Senior Citizen Advice: Tips for Letting Loneliness Go

Senior Citizen Advice: Tips for Letting Loneliness Go

Loneliness is a painful and frightening life experience for senior citizens, especially when it is tied to a death, moving away or divorce.

“Growing old can bring people into the situations that make them feel and live in emotional and social isolation,” said Dr. Jim Wirth, a human development specialist .

According to Wirth, loneliness is different from solitude or depression.

“Some people think social activities can relieve loneliness. Social activities can reduce the sense of loneliness temporarily, but a lonely person needs to have meaningful activities and true friends to care, share and support,” said Wirth.

Wirth offers these suggestions for handling loneliness:

· Form new relationships to repair a sense of emptiness and loneliness.

· Be confident about your ability to deal with loneliness. Remember, if you make some effort, things can become better.

· Spend your energy on friendships, groups and activities you like.

· Build and maintain your social network. Maintain personal contact with people to help you find acceptance and belonging.

· Do things for others. Volunteering to help people or the community will let you feel good about yourself. If there is no volunteer work in your community, get some projects going.

· Work. Do some work every day. Work is a natural antidote to reduce loneliness. Work at home can be joyful, however, work at the workplace can expand opportunities to interact.

· Believe in yourself. Believing in yourself builds your confidence and competency to control your lifestyle.

Hands of an Angel Home Health 

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What Is In-Home Care?

What Is In-Home Care?

What it does
In-home care is the term that broadly defines the various types of care and services delivered by individuals or agencies to those with mobility limitations or other frailties that make it difficult for them to leave home.
In-home care generally includes help from the following:

• Elder companions, who primarily provide friendly companionship and supervision
• Personal care assistants, who help with some chores and daily grooming
• Live-in care providers, who ensure a constant monitoring presence

How it helps
In whatever capacity the extra care is needed -- from periodic social visits to help with daily medication management to around-the-clock monitoring -- in-home care can help accomplish the goal of allowing a person to stay at home rather than move to a facility. For many people, staying at home among their possessions and in a familiar community is a primal urge and plays a big role in assuring a good quality of life.
What it costs
In-home care ranges in cost from free help from volunteers who provide assistance with visits and chores to live-in care that can run several thousand dollars or more a month for constant monitoring.

Contact Hands of an Angel services for Quality in home care
Phone : (239) 295-1233

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Fort Myers, FL 33907

The Ultimate Guide to Senior Finance: Fiscal Fitness for The Over Fifty Crowd

The Ultimate Guide to Senior Finance Part 1

Benefits and Social Security

Social Security was designed as a “safety net” of sorts. Aside from your personal savings, and an employer pension, Social Security provides you with the money you’ll need during your retirement. This benefit plan reaches nearly every family in America and is a significant source of income for many seniors.

There are about 38 million people who rely on Social Security for at least part of their income, and this number continues to grow as more and more people retire. Understanding how your benefits work will allow you to make the most of it.

More Than Retirement

The most popular view of Social Security is that it is merely retirement income. However, there are actually several types of benefits paid out under the Social Security plan. The program pays benefits for the disabled, pays money to a spouse or child of someone who receives benefits, pays money to a spouse or child of a worker to died, or pays money to a dependent parent of a worker who died.

Because Social Security provides more than just retirement income, you may be eligible for Social Security prior to retirement, depending on your circumstances.

Retirement Income

During your working lifetime, you pay Social Security tax and earn “credits.” As of 2012, you earn 1 credit for every $1,130 you earn. You get a maximum of 4 credits per year. You will generally need 40 credits to be eligible for Social Security. This usually translates into at least 10 years of work.

Choosing when you retire dramatically impacts some of your benefits. If you choose to retire before your full retirement age, for example, you’re retirement benefits paid under the Social Security system will be lower than if you had waited until your full retirement age.

If you were born between 1943 and 1960, for example, your full retirement age would start out at age 66 (if you were born in 1943) and gradually increase to age 67 (if you were born in 1960). If you delay taking benefits beyond your full retirement age, you’ll receive a gradual increase in your benefit amount until you start taking benefits or until you reach age 70, whichever comes first. On the other hand, you can always decide to take your Social Security benefits early. However, if you do, you’re income will be chopped down. At age 62, you may start taking benefits at a reduced rate of 1 percent for each month you start your benefit payment before your full retirement age.

That means that if your full retirement age is 66, and you sign up for Social Security when you’re 62, then you would only receive 75 percent of your full benefit amount.

You may also continue working while receiving benefits. However, if you do, you may receive reduced benefit payments. In general, if you receive benefits before your full retirement age, $1 in benefits will be deducted for each $2 in earnings you have above the annual limit. In 2012, this limit is $14,640.

In the year you reach full retirement age, your benefits are reduced $1 for every $3 your earn over the annual limit. Obviously, working and receiving benefits is possible, but far from idea. You paid in a lot of taxes. Consider holding off on taking benefit payments until you absolutely need them.

Disability Benefits

Social Security pays a disability benefit if you become disabled. This benefit payment is a little different from the private plans you might be used to. If you qualify for benefits under another government or private disability plan doesn’t, you will not necessarily qualify for benefits under Social Security. For example, most companies and government agencies consider a note from your doctor as mostly or totally satisfying the requirements for disability. The Social Security Administration does not consider this an automatic qualification for benefits. If you do become disabled, however, don’t wait to apply. The process may officially take several months, but many people see waiting times of up to a year before benefit payments begin.

