Are seniors or teens safer drivers? The surprising answer

Picture this: You’re out on the road, driving in mixed traffic with your choice of drivers to follow. One is a gray-haired senior puttering along in the right lane and the other is a fresh-faced teenager moving briskly in the left lane.

Statistically speaking, which driver is safer to follow? Kirk Seaman of AOL Autos’ blog asks whether it’s older driver with the slower reflexes, poorer vision and cautious driving style, or the younger driver with faster reactions, better eyesight and driving with the flow of traffic?

Seaman’s answer: Stay in the right lane, behind the oldster, and let the teenager go on his way. According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the safest drivers are in the age group between 64 and 69 years old. And studies of the data reveal that teenage drivers — especially male teenage drivers — are the most dangerous drivers on the road.

Read more from usatoday.com….

Visit www.andelcare.com for information and assistance regarding home care for an aging loved one in the Seattle or Bellevue WA areas.

Signs of Hearing Loss

If the person you’re caring for doesn’t always answer your questions, he may not be ignoring you. Gradual hearing loss as one ages — presbycusis  (prez-buh-KYOO-sis) — is common among older adults. About one third of those ages 65 to 74 and almost half of those 75 and older have some degree of diminished hearing.

Tinnitus (tin-NY-tus), also common among older adults, is a ringing, hissing, or roaring sound in the ears frequently triggered by exposure to loud noise or certain medications.

Hearing problems can creep up almost undetected, but if ignored or untreated, they’re likely to get worse. If detected, though, treatments are available to tackle this problem. Often caregivers pick up on hearing problems before the older adults themselves.

Listen and watch for the following signs that an older adult may have a hard time hearing:

* Asking others to speak more slowly, clearly, or loudly, or to repeat themselves

* Difficulty understanding words in a restaurant, in a crowd of people, or if more than one person is speaking

* Muffled speech or mumbling

* Needing to turn up the volume of the radio, television, or music

* Trouble understanding people on the telephone

* Straining to follow a conversation, misunderstanding, responding inappropriately, or saying that others’ speech sounds distorted

* Complaining of a ringing, roaring, or hissing sound

* Difficulty understanding the speech of women and children

* Saying that some sounds seem too loud

* Reading lips, or more intently watching people’s faces when they speak

* Withdrawal from or avoidance of conversation

* Unexplained irritability, anger, stress, nervousness, negativity, embarrassment, or depression

If you notice any of the above symptoms, schedule an appointment with his doctor for a hearing test. The physician may refer him to an audiologist, or hearing specialist, for other hearing tests to identify and measure hearing loss. Or she may refer him to an otolaryngologist (oh-toe-lair-in-GAH-luh-jist), a doctor and surgeon trained in ear, nose, throat, head, and neck problems, to find out what’s causing hearing loss and what can be done to treat it.

Original content HERE.

Visit us at www.andelcare.com for information and assistance with the care of an aging loved one in the Seattle and Bellevue WA areas.

Non-adherence to medications increases seniors’ risk for falls: study

Seniors who neglect to take their medications as directed can significantly increase their risk of falls, according to new research.

A recent study of Boston-area seniors found that those who occasionally neglected their medications were 50% more likely to fall than those who took their medications as directed. Researchers at the Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew SeniorLife in Boston surveyed 246 men and 408 women with an average age of 78 for the study. Of the seniors in this group, 376 reported experiencing a combined total of 1,052 falls.

Read more…

Visit us at www.andelcare.com for help with an aging loved one in the Seattle and Bellevue WA areas.

A major contributor of heart disease and stroke is salt!  May is Stroke Awareness Month, a great time to take stock of your risk factors.  Visit us at www.andelcare.com for information and assistance for an aging loved one in the Seattle and Bellevue WA areas.

Consumers’ tastes make it difficult to dash salt from diets

For years, Americans have been advised to consume less sodium, and they’ve taken that advice with a grain of salt.

Even many health-conscious consumers figured it was the least of their worries, especially compared with limiting their intake of calories, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and sugar.

ANTI-SALT INITIATIVE: 16 companies pledge to cut sodium

All that changed last week when a report from the Institute of Medicine urged the government to gradually reduce the maximum amount of sodium that manufacturers and restaurants can add to foods, beverages and meals. The report put a spotlight on what doctors and nutritionists have argued is a major contributor to heart disease and stroke.

