Seniors Site

The things that transpired over the weekend truly saddened me to the core. I was busy monitoring the aftermath of Cyclone Yasi as well as the ongoing search and rescue operations held in New Zealand since the powerful earthquake that shook them late February when the news of Japan experiencing their strongest and most damaging earthquake came in. A day later it was the tsunami, an expected after effect of the earthquake, then came the radioactive leaks which threw most nearby countries on panic. I have strong feelings when something like this happens as I can’t help but think of all those people, young and old, helplessly enduring the wrath of nature.

I have posted several blog posts about earthquake preparedness, how to prepare for disasters and what to do after a disaster. As we go along, I will link to them and please feel free to read them if you feel you need to brush up on your readiness.

There is more to it than physical difficulties when a disaster strikes especially for seniors. We must take note that seniors react differently most of the time and sadly, when a senior witnessed a disaster, they’re touched one way or another—stronger, emotionally. There is something in disasters that make them feel anxious which can lead to depression so it is important that the senior won’t feel threatened or compromised in any way all throughout the ordeal. It is also highly suggested for seniors to undergo therapy after a disaster to alleviate trauma.

For seniors, never assume that you have seen it all thus allowing yourself to just wait for it and cross the bridge when you get there. Consider that fact that your body might not react the same like the last time you encountered such event. Your body may be a bit slower to respond now and you may be experiencing a diminished range of motion that may hinder your ability to escape the disaster unscathed. Also, just think of the people around you, are you counting on them to care for you when a disaster comes? I hope not as they will be very busy taking care of themselves. At least make it easier for them by coming prepared for the battle.

Also your body may now be depending a lot on medications which unfortunately, these are the things that disappear fast in an event of a disaster. You might want to keep them close to your body so that when something unexpected happens, you won’t have problems getting them.

For earthquake safety tips, click here.
For your earthquake kit, click here.

I strongly suggest that you seniors don’t drive around during winter, better yet, just stay at home to lessen risk that can cause you bodily harm. It is not safe outside especially for an aging body like yours. Let’s just say that winters aren’t meant for seniors so you should stay home, safe and warm.

However, there will be times that it will be absolutely necessary for you to come frolicking outside. If it comes to that, you might want to remember these tips to be on the safer side of the road:

•    Plan ahead. Surely you would know if there are road blocks or perhaps road advisories within your locality. Plan your routes ahead of time to save you the trouble of having to deal with it—out there in the cold.
•    Wear your gears. Eyeglasses—check. Hearing aid—check. You don’t have to be ashamed wearing them while driving. They are your first line of defense against road accidents. Wear night vision goggles, if you must, just put your safety first before anything else.
•    Avoid distractions. If you must turn on the radio, make sure that it is news you are listening to and make sure it is not too loud so you can hear “the road”, that is, cars around you, traffic officers etc. Furthermore, never play mellow music as it can make you sleepy.
•    Have your car winter-ready. Nothing can be worse than driving a not winterized car, especially if a senior is behind the wheel. Your car has different needs during winter to maintain optimum efficiency on the road. For one, it needs different set of tires so you must see to it that you change to winter tires before going out.
•    Be a conscious driver. You should also note that driving during winter is different from driving under any other weather. It requires different approach and indeed it can be very tricky. If you are doubtful of your capability to drive during winter, it is best to have someone drive you around instead.
•    Double check your emergency kit and tool boxes. You’ll never know what’s out there but it’s good to be always ready if an accident happens.
•    Drive slowly and with caution. No one expects a racing car during winter anyway plus your best bet on staying safe when winter driving is to go on it slow. This way you’ll be able to react properly if a road problem arises.

If you are like me—paranoid and all—when it comes to identity theft, then the one thing you should be securing under lock and key is your social security number! Why? It’s because if someone gets hold of your social security number, it is good as stolen! Here are some tips on how to protect your Social Security Number and avoid identity theft from happening:

•    Your Social Security card does not belong in your wallet eventhough it must be the first place you’ll ever think of putting it. It should be stored in some place safe and personal. This will keep wallet snatchers from getting your social security card details and use it as their own.
•    Never give away your number even if the request looks legitimate enough. I have posted about it twice: your email addresses are the number one target of scams requesting for your social security number and quite horribly, they even duplicate legitimate pages to fool you. A legitimate request won’t have you providing numbers on unsecured places, they will notify you to report to them personally most likely in the secured confines of their offices.
•    Stolen properties should be reported at once, so does your lost wallet. Even if it might only be a bad case of forgetting where you last put it down or a real case of a stolen property, a lost wallet should be considered as a serious situation since you are most likely to put your personal numbers in there where unscrupulous people might see them and use to their advantage.
•    Be vigilant. It’s okay to ask questions when you need to especially if it is about your debts you are asking. The only way to know if there are transactions made not by you is to check your account regularly. Credit reports can be requested online so take advantage of it. This way you will be able to keep track of your accounts thus protecting it against thieves.
•    Remember, thieves abound. There are thieves who do things the traditional way, that is, scamming you and squirreling away your hard earned money under your nose and there are those savvy enough to con the unknowing you. One good example is cyber thieves who target seniors who are merely doing their transactions online. To combat this, you will need to practice safe online measures such as installing and updating your anti-virus programs and not be as trusting as you normally would.
•    Your Social Security Number is CONFIDENTIAL. No matter how difficult the situation might be, do not and absolutely never give your number to anyone except when requested by law.

