Planning For Your Elder Years

Posted on October 30, 2009 by Frank Esposito

New Jersey Elder Planning Tips

Recent surveys among NJ elderly, find that their biggest concerns are:

1. Remaining independent in the home without intervention from others;

2. Maintaining good health and receiving adequate health care;

3. Having enough money for everyday needs and not outliving assets and income.

Pre-planning can help address these issues. No other life event can be as devastating to an elderly person’s lifestyle, finances and security as needing long term care. It can drastically alter or eliminates the three principal lifestyle concerns above. The majority of the American public does not plan for this crisis of needing elder care. The lack of planning also has an adverse effect on the older person’s family, with sacrifices made in time, money, and family lifestyles. Due to changing demographics and potential changes in government funding, the current generation needs to plan for long term care before the elder years are upon them.

Here are some facts.

The population of the “very old,” – older than age 85 – is the fastest growing group in America. This population is at highest risk for needing care. (Statistical abstract of the United States,
2008, population)
Medical science is preventing early sudden deaths, which means living longer with impaired health and greater risk of needing long term care.
The Alzheimer’s Association estimates the risk of Alzheimer’s or dementia beyond age 85 to be about 46% of
that population.
It is estimated that 6 out of 10 people will need long-term care sometime during their lifetime.
Children moving far away from parents or parents moving away during retirement makes long distance care giving difficult or impossible.
Government programs— already stretched thin for long term care services— will experience even greater stress on
available funds in the future.

One of the important things for planning is how to maintain your lifestyle as you age. You may be healthy enough to stay in your own home with help provided for the following activities of daily living:

maintaining a home
providing meals
supervision
companionship
transportation
shopping services

This type of care at home is non-medical and must be provided free of charge by family, friends, or volunteers or the care must be paid for out-of-pocket by the family. Government programs, in most cases, will not pay for this kind of care. It is estimated that 80% of all long term care is non-medical, with 90% of that care provided in the home.

Plan now how you will pay for care when it is needed. In evaluating your future income you may find it necessary to add some resources such as long term care insurance to pay for assisted living or nursing home costs. Long term care insurance must be purchased while you are younger and healthy. Failing health, stroke or other aging issues will not allow you to qualify for this insurance. A reverse mortgage will also help pay for home care if staying in your home is an option.

Consider where you may want to live in your elder years. Many assisted living facilities offer complete care alternatives with a nursing home wing if needed. Senior retirement communities also offer many amenities with some including home care options. Now is the time to do estate planning. A professional estate planner will give you direction on how best to protect your assets for future needs and for Medicaid planning. Now is the time to create your trusts, will, medical directives in a living will and any other documents you want noted for future use. Gather insurance policies and bank records where they can be found by family members in case you are not able to get them yourself.

The process of long term care planning involves the following four
principles:

1. Knowledge and preparation are the keys to success.
2. Having funds to pay for care expands the choices for care
settings and providers.
3. Using professional help relieves stress, reduces conflict, and
saves time and money.
4. Success is assured through a written plan accepted by all
parties involved.

(The above excerpt is quoted from “The 4 Steps of Long Term Care Planning,” National Care Planning Council)

The National Care Planning Council’ s website — www.longtermcarelink.net — provides over 700 pages of information for long term care planning and lists services of professional care providers in estate planning, long term care insurance, reverse mortgage, home care and many other important long term care services.

The National Care Planning Council’ s book, “The 4 Steps of Long Term Care Planning,” provides information on what Medicaid and Medicare will cover as well as an overview of professional long term care service providers and how their services can help you create and execute your long term care plan. A check list of what to do to create a plan and forms for creating necessary paperwork are also included in the book.

Posted by: Frank Esposito, Vice President of Expert Home Care. New Jersey’s Expert Home Care provides professional and reliable home health care and companion care for NJ elderly, helping them with their daily living activities since 1984. Please call us toll free at 800-848-2336 when you have home care related questions or need assistance for a loved one. Get a Free Home Care Assessment (a $375 value!) when you mention this post.

