Senior Health Tips: Staying Cool This Summer!

Living in California we are used to the heat and high temperatures, but we still need to remember to hydrate! Lack of water is the number one trigger of daytime fatigue. As we age, the balance between our need for water and our thirst for water shifts. In fact, the less water an older person drinks, the less thirsty they become, leaving them open to the risk of serious dehydration and other complications. Seniors are at especially high risk of heat stroke and heat exhaustion, and so it is important to learn how to take care of yourself as summer draws nearer. Read on to find out more!

Symptoms of dehydration:

1. Confusion
2. Chronic fatigue and lethargy
3. Drowsiness
4. Labored speech
5. Dry mouth
6. Sunken eyeballs
7. Unable to urinate or pass only small amounts of dark or deep yellow urine

Tips for Senior Health in Hot Temperatures

1. Stay hydrated. If you are going to be outdoors for any period of time when the weather is hot, be sure to drink plenty of water, for those who get tired of water you can mix it up with some type of flavoring and you can even try a healthy popsicle, by taking fruits and blending them with yogurt or ice and freezing them. Staying hydrated can significantly decrease your risk of heat stroke. If you are looking for alternatives to water, think about fruits and vegetables high in water, such as, watermelon, cucumber, strawberries, broccoli, tomatoes, grapefruit, spinach, cantaloupe, and radishes.  Increasing your fruit and vegetable consumption is a healthy way to help keep your diet hydrated. Having a refreshing summer slaw with dinner will help to hydrate your loved ones and offer them a nutrition side dish, click the link to see a great recipe! http://www.health.com/health/recipe/0,,50400000122270,00.html
2. Stick to natural fibers. When it comes to your summer wardrobe, fabrics that breathe should be your go-to. Cotton and other natural fibers can help keep you cool both indoors and out.
3. Keep your home cool. The outdoors is not the only location that will be affected by the heat; your home can easily heat up on hot days and reach unsafe temperatures. Use your air conditioning or run fans throughout your home to keep things cool and healthy.
4. Wear sunblock outdoors. High temperatures and bright sunlight go hand-in-hand, so if you are going to be outdoors, be sure to protect your skin from burning and damage with sunblock.
5. Know the signs of heat stroke. To maintain the best senior health possible, you should also know what to do if you experience any of the symptoms of heat stroke, including headache, nausea, dizziness, and rapid pulse. If you notice any of these symptoms, contact help immediately.

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Happy 4th of July

Fourth of July usually means large gatherings of family and friends to celebrate the holiday with food and fireworks. If your July 4th celebration will include grandparents this year, don’t forget to consider any special dietary needs for seniors.

One of the most troubling, and little understood, considerations when planning a senior’s diet is making certain that whatever food and beverages they select won’t cause harmful interactions with the medications they are prescribed. Since many seniors are on multiple daily medications, chefs, caretakers and family need to be vigilant about ingredients contained in the meals older Americans are consuming.

When looking for holiday recipes, a few items to avoid for seniors are; grapefruit juice and other citrus fruits, caffeine, alcohol, and foods high in Vitamin K, such as, dark green leafy vegetables. Most of us love grapefruit juice but it can block the action of intestinal enzymes that break down certain drugs such as cholesterol –lowering ones.  As an alternative to citrus, strawberries are colorful and flavorful with a hint of citrus that also provides the vitamin C and fiber that can be found in grapefruit. While dark green leafy vegetables are really healthful and make a great summer salad they also contain high levels of Vitamin K – a vitamin that boosts the blood’s ability to clot. These should best be avoided by seniors who are at risk of stroke and who have been prescribed blood thinners such as Coumadin.

Apple Slaw

Red, White, and Blue sundaes with Cookie Spoons! J

Click Here to view the recipe from Martha Stewart.

A SENIOR CONNECTION

We specialize in helping families with Assisted Living, Residential Home Placement and In-Home Care Services.

