IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF OSTEOPOROSIS

When you think about staying healthy, you probably think about making lifestyle changes to prevent cancer and heart disease. But, keeping your bones healthy is just as important. Here are some important facts.

We have 206 bones in our body. And it’s important to keep them strong by getting enough calcium, vitamin D and weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening activity. However, that might not be enough. Talk to your doctor about your risk factors and how you can prevent osteoporosis.

44 million Americans have low bone density or osteoporosis. In fact, about one in two women and up to one in four men over the age of 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis. By 2020, half of all Americans over age 50 are expected to have low bone density or osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is considered a pediatric disease with geriatric consequences. Up to 90 percent of peak bone mass is acquired by age 18 in girls and age 20 in boys, which makes youth the best time to build strong bones to last a lifetime.

There are many reasons people get osteoporosis. Some of these include having a family history of broken bones, smoking, not getting enough physical activity, unhealthy eating habits, drinking too much alcohol, taking certain medicines and having certain medical conditions.

Osteoporosis can sneak up on you. You can’t feel your bones becoming weaker. You could have osteoporosis now or be at risk without realizing it. A bone mineral density test can tell if you have osteoporosis before you experience symptoms, such as breaking a bone.

Osteoporosis isn’t just a problem for older Caucasian women. While osteoporosis is common among white women, men and women of all races and ethnicities can develop the disease. It can also strike at any age.

These are just a few facts about osteoporosis.

National Osteoporosis Foundation

1150 17th Street, NW Suite 850

Washington, DC 20036

800.231.4222 T | 202.223.2237 F

www.nof.org

 by Gary Lewis

“Where am I going to live?” one elderly gentleman recently asked.  He said that he and his wife were getting older and that the stresses involved in maintaining their large home were starting to get to him.  “The children have told us we should sell the house and move into an assisted-living facility,” he added.  “But my wife won’t even consider this.” 

For the children, moving on is the obvious choice.  Assisted-living provides a maintainance-free setting with regular meals, round-the-clock nursing care and lots of friends and activities.  Maintaining a home requires lots of energy for cleaning and lots of extra money to pay ever-increasing property taxes and utility bills.  Houses often require unexpected major expenses, such as new plumbing, a new roof, a new furnace and the like.  To the children, the choice is a “no-brainer.”

But for the parents, the advantages of assisted living are greatly overshadowed by the significance that the home has in their lives.  The home may be the repository for many, if not all, of their happy moments.  To walk away from all of it would be simply impossible.

There can be a happy resolution but it takes some effort on your part (the children) to make it happen.  If you have raised the moving scenario to your parents and it has been rejected, remember that the most important thing that you can do is to allow your parents to maintain as much control over their own lives as possible.  You have planted the idea as a seed and that is the best that you can do for the moment.  Respond in such a way, “we know how important the home is to you, please take all of the time you need.  Let us know if you wish to talk about it later.”

Then, bring the house “to life!”  Ask your parents open-ended questions about the home, get them talking about it often.  Ask them what led them to purchase this home instead of others?  What are the important memories that happened in each of the different rooms.  What are the stories behind the artwork decorating the home? 

Bring up your memories of events at the home.  Tell them stories about what you were doing.  Did your parents know what you were up to?  Don’t feel afraid to talk to them about some of the mischief you might have gotten into.  Your relationship now is no longer that of a child-parent, at best, it is the relationship of a close friend, a confidant.

Listen carefully to their stories, even the ones you’ve heard twenty times already.  Be interested and ask leading questions.  As your parents have the opportunity to recall all of the memories associated with the house, their attachment will fade and they will be ready to move on. 

Don’t let this be the end of your memory-evoking conversations with them though.  One of the most important missions of seniors is to figure out ‘what it’s been all about.’  They can only do that by remembering back on all of the important events in their life.  They need your help and support.

Gary Lewis, CFP®, CASL®, has worked in various areas of

financial services since receiving his MBA from Northwestern University

in 1988.  He specializes in providing services to the mature market and helping seniors age-in-place.  He can be reached at gary@assetdesigncenter.com.

The driving behaviors listed below are ranked from minor to serious. Many of the less serious issues may be overcome with changes in driving behavior or physical fitness, while the more serious behaviors may require your immediate action. Since driving ability seldom changes drastically in a short time, you should be able to track changes over time to get a clear picture of overall driving ability.

Here’s How to Use This List:

Observe driving over time, keeping notes to help you understand changes in driving ability.

