Seniors Site

Aging has its own pros and cons but sometimes, it tends to lean on the “cons” side of things especially in terms of independency. It’s good to know there are still few options left for us seniors to delve in and won’t take too much consultation from people around us; this includes housing options.

Aging is an already given fact and it is one of those things in life that we couldn’t prevent, no matter how much we took pains in delaying it. However, there are things that we CAN do to make our aged-years so much comfortable than it should; all these for just planning ahead of time and preparing for it well.

Retirement should not be something to avoid; in fact, many seniors are having a great time spending their retired years in perfect contentment just because they have prepared well and things have gone according to plan. But of course, included in this planning is the acceptance that there would be things they can no longer attend to such as home maintenance and lawn mowing; trivial problems but problems just the same. Most of these tasks are physically tedious to an aging body or poses a health risk if they dared doing so hence the need for assistance–an assisted living that won’t require giving up seniors’ independence entirely. Apparently, this is exactly what adult retirement communities offer to active seniors.

Adult retirement communities are residential communities which offer homes for seniors and are specifically designed to encourage active lifestyle that is more suitable for older adults. These communities come with recreational facilities such as swimming pool and tennis courts and form groups based on residents’ interests. It comes in handy for seniors who are concerned if they could still manage a household and would want to be part of a community once more.

This type of housing option for seniors is quite popular nowadays; in fact there are plenty of existing adult retirement communities in Florida and a handful scattered all throughout the country; party due to the fact that this type of community is, by far the best alternative to nursing homes and living alone on your own. Safety and comfort of the residents are the first and foremost concern of the community manager—most of the time it’s guaranteed, but you’ll have to pay for it, of course. However, it’s such a small cost to pay considering the amount of convenience you’ll get from living in an adult retirement community.

These communities are with restrictions to maintain the quality of life they provide for seniors so it is best to inquire first if you’re interested in purchasing or renting a home in such communities. Since it tends to be a targeted community, its facilities and amenities are specifically designed to cater to older adults; the same goes for existing rules and regulations the community follows. If you have decided to go for it, then it is most recommended that you take time to attend open houses or inquire personally to the community office to familiarize yourself of how the community operates.

Are you growing tired of failed blind dates and fix-ups that usually end miserably? Are you losing hope in finding that perfect partner to live with you and care for you for the rest of your life? Most probably, you’re ready to throw your hands up in the air right now and preparing yourself for all those long and lonely nights alone forever. If you’re about to, then don’t do it yet. There’s still one reason not to and this is something that might work since its success rate is higher than traditional means:  the senior online dating sites.

Senior online dating is gaining popularity among techie seniors nowadays; maybe because it’s convenient for seniors with limited range of motion and for those who don’t have much time on their hands to do socializing more often. Online dating proves to be a great way to meet new people in and out of the city you’re currently living in. Senior online dating sites are communities for single seniors looking for potential partners in life and are quite ready for love–again.

It’s quite amazing to see eligible seniors populate these sites. This also brings hope to single seniors who are still searching for love but haven’t found it yet. All you need to do is sign up and become a member of reputable online dating services, post your profile and join community forums to have a good grasp of what’s going on. Even if you don’t go looking for a date yet, someone’s bound to find you.

Although there are horror stories surrounding online dating, not to mention the existing notion that this activity is for young, free and reckless singles only, its success rate is quite high and it’s not bad to give something new like this a try. As with any other modes of dating, there’s danger; and quite frankly, some even find online dating safer than going out with a complete stranger. When you meet someone over online dating sites, you’ll be able to test the waters first before actually going out with that particular person. These dating services simply open up new horizons and offer a lot more choices to choose from.

There are many senior online dating sites out there that you can join; some of them are for free but you may want to stick with paid ones which guarantee quality, serious love seekers and of course, for safety reasons—the fee is not that expensive anyway. Here are some precautions before joining senior online dating sites:

·    Beware of lurking scammers waiting for the perfect prey. Although there are hundreds of eligible seniors listed to the site, expect half of them to be perverts; double that number if it’s a free site. The golden rule around these sites is never to trust anyone until you’ve tested their credibility.
·    Be sure to check the site’s membership fees and extra charges. Read fine lines and small prints thoroughly before signing in your credit card number. Internet safety experts always recommend applying for separate online-payment processor such as Paypal just for these types of activities. The same goes for email accounts.

