The IDEA Publishing
  • HOME
  • Popular IDEAS
    • IDEAS for Your Better Business Life >
      • The Business Idea
      • The Career IDEA
      • The Money Idea
    • IDEAS for Your Better Diversions >
      • The Tech IDEA
      • The Travel IDEA
      • The Auto IDEA
      • The Outdoors IDEA
    • IDEAS for a Better Table >
      • The Food IDEA
      • IDEAS de Cocina Espanola
    • IDEAS for a Better You >
      • The Health IDEA
      • Living Well IDEAS
      • The Fitness IDEA
      • The Beauty IDEA
    • IDEAS for a Happier Home >
      • The Home Idea
      • The Entertaining Idea
      • The Parenting Idea
      • The Senior Living IDEA
      • The Pet IDEA
  • The Video Domain
    • Video IDEAS for Your Better Business Life
  • About
  • Contact
  • ads.txt
The_Senior_Living_IDEA
The Senior Living IDEA

The Senior Living IDEA

New Ideas and Good Advice to Make Your Golden Years Your Best Years!

7 ways to protect yourself from Medicare fraud

11/24/2019

Comments

 
senior-couple-on-computer
How to guard against Medicare fraud and stop senior scammers in their tracks

(BPT) - Every year, many seniors are targeted by scammers who want to steal their Medicare numbers to do things like rack up fake health care charges and commit identity theft. These scams hurt seniors and other people eligible for Medicare, cost taxpayers money, and result in higher health care costs for everyone. The good news is that you can protect yourself from fraud and help Medicare stop scammers in their tracks.

How to Spot Medicare Fraud

The first step in protecting yourself from Medicare fraud is knowing how to spot it. Over time, scammers have become very sophisticated and advanced. One of the latest scams you should look out for concerns genetic testing. Scammers are offering “free” genetic tests and claiming Medicare will cover it — so they can get your Medicare number and use it to commit fraud and identity theft. Other Medicare scams include offers for free or reduced-price medical equipment, consultations, or health services. These scams can happen anywhere, including through telemarketing calls, health fairs, and even knocking on doors.

Last year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) removed Social Security numbers from all Medicare cards. Even with this change, people with Medicare should still guard their Medicare card and treat it like a credit card, check Medicare claims summary forms for errors, and be wary of any unsolicited requests for your Medicare number. Medicare will never call beneficiaries to ask for or check Medicare numbers.

To protect yourself from Medicare fraud, keep these things to “do” and “don’t do” in mind:

  • DO protect your Medicare number and treat your Medicare card like it's a credit card.
  • DO remember that nothing is ever “free.” Don't accept offers of money or gifts for free medical care.
  • DO review your Medicare claims for errors and problems, including things like fake charges, double billing or other fraudulent activity, and waste or abuse.
  • DO visit www.medicare.gov/fraud to learn more about how you can protect yourself from Medicare fraud.
  • DON’T give your Medicare card or Medicare number to anyone except your doctor or people you know should have it.
  • DON’T accept medical supplies, equipment, or genetic testing kits from door-to-door salesmen or solicitors at a mall or fair.
  • DON’T let anyone persuade you to receive health care services you don't need, such as genetic testing. Only make these decisions with your doctor.

Reporting Medicare Fraud

If you think you may have spotted fraud, you should report it right away. No matter how minimal the information you share is, it could be the missing piece to stopping the next fraud scheme. If you are a victim of fraud, know that you won’t be penalized or lose your coverage for reporting it. Even if you are not a victim, it’s important to report any fraud scams you encounter to Medicare. Report suspected fraud by calling 1-800-MEDICARE or online through the Office of the Inspector General.

Information provided by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.


KEYWORDS

  • abuse ×
  • active seniors ×
  • advice ×
  • crime ×
  • criminal ×
  • cybercrime ×
  • federal government ×
  • fraud ×
  • genetic testing ×
  • government ×
  • guide ×
  • hacks ×
  • health insurance ×
  • insurance ×
  • law ×
  • legal ×
  • lifehacks ×
  • medical ×
  • Medicare ×
  • money ×
  • scam ×
  • scammers ×
  • senior citizens ×
  • seniors ×
  • testing ×
  • tips ×
  • victim ×
  • victims ×
  • Washington

RSS Feed

Comments

5 Questions to Ask When Planning for Long-Term Care

10/17/2019

Comments

 

Even if you’ve worked hard to save for retirement and create the financial security you want in the future, the need for long-term care could throw a wrench into even the most well-thought-out plans and impact you and your loved ones’ finances. Consider these questions as you begin the long-term care planning process.


5 Questions to Ask When Planning for Long-Term Care

(Family Features) You may not want to consider a time when you might not be able to fully take care of yourself, but the reality is there is almost a 70% chance someone turning 65 today will need some type of long-term care service and support in his or her lifetime, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Even if you’ve worked hard to save for retirement and create the financial security you want in the future, the need for long-term care could throw a wrench into even the most well-thought-out plans and impact you and your loved ones’ finances.

Consider these questions as you begin the long-term care planning process.

