Smart Senior

Senior Living: Being Mobile

Have you thought about what it will be like when you can’t drive your car? I mean, really thought about it?  It will mean not being able to go anywhere without making complicated transportation arrangements.  I know how bummed I am when my car is in the shop for even one day.  I hate it.  It isn’t even that I have to go somewhere; it is the just the idea that I can’t that bothers me.

I want a scooter. I want a little blue scooter like the one that Tom Hanks rides around in the movie Larry Crowne.   I think red or yellow would be more me and I would like a sidecar, but that is all arbitrary.  I just think it would be nice to be able to carry a sack of groceries or take the dog for a spin, but mostly I would feel more secure with an extra wheel.  What do you think?  The gas mileage would be fantastic.

In addition to the traditional scooter we are now seeing the revolutionary electric scooter.  A growing number of seniors are seeing the electric scooter evolve above and beyond being a medical necessity.  It is now becoming a lifestyle choice.  

Older adults value the ability to manage daily tasks on their own.  Mobility is very important to them.  Loss of mobility/transportation often signifies a loss of independence.  Being isolated and/or housebound puts a serious crimp in a previously enjoyed sense of freedom.  Electric mobility-scooters are now being viewed by older people as a way to be in the mainstream again.

People who own scooter want to dispel the notion that scooters are just for “old people;” they are for anyone who wants to be able to go places and do things on their own.   Users recommend not waiting until your driving days are over.  Most of them feel that it is important to get one when you still feel brave and confident in your abilities, so that you can view it as a choice.   You can learn how to maneuver a scooter even if you have never driven so don’t feel that driving is a prerequisite.  The market is growing rapidly as the baby boomers enter their senior years.

Shop around and find a model that is right for you.  Determine what you are going to use it for and then decide if a three or four wheel model would make you more comfortable.  Make sure the seat is comfortable, the suspension is good and the grip is right for your hands.  You want to feel that you are in control even if you are just making a trip to the library or to the grocery store. A scooter is not a car but it does have the potential to keep you mobile. Think how you will feel if you can shop, visit, go to meetings and appointments and other volunteer and leisure activities without calling on a friend or family member for a ride.

Buy the scooter of your choice, learn the rules of the road, and master the controls so that you can feel both confident and independent.   Can’t you just picture yourself tooling around town in a little red scooter?

 

 

Senior Health and Fitness: Exercise Doesn't Have To Be Fun

Why does everything have to be fun? I don’t think exercising is fun unless I am doing a weekend bike ride or a hike in the mountains, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t do it.  I have read dozens of articles about motivation.  Without motivation, they say, you aren’t going to stick to a program. They all focus on how to make exercise fun, but fun isn’t going to do it unless you find a way to make a commitment.  A commitment requires a good old fashioned attitude adjustment.

Well you know what?  Exercise isn’t always fun. Sometimes it is sheer torture.  The thing is your body doesn’t really know or care if you are having fun or not.  Yes, fun is important and if that it takes to get you moving, I am all for it.  If you can find a faithful workout buddy (not as easy as one might suppose), work with a physical trainer (expensive and grueling), take classes (if time and scheduling allows), train for a marathon (really hard work plus takes a lot of time and commitment), or a dozen other ways to rev up your enthusiasm quota, you should go for it.

Maybe we just make it too complicated.  Does it have to be that hard?  Does everything have to be a competition?   It is hard to keep up with the changing exercise trends without wearing yourself down.  Six pack abds, killer thighs and a tight butt do not necessarily create a healthy lifestyle, not if you are just a tiny bit older anyway.  The good news is that you don’t have to be a competitive athlete in order to be healthy.

You are not seeing the big picture if you still think that if you aren’t sore the day after a workout you haven’t worked hard enough.  Exercise doesn’t have to hurt.  You don’t even have to feel “the burn” when you are doing a routine in order to reap the benefits.  Experts really do tell us, if we forget the hype and take time to listen, that you don’t have to push yourself to the extreme for good things to happen.  Exercise doesn’t have to be strenuous, but you do have to get out there and move every single day.   You have to pick a routine that you can stand and just do it.