Regular screenings for seniors are highly recommended so that their doctors would be able to assess their health status and apply all necessary precautions even before an illness sets in. In fact, screening and other preventive measures are included in the government initiated program Healthy People 2010 for seniors. Among the most effective screening methods—and most recommended too, for colon cancer—is the colonoscopy.

Colonoscopy is considered as the best screening method for colon cancer. Not only it detects and pinpoints the problem accurately, but also it provides the doctor the opportunity to take out suspected polyps and other abnormalities at the time of the procedure itself. Samples found and taken out are then sent to laboratory for analysis and further tests.

A few years back, guidelines for colon cancer screening clearly state that colonoscopy should be done when a person reaches the age of 50. The screening should be repeated every 10 years after, and that is for the remainder of the person’s life. Furthermore, there is no existing guideline when colonoscopy to seniors should not be done and when it should stop so most of the doctors resolve to this screening procedure once they see signs of colon cancer.

Apparently, a new study revealed that colonoscopy may even aggravate seniors’ health after undergoing this kind of screening method especially those with heart problems. Seniors who fall right into this red line are those belonging to age 85 and older while colonoscopy still stays as the best choice for all other age groups. Considering the age and the degree of illnesses a senior’s body holds, complications are never too far from them; these include bleeding, infection, and perforation of the intestine. While these complications are almost non-existent to younger adults or even to younger seniors ages 50-85, older adults are more susceptible to them and therefore the study concluded that maybe older seniors are better off without colonoscopy and may have to seek other alternative for colon cancer screening such as FOBT or fecal occult blood test. Furthermore, the study suggests less invasive types of screening to be done for seniors at risk since the procedure may do more harm than good. If colonoscopy cannot be avoided in a senior’s case then at least consider the method as a cure—something like a last resort, not as simple screening procedure that it usually is.

When doing a colonoscopy, it is best to assess the patient’s current health status first. It should be determined if he would be able to recover fast after the procedure with no apparent complications and unexpected reactions that will only make a senior’s life even harder. For seniors and caregivers, seek second opinion as you deem fit.

Generally, when a person reaches the age of 55, things start to change. Unfortunately, the first ones to fail are those important when driving such as your visual and hearing capabilities. This proves to be a hurdle to an older adult’s driving life even if they already spent years behind wheels. Common aging issues usually separate a senior driver from his car, whether they like it or not.

But, seniors are hard to convince and it would be doubly hard if you are hitting the wrong strings. They will defy especially when they are given orders; in fact, resistance is a very common thing when it comes to senior driving. Although we know that it can be dangerous for seniors to still drive around especially if they are already experiencing difficulties with minor chores, and most probably they are aware of that too, you will have to let them decide for themselves.

The quickest way to let them know if they are still safe to drive is by assessing their driving skills. This way, you and the senior in question would be able to establish his or her capability in driving. If he doesn’t make it, he’ll accept your point but if he meets all the requirements then be ready to accept the fact that he can still drive.

The great way to do this is challenge the driver for a little trip around town to assess the senior’s driving skills. If he falters, then something is wrong and he knows it. But assuming that he’ll go for the ride, here are some points you must consider:

·    Notice if he is having some difficulties in switching pedals. Normally, a driver will not lift the whole leg when switching pedals.
·    Vision impairment such as blurring and reduced vision is apparent when the driver couldn’t merge with passing traffic. This means he can no longer gauge the speed of approaching automobiles.
·    Even younger drivers have problems when driving at night, more for seniors with failing eyesight.
·    Notice the driver’s reaction time. This includes sirens, lights, and beeping cars.
·    The driver should be able to stay within his driving lane.
·    Take note of the speed of the car. It should not fall within the recommended speed for the street you are currently in.
·    If the driver often finds himself involved in near-collisions these past few months, then it’s time to hand-over the keys to more capable hands.

Safety when driving should be the number one concern of this assessment, not proving anybody’s point. For the caregiver, understand that it is not easy to give up something that gives a senior the freedom to go places without asking for anyone’s permission. For the senior driver, you should know that it is not only you that your driving puts in danger; the lives of other people who happen to cross your path during your unfortunate driving accident will also be affected.