Let us help find the right care for you; follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+and LinkedIn.

Types of Abuse

Elder abuse is a growing problem. While we don’t know all of the details about why abuse occurs or how to stop its spread, we do know that help is available for victims. Concerned people, like you, can spot the warning signs of a possible problem, and make a call for help if an elder is in need of assistance.

• Physical Abuse
• Sexual Abuse
• Emotional or Psychological Abuse
• Neglect
• Abandonment
• Financial or Material Exploitation
• Self-neglect

Visit this website for more information on types of abuse: http://www.ncea.aoa.gov

One type of abuse that often gets overlooked is neglect; there are many different forms of neglect.  Many would think that neglect would be where someone is at home alone without someone to help them, even though there is family around or close by.  Neglect is also one of the most non reported kinds of abuse.  IE:  Neglect can be that a family member can’t safely walk unassisted, take showers without help or fear of falling, can’t prepare meals safely, or can’t get out to get food to make meals, they may not be taking medications properly or not taking them because they can’t pick them up or possibly afford them, but they do have someone living with them or coming in daily in exchange for some help when needed. 

When you have someone that is at home and they have family/friends that are close by or possibly even living with them in exchange for helping them (ex. help with showers, dressing, making meals, housekeeping you would think they are being well taken care of. That is sometimes not the case.  Even if a person has someone living with them, a lot of times they are getting no care at all.  We have often seen where the person that is living with them in exchange for help still is not eating, medications are not given at correct times, the house is a mess and the person is gone more often than home to be a help.  This sadly can come from friends and most the time from family.  They will accept the place to stay knowing that they won’t have to pay anything, no rent, utilities, cable, food etc., it’s a free place to stay to give minimal amount of care.  The elderly person is left alone most of the day, they have to ask for food just to be told they will get something for them soon, they are yelled at if the person asks for help because the caregiver is too busy or tired to lift a hand to help keep the house up and laundry done, medications for the most part are given sporadically or could be being abused/used by the person taking care of them. The person doesn’t want to complain or make them leave or even turn them in for fear of being alone and knowing they can’t live by themselves.     

For example, we had a very sweet lady that had been in/out of the Emergency Room (ER) six times in the last three months, each time it was for dehydration, confusion, falling or weakness.  She went home each time because her granddaughter was living with her 24/7 and taking care of her.  She blamed her falling and weakness on herself and not waiting for assistance from her granddaughter (age 42).  The last time that she came into the ER she was admitted for Failure to Thrive and the doctors were going to run tests to see if she had something else going on.  When I was brought in, it was to see if I could help possibly find her a care home or possibly help with additional care givers because her current caregiver was overwhelmed and needed help, the patient did not want to leave her home.  She was adamant about that, she was to go home.  It turns out that her granddaughter had been living with her for about five years, rent free in exchange for help when it was needed, for keeping the house clean and making some meals and going grocery shopping with she was supplied her grandma’s debit card, doing laundry and changing the linens weekly.  It had been notated in the chart that this lady had lost close to 20 pounds in the last six months and a total of 38 in the last year.   She now weighted 98 lbs.. 

It turns out that the granddaughter and family had been taking advantage of this sweet lady for years.  She told me she had saved close to $250,000 and thought that would be good to help her when she aged and needed help.  Not only did the immediate family use the funds that mom had generously said they could borrow from time/time, with the promise to pay back, but they had dwindled her savings down to less than $20,000 by the time we got connected with her.  When we were talking to her, she was so focused on going home and making sure her granddaughter kept a place to live, because if she went into an ALF or board and care and sold her home then her granddaughter wouldn’t have any place to live.

