’ Role

Barry — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 23:19:30 +0000

While we hear and read much about seniors’ lack of interest in new technology, we also see a lot of evidence to the contrary. Feedback from our readers and listeners, as well as what we observe ourselves, gives us confidence that any hesitation seniors have will begin to evaporate when they understand the benefits technology has to offer them.

The feature segment of this episode of the Senior Care Corner Podcast – the first episode of our second year – focuses on one area of technology, consumer electronics, what it can mean for our seniors and the role we as family caregivers can have in making that a reality.

The 14th Annual CE Ownership and Market Potential Study, a very interesting research study by the Consumer Electronics Association, tells us a lot about the ownership and future purchase thinking about consumer electronics by older adults (as well as other age groups). Not surprisingly, older adults see themselves the least likely to make consumer electronics purchases. As we read and discuss the study, though, we are left asking if there is more to the picture.

When it comes to our senior loved ones and consumer electronics, we see a real illustration of one of the late Steve Jobs most famous quotes, that “a lot of times people don’t know what they want until you show it to them.” We believe that because we’ve seen it and heard it from others. How can we expect adoption of consumer electronics by seniors before they see there will be benefits of doing so?

We discuss how family members can play a big role in helping senior loved ones understand and appreciate the benefits they can get from consumer electronics. Whether it’s actually purchasing the devices for them, helping them learn to use a new device or even simply helping them understand the benefits and step up to make the purchase, family members can make a real difference.

Another aspect we address is how the consumer electronics industry can help us family members by identifying and promoting the benefits seniors can expect from their products.

News Items for Family Caregivers in This Episode

Graying American Getting Wired to Cut Healthcare Costs
Aging Gracefully Starts with the Feet
Changing Climate Could Be Tough on Seniors’ Health
Berries & Tea May Cut Men’s Odds for Parkinsons

Link Mentioned in This Episode

Games for Seniors’ Brain Health

We hope you enjoy this episode and look forward to you questions, comments and suggestions for future topics, either on our website or on our Facebook page.

Podcast Transcript – so you can follow along or read at your convenience

Related reading:

Surviving Home Maintenance with Senior Loved Ones Aging in Place

Kathy — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:10:36 +0000

The current generation of seniors has lived a life of building, fixing, and re-purposing before the green movement took shape. They imagined what was needed, created it and kept it running.

Asking for help to repair an item or spruce up part of the house is something they didn’t do and often still don’t do, especially if it means paying someone for a task they feel they should be doing (Service Magic is one resource to consider).

However, as caregivers we know that there comes a time when an aging parent or grandparent should sit back and let others do tasks for them. Well, they don’t have to “sit back” and watch others do it. Naturally, being the supervisor of a household chore is also an important part of the job and that is what we should be steering our aging parents toward for their own safety.

When we perform home maintenance tasks for our senior loved ones, especially under their “supervision”, we get more than the knowledge they are staying safe. This is also an opportunity to spend time with them and sometimes a chance for the transfer of knowledge or family history. Many times a household task will remind our elders of similar scenes from their younger years.

Senior Safety Considerations for Home Repairs and Upkeep

Keep off the ladder! Encourage your senior to stay off any ladder when he or she is alone at home. Inspect any ladders in the home to be sure they are in good repair, not wobbly or with missing treads. Discard any unsafe ladders that can’t be safely repaired. Always have someone standing by when a ladder is in use to steady it and react in case of a fall.
Regularly search your senior’s home for frayed electrical wires or outlets that may cause a potential for electrocution or be fire hazards. Replace any small or large appliance that has frayed cords or plugs or have someone repair it if possible. Staying on top of any potential electrical problem will allow you to prevent your senior “fixing” any unsafe electrical wires your senior may notice before you do.
Schedule a handyperson in your area (or yourself, friends or family members) to clean roofs and gutters at specific intervals, such as seasonally, to remove debris like fallen leaves, pine needles or branches before your senior decides he can do it himself. Keeping gutters clean and free flowing will reduce water damage in the future and save you and your senior from other repairs.
Schedule a lawn service to not only do routine yard work when doing so isn’t safe for your loved one but also prune branches that might be hitting the windows or blocking the view or potentially housing unwanted pests. Your senior may decide to take cutting back the bushes into their own hands if they can no longer see the birds at the feeder or are awakened by noises caused by limbs hitting the house in the wind. Some overgrown trees can lead to invasion by pests into you senior’s attic (as we know firsthand) causing more trouble than you could imagine!
If your senior’s home has a crawl space, inspect it at least annually looking for fire dangers, rotting floor joists, water intrusion, insect/termite invasion or other hidden dangers that might harm your senior. Older homes have been known to give way under the feet of elders if not properly maintained.
Check all lights to be sure the bulbs do not need to be replaced. When you visit during the day to provide care, the light bulbs are not often used. However, in the dark of night when your senior gets up and finds that the bathroom light bulb or hallway fixture is not working is not the time for them to be looking for a bulb and standing on a chair to replace it. Turning on each switch to check them out in the daylight is a good safety measure that doesn’t take much time.
When it is time to put up or take down storm windows, put up or clean the screens or wash windows, consider bringing in a helper to do the job. Be sure to be proactive so that your senior doesn’t try to tackle this hefty job before you line someone up to do the work.

These and other tasks around the house are things that your senior loved one has probably done alone throughout his or her life. Your senior may think they are still capable of completing some or all of these tasks, but for his or her own safety, this should be given to someone else.

