Maximize your Senior’s Independence

If you know an elderly loved one that’s living on their own, without any assistance, it’s important to help make sure they are leading a healthy, independent lifestyle. Maintaining or restoring health in elder years requires more work and time than in younger years. Here are some tips on how to help keep your aging, independent loved one healthy.

A healthy diet.Make sure they are eating well. This is especially important if the person has a medical issue that requires dietary restrictions. Buying groceries can be expensive, so help your loved one cut out coupons and look for weekly deals at the grocery store. For a holiday gift, consider giving them a membership to a wholesale club where they can purchase items in bulk, which may be more budget-friendly.

Get moving! If your loved one is already reasonably healthy, they can begin a regular fitness program. Staying active can help keep them happy, healthy and less stressed.  According to the Mayo Clinic, exercise boosts mood and energy, and can lower blood pressure. Try low-impact exercises with your loved one, like walking or stretching, light aerobics and yoga. Always consult with your loved one’s primary care doctor to make sure they can begin an exercise routine.

Keep living quarters safe. Ensure your loved one’s house or apartment is safe. Make sure they have proper lighting and invest in nonskid rugs to help prevent falls and accidents.

Monitor daily. If your loved one takes prescription medication for a medical condition, be sure to know the dosage and frequency, and monitor them to ensure that they are taking it as prescribed. Keep an eye out for any over-the-counter drugs and herbal supplements that may interact with prescription medication. If there are any questions regarding prescribed and over-the-counter medication and supplements, offer to accompany your loved one to see their primary care physician or pharmacist.

Be good company.  Make frequent visits to your loved one. While it’s important to check up on them to make sure they are living well on their own, it’s also a good idea to provide companionship. Make your visits special. Take a walk in the park, go to lunch and a movie, play cards and board games or just reminisce about shared happy memories.  Also, check out community activities at local senior or adult daycare centers. It’s important for your loved one to stay involved with family and friends to maintain a healthy, active, social life.

If you are a Health Advocate member, reach out to your Personal Health Advocate for more information and tips on helping your elderly loved ones maintain their independence, health and quality of life.

How an advocacy service can help you find the best options for eldercare

September is Healthy Aging Month, and in the spirit of healthy aging, why not consider how we search for the best eldercare facilities for ourselves and/or our loved ones?

Last week The New York Times published a thought-provoking article, "A Helping Hand, Paid On Commission."   In it, the author discussed a growing phenomenon: someone's searching for reputable eldercare options for a loved one.  They come across an eldercare referral service that promises to find the best place for your loved one.  Yet there's only certain places they'll refer your family to--places that have all paid the referral company to include them in the pool of eldercare options that the referral companies pick from when they're called by a family in need.

On the one hand, often these eldercare referral companies are free.  They give you eldercare recommendations free of charge, and it is up to you whether or not you use their suggestions--you're under no obligation to actually use any of the eldercare options they recommend.  Additionally, simply being able to talk to one of specialists at an eldercare referral company might be comforting to you, as that person can provide a sympathetic ear when you need someone to listen.  But you should also consider whether you would be willing to trust a company who's only giving you recommendations from companies that pay them.  What about the companies that aren't paying the referral service?  What if one of those eldercare options is the best choice for your loved one, but you aren't made aware of its existence because that eldercare facility isn't aligned with the referral service?

You could go it alone and do your own research on eldercare facilities, but you shouldn't have to, especially when caring for your elderly loved one is already stressful enough for you.  Luckily, you don't have to be alone in this.  Advocacy services are available to help you.  The mission of an advocacy service is to be at your side, helping you when you need it most.  Advocacy services will refer you to a company based on the quality of that company's service and whether it fits your and your loved one's needs.  They can also offer help in other areas relating to eldercare, such as helping you figure out the right questions to ask when you call or visit an eldercare facility, and assisting you in setting up the appointment for you to visit a facility.  You can also use an advocacy service to determine a second opinion on eldercare facilities--you could talk to the advocacy service about facilities recommended to you by the free eldercare referral service, have them look into whether these facilities have good ratings and reputations, and ask them to offer additional recommended eldercare facilities for you to check out.

Check into whether your employer offers an advocacy service as part of your benefits package.  Often, advocacy services extend not just to you and your spouse and/or children, but also to your parents and parents-in-law; such is the case with Health Advocate, whose advocacy benefits are often an integral part of an employee's benefits package.  If you are out of work, uninsured, and don't have access to an advocacy service as a group benefit, Health Proponent is a trusted advocacy service that can help individuals and their families.  Both Health Advocate and Health Proponent can review your case for free (although they both charge a small fee for their services) and help you locate eldercare facilities that meet your needs, and they will truly have your and your loved one's best interests in mind.