If exercise doubles as a social outlet for you by all means go to the gym or take advantage of group classes at your senior center.  If you just want to get it out of the way so that you can do other things, work out at home.  One way is not better than the other, and neither one has to cost you an arm and a leg.  Senior Centers offer free or inexpensive classes, insurance companies often foot the cost of a gym membership, or you can rent videos from the library or build your own exercise video library. 

Exercise is not endless cardio and crunches it is about your health and well- being.  Think of exercising as just something you have to do, like eating breakfast or brushing your teeth. 

Senior Health: Dental Health Care

A post card from my dentist arrived in the mail yesterday.  It is a good thing too because I tend to forget these very important dates.  We all need a little memory jog to remind us of the importance of good dental health. A healthy mouth isn’t just about straight teeth and whitening strips now, but that doesn’t mean that good preventive care isn’t important.

The only difference now is that the emphasis is on healthy gums and keeping our own teeth.  Dental Health is actually a rather new concept.  Our grandparents didn’t receive dental care unless they had a really bad toothache, and I don’t believe that my father ever went to a dentist.  I don’t think dental insurance existed back then and the cost of preventive dental care and braces were not even an option.  With this kind of background it isn’t surprising to read that 95% of older people have gum disease and nearly half of them have dentures.

Dental care has come along way; not only is it pain free but technology has improved to the point where you can keep most of your own teeth if you are willing to make the effort.   So, why are there still seniors who balk at the idea of going to the dentist unless it is an emergency situation? 

• Without dental insurance the cost of even a routine visit is an out of pocket expense.
• Transportation to and from the dentist office may be a problem
• Older people may find the ability to care for their teeth difficult due to physical limitations

These can be tough obstacles to overcome, but it is worth the effort to look for inexpensive programs and products designed to make dental health care easier. 

Dental care is important.  The two major concerns are tooth decay and periodontal disease, both of which are preventable.  A thirty minute visit to a dentist twice a year can improve your health immeasurably.  An infection is an infection.  Researchers have found that periodontal disease has a direct link to other diseases such as heart and respiratory infections.

Dental care is important and it only takes a few minutes twice a day to keep to your end of the bargain.    Brush, floss and rinse a couple of times a day and get a routine dental exam twice of year.  If you keep up with your end of the bargain it doesn’t have to be a costly or an uncomfortable experience. 

 

Senior Living: Ergonomics Can Make A Difference

Getting older isn’t easy.  The degenerative changes that occur with aging can make life difficult, and a little fine tuning may be necessary to help you remain independent.   We are very fortunate that experts in the field of ergonomics have been working hard to make sure that this will happen.    We don’t like to associate old age with disability but research clearly indicates that hand grip strength, muscle mass,  range of motion and flexibility decrease after the age of 45.  If you have trouble walking, bending, gardening, carrying groceries, grooming, dressing, driving or doing your housework, you do indeed have a disability.  Thankfully there are products on the market that are designed to improve your comfort level, hone in on safety issues and make you the same efficient and proficient person that you have always been.

There is no cure for old age, arthritis, or many other chronic conditions associated with age, but managing the disease and controlling your environment can do much to make your situation tolerable.  Ergonomics may be the answer.  Design specialists are working on ways to fine tune products that will make life easier for you.  Ergonomics means more than a comfortable office chair; it is about improving the tools that you use to perform a variety of tasks.  Ergonomics is for everyone, whether you have a disability or not.

As people age or adjust to a new diagnosis, keeping them in their homes becomes quite a challenge.   Many people have trouble walking and/or using the stairs.  Seeing so many people buzz around in scooter chairs these days has been quite an eye opener.  It tells us that a lot of people have mobility issues and it also tells how much they enjoy being out in the world.   We now appreciate that people using scooters, wheelchairs, canes, crutches and walkers are a part of our lives.  Too many people have been forced in care receiving situations because they could not maneuver around their own homes.  If you are independently mobile I hope you know how lucky you are.