Believe it or not, there’s a new craze in town and it involves horses—miniature horses, that is. Seniors with fond memories of spending their childhood with their pet horses only to leave them behind as they go through life’s cycle and adult responsibilities, now is your chance to rekindle that fire once again and reestablish your connection with your first true love!

Daunting as it may seem, miniature horses are not too hard to keep. In reality, this is by far, the best option for visually impaired individuals with dog phobia or other dog related problems that will prevent them from using dogs as their guides. But not all miniature horses can be a guide horse; for one to be allowed as such, your horse should first undergo training with a certified, professional horse trainer but unlike dogs, only a couple of these horses get to the next level since a lot of them are disqualified at once. There are foundations for guide horses that offer these trainings; check your local listings if you are interested. Some of the existing organizations also provide the miniature horses themselves for free, if you are qualified or have met their requirements.

Miniature horses also make a great pet for seniors but it is not advisable that you ride them as you would a full sized horse. Although they are quite strong for their size, it won’t guarantee the rider safety for both species. Ideally, miniature horses as guides are used in place of guide dogs—leather harness and all.

With the booming industry of exotic farms and animals, many are quite intrigued with what these exotic animals could contribute to the way we conduct our daily lives. Guide horses for one, was an experimental program which succeeded and later on, recognized by visually impaired groups who were having problems with guide dogs as an excellent alternative. Guide horses are the perfect choice for seniors who love horses, are allergic to dogs, and are seeking stronger, more able pet. Some also find miniature horses more convenient to keep because they are self-reliant and they don’t mind sleeping outside of the house when off-duty.

Miniature horses also have longer life spans than traditional guide animals and they are relatively cost-effective as pets. They are very calm when faced in stressful situation and when properly trained, they are able to remember what to do and what not to do to prevent the person they are guiding from accidents. The best news of all is that they don’t get fleas so seniors don’t have to worry about that too!

Due to the latest tragic air accident of Air France Flight 447, travelers are now in doubt about airline safety and how safe it is to travel by air. Here are some tips to avoid, if not prevent, air travel accidents:

1.    Avoid connecting flights, if possible, or lessen them if you need to. By flying nonstop routes, you avoid the four major phases of aircraft flying: take-off, climb, descent and landing. This doubles the malfunction rate than flying straight to and fro.
2.    Get to know the aircraft you are going to board. Seniors should do their research and get to know the aircraft. Some information you should search for is the model and its accident rate, if any. Apparently, larger aircrafts are much safer to board than smaller ones and they hold better passenger survival rates, in case of accidents.
3.    Every time a plane takes off, there is always a preflight briefing. It is important that you pay attention to what the flight attendant is talking about each time because every plane has their own emergency exits which will also depend on your seat location. Take note of the suggested routes to use in case you will need the emergency exit. You can also count the seats between yours and the exits in case there will be heavy smoke and you couldn’t see very well.
4.    Do not place heavy items inside the overhead storage bins. They might fall off directly into your head during turbulence and minor disturbances. You can put it securely under your seat so it will not roll off and disturb other passengers. Don’t try to hand-carry big luggage because they don’t belong inside the passenger area. They will only cramp your space and will limit your range of motion.
5.    Seat belts are meant to protect you; maximize its use every time you board a plane. Take note of its mechanism to avoid fumbling with it during an emergency. If you are having some problems with your seat belts, ask your flight attendant about it and they will gladly assist you. Taking off your seat belts during the flight is not encouraged so it is best to stay seated during the flight, if possible. Do some leg stretching only if necessary to avoid DVT or deep vein thrombosis during long flights.
6.    It is also advisable to wear sensible clothes that will allow you to move however you please. High heeled footwear may injure you especially if you are having trouble with your balance. Try not to wear synthetics because they catch fire easily, instead wear cotton.
7.    Stay away from booze. Alcoholic drinks can impair your judgment in case of emergency thus will take precious time better spent on saving yourself and helping others. It was also said that alcoholic drinks, when taken onboard, can affect a person more strongly.
8.    It is always great to be prepared at all times. By creating an emergency plan, you will be able to move and exit without so much of a fuss.
9.    There is a passenger safety card provided to all passengers aboard. Take time to review them for your own safety.
10.    Don’t smuggle hazardous materials. Surely you don’t want the accident to start from your own baggage right?