It’s irrefutable; seniors need exercise in order to keep everything inside their body in good, working order—well that’s besides looking good on the outside too. However, as an owner of a good, “vintage” piece of machinery known as the body of mine, I do know that not every exercise equipment in the market today is safe for me to use, or else there will be an onslaught of aging bodies bursting of muscles ala Schwarzenegger and it wouldn’t be a nice sight too.

So yes, it’s quite confusing to decide what exercises to do and what types of exercise equipments to use especially if your age is the limit. Which reminds me, consult your doctor first before starting on any program as your current state of health may not permit it or you may need certain adjustments to it such as intensity and time spent on exercising—these things are important to note when a senior is exercising. You may also want to sign up with a professional trainer specializing with geriatrics to ensure you are doing all your exercise routines right. Furthermore, if you are thinking of going to a gym, do check if the gym is seniors-friendly—that is, if it is adequately equipped with anti-slip rubber flooring which at the same time can help you prevent injuries in the instances of accidental falls.

•    Elliptical trainers. Stationary elliptical trainers are good for seniors doing cardio exercises since it trains your heart and at the same time, your hips and legs thus improving balance. It is also considered as low-impact so you don’t have to worry about hurting yourself if you are a beginner.
•    Recumbent bikes. This kind of exercise bike is much kinder to your knees and it supports your back beautifully while you concentrate on giving your body’s lower half a good exercise.
•    Dumbbells. Since dumbbells involve using just one of your hands, you’ll be able to separately adjust weight according to your hand’s preferred weight unlike with a barbell when you have to use both hands to balance the bar. Do note that it is not uncommon to find one of your hands to be stronger than the other thus the difference in capacity.
•    Rowing machines. For pulling exercises, seniors are better off using rowing machines. When done concentrating only on the upper body, it trains the back and shoulders perfectly.
•    Leg curl machine. Since you have to do this sitting down, it eases the pressure on your back while giving it the support it needs. Also, leg curls concentrates on training the legs so it gives your upper body some rest.

I can still remember the day when I found myself cringing to every turn and sharp exits my mom made, she was 70+ years old then. That was also the day I firmly put my foot down and made her surrender the keys. Fortunately for me, she was more than ready to do so and was just too proud to ask to be driven around. I was ready for a bout of tantrums from her and actually found myself disappointed as I wasn’t able to do what I had been practicing all along.

Now, it’s my turn apparently. My son has been hinting and I’m not insensitive to such suggestions however, in my case, surrendering the key is out of the question. I still have kids to drive around and elderly parents who always need a lift to and fro their doctors, plus there’s nobody to take over the job if and when I decided to give up driving. And, no, I’m not quite ready yet.

So I snooped around, primarily to find something to convince my son that my driving is not at all, a threat to humankind, I just need to consult my eye doctor for new prescription glasses, that’s all. And yes, to convince myself too that I am still fit to drive.

First off, experts suggest that you do a self-assessment. This means you should test your responses when driving. Were you able to maintain an adequate speed without feeling pressured or indeed dizzy? Were you NOT squinting just to see road signs and exit marks? Were you NOT easily confused when driving such that the gas and brake pedals become one big blur? If you think you won’t be able to give a truthful judgment, then have someone ride with you and tell you the truth. Below are some more indicators to know if you are still fit to drive:

•    Are you having difficulties with your seatbelt? Fastening and adjusting it can be tricky. If you’re having difficulty with it then you are putting yourself in great risk.
•    Have you been missing traffic signs and signals? This is bad as the driving population depends on these lights. Missing one can put you and everybody else in danger.
•    Slow reaction time. This one you cannot determine by yourself. You need someone to ride with you and tell you so.
•    Too many cars honking their horns.. at you. This is their way of telling you that you’re blocking their way.
•    You find yourself involved in one too many collisions this year. Then you are really a threat to mankind.

