Posts Tagged ‘From’

« Older Entries

Taking The Keys Away From An Elderly Driver

by bobcrabtree1 Posted: Friday, 1/15/2010

More and more adult children each year are facing the heart rending decision of taking the car keys away from elderly parents whose driving behavior has become a danger to themselves and others. This isn’t an easy decision to make because it represents the older driver’s sense of independence and dignity. For anyone facing this choice, there are some valuable tools to help you with your decision.

There is no set age at which a driver is no longer able to drive; some drivers maintain their vision, reflexes and physical abilities well into their 80s and 90s while others, due to diseases such as heart disease or diabetes may face the decision of giving up their license in their 50s. The data shows that older people, due to their fragility and health issues stand a greater chance of becoming a fatality in a traffic collision but the good news, from an Insurance Institute for Highway (IIHS) study released in December, shows that the death rate for older drivers declined steadily between 1997 and 2006 compared to drivers in other age groups. There is no definitive data showing why the death rate for older drivers has declined but it is felt that older drivers are “self limiting” their driving by no longer driving at night, making shorter trips and avoiding interstates. There is also a feeling that more drivers are surrendering their license on their own when they can no longer pass the vision test or they come to the conclusion on their own that they no longer possess the ability to drive safely.

For those that refuse to surrender their license, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) provides the following warning signs:

Feeling uncomfortable and nervous or fearful while driving
Dents and scrapes on the car or on fences, mailboxes, garage doors, curbs etc.
Difficulty staying in the lane of travel
Getting lost
Trouble paying attention to signals, road signs and pavement markings
Slower response to unexpected situations
Medical conditions or medications that may be affecting the ability to handle the car safely
Frequent “close calls” (i.e. almost crashing)
Trouble judging gaps in traffics at intersections and on highway entrance/exit ramps
Other drivers honking at you and instances when you are angry at other drivers
Friends or relatives not wanting to drive with you
Difficulty seeing the sides of the road when looking straight ahead
Easily distracted or having a hard time concentrating while driving
Having a hard time turning around to check over your shoulder while backing up or changing lanes
Frequent traffic tickets or “warnings” by traffic or law enforcement officers in the last year or two

The child, relative or caregiver concerned about the safety of an older driver should follow these steps:

Start a dialogue with the older driver expressing your concerns
Suggest that the driver limit their driving to avoid night driving or long trips.
Review any medications or medical issues that could diminish the driver’s reflexes and vision or stress causing issues that could affect their driving behavior.
Travel along with the older driver and either videotape or keep notes of missed signs, near misses, confusion etc. Unless you need to intervene to prevent a collision, don’t comment during the drive; it will only make the driver more nervous. Review your findings after the trip.
Consult with the driver?s doctors to see if any medical issues may limit the driver’s abilities to drive safely.
Hold an intervention with family members and concerned friends to try to convince the driver to voluntarily stop driving.
If all else fails and you feel the situation is too dangerous, take the keys and remove the car.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Elder Care Services – How to Protect Aging Adults From Scams

by bobcrabtree1 Posted: Monday, 1/11/2010

Our senior citizens deserve to enjoy their elder years peacefully and with dignity.  A lifetime of hard work has earned them monetary savings and excellent credit ratings.  This should serve them well, but actually leaves them as common targets for fraud and scams.  In addition to their buying power, they are trusting, unlikely to report fraud, and sometimes have compromised memory due to their age.  This furthers their likelihood of being manipulated by scams.  Individuals, their family members, and elder care services’ companions should be aware of ways to protect aging adults from scams. 

Health insurance fraud is a common event targeted to seniors.  Most of these scams involve the con artists submitting fake charges to the insurance companies and/or Medicare.  Unbeknownst to the individual, bills are submitted to the insurance company for unnecessary equipment, or for services never rendered.  Things to look out for are offers of “free” equipment and fake tests.

Medicare identification numbers and Social Security numbers should only be given to those who have provided medical services.  To avoid health insurance fraud, blank insurance claim forms should not be signed, and blanket authorization should never be given to a medical provider for services rendered. Doctors should be asked what they will charge to the patient and to the insurance company, and the insurance company’s explanation of benefits should be reviewed. Business involving health should never be done with door to door or telephone sales people, and insurance companies.

Another risk for aging adults is telemarketing fraud.  There are countless fake products and services being sold over the phone.  Some typical bogus products are vitamins, health care products, travel offers and prizes.  Warning signs that the product is not legitimate are if the caller says “you must act now,” or there is a free gift, or if money or a credit card number must be given.   If they refuse to send something in writing, or discourage one from taking the time to check with a family member or the Better Business Bureau, it is not likely to be a legitimate company. 