The ER Case Manager and one of our Care Cooridnators called in APS to check out her situation at home.  The report came back that there was no good food in the fridge, what was in there had grown mold or was completely rancid.  The kitchen was filthy; it looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in years.  Paper plates were all over the place because the granddaughter said it hurt her back to do dish’s when she did provide a meal.  The bed where this lady slept was so dirty and urine stained and looked like it had not been washed or changed in months.  The granddaughter told the APS worker that she had recently hurt her back and she was going to clean up next week when the Dr. told her she could start doing things again.  There were bottles and bottles of pills on the counter, some never opened or medications given.  She needed heart and blood pressure medicine among others and that had not been given in weeks or longer.  The living room was filthy with old food and clothes all over.  According to the APS worker the house needed to be gutted or condemned.  One of the worst things that they saw when investigating the house was the granddaughter’s room and bathroom.  Immaculately clean, fresh linens on her bed, a closet full of clean clothes, she also had her own small fridge in the room next to her bedroom with fresh food. 

Abuse can come in different forms, it is very important if you see abuse that you say something.

It doesn’t take long to make a report; here are a few ways in which you can:

Contact your local Adult Protective Services (APS) office in the county where the abuse is happening: 

Sac County :(916) 874-9377   

Placer County: (888) 886-5401

 A SENIOR CONNECTION

We specialize in helping families with Assisted Living, Residential Home Placement and In-Home Care Services.

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Veteran’s Aid & Attendance Pension

As we celebrate our month of independence this July it is important to reflect on those who have helped to preserve the freedom we hold close to our hearts as United States citizens. Our military men and women have fought for and protected our country and they deserve our thanks and help, and the Veterans Aid and Attendance Pension is a great place to start! With so many war veterans over the age of 65, and their spouses, many know little or nothing about the availability of the Aid & Attendance (A&A) pension through the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA).  With more than 1/3 of Americans that are wartime veterans, many families could benefit from available assistance to help pay for care that they or their loved one needs.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR AID & ATTENDANCE PENSION?

According to California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR) A pension is a benefit that the VA pays to wartime veterans who have limited or no income and who are at least 65 years old or, if under 65, are permanently or completely disabled. There are also “Death Pensions,” which are needs based for a surviving spouse of a deceased wartime veteran who has not remarried.

What are the Service Requirements for Aid and Attendance?

A veteran or the veteran’s surviving spouse may be eligible if the veteran:

–              Was discharged from a branch of the United States Armed Forces under conditions that were not dishonorable AND

–              Served at least one day (did not have to be served in combat) during the following wartime periods and had 90 days of continuous military service:

World War I: April 6, 1917, through November 11, 1918

World War II: December 7, 1941, through December 31, 1946

Korean War: June 27, 1950, through January 31, 1955

Vietnam War: August 5, 1964 (February 28, 1961, for veterans who served “in country” before August 5, 1964), through May 7, 1975

Persian Gulf War: August 2, 1990, through a date to be set by Presidential Proclamation or Law.

If the veteran entered active duty after September 7, 1980, generally he/she must have served at least 24 months or the full period for which called or ordered to active duty (there are exceptions to this rule).

Three Tiers of the VA’s Improved Pension

There are three tiers of VA benefits for older wartime veterans and their dependents. Basic Pension can be considered the first tier, Housebound the second tier, and Aid and Attendance the third tier. Award amounts increase as the tier increases, and the tiers are based on the needs of the applicant:

Basic Pension: Basic Pension is designed to function as cash assistance for low income veterans and their dependents, so applicants may be healthy, but must have a very low income.

Housebound Benefit: For the second tier, Housebound, assistance with day to day activities must be needed “regular basis.”

Aid and Attendance: Assistance must be required on a “daily basis.”

Financial Eligibility

Assistance from the VA is “means tested,” which means that only people who seem to genuinely need these benefits will receive an award. It also means that benefits are determined based on the applicant’s income, assets, and needs. 

Applicants whose countable incomes are over maximum thresholds, including their homes, may still qualify, depending on their age and the amount of their monthly allowable medical benefit. In situations that are borderline, it can’t hurt to apply, as decisions are largely made on a case-by-case basis:

This countable income formula can help you determine what is an allowable medical deduction, and how to arrive at what the VA is determining as “countable income.”

