Relevant News Articles for Seniors: Week Ending July 30, 2010

Seniors need to keep active.  Physical activity offers many benefits for seniors for mental, physical, and spiritual health.   From HealthDay.

Home Instead Senior Care also offers activity cards which have different activities for the mind, body and soul.  I have posted many of these activities on the blog.

Depression linked to Alzheimer's Disease.  New study finds that people suffering from depression have a higher chance of developing Alzheimer's Disease.  Is this supposed to uplift those that suffer from depression?  From Live Science.

Considering retirement?  Should you keep your nest egg invested in your company's 401K or roll it over.  Expert advice = "it depends."  From Money Magazine.

Uh oh!  Uncle Sam's at it again!  Estate tax will be accessed again starting in January 2011.  And this time the tax will affect a lot more people.  Good times all around.  From USA Today.

"Senior proof" your home.  Everyone's familiar with child proofing.  Senior proofing really that far off.  With falling being the biggest fear seniors have, and rightfully so, making some modifications to your home for a senior loved one is not only nice, but necessary.  From The New York Times.

Great weekend to all!

Relevant News Articles for Seniors: Week Ending July 23, 2010

I don't think this is the heart the Tin Man was seeking.  French company hopes to have complete artificial heart available by the end of next year.  From The New York Times.

Excuse me, can I peek at your DNA?  How we treat diseases now vs. five years from now will be significantly different.  Researchers hope to find new treatments for cancer, osteoporosis, lupus and other diseases based on genetic analysis.  From Kiplinger.

New drug trials for Alzheimer's Disease.  Goal of new drug is to slow or stop the progression of Alzheimer’s by blocking and destroying amyloid or the "plaque" associated with disease.  One minor draw back - The scientists have to prove that blocking "plaque" actually makes a difference in Alzheimer's patients.  From The New York Times.

Diabetes drug Avandia called into question.  The diabetic drug treatment Avandia took a blow this week when an FDA panel voted to restrict it.  Avandia has been linked to heart attacks since a study in 2007 by Dr. Steven Nissen.  From The New York Times.

Taking Avandia?  Don't do anything drastic like stop taking your medications or taking lower doses.  Talk to your doctor before changing any of your medications.   Other drug treatment options to discuss with your doctor include Metformin, Pioglitazone, DPP-4 inhibitors.  Also, a healthy diet and exercise are always helpful!   From CNN Health.

And they're off.  Have a great weekend.  If you're fortunate enough to be in Saratoga - have a lucky weekend as well!

Help (Not) Wanted

Five strategies to help counter a senior’s resistance to assistance

Following are strategies from Home Instead Senior Care® and family caregiving consultant Dr. Amy D’Aprix to help family caregivers turn resistance into assistance.

1. Understand where the resistance is coming from. Ask your parent why he or she is resisting. “Mom, I notice that every time I bring up the idea of someone coming in to help, you resist it. Why is that?” Oftentimes older adults don’t realize they are being resistant.

2. Explain your goals. Remind your loved one that you both want the same thing. Explain that a little extra help can keep her at home longer and will help put your mind at ease as well. Have a candid conversation with him about the impact this care is having on your life. Oftentimes seniors don’t understand the time commitment of a caregiver.

3. Bring in outside help. If a relationship with a parent is deteriorating, ask a professional, such as a geriatric care manager, for an assessment. A third-party professional can provide valuable input. Also, go to www.4070talk.com for tips on how to talk with a loved one. If you are having problems getting through to your older adult, consider asking another family member or close friend to intervene. If you’re not making headway, perhaps there’s someone better to talk with your parents.

4. Research your options to find the best resources for your loved one. Contact your local Area Agency on Aging or a geriatric care manager to research resources in your community. Or go to www.homeinstead.com and click on the resources tab for The Home Care Solution, a guide for family caregivers to help them find the best in-home care for their loved ones. If you decide outside help is needed, reassure your parents and tell them you have researched caregivers and you are confident you have found the best one you can find to come into the home to help.

5. Respect your parent’s decisions. Sometimes you won’t agree with your parent’s decisions and that’s O.K. As long as your loved one is of sound mind, he or she should have the final say.  A note: If your senior has dementia, seek professional assistance from a doctor or geriatric care manager. Logic often will not work and other strategies must be employed.

Battle of the Ages

Free resources help families overcome resistance of seniors who need help

Just when you thought that a family caregiver’s job couldn’t get more difficult, consider this: Many of the estimated 32,000 households caring for a senior in Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties are trying to help an aging relative who’d rather not have help.

A study of family caregivers who responded to a survey on caregiverstress.com revealed that more than half of the respondents (51 percent) said that their aging relative was very resistant to care. These seniors often object to help whether it’s from their own children or a professional who tries to come into their homes to assist.

This is a real problem for family caregivers worried about the safety of a senior loved one who might be forgetting food on the stove or neglecting to take their medications.

