When Advocate on Aging Deborah Dolan first began organizing Senior Life Transitions, she thought that she would be very busy with clients near the holidays. She quickly found out that her busiest time is actually right after the holidays in January. Why then? It’s because so many people see their elderly parents and family members over the holidays and notice changes in them due to the aging process.
“Spending more time with family members right before the new year can bring their physical and mental cognitive changes to your attention,” said Deborah. “Staying informed on these changes is extremely important as a caregiver.”
Deborah feels that the biggest changes to look for in seniors are:
Physical
Weight changes either loss or increase
Sleeping pattern changes
Body odors
Bathing habits
Gross misplacement of familiar items
Emotional
Placid
Easily angered
Inappropriate response toward others
Environmental
Rotting food in refrigerator or cupboards
Dirty surroundings
Maintenance items left undone; i.e., burned out lights
If you have concerns about any of these behaviors or signs that you see in an elderly loved one, contact a doctor or professional immediately for safety purposes.
Contraindicate: Do Medication Benefits Outweigh the Risks for Seniors? [10:09m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (81)
What happens if your loved one has been taking his or her medication for weeks, months, or years and suddenly it no longer has the same effects as it once had? Deborah Dolan, Advocate on Aging, and Kevyn Burger, host of the show, discuss the effects of medication changes as seniors age and tips for keeping those changes under control. Analysis of risk verses benefit is a top priority in determining seniors’ medications. Elder persons and their loved ones must be their own advocates or engage the assistance of a geriatric care manager to ensure that the individual’s best interest is maintained. Each person has a right to question every aspect of his or her own care to ensure knowing why each medication is being prescribed. The number one tip for being your own advocate is “ask, ask, ask.”
Dignity is a big word and it should always begin with a capital letter. Deborah Dolan, Advocate on Aging, and Kevyn Burger, host of the show, discuss Dignity and Respect for seniors. The Advocate on Aging has her own definition of what Dignity is. If you are going to help someone, do it in the way they would like it to be done. How do you define Dignity? Find out what can be done to keep Dignity intact while caring for the elderly.
Your drug store, your pharmacy… choosing which one to use is a pretty important decision. Deborah Dolan, Advocate on Aging and Kevyn Burger, host of the show, discuss choosing drug stores, pharmacies and other medication avenues for getting prescription drugs for seniors. Your Part D plan can have a big impact on cost depending on whether you are using a preferred pharmacy or not. Find out the answers to your questions here!
Here’s some news that will make you get up and out of your seat. According to a recent study that was reported by AbcNews.com, the faster an elderly person can walk, the longer he or she can expect to live.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh compiled data from several studies and determined that the walking speed of adults 65 years of age and older accurately predicts expected longevity for those individuals. Those involved in the studies were observed over the course of 21 years, and individuals who use walkers or canes were included. The results of this study allow doctors and scientists to use a person’s walking speed as a reflection of his or her underlying health overall.
Advocate on Aging Deborah Dolan is well aware of the benefits of walking regularly. “My sister is a health educator and a sweet-hearted nagger encouraging me to get active,” said Deborah. “While she has worked up a sweat doing many different types of exercise, she has most recently found the joys of daily walking. Being the educator and nagger that she is, she has persuaded me to walk as well – she walks outside; I walk on my treadmill in front of the television. I must confess that I am starting to look better in my clothing and feel better overall. My feet, my knees and my lungs have all adapted nicely to a brisk 35-minute walk four to five mornings a week. Will I live longer? I’m not sure, but I know the quality of my life will be better because of exercising. As you read the article on ABC News, take time to listen to Jack and Elaine LaLanne on video. My personal take away from their message is that with exercise your circulation improves, and with improved circulation you will see improvement in everything from your hair, skin, and sex life to your cognition and elimination. As a gerontologist, I can attest that the last two – declining cognition and elimination – are high on the list of irritations of growing older. So walk! Improve your being – or I’ll have my sister call you!”
No matter how old you may be there is always room for improvements! Deborah Dolan, Advocate on Aging and Kevyn Burger, host of the show, discuss New Years Resolutions for the elderly. Resolutions for the new year do not have to be global change but can actually help elders be proactive as they transition through different stages of life. Choosing resolutions that are short term or have milestones along the way give us a sense of gratification all year long!
