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

Taking care of your feet is an important part of overall health for seniors. Healthy feet allow you to maintain balance, prevent falls and remain mobile. Feet can show early signs of health issues such as poor blood circulation, diabetes and some neurological conditions. Avoid foot problems by following some of these techniques:

• Do a daily check of your feet. Check for decreased sensation, redness, swelling, cuts, blisters, ulcers or toenail problems. If you cannot reach your feet, ask someone to help.
•  Keep your feet clean. Wash with soap and pat dry rather than rubbing, especially between toes which can harbor fungal infections.
• Trim your toenails straight across and never the corners or cuticles. If this is difficult to maintain, schedule a visit with a licensed podiatrist. Sanitize your clippers and do not share with other family members.
•  Use unscented, alcohol-free foot cream daily avoiding between the toes. You can use foot powder in the warmer months if sweat or odor is a problem.
•  Avoid tight-fitting socks and change them on a daily basis. Keep your feet elevated to keep swelling at bay and don’t cross your legs for an extended amount of time. If you are diabetic, buy specialized diabetic compression socks.
• Wear proper foot wear. Shop for shoes late in the day when feet are the largest. Wear closed toe shoes with a large box toe. Get properly fitted for insoles and rotate your shoes to prevent foot injury.

Consult your doctor immediately if you experience loss of sensation, open sores, wounds or change in color of your toes or nails. Home & Hearth Caregivers can assist in bathing and maintaining cleanliness of your feet and can transport you to your medical appointments. Give us a call today at 800-349-0663!

 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.

 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

Why should Senior Citizens be concerned?

Through investigation and research, the FBI and several police agencies have developed a list as to why seniors are typically targeted.

1) Older citizens are most likely to have a “nest egg,” own their home and/or have excellent credit, all of which a fraudster will try to get their hands on.

2) The elderly are less likely to report a fraud because they are unsure of who to report it to, are too ashamed to having been scammed, or aren’t necessarily aware a scam has occurred. Protecting yourself is nothing to be ashamed of. IMMEDIATELY report all “out of the norm” activity to either the authorities or a loved one.

3) When a victim does not report a crime, they often make poor witnesses. The fraudster knows the effects of age on memory and he/she is counting on the fact that the elderly victim will not be able to supply enough detailed information to investigators. Always keep a tracking of any phone calls, letters/notes or visits from any suspicious individuals. One’s realization that they have been victimized could take weeks or even months after contact with the con-man. The extended time frame will test the memory of just about anyone.

4) Finally, when it comes to products that promise increased cognitive function, virility, anti-cancer properties and so on, older Americans make up the majority of the population most concerned with these issues. In a country where new cures for old diseases now give us hope for a long and fruitful life, it is not so unbelievable that the products and promises presented by these con-men can do what they say they can do.

Most Common Types of Fraud:
Telemarketing

Health Insurance

Counterfeit Prescription Drugs

Anti-Aging Products

Internet and Investment Schemes

Top Ten Tips for Avoiding Fraud:

10.) Before you consider prepaying, make sure you are well informed.

9.) Require all proposed plans and purchases to be in writing… but remember, just because it is in writing, does not necessarily make it true.

8.) Involve a trusted family member or friend in financial decision making.

7.) Remember that legitimate companies will not pressure you to make a snap decision. If you feel as though you are being “pushed’, evacuate the situation.

6.) An offer you don’t understand thoroughly is not one to which you should respond. Read the fine print and ask questions.

5.) Do your research. In this day and age, there are a countless number of avenues to take in order to check on the legitimacy of a particular company, offer or product; starting with the BBB (Better Business Bureau) and FBI websites or hotlines.

4.) Be wary of those doing business door-to-door or telephone salespeople, specifically one who tells you they are selling medical equipment. 

3.) Avoid prepayment options if at all possible.
2.) Take your time in all purchase decision making.

1.) NEVER give any personal information to anyone over the phone. ALWAYS request a call back number and if they state they are unable to provide one, immediately hang up.

For more information please visit http://www.fbi.gov/ and search “fraud”. To report a fraud or suspicious activity, contact your local authorites or  http://www.fraud.org/

As you may have already guessed, most Seniors find they cannot enjoy the aroma of their favorite foods any longer.  It is surprising to learn that almost 1/3 of Americans aged 70-80 have a diminished sense of smell (anosmia).  A reduces sense of smell makes food bland and tasteless, and leads to a loss of appetite, weight loss, poor diet, and inadequate energy consumption.  Smell makes up 80% of the ‘taste’ of food.  Without the sense of smell, food is boring! Be forewarned that your loved one might have a tendency to over-salt their food, which can contribute to high blood pressure or other health problems.

Smells also warn of various dangerous situations. A natural gas leak in your Senior’s home can build to disaster if not detected.  Smoke will build into a major fire if gone unnoticed.  And spoiled food may be ingested if their foul odor is missed.

To some degree, losing one’s sense of smell is part of the natural aging process.  Olfactory cells begin to be replaced more slowly, or not at all.  Certain medications reduce the sense of smell in the elderly, as well as diseases such as Alzeimer’s, Parkinson’s, and certain endocrine disorders.

So take some extra precautions with your Senior.  Start by installing plenty of smoke detectors & carbon monoxide detectors.  Replace gas appliances, such as the stove, with electric models.  Make sure that leftovers are thrown away regularly before they have a chance to spoil.  And finally, do consult the doctor if you notice a sudden onset of anosmia (inability to smell odors) to see if it may be reversible.

Let’s all enjoy the summer flowers while we can!

For more information, go to http://search.usa.gov  and search “Anosmia”