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

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

Caring for the Caregiver

If you don’t take care for yourself, you will have nothing left to give! I know what you are thinking…it’s easy for you to say. I’m so focused on my loved one that I have trouble carving time out to take care of my own needs and family obligations. You are not alone, so STOP…take a breath, and don’t feel guilty for taking time out for yourself. The following steps can help you minimize some of the stress you’re feeling so you will be less overwhelmed by the caregiver role:

Accept your own limitations and those of others.

• Don’t sweat the small stuff.
• Learn to laugh, watch situation television shows, read books and share stories.
• Avoid junk food, keep a balanced diet and exercise every day.
• Save time and money; shop on-line or via catalogs.
• Educate yourself on your loved one’s medications (keep a list of dosage, time of intake and doctors’ numbers by the phone and in your wallet).
• Learn to relax. Use relaxation techniques, meditate, listen to music and visualize a calm setting.
• Get a hobby or re-establish an old one.
• Join a support group.
• Educate yourself on your loved one’s affliction so that you’ll know what to expect
• If help is offered by friends, neighbors and others don’t be afraid to accept it. If it will lighten your load, do it.
• If you’re not getting many offers of support, you may want to ask family members if they might be able to offer some.
• There may be help offered in your community, so doing some research in that area may yield some useful results (Church, Synagogue, park district, senior centers).
• If you are religious or have spiritual leanings, now is a good time to rely on them, and gain strength from your faith as well as your spiritual community.
• Hire a reputable home care agency like Home & Hearth Caregivers that can step in for a couple of hours a day/week to assist you in your loved one’s home.
• By taking an hour or two to go to a coffee shop, watch a movie, or immerse yourself in a good book are all easy options that can help you to ward off burnout.

The main idea here is to take good care of yourself physically, mentally and emotionally so that you will be able to handle the challenges of caretaking and continue to provide care for your loved one.