Read more at usatoday.com…

Facts and Figures About Senior Citizens Released for Older Americans Month: May 2010

Census Bureau provides this annual update on the state of older Americans

A meeting with the National Council of Senior Citizens resulted in President John F. Kennedy designating May 1963 as Senior Citizens Month, encouraging the nation to pay tribute in some way to older people across the country.  In 1980, President Jimmy Carter’s proclamation changed the name to Older Americans Month, a time to celebrate those 65 and older through ceremonies, events and public recognition.

Here are today’s facts about senior citizens, compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Read more…

For help with an aging loved one in the Seattle area, visit www.andelcare.com.

With our current economic challenges, those of us looking forward to retirement need to be well-informed about our financial needs in coming years. And not only pre-retirees, but individuals already in retirement need to be wise to the changing economic environment. The good news is there are trained professionals who keep abreast of changes in the current economy, changes in laws and changes in government programs for the elderly. Professionals in this field are equipped to handle everything from help with retirement savings accounts, investment advice, and guidance on government programs, estate planning or even new funding options such as reverse mortgages. A little planning prior to retirement will allow you to maintain your current lifestyle; whereas, a lack of planning may require you to live on an extremely tight budget. For those already retired, taking time right now to deal with financial problems instead of waiting for a crisis to happen is well advised.

A large number of retired individuals feel that they have planned well for the future only to find that rising medical costs, damage done to investment portfolios (by the current economy) and many other factors have caused them to go into debt. According to an article in “USA Today” seniors are racking up debt like never before. Elderly individuals who are in debt live with a constant burden over their heads. Most of these people are on fixed incomes and have no way of paying off credit cards and home equity loans that continue to mount to cover household budget deficits. In order to meet ongoing payments, seniors often forego purchasing medications and skimp on food budgets. They live like hermits — never going out and pinching every penny — in order to pay their obligations.

Most of these people worked hard their entire lives and managed their debt. They never anticipated the rising costs of prescriptions, expensive medical care or depletion of savings by living too long. The good news is there is help for these individuals. Here are just a few examples of some relief options that could be available. There are many more besides these.

Reverse mortgages – A Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs), also known as a reverse mortgage, is a risk-free way of tapping into home equity without creating monthly payments and without requiring the money to be paid back during a person’s lifetime. Instead of making payments the cash flow is reversed and the senior receives payments from the bank. Thus the title “reverse mortgage”. For those seniors who are less fortunate financially but own a home, a reverse mortgage can allow them to remain in the home by creating extra income.

Life settlements — A life settlement enables older individuals, businesses and other organizations to sell life insurance policies they currently own – but no longer want or need – for an amount greater than the cash surrender value. In some cases the value can be 2-3 times the cash surrender value. Even some term life insurance policies with a conversion option to permanent coverage can qualify for a life settlement.

Government Programs — Some government programs such as food stamps provide temporary financial help for food. Other programs provide subsidized housing, help with medical expenses and provide tax credits. For veterans there is free health care, inexpensive prescriptions and disability income.  Area agencies on aging offer individual counseling, legal help and advice with Medicare costs. (National Care Planning Council)

For some, living on a fixed income and dealing with debt can be an overwhelming burden. There are knowledgeable professionals and debt relief strategies that can assist in easing this burden. The National Care Planning Council keeps a list of financial advisers and attorneys who specialize in this area of planning at www.longtermcarelink.net.

Visit www.andelcare.com for help with an aging loved one in the Seattle WA area.

May is Melanoma and Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month.  Early detection is key, and the following article provides vital information in detecting this highly curable cancer.  For help with an aging loved one in the Seattle WA area, visit us at www.andelcare.com.

Detect skin cancer early when it’s most curable

(ARA) – Do you know your skin? Beyond your face and hands, which you probably look at every day, do you know what the skin on the inside of your arms or the bottom of your feet looks like? It’s important to know what your skin looks like – every inch of it – so that if a suspicious lesion appears or a mole starts to change, you can make an appointment with a dermatologist to be checked for skin cancer.

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has two tools available to ensure that you get to know your skin: instructions for skin self-exams and a free skin cancer screening program.

