Online Senior Resources

With more and more people becoming skilled at navigating the internet, we are now finding an increasing level of senior resources online.  This is helpful because of the convenience factor and the fact that it can be a huge timesaver.  It doesn’t take the place of in-person research to finalize any decisions, but it is very valuable when just determining “what’s out there”.

A resource that I have used in magazine form for years is the New Lifestyles directory. Their list of resources are updated periodically and new magazines are available for specific geographical areas quarterly. New Lifestyles publishes “45 guides for metropolitan areas in the U.S. and we recently expanded into Canada, partnering with TheCareGuide.com, a Canadian company. Five guides are available for Canada.” http://tiny.cc/JMkYh The guide is free to consumers and is financially supported by companies that advertise in the magazine.

The online version is especially handy for those of you that are frequent users of the internet to gather information anyway.  I highly recommend this resource.

You can find them at http://www.newlifestyles.com/

Another website that I recently have discovered is www.SNFtour.com .  On this site you will find a number of Florida Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF) listed by county.  Most of them have online “tours” which are marketing videos about their facilities.  Of course, you have to realize that these videos are made to show only the best side of any facility, it still can be beneficial to get an overall sense of what is available in the area.  It would be interesting to see more communities use this type of marketing.  Again, when choosing a SNF, it is important to actually visit the facility yourself and talk to the staff and other residents.  Please refer to the article I only stay in 4-5 Star Nursing Homes?

for more information about researching SNFs.

I encourage you to check these resources out.  If you have other favorites you use, please comment here or send me a message at MyCaseManager@hotmail.com .  I’m always on the look-out for new sources!

Knowledge is Power!

Safety First! Seniors Living Alone

In the United States, more than one third of adults 65 and older fall each year (Hornbrook et al. 1994; Hausdorff et al. 2001).  Additionally, among these seniors, falls are the leading cause of injury deaths. They are also the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma (CDC 2005).  Many of these falls can be prevented by being aware and making a few proactive changes in the home.

You might be surprised, but those lovely throw rugs that many of us have scattered about our homes, are one of the biggest culprits for trips/falls.  The simple act of either taking these up completely (preferred) or making sure they are secured to the floor with some rug adhesive, can prevent falls from this source.  Clutter and loose cords on the floor are another issue of concern.  Keep pathways clear.  Make sure dark areas in the home can be well lit when in use, especially at night.  Many falls at night happen while trying to get to the bathroom, so anticipate any issues that may happen here. Ask yourself….Is there a light next to the bed that is easily turned on?  Is the light in the bathroom easily accessible when entering?  Is the path from the bed to the bathroom clear and easily navigated? Nightlights also can be helpful in finding the main lights, however are not a substitute for good main lighting.  Make sure if eye glasses are used, they are readily available and eyesight is assessed on a regular basis by an eye doctor.

Bathrooms can also be full of hazards.  Seniors often have decreased leg strength and/or arthritis and it may become difficult to use a standard height toilet.  There are elevated toilet seats that you can find at your local medical supply store or drug store, that can assist with this.  Depending on the layout of the bathroom, grab bars can also be helpful.  If someone is at high risk for fall, they really should not take a bath/shower without another person in the home, in case they need help.  A walk-in shower, rather than a bath tub, is usually the easiest for seniors to negotiate.  Grab bars are also needed in the shower to provide stability as well as a shower chair. When using a shower chair, a detachable shower head is useful. I have known some people to use a lawn chair, or similar, as a makeshift shower chair. This is truly a recipe for disaster.  Shower chairs are relatively inexpensive and can be found at most drug stores for about 20 bucks. Medicare does not cover these items, however if you have a supplemental plan you may check with them to see if they do.  One other thing of note in the bathroom is that towel racks ARE NOT grab bars.  Many people have landed on the floor when using towel racks to grab onto.  If you aren’t able to install the grab bars yourself, check with your local senior center.  Often they have volunteers or referrals who can assist.

Medication mistakes can be deadly.  If you are caring for a family member/friend that has trouble figuring out how and when to take their medications, they must have assistance with this.  One thing you can do if you live close, is to purchase a pill box from your local drug store. (examples here  http://tiny.cc/1pQc4 *) The pill boxes can either be set up  weekly or monthly and can accomodate from once to 4 times daily medications.  If your family member/friend is able to remember when to take their medications, but can’t reliably fill the box, you should always set the meds up for them. If they also can’t remember when to take the medication, there are a number of helper devices available that have alarms or voice mail reminders set by you.  (examples here http://tiny.cc/gfrMS or  http://tiny.cc/D1ggE *)  Additionally, medications should be brought into each doctor appointment so they can be compared against the medication list that the doctor has on file.  This goes for specialists too. Vitamins, over the counter med and nutritional supplements should be considered just like prescription drugs, since they can interact with other medications.

Please also consider some type of Life Alert system for seniors living by themselves.  We’ve all seen the “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” commercials and probably even had a chuckle about it before.  However, when it really happens, it is not funny.  Imagine you or your loved one lying alone for hours/days on the floor with a broken hip, waiting for someone to find you.  That happens all the time and not only does the injured suffer pain and anxiety, but eventually can become dehydrated, which can lead to even more severe consequences.  The Life Alert systems are necklaces or wrist bands that have buttons that can be pushed when there is an emergency requiring assistance.  There are a number of companies that provide this service.  A Google search would provide you with a number of referrals.  These services do usually cost an installation fee and a monthly service fee.  Check around to find the best service for the best price.  Also, many companies will wave the installation fee to get your business. I recommend that you ask them to wave the fee.  If they refuse, that should go into the information you use to decide which company is the best for you.  If a Life Alert system is not something that is possible, a cell phone or cordless phone can be used.  However, it has to be carried everywhere, charged regularly and requires more mental composure during crisis (remembering phone numbers, etc) than some people are able to muster.

Many seniors prefer to live independently as long as they can.  Following these suggestions can enable them to do so in a safer environment, which in turn can lengthen their independence.  Please review the following “Fall Checklist” provided by The Center for Disease Control (CDC).  It is very useful when assessing the home for safety.

http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/pubs/English/brochure_Eng_desktop-a.pdf

Knowledge is Power!

* All companies are used for example only. MyCaseManager does not recommend specific companies.  You are urged to use the resources cited as a starting off point to find the best product/service that works for you and your situation.