Benefits For Family

Your family might be able to receive benefits under Social Security if you’re receiving benefits. For example, your spouse may receive benefits if:

• he is age 62 or older, or
• at any age if she is caring for your child (child must be younger than 16 or disabled)

Your unmarried children can also get benefits if they are:

• under age 18
• between 18 and 19 but enrolled in college as full-time students, or
• 18 or older and disabled (i.e. dependent on you for financial support)

In general, your family members are eligible for up to half of what you receive for retirement or disability up to 150 or 180 percent of your total retirement or disability benefit. The exact maximum benefit depends on various factors including the age you claim retirement benefits and the age of the family member claiming benefits under either the retirement or disability benefit program.

Survivor Benefits

When you die, your family receives survivor benefits. These benefits are like beneficiary payments to your spouse and child under a private retirement plan. Your family can collect benefits if:

• 60 or older and have been married to you for more than 10 years
• 50 or older and disabled(the 10 year requirement still applies)
• any age if she is caring for your child and the child is younger than 16 or disabled

If you are divorced from your spouse, she may still get benefits after you die. In general, your spouse must be:

• 60 or older and have been married to you for more than 10 years
• 50 or older and disabled(the 10 year requirement still applies)
• any age if he is caring for a child who is eligible for benefits and
  • not eligible for an equal or higher benefit
  • not currently married unless she remarried after age 60 (50 if disabled)

Death Benefits

Your beneficiaries are also entitled to a one-time payment of $255 at your death. While this doesn’t pay for much, it is still a benefit payable under the Social Security Benefits program. The payment is normally paid to your spouse or surviving children.

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The Ultimate Guide to Senior Finance: Fiscal Fitness for The Over Fifty Crowd (part 2)

The Ultimate Guide to Senior Finance: Part 2

Budgeting and Saving

Even the most thrifty people in the world need a budget. As you get older, budgeting becomes increasingly important. In fact, it will often dictate whether you’re able to retire or not. Fortunately, a basic budget is all that’s required to keep tabs on your income and expenses. Once you’ve organized everything through a budget plan, it’s time to revamp your savings to ensure you meet future financial goals.

Outline Your Budget

• Income – Write down all sources of income. If you and your spouse receive income from only one source, this part of the budget will be easy.
• Expenses – Gather up all of your expenses for the year. While many people sit down to think of monthly expenses, remember that some expenses might be paid annually or semi-annually like taxes or insurance, for example. Include every expense that you have for the year. Then, break everything down into monthly amounts, even if you don’t pay certain expenses on a month-by-month basis.

Build Your Budget

List all of your income and expenses. There are two ways to go about doing this:

• Spreadsheets – A basic accounting ledger can work. The only problem is the amount of manual work involved with this method. If you’re comfortable with writing each income and expense item as they happen, just pick up a basic ledger book from an office supply store and use that. If you’re savvy with a computer, use anything from Microsoft’s Excel program, or any of the Excel-like clones on the market. These spreadsheet programs mimic an accounting ledger and will allow you to accomplish the same thing. The difference is that you can automate some aspects of the data entry process and there won’t be any erasure marks in your ledger.
•  Software Programs – Software programs do a lot to automate the budgeting process. If you’re looking for simplicity, this is the way to go. Computers won’t get the math wrong, and will often save you a lot of time in the long run. Generally, you can enter the income or expense item one time and many programs will automate as much of the record keeping process as possible. Variable expenses won’t be automatically accounted for, but that’s because they change each month. Ditto for any variable income you receive.

List all of your income as an “asset” in one column on your ledger (you can also use an entire page devoted to assets/income) and one column or page for expenses. This way, you’re only dealing with one or two pages, at most. Software programs already have a built-in process for this and you’ll have to follow whatever format the software already uses.

Tracking and Updating

When tracking your income and expenses, pay special attention to variability in your budget. For expenses, it may be helpful to build up a cash reserve. This reserve will help to manage that variability and won’t leave you bouncing checks when you need to pay an unexpectedly large expense. Generally, a cash reserve equal to one month’s expenses is sufficient. While there’s no need to track and update your expenses every day, you could do this. Ideally, you would track and update your budget each week to make sure your income and expenses are not veering off-track.

There are a few ways to do this:

The Reconciliation Method – the reconciliation method is one you are probably most familiar with. Every bank in the United States encourages this through the use of “balancing your checkbook.” In effect, you reconcile your expenses after you have spent money. Notations are made in your ledger after each expense. Then, at the end of the week or month, you reconcile those expenses. It’s labor intensive, and it could potentially leave you bouncing checks if you’re living paycheck to paycheck, but it’s an old and trusted method for many folks.

The Envelope Method – The envelope method prevents you from overspending by allocating all of your money to envelopes. Each envelope represents a different expense. Income is generally not tracked using this method, so it’s considered a simple cash flow planning method. Today, various computer software programs eliminate the need for physical envelopes but you could certainly stuff money into an envelope and carry it around with you if you wish.

Determine Savings Goals

Once you have a budget, it’s time to make some savings goals. Don’t go crazy with these. Just start with three to five goals to start. If you can’t think of three, that’s fine. Choose one to start. These goals could be long-term, like retirement planning, or they could be short-term, like a vacation this year. A few things to remember:

Make value-driven goals. Your financial goals should be directly tied into your values. Don’t pursue goals that you think a financial planner would want you to pursue. Also, don’t worry so much about what your neighbor, friends, and family are or aren’t doing. Make goals oriented around things that you really want to do now and into the future. This is the secret to staying motivated through to the end.

Never sacrifice your values. It’s never a good idea to sacrifice something that you really find valuable. For example, many financial advisers might tell you to stop going to the movies on Friday night or to stop going out to Starbucks for coffee every day. If these things are important to you, then you should do them. You should, however, weigh everything you do against your long-term goals. The idea is to not do anything that would sacrifice the “here and now” for the future and vice versa. It’s difficult, but well worth it in the end – you won’t feel like you’re “giving up” anything when saving money.

