DOOR ALARMS, ENTRY ALERTS, DOORWAY ANNOUNCERS, ROOM MONITORS

WIRELESS LISTENING MONITORS such as baby monitors have drawbacks: signal blockage by concrete walls, conflicts with cordless phones, multiple monitors can mess up you hear on your unit. Never to discuss anything private when audio unit is on they broadcast to anyone's monitor in range. However, wireless audio monitors don't require installing wiring. There are millions of baby monitors in use.

When buying a listening device such as a baby monitor consider: size, portability, low battery warning, sound activated alarm light, multiple receivers for a single monitor, talk back features.

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ABSOLUTE AUTOMATION INC http://www.door-aarm.com/l

Wireless Door Alarms, Entry Alerts and Doorway Announcers. The wireless transmitter may be above or beside your door and be alerted of someone. There are door alarm systems which can be used to alert you when an individual has left their area. Other systems can alert caregivers of a person moving in their room or wandering in a hall.
They have Magnetic door switches which can be used to trigger monitors, chimes and/or send wireless signals back to other receivers or alarm units.

Fall Savers© | 59 Fulham High Street | London, SW6 3JJ, UK

http://www.fallsavers.co.uk/content/product.php
The Fall Savers company in the UK has monitors that are versatile portable battery powered bed and chair alarm designed for use with a sensor pad. The monitor sounds an alarm when the patient's weight moves off the bed or chair sensor pad.

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AMEDS.com 451 Warwick Industrial Drive, Warwick, RI 02886
http://www.ameds.com/product.php?

Door Guards which provide a strong visual reminder to individuals not to proceed through certain doorways.

UMP Infrared Bed Monitor which alerts the caregiver when an individual attempts to leave the bed.

The Smart Caregiver Wireless Fall Prevention Monitor System is a unique product that offers multiple functions. The Alarm can be silent or volume can be controlled, while continuing to transmit an audible alert to a caregiver in another location. The alarm in silent mode is ideal for situations where you don't want to disturb people in the room. It has a radio signa thatl is transmitted to a pager / alarm. Runs on 3 AA batteries and requires no plugs or wires.

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ABLEDATA 8630 Fenton Street,Silver Spring, MD 20910.
http://www.abledata.com/abledata.cfm?pageid=19327&top=10771&trail=22,10756

Accudata wandering patient detection system uses coded identification tags and sensors mounted at exits, and monitored areas. The Waterproof tags contain a miniature transmitter receiver and a microchip memory which contains the patient identification The sensor sets off an alarm when the presence of an identification tag is detected.

Alarm Cushion which is a foam or gel and foam seat cushion designed for use with geri chairs. It features a built-in weight sensor factory sealed inside a vinyl compartment in the cushion to protect it from urine and wear and to prevent it from shifting beneath the user's weight. When a person attempts to leave the chair or as a result of sliding, an alarm sounds..


The AliMed Seat Belt Alarm, is a seat belt and wandering patient system designed for use by individuals with Alzheimer's disease. This dual-function seat belt keeps the person in the chair and sounds an alarm if disconnected.

The Bed-Check System is a wander's system designed to alert caregivers if an individual with balance disabilities, Alzheimer's disease, or other disabilities tries to get out of bed unattended.

They offer a Professional series Care Trak Mobile Locator which is a wireless system for a clinical setting. This portable device can be used alone or with a Invisible Perimeter System to locate an individual who has wandered off by as much as a mile. One model can locate up to fourteen different individu

The Care Trak Sentry Door System is a system designed to prevent individuals from entering or exiting a door without assistance. It can monitor up to eight doors in a residential setting. The system uses a tamper-resistant transmitter that can be worn on a wrist or ankle

The Care Trak Invisible Perimeter System is a system designed to prevent individuals from entering or exiting a specific area. The system features a monitoring unit with controls to adjust the range of the invisible perimeter, a Care Trak wrist transmitter, and the Care Trak Mobile Locator (see separate entry). The system establishes an invisible circular boundary around the monitoring unit.

Professional series Care Trak Wrist Transmitter is a wireless signal transmitter designed for use by caregivers of individuals in a clinical setting. This portable device can be used when the police or emergency rescue personnel have the Care Trak. Care Trak registers the frequency number of the transmitter with the appropriate agency.

They offer a The Door Mural system designed for use with individuals with Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or cognitive disabilities. When applied to a door leading to a cleaning supply storage closet or a stairway, the door is completely obscured.

Their Door or Window Alarm is a system featuring an insert that fits in the gap between a closed door and the doorjamb or between a window and the window frame. Once the insert is in place, if the door or window is opened even slightly, a loud alarm sounds

Their door Knob Guard prevents a disoriented or wandering individuals fro entering or exiting a door without assistance, fits most standard door knobs and is easily removed in case of emergency.

Motion Detector with Remote Alarm made up of a motion detector and a receiver chime alarm. The detector can be placed where needed (bedroom, stairs, exit door, etc.) to detect movement. The receiver can be carried in a caregiver's pocket.

They offer an alarm unit featuring a cord held in with a pin. At the other end of the cord is a clip that attaches to clothing excess tension on the cord sounds the alarm.

Another Personal Alarm enables family members, friends, or caregivers to record a spoken message to remind an individual to request assistance before getting up plus it offers five selectable alarm tones which can be use in conjunction with or separately from the voice message.

Passive Infrared Red, PIR, Alarm requires no pads or sensors and relies on passive infrared technology similar to that used by automatic doors and lights. The unit emits an IR invisible fan-shaped beam that covers the entire bedside and may be adjusted to detect only undesired motion.

A toilet mounted alarm warns of a person leaving a toilet. The sensor mounts beneath the seat and sets itself automatically.

Bed-Safe Alert and Chair-Safe Alert units emit a loud audible alarm when the user begins to get up out of bed, chair or wheelchair. The systems are portable .

The QualCare VOICE Alarm has a cord that can be clipped to the patient's clothing. When the cord is pulled from the alarm unit, a recorded message plays for 20 seconds, then an alarm tone sounds.

The Stray Away Alarm has a transmitter pendant and a receiver. The pendant features a lanyard for wearing around the neck and the receiver includes a belt clip. When the person is separated from the caregiver distance from 10 to 20 feet, a signal is sent frrom the pendant to the receiver, sounding an alarm.

The Talking Motion Detective is a wireless, two-piece, motion detector announces specific information to alert the caregiver. One speaker unit can monitor up to six motion detectors, each providing different information for different exits or areas of the home . For example, the system might announce "Dad is trying to go out the back door!" or "Mom is in the kitchen."

Telecom 4000 automatic dialer is an emergency alert, call signal, or wandering person system designed for use by individuals who are at risk for medical emergencies. Used in conjunction with a wireless pendant transmitter, this enables the user to summon help by pressing a button. Used in conjunction with motion sensors, it can monitor activity in the residence and send an alarm when the resident has been inactive

TrackerPAL is a system with a fully active global positioning (GPS) and interactive voice capability. The system covers virtually all of the United States and Canada and is monitored through a monitoring center. All voice communications with family members and the individual monitored are recorded and are kept in a WAV file for future use if needed.

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SECURITY2020 1680 Roberts Blvd. Kennesaw, GA 30144

Voice Alert System http://www.security2020.net/va6000s-voice-alert-system-6.html is ideal for residential and small business notification, security, and property protection. It combines wireless and digital voice technology to create the most flexible and cost-effective annunciation system available today. System monitors up to six zones using wireless PIR Sensor Transmitters and a remote Receiver/Speaker Base Unit. When a zone is breached, a signal is sent up to 1000 feet (300' through walls) to the remote Base Unit. Upon signal reception, the Base Unit plays a user (voice-recorded) message identifying that specific zone.

