Archive for category: Stress

Choosing a home care provider

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Choosing a home care provider

Frank knows they need help at home. His wife’s dementia is getting worse, and he has his own health problems. She can’t be left alone anymore.

Doing all the cooking and cleaning, and now helping with bathing … it’s just too much.

Frank needs to take breaks. But a Google search reveals a dizzying array of home care providers. How to choose?

Allowing a stranger into your home can leave you feeling quite vulnerable. It’s important that you trust the individual and the company that does the background checks, verifies training, and puts together the schedule.

You also need to interview each company to find out pricing and minimum number of hours, and to see if they have independent quality ratings.

How do you know which one to trust?
This is where an Aging Life Care™ Manager can help.

On the basis of past experience with other clients, he or she knows which companies put an emphasis on training. Which have difficulty filling a shift if a caregiver calls in sick. Which have high staff turnover resulting in the need for you to orient a new employee every few months. Which have a strong team, with employees who love their work.

Wise home care companies will let you and your Aging Life Care Manager interview several caregivers before making a choice. They know that an Aging Life Care Manager understands you as the client and understands what will result in an optimal match.

Both you and the provider and the caregiver want a good fit the first time so all of you can work together positively for the duration of your need. It makes the difficult transition to home care that much easier if a knowledgeable advocate can set expectations and provide an objective viewpoint.

Even with adult day care and medically trained services, such as home health and hospice, not all providers are alike. An Aging Life Care Manager knows the reputation and the management style of each company. He or she can look up Medicare reviews and complaints.

An Aging Life Care Manager can also coordinate care across multiple service providers and work with your physician to ensure that all the different players are aware of your changing needs.

Want to find the best fit the first time?
Give us a call at (208) 321-5567.

Learn more about our aging life care planning services.

Medical emergencies: Are you prepared?

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Medical emergencies: Are you prepared?

Judy fell and broke her hip. She calls 911. She lacks a medication list. As a result, the hospital team is unaware of her chronic conditions. Her daughter lives far away and doesn’t know if she should fly in.

Accidents by their very nature are unplanned. That doesn’t mean you need to be unprepared for a fall or a serious incident (e.g., a heart attack or stroke).

Those who are prepared and have a professional advocate, such as an Aging Life Care™ Manager, are more likely to get the care and the outcomes they desire. Plus, they can recuperate in a setting most in line with their personal needs and preferences.

To be prepared, you need

  • current documents. Key to avoiding problems is the ability to give emergency and hospital personnel a list of current medications, your medical history, and an up-to-date list of your doctors and their phone numbers. Copies of all your insurance cards will speed the clerical side of the process. You will also need an advance directive that names your health care decision maker(s) and your preferred treatments.
  • up-to-date decision makers. Does the person you have chosen know and understand your treatment preferences? Does the rest of the family know and respect that he or she “speaks for you”? Does your decision maker have a medical background? Is he or she nearby enough or able to drop everything and come to your side?
  • a professional advocate. Often family or trusted friends cannot be present at a moment’s notice. And most people are not conversant with medical procedures. A professional advocate, such as an Aging Life Care Manager, has met with you prior to the emergency. He or she can fill in the medical team and communicate your personal priorities. An Aging Life Care Manager can advise decision makers by providing insight about treatment choices: Pros and cons and likely outcomes vis-à-vis your values. An Aging Life Care Manager can keep long-distance relatives informed and make recommendations regarding the need to travel. When it’s time to leave the hospital, an Aging Life Care Manager can recommend the best support facilities on the basis of your resources and personal preferences. As you plan ahead for emergencies, you will want to make decisions about hiring a professional advocate. Some Aging Life Care Managers offer the option of 24/7 emergency, on-call coverage. Others do not.

Ideally, all this information is available on your person or is readily accessed should you get into an emergency situation.

Want help getting prepared for a medical emergency?
Give us a call: (208) 321-5567.

Learn more about our aging life care planning services.

THE ART OF ACHIEVING BALANCE

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While we all know there is no such thing as a unicorn, that does not stop us from writing stories, creating cartoons, and other fairy tales about them.  Nor is there concrete evidence that the Loch Ness Monster exists, and yet that tale persists. I have a friend who believes that he has seen Sasquatch. I would also add the concept of Time Management to this list of things that do not exist, yet people continue to dwell on it.

I firmly believe that time management is an illusion that a great many people pursue, but like a cloud in the sky, can be seen but never touched. I state this as an affirmation because I know that time simply cannot be managed. We can prioritize and micro-schedule, but we all receive the same 24 hours each day, the same 168 hours each week. Sixty seconds to each minute, sixty minutes to each hour. It is a law, and like all laws of nature and man, needs to be respected. Success follows when we are obedient to laws over which we have no control.

I recently had a conversation with a producer who spent twenty five minutes lamenting at how poor he is at time management. After listening to him ramble (his choice of words) for those twenty five minutes, he ceased, and it was my turn. I immediately pointed out to him that he had referenced ‘time management’ some seven times in those twenty five minutes, and that he should not be so self-deprecating because of an inability to manage something as illusory as time. I shared with him that we have as much chance of managing time as we do of touching a cloud. Just last week, I sat on the modern miracle of jet planes, looked out the window at approaching cloud banks, and realized that as we were flying into them and through them, that there is never any tangible contact. Yes, there is condensation on the outer surface of the plane, but for the passengers, it is largely an illusion.

At the conclusion of my agent session, I made that suggestion to him that rather than attempting to manage something that is simply unmanageable, that he would be better served if he focused his efforts to achieve happiness and success by attaining balance in his life, and being proactive rather than unbalanced and reactive.

A series of conversations with this same producer as well as several others led me to share that achieving balance in one’s life is really a series of choices that we must make every day, to wit:

  • It is about organization, not about making excuses.
  • It is about exercising discipline and being diligent.
  • It is about avoiding a state of inertia and rising above it.
  • It is about prioritizing our activities, not managing the time.
  • It is about never uttering “I’m sorry” when it comes to owning your business.

A long term care advocate can be successful by working an honest 40 hours per week. Yes, you heard it right. Not sixty or eighty hours, but only 40. An honest, yes, there is that word again, forty hours WILL make an advocate successful at the Leading Producer level if he or she employs the above tools.

  • It is about working smarter not harder.
  • It is about creating and maintaining balance in the various spheres that comprise our lives — family, professional, personal, spiritual, physical, recreational.
  • It is about maximizing — not managing — the 168 hours that we are granted each week.
  • It is about focus.

Some life lessons gleaned over the years.
More than a few years ago, I learned “Focus on everything is focus on nothing.” You simply cannot spread yourself so thin and expect to remain focused enough to accomplish anything at a level equating to success. That is a formula for mediocrity.

Second, what is your time worth? Only you can assess this and assign a value. It is important to remember and to discipline yourself so as not to chase meaningless opportunities.

Third, it is about answering the question: “Am I investing my time, or merely spending it?” Time invested in an activity such as reading to your grandchildren or family history and genealogy would surely trump the time spent playing Fortnight or spending hours on Facebook or Pinterest. Sorry, I am neither a gamer nor a social media junkie.