Don’t try to take on too much at once. You can only focus on so many things at once. If you find yourself saying “I have too much on my plate,” it could be a sign that you’re stretching yourself thin. You can’t possibly save money for every single contingency, and you can’t pursue everything little thing that interests you in the least little bit simply because there are only so many hours in the day. Choose your top values in life to pursue, make a commitment to them, and don’t look back.

Simple Tips and Guidelines For Saving Money and Investing

Some financial advisers suggest that, if you’re in you’re 50 or over, you should be saving at least 20 percent of your income. Much of your savings needs are driven by your financial goals, and what you want to do in the future, however. If you already have $500,000 saved up, and you don’t plan on ever fully retiring, you may need less money that if you only have $50,000 saved up. A good retirement planning calculator will help you determine how much you should be saving.

Investments can be a tricky topic. In general, never use investments that you don’t understand. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t invest in anything if you don’t really understand anything. You should investigate a variety of simple to use investment products (to start out), learn how they work, and then save and invest enough to meet your financial goals. Some good investments to research would be bank CDs, annuities (to guarantee your income when you retire), index mutual funds, precious metal-based investments (if you are worried about inflation of economic uncertainty), and dividend-paying stocks from well-established and financially stable companies. You can find a wealth on information on sites like Investopedia.com and by talking to an experienced financial adviser.

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The Ultimate Guide to Senior Finance: Fiscal Fitness for The Over Fifty Crowd Part 3

The Ultimate Guide to Senior Finance: Part 3

Consumer Protection

Consumer protection is something most people don’t think about. However, the U.S. Government does have special consumer protection laws set in place for people as they get older. Most of these protections are specifically for seniors, but you should know about them even if you haven’t entered your “golden years” just yet.

State Protections Against Abuse

Each state has become part of an initiative to protect seniors from abuse and neglect. As a result, each state lists a hotline number. This hotline number is not for emergencies but rather for ongoing abuse. Abuse can be both physical or mental and includes physical abuse, verbal abuse, sexual abuse, exploitation, neglect, and abandonment. You can report abuse or you can call this number yourself if you think you’ve been a victim of a scam. A report will be taken and someone will follow up with you about your case.

The National Center on Elder Abuse is a federal agency directed by the U.S. Administration on Aging and provides an additional layer of protection at the federal level. The NCEA provides a wealth of resources and information for you and your family to make sure you are never a victim of abuse.

Nursing Home Advocates

You and your family believe that you will be safe in the hands of a qualified skilled nursing facility. However, reports of abuse are commonplace. It’s unfortunate, but some certified nurses assistants and even nurses themselves may not treat you with the full respect that you deserve. Even if they don’t, there’s no excuse for physical or verbal abuse. The state protects you, or your loved ones, if you’re admitted to a facility and are abused by the staff.

Avoiding Scams

Avoiding scams is sometimes as easy as running stopping and thinking about what is being offered. If something sounds too good to be true, it often is. Scams come in all shapes and sizes, but are normally cloaked in promises of high investment returns or offshore tax havens. While these aren’t the only types of scams out there, the common thread running between them is that they promise some secret method of achieving some kind of success that isn’t available to other people. Often, scam artists want you to keep your activities a secret, and they won’t be totally upfront and transparent about how their system, strategy, or offering works.

You should not have to push too hard for answers. The scam artist doesn’t like being pushed for answers, however, and will likely become increasingly evasive about what he’s doing. Don’t settle for partial answers. Always demand full disclosure and regular progress updates and statements (if applicable). Lastly, you should understand the strategy being suggested. If there is any part of an investment, tax, or other financial strategy you don’t understand, don’t do business with the seller of such advice. Move on. You’ll be glad you did.

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10 Essential Health Tips For Seniors

From baby boomers to senior boomers: 10 tips to keep you healthy and fit

The first wave of baby boomers are turning 65 years old this year and becoming "senior boomers" and Medicare-eligible. In fact, more than 10,000 baby boomers a day are now turning 65—that’s one every eight seconds, a pattern expected to continue for the next 19 years.

Happily, aging is different now than it was for our parents and grandparents. Today, there are more people living longer than at any other time in history. In fact, boomers will number 78 million by 2030. “This generation, associated with social change including the civil rights and anti-war movements in the 1960s, has another important cause—staying healthy,” says soon-to-be 65-year-old Arthur Hayward, MD, a geriatrician and clinical lead physician for Kaiser Permanente. “We need to become activists in promoting healthful behaviors and try our best to remain active and healthy the rest of our lives.”

How to do it? Dr. Hayward recommends these 10 easy health tips for seniors to help baby boomers live longer and thrive:

1. Quit smoking. Take this critical step to improve your health and combat aging. Smoking kills by causing cancer, strokes and heart failure. Smoking leads to erectile dysfunction in men due to atherosclerosis and to excessive wrinkling by attacking skin elasticity. Many resources are available to help you quit.
2. Keep active. Do something to keep fit each day—something you enjoy that maintains strength, balance and flexibility and promotes cardiovascular health. Physical activity helps you stay at a healthy weight, prevent or control illness, sleep better, reduce stress, avoid falls and look and feel better, too.
3. Eat well. Combined with physical activity, eating nutritious foods in the right amounts can help keep you healthy. Many illnesses, such as heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis, can be prevented or controlled with dietary changes and exercise. Calcium and vitamin D supplements can help women prevent osteoporosis.
4. Maintain a healthy weight. Extra weight increases your risk for heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. Use the Kaiser Permanente BMI (body mass index) calculator to find out what you should weigh for your height. Get to your healthy weight and stay there by eating right and keeping active. Replace sugary drinks with water—water is calorie free!
5. Prevent falls. We become vulnerable to falls as we age. Prevent falls and injury by removing loose carpet or throw rugs. Keep paths clear of electrical cords and clutter, and use night-lights in hallways and bathrooms. Did you know that people who walk barefoot fall more frequently? Wear shoes with good support to reduce the risk of falling.
6. Stay up-to-date on immunizations and other health screenings. By age 50, women should begin mammography screening for breast cancer. Men can be checked for prostate cancer. Many preventive screenings are available. Those who are new to Medicare are entitled to a “Welcome to Medicare” visit and all Medicare members to an annual wellness visit. Use these visits to discuss which preventative screenings and vaccinations are due.
7. Prevent skin cancer. As we age, our skin grows thinner; it becomes drier and less elastic. Wrinkles appear, and cuts and bruises take longer to heal. Be sure to protect your skin from the sun. Too much sun and ultraviolet rays can cause skin cancer.
8. Get regular dental, vision and hearing checkups. Your teeth and gums will last a lifetime if you care for them properly—that means daily brushing and flossing and getting regular dental checkups. By age 50, most people notice changes to their vision, including a gradual decline in the ability to see small print or focus on close objects. Common eye problems that can impair vision include cataracts and glaucoma. Hearing loss occurs commonly with aging, often due to exposure to loud noise.
9. Manage stress. Try exercise or relaxation techniques—perhaps meditation or yoga—as a means of coping. Make time for friends and social contacts and fun. Successful coping can affect our health and how we feel. Learn the role of positive thinking.
10. Fan the flame. When it comes to sexual intimacy and aging, age is no reason to limit your sexual enjoyment. Learn about physical changes that come with aging and get suggestions to help you adjust to them, if necessary.
    

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 (239)295-1233

 

Senior-Proof Your Bathroom 13 Tips for Preventing Falls and Increasing Safety in Your Senior’s Home

Senior-Proof Your Bathroom
13 Tips for Preventing Falls and Increasing Safety in Your Senior’s Home
Senior-Proof Your Bathroom

For many seniors, staying at home is the most economical and desirable living arrangement. But without proper preparation, home can also be surprisingly dangerous. Consider these facts:

6 out of every 10 falls happens at home
1 out of 3 adults over 65 will get injured in fall
Falls are the leading cause of nonfatal and fatal injuries in elderly adults
The good news is that many home injuries are preventable. The bathroom is a great place to start. With hard, slick surfaces that frequently get wet and slippery, bathrooms can be danger zones. A little work, however, goes a long way toward creating a safe, comfortable environment.

Senior-proofing your bathroom: Small projects
These projects and purchases can be completed by most homeowners in a weekend, and make a big difference in your loved one’s safety.

Put non-slip pads or strips on the bathtub or shower floor.
Remove bathmats or area rugs that could cause trips and falls.
Install grab bars and/or safety rails in the bath or shower and near the toilet. Safety bars should be long and wide enough to grasp easily, be covered in a non-slippery grip, and be well-anchored enough to hold an adult’s weight.
Get a toilet safety frame or raised seat to add stability while using the toilet. Two options are molded plastic and the adjustable variety; both will add between 3 and 6 inches to the toilet.
Buy a shower stool, seat, or transfer bench. It should have a rigid seat and back, and rubber tips on the feet to prevent slipping.
Make sure toiletries and supplies are within easy reach.
Set the water heater to 120 degrees or lower to prevent scalding.
Add nightlights or motion lighting to the bathroom to ensure it’s well lit even at night. Think about lighting the path from your loved one’s bedroom to the bathroom, as well. Don’t forget to ensure that any and all light switches are easily accessible.
Senior-proofing your bathroom: Bigger projects
These projects may require professional help, but can also play a big role in making your loved one’s bathroom as safe as possible.

Hang the door so that it opens outwards in case of a fall (if necessary). Remove any door locks.
Install a hand-held shower nozzle, which can be simpler to use while sitting down.
Replace glass shower doors with plastic or shower curtains.
Create a tub cut out. Lower one side of the tub so that it’s easier for seniors to get in and out.
Install a walk-in tub. Updating your bathroom with a complete walk-in tub isn’t cheap, but it is a very effective way to make it easier for seniors to bathe. Expects the cost of the tub and installation to range anywhere from $3000 to $15,000.
Remaining in the home can provide seniors with a strong sense of comfort and confidence. By following the tips listed above, you can help make sure that your loved one stays safe as well as satisfied.

Home Safety Tips for Seniors

Due to the growing popularity of in-home care for seniors, it's important to make sure you and your loved one are aware of the potential dangers present in the home for seniors living alone and prepare accordingly. You can help prevent falls and accidents by making changes to unsafe areas in the home with these tips.

GENERAL HOME SAFETY

The following home safety tips can help keep you and your loved ones safe:

Consider a medical alert or a buddy system.
Keep a fire extinguisher and smoke detector on every floor.
Never smoke when alone or in bed.
Always get up slowly after sitting or lying down. Take your time, and make sure you have your balance.
Wear proper fitting shoes with low heels.
Use a correctly measured walking aid.
Remove or tack down all scatter rugs.
Remove electrical or telephone cords from traffic areas.
Avoid using slippery wax on floors.
Wipe up spills promptly.
Avoid standing on ladders or chairs.
Have sturdy rails for all stairs inside and outside the house, or, if necessary, purchase a stairlift.
Use only non-glare 100 watt or greater incandescent bulbs (or the fluorescent equivalents.)
Make sure that all stair cases have good lighting with switches at top and bottom.
Make sure that staircase steps should have a non-slip surface.

BATHROOM SAFETY

Leave a light on in your bathroom at night.
Use recommended bath aids, securely installed on the walls of the bath/shower stall and on the sides of the toilet.
Skid-proof the tub and make sure the bath mat has a non-slip bottom.
To avoid scalds, turn water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
Mark cold and hot faucets clearly.
Use door locks that can be opened from both sides.
If possible, bathe only when help is available.