Hurricane season is officially here, are you ready for it? Annual Atlantic hurricane season starts from June 1 and will end on November 30. This is also the time when coastal resorts lower their rates to “incredibly affordable” that even your grandkid could afford to pay for the family’s vacation! These resorts are the ones built on the Caribbean islands, some parts of Mexico, Gulf and Atlantic coasts and Florida.

As the month of May rolled by; and June officially rolled in, some communities and cities are helping their local residents especially their senior locals to prepare for the hurricane season. Particularly, new projects were developed by community leaders in Florida for seniors who they deem are the most vulnerable ones during this season. Local government of the said state also offers assistance during hurricane season for older adults.

Although last year’s was considered as the fourth most active since 1944, experts believe that this year’s a slower and gentler one; rising a little above the average, give and take. By the way, these dates do not imply that hurricanes only occur during these times; hurricanes and storms can occur even outside of the said dates, only they are found out to cluster around June to November. However, even if there are no indications of the hurricane season being violent this year and as destructive as last year’s, we should still prepare for it. Here are some tips for seniors and their caregivers:

1. The emergency kit. Review your list and prepare them when you have time—and I mean soon, not later, not tomorrow or the next day. You will never know when a hurricane will hit so it is best to prepare than be sorry.
2. Your important documents should be kept safe and dry so it is best to place them in resealable, waterproof plastic bags.
3. For the caregiver, it is important to prepare an emergency plan if the calamity strikes. You should know at once when, where and how to carefully transfer your ward to a safe place without inducing too much harm to the patient’s body. If you are having problem with this, visit some organizations that can help and assist you when the need arises such as American Red Cross.
4. You should also take note of weather forecasts and weather news. If you are already having a bad feeling over a heavy rain then don’t hesitate to heed the call. Sometimes, gut feel is stronger than any weather prediction there is.
5. An extra help is always better than doing it all on your own. Whether you are a senior living alone, or a sole caregiver living with your ward, seeking help from your neighbors is always a good idea for seniors. It will enable you to move faster and more efficiently.
6. When a hurricane warning is issued, it usually has more or less, 24 hours before the anticipated strike. Almost always, residents are advised to evacuate the area and it is wise to do it while you still have clear roads to go through.
7. Always remember to stock up your water supply before a hurricane strike so you will not have a hard time if the water goes unavailable after the hit.
8. Evacuation routes will be provided by your local government. Follow them to safer areas.
9. Don’t forget to secure your house before you leave. Lower down shutters before leaving.
10. Don’t try to go back to your home unless authorities announce it to be safe.

Alzheimer’s disease is a terrible illness which often strikes seniors. It gradually makes the memory fade that even the person’s basic functions are forgotten. A family living with a senior suffering from Alzheimer’s disease could attest: it can break you emotionally, physically, spiritually and financially. One moment you have everything, the next thing you know everything is gone.

Alzheimer’s disease is known for gradually increasing attacks on the sufferer which in time, will go permanent. The problem is that you will never know when this “permanent” attack will happen and if the person will be able to recover again after each attack. This is why it is important for the families to prepare and protect the sufferer’s assets and financial matters at the early stages of the said diseases.

The first stages of Alzheimer’s disease is easy enough to manage by the whole family since attacks are quite infrequent and shorter in course but eventually, you will need a professional help and may need to move the patient to a healthcare facility especially during the later stages of the disease. But financially, the family should prepare as this concern will be present right after the diagnosis itself.

According to a certified elder law attorney, the earlier you face the problem and discuss it with the patient, the better. There are laws that apply to seniors and elderly people which should be discussed with the family and the sufferer. These laws should be discussed when the sufferer still understands what’s going on, if possible.

POINTS TO COVER:
·    Alzheimer’s disease health care is staggeringly high. Aside from the medications you will need and the assisted care later on, adult day care facilities have steeper rates for Alzheimer’s patient. In fact, this disease was found to be the most expensive to maintain as compared to any other diseases common to senior citizens.
·    Wills should be prepared while the sufferer still recognizes the consequences of his or her actions. These are living will, last will and testament, health care power of attorney, and general power of attorney. Some states don’t accept these documents if they find the person in question is not capable of doing these statements and will therefore declare them as null and void.
·    At this point, it is important to look and examine closely their assets. If the senior with Alzheimer’s disease is your spouse then you should assess your joint and conjugal properties at once. Somewhere along the way, you will need help from the government which will evaluate the person’s assets. Unfortunately in some cases wherein the couple did not prepare ahead, they lost everything they have worked for all these years.

