Posts Tagged ‘elderly enjoyment’
Saturday, October 2nd, 2010
 Having to face the fact of your parent getting older is hard; however, financial and health concerns need to be put in order so that, in the event of something unexpected, that you are prepared, legally.
- Hire a lawyer who specializes in elder law estate planning, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and guardianship matters. Have the attorney meet with you and your elderly parent (or the elderly or disabled person you will be taking care of) so that the purpose of power of attorney can be explained and also to inform him or her of their options.
- Gather the important papers—property records, bank/investment statements, medical records, tax records, marriage/divorce records, birth certificate, social security card, driver’s license, insurance policies, and any other legal paperwork that is still active; be prepared to review all of this information with the attorney.
- Make decisions as to what must be prepared besides the power of attorney. If there is not a will in place, one should be written while your charge is still able to understand and make decisions.
- Have the attorney prepare a durable power of attorney. This consists of financial power of attorney as well as a health care power of attorney. This will require your elderly parent’s signature. It must be signed in the presence of two or more witnesses (depending on the state of residence) and a notary public. As the designated representative, you will not have to sign the form.
- File the executed power of attorney and all accompanying paperwork, with the court clerk’s office, if required. Be aware that some states make it mandatory to do so. Keep a copy of all paperwork filed for your records. You may be required to present this paper whenever you conduct business on your elderly/disabled parent’s behalf.
Tags: elderly, elderly activities, elderly activity, elderly appreciation, elderly care, elderly employment, elderly enjoyment, elderly entertainment, elderly exercise, elderly independence, elderly living, financial stability, Health, Health care, Independence, maintaining independence, senior citizens, Senior Health, Service Providers, Spending quality time
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Friday, October 1st, 2010
 Caring for an elderly parent can be draining both emotionally and physically. Many times, adults are taking care of their elderly parent or parents while still trying to raise their own children.
As the parent becomes less independent and unable to care for his or her own needs, it becomes clear that you will have to take the needed steps to ensure that legal, personal, medical and financial interests are protected. One way to do this is to get a power of attorney drawn up so that you or someone you trust can act on your elderly parent’s behalf to make decisions that he or she can no longer make independently.
This is not an easy thing for an elderly parent or the child of the elderly parent. So it is very important to involve the parent in the preparations as much as possible. This leaves the parent feeling less helpless or left out of the process. Honor the parents’ wishes when possible; however, do realize that you are entrusted to act in your parent’s best interest even if the parent disagrees with you. It is also not a good idea to rely on those generic self-help legal software programs. For a delicate matter such as this, an experienced attorney to help decide what needs to be done is the better option. There are many factors that come into play with issues such as a power of attorney such as the present and long-term medical condition of the parent as well as their own personal wishes for how affairs are to be handled. Moreover, do not pressure your elderly parent into making life-changing decisions, especially when he or she is tired, hungry, restless or upset. Choose a time to talk and present the information gradually instead of all at one time. Keep everything relaxed and don’t force the issue.
Check back on Saturday, October 2, 2010 to learn the process of obtaining a power of attorney.
Tags: Alzheimer's disease, bay area, board games, California, cherished moments, concord, day trips, Dementia, elderly, elderly activities, elderly activity, elderly appreciation, elderly care, elderly employment, elderly enjoyment, elderly entertainment, elderly exercise, elderly independence, elderly living, elderly volunteering, financial stability, Health, health inquiries, home care provider, maintaining independence, non medical care, senior citizens, Senior Health, Service Providers, socializing, Spending quality time, Technology, town hall, Weather
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Thursday, September 30th, 2010
It is said that one out of every 5 Americans over the age of 65 has been the target in one way or another of a scam involving money. Stealing money from senior citizens, or conning them out of money, amounts to billions of dollars each year with that number on the rise. For every case of scamming that is reported, it is said that four more go unreported. And alarmingly enough, more than half of those reported cases of frauds or scams, family members or care givers are the offender.
There are now organizations in place in an effort to help catch the offenders. Once such organization is called Elder Investment Fraud and Financial Exploitation project and it was created by the Investor Protection Trust. Investor Protection Trust joined forces with several organizations to create this project. These organizations include such organizations as The American Academy of Family Physicians, the National Area Health Education Center Organization and the National Association of Geriatric Education Centers, just to name a few. A short brochure on this project is available at www.investorprotection.org.
Essentially, frauding or scamming the elderly is a form of abuse. An elder abuse project was tested in Texas where several cases of this kind of abuse went to trial and resulted in convictions. Among those convicted was a lawyer who was sentenced to 99 years in the state prison for a supposed investment opportunity that snagged mostly the elderly in his scheme.
The more of our senior citizen population that is swindled out of their money, the bigger burden they will be to the government who will have to help see to their care.
Information obtained from http://www.insidebayarea.com/business/ci_16065238
Tags: elderly, elderly activities, elderly activity, elderly care, elderly employment, elderly enjoyment, elderly entertainment, elderly exercise, elderly independence, elderly living, financial stability, Independence, maintaining independence, senior citizens, socializing, staying social
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Wednesday, September 29th, 2010
 For many years, dogs have been trained to aid the blind. Now, in more recent years, animals are being trained for other medicinal purposes such as for those with seizures and the elderly.
Therapy animals are specifically chosen to visit nursing homes, senior centers, day care centers, hospitals, prisons, and children’s homes in hopes of bringing physical and emotional comfort to people. Oftentimes, these animals are just your everyday ordinary animal who has an owner who is willing and able to volunteer their time with their pet to those in need of some sort of comfort. Ideally, for an animal to be considered for an activity such as this, the animal should be sociable, gentle, friendly, not afraid, and has the ability to get along with anyone.
Many scientists and doctors alike believe that the mind-body connection is closely related. For example, those individuals who feel isolated (as many elderly do) have a tendency to give up on life. Also, people who are sick are more likely to heal and get well if they are happy and comfortable. This is where animal therapy comes in. There are many advantages of this type of non-conventional therapy, ranging from physical to emotional.
Therapy animals have been known to:
- Lower blood pressure and cholesterol
- Increase physical motivation
- Decrease pain
- Encourage speech
- Make patients more receptive to medical treatment and eating
- Generally increase a patient’s will to live
Therapy animals affect people of all ages in a positive way. The animals bring a myriad of emotional and physical benefits to those in hospitals, nursing homes, and other places. These animals are reported to save many lives and also provide love, kindness, and comfort in the finals hours of life for many individuals.
Tags: Alzheimer's disease, Dementia, elderly, elderly activities, elderly activity, elderly appreciation, elderly care, elderly employment, elderly enjoyment, elderly entertainment, elderly exercise, elderly independence, elderly volunteering, financial stability, Home Care, Independence, maintaining independence, Medicine, quality of life, senior citizens, socializing, staying social
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Tuesday, September 28th, 2010
 As people get older, body systems do not seem to work as well as they did at a younger age. This makes it important to take care of ourselves the best we can; diet, exercise, and rest will all help to keep our bodies working well. Unfortunately, sometimes no matter how well we take care of ourselves, illness and disease can take hold of us. In the elderly, it seems that heart problems are prevalent.
Here are a few tips to help keep your heart in tip-top shape:
- Loose weight~Your heart will not have to work as hard to send blood to all parts of a slimmer body.
- Avoid hard exercise~This puts a sudden pumping demand on your heart.
- Engage in mild exercise~Walking or joining a doctor approved cardiac rehab program could help strengthen your heart.
- Wear loose clothing~Wear clothing that encourages good blood flow in the legs; tight socks or hose with tight tops could slow blood flow to your legs thus causing clots.
- Avoid extreme temperatures~The body works harder to keep the body temperature normal when you are too hot or too cold.
- Avoid colds/flus~Try to stay away from those who are sick; also ask your doctor about yearly flu shots and the pneumonia shot.
- Limit alcohol~Talk with your doctor about how much alcohol is safe for you (though it should be avoided altogether) as alcohol weakens the heart; heart failure could improve if alcohol is eliminated.
- Get plenty of rest~Your body needs 8 hours of sleep a day.
- Drink plenty of water~8 (8oz) glasses per day is recommended.
- Keep legs elevated when sitting~This will help to increase circulation. Having your legs hanging down for extended periods of time can cause the blood to pool in your lower extremities thus putting you at risk for blood clots.
- Most importantly, LISTEN to your body and on days you feel well, do more and on days you feel sick, do less.
Tags: congestive heart failure, diet, elderly, elderly activities, elderly activity, elderly care, elderly employment, elderly enjoyment, elderly entertainment, elderly exercise, elderly independence, elderly living, exercise, Health, Health care, health inquiries, Heart disease, heart failure, Home Health, Independence, maintaining independence, Medicine, non medical care, quality of life, senior citizens, Senior Health
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Monday, September 27th, 2010
 There are many easy projects that can be found for the elderly to do; however, it’s important to remember not to have a lengthy project to complete but to have one that can be completed in a relatively short time period.
Use your imagination! Here are a few ideas to get you started.
- Make a collage. Have the individual look through magazines to see what pictures catch their attention or see what pictures can describe them. Also look for things that the person likes or possibly has a touching memory for them (for example, for me, fall images—leaves, pumpkins, etc. always give me a warm feeling). Cut out the pictures and glue them all to a piece of poster board. Use a glitter pen to decorate (mark their name at the top, etc.). Also using foam cut-outs (available at any craft store such as Michaels, AC Moore, Hobby Lobby, and even Wal-Mart) to help decorate would be fun and many of the foam cut-outs are now self-adhesive. This is to be a sure hit! Allow them to assist as much as possible.
- Make some greeting cards. Left over craft items (beads, cut-outs, etc.), card stock, colored markers and glue is all they need to create a card for any occasion!
- Make some sugar cookies and decorate them! Not only is this fun but they get to eat what they created. Pass the milk…
These are just a few ideas. Motor skills and abilities might be impaired but with a little help, the possibilities are endless!
Tags: dexterity, elderly, elderly activities, elderly activity, elderly appreciation, elderly care, elderly enjoyment, elderly entertainment, elderly exercise, elderly independence, elderly living, elderly volunteering, Independence, maintaining independence, motor skills, quality of life, senior citizens, socializing, staying social
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Sunday, September 26th, 2010
 Many senior citizens are faced with a lot of free time on their hands; they are retired and suddenly, have nothing to do (or what they feel is nothing to do) for all those hours that used to be dedicated to a career.
One important thing a senior citizen must remember to do is keep their body and mind active. There are many activities and social events that can help them to do just that.
Going out to explore is a great way to get some exercise and take a look at the world around you. Have you ever wanted to go hiking but just didn’t want to do it alone? Post a message at your local senior center to get the ball rolling. You can see many wonderful sites this way such as the leaves turning in the fall, animals in their habitat, or the sun rise or set just to name a few. And it’s always much safer with a partner.
Those if hiking isn’t quite what you were thinking, there are always more laid back activities such as fishing. If you are up for a bit more than just merely whiling the day away waiting for a nibble, check out your local Fish and Game department for upcoming fishing events such as competitions.
If outdoor activities are not possible due to health problems or limitations, then indoor activities are right up your alley. There are loads of card and board games that require socializing with others; this can benefit your mental and memory skills. Many senior centers and assisted living communities have a regular Bingo night and if there isn’t one, start one! You are likely to find many like-minded individuals who are willing to play a game that fits any physical or mental ability.
Other indoor activities can include crafts such as painting, needlework, and beading, even writing or drawing. Reading books, magazines, or articles can help keep you informed and your mind active. The computer is a plethora of information on different creative topics from finding patterns to crochet to reading about the local news and anything and everything in between. Doing a simple web search can lead you to clubs and organizations in your area so that you can meet others with your interests.
Social gatherings are another way to help keep you active and also help to not feel so lonely. Everyone needs socialization. Your local community center or even church can supply you with information. Taking classes, participating in daytrips or tour groups can get out you out of the house and meeting others.
You have some free time now and it’s your Golden Years; take advantage of it!
Tags: day trips, elderly, elderly activities, elderly activity, elderly care, elderly employment, elderly enjoyment, elderly entertainment, elderly exercise, elderly independence, elderly living, Independence, maintaining independence, senior citizens, staying social
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Saturday, September 25th, 2010
 There are many ways to help the elderly. Many are so simple, yet many people do not think of them. Take a look at the list and see what you can do to help an elderly neighbor, relative, friend, or even a complete stranger. Do something—it will make you feel great!
- Stop and Visit~Senior Citizens get lonely no matter where they are…home, nursing homes, assisted living. It only takes a few moments to stop in and say hello. It’s surprising how much of a difference this makes to senior citizens.
- Do a Household Chore~Dust a high place that an elderly person might not be able to get to safely, scrub a floor, take out the trash…the list is virtually endless.
- Read~Oftentimes, the elderly cannot see well any longer or at all and they want to know what is happening in the world. A book on tape is also a great little gift.
- Cook a meal~The elderly have special nutritional needs and often they do not think about them. When you cook the next time, take a meal to an elderly person.
- Check on them in bad weather~The elderly may not be able to get out.
- Transportation~Give an elderly person a ride to the grocery store, bank, or medical appointment.
- Play a game~The elderly enjoy playing cards and board games as it can give them a feeling of being young again. And that is an awesome feeling to have!
- Make a phone call~Spare just a few minutes for a senior citizen and see how they are doing or just say hello. It helps the elderly not feel so alone and forgotten.
- Check detectors~Make sure the smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are in working order; replace batteries.
- Home Repairs~Check for small repairs that you could do such as patch a hole in a wall, wire an outlet, or fix a leaky sink.
This list is not all inclusive. There are many ways you can help out an elderly person. Check out your neighborhood or your local senior center to see what you can do to help!