KITCHEN SAFETY

Keep floors clean and uncluttered.
Illuminate work areas.
Mark "on" and "off" positions on appliances clearly and with bright colors.
Store sharp knives in a rack.
Use a kettle with an automatic shut-off.
Store heavier objects at waist level.
Store hazardous items separate from food.
Avoid wearing long, loose clothing when cooking over the stove.
Make sure food is rotated regularly and check expiration dates.

DRUG SAFETY

Review your medicines frequently with your doctor or pharmacist and when you take new medication.
Make sure medicines are clearly labeled.
Read medicine labels in good light to ensure you have the right medicine and always take the correct dose.
Dispose of any old or used medicines.
Never borrow prescription drugs from others.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you mix alcohol and your drugs.
Have medication dispensed in a bubble pack or convenient dispenser.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist before mixing non-prescription drugs and prescription drugs.

Twenty Safe Driving Tips for Seniors

Twenty Safe Driving Tips For Senior Citizens
By Derrick Grant,

The ability to drive is an important element in maintaining one’s independence, but as we age, it may get more challenging. There are safe driving tips that elders can use to drive safely These tips really apply to anyone and include:
Avoid driving at night if you have trouble with your vision, and don’t tint your windows.
Avoid driving during periods of high traffic, typically during morning, lunch, and evening commute times.
Keep your windshield, headlights, and mirror clean to improve visibility.
Raise your seat high enough so you have a clear view of the road. Sit on a small pillow if necessary.
Limit distracting noise inside the vehicle. This includes the radio and conversations with passengers and use of cell phones.
Watch for flashing lights of emergency vehicles if you have difficulty hearing. Stay alert.
Keep a safe distance between you and the car ahead so you have ample time to brake safely if necessary.
Allow adequate stopping distances.
Keep windshield wiper blades in proper working condition.
If possible, drive a car with an automatic transmission.
Get periodic vision and hearing tests. Get hearing aids and new glasses when needed.
Take a defensive driving course offered through the AARP or the American Automobile Association. Some insurance policies may offer price discounts when individuals take these courses.
Carefully read medication labels to see if they may impair driving skills.
Don’t drive if you’re feeling tired, lightheaded, or stressed.
Avoid driving during inclement weather.
Use other transportation services such as taxis and buses if you’re unsure of your ability to drive safely.
Drive on familiar streets, and limit trips to those close to home.
Always wear your seat belt.
Keep your headlights on at all times.
Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about continuing to drive.

5 Tips for Senior Citizens on Simple, Healthy Living

When it comes to their well-being, older adults shouldn't act like victims to aging. They should be active—physically, socially, and spiritually.

To slow down the physical and mental decline that comes with age, drugs and exercise aren't enough. According to a study out of the University of Southern California, a lifestyle makeover is necessary.

This week on Professional Help, professor and occupational therapist Florence Clark shares five tips for seniors on sustainable, successful aging from her Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health paper (PDF). Thankfully, her method, while backed by rigorous research, is also surprisingly simple: walk outside, meet up with friends, go to church, and just be as active as possible.

It's never too late to go healthy. Anybody, young or old, can successfully redesign the way they live to be healthier. While we don't have a say in our own genetic makeup, greater than 50 percent of our mental and physical health status is related to lifestyle. You can even start small: ride public transportation, reconnect with a long-lost friend, join a ballroom dance class, or follow guidelines on how to safely move around the community. The point is, try something new and be willing to learn.

Take control of your health. Appreciate the relationship between what you do, how you feel, and their impact on your well-being. Our research suggests that social and productive activities are as important as physical ones for staying healthy. As we age, even deceptively simple or downright mundane pursuits like reading the newspaper, cooking a potluck dish, walking the dog, or going to church have a powerful influence on our physical and mental health.

Know thyself. The guiding principle of Socrates rings just as true today as it did in ancient Athens. Lifestyle changes are most sustainable when they fit into the fabric of your everyday life -- your interests, schedule, and self-concept. Identify supports on your journey that are strong enough to counterbalance the obstacles you face. Set goals that are challenging but still realistic enough to be achieved.

Anticipate how chronic conditions may affect your plan. Over 70 percent of seniors age 65 and older have a chronic condition, such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, COPD, or cataracts. Don't let these impede your progress. Before a big game, elite athletes visualize their performance in their minds' eye. So too should you be prepared for the potential ways you might have to adapt or improvise. And, of course, consult your physician in advance about any new activities.

Living longer can also mean living better. Our research demonstrates that maintaining a mix of productive, social, physical, and spiritual activities as you age can lead to increased vitality, social function, mental health, and life satisfaction, along with decreased symptoms of depression and self-reported bodily pain. Even better, activity-centric lifestyle interventions to ward off illness and disability may also be more cost-effective and have fewer negative side effects than prescription drugs.

9 fraud prevention tips for senior citizens

Senior citizens make up 30 percent of consumer fraud victims and 50 percent of telephone fraud victims. Seniors involved in the scams often don’t report it because they feel embarrassed, or they don’t realize they’ve been scammed.