Simple math:

  • 40 hours of work (five 8-hour days or 4 10-hour days — it does not matter) broken down as follows:
    • 4 hours education (workshops, webinars, conference calls, self-study)
    • 5 hours marketing
    • 8 hours scheduling appoints
    • -20 hours of appointments
    • 3 hours of administration
  • 49 hours of sleep (achieving the optimal 7 hours per night)
  • 6 hours of physical exercise (six 1-hour sessions Monday-Saturday)
  • 7 hours of personal spiritual time (1 hour daily – scriptures, prayers)
  • 3 hours of church worship
  • 7 hours of service (extended family, neighbors, friends,)
  • 14 hours of recreation (2 hours daily).
  • 8 hours date night with significant other (Friday and Saturday)
  • 21 hours of family time (for those who do not have immediate family, this could be phone, Skype, FaceTime, letter writing, etc.)
  • 4 hours of maintenance and housekeeping

Leaves a reserve reservoir of 9 hours, and we were generous with some of the above allocations.

These categories can be combined; a family activity that involves hiking or skiing would encompass family time, recreation, physical exercise, etc.

You work for yourself, which means that you are primarily accountable to yourself. To this end, the first question that you must ask, and answer is “Would you have hired you in the first place?” Follow up questions should then include, “Are you measuring up?” “Would you not fire you based on your current performance if it was coming from someone else?”

Remember that when performance is measured it improves. When it is measured consistently, it improves exponentially. So, stop managing something that is not manageable and focus on the greatest resource you have in your possession: YOU.

“All good performance starts with clear goals.” – Ken Blanchard.

Source: Age Gracefully America  Written by: Don Levin

Getting the most from video chat

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There is no doubt that video chat tools such as Zoom, FaceTime and Amazon Echo Show have made the isolation of older adults much more bearable. While not the same as an in-person visit, video chatting has been demonstrated to reduce depression in older adults by 50% when compared with other forms of connecting.

Video chatting with grandchildren is an art. Keeping their attention is a challenge, along with finding a “good time” to talk. Here are some tips you may want to go over with your loved one to help make video visits a positive exchange for all involved:

The physical environment. Pick a spot where the lighting is in front, not behind. “Backlighting” creates more of a silhouette, making it harder to see faces. Reduce background noise. (Turn off televisions. Move to a quiet room.) Mount phones or tablets on a tripod to free up both hands for gestures or showing off objects.

Create a routine. Make storytime with grandpa a regular activity before bed. Or maybe have grandma call while you are cooking dinner so the kids are entertained while you prepare the meal. Agree on a mutually convenient time that works for all three of you.

Prepare for the call. As the parent, ask your child what they want to share with grandma or grandpa and bring it to the phone station. Before handing the phone over to your child, give your parent a quick run down of interests in the last hour or day so they can be sure to inquire about activities that are top of mind. As the grandparent, have a favorite book or object at the ready that you want to share in return.

Bring out the inner hambone. The joy of video chats comes in the ability to interact. Kids love movement, silly faces and gestures that can be done together. Babies enjoy patty cake and peek-a-boo on video. And blowing kisses. Older children enjoy activities such as “Freeze Dance”—like musical chairs except the players freeze like statues until the music starts again.

Start with short, 5 minute visits. Work up gradually to longer visits as you all get used to this new medium.

Will we ever hug again?

Hugs are more than a symbolic display of affection.

They have actually been shown to release oxytocin, the bonding hormone, which calms our nerves and reassures us that we are loved and we belong. Like everyone, older adults have a basic need to hug and be hugged. And grandchildren are often the joyful purveyors of sweet, soul nurturing embraces. One reason hugging is so dangerous now is that close proximity means we breathe into each other’s air space. Since the virus is spread by tiny droplets in aerosol form, face-to-face hugs are especially risky.

Imagine that every exhale is like smoke. It wafts in the air, even from children, dissipating gradually over time. You can see why we wear masks! According to aerosol specialists at Virginia Tech, there are things adults can do—and teach children to do—so that grandma and grandpa may feel safe enough to be back on the hug circuit.

  • Always wear masks. They seem to protect both the wearer and the person on the receiving end of the hug.
  • Keep your hugs brief. 10 seconds, and then step away to a six-foot distance.
  • Look away from each other. Head-on or cheek-tocheek hugs put you right in each other’s jet stream. Instead, turn your heads so you are facing different directions.
  • Hold your breath. From the time you approach to the time you step back. Another reason or cue to keep the hug short.

A hug around the knees or waist from a little one is fine. The adult should turn their head away so they aren’t breathing down on the child.

An affectionate kiss on the back of the head is also relatively safe. Hold your breath and try not to exhale until you are appropriately distanced again.

Source: Dee Childers, Life Changes Elder Care, LLC

5 COMMON CAUSES OF BRAIN FOG

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5 COMMON CAUSES OF BRAIN FOGYou need to stop by the grocery on the way home from work for two gotta-have items. One of the items is coffee, but you can’t think of the other one to save your life.

Every time you sit down to do that report for work, you can’t seem to focus and make any real progress.

Better wait to walk to the end of the driveway to get the mail because your neighbor, that you’ve only lived beside for five years, is in his yard, and you don’t remember his name.  You know you know it, but your brain can’t seem to reach it.

Sound familiar?
Even though you may feel like you’re losing your mind, it could just be a bit of brain fog. Thankfully, you can take steps to clear up the haze after you figure out what’s causing it.

What Is Brain Fog?
Brain fog is not a medically recognized term or diagnosable condition. It’s a common phrase used for a myriad of symptoms affecting your ability to think. Brain fog can include things like memory problems, lack of mental clarity, and an inability to focus, and put thoughts into words. Some people describe it as mental fatigue.

You know – the kind of mental exhaustion where you tell yourself if you can just make it to the weekend, you’ll get some rest. That should help. Next week will be easier. The problem is that when the weekend rolls around, there are a gazillion more things to do and stress about. So, you end up not getting the much-needed rest. Or if you do, it doesn’t seem to help the problem in the slightest.

That’s because to resolve brain fog, you have to figure out and address what’s causing it. 

On a cellular level, brain fog is believed to be associated with high levels inflammation and changes to three primary hormones: dopamine, serotonin, and cortisol. One theory behind the underlying reason for brain fog symptoms is that higher levels of inflammatory molecules, including adipocytokines and histamines, stimulate microglia activation.

Five Common Causes of Brain Fog
According to one study, the most commonly reported brain fog triggers were fatigue, lack of sleep, prolonged periods of standing, dehydration and feeling faint. Sometimes, a trigger can’t be avoided. However, if brain fog is an ongoing issue for you, taking a look at and adjusting your lifestyle habits might be warranted.  Let’s look at some common causes:

1. Stress
In the short-term, stress can make you irritable, anxious,  distracted and forgetful. Over time, elevated levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, can chip away at your physical, mental and emotional health. Chronic stress actually damages your brain.  Stress shrinks dendrites, kills neurons, and prevents new cell growth in the hippocampus – essential to memory. While it’s doing all that, it causes your amygdala, the fear and emotional center of the brain, to increase size and activity. This makes it harder for your brain to learn new information and remember it.

