For seniors, any major expense can really take a toll on their life when they’re already on a limited income. Healthcare can be such a huge expense, even if it’s just routine care and not dealing with an emergency. Even if seniors do have coverage through private or public health insurance, every penny counts and here are some ways seniors can reduce their costs:

1. Do some research into your health – researching health issues could help seniors reduce the time spent at the doctor’s offices. However, internet resources and books used for self-diagnosis should not replace a doctor’s care; they can however help seniors stay on the right track with diagnostics and care and keep costs lower

2. Avoid the emergency room – charges are higher at hospital emergency rooms. If you experience something that requires medical attention that isn’t an emergency, ask for an immediate doctor’s appointment or go to a walk-in clinic

3. Look for free or low-cost medical care options – during featured health months (like Breast Cancer Awareness month) or seasons where there’s an increase of certain health issues; look for free or low-cost clinics. Breast cancer screenings, flu shots, and even basic diagnostic tests like blood pressure and more are offered in different communities

4. Ask for second and even third opinions – just because one doctor mentions that surgery, or a specific, expensive medication is a requirement doesn’t mean that any senior needs to take it to heart. Ask for additional opinions if you’re uncertain

5. Never be afraid to ask – when it comes to medications, procedures and any element of medical care, ask how much it costs, ask if prices are negotiable, and don’t hesitate to shop around

Via: aipm.net

Image: sxc.hu

Many seniors are admitted to the hospital for various reasons. It is crucial for a family member to be able to speak and act on their behalf when they are hospitalized. To do so, one must be familiar with some things that will need to be address before and during admission. The following list provides some useful tips.

1. Make sure all legal documents are in place. This includes Advanced Medical Directives and a durable power of attorney for health care. The first informs all family members and physicians of the type of medical treatment and care the senior wishes to receive if they are unable to make their own decisions at that time. An example of this is a DNR or a Living Will. The second is also known as a health care proxy. This individual is appointed by the senior to make medical decisions on their behalf if they are unable to do so. Each of these documents must be signed. The family members and physicians should have copies.

2. Make sure you are able to provide all medical information when asked. Medical history is an important part of treatment plans, so you want to make sure you know all there is to know, including medications, allergies, current physicians and a description of the senior’s mental and physical capacities.

3. Be as active as possible. This requires the family member to be part of the health care team. This can be done by learning how to get in touch with the physician providing care, knowing the nurses who are caring for the senior, having the ability to speak with and social service workers and case managers and being a strong advocate for the medical care of the senior.

Any family who has been through the process of choosing care for a senior loved one, knows that it’s one of the most difficult decisions they’ll make. Trusting the care of one of the most important people in your life is not an easy thing to do, particularly with some level of distrust regarding elder abuse that has received media attention in nursing homes in particular. But, if you’re going through the process, you can find a suitable home care agency that will ensure that your senior receives the best care; you just have to make sure that you ask the right questions and do your research. Consider these tips when exploring home care options and choosing a home care agency:

1. Know what’s out there – to choose the best option, explore them all. Even if you have home care in mind, visiting a nursing home will only help to reassure you of your decision

2. Ask the opinion of others – the best feedback you will receive on home care places you’re exploring is from other trusted friends and family members who have been through the process

3. Interview someone at the service – before you even meet with a caregiver, interview someone in charge at the home care service about what they provide, and what their specific policies are

4. Ask about licensing – the home care service should have appropriate licenses as required by their jurisdiction; ask about this, and also find out if the home caregivers have any specific level of training

5. Be straight forward – to make sure that that important senior in your life receives adequate care, don’t sugar coat what you’re dealing with. If your loved one is difficult with certain tasks or activities, let them know so they can reassure you by talking about how they’d address these circumstances

Via: Family Caregiver Alliance

Talking about senior tracking technologies can open a can of worms. There are people who support the developments and others that are dead set against them because of the “big brother effect”. People on both sides of the argument are very passionate about their viewpoint. That being said, new technologies are constantly under development that leave room for discussion. The new Ambulatory Sneakers, which have tracking devices embedded in them (set for release in the spring) walk a fine line. While if used for their primary purpose, of preventing tragedy when 60% of seniors with Alzheimer’s wander away from their Minnesota homes and get lost, they can be lifesavers; those misusing the technology only create more ammunition for the critics of tracking technologies.

The sneakers, which discreetly track senior’s movements, transmit their location by GPS technology back to a computer, allowing someone on the other end to keep an eye on their every move. Although this product is being marketed towards seniors, it will naturally get a bad name when concerned parents start using the innovative fashions to track the whereabouts of their teenagers when they go out on a Saturday night. Sure, no matter which way you look at it, these technologies do make it seem like big brother is always watching, but if used correctly, they can save a lot of heart ache and tragedy for seniors with Alzheimer’s and their families.

What do you think? Share with us.

Via: Washington Post

Q – I find that the older my mom gets, the more time she spends confined to her Minnesota home. I’ve asked her why the change, and she says as far as she’s concerned, it’s just part of being a senior, because age makes it more difficult to get around. I’ve offered to take her out anytime she wants, but she says it’s just too difficult…is there anything available on the market that could improve my elderly mother’s mobility so she starts getting out again?

A – New technologies are coming out on the market that can help improve the lives of seniors greatly, and help give them back the gift of their independence. The latest innovation that certainly could reduce the challenges of mobility for your elderly mother is an electric walker.