Elderly Relocation – Help Your Senior Move with These 10 Tips

Posted on October 26, 2009 by Frank Esposito

NJ Senior Living

Moving is physically and emotionally difficult for anyone, particularly the elderly. Here are some things to consider when helping an elderly person move:

1. Be kind. When helping to sort and pack your elderly loved one’s possessions, keep in mind that their eyesight and an inability to do everything they used to do can result in poor housekeeping habits. Offer to clean as you pack and try not to criticize.

2. Help sort. Seniors tend to keep things they don’t necessarily need or will ever use. Be gentle when suggesting to get rid of possessions. Ask them if they use the item and if they would mind if you donate it. If it’s a treasure or something they would like to keep but the new space can’t accommodate it, suggest keeping it in the family by giving it to a child or grandchild.

3. Take pictures of the inside of their home. As close as possible, try to place objects in a similar way so that their new home will feel very much like the old one. Be as detailed as you can from arranging the bedroom furniture to placing the family pictures on the bureau. This will help make the new place feel like home.

4. Obtain a room layout of their new place. Find out before you move how much space the new place has. If your senior is moving from a three bedroom house to a one bedroom condo, then together you will need to decide what will fit and how much can be kept.

5. Start small. Take a day to spend with your senior to talk about the move and what to expect. Give them small tasks to do such as going through a desk drawer or a box from the attic. Ask them to spend only 15 to 20 minutes a day on one task. Let them decide what they would like to do and what they might find hard to do. Taking small steps will help your senior get used to the idea of moving.

6. Pick a room that has less sentimental attachment. Have your elderly loved one start sorting through the bathroom or kitchen drawers; pick a place in the house that doesn’t hold the same emotional attachment as the bedroom or living room or a photo box kept in the attic.

7. Plan the move. Allow enough time that your senior doesn’t feel rushed. Sorting through years of stuff is difficult and sometimes emotionally painful. Give them time to absorb the change.

8. Hire outside help. Sometimes it’s easier for your senior to work with an outside party rather than with members of their family. There are many companies that specialize in moving seniors.

9. Be patient. Allow your senior time to say goodbye. If they take longer to clean out the desk drawer because of a stack of pictures they found, let them take the time to remember. This is a very important part of the process. Be patient. Listen to their stories.

10. Get them involved. Take your senior to their new home ahead of the move on their own time and when they are ready. Let them tell you how they would like it to look and make a plan to prepare the space accordingly.

Elderly Medication Errors – 11 Tips to Avoid Problems

Posted on October 21, 2009 by Frank Esposito

NJ Elder Health

Avoiding Medication Errors

Many seniors take multiple medications, which increases the likelihood of medication errors. Here are some excellent tips for seniors to reduce the likelihood of making a mistake with their medications:

Check the label when you get a prescription to verify that you are receiving the proper medication. Read back the prescription to your pharmacist and doctor.
Keep all medication in original containers.
Remember to contact your health care provider or pharmacist if you have any doubts about missing a dosage.
Fill all prescriptions at the same pharmacy.
Read the patient information sheet that accompanies your medication.
Notify your pharmacist immediately if there is a change in the color, size, shape or smell of your medication.
Do not share or take another person’s medication.
When in doubt about a medication you are taking, always consult your pharmacist and doctor. Ask about any side effects that you might experience or expect.
When in the hospital:

- State your name before taking any medications and always offer your wrist bracelet for identification. Ask the nurse to identify each medication by name before you take it.

- Ask your nurse why your medication has not been given at its regular time during your hospital stay.

- Remind your doctor if you have any allergies to certain medications and food or if you also have a health condition that could affect the use of certain medications.