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TUNSTALL GROUP LTD.,Whitley Lodge, Whitley Bridge, DN14 0HR, United Kingdom
http://www.alzheimers-support.com/en-GB/solutions-a-to-z.html

Bed/chair sensor detects when a person leaves their bed (or chair) and can turn on a light gradually. It will also set a timer running (which can be set for varying periods of time) and if the sensor fails to detect a return to bed within this time it will raise an alarm call. This alarm can either be directed to a caregiver or to the monitoring center. It is then possible to speak to the person via the speaker on the central Lifeline unit. Alternatively the sensor can also be set to raise an alarm if a person has failed to get out of bed after a preset time in the morning or if they have failed to go to bed by a preset time. The pad can also be used with chairs and wheelchairs.

Wet bedding sensor. Placed between the matress and sheet, this sensor provides immediate warning on detection of moisture

Tunstall's fall detector automatically detects a serious fall and setting off an alert to the designated caregiver.

Flood detector will raise an alarm if sinks or baths overflow

The Lifeline Connect+ home unit is supplied with a personal pendant, and can be used to raise a call from anywhere in the home or garden by simply pressing the pendant or red buton on the unit. Calls are received at the dedicated 24 hour response centre where the most appropriate action is taken. Requires an existing telephone line and electrical outlet.

Sensors can be added to the Lifeline unit, which are connected wirelessly and unobtrusively. Lifeline Connect+

Medication dispensers provides an effective solution to support medication compliance by automatically dispensing medication and providing audible and visual alerts to the user each time medication should be taken.

A wireless movement sensor/detector for both activity and inactivity monitoring, for example, to check if a person has got out of bed or visited the kitchen.

Tunstall is currently trialling safer walking technology , which allows freedom for the user to walk about in a safe environment and sends an alarm call should the user go outside a preset safe zone. The system comprises a wrist worn locatable alarm device, a home base, a secure location data processing system and a 24/7 Monitoring Center. The system uses Assisted GPS and GSM technology and recognizes when the wearer leaves a predefined safe zone . This will trigger an alert at the Monitoring Center who will contact the responsible carer/organization and assist with the provision of an appropriate response.

"Healthy Solutions Chat" Tele-Seminar

Healthy Solutions Tele-Seminar

Bring Your Questions and a Friend Every Monday

9pm Eastern, 6pm Pacific Time

The buddy system works for creating positive change in your life!

Every Monday you can get health advice you can trust ...

and the support you need to move consistently toward your health goals.

NFCA, National Family Caregivers Association

The National Family Caregivers Association educates, supports, empowers and speaks up for the more than 50 million Americans who care for loved ones with a chronic illness or disability or the frailties of old age. NFCA reaches across the boundaries of diagnoses, relationships, and life stages to help transform family caregivers' lives by removing barriers to health and well being.

Membership is free to family caregivers, and includes a quarterly, e-mailed newsletter. For those who would rather receive a print copy of the newsletter, NFCA offers an upgraded, Family Caregiver Plus membership at the special introductory rate of $10/year. Click here to join on-line.

Retired? Cleaning products are a mystery under the kitchen sink

Cleanser makers told to come clean - The Boston Globe

Some studies have linked cleaning product components to asthma, antibiotic resistance, hormone changes, and other health problems. ...

Federal environmental laws don’t require most household cleaning products to list their ingredients, though there are congressional proposals to change that. The Consumer Product Safety Commission requires hazard warning labels on some cleansers, and the National Institutes of Health offer some health and safety information for hundreds of cleaning products, drawn from data gathered for industrial use.

Raise your hand if you're a caregiver.

How Can Doctors and Caregivers Work Together?

from: HealthBridge's In-Home Care Blog

Dr. Pauline Chen took an insightful look at this topic in her "Doctor and Patient" column in the New York Times. She writes:

For all our assertions about the importance of caring in what we do, doctors as a profession have been slow to recognize family members and loved ones who care for patients at home. These “family caregivers” do work that is complex, physically challenging and critical to a patient’s overall well-being, like dressing wounds, dispensing medication, and feeding, bathing and dressing those who can no longer do so themselves.

Many of these caregiving tasks were once the purview of doctors and nurses, a central component of the “caring professions.” But over the past century, as these duties increasingly fell to individuals with little or no training, doctors and even some nurses began to confer less importance, and status, to the work of caregiving.

nightmare for those with disabilities who are struggling to stay at home.

http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Columns/2010/February/020110Gleckman.aspx

Howard Gleckman, Senior Research Associate at the Urban Institute

Feb 01, 2010

There are programs run by states and similar projects run out of Washington. This is a particular nightmare for those with disabilities who are struggling to stay at home. If you don’t believe me, try to find a local phone number for elder care assistance.

The end of the office... and the future of work - The Boston Globe

The end of the office... and the future of work - The Boston Globe


We love to hate the workplace, but we’ll miss it when it’s gone

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Work Without Boundaries Networking facilitates working around the world.
http://groups.google.com/group/wwboundaries_network

Communities are ill-prepared to meet the need for senior services

Communities south of Boston face dramatic increase in senior population, demand for elder services - The Boston Globe

“Tomorrow’s seniors are not your father’s grandfathers,’’ said Timothy G. Reardon, senior regional planner for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, which analyzed demographic trends including births, deaths, and migration and other factors to forecast the changes in populations. “COAs and other organizations that work with seniors must rethink the types of services they provide. It’s not going to be all meals on wheels and Sunday suppers at the COA hall.’’

"Where America Stands" on the growing Alzheimer's epidemic ..

Dr. Jon LaPook CBS alzheimers - Google News

CBS News chief medical correspondent, Dr. Jon LaPook speaks with CBSNews.com's Cali Carlin about "Where America Stands" on the growing Alzheimer's epidemic ..

Retirees - Seniors: connect family and friends during a serious health event, care and recovery

CaringBridge. A Nonprofit Web Service Providing Free Websites During Critical Illness.

About CaringBridge

CaringBridge is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing free websites that connect family and friends during a serious health event, care and recovery.

A CaringBridge website is personal, private and available 24/7. It helps ease the burden of keeping family and friends informed. The websites are easy to create and use. Authors add health updates and photos to share their story while visitors leave messages of love and support in the guestbook.

Service Opportunities After Reaching 55, or Soar 55

Volunteer group opening Framingham office - Framingham, MA - The MetroWest Daily News

By Michael Morton/Daily News staff
MetroWest Daily News
Posted Jan 09, 2010 @ 12:31 AM
FRAMINGHAM —

A program that matches the talents and interests of residents 55 and older with volunteer opportunities plans to expand from its Newton branch to a new MetroWest satellite office.

Service Opportunities After Reaching 55, or Soar 55, a program of the Newton Community Service Center, has secured permission to use space in Framingham's central library at 49 Lexington St.

The organization will hold an open house Jan. 20 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the library's Costin Room, with existing volunteers discussing their experiences. State Sen. Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, is scheduled to speak.

Attendees can also meet Lois Levick, the group's new Framingham coordinator.

Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP by sending an e-mail to kalbert@ncscweb.org.

(Michael Morton can be reached at mmorton@cnc.com or 508-626-4338.)

pension: company had long since been swallowed and reswallowed in a series of corporate mergers

To track a pension, help is out there - The Boston Globe

New England Pension Assistance Project at the University of Massachusetts Boston, a federally funded organization that works to connect retirees with lost pensions.