To avoid telemarketing fraud, customers should always buy from a familiar company, ask for information in writing (but also check this out), and check with the Better Business Bureau, or another watchdog group.  Consumers should get the salesperson’s name, company address and business license number, and check them out.  If they are not willing to give this information, it is also a sign that it is a fraudulent operation.  Time should be taken in making any purchasing decisions, and the offers should be fully understood.  Services should not be paid for until after they are delivered, and an individual should never be afraid to be rude and simply say “no thank you” and hang up. 

Other scams to look out for are counterfeit prescription drug offers, funeral and cemetery fraud, fake “anti-aging” products, internet fraud and investment schemes.  As wise as our aging parents, grandparents and friends may be, they need assistance and support.  It is important to communicate warnings to them, so that they do not become a typical victim. 

It is also important to provide elder care services for that extra support when necessary.  Visiting Angels provides senior home care that is bonded and insured, and is the nation’s leading network of non-medical home care services.  It is an alternative to a nursing home or an assisted living facility.  Some services provided by Visitingangels.com are hygiene assistance, meal preparation, light housekeeping, errand assistance, bill paying assistance, and companionship.  These duties can give a respite for family caregivers at affordable hourly rates.  Visiting Angels allows the family to select their caregiver for loved ones from experienced, caring and trustworthy individuals allowing you to maintain your schedule and get personalized care.

Grace Enderlein is a freelance writer and editor. “Elder Care Services – How to Protect Aging Adults from Scams” notes the common scams targeted at aging adults and how to avoid them. Visitingangels.com provides trustworthy and caring caretakers for aging adults.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Working from home using Your Writing Skills and Imagination

by bobcrabtree1 Posted: Sunday, 12/20/2009

Working from home is engaging yourself in content writing and imagination. There are millions of opportunities for people with a talent in writing. With content writing, it is simply a matter of choosing a niche.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Preventing Mishaps Of Elderly People – Precautionary Measures To Prevent Senior Citizens From Falling!

by bobcrabtree1 Posted: Saturday, 12/19/2009

Caretakers should take advices from anyone who has had a decent stint as a caretaker in the past. Their experience can prove to be very handy as they can tell you about the hazards and pitfalls involved in this profession. One advice you are sure to hear from these people is the danger of falls at anytime. The elder community has an appalling number of falls every year. This is mainly because they are quite weak and unstable on their feet. Their bodies are not conducive for stable postures and thus liable to any fall anytime. Repeated falling causes harm and this can happen if their bodies aren?t very agile. Bones become brittle can be broken easily as they are old. Elders are known for dislocating their hips or even fracturing them on a fall. The pain it causes is excruciating and can stay like that for a long time. You need to be aware of these and try to prevent it from happening.

Prevention is better than cure and certainly so with these elders. Preventing such mishaps can be vital for both you, as a caretaker, as well as the senior. Monitoring the senior citizen and maintaining the safety of the elderly person I such a difficult thing to do even if you have eyes at the back of your head. It takes a while to get used to their movements, routines and habits. Watching them at close quarters can help you to anticipate their movement and thereby preventing their fall. If you can spot any danger from a distance, it can help you from preventing any disastrous fall of the senior. But as a primary caretaker, you have to get used to it though this cannot be a long term solution.

The primary step you must do to prevent falls and trips of elderly people has nothing to do with the subject concerned itself. You should be focusing on the immediate environment rather. Try to eliminate all the possible falling hazards at home. Remove rugs or carpets which are loose and used for decorating rooms. All these sort of small problems can cause big problems in the future. Zimmer frames can be attached to these beds to prevent falls especially in the night. These are specially made for people with unsteady feet.

If the fall of an elderly citizen has already taken place, you should have the head to deal with the issue than chickening out. You should be clear about what you are going to do rather than feeling perturbed by the situation. First thing you should be doing is remove all the obstructions that caused the fall of the elder. Assess the place and time of fall. First aid is mandatory and so it should be immediately into effect. Do not try moving the person as long as you know the elder is perfectly alright without any bones or limbs damaged. In case of a head injury, call the ambulance quickly as head injuries could be fatal sometimes. Keep the relatives warm about the whole situation and ask them not to panic.