To avoid breaking bones and suffering from its repercussions, aging bodies like ours should go an extra mile in preventing falls that will surely bring about injuries. It’s not easy, yes, considering that we might have to give up our carefree ways and act/move more consciously now but just think of why you’re doing this and what you’re saving yourself from then it might be enough to convince you that prevention is really better than cure when it comes to breaking bones. Actually, there’s no cure for broken bones—you just have to live with it for the rest of your life!

EXERCISE, EXERCISE

Not to sound redundant but this is only one of the reasons why your aging body needs exercise. Exercise has many benefits especially now that people are inventing things to make everything easier which leaves us virtually motionless. Your body, being accustomed to nonmotion, will only grow weaker each day. It needs to be trained to withstand everyday demands, including accidental falls. At age 50, it is important that your body has good balance, coordination and flexibility—three things you need to prevent trips and falls.

Also important is to start as early as possible. However, if you start later in life, say 50 and above, then you have to consult your doctor first on what exercises will suit you best.

FALLPROOF YOUR HOME

Prevention should start from your own home, of course, since this is one of the places you frequent and you can install fixtures according to your liking. Moreover, it was reported that most falls happen at home. To fallproof your own home, start by clearing up some spaces. It can also mean downsizing by putting away things that may trip you or knock your knees up when walking around. Go for minimalist-style when decorating your home which means, you only put things you need in there and nothing more. Install grab bars inside your bathroom to support you when you need it and put away rugs that may cause you to slip. Install brighter lights so you can see things more clearly. Invest in a good nonslip shoes.

ASSESS YOUR MEDICATIONS

Most medications, even the over-the-counter ones, have side effects. This, you should know before you venture out of your home. Some of the most common side effects of medications are drowsiness and disorientation which can make you fall, slip or trip upon attack. Best advice for this is, if you’re on a new medication, spend a day at home assessing your body’s responses to the drug, and immediately report to your doctor if you experience these symptoms. The same goes for herbal preparations.

HAVE YOUR EYES CHECKED

Eye problems limit your vision hence making your vulnerable to falling. Also, wearing wrong glasses will cause dizziness and headaches which of course, makes it harder to see things and dodge them if needed. By having your eyes regularly checked, you prevent accidental falls and slips from happening.

Sure, you’re only concerned about your senior’s safety when driving and sure, you have already observed how he drives and you know it has gone terrible but there’s no way you can easily make your senior hand over the keys to you. No, not yet, especially if you don’t know how to negotiate. Let’s just say that asking your senior to give up driving is more like asking him to move to a hospice. Yes, it’s that bad.

Picture this, you just learned how to drive and you already bought your first car, no matter how run-down your first car looked like, what was the first thing you ever felt upon riding your car and clutching the steering wheel? It’s independence. The ability to go places as you wish, when you wish. That’s what you’re going to ask from a senior who drove miles and took you places when you were a kid.

Experts suggest that you gradually ask your seniors to, little by little, make some changes on their driving. It should give everyone some time to adjust to these changes without offending anyone involved. It is important to remember that there will be reactions coming from your senior—and it should be expected—but deep down inside them, they know it is also the best thing for them no matter how much they won’t admit it. Also, if you are not the primary caregiver, it is also necessary to talk with the caregiver regarding these changes as the added responsibility of driving the senior to and fro will fall upon their shoulders.

Planning is also important. It will help your senior to put confidence in you—like you know exactly what you’re doing—thus respecting your decisions or at the very least, listen to what you are trying to say. Expect to have negative emotions and take an extra mile to let them know you care for them—that’s why you’re doing these things.

Look for good opportunities to start a casual conversation with your senior. With little subtlety, express your concern about their driving and their safety while driving. Never attack a senior no matter what the reaction is. You just have to be patient on this one.

When talking with your senior, you should offer alternatives that are also comfortable for them. Like I said earlier, you should have a plan before you go over and talk to them. With a plan, it will be easier to convince them that it is time for them to just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.

In just a few winks, temperature will drop and snowflakes will start to fall. Next thing you know, your home is six feet deep under that snow and your roof is practically falling down. Certainly your home will need extra care during the winter season and what better way to start the festivities than knowing you got everything covered even before the worst of the season strikes?