Ken and Daria Dolan's Scams That Target Seniors

Thanks to Mike Gamble, Sarasota, FL for Tweeting

Top Scams That Target Seniors - WalletPop

Top Scams That Target Seniors
By Ken and Daria Dolan, Dolans.com

{ Ken and Dana ask you to Please be sure to share these senior scams with your friends and loved ones so they don't become a victim.}

Seniors are one of scam artist’s favorite targets. More than 25 million seniors were victims of fraud last year according to the Federal Trade Commission. Seniors become targets because they are easy to reach by phone, are often home during the day, often live along, and are often more willing to talk to strangers.
The Dolans
Jamie Koslow, AOL
Today, personal finance experts Ken and Daria Dolan of Dolans.com expose seven top scams that target seniors. Even if you aren't a senior yourself, keep reading and warn the seniors in your life about these scams.
Scam No. 1: Reverse Equity Mortgage Scam
Thanks to the stock market meltdown and housing collapse, many Americans in their 60s and older do not have a lot of savings on which to fall back. Many of these folks are wondering whether a reverse equity mortgage is right for them ... and scammers smell an easy target. The FBI recently issued a warning that reverse mortgage scams have skyrocketed. Since 1999, reverse mortgage scams have increased 1,300%!
Plus, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) finds that many reverse mortgage "counseling programs" being offered are in fact shills for lenders looking to rip the elderly. Of the 15 organizations the GAO investigated undercover, not ONE conveyed unbiased, sound information about reverse mortgages.
A reverse equity mortgage may be an effective way to generate income in retirement, but you must carefully consider all of the pros and cons and be sure you are working with a legitimate company.
More From The Dolans:

* 10 Smart Money Moves for 2010
* Top 10 Tips to Avoid Scams
* Money "Deals" You Should Refuse

Scam No. 2: Fake E-mail From the Social Security Administration
There are many variations of these fake messages circulating, but they all claim there is something wrong with your Social Security benefits and that convince you to click the link provided to clear up the problem. Here's a sample:
"Due to possible calculation errors, your annual Social Security statement may contain errors. Use the link below to review your annual Social Security statement."
The scammers have done a good job making these e-mails look legitimate. They use a ".gov" e-mail address as all government sites use. Some messages even contain the Social Security Administration logo, making them look very official.
Don't fall for it! These e-mails are NOT from the Social Security Administration. Their sole purpose, as with most e-mail scams, is to trick you into sharing important information that will help the scammer steal your identity, access your bank account or otherwise cause you financial harm.
The Social Security Administration does NOT contact consumers through e-mail, period.
Scam No. 3: Impersonating a Grandchild in Trouble
This one is really low. Let us tell you what happened to Rose, who lives in a seniors' community in Pompano Beach Florida, to show you how this one works. Rose received a phone call one afternoon from a young man saying "Grandmom, I need your help, my car just broke down and I need some money to get it fixed."
Recognizing the voice wasn't one of her grandson’s, she assumed it was her granddaughter's boyfriend. "Brian is that you," she asked. "Yea Grandmom, it's me Brian," he replied. "I need your help -- do you think you could send me some money?" Then he asked for $1,000!
Now, Rose is a smart lady and wasn’t quite sure who she was talking to, so she said she probably wouldn't be able to help. "But Grandmom, it's me Brian," pleaded the man on the phone, "I really need your help."
Another popular variation on this scam is the scammer claiming they are in jail and need bail. Wait, it gets worse! If the scamster actually gets money, they'll have a second person call pretending to be a police officer, who will claim there are extra charges for property damage or fines and ask for more money!
The typical take on this scam is about $3,000! Be smart like Rose ... NEVER give out personal bank account info over the phone or send money through a wire service at someone else's request.
Scam No. 4: Home Repair Scams
This scam targets seniors who live at home -- often elderly women who live alone. A nice guy shows up at your door and offers to do some handyman projects around the house -- could be gutter cleaning, for example.
But once these scammers gain the person's trust, they trump up unnecessary work that needs to be done and charge huge amounts of money for it. They might claim your roof needs repair, or that they saw a problem with wood rotting on your porch. Police call these fake home contractors "woodchucks." We expect a slew of home improvement scams targeting seniors to crop up now using the President’s "Cash for Caulkers" program as an excuse to get in the door. Be vigilant!
Scam No. 5: Prepaid Funeral Scam
A funeral can be one of the most expensive purchases you will ever make. A typical funeral costs about $6,000, but costs can go as high as $10,000. To spare their families from expenses and decision-making during this emotional time, a growing number of people are pre-paying their funeral expenses.
The idea is that you pre-pay for your funeral and those funds are held in escrow, in a trust or used to buy life insurance that would cover funeral expenses when you die.
But pre-paid funeral scams swindle millions of dollars each year. In the worst scams, people take your money and run. In others, you simply get sold an expensive package that costs much more than you need to spend. The last thing grieving relatives need is to find out you were ripped off and there is a large unexpected funeral expense with which to deal.
Scam No. 6: Medicare Fraud Scams
Medicare users are a favorite scam target. Some scammers offer seniors free medical products -- all they have to do is give them their Medicare number. Another common ploy is to tell a senior that their Medicare card has expired and they need to provide their Medicare number to get a new one.
In both scenarios, the scam artist steals that number and uses it to complete a form, obtain certification from an unauthorized doctor, and bill Medicare for reimbursement.
Never provide your Medicare number to someone over the phone. And never sign incomplete insurance forms or provide blanket authorization to a medical provider to bill for services.
Scam No. 7: Investment Scams
Although seniors aged 60 or older make up just 15% of the U.S. population, they account for 30% of investment fraud victims, according to the North American Securities Administration Association.
Here are some typical investment scams to watch out for:
· Ponzi scams that promise HUGE returns. We saw a commercial on TV offering an investment that would pay a 40% annual return for MANY years! C’mon folks .. .that just doesn't pass the sniff test!
· Financial "advisors" who prey on widows and widowers -- be very wary of anyone who contacts you offering to help you with your finances soon after your spouse dies. There are unethical people looking to take advantage of you during this emotional time!
· Free investment seminars hosted by some "investment pros" over lunch or dinner. Chances are you will get the hard sell while you are there (or endless phone calls afterwards) for speculative, inappropriate investments.
· High yield investment scams. At a time when many seniors could use some extra money, unscrupulous advisors are peddling products that have the highest yield -- and promising you safety of your investments that just isn’t true.
· Annuities -- there's a special place in hell for people who profit from selling an 83 year old on fixed income an annuity that's not appropriate for him ... "it’s the same as a CD" they say. Thanks to their fat commissions, far too many annuities are sold to people who shouldn't own them. Be very wary of annuity pitches.
Please be sure to share these senior scams with your friends and loved ones so they don't become a victim. And be sure to follow our simple scam prevention tips to protect yourself and your loved ones.

assisted-living and continuing-care communities, bankruptcies

http://www.californiaelderabuseblog.com/2009/12/16/retirement-communities-feel-the-effects-of-the-economic-downturn/

Retirement Communities Feel the Effects of the Economic Downturn

Financial problems have been mounting at a number of assisted-living and continuing-care communities, forcing some facilities into bankruptcies and inflicting new worries on residents and their families who thought their life plans were comfortably set.

In recent weeks, Erickson Retirement Communities, which manages 19 continuing-care retirement communities in 11 states, declared bankruptcy. Sunrise Senior Living Inc. posted a quarterly loss of $82 million and announced plans to sell off 21 of its assisted-living communities. Nationally, small retirement communities are raising prices, changing the way they operate, selling themselves off to bigger chains, or getting out of the business altogether. Many companies say they can’t make a profit—or even succeed on a nonprofit basis—in an environment that combines the high cost of caring for elderly residents, restrictive Medicaid budgets, tight credit markets and few residents willing and able to pay top dollar for their care.