If it comes down to hiring someone to perform work for your senior loved ones, we want to make sure only qualified people do work and that our loved ones are safe in their homes. If you don’t know someone or are a remote family caregiver, it might help to know that Service Magic is a resource we’ve found to locate the type of help needed when you don’t know where else to turn. They may have good options for you to consider when help is needed.

While we’re at it, we suggest you consider taking some of this advice beyond senior loved ones — to yourself! You may also consider having a handyperson do these things in your own home while you care for your senior. It would help lift some of your own burdens and avoid some of the overwhelm that so often impacts family caregivers.

Related reading:

Medicare Basics for Family Caregivers of Seniors

Kathy — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 22:45:13 +0000

Medicare is a health insurance plan administered by the federal government for seniors 65+ years old, people under 65 years if they have a disability or anyone suffering from end stage renal disease requiring dialysis or a transplant. It guarantees access to health insurance for seniors.

Medicare was established and signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson on July 30, 1965. Before Medicare was created, only half of America’s seniors had health coverage. Coverage at that time was either unavailable or cost prohibitive.

This social program also further influenced the integration of medical services since it did not pay providers who were segregated.

There were 47.5 million Americans enrolled in Medicare in 2010, seniors comprising 5 of every 6 people enrolled.

The more family caregivers of seniors know about Medicare, the better equipped they are to assist loved ones and assure they are receiving all the benefits to which they are entitled.

Types of Medicare Coverage

There are several “parts” of Medicare that provide coverage for specific services your senior may receive.

Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) helps cover your inpatient care in hospitals. Part A also helps cover skilled nursing facility, hospice, and home health care.
Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) helps cover doctors’ services and outpatient care. Part B also helps cover some preventive services to help maintain your health and to keep certain illnesses from getting worse.
Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage Plans)(like an HMO or PPO) is a health coverage choice run by private companies approved by Medicare. It includes Part A, Part B, and, usually other coverage including prescription drugs. These plans must cover medically-necessary services. However, plans can charge different copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles for these services.
Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage) helps cover the cost of prescription drugs. This coverage may help lower your prescription drug costs and help protect against higher costs in the future.

Did you know that:

Medicare is basically mandated? If you refuse Medicare you can’t collect Social Security benefits.
The average benefit per enrollee is $11,762?
You can’t pay cash for services covered by Medicare unless your doctor chooses to opt out of the Medicare program? It prohibits agreements between doctors and patients.
Your senior is automatically enrolled in Part B unless he refuses? If you choose later to join, you will pay a 10% higher rate
Medicare does not pay for hospitalizations longer than 150 days and does not put a cap on your out of pocket expenses?
Medigap plans are available to help handle additional out of pocket costs?

Learn about the benefits to which your senior is entitled so that you will participate fully in the program.

For more information about Medicare, you might want to check out their handbook “Medicare & You,” or visit them on the web.

Related reading:

DNR / Advance Directives Reminder – National Healthcare Decisions Day

Barry — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 15:11:37 +0000

How many times have we disagreed with the choice made in a TV show or movie when someone is so sick or injured that a decision has to be made whether to keep them alive on life support or let them go?

Have you said “I wouldn’t want that to happen to me” or “if I’m in that situation I hope they do the same for me”?

Have you done anything to document your desire or told those nearest you?

Would you know what to do if it were a senior loved one in that situation — what they would want you to do if they are not able to make their wishes known at the time?

Seniors’ End of Life Wishes

More than 70% of Americans told Pew Research, in a 2005 survey, they had given thought to their end of life medical decisions, with half of those saying they had given it a great deal of thought.

Do you know how your senior loved ones feel about those decisions? The 2005 Pew survey heard these responses when asking what people would tell their doctor.

56% of seniors said they would want treatment stopped if in a great deal of pain as a result of disease and had no hope of improvement
46% of seniors said they would want treatment stopped if unable to function day to day as a result of disease and had no hope of improvement
50% of seniors said they would want treatment stopped if they had a disease that made them totally dependent on a family member for care

Only 27%, 35% and 29%, respectively, of seniors said they would tell their doctor to save their lives in those situations. Interestingly, even higher percentages of those aged 50 to 64 (many of whom are now seniors themselves) said they would want treatment stopped in those situations.

Knowing how we want those end of life decisions handled is not enough, since so many facing those situations are not in a position to speak for themselves.

Document Wishes in a DNR or Advance Directive

It is certainly important to explain these wishes with those who are closest but in order to have those wishes honored by healthcare providers and facilities it is often necessary to make a legally binding declaration in advance. That is typically done in what is called Advance Directives, DNR or a Living Will.

A nationwide effort of organizations in the U.S to highlight the importance of advance healthcare decision making has culminated in the designation of April 16 as National Healthcare Decisions Day.

If you haven’t done so already, you might use this occasion as a conversation starter with your senior loved ones so you can find out how they feel. Don’t stop with the talk, though. Urge them – or even help them – to get their wishes documented in a legally enforceable way. Your attorney can help you to do so and often local organizations will have the information you need. If you would rather do it yourself but want to make sure the wishes are made legal, we suggest checking out what LegalZoom has to offer. Many find them to be an effective and lower cost alternative to consulting an attorney.

If you had that discussion with your senior loved ones some time ago, you might still use National Healthcare Decisions Day as a reason to check and see if they still feel the same way. If their wishes have changed, be sure the current wishes are reflected in their advance directives or living will to be sure those are followed rather than those they put in place previously.

We wish you the best in these discussions with your senior loved ones – - and hope they are not needed for some time.

Related reading: