Seniors Site

This is probably the most horrible news one could ever receive but unfortunately, senior abuse is not at all uncommon and they really do happen—a lot. No matter where you choose to leave your senior, there will always be a chance of them getting abused without you knowing it. What’s most painful is that the trust that was once there is now broken. Not to mention the trauma your senior must have acquired during the whole ordeal. Indeed, an experience like this striking any family is something we all have to avoid at all cost.

But how would you know? In rare occasions, a senior may report these cases themselves to proper authorities but again, this is not always the case. Usually by the time an abuse case concerning a senior reaches the police, it’s way too late. Reasons for not reporting vary widely from one senior to another, the most common of which are the inability of the senior to do things on his own and poor judgment to matters concerning their own welfare. Some of them admitted to authorities that they were either ashamed or too frightened to call for help even if they already did recognize danger. Most reported cases of senior abuse came from concerned neighbors and close friends who are quick to identify these warning signs.

Regular contact with your senior is the most effective way to prevent abuse from happening. If other people are aware that you have been checking regularly, they will think twice before doing something bad. It will also be for your senior’s best to check up on their affairs once in a while especially their finances which apparently is the most vulnerable—and very targetable—area of their life right now. Here are some of the most common warning signs that you should be looking for when you suspect senior abuse:

·    Discrepancies in their financial affairs and assets. Unscrupulous people will try to “milk it” as long as they stay undetected. They will apply tactics and other methods of persuasion just to get their hands on the senior’s money.
·    Signs of malnutrition. When you notice they are dropping weight like crazy then it’s time to intervene. When a person loses weight, there’s always something wrong with the picture, either he is not getting enough food to nourish his body or he is not receiving proper medical care while the body takes in all the blow.
·    Physical injuries or telltale signs of physical abuse. Take note of bruises, cuts, welts and broken bones. While it is normal to acquire these things when doing everyday chores, they should be explainable.
·    If your senior is living with someone who abuses them, your senior is bound to exhibit a different kind of attitude whenever that person is around. Also, signs of emotional withdrawal is noted when a senior is subjected to abuse.

Imagine driving almost your entire lifetime, dodging every traffic ticket there is, knowing the road even if you drive blindfolded and virtually conducting your everyday tasks and jobs inside your car. As an evidence, one look inside your old, trusty car and one would know what kind of business you’re running nowadays. Above all these, the connection between you and your car have grown through the years and come to think of it, your relationship with your car even surpassed that of your first spouse! If you feel this way, then you’re certainly not alone for there are thousands of senior drivers unable to will themselves away from their cars and would rather drive even if the situation has become more dangerous for them to do so.

There have been several posts in this blog about safe driving for seniors but nothing beats a refresher course conducted by the experts. Due to many road incidents concerning senior drivers, and also the great concern expressed by their family and friends, organizations who look after the welfare of older adults are now moving to make the road a safer place for seniors nowadays. We all know how age-related physical changes can affect one’s driving skill, no matter the amount of years-experience they acquired. Not only are these seniors putting themselves in a very dangerous situation but also they pose a great threat to pedestrians, other drivers and the road in general. This is how important a refresher course is to driving seniors.

Various organizations such as AAA, and AARP offer materials, seminars and short courses to assist driving seniors and hopefully make them “fit for the road” once again. There are also online courses for those who are unable to physically make it to classes and workshops and it was said to be as helpful and accurate as the ones taught in classes. However, class instructors encourage seniors to participate in real classes since it provides interaction between the instructor and the student. Included in these classes are age-appropriate and defensive driving tips that are perfectly suitable for seniors. Also, instructors encourage seniors to accept their limitations early on to avoid difficult situations from happening.

Driving schools are now offering refresher courses that actually put seniors behind the wheel to show them how to properly drive and work with their limitations such as changing lanes or staying in appropriate speed lanes. Some programs go as far as evaluating the driver medically for easy-spotting of problems. Most organizations offer them for free while others can go as high as $20.

Taking the first step in exercising is quite hard. Not only it seemed daunting, but also it can be challenging for an aging body such as ours. But once you get hooked on it, there’s no stopping you. When you think getting started is hard, wait until somebody points out those exercise hazards you’ve been taking unconsciously.

I would like to think that exercising is a constant challenge for the body. In this day and age, it seems that nobody is getting an adequate load of physical work hence the need to really go out of your way just to satisfy your body’s needs. Also, upon observation, I find that the body indeed memorizes your everyday physical demands such as when you hop on the bus, your body will instruct one-by-one all those involved parts of your body to complete the task. Notice how your right or left hand automatically reaches out for the bars to support your body when climbing, or how your left or right foot automatically steps up the ladder. These “automatic” actions are your body’s most comfortable movement and sadly, exercising is not because you don’t do it everyday unless you’re an athlete or exercising is a way of life for you.

It is highly recommended for seniors to train under the watchful eyes of a certified fitness instructor, no matter how proud you are of your capabilities. Everyday, the fitness world undergoes evolution and new equipments are introduced for the market to test. It only goes to say that new equipments pose new challenges as well and if there’s no one to keep an eye on you while you train, you’ll only increase your risk of being injured by these machines. Here are some points you need to consider while exercising:

·    Be very weary of new and complicated machines. When a new equipment comes in, it doesn’t necessarily mean you need to use them at once. Give it some time and observe how people use it. When trying it out for the first time, be sure that your physical instructor is right there beside you.
·    Cardios are intense and it can be very challenging to a weary body. When a routine is making your body unable to support its weight, then might as well stop while you can. Cardio is done to make the heart go faster and so does your body’s metabolism rate, overdoing it will defeat the purpose all together.
·    Maintain a proper form when exercising. Many have fallen in this unavoidable trap just because longtime gym-going fellows think they already have perfected their forms while in reality their bodies only adjusted to the demand but never adapted the proper form. Lifting too much weight which your body finds it impossible to accommodate will only result to irreversible injuries. Lift only that is proper for your body.
·    Targeting your abdominals when you already have back problems is serious. Instead go for exercises that strengthen the whole core, namely the sides, back, and abdominals. Crunches are too strenuous for your back, opt for other alternatives instead.
·    Always remember to do warm-ups and cool-downs before and after doing routines.

Different ages require different sets of devices that are age-specific to their needs. For seniors, it is usually geared towards their safety and ease of living. Even though most seniors have stayed active all throughout the years and experiencing no discomfort whatsoever in the way they are living their lives now, sadly those in a really advanced age do encounter difficulties in their everyday tasks. Here are some safety devices that can help alleviate some of these difficulties for seniors:

·    Although anti-slip mats are cheap, they can be very useful for seniors. In fact, they are a staple to any senior home and the most recommended too.
·    Big buttoned phones. Most seniors have trouble seeing little letters and numbers and phones can sometimes be too confusing for them to use. With big buttoned phones, whether it’s a mobile phone or a land-based one, it would be easier for seniors to call in case of emergency.
·    Emergency alert devices. I’ve seen some in forms of necklaces, bracelets and even a wearable USB. The USB device claims it can alert authorities when the senior encountered emergency at the same time be able to supply much needed medical information in case the senior is unconscious at the time of the emergency.
·    Universal remote control. A universal remote control can control most of the appliances in the house which means there’s no need to further complicate things by using multiple remote controls for every appliance you may have.
·    Land-based phone with speed dial keys and automatic dialing features. These are phones which memorize numbers when set. This proves to be of great help for seniors who are having trouble memorizing set of numbers.
·    Magnifying glass. It doesn’t need to be a garish-looking one, in fact, magnifying glasses that are available in the market today are quite fashionable and at the same time, very efficient.
·    Automatic medication/pill dispensers. There’s an automatic and a semi-automatic one which will depend on your needs. These dispensers come equipped with an alarm system so you won’t miss a single dose anymore.
·    Anti-scald device. Seniors usually are slow to react leading to cases of burns which are otherwise preventable. These devices automatically turn off the water if its temperature reaches a certain degree. They can be installed in the shower room and kitchen.
·    For mobility challenged individuals, mobility scooters are a great addition to your assisting devices. Well, they will get you far and they are very easy to use so why not?