Here are some fraud prevention tips for seniors from the Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants:

Buy from well-known companies. The adage, “If something seems too good to be true, it probably is,” can be taken as excellent advice. Buying from companies with positive reputations helps to avoid encounters with fraudulent businesses.
Avoid untrustworthy purchases. Do not engage in transactions over the phone or with door to door salespeople. The most common scams that involve seniors occur over the phone. They include sweepstakes and lottery scams, the grandparent scam (in which a fake grandchild calls for money) and telemarketing scams, including fake charity scams.
Carefully read all contracts and offers. With many seniors increasingly being independent from family members, their children and/or other family members should have some level of vigilance in terms of the financial affairs of the senior. For example, if the senior has a major life change (such as the death of a spouse), a change in financial advisers, movement to a new residence, purchase of additional assets, onset of illness, new home health care aids, etc., family members should make inquiries and monitor mail and phone messages. The senior should maintain a healthy level of skepticism for his or her own financial well-being.
Receive written material. In situations such as giving to a charity, request and wait until you have received written material. Next, inquire about the amount of money that actually goes toward the charity or its major programs. If the senior is even slightly concerned about the charity’s legitimacy, he or she should wait until the donation can be discussed and should not feel guilty about saying, “Not at this time” when asked for a donation.
Do not pay for services in advance. Many seniors in their late eighties and nineties are from the “greatest generation” and grew up with a level of trust in institutions and loyalty to others, making them an easy target for fraud. Because of that trust, they often believe a person will come back and perform a job around the house, for example. If you know the service provider and have some trust, you may want to agree to pay half up front and half when the job is completed to satisfaction, but only if there is also a contract requiring that service to be rendered. For small jobs, like yard work, it’s perfectly acceptable to refrain from payment until the job is complete.
Check for complaints. If there is any uncertainty about the reputation of a company, call the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to determine if there have been complaints filed on a company.
Consult your doctor. Always consult with a doctor before buying “miracle” nutritional supplements. Many supplements are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and could cause more damage to your body than your wallet.
Review your insurance. Carefully review an insurer’s explanation of a benefits statement. If there are any questions, call the insurer and/or provider and have them clarify the information for you.
Know what’s on your forms. Never give someone a signed, blank document. Seniors are targeted for health care, Medicare, health insurance, counterfeit prescription drugs and homeowner/reverse mortgage scams. The senior should personally fill out all of the information or have a family member or attorney help.

7 Healthy Shopping Tips for Seniors

7 Heart Healthy Shopping Tips for Seniors
By: Sara Stevenson

One of the best ways to prevent or control cardiovascular disease is by eating a healthy diet. Use A Place for Mom’s heart healthy shopping list and incorporate these nutrition tips into a senior loved one’s diet for greater heart health.7 Heart Healthy Shopping Tips for Seniors

February is Heart Health Month, and there’s no better time to do a “gut check” on the foods you and your loved ones are eating. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S., according to the Center for Disease Control, and the Heart and Stroke Foundation in Canada states that strokes kill 32% more women than men.

Needless to say, it pays to be aware of what you can do at home to promote a heart-healthy diet for your family. The good news is, our cardiovascular health is largely under our control. Eating a diet rich in fruits, veggies, lean protein and fiber can considerably reduce the risk of heart disease.

Heart Healthy Shopping Tips for Seniors

Eating better is one of the Heart Association’s “Simple 7” factors for improved heart health. When you maintain a healthy diet along with regular physical exercise and other good habits, you’ll not only feel better, but you’ll live longer — and of course we want our senior loved ones to stay healthy and vital for as long as possible, too. Here are some tips on what to eat, what not to eat, and how to succeed when the going gets tough.

1. Buy colorful fruits and vegetables.

Low in calories, high in vitamins, minerals and fiber — adults should get at least five servings per day of these nutrition powerhouses.

A Place for Mom senior nutrition expert Heather Schwartz recommends, “When getting ready to head to the check-out line, check the basket to make sure you have a variety of colored fruits and vegetables to ensure you get the rainbow of benefits each color has to offer. Colors indicate a concentration of a specific nutrient; for example, tomatoes are dense in lutein, which is great for your heart and eyes.”

2. Avoid buying high fat dairy or meat.

Look for skinless cuts of lean meat with the least amount of visible fat. Cuts that say “loin” after them, like sirloin and tenderloin, are often leaner cuts. Ground meats should have less than 20% fat, whether it’s chicken, turkey, pork or beef. Yogurt, milk, cheese and other dairy products should also be low in fat — 2% “reduced fat” or less.

The one kind of fat you do want your loved ones to get plenty of is fatty fish: two servings a week of salmon, trout, or other oily fish can help lower the risk of heart disease and increase the body’s level of healthy omega-3s.

3. Buy plenty of nuts and high fiber foods.

Fiber can help lower blood cholesterol, and it keeps you full, which helps you maintain a healthy weight. You can find fiber in fruits, veggies, beans and whole-grain breads and cereals, as well as in nuts. Almonds and walnuts also have plenty of other valuable nutrients and have been shown in recent studies to have a significant impact on heart health.

A study at the Loma Linda University School of Medicine found that Seventh Day Adventist patients who ate nuts at least five times per week cut their risk of heart disease in half.

4. Avoid buying butter.

We all know these are the culprits of poor dietary health, but this is particularly important advice for seniors. Avoiding these three can help lower cholesterol. A few easy tips to remember: try to eat less than 300 milligrams of cholesterol per day, avoid foods containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils and follow the tips above for consuming lean protein and dairy.

Also, Heather Schwartz says, “Consider replacing butter with a more healthful spread like Smart Balance, Brummel and Brown, Benechol or Promise. Unlike butter, they have healthy fats in them and contain plant sterols which may help lower bad cholesterol.”

5. Read nutrition labels.

Heart Healthy Senior: 7 Day Shopping List

Replacing sugary drinks like soda or fruit juice with herbal teas is a great way to eliminate some sugar from your diet, but what about sodium? It’s easy for salt to sneak in, especially with prepared foods, so be sure to read the nutrition label.

“Most seniors need around 500 mg of sodium per meal, or 1500 mg per day,” says Heather Schwartz. “A general rule of thumb is that if one serving of any particular item has more than 250 mg of sodium, you may want to search for a product that has less.” Research published in “Agricultural Economics” suggests that people who read nutrition labels tend to be slimmer than those who don’t.

