Home Instead Senior Care sponsors Jim Miller's Savvy Senior column

Dear Savvy Senior,

Can you write a column on fall prevention tips for elderly seniors? My 81-year-old father, who lives alone, has fallen several times over the past year. What can you tell us?

Concerned Daughter

Dear Concerned,

Falls are a big concern for millions of elderly Americans and their families. In the United States, roughly one-third of the 65-and-older population will suffer a fall this year, often with dire with consequences. But many falls can be prevented. Here are some steps you can take to help keep your dad up on his feet and reduce his risk of falling.

Check his meds: Does your dad take any medicine or combination of medicines that make him dizzy, sleepy or lightheaded? If so, gather up all the drugs he takes – prescriptions and over-the-counter – and take them to his doctor or pharmacist for a drug review.

Schedule an eye exam: Poor vision can be another contributor to falls. If your dad wears glasses, check to see if he’s wearing the correct prescription and beware of bifocals. Multifocal glasses can impair vision needed for detecting obstacles and judging depth.

Check his balance: Balance disorders – which can be brought on by a variety of conditions like inner ear problems, allergies, a head injury or problems with blood circulation – are also a common cause of falls. If you dad is having some balance issues, make an appointment with his doctor to get it checked and treated.

Start exercising: Improving balance through exercise is one of the best ways to prevent falls. Strength training, stretching, yoga, tai chi are all great for building better balance. Some simple exercises that he can do anytime are walking heel-to-toe across the room, standing on one foot for 30 seconds or longer, or getting up from a chair and sitting back down 10 to 20 times. For more balance exercise tips, call the National Institute on Aging at 800-222-2225 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            800-222-2225      end_of_the_skype_highlighting and order their free exercise DVD and free exercise book or you can see it online at go4life.niapublications.org.

Modify his home: Because about half of all falls happen around the home, some simple modifications can go a long way in making your dad’s living area safer. Start by picking up items on the floor that could cause him to trip like newspapers, books, shoes, cloths, electrical or phone cords. If he has throw rugs, remove them or use double-sided tape to secure them. In the bathroom put a non-slip rubber mat or self-stick strips on the floor of the tub or shower, and have a carpenter install grab bars inside the tub and next to the toilet. Also, make sure the lighting throughout the house is good, purchase some inexpensive plug-in nightlights for the bathrooms and hallways, and if he has stairs, consider putting hand rails on both sides. And in the kitchen, organize his cabinets so the things he uses most often are within easy reach without using a step stool. For more tips, call the Eldercare Locater at 800-677-1116 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            800-677-1116      end_of_the_skype_highlighting  and order a free copy of their “Preventing Falls at Home” brochure.

Other pitfalls: Believe it or not, the improper use of canes and walkers sends around 47,000 seniors to the emergency room each year. If your dad uses a cane or walker, be sure it’s adequately adjusted to his height and that he’s using it properly. A physical therapist can help with this, or see the Mayo Clinic slide show on how to choose and use a cane (mayoclinic.com/health/canes/HA00064) and a walker (mayoclinic.com/health/walker/HA00060). Another possible hazard is pets. If your dad has a dog or cat, he needs to be aware that – because they can get under foot – pets cause a lot of falls. Shoes are another issue to be aware of. Rubber-soled, low-heeled shoes are the best slip/trip proof shoes for seniors.

Savvy Tip: Consider getting your dad a home monitoring system which is a small pendent-style “SOS button” that he wears that would allow him to call for help if he fell. Available through companies like lifelinesys.com and lifealert.com these systems cost around $1 per day.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

About Jim Miller

Jim Miller, creator of the syndicated Savvy Senior column

Jim Miller is the creator of Savvy Senior, a syndicated information column for older Americans and their families that is published in more than 400 newspapers and magazines nationwide. Jim is also a contributor on NBC’s “Today” show, and is the author of The Savvy Senior, The Ultimate Guide to Health, Family and Finances for Senior Citizens, (Hyperion, 2004).