Every now and then, seniors need to relax and unwind. An aging body can only take so much and pushing it further over the edge can absolutely make it snap. Relaxing activities is important in maintaining a positive outlook in life. A sunny disposition guarantees a stress-free life and this is exactly what seniors need in times of pressure and challenges.

While traveling proves to make all negative things go away, most of the time, it also breaks the bank which imposes a great challenge for seniors who are somewhat short on funds. If I may tell you, having a break to release bottled up feelings need not be expensive or far. There are fun activities you can do without going through all the inconveniences of planning a trip. Consider these as quick-fixes, best of all, these are for free:

·    If you’re feeling classy today, visit art galleries that are currently holding an opening. Surely, there will be some wine and hors d’oeuvres—staples of an art gallery opening. This activity can also help you satisfy your artistic thirst while having the chance to meet interesting people in the world of arts.
·    Take advantage of free admissions, as well as free passes especially if it’s something you are really interested in–or even slightly interested in. Most public museums and even some private galleries give everybody this awesome opportunity so don’t let it pass.
·    Drown your problems away by immersing yourself in aisle upon aisle of books available for borrowing, of course where else but your local public library? You can either borrow aplenty, go home, sit back and read for hours on end or do the reading while inside the library. Your pick.
·    Go for a walk around town. Sometimes when routines rule our lives, appreciating the things around us can be a little bit harder to do. Take some time to visit local spots, try new restaurants and just enjoy the scenery every now and then.
·    Open mic nights are fun. If you are into music, lounges do set aside a night for this kind of activity. There are also open mics for poetry lovers. In fact, they hold contests in different areas and everybody is allowed to join.
·    Volunteering has been proven to do seniors good. They are fun and could be very rewarding to a person. By joining groups and organizations, one is opening doors for other opportunities to come. Best of all, you’ll surround yourself with people who really care about you.
·    Participate in community activities. They are fun, free and you’re doing the community a favor.
·    Free seminars are a great way to enhance your skills and they can be quite entertaining too.

Organizations that aim to help seniors strongly suggest that senior citizens build their own personal support network that would be there on-call when needed. A personal support network is a group of people who are close to you and would not mind checking on your situation every now and then. This same group would also attend to your immediate needs when it happens instead of relying on others whom you haven’t enlisted help of.

Creating your own personal support network is fairly easy especially if you are a very sociable person to begin with. Naturally, a senior who is well-loved by his or her community would have volunteers in and out of her comfort zones, making it a lot easier to choose your best and most trusted ones out of the pack. When building your personal support network, your best candidate would be someone who lives close to your place so he or she will be close at hand. The best strategy for picking is working your way from inside going out. This will include your roommates, housemates, househelp, neighbors, friends and families. Also, consider your everyday activities and places you frequent such as work and home. Find people within those areas as well, preferably one for each area when you’re physically present there. This means, when you go to work, then you volunteer and after that you go home, it is best to find 3 different people to share a task. This way, you’re assured that you’ll have help when you need it.

Here are some important tasks or assignments you need to assign your volunteers. Designate these assignments well according to the person’s strength and capabilities. Surely, you won’t need a frail, old lady to be your designated emergency girl to help you get to the nearest hospital when an emergency strikes. Here are some important points you need to discuss with your personal support network:

·    Your emergency team. Ideally, they should know how to drive so that when you need to go to the hospital and could no longer drive yourself there, one phone call and you know you’ll get there in time. If you cannot find anyone who can drive you to the hospital, at least get someone who has a telephone and knows the right numbers to call.
·    After an emergency, you need someone to check on you from time to time, especially if you’re living alone.
·    Emergency teams are not formed for medical purposes only. They can also be for natural calamities such as floods, earthquakes and others. Usually in these situations, unified community effort is called for.
·    Find someone you trust whom you can leave important keys like house keys and car keys. This should be your daughter, son, or your bestfriend.
·    Share important documents with someone you fully trust. This could be your attending attorney.
·    When going away for longer periods of time, inform someone of your expected time and date of departure and arrival.

Lastly, don’t forget to say thank you and reciprocate when you can. When you express your feelings of sincerity, it won’t be impossible to receive the same favor from others.