2. Lack of sleep
Sleep deprivation can have serious short-term and long-term consequences for your overall and brain health. After just one night of skimping on sleep, the results can be seen in delayed reaction times, glucose levels, mood, headache, impaired memory, and hormone balances. Recent research shows that not getting enough sleep may even shrink your brain. You’ll want to aim for eight to nine hours of sleep per night. But don’t forget, quality matters too.

3. Diet
Diet can also play a role in brain fog. When it comes to your brain, you literally are what you eat. What goes into your mouth has everything to do with what goes on in your head. You have a “second brain,” the enteric nervous system, in your gut which communicates with the brain in your head.

To get the most brainpower out of your diet, you will want to include fatty fishes, foods with probiotics, whole grains, leafy greens and lots of lean protein. If you’re missing essential vitamins and minerals, your brain function will reflect it. For example, a vitamin B-12 deficiency can bring about brain fog.

Also, food allergies and sensitivities can make your thinking fuzzy. The most common culprits are:

  • Processed meat (sodium nitrates)
  • Dairy
  • MSG
  • Alcohol
  • Artificial sweeteners

Dehydration can also contribute to sluggish thinking.

4. Hormonal Changes
Hormonal changes can also trigger brain fog. The brain and entire body rely on a complex symphony of hormones that work to keep one another in check. So, when levels of one hormone fall too low or climb too high, your whole system, including brain function, can be thrown off.

For example, levels of the hormones progesterone and estrogen increase drastically during pregnancy. This change can affect memory and cause short-term cognitive impairment. Similarly, a drop in estrogen level during menopause can cause forgetfulness, poor concentration, and cloudy thinking.

5. Medications and Medical Conditions
Brain fog is a common side effect of many drugs. If you notice symptoms upon taking a medication, talk with your doctor. Lowering your dosage or switching to another drug may alleviate the problem. Brain fog is a well-known side effect of chemo and is referred to as chemo brain.

Medical conditions associated with inflammation, fatigue, or changes in blood glucose level can also be the cause of mental fatigue. For example, brain fog is a symptom of:

  • chronic fatigue syndrome
  • fibromyalgia
  • anemia
  • depression
  • diabetes
  • hypothyroidism
  • autoimmune diseases such as lupus, arthritis, and multiple sclerosis

Diagnosis and Treatment of Brain Fog
No matter what you think is causing your brain fog, it’d be a good idea to get checked out by your doctor. However, there isn’t one test specifically for the condition. When you get to your doctor’s appointment, you can expect to have a regular physical examination with some follow-up questions.

Your doctor may feel additional blood work is necessary to rule out the brain fog being a symptom of a more serious issue. Blood work can identify the basic health markers, glucose levels, nutritional deficiencies, organ function, hydration, and more.

Your doctor can then suggest possible solutions to implement based on the exam, questions, and tests. Treatments are different depending on the determined cause. Your physician may advise you to get more sleep, switch medications, start taking nutritional supplements, or something else. You may need to try out different treatments before you find one that works for you.

Conclusion
Brain fog is an annoying symptom that can arise for a wide variety of reasons. It may feel like you’re going to be stuck in that sleepy mindset forever, but there are plenty of ways to wake your brain up. Try out different treatments until you find one that works. Then, make adjustments as necessary to prevent the condition from returning. One day, you’ll clear away the fog, and the sun will shine again!

Contributing Author: Kayla Matthews writes about wellness, productivity and stress in the modern world for websites like Make Use Of, BioMed Central, and The Huffington Post. To read more posts from Kayla, subscribe to her blog, Productivity Theory.

Source: The Best Brain Possible with Debbie Hampton, Author | Writer | Online Marketer, at: CLICK HERE.

Debbie Hampton recovered from a suicide attempt and resulting brain injury to become an inspirational and educational writer. She is the author of Beat Depression And Anxiety By Changing Your Brain and a memoir, Sex, Suicide, and Serotonin, being re-released next month. Debbie writes for The Huffington Post, MindBodyGreen, and more. On her website, The Best Brain Possible, she shares information and inspiration on how to better your brain and life.

 

Getting the Care You Need via Telemedicine

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Getting the Care You Need via TelemedicineKeeping on top of your healthcare needs is now more important than ever, but due to the COVID-19 virus, you may be asked by your healthcare system or local physician’s office to avoid in-person visits. Avoiding in-person visits helps control the spread of the disease and ensures that the most critically ill receive frontline care. But just because you may not be able to see your healthcare provider in person does not mean that you should not seek out medical care.

Telemedicine is a new reality for all of us. To make it easier to connect with your healthcare team, the federal government has temporarily expanded telemedicine services for Medicare beneficiaries to cover virtual visits. Virtual visits currently include various modes of interaction with your healthcare team including video chats, phone calls, and e-mail.

We’ve put together four key tips to help make your telemedicine visit as beneficial as possible:

1. Prepare for the Visit

  • Write down a list of your symptoms and concerns; be specific.
  • Practice what you want to say. That way, you won’t leave anything out.
  • Write down a list of all medications (prescription and non-prescription).
  • Check your technology. (If you do not have a computer, tablet, or smart phone, ask a family member for help.)

2. Find a Quiet Space

  • Turn off background noise such as TVs, radios, and smart speakers.
  • Ask others in your home to keep the noise level down.
  • Allow yourself 10-15 minutes before the video/phone call to collect your thoughts.
  • For privacy, consider using headphones during the call.

3. Tell Your Doctor Everything

  • Summarize your condition, list all symptoms, and explain your concerns.
  • Share any changes in your medical history and any major life changes.
  • Provide any vital signs that you can such as blood pressure, pulse, and temperature.

4. Agree on a Treatment Plan

  • After your doctor tells you something, repeat it back in your own words.
  • Take notes and ask questions such as: What are the risks/benefits of treatment? Are there other ways to treat this? Will insurance pay? Will I need medication?
  • Agree on the treatment plan and any additional tests/medications.
  • Ask your doctor for resources and about follow-up visits.

As with any physician visit, it’s ideal if you can have a friend or family member by your side. That person can be responsible for taking notes so that you can focus fully on your conversation with your doctor.

Important: As of March 30, the federal government is including e-visits (an e-mail exchange via a secure online patient portal) and telephone calls as part of telemedicine. Read more from CMS.

Source: National Coundil on Aging

Comprehensive Room-by-Room Home Safety Guide for Older Adults

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If you are like many Americans in your generation, you would prefer to live independently in your own residence rather than in an assisted care facility. A growing number of older adults are choosing to age in place, and many adult children are moving aging parents into their home. If you’re considering in-home care as an option, you may need to make some modifications to you or your loved one’s home to make it as safe as possible.

The AARP reports 1 in 4 adults over age 65 take a fall annually, but you can lessen the chances of a fall with some simple adaptations. Many of them can be done in a single day. If you’re an older adult living independently or you are caring for an aging loved one, here are some safety tips to make the home as safe as possible.

Living room

Home Safety Guide for Older Adults

The living room is a great place for the elderly to entertain family and friends. It’s also a great place for them to finally enjoy the rest and relaxation they’ve been working towards their whole lives. But, it can also be a place full of little hazards for an older adult. Read through our tips below to see how you can help make sure your loved one’s living room is properly equipped for them to enjoy in their golden years.