What is long-term care?
Different from traditional medical care that treats illnesses and injuries, long-term care includes services designed to help you maintain your quality of life and perform everyday activities even if age, illness, injury or a severe cognitive impairment make it a challenge to take care of yourself for an extended period of time. Long-term care services help with common daily functions including dressing, bathing and eating, and even skilled nursing services such as giving medication.

When should you start thinking about long-term care planning?
Because you never know when a need for care may arise, planning for care when you are younger and healthier can provide additional options as you’re more likely to qualify for coverage. Plus, cost is based on your age when you apply, so waiting can end up costing you more. Some people are beginning to plan as early as in their 40s.

How much does long-term care cost?
Long-term care costs vary depending on where you live, the type of care provided and the setting. Home-care services average $24-$135 per hour, according to the New York Life Cost of Care Survey, while private rooms in nursing homes can cost more than $100,000 a year.

Long-term care is generally not covered by health insurance, and government programs like Medicare or Medicaid have limitations, which often isn’t discovered until care is needed. However, New York Life offers long-term care options to AARP members and provides specially trained agents who can provide guidance. The agents can work with you and your family to create a customized plan based on your financial goals, helping protect your assets should you ever require long-term care.

Where is care provided?
Long-term care can be provided in a variety of settings, including at home, in an assisted-living facility or in a nursing home depending on the amount and type of care needed. In fact, some insurance plans cover care on a part-time basis by a family member or home health worker. Planning ahead can allow for more control over how and where you receive care.

How much coverage do you need?
The amount of coverage you need typically varies based on several considerations including budget, age, the type of care expected and how much of your assets and income you may be willing to use to offset the care costs. You don’t have to cover your entire risk – choosing a modest amount of coverage can still provide benefits and help protect other assets.

While planning for long-term care can seem daunting, you can find more benefits and information to make the process easier at aarp.org/benefits.

 

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

SOURCE:
AARP Services, Inc.

KEYWORDS

  • AARP ×
  • adult children ×
  • advice ×
  • age in place ×
  • aging ×
  • aging in place ×
  • aging parents ×
  • assisted living ×
  • caregivers ×
  • caregiving ×
  • estate planning ×
  • family ×
  • Family Features ×
  • family finances ×
  • finances ×
  • financial planning ×
  • hacks ×
  • health insurance ×
  • home care ×
  • insurance ×
  • lifehacks ×
  • long-term care ×
  • Medicaid ×
  • Medicare ×
  • money ×
  • nursing home ×
  • personal finances ×
  • plans ×
  • quality ×
  • quality of life ×
  • retirement planning ×
  • sandwich generation ×
  • savings ×
  • tips

RSS Feed

Comments

Ways to Make the World a Better Place for Seniors

8/23/2019

Comments

 
senior-care
Photo by Matthias Zomer from Pexels

Without proper support, seniors may face a wide range of issues including limited mobility, chronic conditions, improper nutrition and feelings of loneliness. For example, older adults can have problems chewing or may take medications which interfere with their appetites. However, research shows lack of companionship may be the biggest challenge. Small gestures, like these simple acts of kindness, can go a long way toward improving a senior’s day.


Ways to Make the World a Better Place for Seniors

(Family Features) By 2050, the senior population (adults age 65 and older) will be more than double that of the world’s youngest citizens, and the number of people living beyond age 80 is expected to triple over the next 30 years.

As the aging population increases, some 11.3 million seniors are living alone, according to the Institute on Aging. In addition, women are twice as likely as older men to live by themselves.

Without proper support, seniors may face a wide range of issues including limited mobility, chronic conditions, improper nutrition and feelings of loneliness. For example, older adults can have problems chewing or may take medications which interfere with their appetites. However, research shows lack of companionship may be the biggest challenge.

In fact, an AARP survey found 1 in 5 adults over the age of 40 were “socially disconnected,” which can impact health. People who reportedly experienced loneliness and isolation had lower mental well-being scores, and those who were dissatisfied with their level of social engagement were more likely to report a decline in cognitive function, as well.

While anyone can benefit from a kind gesture, seniors are some of the most in-need members in many communities. There is likely a wide range of opportunities to enhance the lives of seniors in your area. Numerous programs and agencies exist to help you determine the best way to make a difference.

One example is Ready to Care, an initiative from Home Instead Senior Care that challenges people to complete weekly care missions. Each activity guides members through various ways to give to senior-related causes, learn about the aging crisis and issues impacting seniors, and serve seniors through small actions of kindness.

Most care missions are simple acts, such as opening a door, learning about Alzheimer’s or helping with a chore. Each week, a new mission is delivered to participants’ phones via text message.

Small gestures, like these simple acts of kindness, can go a long way toward improving a senior’s day.

Physical assistance: Most seniors are eager to retain their independence, but everyday tasks can pose fall risks or require exposure to harsh weather conditions that can be dangerous to older adults.

  • Offer to bring in the daily newspaper or mail.
  • Mow their lawn or offer to help with other yardwork.
  • Lend a hand in caring for pets, such as taking a dog for a walk or helping clean up waste from the yard.
  • Offer moral support and a sense of physical safety by volunteering to join them on a walk.

