Henry David Thoreau: The question is not what you look at, but what you see.

And a little summer gardening humor that is so true:
Crabgrass can grow on bowling balls in airless rooms, and there is no known way to kill it that does not involve nuclear weapons.
- Dave Barry

Vision Problems Affect Over 20 Million People In This Country

Vision loss in the U.S. is rapidly becoming a crisis of epidemic proportions since large numbers of older persons are experiencing age related vision loss from such conditions as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts (afb.org/seniorsite/understandingvisionloss). People with vision loss are twice as likely to fall and twice as likely to break a hip when they fall. Loss of vision affects all areas of every day life such as driving, reading, and even taking prescriptions.

Signs of Vision Loss

Exhibiting several, or all, of the following behaviors may be indicative of vision loss. Be sure to check with a doctor or eye care professional if you or a loved one shows any of these signs.
 

Moving Around
• Constantly bumping into objects
• Having difficulty walking on irregular or bumpy surfaces
• Stepping hesitantly
• Going up and down stairs slowly and cautiously
• Shuffling feet
• Brushing against walls while walking
• Missing objects by under-reaching or over-reaching
 

Everyday Activities
• Discontinuing or doing certain activities differently such as reading, watching television, driving, walking, or engaging in hobbies
• Squinting or tilting the head to the side to focus on an object
• Having difficulty identifying faces or objects
• Having trouble locating personal objects even in a familiar environment
• Reaching out for objects in an uncertain manner
• Experiencing trouble identifying colors
• Selecting clothing in unusual combinations of colors or patterns
 

Eating and Drinking
• Having problems getting food onto a fork
• Having difficulty cutting food or serving from a serving dish
• Spilling food off the plate while eating
• Pouring liquids over the top of a cup or drinking glass
• Knocking over glasses while reaching across the table for another item
 

Reading and Writing
• Ceasing to read mail, newspapers, or books
• Holding reading material very close to the face or at an angle
• Writing less clearly and having trouble writing on a line
• Finding lighting that was previously sufficient inadequate for reading and other activities

You’re invited to a complimentary presentation July 28, 2009 at Aegis of Bothell

Life Planning for Seniors and their Families

 You’ll Learn:

•   How to age in your own home
•   How a properly written Will can protect your estate
•   How to qualify for Medicaid
•   What Medicare will and will not pay for
•   What to look for in a Long Term Care Insurance Policy

Get Answers to Your Questions

Presented by local estate planning attorney

John Hugg, Esq.

 July 28, 2009

6:30-7:30 P.M.

RSVP at 425.483.5878

Presentation will be held at Aegis of Bothell, 10605 NE 185th Street, Bothell, WA 98011  Phone 425-487-3245

Sponsored by The Bothell Neighborhood Resource Council.  The Resource Council is a wide spectrum of area vendors related to senior care who are interested in providing services and being resources to our clients, their families and the surrounding senior community.

World’s 65-and-older population to triple by 2050

The world’s 65-and-older population will triple by mid-century to 1 in 6 people, leaving the U.S. and other nations struggling to support the elderly.

The number of senior citizens has already jumped 23 percent since 2000 to 516 million, according to census estimates released on Tuesday. That’s more than double the growth rate for the general population.

Continue reading here: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2009372611_apusagingpopulation.html

Visit us at www.andelcare.com if you need help with an aging loved one in the Seattle or Bellevue WA areas.

I know people have a hard time dealing with grief and dying. I recently met Rev. Maria “Dancing Heart” Hoaglund and she really understands the process. She is a hospice specialist, author and speaker. She is co-presenting a workshop on this topic with Dr. Jane Hendrickson on August 9 in Shoreline and also on August 10th in Lynnwood. For more information go to www.mandalainnerlight.com or www.changewithcourage.com.

Summertime brings a lot of family time. With family reunions, picnics, weddings and other events, long distant family members travel to gather together. It is also the perfect time to do some planning for the future. With parents aging and their health and lifestyles changing, children need to discuss some changes and decisions that will be needed in the near future. Parents should take the time to tell their children where important documents are kept and what their wishes are in the event of needing health care directives or experiencing long term care needs.

For those children who live away, the change they see in their parent’s health and mental capacity may be alarming — whereas siblings that have daily contact are working with these issues constantly. Here is the chance to compare notes and work together as a complete family in the long term care planning process.

For you parents who are well and active, this is a good time to hold a family meeting and share with your children your plan for long term care. Tell them where financial and legal documents are located. Review health care directives, living wills and long term care alternatives.

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Here is a great article with tips for those who are preparing care for aging parents.  If you need help with an aging loved one in the Seattle or Bellevue WA areas, visit http://www.andelcare.com.

Baby Boomers and Aging Parents – Six Tips to Prepare For Their Care

By Katie B. Marsh

Although there is some debate over the exact age range of the Baby Boom generation, the US Census Bureau identifies most Boomers as those who were born between the years 1956 to 1965. In any case, whether you were born within that time frame or fairly close to it, chances are you are beginning to deal with end-of-life issues regarding your elderly parents. Your many considerations run the gamut from the practical to the spiritual and everything in between. So, where do you begin?

Caregivers. Imagine if we ended our lives as babies, completely dependent on a caregiver tending to all of our needs: loving us, feeding us, changing our diapers. Imagine now that we are not as cute as little babies but still have the same need to be cared for gently with love and respect. Who would you want to take care of you in this situation? Who do your parents want to care for them? This question should be posed directly to your parents. Don’t assume you know the answer. What they may have said 10 to 15 years ago may not still hold true today as they are closer to facing their mortality.

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