Couches and chairs

Seating should be the appropriate height for older adults. That means that their feet should be able to touch the floor when sitting on the edge and that their hips don’t start too far below their knees, as this can make getting up difficult.

  • Adjust the legs of the chairs and couches to get the proper height or add cushions to help elevate the seat surfaces.
  • All couches and chairs should be stable and not sway or wobble.
  • Make sure that seating is not too low, too soft, or too deep. If you have to rock back and forth to gain momentum to get into a standing position, the chair or couch doesn’t offer enough support. This can present a hazard in terms of hip fractures.
  • Use seating with high arms for assistance in pulling yourself to a standing position.
  • Lightweight furniture is easier to maneuver, which is especially important for dining or activity chairs that need to be moved away from a table in order to sit down.
  • The front of the arm should be flat and able to be grasped easily when sitting or standing. An older person needs to be able to steady themselves as they stand in order to prevent a fall.

Lighting

Home Safety Guide for Older Adults

As we age, weakening eye muscles and a decreased pupil size mean we need more light to see as well as we did before. Lighting in the living room should be bright without being harsh. This will keep visibility high while you or your loved one goes about their daily activities.

  • Install lighting with remotes for older adults who have mobility issuesso they don’t have to reach light switches.
  • If visibility is low in the living room, add track lighting where necessary. This can help increase the illumination in the room to the levels needed for persons over age 65.
  • Different areas of the home require different types of lighting. Hallways, closets, and stairwells should have bright lights. Inadequate lighting in these areas could be associated with a fall.
  • Extra lamps, especially models that turn on and off with a touch, make it more convenient to make the room brighter as evening falls. They increase ambient light levels or better visibility throughout the room and are easily portable.
  • Light quality is as important as increased light levels. Good lighting should decrease shadows, reflections, and glare. Older adults are more sensitive to glare, so while lighting should be plentiful it should also be shielded.
  • Repaint walls a lighter color. A matte finish will reduce glare, and paint with a higher Light Reflective Value will increase ambient light levels in the room. Your eyesight may require two to six times more light than it did when you were younger.

Windows and temperature

Windows should be well insulated to keep heat out in the summer and keep heat in the winter. Extreme temperatures can make anyone sick, but older adults lose body heat faster than when we are young. Being in a very cold house can lead to hypothermia, and a chill can become dangerous before you are even aware of what is happening.  

  • Check that all window seals are tight and not letting any air escape. This ensures you aren’t losing heat through the windows, which could put you at risk for hypothermia.
  • Use heat-control window film or install double-pane windows that are better insulated. This can prevent the house from becoming too cold, and your body temperature from falling below 95 degrees, the point where health problems may occur.
  • Add curtains and shades to any large windows to help control lighting and temperature in the living room.
  • For safety, keep your windows locked at all times. This can help protect older people from abuse.
  • Set your heat to at least 68 to 70 degrees. Older people may be tempted to save on electric bills by turning down the heat, especially as inflation means retirement savings need to stretch further.
  • To save on heating bills, placed a rolled towel in front of doors to keep out drafts and close off rooms you aren’t using.
  • Avoid space heaters, which are fire hazards and can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. This is true for adults of any age, but carbon monoxide is a deadly gas you cannot see or smell, so it is especially important if you live alone.

Flooring and walkways

There are many great non-slip flooring options that are easily installed that can reduce the risk of a fall if your older adult has slick wood or tile flooring. If an older person falls, they have a decreased chance of a fast recovery. It’s important for an older adult to have flooring that is safe to walk on, and easy to maintain.

  • Keep all walkways free of obstruction and remove any clutter around the living room that could be a trip hazard.
  • Remove rugs that slip easily or curl up at the edges as this is also a major trip and fall hazard.
  • Add a hail railing for greater stability while walking.
  • Use carpet staples to secure the carpet, non-slip rug liners and double-sided rug tape to keep rugs in place. Carpet that is torn and lifted up in areas can cause a tripping hazard. Likewise, rugs that slide easily or curl up at the corners are also a major tripping hazard.
  • Replace rugs and carpet with soft wood or wood-like flooring. This can make getting around easier and safer. 
  • Always wear proper fitting shoes with low heels.
  • Apply non-slip wax to hard floors. Linoleum floors offer some cushioning in case of a fall and are anti-microbial, which could benefit older adults with weak immune systems. Non-slip vinyl floors don’t require wax and provide added stability for those wearing rubber-soled shoes.
  • Avoid tile and natural stone. A surface as hard as tile or stone could lead to a broken pelvis or hip, which could be life-threatening.

Bedroom

Home Safety Guide for Older Adults

A bedroom is a place of rest, peace and quiet, security and safety. But, given that it is often dark and used when an elderly person is tired and not in the sharpest mindset, it’s imperative that the bedroom is designed for comfort and ease-of-use. Here is a list of items and actions to help you ensure your elderly loved one’s bedroom is safe.

Closets and other storage

Home Safety Guide for Older Adults

Items stacked high in closets, bulky furniture taking up too much space, and clothing cluttering the bedroom are all causes for concern. After many years of life, it’s natural to have accumulated belongings.

Sentimental items and piles of paperwork, such as tax returns and newspaper clippings, can make it hard to find the things we use every day. Clearing out large items makes for better walkways and easier access to necessary things like clothing. The first step to resolving a clutter issue is to simply get rid of things. Don’t try to tackle too much at one time. Three hours is a good time limit to give yourself. This allows you to refocus and feel positive when you return to the task.

  • Prepare three boxes labeled 1) keep, 2) toss, or 3) sell/donate. This makes the task of sorting easier, and allows you to stop at any point you begin to feel tired.
  • When you finish for the day, put away your keep items and put your toss items into the garbage.
  • Be realistic about your storage space. If you’ve downsized in your later years, the possessions that moved from your previous home may need to be downsized as well.
  • If the items have sentimental value, think about getting a storage unit to store them in. Items we love may define us as individuals or remind us of the loved ones we have lost. You should decide which items are most important and keep the items that you love.
  • Use small, lightweight storage containers and install shelving to help you or your loved one get organized.
  • Consult your attorney or accountant to see which financial papers you should keep, and which you can toss. In this age of digital files, keeping 30 years of paperwork isn’t necessary.

Lighting

Home Safety Guide for Older Adults

Lighting in the bedroom is important for any time of day. Lighting throughout the house, but especially in the bedroom, should be easily accessible.

  • Lighting with remotes ensure you or your elderly loved one doesn’t have to get up and search for the switch in the dark.
  • Nightlights and low wattage string lighting can stay on at all times for those late night trips to the kitchen or bathroom.
  • Run string lighting along baseboards to light the floor to and from the bathroom or kitchen. These are paths we all frequent regularly, and often at night. String lighting will improve visibility for nighttime trips to the bathroom or to get a glass of water.
  • Check batteries and bulbs regularly to make sure everything is still working.
  • Check the wattage of your light fixtures before increasing the wattage. You never want to exceed the maximum wattage of a lamp or light fixture. If you need to increase ambient light for better visibility, add track lighting or another lamp.