Tips on preventing the abuse of elderly people

Elder abuse is a serious problem.  Unfortunately, those who are elderly--especially those whose mental faculties are weakened due to conditions like Alzheimer's or dementia--can be susceptible to people taking advantage of them. Use the below guidelines to step in and take control when you suspect that elder abuse might be happening to someone you know.

• Maintain contact.  Chat with your older friends, neighbors, and relatives.  By maintaining communication with them, you make them less susceptible to isolation, which can help decrease the risk of mistreatment.  Plus, then these folks will have the opportunity to talk to you and make you aware of any problems or issues they may be experiencing.
• Be observant.  When you visit or talk to your elderly loved ones, be aware of their moods.  Do they seem nervous, fearful, anxious, sad, or withdrawn--especially around certain people--and these moods are atypical behaviors for them?  If you notice these personality changes, talk to them about it--sincerely ask if everything is OK.  Give them the chance to open up to you.
• Promote independence.  Those who are the most independent can be the least susceptible to elder abuse.  Help your elderly loved one find local programs and support systems such as Meals on Wheels.  These trusted programs can help elders to maintain their independence, health, and well-being.
• Report suspected mistreatment.  If you suspect that elder abuse is happening to someone you know, report it to your local adult protective services agency or to law enforcement officials.  Keep an eye on the situation--if it was investigated but nothing was done to help, and you feel the situation is worsening and/or not improving, keep speaking out until you see the situation change in a positive way.
• Volunteer.  If you are passionate about making sure elderly people are being properly cared for, find local opportunities that provide support and assistance to seniors, and get involved.

Find more resources about eldercare at www.eldercare.gov.

Top 10 tips for choosing an assisted living facility

Searching for an assisted living facility for a loved one--an elder, a disabled child or any physically or mentally impaired person--can be a stressful process. Despite the extra help, security, and social perks that being in an assisted living facility brings, choosing to move a loved one to such a facility can be extremely stressful. You can make the decision easier by taking the time to learn about each facility you check out and find out what each has to offer, as well as by preparing for the costs associated with care. You want to ensure that they will get the best care possible, but you’re also aware that the costs can skyrocket rapidly. Making an informed decision will give you the peace of mind to know that your loved one is getting the best care possible. Carolyn Browne, R.N., B.S., M.A., C.C.M and Clinical Supervisor of National Accounts at Health Advocate Inc., an advocacy and assistance company that helps people navigate the healthcare system, offers her top 10 tips to prepare you to make the best decision in this trying situation.

• Ask about the costs.  While you want only the best for your elderly loved one, you also have a budget. Will your state’s public programs cover the bill; does your loved one qualify? Or should you look into long-term care insurance to help offset some of the costs?


• Find out what's included in the monthly fee.  Add-on fees can add up quickly, especially if services are a la carte. For example, make sure the basic fee covers essentials such as three meals a day.


• Inquire about the facility’s staff-to-patient ratio and the number of skilled versus non-skilled staff members.  How many registered nurses work in the facility? Is there an appointed medical director overseeing the care of all residents, and is there a doctor on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week?


• Ask about the frequency of rounds made by the staff.  You want to make sure residents are well-supervised. Make sure to ask about the facility’s back-up plan if a staff member calls out sick.  Also ask about the evacuation plan in the event of a fire.


• Find out who will provide medical care to your loved one.  Does the facility have a contract with a nursing agency or do they have licensed staff on hand to access residents' medical needs? How often are care plans updated? Will your loved one have easy access to Medicare-approved services?


• Inquire about the agency that oversees eldercare in your state.  Different states assign different agencies to oversee assisted living, typically Licenses and Inspections or the Department of Health. Check with the agency for information on the facility in question. When was the agency’s last survey--can you see a copy? Were there any complaints?


• Ask about the person responsible for dispensing medications in the facility.  Ideally, an assisted living facility should employ licensed personnel to dispense medications. However, not all states require it. Find out about the qualifications of the person dispensing the medication and whether or not that person will be supervised.


• Ask where residents with special conditions will be housed.  For example, has your loved one been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s? If so, you may want to see if the facility has a special, safe and secure wing for residents with that condition.


• Request a copy of the facility’s activity schedule.  Do they have supervised activities in and out of the building? Will your loved one be physically and mentally able to participate?


• Visit the facility unannounced.  The best way to make a decision is to see the facility for yourself. Are personnel there receptive to unannounced visits? If not, this could be a red flag.  If they welcome you in, ask for a tour, take notes, and meet with the staff.

It can be helpful to seek professional advice when taking on the task of finding assisted living serviced for a loved one.  Check to see if your employee benefits package offers any type of advocacy program like Health Advocate. Health Advocate members can call a Personal Health Advocate to help them better understand what questions to ask assisted living facility personnel and to learn about assisted living providers that might be a good fit for their loved one.  If you don't have access to an advocacy service through your company, check out Health Proponent, a program individuals can use to access many of the same advocacy services that Health Advocate offers.