When a facility fails, it can have myriad effects on its residents. The good news is that no one gets kicked to the curb—at least not right away, however, fees can skyrocket, making the facility unaffordable, at which point facilities can kick residents out for nonpayment.

Death Panels, Alaska | Sarah's "Palin Care For Seniors" Worked Even Better than Death Squads

Why Use Death Squads In Alaska When Sarah Palin Had Palin Care For Seniors That Worked Even Better?

"Sarah Palin is worried about Death Panels but many Alaskans are worried about Palin Care. During her tenure from 2006-2009, 277 elderly died from the poor management under her command! The Anchorage Daily News reported about this story last July, the situation in the state’s Medicare and Medicaid funded in-home elder care program became so bad that the federal government had to step in and force Palin to make the necessary improvements."
"In one 2 1/2 year stretch, 227 adults already getting services died while waiting for a nurse to reassess their needs. Another 27 died waiting for their initial assessment, to see if they qualified for help."

http://ow.ly/169ijf

Sern Nursing Services | adults over the age of 65, safety hazards in a home

Stern Nursing Services and Care Management - Home Safety Checklist - Boynton Beach, FL

Home is meant to be a sanctuary of safety and comfort, but adults over the age of 65, safety hazards in a home pose a serious threat to their health and independence. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that half of all falls in older americans occur at home and every 35 minutes, someone in this population group dies as a result of their injuries. All patients need to take special safety precautions to ensure a safe living environment. Most accidents in the home can be prevented by eliminating hazards. This checklist can help you and your family identify potential safety hazards in your home.

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Recommended reading

Centering business practices around clients is never a bad idea

What Starbucks Taught Me About Senior Care

What Starbucks Taught Me About Senior Care
Posted by Matt Johnson on Tue, Dec 08, 2009 @ 07:50 AM

Ray Kurzweil and the kReader

kReader Mobile Products

Making reading accessible wherever you are

The kReader Mobile from knfb Reading Technology is a major advancement in portability and functionality of print access for struggling readers and those learning a second language. Developed under the direction of Assistive Technology pioneer Ray Kurzweil the kReader Mobile software package runs on a multifunction cell phone and allows users to snap a picture of virtually any document, including mail, receipts, handouts, memos and many other documents. Our proprietary document analysis technology determines the words and reads them aloud to the user. Reading in other languages is available, along with translation between languages. This is a truly portable solution to reading on the go, allowing users to read what they want wherever they happen to be.

Would a senior send $68,000 in cashier checks to Canada if phone call said they had won the Canadian Lottery?

http://www.midlifecrisisqueen.com/2009/11/25/caring-for-your-aging-parents-barbara-mcvicker/

Barbara McVicker is a national speaker, HR consultant, and author of Stuck in the Middle…shared stories and tips for caregiving your elderly parents.

Here she shares experiences:

Just when I thought it was finally time for me, the inevitable phone call came, shattering my well-planned life. My elderly parents needed me. A new chapter of my life was beginning, one for which I was totally unprepared. I did not know that I was now embarking on a ten year journey—taking care of my mom and dad.

For most people this phone call comes because Mom has fallen and landed in the emergency room with a broken hip. But my parents are not normal. My father had just sent $68,000 in cashier checks to Canada because he received a phone call saying that he had won the Canadian Lottery.

We midlife daughters may be totally prepared for child rearing, but we are thoroughly unprepared for caregiving aging parents. How can we be so naive as to think that we will not have to take on this new job with all of its conflicts and emotions?

gift choices | useful, needed and something won't complicate their lives.

TIME GOES BY | Gifts for Elders on Your List... by Ronni Bennett

Gifts for Seniors on Your List....and perhaps as hints for family members who might not know what you would like to have.

NH Roomate clashes

Nursing home clashes mar the golden years - The Boston Globe  Patricia Wen can be reached at wen@globe.com

Some nursing home residents instantly warm to their roommates, much like college freshmen who lucked out in the roommate draw. But for many, the adjustment can be profound. <snipped>

Nursing home roommates also bring special challenges. Roughly 80 percent of residents have some form of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, which causes memory lapses and sometimes delusions and paranoia. Between feuding roommates, a misplaced sock can turn into a larceny investigation; late-night snoring can become a sensory assault. Roommates can quickly get troubling reputations as “the roamer,’’ “the bathroom hog,’’ or “the attention-seeker.’’

Early intervention by trained staff is important to defuse tensions - even ward off physical confrontations.
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A 2004 study by Harvard School of Public Health researchers, among others, was one of the first to identify this problem, finding that in one year, Massachusetts nursing homes reported some 300 cases of serious injuries, including fractures, cuts, and bruises, because of violence from fellow residents.

A study published last year found that “calling out or making noise’’ was identified as one of the most frequent triggers for “resident-to-resident aggression.’’ Dr. Mark Lachs at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, a coauthor of the study, said these conflicts are ubiquitous in nursing homes.

Researchers say the best way to maintain safety in a nursing home is to offer strong day-to-day enrichment programming, which engages the residents. And creative solutions often reduce conflicts.
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Elder-care advocates note, however, that Massachusetts regulations prohibit a nursing home resident from being evicted from a room for just any reason; the staff must identify safety or health issues. A nursing home “is a home,’’ and a person’s bedroom is a key part of that home, said W. Scott Plumb, senior vice president of public policy at the Massachusetts Senior Care Association.

By 2030, we will need 36,000 geriatricians.

Caring for the elderly - The Boston Globe

Geriatric medicine cuts across all diseases that contribute to the functional problems an older adult might have. An older patient typically goes from one specialist to another, with each doctor treating a single problem, but often not looking at the patient as a whole. The patient may receive treatment, but quality-of-life goals are rarely discussed.

In contrast, the geriatrician often sits with three (or more) individuals: the patient, the patient’s spouse, and an adult child. Together they present a medical history and, often, a list of medications prescribed by different doctors. Medicare pays the geriatrician a small fraction of the true cost spent with the patient, taking a history, examining the patient, ordering appropriate tests, making a diagnosis, and developing a treatment plan. Following the visit, the geriatrician reviews laboratory studies, talks to family members and other doctors, organizes rehabilitative and social services, completes applications for supportive housing, renews medications . . . and gets paid nothing for this work.

Ironically, geriatricians actually save health care dollars by planning ahead; avoiding unnecessary hospitalizations, tests, medications, and treatments; reducing hospitalization and surgical complications; shortening lengths of stay; and facilitating the safe transfer of patients to appropriate rehabilitation settings and care at home. President Obama’s health care bill would, at least, require Medicare to cover counseling sessions so that physicians can develop appropriate care plans with their elderly patient

Private Duty Home Care | NPDA

Private duty home care, elder care, home health care, private duty nursing, NPDA, National Private Duty Association

Private duty home care agencies are companies that provide home care aides, companion care, homemaker services and may provide nursing services in the client's home or place of residence. "Private duty" means private pay. In other words, no government monies are used for the cost of care. The most common methods for covering the cost of private duty home care is through long term care insurance benefits, out of pocket, or other types of savings arrangements.

Seniors in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Maricopa County, Arizona, resources

Great Web Resources for Seniors in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Maricopa County, Arizona « In Home Care – Phoenix, Scottsdale, Fountain Hills & Northeast Maricopa County, Arizona (AZ)

Great Web Resources for Seniors in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Maricopa County, Arizona

The disconnect of where U live & access to stores, doctors, recreation, and related activity centers.