Bed height and railings

Getting in and out of bed gets tougher as we age, but there are simple fixes in bed height that can make this process much easier. When sitting on the edge of the bed, your knees should be parallel or below your hips. Likewise, your feet should always be able to touch the floor when sitting on the edge of the bed.

  • Many bed frames allow for height adjustments, preventing difficulty getting out of bed. A frame that is the wrong height could cause you to use rocking momentum to rise, which can increase the risk of a hip fracture and/or fall.
  • Change the size of the box spring or mattress to get the best height.
  • Bed rails prevent falls in the middle of the night and offer extra support when getting in and out of bed.
  • Consider purchasing an adjustable bed rail with LED nightlights to make it easier for an older adult to get in and out of bed when it’s still dark and visibility is low.
  • Make sure that the bed rail can be operated correctly by whoever is using them, especially if the person is going to be at home alone.
  • Check the weight limit on the bed rail to make sure that it is appropriate for you or your loved one to use.

Bathroom

Home Safety Guide for Older Adults

The bathroom is full of hard, slippery surfaces which makes it a common place for falls and injuries at any age, but especially for the elderly. Read through our tips below to see how you can secure a bathroom and prevent any mishaps for your elderly loved one.

Mats and shower controls

The shower might be the most dangerous place in the house for an older adult since it’s so easy to slip and fall, and a fall can be so dangerous given a shower’s hard surface. It may also be hard to be heard over the shower or to reach a phone to call for help. You may want to remove locks on bathroom doors so that if someone does need to assist, they are able to get inside without delay.

  • A rubber mat or non-stick decals should be among the first things installed in an older adult’s bathroom. They are cheap and easy to put in and make a huge difference in the traction at the bottom of a tub, preventing a fall.
  • A handheld showerhead on a sliding rail allows for individual adjustment, making it easier to shower while seated.
  • You’ll want to pair this with an ADA-compliant grab bar for safety, as a handheld showerhead is too flimsy to grab onto during a fall.
  • The thermostat for the shower water should be set no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent scalding. Age-related sensory loss, thinner skin, and decreased mobility could lead to burns if the water temperature is set too high.
  • Sink, tub, and shower anti-scalding devices recognize when the water is too hot and stop the flow. If an individual has compromised health or is undergoing chemotherapy, the increased bacterial growth from a lower water temperature may not be suitable. In these cases, an anti-scalding device can protect against burns. They are relatively inexpensive and easy to install. They are best used when a caregiver is present, since the water may need to be manually remixed to the proper temperature.
  • Hot and cold shower levers should be easily identifiable for the older adult using them, especially since visibility may be lower in the shower without visual aids such as glasses.  

Grab bars and seating

room by room senior guide sink

If the towel racks in your elderly loved one’s bathroom are loose, that is a clear sign they’re using them for support. Towel racks are not designed to act as grab bars and can easily be pulled out of a wall, causing a fall. Instead, install grab bars in and around the shower, near the toilet and anywhere else they may need support.

There are a few seating options to consider for the bathrooms of an elderly loved one. Each option helps older adults who struggle with getting up and down from different heights. Adding a seat to the shower helps older adults who have a hard time standing for long periods of time. It also gives them a stable place to rest while showering.

  • A vertical bar should be installed at the tub edge. If you are having a hard time getting in and out of your tub, a grab bar can make it easier.
  • An angled bar should be installed on the long back wall of the tub.These bars give you something sturdy to grasp in case of a fall.
  • The best location for the bars depends on who will be using them, so discuss placement with your loved one before installing them.
  • Grab bars don’t have to make your home look institutional. “Designer grab bars” are both sturdy and stylish. Some even serve double duty as towel racks and toilet paper holders.
  • Shower transfer benches allow you to sit and slide into and out of the shower easily. This can help if you are having a harder time getting in and out of the shower due to decreased flexibility.
  • Raised toilet seats decrease the distance an older adult has to sit when using the toilet. Most raised toilet seats will fit directly onto the bowl, making installation easy.

Medication

Keeping an older adult’s medication organized and easily within reach is incredibly important. Install a medicine cabinet that can be reached easily and consider keeping medications in a daily pill organizer.

  • If the bathroom becomes cramped with medications, it may be best to move medications to the kitchen where it’s easy to remember to take them with meals.
  • Make and maintain a medicine list that includes all the medications you or your loved one takes (including OTCs or herbal supplements), the name of the healthcare provider who prescribed them, and how often and at what dosage you should take them.
  • Check expiration dates, and discard expired medications safely.
  • Keep all medications in the bottle or box they came in so instructions are close at hand.
  • Store medications safely out of reach of pets and visiting grandchildren.

Kitchen

room by room senior guide kitchen

The kitchen is a central place in any home and a room in which family members spend plenty of time. Be sure it’s well-equipped for your elderly loved one with the below tips.

Storage

A kitchen should be rearranged as needed to make daily use items accessible so that you have easy access to cookware and canned goods. This puts less strain on your back and knees. Having everything is at hand and conveniently located makes it easier to make healthy meals without extra work. It also prevents you from buying things you already own.

  • Be aware of any items that are too high or too heavy for an older adult to reach.
  • Move pots, pans and any other kitchenware to the lowest shelves possible.
  • Pull-down shelves are great for storing items in hard to reach areas.
  • Consider storing heavy items like mixers, cast iron skillets, dutch ovens, and food processors on the counter and not below waist level, as lifting heavy items from low surfaces can cause injury.
  • Spice racks and lazy susans are great space-saving options for decluttering spice and condiment cabinets.
  • Store cleaning products and hazardous items separately from food.

Old food

room by room guide old food

It’s common for an older adult’s appetite to dwindle. If the older adult in your life is experiencing a loss of appetite, exercise and staying hydrated can help boost hunger. While boosting their appetite should be the ultimate goal, a loss of appetite can lead to old food accumulating in pantries and the fridge. Ingesting expired food can make anyone sick, but adults over 65 are even more susceptible to food poisoning.

  • Double-check expiration dates on all canned and fresh food items.
  • Instead of relying on a sight or smell test before eating, always use a food thermometer to check the doneness of meat, poultry and egg dishes.
  • Label leftovers with a date and throw away items that are more than a day or two old. Don’t rely on your memory.
  • If you need glasses, be sure to wear them when handling food.
  • Making simple dishes allows you to save your energy for cleanup. Rather than spending time on extensive prep work such as chopping vegetables, buy pre-chopped frozen vegetables.
  • Refrigerate leftovers immediately and use a food thermometer when reheating, to ensure they’ve reached the proper temperature. Everyone should follow this rule, but chronic conditions such as arthritis or cardiovascular disease may weaken the immune system.
  • Set up a support system of friends and family to help with meals and cleanup. This can help keep your nutritional needs met and your kitchen sanitary when your energy is low.

Emergencies and fire safety

As we grow older, decreased mobility and hearing loss can make it hard to respond quickly to an emergency. Fires are a serious risk for older adults, but they can mostly be prevented by taking a few extra steps.

