Written by, Celeste Bowen, RN, BSN
If your childhood memories do not include radios that broadcast from a box or TV’s that only produced pictures in black, white or some varied shade of gray, your consciousness likely bloomed in an era after Walter Cronkite was an evening ritual. The members of that pivotal generation not only lived a different lifestyle but experienced it with eyes and ears tuned to an entirely different way of thinking. (more…)
New studies show that seniors are struggling more than ever with multiple medication usage. MedCo Health Solutions and Kelton Research surveyed over a 1,000 people at age 65 and older, and discovered that more than half (51 percent) took at least five different prescription drugs regularly. Even worse, one out of four took between 10 to 19 pills each day!
No one can really answer why this number is so high, but the shocking news doesn’t stop there. The survey also reported that 57 percent of the group (three out of five seniors), forgot to take their medications completely.
Researchers learned that the more medications a senior took, the more likely they they forgot their doses. For example, 63% reported they forgot their doses if they took five or more medications, compared to the 51% who took less pills.
Managing medications is tough for everyone, and it’s especially hard the more pills you take. The Kelton Research report also revealed 34% (more than one-third) of seniors that took 5 or prescriptions, didn’t feel they educated enough on the side effects of their medicine.
Thirty-five percent couldn’t even name all the medications they took. Don’t fall under this category and take control of your health, or your loved one’s health by reading the following tips:
* Eleven Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Your Medication
* Four Quick Tips for Buying Your Medication Online
* Tips on Becoming an Empowered Patient
* Four Great Places To Research Your Medication
Hopefully managing your medication will be easier after reading these suggestions. Remember, it’s always helpful to set up medication reminders, whether it’s by alarm, text-message, or more, the solutions are out there and we are always here to help.
Recently, BusinessWeek ran a special report on technology that helps seniors stay at home.
RememberItNow! is small potatoes compared to some of the players. But, we have a great solution!
Intel, GE, Philips, and Nintendo are some of the big brand companies targeting the eldercare market estimated at $317 billion. Boy, would we love to have their resources.
Philips has spent $6 BILLION in acquisitions for cutting-edge products.
GE is ramping up investments “”We’re in the infancy of our business. We look at this as a strategic move into a huge and growing market.” notes Jim Pursley, a general manager in sales at GE Healthcare’s Home Health unit.
GE and Intel are committing $250 million over five years to develop products. Consultancy Aging in Place Technology Watch predicts that the market for home monitoring and communications devices could eventually generate $20 billion a year.
BusinessWeek’s Special Report is packed with information. We are thrilled to be part of this exciting market!
Are you wondering what to ask or look for before you hire someone for home healthcare? We have prepared a thorough list to help you feel more at ease with your research.
1. Is the agency licensed and accredited?
They should be licensed by the state. Check with your state Department of Health and with organizations like Joint Commission. It is an independent nonprofit that accredits and certifies nearly 15,000 health-care organizations and programs in the US.
2. How established is the agency?
Research them on Medicare’s Home Health Care Compare . Here you can compare different home-care agencies on a variety of things like, the number of patients they have, success ratings with treatment, and more.
3. What kind of background checks does the agency do?
Ask specifically what their background checks cover. Ask about any criminal activity besides elder and child abuse, and if they check aides temporarily working for their home health care.
4. What are the specifics of this agency’s service?
Learn about the procedures a provider goes through to handle emergencies. Ask about the availability of caregivers. Do they send the same person each day to take care of the same patient? Consistency is essential to good care, and a lot of agencies don’t always send the same aide to the same patient.
5. Who are their references and how can I check them out?
Call their refrences. Find out if they demonstrated good judgment and had a gentle approach. Ask whether they really were conscientious about carrying out all of their responsibilities. Check with the agency’s other clients to find out about their customer satisfaction.
6. What do you think of your provider?
It is crucial to know if you will like your home health-care aide. Is it someone who you feel you trust and respect? Could you have a good working relationship with them? (more…)
Are you a senior getting ready to go on a much deserved vacation? Whether you are cruising the Caribbean, playing your best hand in Vegas, or going on a safari in South Africa, knowing the four P’s of senior travel is essential to every senior trip:
Pre-Planning
Leave spur of the moment and impulsive traveling to the younger generation. Seniors should pre-plan all lengthy travel.
-Learn about the climate, language and culture of your chosen destination.
-Find out where the local medical facilities are located.
-Don’t forget to purchase travel insurance; it’s better to be safe than sorry.
-If you are disabled and need oxygen, wheelchair or guide-dog accommodations, make them in advance, with both the airline and the hotel in which you are staying. (more…)
June 21st of every year marks the beginning of summer, and we still have more than a month till the first day of fall on September 22nd. Although those who live on the West Coast may feel the heat long before. For elderly patients and their caregivers, staying indoors all summer because of excessive heat can get really tiring. (more…)
Thanks to the Department of Transportation (DOT), traveling with oxygen has never been easier. On May 13, 2009, a new ruling went into effect allowing oxygen-dependent passengers to carry their own portable oxygen concentrators on-board all U.S. flights and international flights beginning and ending in the United States. The only catch, the concentrators must be approved by the DOT.
In light of the new ruling, passengers must still meet certain pre-boarding conditions including advance check-ins, having a fully charged battery for 150% of flight time, a doctor’s statement of medical necessity and properly packaged extra batteries. (more…)
Many people, particularly senior citizens, rely on home healthcare workers or private nursing services to assist with both their medical and personal needs. These caregivers are often hired by family members or friends that live too far away to care for the patient themselves.
According to a study done by the AARP Knowledge Management Study, 29% of caregivers fortunately live in the same household, 38% of live within 20 minutes nearby, 18% live farther away, 5% live more than an hour away, and 9% live more than two hours away. Since most caregivers live far away from their patients, an efficient and effective way to monitor a patient’s health is lacking when they aren’t in the patient’s home. According to the same study only 45% of caregivers can provide one to eight hours a week. (more…)
I was born at the tail-end of an era marked by dramatic social change. It was not until much later in life that I realized they had a name for people like me. The term “baby boomer” was coined to describe the 76 million babies born in the United States between 1943 and 1960, during the post World War II birthing boom.
As this free-spirited generation ages and baby boomers face retirement, we are also faced with many contemporary challenges, particularly with America’s health care system. The question that weighs most heavily upon our minds is - can our health care system be prepared to meet our challenges?
According to the Commonwealth Fund Survey of Older Adults, the combination of rising out-of-pocket health care expenses and sluggish wage growth threatens many baby boomers’ ability to save for retirement. This dilemma increasingly raises concern because of its dramatic impact on our ability to afford health care. (more…)
What does aging in place mean? It means that thanks to advances in both medicine and technology, it is now possible for elderly to remain in their own homes while securing the necessary health care services. fIn fact, according to SeniorResource.com, more than 70 percent of seniors currently grow old in the same residence where they celebrated their 65th birthday.
Aging in place is very important for a variety of reasons. First, moving is a stressful event, one that can be even more harrowing for someone with health issues. Second, many independent living and assisted care facilities are quite expensive, and Medicare and Medicaid often cover only a portion of the bill. And third, many communities for seniors are located far from friends and family members, making the move a lonely and upsetting endeavor. (more…)