Social support: Loneliness is common among seniors, especially those who live alone. Show seniors in your area they have a meaningful place in the community and options for companionship.

  • Offer a friendly wave and say hello when you see them out.
  • Invite them to dinner, either at your home or at a restaurant.
  • Have your children or kids you know in the area draw pictures or write letters.
  • Make a date for an afternoon or evening of entertainment, such as cards, a movie or board games.

Practical solutions: For various reasons, some seniors may be unable to complete everyday tasks. Offer a helping hand in their daily routines when possible.

  • Lend your time to take them to run errands.
  • Deliver baked goods or a home-cooked meal to improve access to nourishing foods.
  • Help arrange for professional assistance and services, such as an audit to ensure homes are safe.

How You Can Help

Consider these simple ways you can help the aging population by taking action and learning about issues impacting seniors:

  • Lend your voice. Be an advocate for change in public actions and medical research for the aging society. If you’re an expert by experience, share your knowledge about senior-related issues and public policy measures.
  • Give from your heart. Less than 1% of charitable donations go to organizations that help seniors. Find senior-focused non-profits to give your next charitable donations to, such as one dedicated to raising awareness, inspiring change and accelerating progress in Alzheimer’s care and research.
  • Get prepared to care. Educate yourself on issues that impact seniors and complete small acts of kindness for seniors in your life. Sign up for weekly care missions and find additional information to better equip yourself to care for seniors at imreadytocare.com.
  • Give your time. Volunteer with local non-profit organizations that help seniors or offer support related to senior-affiliated issues.

To find more ways you can care for the seniors in your community, visit imreadytocare.com.

SOURCE:
Home Instead Senior Care


KEYWORDS

  • AARP×
  • active seniors×
  • advice×
  • Alzheimers×
  • appetite×
  • appetites×
  • brain×
  • brain health×
  • care×
  • caregivers×
  • caregiving×
  • chewing×
  • cognitive×
  • cognitive functioning×
  • dementia×
  • depression×
  • eating×
  • education×
  • eldercare×
  • elderly×
  • hacks×
  • learning×
  • lifehacks×
  • loneliness×
  • meals×
  • medical research×
  • medication×
  • medications×
  • mental×
  • mental health×
  • quality of life×
  • research×
  • seniors×
  • survey×
  • swallowing×
  • thinking×
  • tips×
  • volunteer×
  • volunteering×
  • volunteer work×
  • widow×
  • widower​


RSS Feed

Comments

Getting the care you need: Find your health care 'quarterback'

1/30/2019

Comments

 
geriatric_female_patient_with_doctor
65 or older? Why you should add a geriatrician to your health care team.

With 10,000 Americans turning 65 every day, the demand for geriatricians continues to grow. And despite a shortage of certified geriatricians as the demand increases, many geriatricians will see a patient on a one-time or as-needed basis and then make recommendations to the patient’s primary care physician.


(BPT) - Are you 65 or older? While your primary care doctor may be an internist or general practitioner, have you thought about adding a geriatrician to your health care team?

A geriatrician can act as your health care “quarterback,” helping to ensure you get the specific care you need, as well as coordinating care with specialists.

“Our health needs often change dramatically in our later years,” said Dr. Efrem Castillo, chief medical officer for UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement. “The kind of care you deliver to an older adult is not the same as for a middle-aged person. The physiology of older people is very different from people in other stages of life.”

Those differences are significant enough that the medical community developed a specialty — geriatrics — to address the needs of older adults. Geriatricians are licensed physicians who have completed additional training in managing the care of older people. That training makes geriatricians uniquely suited to help older adults manage the complex demands of their health care needs.
One source of that complexity is chronic conditions. Older adults are significantly more likely than their younger counterparts to have a chronic condition such as hypertension, diabetes and heart disease. In fact, about 80 percent have at least one chronic condition, and 68 percent have two or more.

Given the prevalence of chronic conditions in older adults, they’re also heavier users of prescription medications than younger adults. About 90 percent of adults 65 and older take at least one prescription medication, and 40 percent take five or more prescription drugs.

Juggling multiple chronic conditions can introduce challenges for doctors and patients, with one condition sometimes exacerbating the effects of another. Moreover, treatments for illnesses can sometimes interfere with each other. That means the recommended course of treatment could look different in a patient with one chronic condition when compared to a patient with several.

Establishing the ideal treatment regimen for older adults with multiple chronic conditions can be further complicated by side effects unique to older adults. Some medications can be ineffective or even dangerous for older patients. Common over-the-counter drugs such as the allergy medication Benadryl, for example, have been linked to serious confusion in the elderly. Digoxin, a medication used to treat irregular heartbeat, can be toxic to older people when used at doses sometimes prescribed to younger adults.

Geriatricians are trained to understand how drugs uniquely impact older adults so they can appropriately customize their drug regimen to mitigate the risk of complications.

Decisions about how to customize a patient’s treatment aren’t necessarily black and white, requiring a doctor and patient to carefully balance risks and benefits. For example, some diabetes medicines can cause dizziness, meaning the doctor needs to focus not just on regulating the patient’s blood sugar but also on minimizing the risk of a fall, which is the most common cause of injury for seniors.