Jim is frequently quoted in articles about issues affecting senior citizens and has been featured in numerous high profile publications, including Time magazine, USA Today and The New York Times.  In addition, he has made multiple appearances on CNBC, CNN, Retirement Living Television and national public television.

The Savvy Senior column is brought to you by Home Instead Senior Care of Richmond and Tappahannock

Home Instead Senior Care provides extraordinary senior home care, personal care and companionship services to seniors in the Richmond area which includes the counties of Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico and Powhatan.  We also serve all of the Northern Neck out of our Tappahannock office.  For more information, please visit our digital brochure or call our office at    804.527.1100 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            804.527.1100      end_of_the_skype_highlighting  anytime.

Home Instead Senior Care sponsors Jim Miller's Savvy Senior column

Dear Savvy Senior,

What kinds of programs are available to help low-income seniors with their Medicare costs and other expenses? My 81-year-old mother has gone through her savings and is having a tough time getting by on her Social Security benefits. What can you tell us?

Worried Son

Dear Worried,

There are actually a variety of under-utilized programs that can help lower-income seniors with their Medicare costs, grocery bills, utility expenses and more. Here’s what you should know.

Medicare Savings Programs

For millions of seniors who are having a tough time paying their out-of-pocket healthcare costs, help is available through Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs). These are Medicaid-administered programs that pay Medicare Part B premiums and depending on your mom’s finances may even pick up the tab on her Medicare copayments and deductibles. To qualify, her income must be under $1,246 per month (or $1,675 for a married couple), and her assets must be below $6,680 ($10,020 per couple) not including her house, vehicle, burial fund, furniture or other household items. To find out if she qualifies, or to apply, contact her local Medicaid office – call 800-633-4227 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 800-633-4227 end_of_the_skype_highlighting for contact information.

Extra Drug Help

If your mom is eligible for a MSP, she’s also eligible for “Extra Help” in paying her Medicare prescription drug plan costs. If, however, she’s not eligible she can still get Extra Help if her annual income is below $16,335 ($22,065 for a married couple living together), and her cash assets are under $12,640 ($25,260 for married couples) excluding her home and vehicle. For more information, call Social Security at 800-772-1213 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 800-772-1213 end_of_the_skype_highlighting www.ssa.gov/prescriptionhelp.

Food Assistance

In addition to the Medicare programs, your mom may also be able to get some help with her grocery bills. Food assistance programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) are available to seniors, age 60 and older, with cash assets under $3,000, and a “net income” below $903 per month ($1,215 for a family of two). Net income is figured by taking your mom’s gross income minus allowable deductions like medical expenses, rent or mortgage payments, utility costs, insurance, taxes and more. The average monthly SNAP benefit is currently around $101 per person. To find out if your mom qualifies, use the SNAP pre-screening tool at www.snap-step1.usda.gov or contact her local SNAP office – call 800-221-5689 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 800-221-5689 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Utility Assistance

There are also resources available that can help low-income seniors reduce their utility bills. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, as well as local utility companies and charitable organization help millions of Americans each year with their home heating and cooling costs. To search for help go to energynear.org, a web portal that provides information on all energy assistance programs in each state, along with qualification details, how to apply and who to contact. You can also call the National Energy Assistance Referral project at 866-674-6327 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 866-674-6327 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Supplemental Income

Another program to check into is SSI or Supplemental Security Income. Administered by the Social Security Administration, SSI provides monthly payments to very low income seniors (age 65 and older), as well as to those who are blind and disabled. To learn more or find out if she’s eligible, visit www.ssa.gov/ssi or call 800-772-1213 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 800-772-1213 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Savvy Tip: To search for other assistance programs go to benefitscheckup.org, a comprehensive web service developed by the National Council on Aging, that contains a database of more than 2,000 federal, state and local programs that can help seniors in need. The site will help you locate programs that your mom may be eligible for and will show you how to apply. This service is only available online.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

Jim Miller, creator of the syndicated Savvy Senior column

About Jim Miller

Jim Miller is the creator of Savvy Senior, a syndicated information column for older Americans and their families that is published in more than 400 newspapers and magazines nationwide. Jim is also a contributor on NBC’s “Today” show, and is the author of The Savvy Senior, The Ultimate Guide to Health, Family and Finances for Senior Citizens, (Hyperion, 2004).

