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.

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.

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

Elder Abuse

Our company is a member of ONPEA - Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and we are too often informed of abusive circumstances with our clients. Abuse is a violation of one’s rights as a human being and it should not be tolerated. Here is an important planning checklist taken from the Ontario Government website for seniors who are being abuse.

Planning Checklist
It is important to protect your personal documents and think about what to do in case of an emergency. You may want to consider putting together an emergency kit that would include:

• Emergency phone numbers written out and stored in a safe place

• Emergency money (for a taxi, hotel etc). This should include quarters for phone calls or a phone card.

• Extra clothing

• A list of medications, name and phone number of pharmacy and at least three days worth of medications.

• Glasses, hearing aides and other assistive devices such as cane, walker, wheelchair.

• A safe place to go in the event of an emergency (in and outside the house).

• Escape route from the house.

• Copies of relevant documents including:

• Identification (i.e. birth certificate)

• Marriage certificate or record of commonlaw relationship

• Notice of assessment from most recent income tax return

• Cheque books and credit cards

• Lease, rental agreement, or house deed

• Bankbook and recent statements

• Health card

• Social Insurance Number

• Passport

• House, car, and safety deposit box keys

• Immigration Papers

For more information on elder abuse contact www.citizenship.gov.on.ca/seniors/index.html
or call toll-free 1-888-910-1999 (in Ontario).

Moving Without the Other Half

I have come across some interesting cases while in my profession of helping seniors and their families move forward, and this is just one case that truly makes me wonder how people's minds work. I will keep the names of my clients confidential for their privacy.
I was recently called to a home where it was evident that the aging husband was requiring greater medical assistance than his wife could provide. She was still a young at heart, beautifully energetic, delightful lady. He on the other hand was quickly deteriorating in mind and body. It was very difficult to hear how life had drastically changed for both of them. The time had finally come to discuss a senior's residence for them. As I retrieved my paperwork and began discussing 'their' options, I was quickly interupted and corrected by the sweet little lady sitting in the lounge chair. "Oh, I'm not going anywhere... he is. I'm very happy where I am. My friends are close by, our kids are in the neighborhood. All my activities are in the area. I just can't take care of him anymore." As she pointed to her husband, I was in disbelief. I apologized for the assumption and for probably the first time in my life, was speechless for the next 10 seconds. Well, what do you say to something like that??? They may as well have told me they were divorcing. The next words out of my mouth were not the most intelligent as I said, "And how long have you been married?" He finally spoke up and said "54 years" and went back into his slumber.
At the end of the day, she held true to her word and remained in the family home without her spouse. And in her words, "My life is finally back to normal".

Telemarketers Target Seniors

There comes a time when one has to sit down and have a heart to heart with their aging parent. I am lucky there is still a few years to go for that conversation with my mom, but I highly recommend it for some people sooner rather than later. I recently had an evening with a friend who discussed her fathers situation with me. He lives in a Seniors Residence, and is still quite independent. However, is living with a form of dementia. I'm being vague in this area because the doctors are still assessing his condition. This sweet man received a telephone call from a telemarketer selling cruises and you know where I am going with this... yes, he purchased by credit card, a non-refundable ticket in the amount of $2,000 for a cruise. How he was going to get there was his responsibility.
His family discovered the purchase a month later when his statement came in and questioned his purchase, which of course, he had no recollection of. After numerous lengthy calls with the telemarketing company, they relented to calling the credit card company. Months later they received results.
I can only imagine how many seniors this same scenario happens to and the worst part of it is when there is no one available to offer assistance or watch their back. I do know that in many cases, as would be mine, many people who would rather take the loss than let anyone know they had been duped. It's a no-win situation for many people.