AgeLab / Projects / Independent Living and Caregiving

AGING IN-PLACE OR AGING-IN-NO-PLACE

AgeLab researchers, in collaboration with the MIT Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering and the MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning, are conducting an assessment of available services to baby boomers and older adults in suburban areas. Using geographical information systems (GIS), researchers are identifying the disconnect of where we live and the access we have to stores, doctors, recreation, and related activity centers.

MIT Agelab | improving quality of life 4 older adults & caregivers.

AgeLab / Home

MIT Agelab developing "new ideas to improve the quality of life for older adults and those who care for them".

http://web.mit.edu/agelab/about_agelab.shtml

Aging: A Global Opportunity to Live Better

The world's population is aging at a staggering rate. The 50+ population is the fastest growing segment worldwide and predicted life-expectancies are at a historical high.

• An American turns 50 once every seven seconds.
• Within the next few years, 50% of the European Union's population will be 65+.
• By 2030, in Italy, retirees will outnumber active workers.
• By 2050, the median age in Thailand will rise to 50.

With advances in medicine, public policy and technology, people are not only living longer, but many are living better. Today's older adults are more educated and engage in more activities than previous generations, including work, leisure, learning, etc. The modern face of aging is one that expresses vitality and commands a greater quality of life. We must look at the demands of this population with open minds to new opportunities for innovation. Innovations from government, business, and research created for the older population will ultimately benefit all ages. An aging society is the opportunity to invent the future of healthy, active living.

these newfangled brain games

The quest to stop the brain drain - The Boston Globe

Snyder said, “I really worry these companies are taking advantage of the average consumer’s concerns about their own health.’’

It wouldn’t be the first time products boasting brain benefits surged in popularity before research raised questions about the claims. The makers of “Baby Einstein’’ in September announced refunds after studies found that the popular videos didn’t actually produce baby geniuses. The product was hyped for more than a decade for its perceived ability to improve infants’ vocabulary.

Now, a growing chorus of researchers is calling for more and better studies of the brain games marketed for people heading toward the other end of the age curve.

“Many of the products may not be ready for prime time, but the science is still developing,’’ said Joe Coughlin, director of the MIT AgeLab, a center that designs and develops new products for adults over 45.

Coughlin believes some carefully designed brain games may be useful in keeping specific skills sharp. Right now, he’s evaluating the effectiveness of a computer software product that is marketed to baby boomers to help them sharpen driving skills by improving focus, reaction time, and memory. While Coughlin is optimistic that some brain games may be proven effective, he is less convinced that Americans will have the fortitude to stick with them

Retirement Community 60Plus | Google Groups

Retirement Community 60Plus | Google Groups

Conversations about retirement, making friends, sharing advice, living your dreams, discussing traveling. A online meeting place for those who have retired and for those thinking of retiring. What better place to discuss retirement than a group such as this one.

Think of this group as a retirees people to people network for you!
Anybody can view group content
Viewers can request an invitation to join
Only members can post and participate.
Messages from new members are moderated to limit noise.

This is not a forum for sales pitches and product commercials.

Story Telling By the Flickr of the Global Campfire «V Tchcruiser's Blog

Web 2.0 – Story Telling By the Flickr of the Global Campfire « Tchcruiser's Blog

Web 2.0 – Story Telling By the Flickr of the Global Campfire

Coaching someone who has never used a computer before

BBC - Wales - Ten things to show someone who has never used a computer before

As digital storyteller Huw Davies often tells novices: "What you need to be able to do is: open a file, do what you want to it, then save it somewhere where you'll be able to find it later."

Digital Storytelling

BBC - Wales - A Guide to Digital Storytelling

A Guide to Digital Storytelling PDF

These guides are written for those helping others to make digital stories but most of the guidance is still relevant if you're making your own story.

Introduction
The Ideal Digital Storytelling Venue
Briefing Participants
Finding the Story
Getting the Story Down on Paper
Refining and Completing the Story
Tips on Publishing your Story
Any List for Digital Storytellers
Equipment checklist
Ten things to show someone who has never used a computer before
Taking Digital Photos
Audio and Voice Recording for Digital Storytelling
How to Edit your Digital Story
Sharing Digital Stories

National Family Caregivers Association

National Family Caregivers Association

About NFCA

The National Family Caregivers Association educates, supports, empowers and speaks up for the more than 50 million Americans who care for loved ones with a chronic illness or disability or the frailties of old age. NFCA reaches across the boundaries of diagnoses, relationships and life stages to help transform family caregivers' lives by removing barriers to health and well being.

National Family Caregivers Month November 2009

NFC Month is organized annually by the National Family Caregivers Association as a time each year to thank, support, educate and empower family caregivers. "This year we are encouraging people to speak up during National Family Caregivers Month,"said Suzanne Mintz, NFCA president and CEO.


The Caregiver Story Project: The NFCA "Caregiver Story Project" is an opportunity for family caregivers to share their caregiving journeys and to learn from and help one another. We are especially interested in caregiver experiences related to the financial strain of caregiving and any difficulties you have had with the healthcare system, including frustrations coordinating your loved one’s care with all of the many healthcare professionals with whom you are involved.

E-Communities: Connecting family caregivers directly to other family caregivers in their own cities and states to share information and resources.

National Conference on Positive Aging Eckerd College 12.7-9.09

Conference Themes - Eckerd College

Conference Themes

Recognized experts in the field of aging will lead plenary sessions and concurrent workshops, discussions, demonstrations, and experiential activities in four general theme areas:

* Life Transitions
* Creativity
* Wellness
* Community

Under those general themes, leaders and attendees will explore sub-themes including lifelong learning, intergenerational learning, spirituality and religion, technology, diversity, public policy, international developments, life planning, civic engagement, encore careers, and others.

Elderly Home Care | Option for Elder Care by Tyler Moon

Elderly Home Care: Best Option for Elder Care - Elderly Care

Tyler Moon wrote on ElderCare http://ow.ly/15ZzBP

Locating elderly home care service becomes an easy job, if you take the help of Internet. You can also ask your friends and colleagues about the numerous types of services available with home care. But it would be sensible, if you hold a conversation with your elderly loved one before taking the service of elder home care. With this conversation, you will be able to know about the preferences of near one and avail the service accordingly.

It is a pity that many senior citizens are moved to nursing-homes or hospitals, who might just require helping hand in running daily tasks of life. The solution to this type of problems lies in the hand of elderly home care services. Senior citizens, who need non-medical support, are also benefitted from this service. Senior home care services can provide a substitute to long-term care.

Since, in most of the cases working persons are unable to give adequate time, the variant services of the senior home care service works as a good alternative. These services include light housekeeping, meal preparation, errands and shopping, respite care, meditation assistance, hygiene assistance to name a few.

The longer period senior citizen spends time at their own home, they will stay healthy both physically and mentally. Take advantage of elderly home care to ensure a better life of your elderly loved one.

Tyler Moon is an expert in article writing and internet marketing. She regularly contributes articles on various topics like security services, birth announcements etc.
Senior Health Care Services

Beware of free credit reports that aren’t really free

Don’t get fooled again: freecreditreport.com aims to make you spend money - The Boston GlobeBy Michelle Singletary singletarym@washpost.com

Safe.. go to www.annualcreditreport.com. NOT freecreditreport.com

{don't be} fooled by those clever commercials for freecreditreport.com with the goofy guy playing a guitar complaining about how his life is messed up because he didn’t check his credit report.

But the Federal Trade Commission has received many complaints from consumers who were misdirected from the official site. Every consumer is entitled to a free credit report every 12 months from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

In an effort to help keep consumers from ending up on imposter sites or falling for promotions for free credit reports that aren’t really free, the FTC is seeking public comment on proposed rules. You have a chance to weigh in.