The judicious use of ergonomic tools and ideas may determine whether you can remain in your own home.  At the very least your home should have:

• At least one entrance without a step
• A bathroom on the entry level
• Accessible electrical outlets and light controls
• An interior door at least 32 inches wide

Ergonomics isn’t all about remodeling though.  If you do a little homework and ask questions when you shop, you can find many tools and appliances that will make life easier for you.   Many of them will be advertized as such and almost all sales people will be familiar with ergonomic design.  It is no longer a big mystery.  Appliances, gardening tools, door knobs, and special steering wheels for your car are only few of many items that fall in this category.   Ergonomic design can help you live independently.  Life is good but it isn’t always easy.   Shop wisely, ask questions, and try out the many marvelous products available to you.

 

 

 

Senior Living: Is Retirement For You?

Is it time for you to step down?  People reaching retirement age actually have choices these days.  It is good to have choices.   Many seniors find that they aren’t ready to retire at 62 or 65 years of age. They enjoy their work and retirement age arrived before they were ready.   One article will tell you that most seniors don’t feel ready to retire, while another will say that boomers are eager to retire.   

I like being retired but found both articles quite compelling.  The article by Kathy Read (Star Tribune: Sunday, April 15, 2012) cited statistics that implied that 90% of workers age 60-64 enjoyed going to work.  Who are these people?  Many of us had to work until we were 67 just to qualify for full social security benefits.  Early retirement wasn’t an option.   If you worked until you were 67, the last two-three years might have been tough.  I am a little suspicious about a statistic that quotes a 90% job satisfaction rate but if I am wrong, I hope they know how lucky they are.  Professional or not, I’ve not known many people who felt that good about their jobs.  I am very happy for those who found their niche early on, and yes they should keep working on as long as they can.  The rest are happy to get away. Older workers are less likely to be laid off these days, but they also have a harder time finding a new job if they are.  Work is safe. Work is structured and intellectually challenging.  Work provides a social connection like nothing else. Still the other 10% shouldn’t be made to feel guilty because they want to find something more meaningful to do than the 9-5 mentality allowed.

Granted, 20-30 years is too much time to spend just playing golf or traveling to exotic places.  You can only stand being a couch potato for so long before you start to feel restless.  Some people can’t afford not to work but much of the time people continue working because they don’t want to sit around twiddling their thumbs.  Many people enter retirement without any long term plans about what they want to do with the rest of their lives. 

The people embracing retirement have their reasons too and start planning for the eventuality early one.  Paul Gore (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:  Tuesday, April 24, 2012) writes that the popular belief that boomers will continue working longer than planned isn’t necessarily true.  His statistics show that many retirees like being retired.  They understand that they may not enjoy the same standard of living as previously but they are sick of working and want to do something else.  These people feel that they have worked all of their lives and are ready to try something new.   Each theory comes up with its own set of statistics but they both agree that the choice should be yours.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Living: The Art of Letter Writing

The word is out.  Letter writing is rapidly becoming a lost art.  Post offices and processing centers are being closed down because people are not writing letters anymore.  Letters are personal.  Collections of letter written and saved over the years are personal history lessons; a glimpse at what life was like in a time quite different from ours.  Today we read, or some of us read, biographies ghost written by strangers.  How can a stranger look into someone’s heart and soul?   It isn’t the same.  There is a story in every quilt, every recipe handed down, and every sweater knitted.  There is also a story in every letter written.  Art is history at its finest, and letter writing is an important art form.  We need to bring letter writing back.

Nicole Brodeur (www.nbrodeur@seattletimes.com) a Seattle Times staff columnist, wrote several columns dealing with the demise of postal services. The reasoning of course is that people aren’t writing letters anymore.  What do you think of that?  The columnist received mountains of mail, in the form of written letters, telling her that e-mails and Facebook updates lack the history and the sense of intimacy delivered by “snail mail.” 

Months can go by, according to an article in the Targeted News Service (Washington D.C. November 2, 2011), between the time one personal letter arrives in your mailbox and the next.   When did you last get a letter from someone?  It was probably an anniversary or a birthday or maybe you were lucky enough to get a personal note tucked into a Christmas card.  This is so sad.  When I was in college mail delivery was the highlight of our days.  A one paragraph e-mail isn’t quite the same as receiving a real letter.