“A lot of what geriatricians do is determining which medications are more likely to cause harm than help,” said Castillo. “And the concept of shared decision-making is integral here — asking patients, ‘What trade-offs are you willing to take?’”

Sometimes, the trade-offs are purely medical in nature — weighing the pros and cons of taking a certain medication or undergoing a specific screening, for example. But more often than not, they also involve a person’s overall life goals. How important is it to maximize longevity? Comfort? How about independence? Each person answers those questions differently, and geriatricians are trained to use the answers to guide their treatment recommendations and care plan.

When should you seek out a geriatrician for yourself or a loved one? A significant change in health status could be a trigger for a visit with a geriatrician. But any time an older adult feels his or her care is becoming too complex or needs better coordination, a visit with a geriatrician could help.

Finding a geriatrician

With 10,000 Americans turning 65 every day, the demand for geriatricians continues to grow. And despite a shortage of certified geriatricians as the demand increases, many geriatricians will see a patient on a one-time or as-needed basis and then make recommendations to the patient’s primary care physician.

The American Geriatrics Society offers information about how to find a geriatrician on its website, and many larger hospitals and university medical centers have geriatricians on staff that will see new patients. If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, be sure to confirm whether a geriatrician you want to see is in your plan’s network and if your plan requires you to first get a referral from your primary care physician before a visit with a geriatrician will be covered.

UnitedHealthcare members can get help with those questions. From scheduling your next checkup appointment to helping you find a specialist to getting the treatment you need, it’s easier to get the right care at the right time.

* Check with your health insurance provider or Medicare about whether the cost of this new vaccine is covered under your plan. Whether it’s helping to schedule routine care appointments or checkups, UnitedHealthcare can help you navigate the health care system to get the care you need as soon as you need it.

Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies. For Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans: A Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract and a Medicare-approved Part D sponsor. Enrollment in these plans depends on the plans contract renewal with Medicare.



KEYWORDS

  • advice ×
  • aging ×
  • aging parents ×
  • American Geriatrics Society ×
  • balance ×
  • blood pressure ×
  • BPT ×
  • Brandpoint Content ×
  • diabetes ×
  • diagnosis ×
  • doctor ×
  • doctors ×
  • fall ×
  • fall prevention ×
  • fall risk ×
  • falls ×
  • geriatricians ×
  • geriatrics ×
  • hacks ×
  • health ×
  • healthcare ×
  • health care ×
  • health insurance ×
  • high blood pressure ×
  • lifehacks ×
  • Medicare ×
  • patient ×
  • patients ×
  • pharmaceuticals ×
  • pharmacies ×
  • pharmacy ×
  • physician ×
  • physicians ×
  • prescription drugs ×
  • prescriptions ×
  • risk ×
  • risk factors ×
  • senior citizens ×
  • seniors ×
  • side effects ×
  • specialist ×
  • specialists ×
  • specialty care ×
  • tips ×
  • treatment options

RSS Feed

Comments

Aiding Aging Parents

1/28/2019

Comments

 
elderly_asian_woman_and_daughter

It’s not easy getting old, as the saying goes, and it can be even harder to watch your parents age. Helping parents transition into the later years of their lives can be a delicate matter, but there are ways to help them ease into an elderly stage and cope better with challenges. For example, consider these tips and ways to aid aging parents.


Aiding Aging Parents

4 tips to help overcome new challenges

(Family Features) It’s not easy getting old, as the saying goes, and it can be even harder to watch your parents age. Helping parents transition into the later years of their lives can be a delicate matter, but there are ways to help them ease into an elderly stage and cope better with challenges.

Carol Lavin Bernick, former executive chairman of Alberto Culver, navigated this type of life transition with her parents. In her book, “Gather As You Go: Lessons Learned Along the Way,”Bernick offers tips to give and get joy while preserving your parents’ dignity in addition to wisdoms on business and leadership, philanthropy, dealing with tough times and being a working mom.

For example, consider these tips and ways to aid aging parents:

Provide Entertainment
Music can be a helpful gift – try loading a music player with a playlist of your parents’ favorite songs. Old movies can also spark conversation. Host a luncheon for some of their best friends and make their favorite treats. They may be housebound, but there are still ways for them to interact.

Adjust to Physical Changes
Reading materials could require larger-than-normal print, and a magnifying clip-on screen for a computer can be helpful as well. Serving foods that are easier to cut can make eating a simpler process. Keep an eye on weight and nutrition and try to find someone who will make a house call for haircuts.

Relive Memories
Encourage older relatives to write (or dictate) their thoughts on financial tips, military service, business success, valued life lessons and, of course, the stories of how they met their spouses. Make a family tree together and try creating a photobook with old and new pictures. Share news about family members’ relationships and accomplishments, which might bring back personal memories.