Look for a pattern of warning signs and for an increase in the frequency of occurrence.

Driving Behavior Warning Signs

1.            Decrease in confidence while driving.

2.            Difficulty turning to see when backing up.

3.            Riding the brake.

4.            Easily distracted while driving.

5.            Other drivers often honk horns.

6.            Incorrect signaling.

7.            Parking inappropriately.

8.            Hitting curbs.

9.            Scrapes or dents on the car, mailbox or garage.

10.       Increased agitation or irritation when driving.

11.       Failure to notice important activity on the side of the road.

12.       Failure to notice traffic signs.

13.       Trouble navigating turns.

14.       Driving at inappropriate speeds.

15.       Not anticipating potential dangerous situations.

16.       Uses a “copilot.”

17.       Bad judgment on making left hand turns.

18.       Near misses.

19.       Delayed response to unexpected situations.

20.       Moving into wrong lane.

21.       Difficulty maintaining lane position.

22.       Confusion at exits.

23.       Ticketed moving violations or warnings.

24.       Getting lost in familiar places.

25.       Car accident.

26.       Failure to stop at stop sign or red light.

27.       Confusing the gas and brake pedals.

28.       Stopping in traffic for no apparent reason.

For more information, please visit The Hartford Group at    

www.safedrivingforalifetime.com

Trying to resolve a business problem by the telephone has become a daunting task for most of us.  Long gone are the days when your telephone call would be immediately answered by a real person.  Instead, we are now confronted by a series of questions, requiring us to press the right buttons, in order to be connected with the service agent most capable of handling our problem.  Reaching the right person, communicating the problem and resolving the issue can be even more difficult for seniors. 

Seniors often struggle not only with the new technology but also with problems that aging may cause such as hearing loss, lack of concentration and sometimes even dementia.  Seniors may have greater success in resolving an issue over the telephone if they follow a few tips.

Be Prepared

1.        Know the problem.  Sit down beforehand and write out the problem, being as specific as possible.  Understand what the purpose of the telephone call is and what you hope to accomplish.

2.       Call early in the morning or other times when you feel most alert. 

3.       Make sure that you have all of your sensory enhancement devices, i.e., hearing aids, enhanced telephone headsets, reading glasses, available.

4.       Eliminate all background noises that may cause a distraction prior to making the call.

Making the Call

1.       Keep a notebook and write down the date and time that you are making the phone call.

2.        Listen closely to the instructions and write down each of the prompts that you believe apply to your situation.  In the event that you will have to call again, knowing the required prompts beforehand can help you more easily reach the desired party.

3.       When you reach the desired party, take note of the individual’s name and/or identification number and write it in your notebook.  Ask that in the event that you are cut off, if there is a direct way to call the agent back without having to go through all of the prompts again.

4.       State the problem as you have written it.  Being as precise as possible can help avoid confusion.  If the agent you reached is not the correct party, write down the name of the party or area that you need to reach and try to get a direct number.  If you cannot get a direct number, be sure that you know what prompt you need to use in the event you need to again call back.

Take the time to write down the results of your call and review it with the service agent before ending the call.  Make sure you understand what actions will occur (such as the removal of an expense from a bill) and when you will see evidence that the correction has been made.

By planning your call and making sure that you are free of distractions when making it, you should be well prepared to effectively communicate and resolve any outstanding issue.  By maintaining a written record of the call, with whom you spoke and what actions are to take place, you will be well prepared should any follow-up call be required.

___________________________________

Gary Lewis, CFP®, CASL®, has worked in various areas of

financial services since receiving his MBA from Northwestern University

in 1988.  He specializes in providing services to the mature market and helping seniors age-in-place.  He can be reached at gary@assetdesigncenter.com.

Bathing and personal hygiene of their loved one has long been a struggle for caregivers. If their loved one has dementia, this issue may further become one riddled with fear and trepidation. While bathing can be difficult for the elderly, it is necessary for skin cleansing and infection control as well as providing an opportunity for the caregiver to inspect the senior’s skin. Socially, a bath controls body odor, enhances social interactions and provides positive touch.  But the question remains, “How can we make shower time less of a strain on your personal relationship?”

§         Communicate Tell your loved what you are going to do before proceeding. “Mom, I am going to help you get undressed for the shower.” Approach from the front and maintain eye contact. If he/she becomes violent, back off and try another time.