•    Check your winter tools. Seniors get by with the help of their trusty tools, however, it is easy to overlook these things on sunny days especially if they are hidden at the very back of the shed. Check and see if they are still in working order or if they are already due for a maintenance check.
•    Replenish your winter supplies. This includes ice melters, batteries and what-have-you’s. While you’re at it, check your flashlights if they are still working and your battery-operated radios.
•    Clear your lawn. Harsh weather can, without a doubt, harm your lawn. It is best that you prepare your lawn to what you anticipate will happen. Trim your trees so it won’t bring some more damage to your house or your neighbor’s.
•    Clean your gutters and downspouts. Or you can have someone do it for you, if this is a risky task for you to take. This will eliminate the problem of dirt and debris clogging your pipes causing the water to rise.
•    Check your home’s interior. Make sure your house is free from any cracks and leaks that can pose more danger come winter. Have a handyman check your home for you if your house have never had any for a long time. However, at this point, full renovation is not an option.
•    Get your emergency kits ready. Winter season is such an unpredictable season. You can be enjoying a quiet day sipping hot cocoa, only to be dashing out the door later tonight for an emergency evacuation. Make sure that you place your emergency kit where it is convenient for you in case of a “grab and go” situation.
•    Have your car winter ready. Get your tires changed and your batteries checked. Better yet, drive over to the nearest auto shop and have your car professionally checked. Your car may not be a part of your home but in case of an emergency and you need to run, your car is the most logical thing to bring with you.
•    Avoid pipe freezes. Drain hoses and AC pipes or just clear off any remaining water in it. Make sure you know where your shut off valves are located in case you need to turn them off.

Driving on a fairly good weather condition is hard enough for seniors considering their impaired visibility—and sometimes, hearing problems too—and limited range of motion but driving on a rainy day proves to be the biggest challenge of all for aging adults like me. However, we are not going to hang those keys yet and give up; here are some handy tips for seniors who are up for the challenge:

•    Stay calm and practice conscious driving. When I say conscious driving, it means you have to keep your wits about you and not get distracted with the rain or even that swerving car right in front of yours with a drunk driver in tow.
•    Have your car rain-ready! It won’t hurt you a bit if you visit an auto shop today and have your car inspected for road-worthiness, particularly that of a rainy day! Have your tires and wipers checked and install new ones if necessary.
•    Avoid unnecessary road accidents by allowing more travel time than needed. You don’t need that nerve wracking driving moves just because you ran short of time. Also, when driving under the rain, expect to drive in a much slower pace.
•    There are tires designed specifically to withstand slippery roads. They may bring forth another car bill but it will surely save you a lot—even your life—in the long run. Do invest on them.
•    Use your lights. It’s okay to turn them on if you feel you are having a hard time seeing other cars running in front, back and beside of you or even those coming your way and even if it’s not yet raining. AARP suggests that you turn them on whenever you use your wipers.
•    Allow ample space between cars. When roads are this slippery, you would want to maintain a healthy space between your car and the one in front of you, just in case either one of you slips. Be especially aware of other nearby cars too.
•    If it gets too hard to drive, then stop at a safe spot and wait it out. You know that it can’t rain forever right? Instead of gambling with the unknown, try considering your safety first.
•    Never cross a pool of water or drive through one as you don’t know what it is hiding. If you couldn’t help it and you made it safely across, dry your brakes by tapping it.
•    As much as possible, avoid using your brakes, instead maintain a good speed mainly by your accelerator. Do note that even if the word accelerator connotes the word “speed up”, that’s not its only use.

We often hear tips on how to travel right, I, myself, am guilty of this as I constantly post new and innovative ways on how to pack for traveling and stay safe while on a vacation. When I do, I always make it a point to mention how and why you should bring just enough medications with you to last you until it’s time to go home. Of course, you have heard how it can be a headache just finding out that your prescription meds are not available in and around the area you’ll be staying. Packing your own medications will help you avoid getting stuck somewhere without the convenience of your own meds.

However, it is not always that easy to bring your medications with you when traveling, especially if you are planning to travel by air. Sometimes, even crossing a country will have your bags and being subjected to inspection. Even over-the-counter drugs can cause you trouble when checking in at airports, so you really have to be very careful when packing them. Here are some tips on how to pack your medications the right way when traveling:

•    Pack them individually and label each one according to their names and uses. Never dump them all in one container as they may cause confusion to the inspector and lead to unnecessary confiscation.
•    Make sure you have proof that these medications are yours. Your strongest proof would be your doctor’s medical prescription. If you are wary of carrying this with you or if you are afraid you might lose the prescription during the trip, then a copy of which will do.
•    For pills and inhalers, it is better if you keep them in their original containers and put your name on it for easy reference. This way, you can easily claim them as yours when asked.
•    You are allowed a quart Ziploc bag to carry your liquids (the original bottle must fit the bag) Usually this is enough for a traveling senior but if it’s absolutely necessary for you to carry more than that amount, you will have to declare it to a travel officer.
•    Be conscious enough to just bring enough amount with you as something other than enough will certainly raise an alarm at security checkpoints.
•    For medications that you won’t need during the travel time itself, you can send them to your destination ahead of time, this way, you won’t have a problem with security when checking in.
•    Some security checkpoints won’t allow even the most “innocent” of things such as gels and aerosols since their inspections are based on categories. Make sure you check them prior to traveling.