Jim is frequently quoted in articles about issues affecting senior citizens and has been featured in numerous high profile publications, including Time magazine, USA Today and The New York Times.  In addition, he has made multiple appearances on CNBC, CNN, Retirement Living Television and national public television.

The Savvy Senior column is brought to you by Home Instead Senior Care of Richmond and Tappahannock

Home Instead Senior Care provides extraordinary senior home care, personal care and companionship services to seniors in the Richmond area which includes the counties of Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico and Powhatan.  We also serve all of the Northern Neck out of our Tappahannock office.  For more information, please visit our digital brochure or call our office at 804.527.1100 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 804.527.1100 end_of_the_skype_highlighting anytime.

If you think there’s no one with money to spare once the bills are paid, think again. In light of the troubled economy, boomers are a key demographic for brands to focus on. Statistics are showing they earn more, spend more, have more disposable income and greater job security than the younger consumers. This means advertisers are reconfiguring campaigns to reach this desirable market.

From Sketchers beginning to advertise in AARP The Magazine to Pfizer starting their Boomer Coalition bringing together Pfizer brands fighting against CVD, businesses are tapping into the boomer movement.

Technology companies are jumping on board  as well. Research shows that the latest technology and social networking trends are enjoyed by all demographics, with seniors being heavy technology spenders.

Read more about this topic as featured in Forbes here.

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Home Instead Senior Care is here for you – providing extraordinary home care and companionship for your loved one. Call us today to learn more at 804-527-1100.

Home Instead Senior Care sponsors Jim Miller's Savvy Senior column

Dear Savvy Senior,

What resources can you recommend to help seniors learn how to use technology devices? I am particularly interested learning how to text, e-mail and Facebook so I can keep up with my grandkids.

Tech-Shy Senior

Dear Tech-Shy Senior,

Keeping in touch with the younger generation these days is a lot easier if you know how to use basic cell phone and computer technologies. Here are several tips and resources that can help you get started.

Hands-On Help

While seniors make up the fastest growing group of Internet and e-mail users in the U.S., they still lag way behind the younger generations. One of the best places seniors can turn to for help using their cell phone or computer is their own grandkids who have grown up with these technologies and are practically experts at operating them. If that’s not an option, ask your friends or other family members who are tech-savvy to help you.

Depending on where you live, you may also be able to get help through your public library, local senior center, schools or community college – many of which also offer basic computer and personal technology classes to seniors. To find out what’s available in your community, call your Area Agency on Aging (call 800-677-1116 to get your local number) or your public library.

Also check out SeniorNet (seniornet.org, 571-203-7100), a national organization that offers a variety of basic online computer courses as well as instructor-led workshops at around 60 learning centers throughout the U.S. A first year membership fee of $40 is required. 

How-To Resources

Another nice resource that can help you is Eldercare Locator’s new publication called “Staying Connected: Technology Options for Older Adults.”  This simple six-page guide will take you through the basic facts about how to use tools like Facebook, e-mail and texting, including privacy and safety information. The guide also introduces YouTube, Twitter, Skype, Instant Messaging and blogging – all tools that seniors can use to stay connected. To get a free copy, call 800-677-1116 or you can read it online at www.eldercare.gov.

There are also a wide variety of how-to books you can purchase that are very helpful. The “For Dummies” books (see dummies.com), for example, offer dozens of technology guides for seniors like “Computers For Seniors For Dummies,” “Facebook and Twitter For Seniors For Dummies,” “Instant Messaging For Dummies” and many others. These books can be found in book stores nationwide or online at sites like amazon.com.

And some great online resources to check out are seniorconnects.org, which provides basic computer, Internet and e-mail training materials tailored to seniors that can be viewed online or printed out for free. And teachparentstech.org, a site created by Google that offers a number of simple videos that explains how to do many computer functions.