The following chart includes the set yearly income rate/annual pension Aid and Attendance limit set by Congress; it also includes the maximum monthly benefit:

Aid and Attendance Maximum Annual Pension  Rate (MAPR) Category If you are a…	Basic Pension MAPR	5% of Basic Pension MAPR (The amount you subtract from medical expenses…)	Annual Aid and Attendance Pension Rate Your yearly income must be less than…
Single Veteran	$12,868 ($1,072 per month)	$643	$21,466 ($1,788 per month)
Veteran with Spouse/ Dependent	$16,851 ($1,404 per month)	$842	$25,448 ($2,120 per month)
Two Veterans Married to  Each Other	$16,851 ($1,404 per month)	$842	$34,050 ($2837 per month)
Surviving Spouse	$8,630 ($719 per month)	$431	$13,794 ($1,149 per month)
Surviving Spouse with  One Dependent	$11,296 ($941 per month)	$564	$16,456 ($1,371 per month)

CANHR.org

If you believe you or a family member may qualify for the Veterans Aid & Attendance Pension, please call A Senior Connection at 916-208-3338 and we will be happy to see if we can help you to get the benefits owed to you or your loved one.

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Parents Day Sunday, July 26^th

The day aims to promote responsible parenting and to recognize positive parental role models. It celebrates the special bonds of love between parental figures and their children. As our parents age, adult children take on the parental role of aging parents, this is when we begin to worry because our parents are still at home, but maybe a little more forgetful or unable to do the household chores the way they used to do them. Here are a few tips for you to help your parents to be safe in their homes:

–              Automatic pill reminders, as we get older we have to take more and more pills every day, sometimes several times a day and we do not always remember to take them as directed. There are different types of automatic pill reminders that you can buy that offer timers and alerts.

–              Cooking options – As we get older we become more forgetful, and this can be a real concern when it comes to cooking on the stove. There are several options for this one being The Safe-T-element Cooking System this product does not get above 350 degrees which is below the auto-ignition point of grease, oil, clothing etc.

–              Personal Emergency Response Systems – The ad “Help I have fallen and I cannot get up” is a real issue as we get older and are living alone. There are many Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS) available today, Consumer’s Advocate has listed their Top 10 Medical Alert Systems.

–              Hearing aids for phone and doorbell – As we age our hearing ages, here is a great video to test your hearing! YouTube Hearing Test Now that you have tested your hearing, imagine what your parents cannot hear. Missing a phone call or a visitor at the door can be frustrating for everyone. There are now companies that make alerts such as the lights will flash if the phone or doorbell are ringing. Rehabmart.com has lots of wonderful options from hearing impaired alert devices, bed shakers, doorbell signalers and medical alert systems. 

–              Monitoring systems –  A big worry is that you do not live nearby and cannot visit or keep an eye on your parents like you would like to be able to, now there are monitoring systems you can install in your parents’ home. A number of high-tech monitoring systems on the market now do what you can’t: watch over your parents to make sure that nothing out of the ordinary is happening — and report in to you, your computer, or a dispatcher when something does (for example, one of your parents goes into the bathroom and still hasn’t come out an hour later). They usually cost about $200, plus a monthly monitoring fee of about $100. 

–              Communication – Another big worry is, if there is a problem they will not be able to call for help because today’s smart phones are not built for our elderly population. There is a product call Jitterbug which is made specifically for the elderly person, it is has an easy clam shell flip phone with large buttons and extra sensitive speakers to allow for better hearing. 

There are lots of things you can do to help keep your parents happy and in their homes for a long time, and if they need additional support in their home we are here to help. A Senior Connection partners with many reputable in-home care companies and we would love to help you find the right person to help take care of your parents in their home, please give us a call today at 916-208-3338 and we will be happy to help find compassionate, reliable, and trustworthy help for your parents.