Traveling is a fun and very enjoyable experience for seniors, both men and women. We travel for many different reasons, doubled if we still belong to the working force. Everytime seniors travel, they are given an opportunity to broaden their horizons by learning different cultures and visiting interesting places. It seems that everyone has dreams of traveling many different countries and cities as much as possible and fortunately, it has become more of a trend for many.

Due to these flights to and fro, not to mention the onslaught of passengers every single day, travel services have greatly improved. It has become common nowadays to hear seniors fly from one city to another just to meet someone up then be back for dinner the same day. City-hopping is no longer considered as a luxury; in fact, it has become a necessity for working seniors especially those who hold high positions such as consultants and company presidents. These positions, as we all know, are no longer limited to the male sector but have been invaded by the women force as well.

Since there are many senior women who choose to travel solo, it is important to apply some safety measures to ensure a safe and hassle-free trip as much as possible. Aside from being a senior which would already put you at risk, being a women all the more increases that risk by up to a hundred percent. Although most of these traveling ladies stay confident on their capabilities in protecting themselves in times of need, sadly, unscrupulous people still look at senior ladies as the easiest target of them all.

These simple traveling tips will help you to somehow lessen the risks when traveling alone:

·    All your valuable documents should stay with your body all the time. This includes passports, visas and any other documents you might need in case of emergency. Invest in a good body bag or any other bag that sticks closely to your body without cramping up your style.
·    When traveling, don’t forget to inform someone of your whereabouts—preferably someone who will be left behind–even if it’s a romantic rendezvous. Let them know your supposed schedule of activities or if this is something you cannot afford then at least, your expected time and date of arrival.
·    Don’t give thieves something they are looking for. When they see you sporting expensive little things, you are only attracting fly with a food. Try to maintain a low-profile whenever you’re out alone.
·    One of the most important things that will keep you alive while traveling alone is your medications. Some cities may or may not carry your prescription medicines so to be on the safer side of things, do bring your own when traveling.
·    As much as possible, try to look as if you belong to that city, country or land. Tourists are often considered by local scammers as gullible and ignorant so protect yourself from these unfortunate incidents by acting confident and blend in with your surroundings.

This summer proves to be the worst season for seniors since it’s becoming hotter everyday. Every year, local authorities prepare for this season and proceed with caution while keeping an eye to senior housing facilities and communities present in their area. These round-ups are done since seniors are the most vulnerable to heat-related incidents that can be fatal when overlooked.

Heat-induced stress can trigger health complications from other diseases that you may have. Volunteers from various organizations often take time to visit shelters wherein seniors are known to live alone and help them prepare for hot days ahead by informing them what to do in case they feel symptoms of heat-related incidents and assist these seniors in heat-proofing their houses as well. Other volunteer groups check-up on them every now and then just to know if the senior in question is still okay and not experiencing any life-threatening difficulties.

Although it seems that they got us all covered, we still need to do our own preventive measures just to make sure we get past this summer alive and well. Aside from the basics such as not going out during those times when the sun is at its hottest and staying cool indoors in well-ventilated places, there are some foods that actually cool down the body’s temperature thus alleviating the stress brought about by heat. Here are some cooling foods that can help you ease the heat away:

·    Your best bet would be watery foods or foods that are rich in water content. Great examples of which are watermelon, fruit juices and even cold soups.
·    Increase water intake. If you are not a water-person, any liquid that is not a diuretic will work as fine too but try to “like” water when possible since it’s better absorb by the body than any other liquids.
·    Coconut water is good for the body as it works similar to a sports drink. It has high sodium and potassium content to replenish your body all lost minerals when it perspire. Best of all, coconut water is naturally sweet so you don’t have to add sugar anymore. Best when served cold.
·    Take advantage of the summer season by experimenting with different kinds of seasonal fruits. Fruits are great for you since they pack fibers, beta carotene and vitamins needed by the body. Also, fruits are dieters’ bestfriend:  no fats but filling and delicious. Try mangoes.
·    There are types of vegetables that are best when served cold too especially the salad-types. Lettuce, cucumber and tomatoes are a great addition in your daily meals. When cold, they can be very satisfying to one’s stomach—and body temperature too!