Senior-Friendly Technology

Having the right tools can also make technology a little easier. Senior-friendly cell phones like the Jitterbug J (jitterbug.com, 800-733-6632), Doro phones sold through Consumer Cellular’s (consumercellular.com, 888-345-5509), and Just 5 (just5.com, 800-709-0509) are all easy to see, hear and operate, and they all have texting capabilities.

For computers, Hewlett-Packard’s SeniorPCs (enablemart.com, 888-640-1999), the Go Computer (thegocomputer.com, 877-671-5846) and KiwiPC (kiwipc.com) are three options developed specifically for older adults.

Simpler Options

If you find that the technology is too confusing, there are other products and services available today that can help you stay connected to your younger tech-using family members. One example is PostEgram (postegram.com), a service that will turn your family’s Facebook news and photos into stamped letters that you could receive in the mail every week.

Or, consider a Celery (mycelery.com; 866-692-3537) or Presto (presto.com, 866-428-0970), two companies that turn e-mails into printed faxes almost immediately. All of these services cost under $15 per month, but if you opt for a Celery or Presto you’ll need to purchase a fax machine too, which will run around $100.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org.  
 

Jim Miller, creator of the syndicated Savvy Senior column

About Jim Miller

Jim Miller is the creator of Savvy Senior, a syndicated information column for older Americans and their families that is published in more than 400 newspapers and magazines nationwide. Jim is also a contributor on NBC’s “Today” show, and is the author of The Savvy Senior, The Ultimate Guide to Health, Family and Finances for Senior Citizens, (Hyperion, 2004). 

Jim is frequently quoted in articles about issues affecting senior citizens and has been featured in numerous high profile publications, including Time magazine, USA Today and The New York Times.  In addition, he has made multiple appearances on CNBC, CNN, Retirement Living Television and national public television.

The Savvy Senior column is brought to you by Home Instead Senior Care of Richmond and Tappahannock

Home Instead Senior Care provides extraordinary senior home care, personal care and companionship services to seniors in the Richmond area which includes the counties of Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico and Powhatan.  We also serve all of the Northern Neck out of our Tappahannock office.  For more information, please visit our digital brochure or call our office at 804.527.1100 anytime.

Home Instead Senior Care is proud to sponsor the Partners in Healthcare of Virginia’s Symposium this Friday, May 6. Guest registration begins at 11:30 at the Jefferson Hotel in the Grand Ballroom.

CEU and CMU credits are available for attending the symposium focusing on “Defining Your Role in the Future of Healthcare”. The CEO of VCU Health System, Sheldon M. Retchin, MD, MSPH is the keynote speaker.

Click here to purchase tickets and review the day’s agenda and speakers.

Event Details:

Friday, May 6 at 11:30 a.m.
Partners in Healthcare Symposium
The Jefferson Hotel
Grand Ballroom
101 West Franklin Street
Richmond, VA 23220

The Windsor Assisted Living and Memory Care, located at 3600 Grove Ave, Richmond, Virginia, hosts a Lunch & Learn workshop to discuss The 50-50 Rule:  Helping Siblings Overcome Family Conflict When Caring for Aging Parents. 

The 50-50 Rule is part of Home Instead Senior Care’s ongoing education program for boomers and their children.  The workshop will be held on May 5th, 12- 1pm at The Windsor in Richmond.  RSVP to 353-3881 by May 3rd.

And for more information about The 50-50 Rule, simply click on http://solvingfamilyconflict.com

Many seniors choose to move to be closer to family and friends.

Housing design and amenities are important factors for any home buyer including those 55 or older.  However, a new study indicates that financial concerns have become more prominent than prior to the recession.

The study, entitled Housing Trends Update for the 55+ Market, was conducted jointly by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the MetLife Mature Market Institute (MMI). 

Using data from the recently released Census Bureau’s 2009 American Housing Survey, the report found that only 55 percent of new home buyers 55+ reported that their down payment came from a previous home sale.  That figure is significantly down from more than 90 percent in 2005 and 2007.  In 2009 seniors used cash or savings for up to 45 percent of their down payment.