  • A list of emergency contact numbers should be placed on the front of the fridge, along with any other important contact information an older adult may need.
  • If your loved one has a smartphone, label any emergency contacts with the abbreviation ICE (in case of emergency). If someone finds your loved one they can check who best to contact first. This is a good tip for anyone at any age.
  • A working fire extinguisher should be placed in an easy-to-reach spot in case of emergency.
  • If you have multiple floors, you should keep a fire extinguisher on every floor.
  • Move flammable items like curtains and paper towels as far away from the range/stove as possible.
  • An automatic shut-off range means you never have to worry about your loved one leaving the oven or stovetop on again.
  • Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and test them regularly.
  • Kick the smoking habit, or help your loved one to cut out cigarettes. Smoking is the top cause of fires for older adults.

Outside/garden

room by room guide outside garden

Spending time working in the garden and enjoying the outdoors is a great way for older adults to stay active. But, it’s no secret that yards and gardens require lots of upkeep and can pose a risk of falls and other injuries. Take a look at our tips below to help keep your older adult’s outdoor space safe.

Snow removal and other maintenance

Older adults should get help removing snow and ice from their sidewalks and driveways. The best option would be to hire a year-round yard maintenance crew that will mow the yard in the warmer months and shovel snow in the colder months.

  • Install snow melting mats along walkways to help keep the snow down if hiring a maintenance team is not an option.
  • Be on the lookout for slip-and-fall hazards such as leaves, fallen branches, the garden hose and especially ice. Make sure walkways are clear of bikes, lawn ornaments and grandchildren’s outdoor toys.
  • If your loved one still wishes to maintain their own yard, encourage them to always do yard work with a friend and make sure they work within their limits.
  • You should always stay hydrated and stay away from caffeine and nicotine while doing yard work, as these can stress an older person’s heart when working hard.
  • Be realistic about what you are able to do, and seek assistance for the remainder.
  • Take a few minutes to stretch and warm up your muscles before engaging your muscles. Try to switch up tasks every half-hour so you avoid repetitive-use injury.
  • As for any adult, you should always lift properly. Bend at the knees and not the back. Use a wheelbarrow or cart to transport anything heavy so that you avoid straining your back.
  • Wear gloves and protect your body with lightweight long-sleeve shirts and pants. Physical (zinc- or titanium-based) sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat may help prevent melanoma and skin damage on thinner skin.

Motion detectors and fencing

room by room guide garden

For loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease or other conditions that make them prone to wandering, there are a few tips you can implement to help reduce their chances of getting lost. A GPS tracker can be a lifesaver, and those designed for older adults have functions that include emergency buttons and health metrics. They can give you peace of mind, knowing that you can locate a loved one should they become lost.

  • The most effective thing you can do is install a fence in the front and back yard.
  • Add obvious indicators around entrances like large flower pots and easily recognizable yard art to help remind them of where they are and where they need to go.
  • Modern GPS trackers are discrete, able to be worn as a necklace or watch or carried in the bottom of a bag.
  • Motion detector lights and solar lighting to illuminate walkways and entrances at night are a great option for anybody, but especially seniors.
  • Motion detector lights can also serve as a deterrent to intruders who may try to steal from or harm your older loved one.

Doorbell

room by room guide doorbell

Any home is improved by a good doorbell. There are a few doorbell options that can be helpful for older adults. Doorbell technology with louder sounds and more convenience mean the difference between missing or receiving an important visitor or package.

  • Install a particularly loud chiming doorbell to help alert an older adult with decreased hearing that someone is at their door.
  • Most doorbells have volume adjustments, so you may just need to adjust the one already in place to a louder setting.
  • Install a doorbell that flashes a strobe light inside. A flashing light that goes off when the doorbell rings can alert older adults hard of hearing that someone is at the door.
  • A doorbell with an intercom system lets you know who is ringing before you answer.
  • Smart video doorbells allow you to view and speak to your visitors without getting up and view a video clip when motion is detected.

With some small measures, you can adapt your or your loved one’s home to make it safer and easier to navigate. By making simple modifications such as adding grab rails, more light, and eliminating clutter, you or your loved one can live comfortably in the home for years to come. Once you’ve created a safe space at home, you’ll also want to consider vehicle safety, whether you are driving your loved one on errands or they are still driving themselves.

The best vehicles for older drivers are the ones that have above average visibility, a high number of safety features, and easy-to-use control panels. You’ll also want to make sure you have excellent coverage in car insurance, as should drivers of all ages.

Source: The Zebra

What Happens When a Senior Can No Longer Care for Their Pet?

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Howard Cutler knows the joy animals can bring to people. His childhood memories are filled with stories of his family’s two beloved dogs and cats. After moving into a senior housing complex in Atlanta, Georgia, Cutler acted on his love of animals and adopted a Shih Tzu named Ollie from a fellow resident who could no longer care for the animal. For seven years, the pair was inseparable until Cutler’s Parkinson’s disease forced him to move to a different assisted care facility that didn’t allow pets.

“He was my friend and my companion, and giving him up was very difficult for me,” Cutler explains. As much as he wanted to keep little Ollie, Cutler knew he needed to rehome his beloved pet. He began looking among his neighbors in the senior complex to find a new owner. “Ollie was loved by everyone there, but I was worried that I wouldn’t find the right person.”

Cutler was fortunate to find the perfect fit in his friend and neighbor Nancy Markovich. “Howard was heartsick that he had to give up Ollie,” Markovich recalls. “So, I offered to adopt the dog and promised to take good care of him.”

Ollie’s veterinarian, Dr. Duffy Jones, says pets provide much-needed comfort and companionship to people of all ages, especially seniors. “The value that animals bring to people is amazing,” he says. “I’ve seen older pet owners who are struggling financially choose not feed themselves so they can feed their animals. Their pet is the reason they get up in the morning.”

But when aging pet owners find themselves unable to care for their animals, surrendering the pet is often the best course of action. “Most owners understand they’re sick and their pet needs more care than they’re able to provide,” Dr. Jones says. “They want to make a plan for their pets; It’s a real source of comfort.”

Senior Pet Owners Must Plan for the Unexpected

Dr. Jones encourages all pet owners to devise a succession plan for their animals as early as possible. Having a “plan b” in place before the pet owner becomes too ill, needs to move to a care facility or passes away will offer invaluable peace of mind for the owner and added security for their pet. He offers the following tips for creating a contingency plan for a loving animal:

  • Consider adoption. Ask friends and family who are familiar with the pet if they are willing and able to offer the animal a new home. Those who interact with the pet regularly will be better equipped to determine if the animal’s size, personality, routine, etc. would fit well with their schedule and lifestyle.
  • Talk to a vet. Veterinarians have many resources at their disposal and can often help rehome a pet. No-kill shelters can also be a useful option, and there are many non-profit rescue organizations around the U.S. that will also assist older adults in finding new homes for their animals.
  • Get the owner’s input. Be sure to let the pet owner have a say in the decision. Ask them who they would like to look after their pet. “In some cases, older people don’t have a lot of family around and their friends are going through similar transitions, so they worry what will happen to their pets,” explains Dr. Jones. “Animal owners are visibly relieved when we tell them we’ve found their pets a new home. It’s not uncommon for them to cry.”
  • Allow for a smooth transition. Ideally, the current owner will be able to help the pet transition to its new home. The goal is to help the animal and new owner build trust and become familiar with one another incrementally. Try having the new owner come for extended visits with the pet, take the animal for walks and care for it in the new home for short periods before full-time ownership begins. Small steps are easier on everyone involved compared to an abrupt change.
  • Rehomed pets aren’t gone forever. While evaluating prospective adopters, discuss the possibility of allowing the original owner to continue visiting with the animal. Even a monthly visit with a cherished furry friend can brighten up a senior’s day.