Falls are quite unpredictable at home and you should always have the temperament to deal with it. With no doubt, you will have to experience that at some point in life, no matter how well prepared you are. Taking precautionary measures can reduce the number of falls and also reduce the severity of the injuries sustained by the elder.

Abhishek successfully runs an Old Age Home and he has got some great Eldercare Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 80 Pages Ebook, “How To Take Great Care Of Elders” from his website http://www.Senior-Guides.com/560/index.htm . Only limited Free Copies available.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Companions from Elder Care Agency – An Alternative to Nursing Homes

by bobcrabtree1 Posted: Wednesday, 12/16/2009

A fit and healthy lifestyle always leads to much alert sense in the elderly. A fit lifestyle includes healthy and nutritious meals, regular exercise and stimulating the mind with mental activity. With the aid of elder care services, a senior member of the family can get the support they need to keep up with their physical and mental health.

A well controlled nutritious diet not only contributes to the physical health, but also has a great role to play for mental stability. Five times consumption of fruits and vegetables in a day would suffice, with fish once or twice a week. Fats of any type should always be avoided. A companion from elder care services can make sure that someone living on their own will continue with their healthy eating, and not skip meals.

Physical activities that take care of cardiac fitness and vascular health can also take care of brain required for mental stability. For senior members, thirty minutes of exercise every alternate day allows for cardiovascular benefits. This vascular health and maintenance translates into a sharp mind for seniors. An elder care companion to visit an elderly person will make sure that a patient keeps up with their exercise routine.

Engaging an elderly person in mentally challenging activities can also help them keep their minds healthy and quick. Reading novels, solving crossword puzzles, games, brain teasers or learning a new language or musical instrument keeps the mind active and occupied. These activities can be good pastimes for an elder and a caregiver sharing these pastimes can be a positive experience for the seniors.

Personalized care for seniors from non-medical care agency can be a good alternative to assisted living facilities or nursing homes. A senior member will stay more active physically and mentally if they stay more at home rather than in a nursing home. Companions provided from elder care agencies can help an individual with their routine and assist in their activities. It is a priority for a patient to continue to live a healthy lifestyle.

Ideally, once you find a senior care provider you’re happy with, you should provide the newly-hired caregiver with a detailed job description outlining job title, purpose, duties and responsibilities.

Using resources available, elderly care in the home becomes a viable option. Elder care does not have to mean you have to do it alone. Becoming knowledgeable about elderly care issues make the aging transition an easier road to travel.

Tyler Moon is an expert in article writing and internet marketing. She regularly contributes articles on various topics like security services, birth announcements etc.
Senior Care

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Caregiving From a Distance

by bobcrabtree1 Posted: Sunday, 12/13/2009

Caring for loved ones from afar has its own set of concerns for long-distance caregivers. The inability to regularly assess a loved one?s needs and monitor his or her care can create emotional and even physical stress for both the older adult and their caregivers.

Often, the older adult feels as if they are a burden on their children who they recognize as having their own families and work responsibilities. As for their adult children, they frequently experience feelings of guilt, frustration, resentment and even anger. There can be the guilt of wanting to do more for their parents which conflicts with the guilt of spending so much time dealing with their parents? concerns that their own children and life partners feel neglected. There may be feelings of frustration in dealing with insurance companies and other public and private firms and agencies, facilities, home care and durable medical equipment companies, physicians and other professionals. Oftentimes caregivers are resentful that they have to spend so much time and effort caring for their aging loved ones, and they feel bitter and angry that other siblings and family members aren?t willing to share the responsibilities.

One solution to helping reduce stress on both the aging adult and his or her long distance caregivers is to consider employing a third party professional to handle the seniors? needs. When family members are not able to regularly travel in order to assess and oversee their loved ones care, these professionals are able to provide regular communication and feedback to the long distance care givers.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Terramed Alliance News Pain From Breast Cancer Treatment Can Linger For Years, Study Finds

by bobcrabtree1 Posted: Saturday, 12/12/2009


Terramed Alliance News Nearly half of all breast cancer patients experienced chronic pain two to three years after treatment and more than half felt discomfort, according to a study by Danish researchers published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the New York Times reports. The study found that women younger than age 40, those who underwent radiation treatment and those who had surgery to remove lymph nodes in the armpit are most likely to experience lingering pain.

In an accompanying editorial, Loretta Loftus, a senior member of the breast cancer program at the Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, wrote, “This should alert clinicians who are caring for these patients to pay more attention to those who are in the high risk groups for pain” (Caryn Rabin, New York Times, 11/10).