The laws covering seniors are ever changing, that is why you need to seek help from someone updated with these kinds of things such as certified elder law attorneys. These people are experienced and certified by the law to handle seniors’ affair and protect them from losing everything they have.

Falling is a serious accident for seniors than in any other age groups. This is because older adults tend to break bones when they fall or slip; usually the hip bones. According to statistics almost half of the senior population with hip fracture as a result of accidental falling or slipping, dies in about six months prior to the fall itself. At this alarming rate, health care providers are compelled to seek the root-cause of the problem and in a way prevent seniors from deaths due to this very unfortunate accident.

This is also why exercises that will establish and strengthen an older adult’s balance such as yoga are highly recommended by their physicians and attending doctors. But sometimes, even these exercises couldn’t regain one’s balance and prevent seniors from falling down and injuring themselves.

Last Monday, May 25, 2009, John Hopkins University School of Medicine released a finding that will provide a link to aging and falling risks. Apparently, not because you just reached the age of 40 that you will gradually lose balance; there is a closer link that will provide some sense to it especially if the person feels much younger than his current age.

If you are having some difficulties in hearing or had an inner-ear infection even far back in your childhood days, you have a higher risk of losing balance and falling down when you reach forty. You can even feel this imbalance in your younger years although you must have overlooked it since you still had a stronger footing and faster reflex then. Vestibular dysfunction or inner-ear dysfunction affects half of the American population at any age bracket but doctors didn’t suspect this back then to have an effect on seniors, much less on their falling episodes. They assumed that weakness, vision impairment and gait were the culprits to a senior’s fall.

Vestibular dysfunction affects one’s balance. If you look closely to the ear’s composition, the inner ear is the one responsible for sending signals to the brain which in return stabilizes the person’s balance. When there is a disruption along the line from the ear to the brain, the person’s equilibrium is heavily compromised, exposing the person to increased risk of falling and losing balance.

The study firmly believed that if the senior is aware that he or she is suffering from inner-ear dysfunction, he will be able to prevent falling or protect himself from doing so. Tests for inner-ear dysfunction are available upon request in your doctor’s office and they don’t cause much. Inquire about them now.

For this month alone, several earthquakes were felt in different parts of the world. There have been small hits in Asia that were barely felt by their residents but were still able to make it to the records. However in the US, there were quite a few hits as well that came in different levels. Some were felt in California and Los Angeles areas; apparently those were enough to cause alarm to people residing in these areas.

As a general rule, every household should have a disaster-preparedness plan, although its importance is often overlooked by many until it’s too late to do so. More importantly, in face of disasters such as earthquakes, you will need to move fast with one direction in mind. This can be hard if your own range of motion is limited or if you are living with someone with disability problems. With a disaster-preparedness plan, everyone in your household will know what to do and how to move in one synchronized movement that will enable everybody to move into safety the soonest possible time.

Another thing the head of the household should be thinking of when it comes to disaster-preparedness is the kit itself such as earthquake kit. If you are an elderly person, you should take time and prepare it ahead rather than regret later for not doing so. Here are some general suggestions of what goes inside your own earthquake kit:

1.    Water. A seniors’ earthquake kit should contain at least one gallon of water per person. This should be in durable plastic containers that will not break or leak. You should also take note that you must replace it once in a while to ensure water safety. Try to keep a three-day supply in there.
2.    Food and medical supplies. This is equally important as you will need these things to survive. Canned goods are your best bets; just don’t forget to pack in the can opener! Canned soups and juices are great too since they will not spill, leak or rot (unless it’s expired). For seniors, you should put together your three-day worth of medications, complete with doctor’s prescription in there, just to make sure you won’t get confused what medicine to take in a certain hour of the day.
3.    First-aid kit. Some drug stores sell complete first-aid kits so you don’t have to go through it one by one. It is more convenient for elder people to just buy one since these kits are cheaper and come in cute, handy bags as well.
4.     Documents. Yes, it’s a tedious task but seniors need to do them. All your important documents should be gathered in one place, safely wrapped in a waterproof container. This will include personal records such as birth certificate, marriage certificate, social security number, and any other ones you can think of.

If you want to emergency proof your house, read more in this post I made two months ago.