About the ICIO Personal Transporter for Seniors:

• It has a convertible design

• Seniors can choose to use the personal transporter as a traditional 3 wheeled walker

• During periods when they’d like to move at a faster pace, they can stand on an attachable support and activate the electric function

• The device is suitable for seniors as their level of physical mobility changes, since it also converts into a mobile scooter with a seat

• With the personal transporter, seniors can venture out for exercise and convert the device if they get tired, giving them the security that they won’t be stranded

Sources:

1. TrendHunter

2. The Design Blog

3. TrendHunter

Q – I’m a professional caregiver for a senior with alzheimers, and I can’t help but notice the new elder care technologies that are constantly being mentioned in the media these days. The most recent one that I’ve seen is the Memo, an assistive robot for seniors with Alzheimer’s. I love my job, and have no intention of retiring anytime soon; but I just can’t help but worry that over the next decade or two I might be without a job because of these innovative technologies.

A – In my opinion, robots will never be able to replace people entirely, because of that personal touch we have that allows us to really deliver something special to the people that we care for. That being said, the Memo robot for seniors with Alzheimer’s, seems like it can do a lot and could likely be a reliable way for seniors to take some respite, while knowing their loved one is in good hands. This particular device delivers medication reminders, helps seniors find things that they’ve misplaced, and even provides companionship by playing games and engaging seniors socially. Some people may choose to use robotic technology on a permanent basis for a caregiver, but there will always be those that prefer the human interaction!

Sources:

1. Trendhunter

2. DVice

3. Trendbird

The senior care industry has grown leaps and bounds, and it won’t be too long until technological innovations like robots will be able to keep seniors in their homes for longer periods of time by filling in the gaps of what they can’t accomplish on their own.

Here are some great innovations that can change the senior care industry as we know it:

1. Human washing machine – made by the Sanyo Electric Company, it’s a clamshell-shaped assisted care bath. It releases body wash and shampoo, and creates suds to make the wash process happen automatically

2. Robot mobility suit – currently In the planning stages, this pant-shaped innovation will have the goal of helping immobile seniors get around without assistance

3. The Wakamaru device – this is a mobile speaking robot that’s 3-foot high that can help caregivers who also work out of the home to keep an eye on their loved ones at home

4. Cleaning robots – these might still be a ways off, but robots and other technological devices can help with housework and chores that make it challenging for seniors to live at home and keep up with the responsibilities

5. Transferring robots – since some seniors struggle with getting in and out of bed, or in and out of the tub, Japan has created a prototype robot that services this exact purpose

Sources:

1. NY Times

2. Reuters

Image: jasontheodor.com

Minnesota currently has the largest number of uninsured people in their population, and what this means for seniors is that their financial stability and health is always at risk, because when and if a medical emergency occurs; they just might not have the means to keep themselves afloat when they need to scramble to finance their health care and pay their living costs all on a limited budget.  This may sound like a negative, and today, it is. But, as Minnesota is attempting to bring a universal health care program to the state, the financial and health implications of seniors and their families might be an advantage.

With so many people in Minnesota living without health insurance, there is even more urgency to bring in a universal health care program to make sure that residents of all ages receive health care that will prolong their lives. According to studies, due to the costs of preventative medical care, like checkups to monitor existing conditions like blood pressure, seniors avoid stepping through the doors of a doctor’s office or into a hospital until their health presents an emergency situation, and at that point, it’s not just their health but also their finances that are at a greater risk.

By implementing universal health care, seniors in Minnesota should finally be able to focus on living, without worrying about the impact healthcare has on their wallet.

Sources:

1. Associated Content

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Many seniors with Alzheimer’s encounter something called Sundowning; a restlessness and inability to sleep at night. This is a concern for many Minnesota families who have seniors that suffer from this disease, because at night, when they should be asleep, is the time when they are most likely to be at home alone, and when unsupervised, some sometimes incognizant of their actions, this can be a serious safety concern. Home caregivers hired to help with Minnesota seniors most often work during the day, unless they live in the senior’s home; and since this can be a more costly alternative for many families, it’s hard  to know what to do with seniors with Alzheimer’s to keep them occupied and safe during the nighttime hours.

Elderserve at Night is a one of a kind Alzheimer’s program to help families and seniors living with this disease cope during the nighttime hours when they can become the most restless and likely to injure themselves with no one available to help. With this nighttime program for seniors with Alzheimer’s, seniors are picked up from their homes and kept busy between 7am and 7pm every evening and well into the night. Seniors are given the opportunity to socialize, the engage in guided activities like painting, music, potting plants, and they are provided methods to just relax away from home where they constantly face the worries that come around when the sun sets.

With this program, seniors even receive meals, the opportunity to shower, and the chance to rest if the mood strikes them; but the top benefit is that seniors and their families know that their loved ones aren’t going to become victims of the night.

Sources:

1. NYTimes

Traditional nursing home and assisted living facilities are large institutions that provide basic care, but don’t necessarily cater towards improving the quality of life for Minnesota seniors based on their living arrangements. The Green House Model in eldercare focuses upon quality of life and comfort first, and care elements, while they are a priority, are not the center of being like they are in the large, traditional institutions.

The Green House Model tries to give seniors the comforts of home with the conveniences of having care services around them 24/7. The atmosphere is less sterile and hospital like because they try to provide a warm and welcoming environment where only 6-8 seniors are living. The goal of The Green House Model is to eliminate big institutions and move towards this model that focuses on quality of life to improve overall senior well-being. As more and more seniors are dreading moving to a nursing home or assisted living facility as they get older, the elder care structure is adopting methods that allow for senior independence and aging in place. With this in mind, The Green House Model might just be the future of elder care.

Sources:

1. Eden Alternative

2. NCB Capital Impact

Image Source: pro.corbis.com