Dr. Jones says euthanizing a pet should be the last resort. “Some older people think that putting a pet down is best because the animal is so bonded to their owner,” he says. “We usually try to talk them out of it, explain that there are so many other options and then we work with the owner to rehome their pet(s).”

When Is It Time to Rehome a Senior’s Pet?

With so much research touting the physical and mental benefits that animals provide to humans, Dr. Jones advises that older people keep their pets for as long as possible. Unfortunately, though, circumstances do change. If either the pet or their elderly owner is living in a neglectful situation or experiencing a reduced quality of life, then it is time to explore alternative options. It can be difficult to balance the health, safety and happiness of both the senior and their pet, but it must be done.

Dr. Jones sympathizes with family members who don’t know what to do about their aging loved ones and their furry friends. “For caregivers, the thought of taking care of a person and their pet can be overwhelming,” he notes. “Sometimes older people haven’t trained their pets well, which can amount to behavioral problems and unsanitary conditions. But what people don’t see is that these animals mean so much to their owners. Separation often causes physical and emotional decline in both parties.”

Balance What Is Best for the Senior and Their Pet

Markovich has no regrets about adopting Ollie. She tried to make the transition as smooth as possible for both pet and owner. Cutler now receives the care and assistance he requires while Ollie gets the love and stimulation that dogs thrive on. Markovich inherited Ollie’s food and water dishes from Cutler and even places them in the same spot in her apartment at the senior housing community. The twosome goes for daily walks and Markovich hopes that she’s kept Ollie trained to Cutler’s standards.

Every month, Cutler gets to see his favorite companion when Markovich brings Ollie for a pet therapy visit at the assisted living community. “When he comes to see me, he’s overjoyed,” says Cutler. “When Nancy is ready to leave, he goes to her side to let me know he was happy to see me, but he is leaving with Nancy. I feel sad about that, but also happy that I was able to find a good home for him.”

Markovich is equally grateful for the opportunity to help a friend in need and to find the loving companionship that a pet brings. “Ollie sits by me on the sofa, sleeps on my bed and we are thick as thieves. He is a true blessing for me,” she remarks.

Source: AgingCare  by Candace Rotolo

When to See a Doctor for Sleep Problems

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When to See a Doctor for Sleep ProblemsIf you consistently have trouble sleeping at night, you may be one of millions of Americans who suffers from a sleep disorder. Almost everyone has had trouble sleeping at one point or another, but a sleep disorder occurs on an ongoing basis. Because there are more than 100 types of sleep disorders, it can be difficult to figure out what is causing your sleepless nights.

Here are the most common sleep disorders:

  • Insomnia is the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep through the night. It is the most common sleep disorder in the United States. About 15% of U.S. adults report having chronic insomnia.
  • Narcolepsy is excessive daytime sleepiness with sudden muscle weakness. Sleep attacks is another name for this condition.
  • Parasomnias are emotions, behaviors and activities that take place while a person is sleeping. Sleepwalking, sleep talking, sleep aggression, sleep eating, teeth grinding, and nightmares are parasomnias.
  • Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is the overwhelming urge to move your legs at night. This is usually in response to unpleasant sensations, such as creeping, crawling, tingling, burning, achy or itchy feelings. Moving the legs often relieves these sensations.
  • Sleep apnea is breathing pauses during sleep that last at least 10 seconds. Loud snoring, gasping, and choking noises are also typical symptoms. The most common form is obstructive sleep apnea.

Common Causes of Sleep Disorders

For most people, sleep debt is due to busy lives, shift work or “night owl” syndrome—staying up too late. Poor sleep may also stem from napping too much, depression, anxiety, caffeine or other stimulants, or simply getting older. However, sleep disorders can occur on their own. This is true for narcolepsy, RLS, sleep apnea, and even insomnia in some cases. Sleep scientists know that sleep is controlled by our genes, and many sleep disorders run in families.

Sleep Disorder Treatment at Home

Treatment and prevention strategies depend on the exact sleep disorder, but in general, making a sleep a priority and good sleep habits are essential. This includes having routine sleep times, keeping your room cool and dark, and limiting caffeine, nicotine and alcohol. Doctors also recommend limiting daytime naps, getting regular exercise, and not eating close to bedtime. Your doctor may have more suggestions based on your specific habits.

When to See a Doctor for Sleep Disorders

Talk with your primary care doctor or provider if any of these situations applies:

  • You have trouble sleeping at night for 30 days or more.
  • You find yourself drowsy or dozing off during the day, with impaired memory, alertness or concentration.
  • You have tried good sleep habits (good sleep hygiene) and sleep problems persist.

Who to See for Sleep Disorders

It is important to explore the possible causes of your sleeplessness and try to find a solution. Your primary care doctor will be able to talk about solutions, but may also recommend seeing a sleep medicine specialist for a full evaluation and diagnosis. A sleep specialist is also the best choice for advanced care and treatment if you have a clinical sleep disorder.

Source: Healthgrades. by Kate Kling

Fraud Prevention Checklist

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New technology & communication, while opening the door for many positive avenues of progress, also makes us more susceptible as targets for scammers.  These individuals reach out to as many people as possible under some guise until they find someone who falls for their tricks.  The range of tricks being used by such scammers is always growing and evolving.  While you cannot know the details of each one of them, you can get a sense of the general types of scams out there.

Today’s seniors came from a generation raised to accumulate savings, to trust others, and to feel ashamed if they make any mistakes that feel “foolish”.  Because of their advanced age, it may take awhile for seniors to remember the events associated with the fraud and, when they finally do, the memories are somewhat faded.

Additionally, because advanced age can cause increased reliance on caregivers, family, and friends, abuse and fraud can happen with those individuals as well, breaking trust and taking advantage of need.  The answer is absolutely not to resist asking for help, but to educate yourself so that you can recognize the signs of any problems and intervene appropriately.

Based on the National Council on Aging’s “Top 10 Scams Targeting Seniors,” we’ve assembled a checklist of steps you can take to prevent falling prey to fraud. Review this list with your loved ones, checking off items as you complete them and making notes for future steps.  It might be a good idea to print out this list and keep it by the phone/mail spot in the house.