A SENIOR CONNECTION

We specialize in helping families with Assisted Living, Residential Home Placement and In-Home Care Services.

Let us help find the right care for you; follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.

Dementia and the “Bad Behaviors” and how you can handle and redirect these problems.

“My mother is driving me crazy!” This phrase is uttered (or screamed) by caregivers everywhere who are caring for elderly parents. As if they didn’t have enough to do, caregivers often have to deal with bad behavior by their elderly parents. We hear stories from our clients all the time that have stories of demanding elderly parents, personality changes, hallucinations, temper tantrums…even abuse.

 Aging.com has come up with the Top 5 “Bad Behaviors” and the Top 5 “Strange and Obsessive Behaviors” and some solutions on how to handle them. Here are some behaviors and ways to redirect the behavior:

Bad Behavior #1: Rage, Anger, Yelling

Age and illness can intensify longstanding personality traits in some unpleasant ways: An irritable person may become enraged, an impatient person demanding and impossible to please. Unfortunately, the person taking care of the elderly parent is often the target.

What to do:

Try to identify the cause of the anger. In most elderly individuals, behaviors are a symptom of distress.

The aging process in and of itself sometimes brings about anger, as seniors vent frustration about getting old, having chronic pain, losing friends, having memory issues, being incontinent – all of the undignified things that can happen to us as we age.

In addition, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia can also cause these behaviors, in which case, your parent doesn’t have control and is not only frustrating for you but also for them.

As a caregiver, the best thing you can do is not take it personally. Focus on the positive, ignore the negative, and take a break from caregiving when you can by finding some respite. Get some fresh air, do something you love or call a friend.

You might also want to consider calling in a home health nurse. Elders often reserve their worst behavior for those they are closest to, i.e. family members. The bad behavior might not surface in front of a stranger. And you get a much-need break.

Bad Behavior #2: Abuse

Sometimes, elderly parents turn on the child that is trying so hard to take care of them and the result is abuse of the caregiver. Stories of mental, emotional, even physical abuse to the adult child are all-to-common. Unless the elder has a personality disorder or mental illness, they turn on the one adult child who is showing the most love because they feel safe enough to do so. They don’t consciously abuse this son or daughter, but they are frustrated and need to vent this frustration about getting old, having chronic pain, losing a spouse and friends, having memory issues, being incontinent, etc.

What to do:

Try talking to them about how the abusive behavior makes you feel. However, many caregivers don’t get very far by talking. If the abuse is verbal or emotional, making them realize all that you do for them, by not doing it for a while, may drive home the point that they better be nicer to you, or you will leave. Finding a little respite for yourself by getting help will allow your parent to gain a new appreciation for all you do.

If the elderly parent is physically abusing their caregiver, then professional help, be it the authorities or a counselor may need to get involved.

Bad Behavior #3: Not Showering

The issue of elders who were once reasonably clean refusing to take showers, wear fresh clothes and take care of personal hygiene is one that is far more common than most people think – and it’s very frustrating for caregivers.

Sometimes the issue is depression. Another factor is control. As people age, they lose more and more control over their lives. But one thing they generally can control is dressing and showers. The more they are nagged, the more they resist.

A decreased sense of sight and smell may be causing the problem. What your nose picks up as old sweat, they don’t even notice. Or, memory could be to blame. The days go by. They aren’t marked with tons of activities, there isn’t something special about Wednesday – it could be Tuesday or Thursday – they lose track of time and don’t realize how long it’s been since they showered.

Another big issue can be fear or discomfort: Fear of slipping in the tub; or embarrassment about asking for help.

What to do:

The first step is to determine why they have stopped bathing. If they have lost their sense of smell, see your doctor. Medications your parent is taking, or some unrelated disorder may be at fault for a loss of smell.

If depression is the cause, seek professional help. Therapy and medications can help. If modesty is a problem and the elder doesn’t want a family member helping her take a bath, because it’s far too intimate, they may be open to having an in-home care agency coming in for the sole purpose of a bath.