However, despite the recession and a desire for less expensive housing, the study noted that the overwhelming motivation for mature movers is the wish to be near family and friends.

Another significant factor starting to affect housing trends is the aging of the Baby Boomers.  According to David Crowe, NAHB’s chief economist, “By the year 2020 almost 45 percent of all U.S. households will include someone at least 55 years old.  The number of those households seeking housing better suited to their changing needs will therefore rise dramatically.”   Crowe noted that housing starts in 55+ communities are projected to rise from about 54,000 units in 2011 to roughly 79,000 units in 2012.

Developers and designers will surely take note of recent statistics underscoring the trend toward delayed retirement.

• “Proximity to work” as an important factor for those relocating to age-qualified, active adult communities is up from 2 percent in 2001 to 12 percent in the 2009 report.
• The share of 55+ single-family homeowners who say they work at home is also increasing.

Perhaps the most positive finding according to Dr. Sandra Timmermann, Ed.D., director of the MetLife Mature Market Institute is that, “Most 55+ consumers – those who chose to move and those who stay in their homes – report that they are happy with their homes and communities.”  Additionally, “those who did move to an age-qualified community – about 3 percent – reported the greatest satisfaction, rating their homes and communities at nine on a one-to-ten scale.”

At Home Instead, we understand the importance of helping a loved one find the right housing option.  Whether it’s your parents, a grandparent, aunt, uncle or a cherished friend you’re looking out for, we have the expertise to help you discuss these important matters and the experience to help you make the right decision – wherever home may be.

For more information on how Home Instead Senior Care of Richmond can provide care and companionship to help aging loved ones in the Richmond and Northern Neck areas remain living independently in their homes, please give us a call at our Richmond (804.527.1100) or Tappahannock (804.443.4883) home care offices any time, or view our digital brochure.

Click here to view the embedded video.

In this video, certified senior advisor Mary Alexander from Home Instead Senior Care explains Alzheimer’s and other dementia and offers specific techniques for coping with a loved one who has dementia.

Many family caregivers care for a parent or spouse who is suffering from some sort of dementia, which requires a great deal of time and patience. Caring for a dementia patient can cause great stress to the family caregiver, particularly as memory loss progresses. This video provides tips for minimizing that stress.

In addition to these tips, a professional caregiver can also help. Visit our website or call us today at 804-527-1100 to learn more.

Franchise Business Review’s 2011 Franchisee Satisfaction Index named Home Instead Senior Care #1 in its annual FBR50 – Franchisee Satisfaction Awards. Home Instead Senior Care also was named “Best in Category” in Senior Care.

The announcement was made at the International Franchise Association Annual Conference in Las Vegas on Monday, February 14th.

The Franchise Business Review survey is the largest survey of franchisee satisfaction in North America. The goal of the survey is to identify the best opportunities available in franchising. About 300 leading franchise systems registered for the survey, representing 65,000 franchisees.

This is Home Instead Senior Care’s first time being honored as Franchisor of the Year in the Large Systems class, and all of the thanks go to our outstanding franchise owners. Hundreds of Home Instead owners took the time to answer the survey, which included questions related to training, support, marketing, operations, communication, franchisee/franchisor relations, financial opportunity and general overall satisfaction.

To read the full press release, click here:  

Franchise Business Review Names 2011 Franchisee Satisfaction Award Winners – Home Instead Senior Care Tops List of Franchisors with High Franchisee Satisfaction

About Franchise Business Review
Franchise Business Review is a national franchise market research firm that performs independent surveys of franchisee satisfaction and franchise buyer experiences. The firm’s services include commissioned franchise research projects, as well as industry-wide studies of franchisee satisfaction. Franchise Business Review is headquartered in Portsmouth, NH, and can be reached at (603) 433-2270.

Visit www.FBR50.com or www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com for more information.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care in the Richmond area, call our office – anytime – at (804) 527-1100.