In some cases such as accidents and medical emergencies, it becomes easier to determine when and how to intervene with your beloved senior’s life but unfortunately, there are times when your efforts are met with resistance and things steer into a much harder road of second guessing and lifestyle changes. Sometimes, decreased capacity to lead life normally in seniors is not that obvious and worst, if the senior don’t acknowledge this fact in the first place.

It was always said that the key to a successful intervention is good communication-relationship between the senior and the supposed negotiator or the caregiver himself since more often than not, seniors tend to be weary and untrusting to intruders—sadly, that’s you in this situation. If the senior could somehow feel sincerity in there, he or she will allow you to help them albeit reluctantly. But the question still remains, how would you know when it’s time?

Sending the senior to a long term care facility is way off the mark especially if there is no apparent reason for doing so. In fact, these facilities should be your last resort preferably in phases when the senior can no longer move on his own and he needs medical attention too. As much as possible, allow seniors to have a little breathing room because they still need their privacy as an individual. If your senior can still function normally, like caring for himself but having some trouble keeping the house up and running, then the most you need is a cleaning lady to keep an eye on the house and the senior too. This way you are meeting with the senior halfway.

Actually, the first thing to give way is the appearance of the senior if there is an existing problem with his mental and physical capabilities. It helps if you are good in observing their behavior but be careful not to point out everything you are noticing. Instead, try a different approach such as offering help with their daily tasks. When offering help, give reasons other than what it’s intentionally for such as doing their laundry just because you have nothing better to do this weekend or doing their grocery because you’re also getting yours. With this approach, seniors will give in easily thinking that they are not a burden on your side and you are willing to help with their odds and ends.

There will be times that the senior may mention some minor health problems, these are the times that you should be paying attention and reading between the lines. If your mom or dad is living with someone younger than them then ask this person what he or she thinks. As soon as you notice signs of deteriorating health, it is best to increase number of visits just to see if the situation progresses and how fast it goes. Be on the look out for safety risks that your parent may have left behind unconsciously such as burnt pots, open doors, and slippery floors. Moreover, a senior who is suffering depression needs assistance too and almost always, it is the hardest illness to detect so it pays to take note of that as well.

If you’re a senior and you are currently residing in Australia, avail of this very beneficial service the Red Cross family is offering, the Telecross. The Telecross program is designed and developed by Australian Red Cross to assist older adults with mobility problems as well as those partially disabled individuals who are prone to accidents especially if without in-house caregivers or living alone. It also comes in handy for those cases wherein the referred person is receiving little or no family care. This is an ongoing service for more than 20 years now with estimated thousands of volunteers who patiently make those calls in time every day, 24/7.

Basically in a Telecross community program, volunteers call individuals assigned to them every morning to check them up and ask if there’s something in particular the receiving end needs. This is also done to ensure these individuals are safe and not needing any immediate medical help as of the moment. If and when the older adult requires some help, they are quickly referred to the proper authority to handle their needs. However, if the senior failed to pick up the call, an emergency team is alerted at once and a visit to the senior’s home is made. These calls are done according to specified time the receiving end sets—when it’s most convenient for them to take a call. This service can also be availed temporarily for those who won’t need the service for a long time; in such cases as caregiver in leave or the senior in question is migrating to other place soon.

Mostly, Telecross is offered for free but one can make a donation if he or she feels like it since the program also requires paid resources for it to continue working on. Registration is just a phone call away; you can refer yourself or anyone whom you wanted to receive such service. As soon as the quick registration is complete, calls are made within the next day and will last until your specified date.

This community program proves to be very beneficial for both volunteer and the person assigned to them; it builds friendship overtime and it provides a sense of security for seniors who availed Telecross. There are many ways to support this existing Red Cross program such as:  volunteering, referring a senior, registering yourself to the program and contributing financially either by sponsorship or donorship. Even corporations who would want to participate in the said program may do so by volunteering their entire staff in doing the calls every morning.

Check out if the program exists in your area through Australian Red Cross website.