6. Consider frozen or canned fruits and veggies.

Making sure the kitchen is well-stocked with healthy items — and low on tempting junk food — will help your loved ones get the right nutrition.

“Remember that frozen fruits and vegetables have the same vitamins and minerals in them, though their prices may be radically different,” suggests Heather. “This knowledge makes keeping the kitchen stocked with cholesterol and blood pressure lowering foods a little easier. Canned fruits and veggies offer similar benefits, though choose unsalted or unsweetened varieties when possible.”

7. Avoid rushing into major changes.

Eating for heart health can seem overwhelming, but don’t get discouraged. Start with small steps, and soon the whole family will be eating better — these dietary guidelines are great for everyone, not just seniors.

Who Provides Home Care

Who Provides Home Care

Not all home care services offer the same peace of mind, and there are some important, but often unrecognized, issues to consider when hiring a caregiver. Home care services are best when provided through an agency that employs, trains, bonds and insures, and background checks its caregivers. This allows to you have peace of mind knowing that you are bringing someone into your home that you can trust. In addition, the agency will take care of any legal issues that occur should the caregiver or client be injured on the job.
On the other hand, a home care registry is an organization that helps you locate a caregiver and places one in your home on an independent contractor basis. Registries do not employ caregivers, nor do they take responsibility for their training and supervision. A private caregiver or an independent contractor with a home care registry may be highly compassionate, lower in cost, and an overall good fit with the client, but remember you will be liable for the payroll taxes and possible work related injuries of the caregiver.
Hiring a caregiver that is not background checked on a yearly basis and continuously trained by an agency that employs him or her creates a situation where you don't know if the caregiver has the skills to perform the needed tasks, and potentially exposes you to the risks of using a caregiver with an unknown background. So, it is vital to check a private caregiver's criminal and sexual abuse records at least annually.
"The first and most important thing consumers need to know is if they are dealing with an agency that employs its own caregivers," says Leann Reynolds, President of Homewatch CareGivers, a home care company with over 170 locations worldwide. "And find out if the agency or provider performs unannounced quality assurance visits to the client's home. These are two of the most important activities that home care agencies should be performing."
According to Kim Stoneking, President of the National Private Duty Association, "Employment of the caregiver is extremely important. As the voice of the private pay home care industry, the National Private Duty Association has removed the guesswork for the consumer. Every member agency of the National Private Duty Association must have evidence of employing at least 90% of its workers. We also know that NPDA members take care of all insurance and taxes for their caregivers and that training and background checks are completed."
Long-term care insurance will reimburse you for whatever home care you choose, and of course you want your benefits to last as long as possible; just keep in mind the hidden costs of a private caregiver or an independent contractor and remember the benefits of using a trusted, professional caregiver from an agency to keep you safe and independent in your home, who can provide long-term home care, and a continued trustworthy relationship.

Jamie's Home Care Services

3049 Cleveland Ave Suite 276

Fort Myers, FL 33901

239-333-9517

www.jamieshomecare.com

Home Care Defined

Home Care Defined

The majority of people are most comfortable in their own environment where they feel safe and close to the things they love, and home care is the long-term care option that promotes the individual's independence and ability to continue with the normal, daily routine as long as possible. The goal of home care is to provide in-home care for those who need it, and to allow an individual to remain living at home as long as possible, regardless of age or disability.
Home care services cover a wide range of needs, from homemaking and companionship to meal preparation and medication reminders. They may also include personal care services, or those that help with the activities of daily living, including home care services like bathing, dressing, and grooming. To promote a safe and functional lifestyle, a caregiver can help you brush your teeth, secure the buttons on your shirt, or stand-by while you bathe to make sure you do not fall.
Often, skilled services that utilize the expertise of a nurse may also be grouped within the home care category. Services include checking vital signs, coordinating with doctors and other healthcare professionals working with the individual, and performing comprehensive evaluations of health and community needs to keep individuals safe at home.
As a rule, skilled nursing services are provided by home health agencies; often your home care agency will be associated with home health agencies in your area that can provide a higher level of care through nursing in the home when those services become necessary. However, home care can be a highly effective interim solution for individuals who are not sick enough to need nursing services but just need a little help to stay safe and independent in their homes.


Contact Jamie's Home Care services for Quality in home care
Phone : (802) 526-4387/(239) 333-9517 | Fax: (239) 791-8181
3049 Cleveland Avenue, Suite 276
Fort Myers, FL 33901
www.JamiesHomeCare.com

The Ability To Remain In Your Own Home Is One Of The Greatest Benefits Of Owning Long-Term Care Insurance

Most people still mistakenly associate long-term care and long-term care insurance with nursing homes.  In fact, just the opposite is true.
According to the LTCi Sourcebook, published by the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, some 7.6 million individuals currently receive care at home because of acute illnesses, long-term health conditions, permanent disability or terminal illness.  By comparison, there are just over 1.8 million individuals in nursing homes.
Most people buy long-term care insurance just so they can receive care in their own home.  If that's something you'd value, now is the time to start the process.

Click here to complete our simple online questionnaire and be connected with an expert in your area to find out whether you can health qualify for long-term care insurance and what coverage costs.