Transfers to Disabled Children

About : New Jersey Estate Planning & Elder Law Blog

Deirdre R. Wheatley-Liss is a shareholder of the Law Firm of Fein, Such, Kahn & Shepard, P.C., with offices in Parsippany and Toms River, New Jersey. She concentrates her practice in the areas of Elder Law, Estate Planning and Administration, Business Planning and Tax Law.

New Case Clarifies Transfers to Disabled Children Exeception to Mediciad Penalties

by Deirdre Wheatley-Liss  November 3, 2009

Her blog has long list of lawyers' blogs.

Health Care for All __ assistance in 17 languages.

Health care hot line helps people in 17 languages - The Boston Globe

Uninsured, and with no training in health care, Kate Bicego seemed an unlikely candidate four years ago to staff a hot line that connects callers to care. But the eager young recruit from rural Illinois had passion, curiosity, and fluency in Spanish, which is critical for what she’s doing now. The 28-year-old runs the hot line at Health Care for All (800-272-4232, 617-350-7279, www.hcfama.org), a large Boston-based consumer group that helps roughly 3,200 callers a month navigate an increasingly complex health care system. As consumers face a dizzying array of choices and rules

A Study of need for services when reaching age 65

Comparing Costs For In-Home Care, Nursing Homes, RCFE Assisted Living And Adult Day Care | Elder Care Residential Services

A 2008 long term care study done by Prudential insurance has some surprising information regarding the costs of care for services needed as we age. This is information is important to assist in making plans for the “golden years”.

The study shows that the average cost of a nursing home can exceed $70,000 a year for a semi private room. A break down of the daily charges is $194 per day. A private room can exceed $79,000 a year or $217 a day. These costs will, of course depend on the area of the country you live in. Some areas will be more and some less. It was also noted that there has been a 7% increase in the cost of living in a nursing home over the past 2 years. Nursing home costs have had an increase of over 30% in the past 5 years.

Assisted living facilities have seen the greatest increase in costs over the past 2 years. The average for living in an assisted living facility rose to nearly $39,000 per year. This is an average daily charge of just over $100 per day.

There was an average of a 15% increase in rates for the assisted living facility that provide care for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.

In -home care has had the smallest increase rate of all the service providers. The rate of in-home care has had an increase of 5% over the past two years and only 17% over the past 7 years.

The average cost for a certified nursing assistant providing in-home care is $21 per hour. The services provided by a certified nursing assistant are bathing, dressing and care provided under the supervision of a register nurse. These services are ordered by a physician and generally covered by insurance. These services are only provided intermittently and for a limited amount of time.

The 2008 Genworth Financial study of cost of care also covers the non skilled in home care. This is a growing segment of the in-home care services, as many individuals want to remain in their homes as long as possible.

The average cost for homemaker services is $18 an hour. The rate of these services has increased by 4% over the last year. A homemaker provides companionship, light housekeeping duties, assistance with cooking and running small errands.

In- home care also provides home health aides. These individuals are able to provide basic assistance with personal care, but are not permitted to perform and medical tasks.

The average rate of a home health aide is $19 an hour. This is an increase of 3% over the past year.
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This lengthy article is well worth the read. http://ow.ly/15YGwf

NOTE: they show average values, you will find costs in your area may differ wildly.

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I suggest following the blog http://ow.ly/15YGwf provided by:

Elder Care Residential Services

Mailing address:
610 Cypress Street
Pismo Beach, CA 93449
805-473-7400
FAX: 805-473-4704

Cell: 805-452-3225 9am TO 5pm Pacific Time

info@eldercareresidentiaservices.com

Alzheimer Dandyfunk for Caregivers

Alzheimer Dandyfunk for Caregivers

Long-term care insurance program

Long-term care insurance program gains in House - Boston.com

a new long-term care insurance program to help seniors and disabled people stay out of nursing homes. The voluntary program would begin to close a gap in the social safety net overlooked in the broader health care debate,

More than 10 million people currently need long-term care services, a number that's only expected to grow as the baby boom generation ages. But most families whose elders can no longer care for themselves have to scrape to find a solution.

The cost of nursing homes averages $70,000 a year, and a home care attendant runs about $29 an hour. Medicare only covers temporary nursing home stays. Middle-class households have to go through their savings before an elder can qualify for nursing home coverage through Medicaid.

The new proposal is called the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act, or CLASS Act, and passing it was a top priority for the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass. The Obama administration also has said it should be part of health care overhaul legislation.

In return for modest monthly premiums while they are working, people would receive a cash benefit of at least $50 a day if they become disabled. The money could be used to pay a home care attendant, purchase equipment and supplies, make home improvements such as adding bathroom railings, or defray the costs of nursing home care.

NORCs | naturally occurring retirement communities

There are some federally funded programs to bring services to what are called NORCs, or naturally occurring retirement communities. For instance, in Philadelphia and New York City a van with a nurse will come to a building that has a large population of elderly people and provide health services on the spot. Similarly, intentional communities, driven by consumer involvement, bring the services of a retirement community to seniors in their homes. Beacon Hill Village in Boston is an example. Both are examples of trying to let seniors age in place.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Robin Gerber is the author of Barbie and Ruth, the biography of Ruth Handler, the founder of Mattel Toys and creator of Barbie.

Caregivers-in-Waiting: Boomers Struggle to Map Out Plans for Aging Parent s By: Robin Gerber

Get Pharmacy Advice, from two pharmacists – me, Nova Simpson, and Cate Sibley

About

Welcome to GetPharmacyAdvice.com

This blog is run by two pharmacists – me, Nova Simpson, and my best friend in the whole world, Cate Sibley.

Luckily for you, Cate and I both work in the retail pharmacy environment. That means that we know all the aggravating, frustrating, and mind-boggling questions that are on your mind and we created this blog to answer those questions.

A retail pharmacy is one of the most challenging and fast paced environments to work in. Pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare workers available to you and we hope now that you know about GetPharmacyAdvice.com, you will use our blog to your advantage and visit us as often as you can.

You are more than welcome…in fact…we encourge you to please email us with your questions. We are here to help you and Cate and I are well aware that due to the fast pace of the retail pharmacy, your questions as a patient can go neglected or unanswered.

No matter how you currently feel about your pharmacy, please now consider us your personal pharmacists. We care about you and we want to help you.

As far as we know, GetPharmacyAdvice.com is the only blog of its kind.  http://www.getpharmacyadvice.com/

I am sure everyone has experienced a “counseling” session at a busy retail pharmacy - The pharmacist tries to explain everything the patient wants/needs to know in 30-60 seconds, while the phone is ringing off the hook, technicians are asking questions and three other pharmacy guests are standing around listening.

The Diabetes Health Care Crisis

http://oregoneldercareservices.com/?p=712

The Diabetes Health Care Crisis
People with Diabetes Don't Have Access to Adequate and Affordable Health Care

* Health insurance policies don't cover basic diabetes needs and reward crisis care, not the continuous care needed to prevent a medical crisis.
* Pre-existing condition exclusions prevent people from enrolling.
* Health insurance premium surcharges for diabetes drive premiums above what individuals and small businesses can afford.
* Medicaid eligibility limits leave many low income people unable to access health insurance.

Health Insurance Options 65 and Above

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The following options may be available to you.

Medicare
Medicare provides health insurance benefits to persons 65 and older, persons under 65 who are disabled, and individuals with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).

Medicaid
Medicaid provides medical care to certain individuals and families with low incomes and resources.

TAA Tax Credit
TAA is a tax credit available to workers who have lost their jobs or whose hours of work and wages have decreased as a result of increased imports.

Prescription Assistance
Most pharmaceutical companies have established patient assistance programs to help uninsured individuals get the medications that they need to stay healthy.