“Substantially more than 1 million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed each year,” said dermatologist Dr. William D. James, president of the American Academy of Dermatology. “Fortunately, when detected in its earliest stages, skin cancer – including melanoma, the deadliest form – is highly curable. Skin self-exams and skin cancer screenings are important ways to detect the early warning signs of skin cancer, and when necessary, seek treatment from a dermatologist.”

It is vital for everyone to perform regular self-exams to look for moles that are growing or changing, or for any unusual marks that could be a sign of skin cancer. A skin self-examination consists of looking over your entire body, including the back, scalp, soles, between the toes and on the palms. To do a thorough skin exam, find a well-lit location and use both full-length and hand-held mirrors so it is possible to see the back of the head, back and buttocks.

While studying your skin, it’s a good idea to keep the ABCDEs of melanoma detection in mind. The ABCDE rule will give you an idea of what to look for in a changing mole.

* Asymmetry (one half unlike the other half)

* Border (irregular, scalloped or poorly defined)

* Color (varies from one area to another; shades of tan and brown, black; sometimes white, red or blue)

* Diameter (the size of a pencil eraser or larger)

* Evolving (a mole or skin lesion that looks different from the rest or is changing in size, shape or color)

If you notice any changes in the size, color, shape or texture of a mole, the development of a new mole, or any other unusual changes in the skin, you should make an appointment with a dermatologist immediately.

In addition, the AAD’s National Skin Cancer Screening Program provides free skin cancer screenings in local communities and teaches people how to conduct skin self-examinations. Since 1985, dermatologists have screened more than 2 million people at no cost and detected more than 188,000 suspicious lesions, including approximately 21,500 suspected melanomas.

Since sun exposure is the most preventable risk factor for all skin cancers, the AAD recommends that everyone “Be Sun Smart” by following these tips:

* Generously apply sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30 that provides broad-spectrum protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Re-apply approximately every two hours, even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating.

* Wear protective clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, where possible.

* Seek shade when appropriate, when the sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

* Use extra caution near water, snow and sand as they reflect the damaging rays of the sun which can increase your chance of sunburn.

* Protect children from sun exposure. Be sure to play in the shade, use protective clothing, and apply sunscreen.

* Get vitamin D safely through a healthy diet that includes vitamin supplements. Don’t seek the sun.

* Avoid tanning beds.

To get instructions on how to perform a skin self-examination or to find a free screening, visit www.melanomamonday.org. The website also includes the AAD’s free Body Mole Map, a tool individuals can use to track their moles to determine any changes over time, and more information about skin cancer.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Here is an article from the New York Times that addresses the growing, nationwide problem of searching for missing dementia patients.  New strategies and tactics are needed to find these individuals.  For caregiving help with an aging loved one in the Seattle and Bellevue WA areas, visit www.andelcare.com.

More With Dementia Wander From Home

For generations, the prototypical search-and-rescue case in America was Timmy in the well, with Lassie barking insistently to summon help. Lost children and adolescents — from the woods to the mall — generally outnumbered all others.

But last year for the first time, another type of search crossed into first place here in Virginia, marking a profound demographic shift that public safety officials say will increasingly define the future as the nation ages: wandering, confused dementia patients like Freda Machett.

Read more…

New Alzheimer’s Risk Genes Identified

Finding could lead to future treatments, researchers say

Scientists have pinpointed two genes that are linked to Alzheimer’s disease and could become targets for new treatments for the neurodegenerative condition.

Genetic variants appear to play an important part in the development of Alzheimer’s since having parents or siblings with the disease increases a person’s risk. It is estimated that one of every five persons aged 65 will develop Alzheimer’s disease in their lifetime, the researchers added.

Read more…

Visit us at www.andelcare.com for information and assistance with home care in the Seattle and Bellevue WA area,

Women Often Miss Signs of Stroke

Many don’t know the facts and don’t recognize the symptoms, U.S. survey reveals

A new online survey of U.S. women finds only about one in four women aged 25 to 75 can name more than two primary symptoms of stroke.

This is important because researchers say it takes longer for women than men to seek medical care at the hospital after a stroke, and researchers think lack of awareness about symptoms may cause even worse delays.

The survey also found that women think that breast cancer is five times more common than stroke (women are actually twice as likely to die of stroke than breast cancer), and 40 percent of women surveyed weren’t very concerned about experiencing a stroke.

In general, women surveyed weren’t aware that women suffer more strokes than men, and one-quarter said they didn’t believe stroke could happen at any age.

Read more…

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