Researchers examined a 2009 survey of 3,253 Danish women who had breast cancer surgery in 2005 and 2006, Reuters reports. Forty-seven percent of the patients reported pain. Within that group, 13% described the pain as severe, 39% described it as moderate and 48% said it was light. Twenty percent of the women surveyed said they had contacted a physician within the last three months regarding their pain (Brown, Reuters, 11/10). Women of all ages who had mastectomies were more likely to have severe pain than light pain. Pain most frequently occurred in the breast that was operated upon, in the chest area where tissue was removed, in the upper arm where lymph nodes were removed or along one side of the body, according to U.S. News & World Report’s “On Women.”

“This study isn’t saying to change treatment recommendations based on whether or not a certain treatment is likely to be associated with pain,” Loftus said, adding, “But it’s telling oncologists that they need to be more alert to the incidence of pain,” she said (Kotz, “On Women,” U.S. News & World Report, 11/10). The study’s author, Henrik Kehlet of the University of Copenhagen, said more research is needed to determine why some women experience lingering pain and others do not (Szabo, USA Today, 11/11).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women’s Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women’s Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

Terramed Alliance is a non-profit charity organization dedicated to research, education and advocacy of breast cancer. One of the vision of Terramed Alliance is to provide this community and Internet users with a charity based research and education entity. Advocacy of breast cancer through education is vital to the reduction of this disease.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

How Long To Recover From Being A Caregiver?

by bobcrabtree1 Posted: Friday, 12/11/2009

I was a caregiver for 10 years until he died a few months ago. The last couple of years was really intense – help with bathing, dressing, etc. I still feel physically and emotionally exhaused. How long does it take to recover and what can I do to help the process?

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Overpowering the Demands of Caregiving – Lessons From Madelyn

by bobcrabtree1 Posted: Thursday, 12/10/2009

Madelyn Kubin was a Kansas farm woman who overpowered her own failing health to care for her husband after he suffered a debilitating stroke. She chronicled her experience through writing letters to her daughter. There are many lessons for all caregivers in Madelyn?s experiences. Here are three, illustrated with excerpts from the book Letters from Madelyn, Chronicles of a Caregiver:

Write a Rant

Writing about your anger, fear, and frustrations can get negative feelings out of your head. When you allow yourself to rage on paper you release intense emotional energy.

Writing this rant didn?t change Madelyn’s situation, but she was able to reposition her attitude after blowing off a little steam:

“I had reached a stage where everything about Quentin irritated me.

I hated the way he huffed and puffed when he got in bed. It didn?t start my morning off right to get out of bed and step on a very wet Depend.

I wanted to scream when he would sit and watch me put the orange juice, medication and vitamins, etc. on the table. And then when I would come with the toast, he acted like he was surprised that it was time for breakfast. It made me furious that I would have to wait and wait while he struggled to get his chair located right.

I don?t have time to remember and itemize all the other irritants, but I can tell you that everything he did aggravated me.

I do realize that the stroke has affected him in so many ways that aren?t obvious. I also know he is definitely not this way by choice and that he is not trying to irritate me.

I believe it is important ‘To do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’ That is the reason I don?t want to be cross with him. I also realize that some day I might be in even worse condition than he is. It would be awful to be struggling with every little thing and have your caretaker and others cross with you, so I’ve readjusted my attitude, and today I’m feeling a little better.

Stay Connected to Family, Friends, and Organizations

It is not uncommon for invitations to social functions to stop once a person is diagnosed with a chronic illness. As a caregiver you will need to be proactive and innovative to make sure you don?t become isolated.

In this letter Madelyn tells how she turned a regularly scheduled meeting into a party:

‘Our Fellowship Group has a carry-in luncheon once a month. I decided I would have them come to the farm this time, and I have had more fun getting ready for them. Except for being a little windy, it was a perfect morning. I sprayed the yard with Yard Guard and there wasn?t a fly or mosquito in sight. There were 24 of us.

Quentin was there and he enjoyed himself so much. He was sitting with some especially interesting people. I regret I didn?t get a picture of him with the happy expression he had on his face. It is something that triggers memories of the past, but it is very rare now. The experience is somewhat like the feeling one has playing golf ? one good shot makes a person want to go back and try for it again. I will be trying to think of things for him to do so I can see that expression again.”

Accept that Death is a Part of Life

We all know that death is inevitable, but it can be very difficult to discuss. Talking about it openly can remove some of the mystery and fear and open the door to some meaningful conversations.

