Month: March 2017

Aging in place technology

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My aging Mom, who lives 800 miles away, prefers to live in her own home, and like many others who are aging in place, wants her independence despite several falls in the past year.  I spoke with Mom on the phone last week and she described a recent fall in the Walgreens parking lot after she drove there to pick up a few items.  While closing her car door, she fell backwards, her head hit the pavement and she bruised her tailbone.  Two people helped her to her feet, she went into Walgreens, shopped, and drove home.  She was lucky this time; no broken bones.  She is worried about whether she will be able to continue living independently as she wishes.

My Mom is 83, lives alone and does not wear a monitored emergency alert device nor does she own a cell phone.  No one in the family has the legal right to assist her; that right falls to a former employer and friend of hers (her decision). Feeling helpless, I prayed for guidance on how to aid her while also not upsetting her.  I decided on purchasing some items to help her daily:  two suction cup grab bars for her shower/bath area, an adjustable hand bed rail, and a call button alarm system from Amazon.   They will be delivered directly to her home this week.  I believe the alarm system, if she chooses to use it, could be useful if she falls at home or has an emergency.  The alarm should be loud enough to alert a neighbor.  While I wish I could afford the monthly fee associated with a 24/7 monitored emergency alarm system, I think the call button alarm system could help with alerting neighbors in the near future.

Technology designers have really embraced the problems seniors face when they want to age in place. This is a great article which describes some of the latest and greatest aging in place technology if you can afford them:

Choosing the right technology to assist aging in place

aging in place technology
care.com

By Matthew Campbell, McKnight’s Senior Living

March 2, 2017

“Older adults increasingly want to age in place, and many of them live alone.

If living unassisted, however, older adults are at risk for falls in and out of their residences, which can lead to injuries. A senior is treated for a fall in the emergency department in the U.S. every 13 seconds, according to a study from Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering. Fear can prevent older adults from confidently living active lifestyles.

Simple technology, however, can discreetly monitor and assist seniors to help ensure their safety and health. Devices such as wearable mobile personal safety technology, or mPERS, and connected tech such as motion sensors, allow older adults to feel safe and never really alone.”

Read more about aging in place technology

Add strength training to your workout routine

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strength training
starjournalnow.com

Strength training can benefit muscles and bones throughout life

By Lori Weinzatl, Ministry Rehab Services

March 3, 2017

“Strong bones and strong muscles go together. And both are essential to good health, mobility and independence in old age. That’s the conclusion of recent studies linking sarcopenia and osteopenia to an increased risk of falls, fractures and the possible need for long term care of older adults.

Sarco refers to muscle; osteo means bone and penia, loss.

Osteopenia and osteoporosis (a more severe loss of bone density) have long been known to pose threats to older men as well as women. Recent research has found that sarcopenia is also a hazard. And the combination of bone and muscle loss is more debilitating than either on its own.

For most humans, both muscle mass and bone density reach their peak by age 30 and decline gradually thereafter, becoming more noticeable around age 60 or 70.

But it’s not just the size of your muscles that counts; it’s their strength and ability to function–grip strength, walking speed, balance, mobility. And these, too, decline with advancing age.

Reduced muscle mass can co-exist with lower bone density or it can cause those changes. When muscles are strong, they exert a strong mechanical force on the bones around them, giving the bones what they need to stay dense and strong. Conversely, weak muscles lead to weaker bones.”

Read more about the causes of sarcopenia

Guard against identity theft

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identity theft
news.sfimg.com

Identity Theft Takes a New Turn

By Terry Savage

February 15, 2017

       “If you think your finances are safer now that you use a chip card, think again. The latest Javelin Identity Fraud Study reports the number of identity fraud victims increased by 16 percent in 2016 to more than 15 million consumers. And the amount the thieves took grew by $1 billion to more than $16 billion in the past year.
      A large part of the increase came from ‘card not present’ fraud in the first year since chip cards became widely used. Fraudsters are resorting to more invasive ways of getting your identity details than simply counterfeiting mag stripe cards.
      So-called ‘phishing’ schemes have become far more sophisticated. Gone are the days of the misspellings and clumsy grammar that made fraud emails obvious. Fraudsters have gotten better at tricking you into clicking on a link in one of these emails. Once you do that on your computer or smartphone, these links deploy malware called ‘bots’ to collect all your data, including PIN and CV authentication numbers as you shop online.

      There’s also a growing trend of identity fraud crimes enabled by victims’ social media posts. Harmless items on your pages, including celebrations of your birthday, or a college graduation or reunion, give thieves information they use to open new accounts in your name. Fraudulent new credit accounts for more than half the increase in identity theft crime last year.

So what should you be doing to guard your identity? Here are some suggestions, which mostly involve common sense and a commitment to regularly review your finances:

  • Check online accounts regularly.
  • Check your credit report at least quarterly.
  • Guard your personal information.
  • Create two-factor authentication for your banking, credit and brokerage accounts.
  • Be aware of your vulnerabilities.”

Read specifics to guard against identity theft.

Terry Savage is a nationally recognized expert on personal finance, the economy and markets.  She responds to questions on her blog at TerrySavage.com.

Financial exploitation…it can happen to you

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Are you likely to get swindled? Be on alertFinancial exploitation

By Marci Vandersluis, Dayton Daily News

February 27, 2017

“On a recent trip to New York, just before arriving at the taxi stand, I was approached by someone wearing a nametag with the logo of a popular car service offering to drive me to my destination. My initial thought was that this was not the typical way that this company promoted its service. Nevertheless, there was a large line at the taxi stand and I was tired so I hopped into the back of his car. I did arrive at my hotel but later learned that I overpaid for the trip by $75. Along with reprimanded by my children for getting in a ‘stranger’s’ car, I was not surprised to discover that the driver was not an employee of the company. While my poor judgment caused more ego than financial damage, it made me much more aware that financial exploitation doesn’t just happen to someone else. Regrettably, our elders are particularly vulnerable to this form of abuse.

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