Medigap
Medigap policies are available to Medicare-eligible individuals. They can be purchased from private health insurance carriers and provide benefits that are otherwise not included in Medicare Part A or B

Additional Resources:

• Health Reform Task Force Recommendations
• Health Care Insurance Options for People with Diabetes
• Discrimination Based on Diabetes
• Coalition of Health and Consumer Advocates' Joint Statement on Delivery System Health Reform and Chronic Care

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS

NINDS Overview: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
P.O. Box 5801
Bethesda, Maryland 20824
(800) 352-9424

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) conducts and supports research on brain and nervous system disorders. Created by the U.S. Congress in 1950, NINDS is one of the more than two dozen research institutes and centers that comprise the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH, located in Bethesda, Maryland, is an agency of the Public Health Service within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NINDS has occupied a central position in the world of neuroscience for more than 50 years.

More than 600 disorders afflict the nervous system. Common disorders such as stroke, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and autism are well-known. Many other neurological disorders are rare-known only to the individuals and families affected, their doctors, and scientists who look to rare disorders for clues to a general understanding of the brain as well as for treatments for specific diseases. Neurological disorders strike an estimated 50 million Americans each year, exacting an incalculable personal toll and an annual economic cost of hundreds of billions of dollars in medical expenses and lost productivity.

The mission of the NINDS is to reduce the burden of neurological disease—a burden borne by every age group, every segment of society, and people all over the world. To accomplish this goal the NINDS supports and conducts basic, translational, and clinical research on the normal and diseased nervous system. The Institute also fosters the training of investigators in the basic and clinical neurosciences, and seeks better understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of neurological disorders.

Basic research pursues an understanding of the normal and abnormal structure and activities of the human nervous system. The knowledge gained from this research creates the foundation for diagnosing and treating brain disease. Some important areas of NINDS basic research include: biology of the cells of the nervous system, brain and nervous system development, genetics of the brain, cognition and behavior, neurodegeneration, brain plasticity and repair, neural signaling, learning and memory, motor control and integration, sensory function, and neural channels, synapses, and circuits. The great challenge of modern neuroscience is to translate the remarkable findings of basic science into useful therapies for those who suffer the devastating effects of neurological disorders. To facilitate this translation, NINDS supports many specific research projects and research resources that accelerate preclinical therapy development.

Clinical research applies directly to mechanisms of the diseases of the nervous system which can then be translated into disease detection, prevention, and treatment, such as studies of brain imaging techniques, trials to test new drugs, and development of novel therapies such as stem cell implants and gene transfer. Some key areas of NINDS clinical research include: neurological consequences of AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, brain tumors, developmental disorders, epilepsy, motor neuron diseases, muscular dystrophies, multiple sclerosis, neurogenetic disorders, pain, Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, sleep disorders, spinal cord injury, stroke, and traumatic brain injury.

Most NINDS-funded research is conducted by extramural scientists in public and private institutions, such as universities, medical schools, and hospitals. NINDS intramural scientists, working in the Institute’s laboratories, branches, and clinics, also conduct research in most of the major areas of neuroscience and on many of the most important and challenging neurological disorders.

Sharing bad news with an aging parent

http://oregoneldercareservices.com/?p=712

Crucial Conversations
So, here’s the big question. What can you do to make handing in his car keys something your father wants to do? Or something he is at least willing to tolerate?

Answer: Don’t equate taking away the keys with helplessness, boredom, and the complete loss of independence.

Kerry Patterson is author of three bestselling books, Influencer, Crucial Conversations, and Crucial Confrontations. Read the rest of his answer to this very important question here. http://ow.ly/15X2Vp

Visit Fifty-Plus Zone | http://www.listenzone.com/

Are you exploring living concepts-options, residence options, adult routine care, assistance, and access to services, avoiding admission to nursing homes or assisted living facilities, finding autonomy, individuality, social relationships and dignity? Everyone wants to avoid loneliness, helplessness and boredom.

"Enjoy the World, hobbies, crafts, creative pastimes, e-mail,web based Conversations, Blogs, Articles"

The Retirement Community website has a extensive directory of subjects retirees will want to browse: Active Adult Communities, Adult Day Services, Assisted Living, Alzheimers Care, Continuing Care, Home Care and Hospice Care, Independent Living, Senior Centers, Choosing a Retirement Community, Driver's Licensing, Medicaid Regulations by State, Property Taxes By State, Retirement Glossary, State Elder Affairs Agencies, Taxes By State, and Types-of-Senior-Housing.

Absentmindedness

Absentmindedness or Alzheimer’s? - MyLocalHealth

Everyone has the occasional memory lapse. But sometimes it’s not caused by the natural aging process.

Second Wind Dreams® | Fulfilling Dreams for Elders Nationwide and Changing the Perception of Aging Since 1997

secondwinddreams

The mission of Second Wind Dreams® (SWD) is simple: through the fulfillment of dreams and the offering of innovative educational opportunities to caregivers and communities, SWD seeks to change the perception and experience of aging, empowering elders to age with dignity, hope and joy.

Second Wind Dreams focuses on those living in eldercare communities or in hospice care. These are our seniors who need our assistance most. Family support may be non-existent, money can be at a premium, especially for our Medicaid supported seniors, and these senior adults are often our frailest— the ones who need a dream fulfilled.

RetirementHomes.com Senior Living Directory

About Us - Retirement Homes, Retirement Communities & Senior Housing - RetirementHomes.com

Senior Living Directory. Covering the continuum of care and beyond, we offer the most up-to-date detailed listing information on the following types of Senior Housing Options:

* Retirement Homes
* Manufactured Homes
* Golf Communities
* Active Living Communities
* Independent Living Communities
* Alzheimer’s Care Communities
* Memory Care Communities
* Dementia Care Communities
* Long Term Care Facilities
* Nursing Care Facilities
* Skilled Nursing Care Facilities
* Rehabilitation Care Facilities


As a gateway to retirement living, RetirementHomes.com offers information and services for seniors, families, directors, vendors, job seekers and health professionals

Mass. Medicaid program has no job requirements for personal care attendants.

Home-care system leaves elderly at risk, auditor says - The Boston Globe
By David Abel
Globe Staff / October 15, 2009

Massachusetts state program that oversees home health care services for about 18,000 elderly and disabled residents is vulnerable to fraud and has employed personal care attendants who have committed felonies, including manslaughter, assault, and threatening to commit murder, according to a report released yesterday by the Office of the State Auditor.

The report also noted that the Mass. Medicaid program is one of only four out of 238 programs nationwide with no job requirements for personal care attendants.

The audit drew criticism from state health officials because it surveyed only 30 patients, whose cases had been previously reviewed for fraud by the federal government.

But State Auditor A. Joseph DeNucci said the findings illustrate why the state should establish job requirements for attendants, including training, education, and criminal background checks, which nearly every other program in the country requires.

“What we have found is that there are serious problems in the program,’’ DeNucci said in a phone interview. “We have to strengthen protections for vulnerable people. I think it’s very important.’’

The report also found that 14 of the 30 patients had hired attendants who either had been convicted of a felony or a court had found sufficient evidence to find them guilty. Of the 82 attendants who worked for the 30 patients between 2004 and 2008, seven had been in prison, 12 were involved in violent crimes, nine had been convicted of drug offenses, 10 committed robbery, nine had restraining orders against them, and four had outstanding warrants.

In all, auditors found 41 acts of violence, 29 crimes of theft, and 26 drug crimes, including heroin distribution and trafficking cocaine in a school zone.

State Representative Barbara L’Italien, an Andover Democrat and former attendant, introduced a bill this year that would allow patients to run a free criminal background check on attendants they hire, create an online database to help consumers find attendants, and establish a surrogate program to help those who cannot oversee attendants on their own. The bill has yet to emerge from committee.

