Smart Senior

Senior Health: Chronic Disease

Chronic diseases, more often than not, have been associated with deterioration and loss.  This is especially true of the illnesses and disabilities that occur later in life.   The concept of chronic illness is relatively new.  Gains in medical knowledge, improved pharmaceuticals, and technological advances now mean that people live for years with conditions that would have led to an early demise not very long ago.  Research today focuses on not only treating chronic conditions but on helping people adapt and maintain independent lifestyles. 

A chronic illness is a disorder that persists for an extended period of time, and often affects the ability to function normally.    A chronic illness will more than likely alter life as you now know it.   Severe arthritis, emphysema, cirrhosis, diabetes and heart failure (or any other systems failures) are only a few of the chronic conditions that could derail your life.  Having a chronic disease does not mean that you are going to die tomorrow.  I can’t begin to tell you about how many people I have known living with multiple chronic conditions. The surprising thing was that many of them were well into their 90s.  The human body is remarkably resilient, which means that it isn’t as easy to die as one might suppose.  Having a chronic disease does not mean that your life is over.

Your doctor will tell you that the best way to keep chronic diseases at bay, or at least to postpone their onset, is to prevent them from occurring.  This is very sage advice, but sometimes bad things happen to good people anyway.  If symptoms of a chronic disease have already presented themselves, your goals will immediately change.   Your new goals will focus on how to manage your symptoms and how to keep them from getting worse. It is hard to feel that you are in control when something like this happens and it requires a serious attitude adjustment, but it can be done:

• Become knowledgeable  about your condition
• Be a participant in your care
• Take your medicine
• Seek and follow medical advice
• Exercise
• Work hard to maintain a normal lifestyle and seek a support group

Your chronic condition will not necessarily kill you, but diabetes, arthritis, a heart attack, a stroke, or any other insults to the body, are all signals that some changes are going to have to be made.  It becomes even more apparent that lifestyle changes as well as continuing medical treatments are needed.   You can and will live with chronic conditions.

 

 

Independent Living: Rejecting Stereotypes

Despite advances in education it seems that stereotypes are still alive and well.  Where do stereotypes come from and why do we let them influence how we think, act and feel?  Older individuals are often thought of as being slow, enfeebled, and in the way.   Old people are often thought of as being self centered, opinionated and not open to new information.  How can this be?  I’m not like that, are you?

Unfortunately we all know one or more people who do exhibit those qualities.  It bothers me when I hear older people make negative and disparaging remarks about themselves.  It also bothers me when I see them behave badly.  

 It’s not right. People need to get along.  It is a shame that a few people behaving badly tarnish the image of a large segment of the population.  I don’t see myself as feeble, slow, in the way, nonproductive, crotchety, opinionated, or resistant to new ideas and doubt if you do either. 

Stereotypes undermine all of us.  Look closely at your own thoughts and feelings.  You aren’t one of “them” are you?  Slow down and listen to yourself.    Do you hear yourself bad-mouthing other groups, talking about the “old days,” and thinking that you are too old to travel or learn new things?    Remember, a stereotype is a label; it is a way to classify people.  Stereotypes are wrong.    The trouble is that many seniors believe that rude surly behavior is okay.  They believe that stereotypes, even the ones about themselves, are true.  We can change those behaviors, one senior at a time.

If you elbow someone out of the way, or use your age as an excuse for your behavior, you are sending a lousy message.   If you look and act like a curmudgeon, you make people think that all older people are that way.   Instead of getting angry when someone honks at you for driving too slowly try to problem solve instead.   Look, listen and respond courteously.    Educate yourself and find out why you are being perceived as a problem.  Take senior safe driving classes, be polite and helpful, show an interest in others, and learn new things.  Things were not better in the good old days and you are not too old to learn or try something new. 

All seniors are not the same.  Think of yourself as active and able to learn.  Compensate for limitations, contribute to your community and be sensitive to the need for courtesy.  Remember when your mom used to ask if you were brought up by wolves or lived in a barn?  Well stop acting that way.  Develop a new network of friends, volunteer, look forward instead of backwards and lighten up a little.   Enjoy yourself.  Break the cycle by setting a good example.  It is time for a new view of aging.

 

 

Independent Living: Age in Place

There is a new term in town.  It is called “aging in place,” and it actually acknowledges that most people want to live out their lives in their own homes.  Aging in place isn’t a new concept; it is more like an old tradition reinvented.  We got sidetracked for awhile when someone decided that tucking seniors away in a “rest home” was the cool thing to do.  Well, it’s not cool anymore. Seniors today are fighting back.  Many of them have decided that they don’t want to be tucked away with a bunch of “old people”; they want to be surrounded by young life and energy.   They want to keep their own comfortably worn furniture, travel familiar streets, go to the same churches, frequent the same libraries and go to a grocery stores where everyone knows their name. This doesn’t seem strange to me. 

Still, it isn’t as easy as just refusing to move.  Older houses are fraught with dangers waiting to trip up the unwary suspect.  You may still be of sound mind and have a relatively sound body, but you are not going to be able to do the same things that you did before.  That’s just the way it is.  Stairs will be harder to climb, your balance isn’t quite what it used to be and arthritis may make it difficult to get a good grip on things.  These are more than minor inconveniences, but you will be happy to know that they are not insurmountable obstacles.

Now is the time, before problems occur, to ask yourself a few questions

• How important is it to remain close to family and friends?
• How important is it to frequent the same restaurants, stores and concert halls?
• Are you willing to spend the money that you saved for the” inevitable” to make your home a safe and comfortable place to live?
• Would you truly hate living in a new place or is it just fear of the unknown that keeps you from moving elsewhere?