The American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance thanks JHCS,LLC and the National Private Duty Association for providing the following information on home care. Links to their websites can be found at the end of this page


Contact Jamie's Home Care services for Quality in home care
Phone : (802) 526-4387/(239) 333-9517 | Fax: (239) 791-8181
3049 Cleveland Avenue, Suite 276
Fort Myers, FL 33901
www.JamiesHomeCare.com

A Caregiver's Guide to Home Health Agencies

A Caregiver's Guide to Home Health Agencies


What they do
Home health agencies provide short-term, skilled medical care at home, delivered or supervised by nurses and therapists (physical, occupational, and speech). Home healthcare is provided while someone is recovering from a serious illness, accident, or surgery. If a home care agency provides medical care, it can also offer a limited amount of help with what's known as the activities of daily living -- such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, and other basic tasks.
Home healthcare must be ordered by a physician -- often following a stay in a hospital or skilled nursing or rehabilitation facility. It's intended to ease the transition from inpatient care to home care.
Note: Home healthcare, which is short-term medical care, is different from in-home care, which is short- or long-term personal assistance but not medical care. Sometimes the same agency can provide both types of care.
How they help
Home health agency nurses do some of the work that doctors used to do when they made house calls: They administer medications, change dressings, manage catheters and intravenous lines, give injections, and provide other skilled care. Therapists assist patients with recovery and help them safely regain mobility. The nurses and therapists can also teach patients and family caregivers how to perform many of these tasks. Less skilled workers, such as certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and home health aides, also help with care, under supervision of an agency nurse.
What they cost
Medicare, Medicaid, and most private health insurance policies cover short-term home healthcare prescribed by a physician and provided by a certified agency. If paying out of pocket, expect to spend between $20 and $75 per hour, depending on the location and services provided.
How to get started
The treating physician or the hospital or other facility where you or your loved one is a patient will refer you to a particular certified home healthcare agency. But if you know a different agency you'd prefer, or if you become dissatisfied with the agency your doctor or hospital chooses (or with the particular nurses, therapists, or home health aides the agency sends), you may be able to switch to a different agency. To search for home health agencies in a particular city or zip code -- and to see ratings and reviews of home health agencies.


Contact Jamie's Home Care services for Quality in home care
Phone : (802) 526-4387/(239) 333-9517 | Fax: (239) 791-8181
3049 Cleveland Avenue, Suite 276
Fort Myers, FL 33901
www.JamiesHomeCare.com

Personal Care Assistants

Personal Care Assistants

What Personal Care Assistants Do and How They Help

In addition to providing companion care, personal care assistants can help with the following:

• Light housekeeping
• Grocery shopping
• Preparing meals
• Grooming, including bathing and dressing

They can't provide medical services, such as diabetes care, but can help administer prescribed medications and -- if they have the proper training -- can help move those with mobility limitations.
How they help
Many caregivers enlist personal care assistants to solve problems in their home care situations, such as a small woman hiring a strong aide who can help move a spouse from bed to a chair, or a son concerned about privacy hiring a woman to bathe his mother. The added assistance often enables a person to remain at home rather than move to a facility. And for caregivers, hiring this help can provide peace of mind, especially if the personal care assistant provides regular services and so is familiar to the person receiving care.
What they cost
Costs range from $10 to $40 per hour for intermittent help; $120 to $200 per day or more for live-in care.



How to get started

Contact Jamie's Home Care services for Quality in home care
Phone : (802) 526-4387/(239) 333-9517 | Fax: (239) 791-8181
3049 Cleveland Avenue, Suite 276
Fort Myers, FL 33901
www.JamiesHomeCare.com

Paying for Home Care

The cost of in-home care usually ranges between $10 and $40 an hour, depending on the location (urban areas tend to be more expensive), the type of care needed (simple help around the house is less expensive than skilled help with bathing, toileting, and safely getting in and out of bed, for example), and whether the caregiver comes from a licensed home care agency (more expensive) or is an independent home care worker (less expensive).
Here are some of the options you can explore to help pay for in-home care:

1. Pay for in-home care with public benefit programs.
   If your loved one has very low income and few assets other than the home he or she lives in, some public benefit programs -- including Medicaid, PACE, VA benefits for veterans, and Cash and Counseling -- pay a limited amount for care. See how public benefit programs can help you pay for in-home care.
2. Pay for in-home care with private insurance.
   There are at least two options worth looking into: If your loved one has a long-term care insurance policy, it may include coverage for in-home care. He or she might also consider converting a life insurance policy into cash to help pay for in-home care. Explore options for using private insurance to pay for in-home care.
3. Pay for in-home care with personal and family assets.
   Like most families, you'll probably have to rely on your loved one's and other family members' personal assets to pay most in-home care costs. There are several ways personal and family assets can be used help pay for in-home care, including tapping into the equity in your loved one's home and gathering contributions from those family members who aren't actively helping with daily care. Explore ideas for paying for in-home care with personal assets.
4. Pay for in-home care with creative ways to lower costs.
   To lower the cost of in-home care, you might explore some creative alternatives. Find volunteers at a local church or high school to provide a few hours of coverage each week, or schedule a few hours each week at an adult day program. Find out more about how to lower the cost of in-home care.

Contact Jamie's Home Care services for Quality in home care
Phone : (802) 526-4387/(239) 333-9517 | Fax: (239) 791-8181
3049 Cleveland Avenue, Suite 276
Fort Myers, FL 33901
www.JamiesHomeCare.com

In Home Care

If you imagined your parent (or yourself) growing old in the comfort of your own home, you're not alone. This option, traditionally referred to as aging in place, is the most common scenario that American's picture when asked their preference. Whether your parent is still living in their home, or they've moved in with you, helpful in-home caregivers are available to provide in-home care for the elderly -- one afternoon per week or 24-hours a day.
Are you suffering from caregiver burn out? Looking for a free afternoon from your caregiving responsibilities? Various types of in-home care can provide the social assurance, companionship, and skilled care for your loved one while you have a few hours of respite. If your loved one needs help with a medical regimen from a doctor, home health care will provide a medical professional to help assess, manage, and administer medical

Contact Jamie's Home Care services for Quality in home care
Phone : (802) 526-4387/(239) 333-9517 | Fax: (239) 791-8181
3049 Cleveland Avenue, Suite 276
Fort Myers, FL 33901
www.JamiesHomeCare.com