If they are afraid of the water (or sitting in the tub), there are many types of shower chairs that can help.

If the person is in a demented state and afraid while bathing, then you must move gently. Don’t insist on a shower or bath. Begin with just asking if you can wipe off the person’s face. Gradually move to under-arms and other parts of the body, talking and telling them what you are doing as you go.

Do your best to keep your parent clean. However, too much nagging is counter-productive, and at the end of the day you may have to lower your standards and definition of cleanliness.

Bad Behavior #4: Swearing, Offensive Language and Inappropriate Comments

When a normally loving father or mother is suddenly using the worst profanities, using offensive language or saying inappropriate things, family members are baffled as to why…and what to do about it.

We’ve heard stories about parents who used to be mild-mannered, proper, and would never utter a four-letter word suddenly cursing at their caregiver or calling them insulting names. When it happens in public, it’s embarrassing; when it happens in private it’s hurtful.

What to do:

When the behavior is out-of-character for an elder, the start of Alzheimer’s or dementia is a likely cause.

How do you deal with swearing? A couple of ideas: when a swearing tirade sets in, use distraction. Diverting your elderly parent’s attention is a simple, but effective technique. Once their mind is redirected, the swearing fit may end.

Also, try bringing up happy times from the old days. Like all people, elders love to reminisce about their lives “back in the day.” Using their long-term memory skills, the elderly parent will likely forget about whatever it is in the present that set them off.

If none of this works, back off, disappear and wait for it to blow over.

Bad Behavior #5: Paranoia and Hallucinations

Paranoia and hallucinations in the elderly can take many forms, from accusing family members of stealing, seeing people who aren’t there or believing someone is trying to murder them.

What to do:

Sometimes hallucinations and delusions in elders are a sign of a physical illness. Keep track of what the elder is experiencing and discuss it with the doctor. It could also be a side-effect of a medication your elderly parent is taking. See your doctor, describe the symptoms and ask if your parent’s medication needs to be changed.

Oftentimes, paranoia and hallucinations are associated with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. When this is the case, caregiving experts seem to agree: when faced with paranoia or hallucinations, the best thing to do is just relax and go with the flow. More often than not, trying to “talk them out” of a delusion won’t work. Validation is a good coping technique, because what the elder is seeing, hearing or experiencing is very real to them. Convincing them otherwise is fruitless.

 Make sure to keep an eye out for our blog next week……we will be taking a look at 5 Obsessive Behaviors and what to do to change or redirect the behavior

Dementia is a terrible disease that takes away the people we know and love, and sometimes they need additional care and you need support, and A Senior Connection is here to help.  A Senior Connection works with many different Assisted Living and Residential Care Homes and we would love to help you find the right place to help take care of your parents, please give us a call today at 916-208-3338 and we will be happy to help find compassionate, reliable, and trustworthy help for your parents.

A SENIOR CONNECTION

We specialize in helping families with Assisted Living, Residential Home Placement and In-Home Care Services.

Let us help find the right care for you; follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+and LinkedIn.

Dementia and Bad Behaviors and Strange and Obsessive Behaviors Con’t…

Last week we talked about the first 5 “Bad Behaviors” seniors sometimes have once they have been diagnosed with Dementia, today we will be discussing the other 5 which are “Strange and Obsessive Behaviors”.  According to Aging.com here are some behaviors and ways to redirect the behavior:

Bad Behavior #6: Strange Obsessions

Saving tissues, worrying if its time to take their meds, constantly picking at their skin, hypochondria…these types of obsessive behaviors disrupt the daily lives of elderly parents and their caregivers. Obsession is sometimes related to an addictive personality, or a past history of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

What to do:

View your parent’s obsessive-compulsive behaviors as a symptom, not a character flaw.

Watch for signs that certain events trigger your parent’s obsession. If the obsession seems to be related to a specific event or activity, avoid it as much as possible.