“David Abel can be reached at dabel@globe.com.

The Johns Hopkins White Papers: Research on memory continues to grow.

Amazon.com: Memory (Johns Hopkins White Papers : Memory) (9781933087108): Peter V. Rabins: Books

Memory "Shakespeare called memory "the warder of the brain," charged with keeping watch over an individual's personal account of being..."

The Johns Hopkins White Papers are a series of in-depth special reports written by some of the nation's leading doctors, all specialists in their respective fields. Each White Paper summarizes the very latest research and findings from all of the major medical journals, in easy to use language for the lay person to understand. We currently have thirteen different titles.

Research on memory continues to grow. Every year, investigators learn more about the causes of memory problems and how to prevent and treat them. We review the past year's advances in the understanding of memory disorders like Alzheimer disease, and discuss how people who care for patients with dementia can cope better with day-to-day difficulties.

Senior Centers and Adult Day Care activities

Browsing the Web to see what many adult day care programs and Senior Centers were offering. I found the following:

Active floor and table games
Art Therapy,
Arts
Bingo
Card Games
Chair exercises
Chorus & Music Therapy
Cooking
crafts,
Daily Exercise
Discussion groups (books, films, current events)
Discussions: contemporary and devotional
Entertainment
Exercise classes personalized for individual levels of activity and ability.
Gardening
Group discussions on a wide range of subjects
Guest speakers from community organizations
Health awareness talks
health monitoring by a nurse to meet individual needs. There is a
Holiday and birthday celebrations
Horticultural Therapy
individual counseling,
Inter-generational Programs
Kosher Lunch
Local outings.
Mental stimulation games such as BINGO
miniature golf course on site
Music
Musical entertainment and sing-a-longs
nutrition education,
Nutritional Snacks
meals and snacks individualized for specific dietary needs.
field trips,
On Site Library
Organized games of bridge, bingo, cards and trivia,team events
personal care,
Pet Therapy
podiatry care,
Poetry Class
Pottery
quiet rooms with rest areas and television
recreational classes,
Relaxation time
Reminiscing
Spiritual Program
Stretching or other gentle exercise
Student Interns
Tai Chi Class
Talking about current events
Transportation
Volunteers
Weight Loss Club
Woodworking Shop

KnowItAlz is an Alzheimer's resource focused on the caregiver

Company Info - KnowItAlz.com Blog

KnowItAlz is an Alzheimer's resource focused on the caregiver. We give caregivers the opportunity to get current information, participate in a community and gain additional insights about caregiving for someone with Alzheimer's.

More than 26 million people worldwide have Alzheimer's disease, and a recent forecast says the number will quadruple by 2050. At that rate, one in 85 people will have the brain-destroying disease in 40 years.

Alzheimer's disease not only affects the person who has been diagnosed, but almost always also impacts the family members and friends who become caregivers. Caring for an Alzheimer's patient can be emotionally, psychologically and financially draining, and a support system often difficult to find. As the disease progresses, caregivers often find themselves cut off from friends, other family members and regular social activities.

In addition, most caregivers have the additional responsibilities of full time jobs and caring for a family of their own, as well as the responsibility of caring for a parent, spouse or other loved one. As a loved one begins to experience the many often difficult behavioral changes, even the most dedicated caregivers will struggle with guilt, resentment or frustration, at some point in their role as caregiver. Finding a balance is critical.

KnowItAlz.com provides, information and useful Alzheimer’s related resources, but more importantly a community of caregivers to providing the necessary support as you take on this difficult, yet often rewarding journey.

Our content is a combination of information from experts in both the Alzheimer’s and geriatric fields, as well as “real life” experts like you who have first-hand experience as a caregiver. Our goal is to build a community that connects caregivers to the information that can help them at every stage, as well as the opportunity to see the lighter side of caregiving—and yes, there is one!

The KnowItAlz Group was founded in 2007 by Kathy Hatfield and Nancy Hatfield.

Grief is a natural part of life–and change–any change can trigger grief.

Grief Starts Early With Alzheimer’s, Ways to Honor The Grief Process «

Ways to Honor Our Grief:

* Take some photographs. See the beauty in vein-riddled hands and silver-white hair. There’s a sense of beauty that comes with aging, I liken it to the beauty and intricacy of a spider’s web. Even when the photographs reveal the ravages of time and disease, there’s something important about acknowledging today–just as it is.

* Dig out some old photographs–baby pictures, grade school, high school, the dating years, wedding photos. Remember who your loved one is–and was. Create a bridge by taking note of each decade, each life event. Display these photos so when grief comes, you can ease its sting by acknowledging what an amazing life journey they’ve had–and you’ve had with them.

* Write letters and share what you’re experiencing. Even if no one ever reads them, you need to write them. Grief is like a suitcase we carry with us–and if we have a place to put it–our thoughts, our worries, our memories–when we write them, we ease our own emotional load.

* Talk to those who share your experience. Call your sister, a cousin, or a friend who has been through a similar situation. Knowing that someone will listen to you, someone you can reminisce with, confide in–makes our grief bearable

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Carol O'Dell's blog speaks to caregivers around the country. Carol offers suggestions, ideas and insights that will help others.

While Carol's blog is supported by Dakim Brain Fitness, Carol is not blogging to promote the Dakim company or products..

Motivation And Improving Health In Older Adults, Medical News Today

Boosting Motivation And Improving Health In Older Adults, With The Use Of A Simple Tool

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have identified a tool, the "Getting-Out-of-Bed (GoB) measure" to assess motivation and life outlook in older adults. The study, which appears in the October issue of the /i>Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, shows that the tool has the potential to be an easy-to-use measure to bolster motivation and thus, improve health behaviors and outcomes in the growing population of older adults.

Bathroom Door solutions from The ElderCare Team

Wheelchairs, Walkers, and a Too-Narrow Bathroom Door: 4 Ways to Widen A Bathroom Doorway

Wheelchairs, Walkers, and a Too-Narrow Bathroom Door: 4 Ways to Widen A Bathroom Doorway

If your bathroom doors are wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair or a walker, count yourself lucky. Most aren't, and families do come up with the most ingenious ways to get their disabled loved ones into the bathroom. Moving is a last resort, but some seniors eventually do that, too. There several are ways to make the bathroom door accessible that don't require a moving van

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Reverse mortgages may be the next subprime crisis

Reverse mortgages may be next crisis - The Boston Globe

NEW YORK - Reverse mortgages may be the next subprime crisis, according to the National Consumer Law Center.

Some of the same US lenders that helped drive the real estate boom with loans to home buyers who could not afford the payments are now targeting senior citizens, the center said. Brokers, who are given financial incentives to sell the loans, may be making misleading claims, according to a report titled “Subprime Revisited,’’ released yesterday by the Boston-based NCLC.

“This market is designed to serve seniors, so when we find abuses cropping up and migrating from the subprime market to the senior market, that sounds an especially loud warning bell,’’ said Rick Jurgens, an advocate at the NCLC who contributed to the report.

Reverse mortgages enable people 62 and older who are looking for extra cash to use the equity in their homes and receive lump-sum payments, periodic checks, a line of credit, or a combination of the three. Lenders are repaid from the sale of the home when the borrowers die or move.

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Kohl and McCaskill released a government report in June that said some lenders falsely market reverse mortgages as “lifetime income’’ and sell mortgages coupled with other financial products, such as annuities, even though Congress banned so-called cross-selling in 2008.

The center’s study recommended enhancing borrower counseling prior to taking out a loan and holding lenders and brokers to a suitability standard.