Although the holidays come every year, shopping for the right gifts never seems to get much easier. If you’re low on time, money, gift ideas – or all of the above – take a look at these tips to relieve some of your holiday headaches.
Getting to and from stores during the winter weather is not the only challenge of the holidays – crowds, lack of convenient parking, and comparing prices all over town can all make shopping a pain in the neck. This year, consider trying to do some or all of your holiday shopping online. Many stores offer reasonable shipping costs or free shipping on orders over a certain dollar amount, and the selection of items is typically much larger online than in stores. You can choose to ship your items directly to any person’s address, and you can compare prices with an unlimited amount of competitors in just a few clicks. If you are unsure about the legitimacy of a certain site, it is better to avoid it and choose a site that gives you a safer shopping experience. Need help placing your order? Many sites offer phone numbers for customer assistance with online shopping.
For a company that dates back to 1858, Macy’s really knows how to service today’s shoppers. The department store offers personal shoppers who are available to help you shop for anything you need at Macy’s. You’ll receive expert advice on which items are best for you to purchase, which can save you time and money. The best part about it is that this service is free! All you have to do is call your local Macy’s and schedule an appointment with a personal shopper. By saving yourself so much time, you might get a chance to indulge in a few gifts for you!
If your list is a little intimidating this year, just remember that giving from the heart is the most important reason for the season!
While the holiday season can be extremely busy and often difficult due to winter storms, our to-do lists can get the best of us before we know it. Do your best to keep the giving spirit of the holidays, no matter how busy you may become. Remember those who need a little extra help during this time of year, such as elderly friends and family members. Here are a few ways that you can help make the holidays easier for many seniors:
With poor road conditions causing difficult driving in many areas of the US, offer a ride to an elderly friend or family member for running errands or shopping for holiday gifts.
Offer to help by setting up holiday decorations for those who might not be able to do it themselves.
Does everyone need to bring something to share for the holiday meal? Lend a hand to an elderly person by helping with baking or cooking needs.
Snowstorms can be messy. Help out elderly persons by shoveling and salting their sidewalks and/or driveways.
Even everyday tasks like going out in the cold and snow to get the mail can be difficult for some seniors, and your help can make a big difference.
Make sure that your elderly loved ones have appropriate winter gear if they plan to go outdoors in the snow, such as gloves, hats, warm coats, and boots or shoes that can go through snow easily.
If you plan to buy warm slippers or thick socks for an elderly person, make sure that they have good grips or soles and are not slippery on uncarpeted floors.
While some may prefer thick rugs to help keep floors warmer to walk on or to wipe off snow and dirt, they can also be a tripping hazard. Make sure that rugs are out of the way whenever possible for elderly persons.
Tis’ the season but this season is not about the gifts and stuff but what is in our hearts. Deborah Dolan, the Advocate on Aging and Kevyn Burger, host of the show discuss gifts to give your elders that are not only just items but really come from your heart. The gift of a personal shopper can take the stress off the holiday shopping or even sitting and helping seniors shop online.
According to an announcement from PRNewswire.com, a new addition to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act reveals that an annual wellness benefit will be provided for all qualifying Medicare beneficiaries beginning January 2011. This new benefit includes a “detection of cognitive impairment” that will be a mandatory part of the annual wellness visit. This screening can help detect early stages of devastating diseases that affect mental functioning, such dementia and Alzheimer’s.
The report emphasizes the great impact that this new addition will have on patients because the first wave of baby boomers will soon be turning 65 years of age.
“The spouse or caregiver of an aging person usually detects changes in cognitive functioning first and most often dismisses the changes as ‘getting older’ or ‘insignificant’. If you are a caregiver for an elderly person, make sure that you remain aware of that person’s mental functioning in order to detect signs of cognitive impairment,” said Deborah Dolan, Advocate on Aging. “Early detection is the best way to keep your loved ones safe so that they can get the help that they need as soon as possible. Ask a physician to screen elderly patients for cognitive impairment if you see any of the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s or other related dementias. It’s quick, non-invasive and will provide a baseline for future testing.”
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