Consider the Little Things
Surprise your parents with a few new pieces of clothing for a thoughtful gift. Laminate a list of their medications and their doctors to keep with you in case of emergency and provide a copy to your parents and any other caregivers. Create a contact list on your parents’ mobile phone to help them easily reach family and friends without needing to search. If there are young children in the family, try bringing them by for a visit – their energy and smiles may help brighten the room.

Find more tips to assist aging relatives at gatherasyougo.com .

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

SOURCE:
Gather As You Go

KEYWORDS


  • advice ×
  • aging ×
  • aging parents ×
  • care ×
  • caregivers ×
  • caregiving ×
  • entertainment ×
  • family ×
  • Family Features ×
  • hacks ×
  • helping ×
  • lifehacks ×
  • memories ×
  • memory ×
  • music ×
  • read ×
  • reading ×
  • relatives ×
  • sandwich generation ×
  • senior citizens ×
  • seniors ×
  • sibling ×
  • siblings ×
  • songs ×
  • tips ×
  • traditions

RSS Feed


Comments

Tips for Turning History into Your Story

1/23/2019

Comments

 

If you have ever thought about exploring your family history, now can be the perfect opportunity to take the next step. To get started, these four simple tips can help you unlock new understanding and make meaningful connections.


Tips for Turning History into Your Story

(Family Features) If you have ever thought about exploring your family history, now can be the perfect opportunity to take the next step. To get started, these four simple tips can help you unlock new understanding and make meaningful connections. You can also consider sharing these tips with loved ones so they can join in on the fun, too.

Call Your Family
In almost every family there is someone who knows all about the familial tree and history. You might be unsure of the exact date your grandparents were married, but someone else may know. Building knowledge of your family history can be an excuse to call your mom, your grandma or even your great aunt. They likely have stories and photos you don't have and would likely be willing to share them.

Start a Family Tree
Starting a family tree can be the next step to learning about your family history. Building out your tree online can be simple with a service like Ancestry, which has been turning history into your story by transforming names into family and distant places into home for more than three decades. With more than 20 billion records and 3 million family history subscribers, the service provides all the information and tools you need in one place to make discovery fun and easy. Enter what you know about yourself, your parents, your brothers and sisters then add your grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. If you aren't sure about dates and places, make an educated guess then upload photos and stories.

Message Cousins
As you continue to explore your family tree, you may find other relatives have already researched pieces and parts of your family tree. Maybe a fourth cousin has your common great-grandparents in their tree with photos and stories about their lives. Find out what other information they might know or share what you know about your branch of the family tree.

Take a DNA Test
DNA testing has revolutionized the way people discover family history. With a service like AncestryDNA, you become part of a genetic network that includes more than 10 million people. In addition to providing ethnicity estimates, the service also compares your DNA to the people in the network and matches you to anyone sharing enough DNA with you to point to a recent common ancestor within the last 8-10 generations. To make those connections even easier to find, attach that family tree you built to your DNA results, and find more information at Ancestry.com.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

SOURCE:
Ancestry


KEYWORDS

 
  • advice ×
  • aging ×
  • ancestor ×
  • ancestory ×
  • DNA ×
  • family ×
  • Family Features ×
  • family history ×
  • family tree ×
  • generations ×
  • grandparents ×
  • hacks ×
  • history ×
  • lifehacks ×
  • lineage ×
  • tips

RSS Feed

Comments

Taking Steps to Prevent Falls

9/10/2018

Comments

 
active-senior-woman-exercising
Taking Steps to Prevent Falls

As you get older, the consequences of falls can become more serious, setting up a sequence of events that can have longstanding implications on independence and health. These steps can help prevent falls.


Taking Steps to Prevent Falls

(Family Features) When you’re young, an injury from a fall may sideline you for a few days or weeks, but a full recovery is usually quick. As you get older, the consequences of falls can become more serious, setting up a sequence of events that can have longstanding implications on independence and health.

It doesn’t have to be that way, however. Although falls typically become more common and can be more serious as you age, falls are not a natural part of getting older. In fact, most falls are preventable. Knowing the factors that put you at greater risk of falling and taking proper steps can help prevent falls.

Risk factors for falls in older people include overall health (chronic diseases and physical conditions), environment (hazards and situations at home) and behaviors, such as rushing around or standing on a chair to reach something.

These steps from the experts at the National Council on Aging can help prevent falls:

  • Stay active: Exercise helps increase or maintain coordination and muscle tone that can keep you steady on your feet and your reactions sharp. Walking, gardening or taking an exercise class are just a few ways to keep your heart healthy and your muscles toned.
  • Manage underlying chronic conditions: The better your overall health, the lower your risk of falls. Chronic conditions like diabetes, depression, osteoarthritis, obesity and high blood pressure can increase your risk. Managing those conditions by seeing your health care provider regularly, taking medication as prescribed, eating a healthy diet and choosing appropriate exercise can help prevent falls.
  • Review medications: Side effects from and interactions with some medications can cause dizziness that can increase the risk of falling. Types of medicine associated with an increased risk include sedatives and diuretics as well as those used to treat high blood pressure and anxiety. Talk to your doctor about all prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines you are taking.
  • Get your eyes checked: Vision changes as you age, so it is important to get your eyes checked once a year to make sure your prescription is up to date and screen for any eye-related diseases like cataracts and glaucoma, which are usually treatable when caught at an early stage.
  • Assess your home: Look around your home for potential hazards. Consider enlisting the help of a family member or neighbor who may be more likely to notice things you don’t. Install grab bars in your bathrooms, get rid of slippery throw rugs (or add a rubber backing) and keep passageways inside and outside your home well-lit and free from clutter and debris.