The article touched me.  Much as I love having e-mails waiting for me each morning it isn’t quite the same.  You read your e-mails, your reply and then you delete them.  They are gone forever.   Most e-mail transmissions are short notes from busy people who don’t have time to pour out their souls.  It is not the same as holding a piece of paper in your hand and rereading it over and over and over again.  Letters get saved.  I have a big shoe box full of letters written by my daughter when she was in the Army.  You can’t send a weekly care package to a loved on by e-mail and internet access is often spotty from overseas. I loved those letters.  I will most likely keep that box forever.  Can you say that about a phone conversation or an e-mail?

There is no right or wrong way to write a note.  There are no rules.  Write as you would talk, ask questions, feel free to go off on tangents, don’t even worry about neatness or spelling, just get those thoughts out there. If your handwriting is bad, I am sure the receiver will understand and patiently decipher each word.   When I was a kid we had pen pals from around the country and around the world.  What fun that was.

Think of how letters contributed to our knowledge of our ancestors.  We now have clues about what they thought and how they felt.  Books written about people like John Adams and Thomas Jefferson are all based on collections of letters that were labored over and loved.  Not everyone can write a book but letters, anyone can write a letter.

Older people understand the importance of the written word and it may be up to them to save this art form.  They want to be able to write memorable letters to their children and their grandchildren so that they will have something to remember them by.  Reading and writing help us to connect with others in a way that electronic gadgets can’t.  Think about what it must have been like when letters were the only form of communication available.  

The more letters you write the more you will receive.  Carry a stash of note card with you and dash off a line whenever the spirit move your.  Research zip codes and buy pretty stamps (www.usps.gov) on line.   Take a class on letter writing if you need, but do send little bits of yourself out into the world.   People will smile and think you are a little touched but they will write you back and before you know it a new circle of life will present itself.

Senior Health: Adult Onset Diabetes: It Could Happen To You

My mother, my aunt and one of my sisters were all diagnosed with adult onset diabetes when they were in their 70s.   I know that it might be waiting in the wings for me, but are we ever really ready for that news?  Many people with diabetes mellitus are over the age of 60 years.  Statistics tell us that they are often under diagnosed and under treated.  The story I am about to tell you confirms that belief.   A friend of mine had been diagnosed with pre-diabetes a few years ago.  She was monitored closely until her blood sugar readings had stabilized and she was deemed healthy enough to be on her own.    Her follow-up visits were all good and she ceased to worry much about it. 

A few months ago her sister e-mailed me to say that J was in the hospital. She was gravely ill.  It seemed that the diabetes has reared its ugly head and accelerated into a crisis situation.   J was lucky that she survived, and she would like to share her story with you. 

She writes that it all started last summer. “In July I had an eye exam and was fitted for new glasses.  I wore them for a few weeks but the prescription didn’t seem right.  Things seemed blurry and I couldn’t see well.  It seemed better when I took my glasses off.  I went back to the optician and the prescription was adjusted and it seemed better.   A few days later, when I was at Bingo with my sister, I noticed that I couldn’t see the numbers on the board.  Not only that but when I looked around the room people looked fuzzy too.  I felt dizzy but I struggled through the afternoon.  Over the next three months I went to a specialist, had several eye exams and X-rays which were all negative.  I thought I was managing but by Christmas time I noticed that I was having trouble with my equilibrium and frequently losing my balance.   I am always on a diet so was pleased that I was losing weight but by January I was losing 2 lbs a day, felt tired, weak, thirsty all of the time, and craving sweets big time.  My eyes were getting worse.  My primary thought it was from lack of vitamin D so added another pill to my growing stack.  I got worse and was treated by a GYN specialist for a serious yeast infection.  I kept getting weaker and sicker and wanted to sleep all of the time.  My skin was gray and dry and I was extremely dehydrated. I feel so dumb now because all of the signs were there, but I still didn’t know what was happening to me. 