On a personal note, this story hits very close to home: my husband’s grandmother was recently conned out of $9,000 when a caller from Vegas pretended to be her grandson – with whom she hadn’t spoken on the phone for awhile – and claimed to have run into some financial trouble, such that he now needed both a plane ticket back home as well as some money wired over.  This caller begged the grandmother “not to tell anyone” about what he was going through since it was so embarrassing. – MV

 Table of Contents

  1. “Hi Grandma, it’s me…” – The Grandparent Scam
  2. “I’d like to help you deal with your loss…” – Death scams
  3. “Let’s reassess your home” – Real estate scams
  4. “Hi, I’m a Medicare Representative…” – Medicare fraud
  5. “Affordable prescriptions available here…” – Drug scams
  6.  “With modern science, who needs wrinkles?” Fake anti-aging products
  7. “Update! Click here…” – Internet fraud (including email/phishing)
  8.  “I am a Nigerian prince…” – Financial schemes
  9. “You’ve won the lottery!” Contest scams
  10. “Hello there, we need your help!” – Bogus Telemarketers

1.  “Hi Grandma, it’s me…” – The Grandparent Scam

As described above, scammers will call seniors claiming to be a grandchild in distress, requesting assistance and also discretion – both easy to obtain from the loving grandparent eager to help.

[  ] Make a list of family contacts, and if you ever receive a distress call, make sure you’re able to confirm the distress through contact initiated by you.

[  ] Never give out your personal information.

[  ] Never wire money except through a bank wire transfer, which requires confirmation of identity from the recipient.
 
More information:

2.  “I’d like to help you deal with your loss…” – Death scams

There are many potential avenues for death scams, from claiming a fraudulent outstanding debt on behalf of the recently deceased through overcharging individuals for funeral costs.

[  ] Always ask for a written price list in advance of your visit.

[  ] Never consult with just one funeral home. Shop around to better understand the services and products offered.

[  ] Check your state laws on embalming, autopsy, and other issues concerning death.

[  ] Make sure you read through and understand all of the details of the contract, including cancelation and refund policies.  Do not hesitate to ask for more time to read through, to take the documents home and process.  If anyone tries to pressure you to sign right away, leave; you should never be forced to sign a document under pressure.

 More information:

3.  “Let’s reassess your home” – Real estate scams

Using fake letters from the local assessor’s office promising reassessment with potential reduction in annual tax burden for the homeowner, scammers will artificially alter the value of a home to then encourage the homeowner to take a reverse mortgage.

[  ] Always be wary of unsolicited phone calls or other contact.

[  ] Always ask for references on the person/group contacting you, and be sure to research them online using sources like Google, Yelp, etc.  Ask for help from a family member, friend, or even your local librarian.

[  ]  Never pay for any services in advance.

[  ]  Never sign any documents without reading and understanding them in their entirety, as well as running them past your most trustworthy contact.

More information:

4.  “Hi, I’m a Medicare Representative…” – Medicare fraud

A phone call from someone claiming to be a Medicare representative to a senior aged 65 or older is too often enough to obtain personal information, which can then be used to file false claims and extort money from the system.

[  ] Don’t give anyone your Medicare or Social Security number or card, outside of your doctor/authorized Medicare provider.

[  ] Keep track of your doctor’s appointments and check that your Medicare statements line up with the services you were provided.

[  ] Don’t bend to pressure to buy any products or services on the spot; always ask for literature and time to think it over, then research on your own, in your own time.

[  ] Be skeptical of medical products or services that are advertised as being cheaper than usually offered.  These are usually scammers seeking to prey on the financially responsible.

More information:

5.  “Affordable prescriptions available here…” – Drug scams

With prescription drugs adding to the long list of high medical costs, it’s no wonder that cheaper options would be tempting.  In addition to conning people out of money, such scams are dangerous because the ‘medicine’ being sold is often expired or some other substance altogether, posing risks to the patient who takes them.

[  ] Be skeptical of door-to-door salesmen, because solicitations at your home without a previous appointment are illegal.

[  ] Only buy medicine from reputable pharmacies.

[  ] Know your prescriptions: names, doses, and appearance (size, color, etc.).  This is useful not just for avoiding fraud, but also for confirming your pharmacy’s product as well as for any doctor or hospital visits you may encounter, where you will surely be asked to list the medicines (and dosages!) you’re takingn. 

More information:

6.  “With modern science, who needs wrinkles?” Fake anti-aging products

Similar to the prescription drug scams, these scams involve charging patients for procedures using unregulated, privately manufactured drugs that pose serious risks.

[  ] Be wary of anything that seems too good to be true, or that purports to act as a cure-all.

[  ] Research a product extensively before trying it, including checking with the BBB (Better Business Bureau) to find out if there have been any complaints against it.

[  ] Always check with your doctor before taking any sort of supplement.

More information:

7.  “Update! Click here…” – Internet fraud (including email/phishing)

Seniors are particularly at risk for such scams due to their reduced comfort with computers and the internet.  From fake anti-virus programs through phishing scams that harvest personal information through a request for updates.

[  ] Be careful about opening attachments (which often can contain viruses) as well as clicking links in emails (scammers can use letters/symbols that mimic actual letters/symbols to build a fake site that can lure you into entering your password details).

[  ] If you haven’t reset your password and receive any emails about resetting your password, independently visit the site in question and check your account.  Change your password immediately; consider calling the site’s customer support line to report the incident and make sure there are no further security measures you can take.

[  ] Monitor your bank statements vigilantly for fraudulent charges. Often, scammers will start with a small charge, just to confirm that the account is active (and also so that it is less easily spotted).  Call your bank immediately if you see anything strange.

More information:

 8.  “I am a Nigerian prince…” – Financial schemes

Seniors might be tempted to invest their money if it means increasing the longevity of their savings, and so myriad scams exist to draw them in, promising yields on their investments.

[  ] Do not ever send money to someone you don’t know.

[  ] If you receive an email claiming to be from a Nigerian prince or some other comparable obvious scam, mark it as Spam.  Often, it will have some sort of “sob story” designed to get you to feel bad for the sender and want to help them in any way you can; do not fall for this.

[  ] If you receive a letter in the mail claiming to be a from a Nigerian prince (or something comparable), or requesting your banking information, take it to the FBI office nearest you or to the US Postal Inspection Service.

More information:

9.  “You’ve won the lottery!” Contest scams

An announcement of a sweepstakes win is here linked with a need to invest to ‘unlock’ the prize.  Victims quickly send the money and receive a check, which bounces several days later.

[  ] Sweepstakes are free; there should never be a ‘buy-in’, especially if it promises you increased odds at winning – that should be a clear red flag for potential scam activity.

[  ] Be particularly wary of contests that you did not enter but announce that you are a winner.

[  ] Always read the terms and conditions for any contest in which you participate or from which you receive correspondence, as they should lay out the rules, procedure for entry, and even the probability of winning.

 More information:

10. “Hello there, we need your help!” – Bogus Telemarketers

Because of their comfort in using the phone for transactions and communication, seniors are a prime target for fake telemarketers, who maximize on the opportunity to use voice-only means.  Some of the scams include raising money for fake charities and fake accidents.

[  ] Register your phone on the National Do Not Call Registry.

[  ]  If you are being rushed through a call or asked to give/confirm your account information – don’t.  You can even hang up in the middle of the call.  These telemarketers are just trying to get you to say ok so that they can later claim that you allowed them to charge you.

[  ]  Click on the resources below (under “More information”) to see the types of “lines” that are most commonly used by telemarketers.

 More information: