For most seniors, your home is your largest asset filled with memories beyond measurable worth. Your main concern is having the well-being to remain in your home with dignity and safety. Three important elements of well-being are your independence, safety and financial security. Studies show that more than 90% of seniors have the desire to remain in their home as long as possible. But as you age, your chances of that actually happening decreases with every passing year.
The most important factor for senior’s living at home is maintaining independence through the ability to perform daily activities. Such activities would include washing, dressing, cooking, transportation, taking medication, housecleaning, etc. The most common activity that seniors over the age of 75 are unable to perform is housecleaning… a chore that requires physical activity at a time, when in most cases, the body is requiring rest. The key to maintaining independence is accepting your lifestyle needs are going to change and plan ahead.
Part of planning ahead is making changes within the home to ensure a safe environment. Falls are the second leading cause of hospitalizations, and the majority of those slips, trips and stumbles are within the home. A few tips for a safer home are:
1. Remove throw rugs
2. Ensure there is adequate lighting
3. Wear proper footwear according to flooring
4. De-clutter the pathways and stairways
5. Keep a close eye on the pet at your feet
A large determinant of feeling safe in the home is having someone close by when help is needed. Keep an open dialogue with your neighbors and ask them to check in on you. This also helps you avoid social isolation which increases dramatically as people age.
Lastly, it all comes down to MONEY. Whether you have it or not! And since it does not grow on trees, you need to look after what you have. It is important to know there are financial programs that assist seniors in remaining in their home. These programs include property tax deferrals, reverse mortgages and Home Independence Program for Seniors (H.I.P.S.). While all of these programs may not be ideal for everyone, they have been developed to assist seniors with aging in place.
Headlines would have us believe that everyone is trying to defraud you, but in most cases, financial fraud is committed against seniors by family members. Despite this, you need to be wary of people you hire to work on your home. It is important to check references, don’t be afraid to ask questions and if you feel the pressure tactics, just say ‘no’. After all, it is your hard-earned money.
For seniors living at home, your main focus for independence, safety and financial issues is being proactive and planning ahead. One of the certainties in life is change, and if you try to avoid it the person making the important decisions in your life may not be you.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Home Adaptations for Seniors Indendence
I have been asked by a number of our senior clients to discuss the Home Independence Program for Seniors in more detail since it compliments the Canadian governments' Home Adaptations for Seniors Independence Program. So here it is...
H.I.P.S. is a program exclusive to Silver Lining Transitions that assists seniors in remaining in their home longer and safer. Our team pre-qualifies their senior clients in obtaining a $3,500.00 forgivable loan for home adaptations. As long as the recipient remains in their home for at least 6 months, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation program will not request the loan to be paid back. Therefore, if an individual is over the age of 65, and earns less than $37,500/year (amount may change depending on the town and province of the home), they will qualify for funding.
Silver Lining Transitions assists in the paper work and the assessment required for qualifying. Our team of professionals will make adaptations in every room of the house and on the property for safety purposes.
Adaptations include:
1. non-slip floors,
2. senior friendly kitchens and bathrooms ie. lever type faucets and doors, lowering
counters and cabinets, handrails and walk in showers
3. adding or lowering rails and shelves in closets
4. increase lighting in all areas in the house
5. senior friendly windows and doors
6. lowering electrical outlets and light switches
7. etc.
The list of alterations is very extensive, but we have found that most home alterations include the above-noted.
Preventing the first fall is paramount for seniors who desire to remain in their home. H.I.P.S. is a program that assists in accomplishing those desires.
For more information, please visit silverliningtransitions.ca
H.I.P.S. is a program exclusive to Silver Lining Transitions that assists seniors in remaining in their home longer and safer. Our team pre-qualifies their senior clients in obtaining a $3,500.00 forgivable loan for home adaptations. As long as the recipient remains in their home for at least 6 months, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation program will not request the loan to be paid back. Therefore, if an individual is over the age of 65, and earns less than $37,500/year (amount may change depending on the town and province of the home), they will qualify for funding.
Silver Lining Transitions assists in the paper work and the assessment required for qualifying. Our team of professionals will make adaptations in every room of the house and on the property for safety purposes.
Adaptations include:
1. non-slip floors,
2. senior friendly kitchens and bathrooms ie. lever type faucets and doors, lowering
counters and cabinets, handrails and walk in showers
3. adding or lowering rails and shelves in closets
4. increase lighting in all areas in the house
5. senior friendly windows and doors
6. lowering electrical outlets and light switches
7. etc.
The list of alterations is very extensive, but we have found that most home alterations include the above-noted.
Preventing the first fall is paramount for seniors who desire to remain in their home. H.I.P.S. is a program that assists in accomplishing those desires.
For more information, please visit silverliningtransitions.ca
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Hospital to Home Transitions
Peace of Mind Transitioning from Hospital to Home
It is important to focus on the physical, psychological and spiritual foundations that an aging adult possesses to successfully recover when transitioning from hospital to home. Preparing for the physical element is crucial to providing safety and peace of mind once the front door to their home is opened. Home adaptations will certainly equip a house and personal support from a caregiver will assist the discharged patient with their changing lifestyle needs. The Home Independence Program for Senior’s is a service that provides such needed assistance. Once safety has been developed in the home, understanding the psychological demands will provide a basis for controlling ones emotional stresses. An aging adult must take control over their body and its ailments instead of the reverse. To accomplish this, it takes a positive attitude and a determined will to provide strength for a full recovery of an illness or accident. To cement the physical and psychological stressors, the senior’s spiritual foundation plays a role in a positive transition from hospital to home. Although some may argue they have done well in life without a faith, I would respond that faith is compatible with inner peace and provides that much needed rest during a time of pain and suffering. What is unique for each patient returning home from their hospital stay is their ability and response time to recover from their medical condition. Once the safety net of professionals is reduced dramatically when a senior leaves the hospital, they are ultimately left with the people who love them, others who care, and learned or innate abilities to live longer, safer and independent.
Debra Munro
Elder Planning Counselor
It is important to focus on the physical, psychological and spiritual foundations that an aging adult possesses to successfully recover when transitioning from hospital to home. Preparing for the physical element is crucial to providing safety and peace of mind once the front door to their home is opened. Home adaptations will certainly equip a house and personal support from a caregiver will assist the discharged patient with their changing lifestyle needs. The Home Independence Program for Senior’s is a service that provides such needed assistance. Once safety has been developed in the home, understanding the psychological demands will provide a basis for controlling ones emotional stresses. An aging adult must take control over their body and its ailments instead of the reverse. To accomplish this, it takes a positive attitude and a determined will to provide strength for a full recovery of an illness or accident. To cement the physical and psychological stressors, the senior’s spiritual foundation plays a role in a positive transition from hospital to home. Although some may argue they have done well in life without a faith, I would respond that faith is compatible with inner peace and provides that much needed rest during a time of pain and suffering. What is unique for each patient returning home from their hospital stay is their ability and response time to recover from their medical condition. Once the safety net of professionals is reduced dramatically when a senior leaves the hospital, they are ultimately left with the people who love them, others who care, and learned or innate abilities to live longer, safer and independent.
Debra Munro
Elder Planning Counselor
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
A Positive Attitude with Cancer
So here we wait at my mom’s final chemotherapy treatment and it has been an ordeal I would not want to go through again. (However, we have enjoyed befriending extraordinary people.) Having said that, I know full well the probability of eventually having cancer is extremely high with every woman in my family genealogy having it. You hear it from everyone, “I didn’t realize how many people had cancer until I was in it. It’s astonishing.” The numbers will only be growing in the next decade. Cancer is a growing epidemic that will affect the lives of millions of people.
I suggest having a positive attitude makes a positive difference. But then you questions how that could be? How can anyone be positive with such a killer diagnosis? Is it the result of chemotherapy causing exhaustion that consumes one’s body and makes it painful (metaphorically) to think about their situation? Just watching and listening to my mom’s positive attitude has had both of us questioning whether she has truly accepted the reality of her cancer. But we both know she has. And her strength comes from her faith in God, her confidence in the medical team and believing that living a healthy lifestyle accelerates the healing process. She’s a survivor… always has been… always will be.
I know she is ready to start enjoying her life, even though she still has five weeks of radiation and begins a full year of herceptin every three weeks. But she is discussing a trip back home this summer and including her family in the plans. She’s also looking forward to putting her arms around her grandchildren who have been kept at bay because of their little germ-carrying bodies. (As it was, after every treatment she has come down with a terrible cold in the second week). But most importantly, she is looking forward to just getting out of the house and taking her two sheltie dogs, Tori and Kola, for long walks. It has been a long winter but the spring is looking fine.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Dementia Will Take Startling Toll as Baby Boomers Age
As a member of the Alzheimer Society and an Elder Planning Counselor, this is an eye-opening article that will take a toll on long-term care facilities, our health system and the caregivers for those suffering from dementia.
Dementia will take startling toll as baby boomers age – a recent study…an article by Canwest News Service from Jan. 5, 2010
A new study by the Alzheimer Society of Canada says the country urgently needs a strategy to minimize the impact of the baby boomers' march toward dementia.
The study, Rising Tide: The Impact of Dementia on Canadian Society suggests that 1.1 million Canadians will have Alzheimer's disease, or a related dementia, by 2038.
If not mitigated, dementia's prevalence will create a tenfold increase in the demand for long-term care beds and cost the Canadian economy a staggering $97 billion annually, the study found.
It also suggests the amount of time Canadians spend caring for parents and spouses with dementia will triple in the next three decades, to 756 million hours a year.
“If we do nothing, dementia will have a crippling effect on Canadian families, our health-care system and economy,” said Richard Nakoneczny, president of the Alzheimer Society of Canada.
About 500,000 Canadians are now living with dementia, a progressive disease that first attacks memory and then harms other brain functions. The disease eventually robs its victims of their personality and independence.
It is the leading cause of disability among seniors and already is responsible for about $8 billion annually in direct health-care costs.
The Rising Tide study is based on the work of RiskAnalytica, a Toronto consulting firm that specializes in risk management and analysis. It is part of a two-year research project sponsored by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Canada, Pfizer Canada and Rx&D.
The Alzheimer Society hopes the project will offer a foundation for a national plan on dementia.
The report, being released Monday, says there are currently no cross-Canada standards for the care of dementia patients. What's more, it says, doctors and nurses receive limited training in the prevention, identification and diagnosis of the disease.
Some provinces, including Ontario, have a strategic plan in place to manage the approaching wave, but politicians continue to underestimate the problem, an Alzheimer Society of Canada spokesman said.
“People don't realize the challenge they're facing,” said David Harvey, a society executive. “Governments are looking to solve health-system issues, but they haven't identified dementia as the underlying cause of so many of them.”
Health-care officials are struggling to deal with overcrowded hospitals. But some of that overcrowding, Harvey contends, results from the system's inability to deliver health-care to dementia patients at home.
Other countries have already taken action to mitigate the impact of dementia.
The United Kingdom, France, Norway and the Netherlands have all developed national plans that focus on early diagnosis, specialized home care, research and prevention.
The Rising Tide study suggests that promoting an increase in physical activity among people over 65 would significantly reduce the number of people diagnosed with dementia. Exercise has been shown to promote brain health.
It also suggests that assigning a case manager to co-ordinate the home-based care of dementia patients would significantly reduce the strain on individual caregivers and lessen the demand for long-term care beds.
Age is the primary risk factor for dementia. The risk of developing the disease doubles every five years after the age of 65.
With the first of Canada's 10 million baby boomers about to turn 65, an enormous number of people will be at increased risk in the coming decades. It means that, if unchecked, about 257,000 Canadians will be diagnosed with dementia every year by 2038, or about one every two minutes, the study said.