Do not participate in your parent’s obsessions. If you have helped with rituals in the past, change this pattern immediately. Family and friends must resist helping with ritual behaviors.

Obsessive behavior can be related to a number of other disorders, including anxiety, depression or dementia. Obsessive disorders can be treated by mental health professionals, so make an appointment on your parent’s behalf. Therapy and/or medication may be the answer. Look into therapy groups, outpatient and inpatient programs in your area.

Bad Behavior #7: Hoarding

When an elderly parent hoards (acquiring and failing to throw out a large number of items), once again the on-set of Alzheimer’s or dementia could be at fault. Someone’s pre-Alzheimer’s personality may trigger hoarding behavior at the onset of the disease.

For example, an elderly parent who was already prone to experiencing anxiety, when faced with aging and the possibility of outliving their resources, may begin to collect and save against the onslaught of feeling overwhelmed by what lies ahead.

Others will hold on to items because they fear their memories will be lost without that tangible evidence of the past.

What to do:

You can try to reason, and even talk about items to throw out and give away. Or create a memory box, a place to keep “special things.” With extreme hoarders, medication and family counseling could make a big difference in how you cope and manage.

Bad Behavior #8: Refusing to Let Outside Caregivers into Their House

The presence of an outsider suggests to the elder that their family can’t (or doesn’t want to) take care of their needs. It also magnifies the extent of the elders’ care needs and makes them feel vulnerable.

What to do:

Constant reassurance is necessary. Understanding the elder’s fear and vulnerability is necessary in order for you to cope with this problem. Have serious talks with them, and realize the first time may not work. It could take several months convince them.

Another strategy is to start small, and ask your parent to “give it a try.” Present the idea to your elderly parent as a trial. Have someone come in for one day a week for a few hours, just to vacuum, take out the trash or wash clothes. Experienced senior care agencies know how to handle situations like this, so consult them when necessary. Once they get used to having someone in the house, they may be fine with it.

Bad Behavior #9: Over-Spending or Extreme Frugalness

Some caregivers are pulling out their hair over elderly mother or father’s shopaholic habits. Others are going crazy over “frugal,” “thrifty,” or downright cheap elderly parents.

The ability to handle one’s own money is about power and independence. If age or disease takes away some of your independence in other areas, a person is apt to try to make up for this loss in another way.

Spending is one of those ways. Spending (or saving) can help a person feel powerful. Spending (or saving) also can be like a drug to cover up the fear underneath those losses.

What to do:

The parents will insist there is no problem. It’s their money and they can spend it as they choose. They do have a right, to an extent, to spend their money as they see fit.

For over-spenders, when their spending habits are draining the last of their finances, or forcing others to cover expenses they should be paying for themselves, it’s time to step in. If you can show them the problem in black and white – the total amount spent on shopping, or receipts that others have spent on their care, such as food and medications – it might hit home.

As with so many tricky areas with aging parents, sometimes a third party is best brought in. The key is this person, be it a financial professional, a friend, or a spiritual leader, is not the adult child.

Money hoarders may have these behaviors as a result of having lived through the Great Depression, a down economy, past job loss and countless other situations in which money was virtually non-existent. They feared “going broke” and being able to take care of their family. However, they likely don’t want to see a family member go through the financial hardships either. Showing them the out-of-pocket expenses regarding their care that you must pay might help. Bringing in a financial advisor is another route to go.

Bad Behavior #10: Wants All the Caregiver’s Time and Attention

Once an adult son or daughter becomes a caregiver, their elderly parent might construe that commitment as a 24-hour full-time job. However, the caregiver has other priorities…work, family, etc. The parent becomes completely dependent on the caregiver for all physical and emotional needs, and therefore are over-demanding of your time. This is a hard transition.

What to do:

This is a time when a caregiver needs to make themselves a priority. Caregiving is stressful but when it turns into a full-time job, with a demanding parent, it is a recipe for caregiver burnout.