Tags: elderly, elderly activities, elderly activity, elderly appreciation, elderly care, elderly employment, elderly enjoyment, elderly entertainment, elderly exercise, elderly independence, elderly living, elderly volunteering, quality of life, quality time, senior citizens, Senior Health, Spending quality time, staying social
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Friday, September 24th, 2010
 There is a continually rising number of elderly becoming at risk for malnourished or undernourished. Not receiving the proper nutrition can lead to health issues and thus can further lead to a loss of elderly independence. It is estimated that a third of the elderly population is at risk for malnutrition because they are not eating healthy, well-balanced diets.
These people could be your neighbors, your aunts or uncles, your grandparents or your parents. It is common for family and friends to not know how well an elderly person is eating. It is not something talked about often enough and it’s something that the elderly are not really aware of either.
There is a variety of reasons that lead to unhealthy eating for the elderly population. For some elderly, it’s a financial issue. They choose to buy medications needed over nutritious food. For others, it might be dentures that don’t fit, causing a chewing problem or that medication causes a bizarre taste, making food taste strange. Or it could possibly be that depression, loneliness, or illness has simply caused a loss of appetite.
Many times, these elderly citizens may not want to impose upon family members or care givers, so they simply ignore the problem or they might not even recognize that it’s a problem at all.
There are different agencies such as Senior Centers or Meals-on-Wheels that offer a hot meal during the week at a location or their home. These meals include protein, fruits, and vegetables. These meals can help senior citizens meet their daily nutritional requirements. Another organization, Angel Food Ministries, offers a meal plan for senior citizens. These meals are pre-packpaged and pre-measured. They are ordered monthly from a location such as church and are picked up within a few weeks from the same location. These meals are diabetic safe and are microwaveable. The meal package can be paid for a variety of ways including EBT (electronic benefits transfer).
Many organizations offer not only meals to senior citizens but also seminars on diet, nutrition, and healthy eating. These organizations also can offer many different services such as help grocery shopping, finding local resources (such as the SNAP program which is formerly known as food stamps), and other nutrition programs (such as local distribution of USDA foods.
It is important to remember that nutrition is an important part of a senior citizen’s daily life; good nutrition helps maintain health and well-being.
For information on the Angel Food Ministries food program, please visit http://www.angelfoodministries.com/
Tags: delivery services, diet, elderly, elderly activities, elderly activity, elderly care, elderly enjoyment, elderly entertainment, elderly exercise, elderly independence, elderly living, food services, Health, Health care, Independence, maintaining independence, Nutrition, senior citizens, Senior Health
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Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010
There are many types of frauds and scams; however, it seems that only a choice few are used against the elderly and most times, these frauds or scams occur within just a few interactions.
One such type of scam/fraud is the offender uses a confidence game. This kind of fraud does not use a product or service; instead a broad range of fraudulent scenarios are committed in order to obtain cash from the elderly. The offender could mask himself or herself as being in a position of authority (such as a bank examiner) or other type of trustworthy person. The offender then concocts a story to get the victim to hand over cash, and then the offender vanishes.
Telemarketing is another way to scam the elderly. Usually victims are called at home; high pressure tactics are used to solicit money for fraudulent charities, insurance policies, travel packages, or sweepstakes. These types of operations are designed to limit the benefit to the customer while maximizing the profit for the telemarketer. It is also designed to reach a large amount of potential customers quickly and efficiently.
Using mail operations is another way of committing fraud against the elderly. This program is designed to reach a wide audience while relying on potential victims to return a postcard or call an indicated number. The mailings look official and usually are very personalized with the victims name repeated numerous times, include authentic-looking claim numbers, and have contradictory content and make what seems like a small monetary request.
Face-to-Face contact is another example of fraud against the elderly. It involves a product or service (home repair for example) and it requires the victim and offender to actually meet either at the victim’s home or a business. For example, a contractor is hired to do a job and requires and up-front payment for services to be performed and materials for the job (such as drywall, nails, etc). The victim gives the offender a check for the amount asked for (and usually it is a much higher amount that would be normal and customary) and the offender is never heard from again. Another example of this would be the scammer gaining entry to the victim’s house by posing as a utility worker and then distract the victim while an accomplice burglarizes the home.
When doing business, it is important to do research and background checks on who you let into your home. Basically, if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. As an elderly citizen, it a good rule of thumb to have a trust friend or family member look over offers or be at your home with you while a contractor or utility worker is there.
Tags: elderly, elderly activities, elderly activity, elderly employment, elderly enjoyment, elderly entertainment, elderly independence, elderly living, financial stability, Independence, senior citizens
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