But experts say that keeping fiercely independent seniors safe at home isn’t a lost cause; there are solutions for them and their family caregivers. That’s why the Home Instead Senior Care network is launching Caring for Your Parents: Education for the Family Caregiver.

The unique, educational program includes a number of resources that address senior resistance to care as well as a variety of other topics such as choosing an in-home care provider, the signs of aging, long distance caregiving and communicating with aging parents. The free materials and videos are available at http://www.caregiverstress.com/.

Why do seniors resist help? If seniors admit they need help, they feel their independence is in question. Seniors believe that once they acknowledge they need help, they’ll lose control of their affairs. They are trying to maintain dignity. Unless they feel they can trust someone, they resist change. It’s the fear that life as they’ve known it will be taken away from them.

Sometimes seniors only want help from a son or daughter, which can put undue pressure on that family caregiver who feels he or she can’t call for professional help. Most caregivers can go into “crisis mode” to rally around a loved one in the short-term, “but you can't be totally immersed in a crisis mode long-term without your own family, work and health suffering,” according to family caregiving consultant Dr. Amy D’Aprix, who holds a Ph.D. and master’s degree in social work and is author of From Surviving to Thriving: Transforming Your Caregiving Experience.

The strain can take a particular toll on working family caregivers. The Home Instead Senior Care study revealed that 42 percent of caregivers spend more than 30 hours a week caregiving. That’s the equivalent of a second full-time job.

And that’s what makes countering that resistance to assistance so important. “Many times family caregivers make assumptions but never ask: ‘Mom, I’ve noticed that every time I bring up having someone come in to assist, you don’t want help. Why is that?’ Sometimes the parent doesn’t realize they’re being resistant,” D’Aprix added.

“Also, reassuring a senior loved one that you have the same goal in mind will help,” D’Aprix said. “Start with: ‘My goal for you is to be independent, too. You know I can’t be here all the time. A little extra assistance will help you stay at home.’”

The battle to turn resistance into assistance can be fierce, like seniors who call police when a professional caregiver shows up. Education can help arm family caregivers with the tools they need to create a win-win for everyone.

Senior Sun Stress

Older Adults Vulnerable to Heat Because They Don’t See Themselves at Risk

The fact that many seniors don’t view themselves as older adults makes them more vulnerable to the dangers of heat. That’s why it’s important to serve as a second set of eyes for family, friends and neighbors who may be at risk. Important, too, for seniors to realize that they might be vulnerable.

A Kent State University study of seniors over the age of 65 in four North American cities discovered that while nearly 90 percent of the respondents were aware a heat warning had been issued, only about half of the people did anything about it. Many thought the warning messages were targeting the elderly and did not view themselves in that group (http://www.kent.edu/Magazine/Summer2006/StealthKiller.cfm)

Following are ways for seniors to continue to have fun in the summer and get their work done without jeopardizing their health:

• Keep a glass of water in every room to quickly and easily access fluids. Drink plenty of fluids, even if you don’t feel thirsty.

• Go through the closet and remove all heavy materials, long sleeves and dark colors. Store them until fall.

• Stay out of the sun during the hottest times of the day. Sunburn makes the job of heat dissipation that much more difficult.

• Save household chores, particularly washing and drying clothes and operating the dishwasher, for evenings, when the weather is cooler.

• Take a nap during high heat times – between 3 and 5 p.m. in the afternoon, for instance – or find a good television program or movie to watch.

• Keep shades down and blinds pulled. Keeping a house tightly closed is more energy efficient.

• If you don’t have an air conditioner, or if yours is broken, spend the afternoon at the mall. You can shop or just enjoy cool drinks and a good book.

• Eat light. Foods like proteins that increase metabolic heat production also increase water loss.

• If increased use of a central air conditioning system causes higher utility bills that are a problem for your budget, consider purchasing a fan or small window unit that can cool down a home at a lower cost.

Relevant News Articles for Seniors: Week Ending July 2, 2010

Diabetics beware.  If you have diabetes your risk of having a heart attack or stroke are double the risk for non-diabetics.  However, if you take care of your condition and monitor your blood sugar levels, you can lower your risk.  From HealthDay.

New insurance pools offer coverage for those considered 'high risk.'  Those with chronic medical conditions and no medical coverage through employers have often found it difficult to find an insurance provider that will cover them, and if lucky enough to find one that will, the costs are exorbitant.  Yesterday (July 1) this hopefully all changed with a new program funded by Uncle Sam.  From The New York Times.

Aging Swingers at High STD Risk.  A Dutch study finds that you are more likely to contract an STD if you are a 'swinger' than if you are a prostitute.  From HealthDay.

Healthy at Any Age.  In the era of Google, medical advice is more confusing than ever. Here’s a guide to what you really need to know, and when.  From Newsweek.

Happy Independence Day.  Have a fun, safe 4th of July!