Don’t get lost in caring for others. Make yourself a priority. Get your parent involved in senior activities or adult day care, depending on their capabilities. They will probably go kicking and screaming, but having others to interact with combats the loneliness and makes them a bit less dependent on you. If your parent is housebound, consider a home companion to visit on a regular basis. Home companions are available through home health care agencies, churches and charitable organizations.

Dementia is a terrible disease that takes away the people we know and love, and sometimes they need additional care and you need support, and A Senior Connection is here to help.  A Senior Connection works with many wonderful Assisted Living and Residential Care Homes and we would love to help you find the right compassionate, reliable, and trustworthy place to help take care of your parents, please give us a call today at 916-208-3338 and we will be happy to help.

A SENIOR CONNECTION

We specialize in helping families with Assisted Living, Residential Home Placement and In-Home Care Services.

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A Senior Connection August 2015 Newsletter 

August 2015 Newsletter

Asian American Elderly Population

Today, California is home to 40 percent of all Asian Americans. The 2000 census showed that the majority of Cambodian (84, 559), Laotian (65,058), Hmong (71,741), and Vietnamese (484,023) refugees to the United States settled in California. Although Southeast Asians have been in California for a relatively short time, they have become well established. Entrepreneurs own businesses, such as the market and bakery pictured here, and many have entered the middle class.

Asian American groups whose history in the United States goes back many more years are also thriving. Currently, there are 980,642 Chinese Americans, 918,678 Filipino Americans, 345,881 Korean Americans, 314,819 Asian Indian Americans, and 288,854 Japanese Americans living in California.

During WWII thousands of young men and women enlisted or were drafted from Chinatowns, Japantowns, Manilatowns and other small communities across the country. They would serve honorably a country that had, for most of the previous century, robbed, murdered, burned, lynched, taxed, and excluded its pioneers while building much of the political economy of the West on the strength of Asian labor. For Japanese Americans, difficulties culminated with their mass deprivation of constitutional rights and wholesale incarceration of their West Coast communities.

According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and researchers at the Oakland Museum, 13,499 Chinese American men fought in the armed forces. Approximately 75 percent in the U.S. Army and 25 percent in the Navy.

The Administration on Aging (AOA), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, estimates that 72.1 million people will represent the 65-year-old and older demographic by 2030, more than twice the number in 2000. For Asians and Pacific Islanders, the numbers are no different.

According to the AOA, the population of Asian, Hawaiian and Pacific Islander seniors increased from 0.8 million to 1.4 million between 2000 and 2010, while it projects their numbers to be 3.9 million by 2030.

Up and down the Golden State, various organizations provide care and services that are culturally sensitive for Japanese Americans. Many of these organizations have recently adopted strategies to promote “Healthy Aging,” which addresses the increasingly complex needs that American seniors face today. The Healthy Aging program, a major project of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is studying the state of aging in the U.S. to provide information to allow seniors to live longer and healthier lives.

ACC Senior Services (formerly known as The Asian Community Center of Sacramento Valley) is dedicated to enriching the lives of seniors and caregivers. We promote the general welfare and enhance the quality of life of our community by offering specially designed, culturally sensitive services, programs and classes for older adults.

ACC, an independent living community, features three locations with a total of 166 units for an independent living community of adults 62 and older. Sacramento’s Nikkei and Chinese American community leaders formed the organization, which annually serves 3,000 people through multi-lingual programs.

ACC Senior Services also provides workshops and classes on aging, as well as support groups for caregivers, including those who are caring for loved ones who have Alzheimer’s. Yee explained that it was vital to offer evidence-based programs, such as those from the AOA to help seniors manage chronic disease and gain aid from the government. The ACC hires Asian instructors so that culturally relevant examples are given out during presentations.

New American Media

Asian Women in Business

A SENIOR CONNECTION

We specialize in helping families with Assisted Living, Residential Home Placement and In-Home Care Services.

Let us help find the right care for you; follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.