For more tips and information, visit acl.gov/fallsprevention.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

SOURCE:
Administration for Community Living

KEYWORDS

  • active lifestyle ×
  • active seniors ×
  • advice ×
  • arthritis ×
  • assisted living ×
  • bath ×
  • bathing ×
  • bathroom ×
  • blood pressure ×
  • chronic ×
  • depression ×
  • diabetes ×
  • diet ×
  • doctor ×
  • exercise ×
  • exercising ×
  • experts ×
  • eye health ×
  • eyes ×
  • eyesight ×
  • fall prevention ×
  • falls ×
  • family ×
  • Family Features ×
  • hacks ×
  • high blood pressure ×
  • home improvement ×
  • injury ×
  • lifehacks ×
  • living well ×
  • medication ×
  • medications ×
  • mental health ×
  • National Council on Aging ×
  • obesity ×
  • osteoarthritis ×
  • physical activity ×
  • physician ×
  • prescription drugs ×
  • prescriptions ×
  • prevention ×
  • remodel ×
  • remodeling ×
  • safety ×
  • senior citizens ×
  • seniors ×
  • steps ×
  • tips ×
  • vision ×
  • walk ×
  • walking ×
  • wellness

Comments

Caring for Caregivers

7/12/2018

Comments

 
caring_for_caregivers
Caring for Caregivers

While caring for an older family member – whether it be a spouse, parent or grandparent – can be a rewarding experience, it can also be a difficult and overwhelming task. This is especially true if your loved one lives with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia-related illnesses. Being aware of some of the warning signs of burnout can help caregivers properly manage stress and protect themselves.


Caring for Caregivers

How to prevent caregiver burnout

(Family Features) While caring for an older family member – whether it be a spouse, parent or grandparent – can be a rewarding experience, it can also be a difficult and overwhelming task. This is especially true if your loved one lives with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia-related illnesses.

Whether it’s out of love or obligation, caring for a chronically ill or disabled family member (and potentially his or her financial and legal interests) can come at the expense of the caregiver’s quality of life. In addition to maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle outside of caregiving responsibilities, it is important for those caring for a loved one to learn ways to avoid health hazards and stay well-informed of any changes in their loved one’s condition. Add work and children to care for to the equation and it’s a formula that can lead to stress, exhaustion and even potential health issues.

The additional duties often required to provide care for a loved one can lead to physical or emotional fatigue, often referred to as “caregiver burnout.” If you’re caring for an older adult, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America recommends these tips to help manage stress before caregiving leads to burnout.

Know the signs of burnout. By the time many caregivers suspect signs of burnout, they’re likely already suffering symptoms related to their responsibilities. Being aware of some of the warning signs can help caregivers properly manage stress and protect themselves. Warning signs include:

  • Overwhelming fatigue or lack of energy
  • Experiencing sleep issues
  • Significant changes in eating habits or weight
  • Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed
  • Neglecting personal physical and emotional needs
  • Becoming unusually impatient, irritable or argumentative
  • Having anxiety about the future or a feeling of hopelessness
  • Suffering from headaches, stomachaches or other physical ailments
  • Experiencing depression or mood swings
  • Having difficulty coping with everyday tasks
  • Lower resistance to illnesses

Educate yourself about the disease. It’s likely the loved one you care for has several health problems, takes multiple medications and sees multiple health care providers to manage his or her conditions. As a first step in learning more about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-related illnesses, visit alzfdn.org or nia.nih.gov/alzheimers for information. Support groups, educational workshops, community resources and professionals can also help increase your understanding of the disease and what to expect so you can be a better-informed and prepared caregiver.

Be prepared for important decisions. Take care of financial, legal and long-term care planning issues early on to help reduce stress later. Try to involve the individual in decision-making if he or she is capable, and consider personal wishes regarding future care and end-of-life issues.

Build your care skills. Key skills for any caregiver include communication, understanding safety considerations and behaviors, and managing activities of daily living such as bathing, toileting and dressing. Some organizations and local hospitals may even offer classes specific to your loved one’s disease that can aid you in the process.

Develop empathy. Try to understand what it is like to be a person living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Put yourself in the affected person’s shoes while also recognizing your own losses. Manage your expectations of your loved one and remain patient.

Ask for help when you need it. Reach out to medical and mental health professionals as well as family and friends. They can assist you when things get tough. In addition, there are typically programs, agencies and organizations in your community that can help manage the challenges of caring for older parents, grandparents, spouses and other older adults.

Advocate for and connect with your loved one. Take an active role in the individual’s medical care. Get to know the care team, ask questions, express concerns and discuss treatment options. Also remember to connect on a personal level through kindness, humor and creativity, which are essential parts of caregiving and can help reduce stress.

Think positive. Focus on the capabilities and strengths that are still intact and enjoy your relationship with your loved one while you are still together. Look for ways to include him or her in your daily routines and gatherings to make as many memories as possible.

Find more caregiver resources and tips at alzfdn.org.

Tips for Managing Caregiver Stress

Stress can affect anyone and caregivers may find themselves faced with additional stressors. To help manage stress and avoid caregiver burnout, keep these tips from the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America in mind:

  • Maintain a positive attitude
  • Be flexible and accept the circumstances
  • Be honest and open about your feelings
  • Take it one day at a time
  • Get a good night’s sleep
  • Incorporate stress management techniques, such as meditation or deep breathing, as well as exercise into your daily routine
  • Drink plenty of water and eat a healthful diet full of fruits and vegetables
  • Set realistic goals and go slow

Getting Help with Caregiving

Everyone needs a break from time to time, even caregivers. Look into respite programs for a chance to care for yourself. Types of respite include:

Home Care

  • Home care is often initiated by a doctor’s order or hospital stay and administered by medical professionals who come into the home and help with personal care and housekeeping functions.
  • Medicare covers some home health services.

 Adult Day Programs

  • Social-model programs offer stimulation, socialization and therapeutic activities in a community-based group setting and often include meals.
  • Medical-model programs (adult day health care programs), offer health-based services as well as social activities in a group setting.
  • Some programs include assistance with activities of daily living and transportation.
  • Adult day services charge per hour and may be covered under some long-term care insurance policies.
  • Medicaid covers some adult day health programs.

 Facility-Based Respite

  • Provide a short stay for your loved one in a nursing home or another facility.
  • Facilities typically charge for each day your loved one is in their care.
  • Medicare or Medicaid may cover some costs of an inpatient facility.

 Family and Friends

  • Identify responsible family members and friends who can lend a hand in providing supervision for your loved one and create a rotating care schedule, if possible.
  • Enlist the help of family members living in different states by assigning them tasks such as legal or financial paperwork.

Photos courtesy of Dreamstime (Couple walking)

SOURCE:
Alzheimer’s Foundation of America

KEYWORDS

  • adult children ×
  • advice ×
  • age ×
  • Alzheimers ×
  • Alzheimer's Association ×
  • Alzheimer's Disease ×
  • anxiety ×
  • assisted living ×
  • care ×
  • caregivers ×
  • caregiving ×
  • dementia ×
  • education ×
  • eldercare ×
  • family ×
  • Family Features ×
  • hacks ×
  • illness ×
  • lifehacks ×
  • neurology ×
  • nursing home ×
  • psychiatry ×
  • psychology ×
  • routine ×
  • sleep ×
  • sleeping ×
  • stress
  • support ×
  • tips

Comments
<<Previous



    Archives

    March 2020
    February 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    January 2019
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    March 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016


    Interested in Publishing on The Senior Living Idea?
    Send your query to the Publisher today!

    Categories

    All
    65
    AARP
    Abuse
    Access
    Accessibility
    Accidents
    Accomodations
    Active Lifestyle
    Active Seniors
    Activities
    Activity
    Activity Level
    Adult Children
    Adult Diapers
    Advice
    Age
    Age In Place
    Aging
    Aging In Place
    Aging Parents
    Alzheimers
    Alzheimer's Association
    Alzheimer's Disease
    American Geriatrics Society
    Ancestor
    Ancestory
    Ankle
    Anxiety
    Appetite
    Appetites
    Art
    Arthritis
    Assets
    Assisted Living
    Attitude
    Balance
    Bath
    Bathing
    Bathroom
    Bills
    Bladder
    Bladder Control
    Blood Pressure
    Book
    Bowel
    Bowels
    BPT
    Brain
    Brain Games
    Brain Health
    Brandpoint Content
    Budget
    Calories
    Cancer
    Cane
    Cardio
    Care
    Caregiver
    Caregivers
    Caregiving
    Cat
    Cats
    Centers For Disease Control And Prevention
    Chemotherapy
    Chewing
    Cholesterol
    Christmas
    Chronic
    Chronic Illness
    Clutter
    Cognition
    Cognitive
    Cognitive Functioning
    Companionship
    Compansionship
    Computer
    Consumer Product Safety Commission
    Continence
    Conversation
    Cooking
    Copay
    Copays
    Coping
    Costs
    Crafts
    Creativity
    Crime
    Criminal
    Cybercrime
    Deaths
    Dementia
    Depression
    Diabetes
    Diagnosis
    Diet
    Digestive Issues
    Disability
    Disease
    DNA
    DNA Testing
    Doctor
    Doctors
    Dog
    Dogs
    Doors
    Dopamine
    Dress
    Drivers
    Driving
    Drugs
    Eating
    Economic Impact
    Economics
    ED
    Education
    Eldercare
    Elderly
    Elimination
    Emergency Room
    Emotional
    Emotions
    Energy
    Enrollment
    Entertainment
    Erectile Dysfunction
    Estate
    Estate Planning
    Exercise
    Exercising
    Expectations
    Expenses
    Experts
    Eye Health
    Eyes
    Eyesight
    Fall
    Fall Prevention
    Fall Risk
    Falls
    Family
    Family Features
    Family Finances
    Family History
    Family Tree
    Fashion
    Federal
    Federal Government
    Finances
    Financial Planning
    Fitness
    Foot
    Formulary
    Fraud
    Friends
    Friendships
    Furniture
    Generations
    Genetic
    Genetic Testing
    Geriatricians
    Geriatrics
    Government
    Grandchild
    Grandchildren
    Grandparent
    Grandparenting
    Grandparents
    Guests
    Guide
    Hacks
    Handrails
    Happiness
    Head
    Head Trauma
    Health
    Healthcare
    Health Care
    Health Insurance
    Healthy Living
    Hearing
    Hearing Loss
    Heart Health
    Helping
    High Blood Pressure
    Hip
    History
    Holidays
    Home
    Home Care
    Home Improvement
    Hormones
    Hospice
    Hospital
    House
    Hypertension
    Identity Theft
    Idependence
    Illness
    Income
    Incontienence
    Incontinence
    Independence
    Infographic
    Injury
    Insurance
    Interval Training
    Intestinal
    Investing
    Investments
    Kidney
    Kitchen
    Law
    Learning
    Leg
    Legal
    Life
    Lifehacks
    Life Insurance
    Lifestyle
    Light
    Lighting
    Lights
    Lineage
    Listening
    Living Well
    Loneliness
    Longevity
    Long-term Care
    Macular Degeneration
    Mayo Clinic
    Meals
    Medicaid
    Medical
    Medical Research
    Medicare
    Medication
    Medications
    Medicine
    Medium
    Memories
    Memory
    Mental
    Mental Health
    Mentality
    Mentoring
    Mobility
    Money
    Morbidity
    Multigenerational
    Music
    National Council On Aging
    Nausea
    Neurology
    Nursing Home
    Nutrition
    Obesity
    Open Enrollment
    Oral Health
    Osteoarthritis
    Outdoors
    Outlook
    Pain
    Pain Management
    Parents
    Parking
    Parkinson's
    Parkinson's Disease
    Part D
    Patient
    Patients
    Personal
    Personal Finances
    Personal Sceurity
    Pet
    Pets
    Pharmaceuticals
    Pharmacies
    Pharmacy
    Physical Activity
    Physician
    Physicians
    Plans
    Portfolio
    Premiums
    Prescription Drugs
    Prescriptions
    Prevention
    Primary Care
    Promotions
    Protein
    Psychiatry
    Psychology
    Quality
    Quality Of Life
    Questions
    Radiation
    Ramps
    Read
    Reading
    Recovery
    Relatives
    Remodel
    Remodeling
    Renovation
    Research
    Resources
    Responsibility
    Rest
    Retirement
    Retirement Income
    Retirement Planning
    Risk
    Risk Factors
    Routine
    Running
    Safety
    Salt
    Sandwich Generation
    Savings
    Scam
    Scammers
    Schedule
    Security
    Senior Centers
    Senior Citizen
    Senior Citizens
    Seniors
    Serotonin
    Service
    Sex
    Sexual Health
    Shoes
    Sibling
    Siblings
    Side Effects
    Sight
    Single-story Living
    Sleep
    Sleeping
    Social
    Social Security
    Songs
    Specialist
    Specialists
    Specialty Care
    Speech
    Stairs
    Steps
    Strength
    Strength Training
    Stress
    Style
    Supplements
    Support
    Survey
    Swallowing
    Symtoms
    Testing
    Testosterone
    Theft
    Thinking
    Time
    Tip
    Tips
    Toilet
    Traditions
    Transportation
    Travel
    Treatment Options
    Tumor
    Urinary Tract
    Urination
    Urine
    Vehicles
    Victim
    Victims
    Vision
    Visirors
    Visit
    Visits
    Visting
    Vitamins
    Volunteer
    Volunteering
    Volunteer Work
    Vomiting
    Walk
    Walker
    Walking
    Wandering
    Washington
    Washington DC
    Weight Training
    Well-being
    Wellness
    Wheelchairs
    Widow
    Widower
    Women
    Workout
    Writing






    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • HOME
  • Popular IDEAS
    • IDEAS for Your Better Business Life >
      • The Business Idea
      • The Career IDEA
      • The Money Idea
    • IDEAS for Your Better Diversions >
      • The Tech IDEA
      • The Travel IDEA
      • The Auto IDEA
      • The Outdoors IDEA
    • IDEAS for a Better Table >
      • The Food IDEA
      • IDEAS de Cocina Espanola
    • IDEAS for a Better You >
      • The Health IDEA
      • Living Well IDEAS
      • The Fitness IDEA
      • The Beauty IDEA
    • IDEAS for a Happier Home >
      • The Home Idea
      • The Entertaining Idea
      • The Parenting Idea
      • The Senior Living IDEA
      • The Pet IDEA
  • The Video Domain
    • Video IDEAS for Your Better Business Life
  • About
  • Contact
  • ads.txt