What are your plans?  You need a plan if you are going to keep moving forward and remain in control of your life.  Do you want your home to be a place where you will spend the rest of your life or are you just going to wait and see what happens?  Are you willing to spend some of that nest egg to ensure your safety and well being?   How much can you afford to spend on universal design home modifications?  Are you willing to modify your home or do you think it is a waste of time and money?    I keep inserting that last question because a lot of people sabotage their efforts because they don’t want to spend the money.  The option of aging in place can be yours, but you must think things through.  It is all about planning ahead with an eye on prevention.

The book titled “Stages of Senior Care” by Paul and Lori Hogan talks about the advantages and disadvantages of aging in place, as well as many other senior care options. The book is filled with valuable reference material and deserves a space on your bookshelf.  A few of the advantages sited are:

• There is much to be said about staying in familiar surroundings
• Strengthens families if they come together to care for each other
• Costs less than other options
• Promotes physical and mental well-being

The disadvantages focus more on you.  Successful aging in place often hinges on what are willing to spend on home equipment and home modifications.  The cost will range from moderate to high, depending on whether you want to piece things together yourself or have a professional redesign your whole house.   It is best if you plan ahead, before a crisis situation occurs.  If you refuse to consider safety issues you are putting yourself at risk for falls and injuries, and you know that it will end badly.  If you want to stay in your own home you need to bend a little.  Modifications and technology can be your best friends. 

 

 

Senior Living: Aging In Place With a Case Manager

 Most seniors want to age in place. Most seniors also acknowledge that they will need some modifications to their lifestyle, either now or in the near future.   Aging in place basically means that you want to continue living in your own home.  Most families are happy to support this decision, until something happens and they just can’t.  It is up to you to figure out how and where you want to live, and be willing to do whatever it takes to make this happen.  The decision to age in place needs to be thought through very carefully, and hopefully long before a crisis occurs.

It is hard to believe, but changes in your health and your physical capabilities can sneak up on you so subtly that don’t see them coming.   You are too close to the situation to make sound judgment calls.  You cannot see what is right in front of your eyes until a crisis occurs.  The knee-jerk reaction from you is to dig in your heels and refuse to cooperate.  The knee-jerk reaction from your family is to throw up their hands in despair.  You will all make rash decisions, harsh words will be spoken, and feeling will be hurt.   Rational decision making goes right out the window.

What can you do that will bring all of you together again?  Go back to that common goal and figure out what your options are.  Talk about the “what if’s” before they happen.   I mean as soon as you retire, so that everyone involved will be on the same page.  It is understandable that you will have questions:  Who, how, what, when, where and why, and how much will it cost?   These are really good questions. 

Finding out what you need to know requires a “big picture” approach and this is something that you most likely will not be able to do on your own.  You need someone who can look at all of the circumstances, which will include your financial picture, medical problems, existing social networks, physical living arrangements and available resources.  The resources are out there but many don’t know how to access them on their own.  Local area agencies on aging are good sources on community based programs, but if your situation has reached a panic state you will need more help.    Existing problems may be multiple, they may be complex and they may be overwhelming.  Here is where the knee-jerk reactions will most likely kick-in.   It is astounding how much research is required in order to make decisions that will be agreeable to everyone.

A relatively new specialty in the senior care industry is the geriatric case manager.  A case manager is a professional who can make assessments and answer questions about the problems and concerns that are troubling you.    They can help you make care plans, explain various options and the costs associated with them.  If and when the need arises, they can help screen, arrange and even monitor in-home help or other services.  Check with The National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers for further information.    This is something that we should all be thinking about, especially if we want to age in place.   If we started early enough we could probably do all of the research on our own.  Unfortunately most of us aren’t very good about that kind of thing.

Senior Living: Pedicures

Pedicures are the height of luxury and what a lovely way to treat your tired and aching feet.   Feet work hard for you and they really take a beating, so a pedicure can be more than just having polish put on your dainty little toes. 

Feet, especially older feet, are prone to problems that should be taken care of on a regular basis.  Pedicures are nice and if it makes you feel like a princess to have someone else tend your feet go ahead, but only after taking a few sound precautions.  If you do have diabetes or circulatory problems get an okay from your doctor first.  He/she may recommend having your nails trimmed by a podiatrist and then you can follow up with soaks and cream treatments at home or at a salon.

 While some foot problems are inherited, many are simply the result of wear and tear.  Older people are often prone to diabetes and circulatory problems and if you are one of them you should seek professional help.  Excessive dry skin, thick and discolored nails, swelling, redness and decreased sensation are warming signs that you should be mindful of.

What can you do at home to keep your feet comfortable and attractive?  Feet should be washed every day with soap and warm water, especially between the toes, and then dried with a soft towel.  That is pretty simple, as far as routine care goes, but people spend much less time on foot care than they do washing their hair and applying lotions to other parts of the body.  After all, until the weather warms and you pull out your summer shoes, you don’t spend much time looking at your feet.

Picking a nail salon is serious business and you want to be sure that proper cutting and safety measures are followed.  The person who does your nails should be licensed and you should be comfortable with their procedures for sterilizing tubs and instruments.  If you are still nervous about infections you can ask if you can bring your own equipment (clippers, pumice stone, file, buffing brick, orange stick, moisturizers and oils, and even polish).  Infections are not unheard of in salons so being mindful of their protocols is a legitimate concern.