§         Schedule Set up a bath schedule and use a calendar. Find a time of day where he/she is less likely to have outbursts. Use incentives to get him/her to bathe, such as telling your loved one that they must bathe before a favorite TV show or a favorite dessert. Once or twice a week is sufficient for seniors if they are not incontinent and keep the genital area clean.

§         Atmosphere Make it like a spa experience. Dim the lights and play relaxing, instrumental music. Use scented soaps/lotions, heated towels (use heated towel bars/containers or pluck them from the dryer) and a warm fuzzy bathrobe.

§         Temperature Turn up the heat one to two hours before the bath to keep the bathrooms warm. Seniors are often cold when we are wearing short sleeves. If there is tile in the bathroom, cover them with a plush bath rug or carpet (watch for falls). If you have an overhead heater, turn that on. Wear a t-shirt so you’re not overheated!

§         Safety Make sure the bathroom is safe - use bath chairs, non-slip mats/appliqués and grab bars. If the senior doesn’t feel safe, he or she will not agree to bathe.

§         Equipment Install a hand-held shower. The water spray in the face is distressing as often happens when sitting in a shower chair. The hand-held shower also allows the warm water to pour over them as they wash resulting in a greater sense of control.

§         Modesty Allow your loved one to do as much bathing independently as possible. Keep the doors closed and curtains drawn. Always cover the genitals with a washcloth or keep a light gown on the body that is not being bathed.

If your loved one still refuses to bathe, use alternative methods. Use no-rinse washcloths and dry shampoo. Try a “weekly bath” with everyday washing one part of her body using washcloths. For example, Monday wash her arms, armpits and back, Tuesday, feet and legs. Ask her to take that body part out of her clothes one at a time to wash, dry and then switch. It takes longer but your loved one may be more open to this. Sometimes you could time it during a trip to the washroom and use that as an excuse to clean the genitals. Use powders, body sprays, etc to help cover the body odor when you just can’t get them to bathe.

And lastly, many home care agencies offer a bathing service so that you don’t have to do the “dirty work”. Hire them and then go out for a cup of coffee to de-stress. Home & Hearth Caregivers offer a variety of packages that include bathing. Call us at 800-349-0663 for your complimentary, no obligation home assessment.

During this holiday season, we spend countless hours wrapping, addressing, baking, cleaning and spending time with our loved ones, many of them seniors.  As you visit with your loved ones, take a look around for signs that they may need help:

Inside the Home

1. The kitchen is filled with dirty dishes, burned pots, food and possible infestations. Mom has always been a great cook but occasionally forgets to turn off the stove or gets too tired to wash the dishes.
2. The refrigerator has expired or moldy food and possibly non-food items inside. Cleaning out the refrigerator is not a fun task, but Mom has found it overwhelming to throw away food and/or may not remember where to put items.
3. The clutter is piling up. Mom and Dad may not want to admit that maintaining their home is becoming an overwhelming task.
4. The mail is stuffed with bills and late notices. Dad used to pay the bills two weeks ahead of time but is now faced with possible shut-offs or late fees.

Personal Care

1. Your parents have body odor. Perhaps Dad is afraid to bathe because he has fallen in the bathtub. Mom may not remember when she last bathed but insists that she does not need an incontinence product.
2. They wear the same clothes or inappropriate seasonal attire. Mom is wearing the sweater with the large coffee stain on the front that she got during the last visit you had. Dad goes out to get the mail in December without a coat or shoes.
3. Mom’s clothes are baggy. She just doesn’t want to cook now that Dad has passed or the shopping can be too much trouble for one so she eats a bowl of soup and nibbles on crackers.

Health Care

1. They forget their medications and doctor’s appointments. Mom always reminded Dad to take his medications but the pill boxes are now unorganized or full when you visit.
2. Dad has unexplained bruises or skin tears. He has fallen but refuses a cane or walker and Mom thinks it’s a natural progression of skin as she ages.
3. Noticeable cognitive decline. Dad has forgotten his granddaughter’s name but still remembers his best friend from elementary school. Mom can’t remember how to work the microwave.
4. Increased hospitalizations. Mom can’t control her blood sugar levels and Dad has been dizzy since he started his new blood pressure medication.

If you do notice significant signs like these, sit down with your loved ones and have a conversation about their needs. Home care agencies like Home & Hearth Caregivers are able to relieve the burden of caregiving from adult children and allow the seniors to remain in their home. We accept private pay, veteran’s benefits and long-term care insurance. Please contact us at 800-349-0663 to schedule a complimentary, no-obligation assessment.

World’s First Electronic Medical Bracelet!

 Home & Hearth Caregivers has partnered with CARE™ Medical History Bracelet to offer the world’s first electronic medical bracelet to their clients.

Imagine all of your Medications, Physician and Emergency information at your fingertips wherever and whenever you need.  The bracelet can be plugged into any computer providing instant access for emergency medical responders taking the guess work out of your care.

·         Easy to use and update

·         Customizable

·         Waterproof

·         Portable

·         Durable

·         And all the software is included 

Call us today to see how you can

get yours for free!

1-800-349-0663

Medicine can be a safety hazard if not properly disposed.  Each year, thousands of tons of pharmaceuticals and personal care products enter the waste stream either through residential landfills or sanitary sewer systems.  Recent studies have shown that many of these substances are surviving water treatment facilities and making their way into drinking water.

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency has recommended the use of pharmaceutical take-back programs to dispose of unwanted medications.  This new initiative is designed to give residents the chance to safely dispose of unwanted or expired medicines.

The Cook County Department of Environmental Control, the Cook County Bureau of Health Services and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency in partnership with the Village of La Grange are sponsoring a drop off program for the safe disposal of medications on:

Saturday, October 24, 2009 - 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Lyons

100 S. Brainard Avenue

North Campus Parking Lot west of the Vaughan Building

La Grange

DROP-OFF INSTRUCTIONS

• Bring only medication items from private households - NOT medications from businesses or doctors’ offices.
• Use a permanent marker to black out your name or personal information on the prescription label.
• Take medications to collection site ONLY during the drop-off site’s open hours of operation.
• Please follow directions at the drop-off site carefully.  Only give medications to personnel of the drop-off site.
• This is NOT a share or reuse opportunity.  All medications received will be destroyed in an environmentally responsible manner.

ACCEPTABLE ITEMS (Expired or unwanted medications)

• Prescription medications
• Over-the counter medications
• Medicated ointments
• Medicated shampoos
• Liquids containing medications
• Prescription inhalers
• Over-the counter inhalers
• Glass thermometers containing mercury
• Sharps/needles
• Medical devices containing mercury (blood pressure units, barometers, etc.)

UNACCEPTABLE ITEMS

• DEA-controlled substances, including narcotic medications and illegal drugs
• Biohazardous materials
• Radioactive materials
• Other household wastes

All medications received will be destroyed in an environmentally responsible manner by a certified IEPA hauler.  For more information please contact the Cook County Department of Environmental Control at (312) 603-8217 or rakers@cookcountygov.com.

Information provided by Village of LaGrange

There are over five million Americans age 65 and older that are blind or visually impaired.  A yearly visit to the doctor is highly recommended for early detection and prevention of eye diseases because neglect may result in permanent vision loss.  As a caregiver you can help your loved ones get around by just doing the littlest things that we tend to take for granted.

• Paint doorway trims and steps or stairs in bright colors.  Bright colors are easier to see than lighter ones.  If painting isn’t an option use colorful tape around the edges.
• Place extra light in hallways, stairs, reading areas or wherever you think it’s necessary.  Make sure to also distribute light evenly throughout the home as old eyes lose capacity to refocus when they shift from bright areas to dark areas.  Seniors need three times more light to see clearly than younger people.  If necessary increase bulb wattage if things don’t improve.
• Use nightlights generously as another added safety.
• Make lights in rooms accessible.  The last thing you want to happen is your loved one to get hurt because they couldn’t reach the switch.

Following some of these guidelines will not only help your loved ones but will make things a little worry free for the caregiver.

When going on trips most families don’t make a big deal bringing things that they know they will need.  The things that we lug around simply just comes with the territory.  So when traveling with an elder, especially a frail older adult, the following are ideas to make outings go more smoothly. 

• Plan what items you’ll need to keep your elder comfortable while you’re out.  Anticipate that anything can happen so make things easier by bringing their medications, pillows or snacks.
• Know your loved ones limitations and your own. Seniors get tired easily and quickly.  
• Call ahead to your destination to ask about accessibility.
• Create excitement and talk to them about the trip. Show them videos or brochures so that they are looking forward to the trip. Seniors don’t like change, the more familiar they are to a place the better.
• Invite a person to go along.  If there are things that come up you will have someone to help you.
• Don’t push to travel.  Seniors change their minds quite often. Unfamiliar places may trigger fear, anxiety and confusion in elders with severe memory loss.
• Return to places that you have had successful trips.

Information provided by Rachel Zukerman