My sister told me that I looked awful and when she checked my blood sugar the readings were off the chart.  She finally overruled my objections and called 911.  It seems I was going in and out of a diabetic coma.   The ER doctor came in the next morning and told me how gravely ill I had been.  My potassium was very low, my blood sugar was very high and I was severely dehydrated.  My blood pressure was over 200.    I was a walking dead woman and didn’t even know it.  I was in the hospital for a week with IV’s, insulin, antibiotics, oxygen and other medications.  I don’t remember much and was unaware of what was happening until three days after admission

Anyone who has any of these symptoms, no matter how small should be followed by their physician religiously, before something like this happens to them.  I was a nurse and I should have known better but I was totally unaware of what was happening to my own body.  I am doing fine now.  I am regulating my insulin, eating well and getting my strength back.”

Many people who develop diabetes are over 40 and the risk increases with age. If you have relatives with diabetes, you are at a higher risk.  Obesity and physical inactivity are also risk factors.  Be aware that these symptoms can sneak up on you and you might not know what is happening.  

• Excessive thirst
• Extreme hunger
•  Unexplained weight loss
•  Tiredness and fatigue
•  Blurred vision

 

 

 

 

Independent Living: Three Tools to Determine How Independent You Really Are

 

How independent are you?  The trouble with holidays and family reunions is that people who haven’t seen you in years start whispering about how “old” you look.  They wonder if you are doing okay on your own or if they should be intervening on your behalf.   It is an understandable reaction.   You may indeed be struggling to hold things together, but if you don’t want to move and you still feel that everything is fine, it is time to come up with a plan.   If the idea of a “talk” comes from you it is more apt to play out the way you want it to. 

Be honest.   Is everything just fine?   What are you willing to do to make sure that you can stay in your own home?  It may be hard to admit, but you will likely need some kind of help.  This is no time to be stubborn.  You are always going to feel that things are just fine, but your family and friends are probably not going to agree.  It will soon become obvious that you aren’t qualified to make this decision, but if it is any consolation, neither are they.   This doesn’t mean that you can’t manage, but it does mean that it is time for an impartial opinion.   A good social intervention is one way to make this happen.   Evidence clearly indicates that older people can benefit from an assessment by a qualified outsider.  An impartial observer can hone in on specific survival skills that can make all the difference in the world.

Whether you are living with a family member, have a cottage in their backyard, or live down the street, everyone wants the experience to be a positive one.    You can find check lists in books on aging but you may be too close to the situation to make an unbiased assessment.  You either pretend that everything is okay or go to the other extreme and perceive things as worse than they really are.

Enter a Geriatric Case Manager, a professional who is trained to work with you and your family.  He/she will be able to identify and assess current and potential needs, and come up with a plan to help you.   Keep in mind that having a disability or a chronic condition does not automatically mean that you cannot do things on your own.   Learning how to take care of yourself or even knowing when to ask for help is all part of independent living.   A Case Manager will not try to railroad you into a nursing home.  Their goal is to help you be as independent as you can be.  They know that interventions, whether simple or complex, can assure a quality situation for you.

 So what are these important tools?

• An assessment. How do things look right now?
• Education:  Most people don’t know where to turn when looking for answers.  Positive recommendations and information about care networks can make life easier.
• If necessary, a manager can coordinate services and track your progress on an on-going basis.

Remember that being independent does not mean that you have to do everything yourself.  Knowing when to ask for help and who to turn to is a part of the process.  There are different levels of independent living.  You may just need someone to help you with your taxes, but if you need help with meals or other personal services that can be arranged.   There will be always something to work on, but feeling that you are independent is what makes life worthwhile.

 

Senior Health and Fitness: Three Ways to Stay Healthier Longer

The young feel invincible.  The middle aged feel stressed. It is difficult to think of the future when there are so many things to do today.  However, research tells us that one of the most crucial tasks of middle age is preparing for the future.  Yes, life happens whether you make plans or not but preparing for the future is one priority that cannot be set aside.  Laura Landro (www.wsj.com) sends out an urgent messages in her Health Matters column (The Wall Street Journal:  Monday, April 9, 2012) and the message on April 9^th is that middle age is the time to give the future some really serious thought.