Madelyn wrote:

“On the fourth anniversary of Quentin?s stroke he was terribly depressed. He was convinced he was going to die that night, and he wanted to. When we went to bed he told me he didn?t know what was going to happen in the night, but if I woke up and he was having a problem, he wanted me to try to go back to sleep and leave him alone.

He woke up alive and fairly cheerful the next morning.

I never get excited about death premonitions the way my mother did. Dad could make her jump through a hoop when he would cry and say he was dying. I made three trips to Florida one year. She would call me up crying and upset about him. Frankly, it never made much sense to me, as she had kept a nice black dress in the back of her closet to wear to his funeral since 1946.

One time when I went to Florida Dad started the crying with me and saying he was going to die. I said I thought death was one of the nicest things God had planned for us. I told him it would be terrible to think a person would have to go on forever in a body that was hurting and didn?t work right. I still feel that way. He stopped crying while I was there.

Madelyn Kubin survived her caregiving experience by taking care of herself physically, mentally, and spiritually. Although there is nothing that can make the job of caregiving easy, writing a rant, engaging in social interaction, and talking openly about death can help ease some of stress.

Elaine K. Sanchez, author of the tender, gritty, and uproariously funny book, Letters from Madelyn, Chronicles of a Caregiver speaks to audiences across the country about finding hope and humor in aging, illness, and long-term caregiving. For a free Caregiver?s Survival Guide, visit her website at http://www.LaineyPublishing.com

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

How Seniors Can Protect Themselves From Financial Scams

by bobcrabtree1 Posted: Monday, 12/7/2009

Copyright (c) 2009 Sherry Tingley

Seniors in today’s world are prime targets for financial fraud. They haven’t grown up with technology and many times aren’t aware of news circulating on the Internet about ways that people have been ripped off by scammers. They need to follow some simple steps to protect themselves.

Financial literacy is taught to teenagers and younger people, but seniors have a hard time keeping up with the new ways that scammers operate. Older folks however are not updated with what is going on in the financial world ‘making them an easy target for those who profess to be “lenders”.

For seniors to protect themselves from these finance issues, here are a few tips to take into consideration:

1. Budget and List Your Expenses

Saving enough money is key to a much more comfortable life ahead. Look carefully at your budget and make sure you are spending on essentials. For example, there is no more need for you to maintain that four bedroom house if all the kids now have their own families and their own homes. You can sell the house for a profit and get a smaller apartment ‘it is easier and cheaper to maintain.

Having enough income will relieve seniors from stressing out because of finances even if a crisis hits. Budgeting and saving enough for retirement is a good thing.

2. Investments

When it comes to investments, seniors should be more careful. As much as possible, do not invest in the stock market if you are not an expert. The stock market goes down faster than it is supposed to go up. Invest in something that does not fluctuate along with the market.

3. Power of Attorney

Before making any decisions, it is highly recommended that older Americans find someone they can trust to manage finances and other legalities. A son or a daughter is a good choice so that seniors can have peace of mind when it comes to their money. As much as possible, do not give anybody else control over finances except your own children because if you do not have enough control over your money, you might find that one day your money is gone.

4. Charities

If you want to help out in your own way with regards to a certain cause, be very careful because even legitimate charities can obtain the right to withdraw from your bank account. Help out in cash, give it to them and do not sign any agreements whatsoever nor should you give out your bank account number.

5. Beware of Phone Scammers

Do not give any personal information to anyone who calls you pretending to be from a legitimate company. These scammers usually call through the relay service – a service that is supposedly for the service of deaf people which allows them to make a regular phone call. The relay service is a legitimate company but somehow, through the advancement of technology, Nigerian scammers have hacked into their system and they pretend that they are deaf people trying to call relatives. The interpreters do not have the power to end the call since it is against federal laws to meddle in the call. The best thing you can do is report this call as soon as possible and never to entertain them anymore especially if you do not know someone who actually uses the service.

6. Retirement

For those who are still planning to retire. Delay your retirement. Figure out first how much money you have in your pension plan and if your retirement income is sufficient, then go right ahead and enjoy your retirement benefits.

Help protect your loved ones from any type of financial fraud. Offer your help to the seniors in your life. Let them know that you can order personal checks onine with the utmost safety and security. You can safely recommend this to seniors. They will be able to choose from hundreds of styles and will save money at the same time.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off
« Older Entries

24 hr live-in caregivers in Texas is Digg proof thanks to caching by WP Super Cache!

Powered by Yahoo! Answers