Caring for them will be an enormous challenge
Based on growth trends, Canada is expected to have about 690,000 long-term care beds by 2038. But that still leaves a projected shortfall of 157,000 beds, according to the study.
Part of that shortfall will be alleviated by the fact that more people will be living at home with the disease. But that will place an increased burden on both family care givers and home-care agencies.
Harvey said caregivers need education and support, including the ability to drop out of the Canada Pension Plan for several years without a financial penalty.
“If we do this right,” he said, “we've already built the last long-term care bed we should need in Ontario.”
The Rising Tide study recommends that a national strategy include new investment in research; education and support for family caregivers; more focus on prevention; and incentives to increase the number of geriatricians, neurologists, psychiatrists and advanced practice nurses in Canada.
Dementia will take startling toll as baby boomers age – a recent study…an article by Canwest News Service from Jan. 5, 2010
A new study by the Alzheimer Society of Canada says the country urgently needs a strategy to minimize the impact of the baby boomers' march toward dementia.
The study, Rising Tide: The Impact of Dementia on Canadian Society suggests that 1.1 million Canadians will have Alzheimer's disease, or a related dementia, by 2038.
If not mitigated, dementia's prevalence will create a tenfold increase in the demand for long-term care beds and cost the Canadian economy a staggering $97 billion annually, the study found.
It also suggests the amount of time Canadians spend caring for parents and spouses with dementia will triple in the next three decades, to 756 million hours a year.
“If we do nothing, dementia will have a crippling effect on Canadian families, our health-care system and economy,” said Richard Nakoneczny, president of the Alzheimer Society of Canada.
About 500,000 Canadians are now living with dementia, a progressive disease that first attacks memory and then harms other brain functions. The disease eventually robs its victims of their personality and independence.
It is the leading cause of disability among seniors and already is responsible for about $8 billion annually in direct health-care costs.
The Rising Tide study is based on the work of RiskAnalytica, a Toronto consulting firm that specializes in risk management and analysis. It is part of a two-year research project sponsored by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Canada, Pfizer Canada and Rx&D.
The Alzheimer Society hopes the project will offer a foundation for a national plan on dementia.
The report, being released Monday, says there are currently no cross-Canada standards for the care of dementia patients. What's more, it says, doctors and nurses receive limited training in the prevention, identification and diagnosis of the disease.
Some provinces, including Ontario, have a strategic plan in place to manage the approaching wave, but politicians continue to underestimate the problem, an Alzheimer Society of Canada spokesman said.
“People don't realize the challenge they're facing,” said David Harvey, a society executive. “Governments are looking to solve health-system issues, but they haven't identified dementia as the underlying cause of so many of them.”
Health-care officials are struggling to deal with overcrowded hospitals. But some of that overcrowding, Harvey contends, results from the system's inability to deliver health-care to dementia patients at home.
Other countries have already taken action to mitigate the impact of dementia.
The United Kingdom, France, Norway and the Netherlands have all developed national plans that focus on early diagnosis, specialized home care, research and prevention.
The Rising Tide study suggests that promoting an increase in physical activity among people over 65 would significantly reduce the number of people diagnosed with dementia. Exercise has been shown to promote brain health.
It also suggests that assigning a case manager to co-ordinate the home-based care of dementia patients would significantly reduce the strain on individual caregivers and lessen the demand for long-term care beds.
Age is the primary risk factor for dementia. The risk of developing the disease doubles every five years after the age of 65.
With the first of Canada's 10 million baby boomers about to turn 65, an enormous number of people will be at increased risk in the coming decades. It means that, if unchecked, about 257,000 Canadians will be diagnosed with dementia every year by 2038, or about one every two minutes, the study said.
Caring for them will be an enormous challenge
Based on growth trends, Canada is expected to have about 690,000 long-term care beds by 2038. But that still leaves a projected shortfall of 157,000 beds, according to the study.