It is never too late to start taking care of yourself.  Don’t feel too discouraged if you failed to heed the warning signs, but remember that the earlier you start the better off you will be.   Think of it as laying a foundation.  If you had listened to your mom when you were a kid, you wouldn’t be acting like eating your vegetables, getting enough sleep, washing our hands and going out to play were something new.   I am just as guilty as you are.  I didn’t listen either.  Mom was a pretty smart cookie, and all of her advice centered on laying a foundation for what was to come.   Too bad we didn’t listen.  If we had we wouldn’t be spending the first part of our journey repairing the damages.  Luckily the human body is pretty forgiving.   Studies now tell us that a healthy lifestyle can prevent or at least retard many of the ravages of aging.  At least the author referred to 50 as being “middle aged,” although being in the middle of 100 is a pretty ambitious prediction, don’t you think?  Still, it is better than having everyone over 50 tossed into what they call the new “old” category.  I don’t like labels and anyone who has ever been 50 remembers how great 50 felt.  

 Functional limitations have always been around, but limitations often associated with old age are showing up in people in their 50s.    It could be because we still think of ourselves as young when we are in our 50s and 60s and continue to act accordingly.  Regardless, we have the information and the technology to prevent and/or treat many age related changes.  In the past people felt that pain and disabilities were just a part of growing older.    Nowadays, people are living longer and the idea of living with aches, pains and functional limitations are no longer something to be tolerated.

 Medical research has changed focus. Instead of just curing sick people they are focusing on keeping people healthy and independent for life.    The emphasis is on reducing disability; maximize functioning and enhancing quality of life.  This is good news because it means that we don’t need to be relegated to the rocking chair because of creaky knees or chronic illnesses

Staying healthy longer is within our reach, but it isn’t a given.  You will have to work hard to achieve the independence that you deserve.  Most of you know what you need to do.   The three ways to achieve a healthier lifestyle are:

• Moderate activity,
• A healthy lifestyle  
• Mental stimulation.   

These three areas of study all lead back to reducing disability, maximizing function, and enhancing quality of life. I know you were hoping for a new trick, a quick fix so to speak, but the secret lies within.    Taking responsibility for your own health and well

Canes, Walkers and Wheelchairs: Three Ways to Prevent Mobility Devices from Sabotaging Your Health

I usually just skim the advertisement pages of the newspaper, but the other day a story about a new type of cane caught my eye.  I am familiar with canes, walkers, and wheelchairs after years working with seniors, but I have never seen anything like this.   This particular cane looks like something out of the Bionic Man television series of old (www.TheHurryCane.com) and I liked what I saw.   Canes have undoubtedly been around since humankind started walking upright, but designs incorporating technological advances are fairly new.

Many seniors use wheelchairs, walkers, or canes to help them get around.   I was rather astounded to read that many of the falls that land seniors in the hospital are related to the use of mobility devices.  How can this be?  The very pieces of equipment that have been designed to offer support and stability are causing injury accidents.

1. You probably already know the answer to that question.  Canes and walkers are pretty common place but no matter how beautiful the design, if they don’t fit your special needs you become an accident waiting to happen.  I’ve worked with many people using mobility devices and do you know what?  The majority of them, especially those using them for what they see as short term, have borrowed them from friends, friends-of-friends or family member.
2. Ideally a medical professional is the person to turn to for advice about mobility equipment.  Unscrupulous venders or unknowing friends will try to save you a few dollars by saying that a cane is just a cane, a walker just a walker or a wheelchair just a wheelchair.  Nothing can be further from the truth.  You need a piece of equipment that you will be comfortable with; not something that may cause additional problems.  Do your homework and find some other way to save pennies.  Canes and walkers allow people to remain functionally independent, but a faulty piece of equipment can alter your gait and cause unspeakable problems. 
3.  Consult a physician and work with a Physical and/or Occupational therapist specializing in the selection, care and use of mobility devices.   Part of the process should be learning how to use your particular cane, walker or wheelchair and practicing until you are an expert.  Your device should give you a sense of stability and security.  You should not feel intimidated or vulnerable when you set out on your walk.

A number of new designs for wheelchairs, walkers and canes are available today.   Ideally a cane or walker should be adjustable, adaptable, and able to stand upright so that you aren’t juggling keys and packages or tripping over them if they fall to the floor.  I’ve seen some fancy wheeled walkers that glide like baby joggers, but haven’t had the pleasure of working with one of the high tech canes.  It is in your best interest to buy the best equipment that you can afford and learn how to use it properly.