Tell your pharmacist and doctor if you are taking any dietary supplements or over-the-counter medications.
Create a list of all the medications you are taking and share with your family members. The list should include the following information:

- Your full name and date of birth

- Drug name (the drugs being taken, both generic and brand)

- Strength (dosage)

- Directions for using the medication, including how many times a day and when the medication should be taken

- What liquids or foods are being used to take or should be used to take with medications, for example, water, juice, apple sauce etc.

- Allergies to certain medicines and foods

- Pharmacy and health care providers names, addresses, telephone numbers

- Family emergency contact information

Relaxation Techniques for the Elderly

Posted on October 18, 2009 by Frank Esposito

NJ Senior Health & Fitness

Relaxation techniques can reduce anyone’s stress level, including seniors. Here are some good exercises for your elderly loved ones to consider:

Tense the muscles in the body, one by one, then relax them, one by one.

This technique takes the mind off of anxiety-provoking thoughts and images and enables one to feel somewhat in control of his or her body.

Slow, rhythmic breathing combined with images of beautiful, peaceful places

This refocusing onto positive and peaceful images, helps diminish any pain and reduces anxiety.

Meditation, focusing on a word, image or concept

This technique takes the mind off of pain or anxiety and focuses on something calming, such as ocean sounds, the thought that “I will get better,” or an image of a child smiling.

Prayer

This appeal to a higher power relaxes and calms some people.

Biofeedback plus relaxation

Biofeedback uses electrical equipment to help one learn how to control the body’s heart rate, blood pressure and muscle tension. It is normally used in conjunction with other relaxation techniques and helps reduce pain and anxiety.

Hypnosis

In hypnosis, the goal is to achieve a state of relaxed concentration, during which the mind is more receptive to suggestions that block the awareness of pain, or to change the sensation of pain to something that is positive. The hypnotist should be a trained psychologist or psychiatrist.

Massage

A massage therapist kneads the body into a state of relaxation, which can reduce pain and anxiety, stress and exhaustion. Different people find various massage techniques helpful. Try different techniques to see which works most effectively.

Elderly Flu & Pneumonia – Keep Your Senior From Getting Sick

Posted on October 14, 2009 by David

NJ Elder Health

Here are some excellent tips to help a senior avoid getting sick this winter – or what to do if they catch the flu or pneumonia.

Here are symptoms to look out for with various forms of pneumonia:

Symptoms of bacterial pneumonia, which often appear suddenly, include shaking chills, pain in the chest, shortness of breath, a high fever, sweating, and coughing up thick yellow or green phlegm.
Warning signs of viral pneumonia include: headache, fever, a dry cough that does not bring up phlegm, muscle pain and exhaustion.
Signs of more advanced viral pneumonia can include a cough that produces small amounts of white or clear phlegm.
Walking pneumonia, which is a milder form of pneumonia, usually produces flu-like symptoms but in much less severe form than other kinds of pneumonia, and is treated with antibiotics.

Symptoms of flu (or swine flu) include:

fever
headache
extreme tiredness
dry cough
sore throat
runny or stuffy nose
muscle aches

Once your senior develops the flu, it will be important to follow the doctor’s orders, rest, drink a lot of fluids, and avoid alcohol and cigarettes. The more nutritious the fluids, the more helpful they will be. In addition:

Talk to your doctor about influenza antiviral drugs that may shorten the flu’s course.
Discuss with your doctor the benefits of the flu vaccine and the new vaccines that are coming out for the swine flu.
Have them get a pneumonia vaccine, which helps protect against 23 types of bacterial pneumonia.
Make sure they minimize their exposure to sick people.
Wash their hands often.
Avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth, which will help prevent any germs from entering the body that may have been picked up through touch.
Build up his or her immune system by making sure they get lots of sleep, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, in addition to protein, manage their stress levels and consume fluids. Fluids help loosen secretions so that the patient can then bring up phlegm.
Don’t let your senior do any chores until he or she gets stronger.
Give your senior aspirin or acetaminophen to control any fever.
Wash your hands before preparing your parent’s food or touching him or her.
Try propping your senior up in bed to see if that helps in their breathing.
Reassure your senior that he or she should get better soon.
If your senior doesn’t recover as soon as expected, speak with his or her doctor about trying another treatment.

Elderly Breathing Problems – 20 Tips to Help Your Senior Live Better

Posted on October 11, 2009 by Frank Esposito

NJ Senior Health

People with chronic bronchitis are at increased risk of developing infections, and those with other breathing problems (such as emphysema or COPD) are at risk of having infections further these problems. To prevent infections, encourage your senior to:

Wash both hands frequently.
Stay away from people who are ill.
Take a daily vitamin.
Eat lots of fruits and vegetables, which contain vitamins and will build up their immune system.
Try a zinc supplement, which may help reduce infections.

Reducing indoor air pollution can help strengthen your elderly loved one’s lung health. Here are some things to consider:

Central air conditioning is essential in warmer months for older people. Make sure the filter is changed often.
Check for mold which can irritate the lungs.
Use only vacuum cleaners with HEPA air filters that trap the dust.
Wash bed linens, pillows, and curtains in hot water to kill any dust mites.
Remove any pets from the home.
Do not paint the inside of the house or redo the floors with polyurethane coating, as paint and polyurethane can irritate lungs.
Always run a fan that vents to the outdoors for at least 20 minutes when cooking or showering, as this will help avoid moisture buildup which can lead to mold.
Aerosol sprays and scented products should be avoided as they can cause breathing problems.

Learn how to conserve your senior’s energy. Here are some things to consider:

Exercising can help tone your senior’s muscles.
Seniors should rest for an hour after each meal to give the body time to digest the food eaten before using energy on something else.
Your senior should keep often used items within reach of his or her chair, so that it isn’t necessary to move very much to get them. Silverware should go from the sink or dishwasher to the table rather than cabinets. Pots and pans should be placed back on the stove after washing
If your senior lives alone, find someone to prepare meals, shop and do chores for him or her.

Clothing can also play a role. Here are some tips to consider:

Your senior should avoid anything tight in the chest or abdomen that could restrict breathing, such as belts, bras and girdles.
Heavy clothing, such as coats and sweaters, can be exhausting, as these items require extra energy to wear.
Trying on clothing can itself be tiring. Instead, encourage your senior to measure him or herself with a tape measure or be measured by someone. Knowing these measurements will enable your senior to buy clothes either on line (thereby saving the energy needed to shop) or in a store, without trying them on.

Elderly Vision Loss – How to Reduce the Likelihood of Problems at Home

Posted on October 8, 2009 by Frank Esposito

New Jersey Senior Health

One of the most devastating physical problems associated with old age is the loss of vision due to such conditions as macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma. Here are some things to consider that can reduce the likelihood of this leading to problems in the home:

Get rid of anything your elderly loved one could trip on, such as coffee tables, toys on the floor, throw rugs.
Make sure there are clear pathways within and to each room.
Paint doors and trim a color that contrasts with the wall colors, so they will stand out more. Do the same with banisters.
Put yellow strips on the edge of each step and also at the beginning and end of ramps.
Install grab bars for the tub and shower.
Ask your senior and let him or her tell you what kinds of help, if any, would be appreciated.
Try to be as understanding as possible during the adjustment period, during which anger and frustration may be forthcoming.
Studies have found that those who eat large amounts of certain carbohydrates that cause blood sugar levels to rise and then fall rapidly may have a greater chance of developing central vision loss as they age. Examples of these foods are: white bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, sugar and corn syrup.
Encourage your senior to join a support group, where others in the same situation share their feelings about and strategies to cope with vision loss.
Inspire your senior to participate in vision rehabilitation programs, and then accompany him or her to some. This will teach you what your senior can do independently, enabling you to support his or her successes.
Encourage your senior to get counseling from someone trained to deal with vision issues, either individually or in a group setting.
Most people with vision loss are told to stop smoking, as smoking can double their chance of developing macular degeneration, one of the main causes of vision loss in seniors. Encourage your senior to get help to stop smoking.

The Elderly & Broken Hips – 14 Expert Tips

Posted on October 5, 2009 by Frank Esposito

NJ Senior Health

The body faces an endless list of problems in old age. One of these problems is brittle bones that tend to break easily and often.

There are more than 323,000 hospitalizations for hip fractures a year in the U.S., or more than 850 fractures a day. Most hip fractures occur in older women. White, post-menopausal women have a 1 in 7 chance of sustaining a hip fracture during their lifetime.

Here are some tips on how to help your senior recover from a broken hip:

Talk with a physical or occupational therapist about assistive devices that can make your senior’s life easier and help him or her to be as independent as possible. These may include extra long shoehorns and devices that can help the person who is unable to bend dress themselves.
With the assistance of devices, such as a long-handled sponge your senior will be able to do a lot to care for him or herself. A bath bench should also be helpful, as well as grab bars for getting in and out of the shower.
Purchasing a raised toilet seat and installing grab bars next to the toilet should help your senior go to the bathroom unassisted.
Slip-on shoes that are easy to get into and that have nonslip soles will be very helpful. Also, loose clothing that doesn’t go over the head and that can be tied in front can make dressing easier.

You can hire trained and certified aging-in-place specialists who can come to your parent’s home and offer advice on how to make the home as safe and fall-proof as possible. These specialists can then make the necessary adjustments to the home.
Other options are geriatric care managers and home care agencies whose employees have been trained to assess a senior’s home for falling risks – although your parent will then be left to make the necessary changes on his or her own.
Encourage your senior to improve the function of their hip by exercising daily.

Here are some general suggestions that may help to prevent a fall:

Rearrange the furniture to create an unobstructed passageway into and around all rooms
Make sure no rugs or carpets bunch up or have frayed edges that could be tripped on, and that all rugs and carpets are securely anchored to the floor.
Install grab bars in the bathroom and railings in all stairwells.
Add lighting so that all stairs, exits and entrances are well lit and pose no hazard.
Tape all cords to the wall.
Warn your senior to only carry very small loads, as larger ones could cause a loss of balance.
Check to see that the soles of any shoes your senior wears in the home don’t stick to the carpet and are not likely to cause falls.
If possible, reduce the number of medications your senior takes, as taking four or more can affect one’s sense of balance

Get Your Elderly Loved One To Quit Smoking – 6 Key Tips

Posted on October 1, 2009 by Frank Esposito

NJ Elder Health

Does your elderly loved one smoke cigarettes? If so, you should try to get them to quit as soon as possible. The American Cancer Society, Nicotine Anonymous and the American Lung Association can help you help your senior.

Here is what you can say to your elderly loved one to help them quit smoking:

Let your senior know how important he or she is to you and your family, and that you want him or her to be around to participate in your family’s life.
Smoking increases the risk not only of having a first stroke, but also of having another one. Smoking increases the risk of having a heart attack, as well as of developing many other health problems.
Smoking can double one’s chance of developing macular degeneration, one of the major causes of vision loss in seniors.
If your senior smokes, tell them that if they quit smoking they will reduce their chance of a heart attack and death from heart disease by 50 percent. The nicotine in cigarettes causes less oxygen to go to the heart, increases blood pressure and heart rate, as well as blood clotting, and damages cells that line the arteries and other blood vessels.
In addition to increasing the risk of getting diabetes, smoking also increases a senior’s chance of developing complications from diabetes, such as retinopathy, heart disease, stroke, vascular disease, kidney disease, nerve damage, neuropathy (problems with feet), and more.
Some studies suggest smoking has been found to greatly accelerate the rate of mental decline in Alzheimer’s patients.

Expert Home Care NJ – New Jersey Home Health

Monthly Archives: October 2009