Part of that shortfall will be alleviated by the fact that more people will be living at home with the disease. But that will place an increased burden on both family care givers and home-care agencies.
Harvey said caregivers need education and support, including the ability to drop out of the Canada Pension Plan for several years without a financial penalty.
“If we do this right,” he said, “we've already built the last long-term care bed we should need in Ontario.”
The Rising Tide study recommends that a national strategy include new investment in research; education and support for family caregivers; more focus on prevention; and incentives to increase the number of geriatricians, neurologists, psychiatrists and advanced practice nurses in Canada.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Know the Medical factors of Your Aging Parent.
It is amazing the number of times I have gone somewhere with my parents and have been asked by either the new seniors residence administrator, pharmacist, nurse, family doctor, specialist, surgeon, friend or family member for a list of medications and their dosage. I must admit, the first few times I was caught off guard and ill-prepared for the request. Being an adult that takes her multi-vitamin every day did not prepare me for the "10 plus" different types of medications required for multiple ailments. So I have since had the pharmacist produced a list and keep it available for any future requirement. Having Power of Attorney for Personal Care for both parents, it is imperative that I keep these lists close by in case of emergencies.
Knowing medical and surgical history is also of great importance. With my mother's recent breast cancer surgery and the removal of the lymph nodes under her left arm, I am very much aware that even taking her blood pressure or withdrawing blood from the left arm could cause long term damage. Also knowing that she had a minor heart attack prior to her hip surgery makes me fully aware of the pre-surgery requirements for any future operation. If it isn't one thing, it is always something else.
So my humble advice for what it is worth... know and understand the medical factors of your aging parent. It could end up being very important to both of you.
Knowing medical and surgical history is also of great importance. With my mother's recent breast cancer surgery and the removal of the lymph nodes under her left arm, I am very much aware that even taking her blood pressure or withdrawing blood from the left arm could cause long term damage. Also knowing that she had a minor heart attack prior to her hip surgery makes me fully aware of the pre-surgery requirements for any future operation. If it isn't one thing, it is always something else.
So my humble advice for what it is worth... know and understand the medical factors of your aging parent. It could end up being very important to both of you.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Home Adaptations for Seniors Independence
Home Adaptations for Seniors Independence... what does it mean? Well, here is the short of it. HASI is a government program that offers low-income seniors, who are having difficulties performing daily activities, an opportunity to remain safe and independent in their home.
The program offers financial assistance up to $3,500.00 for minor home adaptations.
For example;
1. installation of railings, lighting and non-slip floors for safety,
2. modifications in the kitchen and bathroom to improve physical activities, and
3. outfit organizers in closets and drawers for improved accessability.
There are qualifications for the HASI program that include the following:
1. must be over 65 years of age
2. own/rent and reside in the home
3. difficulty with daily living activities
4. income less than $37,500 / year
The application process is time-consuming and difficult for many seniors, but well worth the time and energy it takes to move forward. There are many benefits to being proactive and creating safety in your home, but preventing the first accident is most important.
Silver Lining Transitions will assist with the process to ensure peace of mind and recommend complete solutions to remain safe and independent at home.
Debra, Partner
Silver Lining Transitions
Helping Seniors and Their Families Move Forward
The program offers financial assistance up to $3,500.00 for minor home adaptations.
For example;
1. installation of railings, lighting and non-slip floors for safety,
2. modifications in the kitchen and bathroom to improve physical activities, and
3. outfit organizers in closets and drawers for improved accessability.
There are qualifications for the HASI program that include the following:
1. must be over 65 years of age
2. own/rent and reside in the home
3. difficulty with daily living activities
4. income less than $37,500 / year
The application process is time-consuming and difficult for many seniors, but well worth the time and energy it takes to move forward. There are many benefits to being proactive and creating safety in your home, but preventing the first accident is most important.
Silver Lining Transitions will assist with the process to ensure peace of mind and recommend complete solutions to remain safe and independent at home.
Debra, Partner
Silver Lining Transitions
Helping Seniors and Their Families Move Forward
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