Home | Page 16 of 27 | Living Life Retired (LLR)

Caregivers having the guts to do so, find a balance

June 1, 2017June 1, 2017 by Sherry

How Do We Balance Autonomy and Risk for Older Adults?

Finding that balance takes guts, as caregivers often learn

By Dan Browning, Part of the TRANSFORMING LIFE AS WE AGE SPECIAL REPORT

May 1, 2017

“Georgia Dyson of St. Paul, Minn., died in March after suffering the gradual shrinkage of her world. Through it all, ‘she always relished her independence,’ her daughter Christine Dyson Dahn said.

Over Dyson’s 84 years, her spine twisted in two directions from degenerative scoliosis. She had cataracts, high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. She endured a double bypass heart operation, a mitral valve repair, a pacemaker, two hip replacements, a catheter, a hearing aid, dentures and, as you can imagine, periodic depression.

caregivers — Linda Irgens has advocated for more independence, even though it brings risk for her father, Richard “Papa Dick” Irgens. (Photo by D. Browning)

Despite all of that — and despite some misgivings about Dyson’s safety — family members did whatever they could to support her, insisting at each crossroads that she be allowed to get back to her routines.

‘We wanted to respect that fire in her, but we worried about her,’ Dahn said. ‘What if she went out in her wheelchair and got hit by a car?’

Balancing risk and autonomy is one of the toughest things that caregivers do, whether they are professionals or family members. It’s especially difficult when the people they care for cannot advocate for themselves.”

Quality of Care or Quality of Life?

In the United Kingdom and some European nations like Denmark and the Netherlands, the focus is more on personal autonomy

Senior Law Day

May 31, 2017 by Sherry

Don’t Miss Senior Law Day in Jefferson County, Colorado

Saturday, June 3, 2017

8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Mile Hi Church
9077 W. Alameda Avenue
Lakewood, CO 80226

“The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office is hosting its 7th Annual Senior Law Day on June 3, offering educational seminars for seniors and for others who may be facing challenges with their aging parents.

Eighteen valuable workshops include topics such as: Medicare Issues; Investment Fraud; Wills/Trusts; End of Life Issues; Powers-of-Attorney, Conservatorship and Guardianship; Tips for Probate; and Identity Theft. Attorneys and representatives from a variety of community resources will be available to answer individual questions. Free 15-minute consultation are available through the Ask-an-Attorney segment.

‘Our population is aging and older adults will be facing complicated issues,’ says District Attorney Peter Weir, ‘This information can change the quality of life for seniors and their adult children.’

Registration is $10 and includes a continental breakfast, lunch, and the new Colorado Senior Law Handbook, a publication of the Colorado Bar Association.”

For more information, or to register, contact Cary Johnson at 303-271-6970 or csjohnso@jeffco.us

Registration Form

You don’t have to live in Jefferson County, Colorado to attend.

Register yourself or a loved one in a check-in program

May 25, 2017 by Sherry

Local police departments restore peace of mind by phoning senior citizens once a day

By Jenni Bergal, Stateline and PBS Newshour

March 21, 2017

“Living alone can be tough for seniors. Some don’t have family nearby to check on them, and they worry that if they fall or suffer a medical emergency and can’t get to the phone to seek help, no one will know.

That’s why hundreds of police agencies in small towns, suburbs and rural areas across the country are checking in on seniors who live alone by offering them a free automated phone call every day.

Police officials say the computerized calling systems, which are fairly inexpensive and easy to use, provide an important service to a growing senior population that is expected to reach 65 million by 2025. Already, nearly half of women age 75 and older live alone.

And advocates for older adults say telephone check-in programs can help seniors remain independent in their homes and give them — and their family members — peace of mind.”

Substitute teaching – a great part time job

May 17, 2017 by Sherry

School is almost out for the summer, so why would I be writing about substitute teaching? If you’ve thought about working part-time, summer is a great time to prepare to substitute at your neighborhood schools this fall. If you hold a current teaching license or a bachelor’s degree you can become a substitute teacher.

Most states have a licensing procedure for becoming a substitute teacher if you don’t hold a current teaching license. Just check the state’s Department of Education website and search for substitute licensing. In Colorado for instance, you can apply for a one-year, a three-year or a five-year license. All three of these licenses require the applicant be fingerprinted and results submitted to the state’s Bureau of Investigation. Licensing in Colorado costs $60 for a one-year license and $90 for the three- or five-year license. The five-year license in-state applicants must hold or have held a Colorado teaching license. An out-of-state applicant must hold an unexpired (non-Colorado) teaching license.

Safety behind the wheel

May 16, 2017 by Sherry

HealthinAging.org

Testing Driver’s Safety

“When it comes to driving, there is no set age at which people become less safe when they’re behind the wheel. Safety largely depends on the older driver’s physical and mental health, which of course vary widely from person to person. The following issues can be warning signs that suggest that you or an older adult in your care should get tested for their ability to drive safely:

Getting lost in familiar areas
Ignoring traffic signs and signals
Becoming easily agitated or angered when driving
Falling asleep or inability to concentrate when driving
Reacting too slowly to dangerous situations
Forgetting or ignoring driving basics – when to yield right of way, for example
Having trouble judging distances
insure.com

Several tests and reviews can help determine how safe a driver an older adult may be. If you suspect that an older adult you care for is having difficulty driving safely, consider taking these actions:

Start with a good physical
Have their vision checked
Get a driving evaluation
Consider cognitive testing
Check your state’s rules
Know what medications the older driver is taking”

For more details and resources

A Salute to Seniors in Denver, CO

May 11, 2017 by Sherry

Baby Boomers Pave the Way for Changing the “Later Years”

By Eileen Doherty, MS

April 30, 2017

DENVER, CO – “Ever thought you might want to xeriscape your yard to reduce maintenance in your later years, save a few bucks on home repairs, or spend a summer being a camp host in a national park. These and many other opportunities such as learning how to download apps on your cellphone or communicate with your grandchildren on Facebook will be demonstrated at the upcoming Salute to Seniors in downtown Denver.

Elderly scams – don’t be a victim

May 8, 2017 by Sherry

7 tricks fraudsters use to entrap the elderly

by Steve Vernon, Money Watch

April 25, 2017

“Financial fraud is common today — no one is immune to solicitations from fraudsters. Chances are very good that one of these criminals has targeted you or a loved one recently.

Fraudsters go after older adults because they’re believed to be more trusting and socially isolated. Plus, they often have more assets to exploit. Bad guys rely on very common strategies to take advantage of their marks. ‘Recognizing these persuasion tactics will go a long way toward preventing you or a loved one from being victimized,’ said Marti DeLiema, a post-doctoral fellow at the Stanford Center on Longevity.

DeLiema is one of the nation’s leading experts on financial fraud of the elderly. Here she describes seven tricks scammers use on their victims.

Emotional arousal
Scarcity
Source credibility
Social consensus
The norm of reciprocity
Distraction
‘Landscaping’

These seven tactics aren’t unique to financial fraud. You experience them often when deciding between legitimate goods and investments. The problem is that fraudsters also use these same persuasion tactics for illicit purposes. If you recognize these influence strategies, you can significantly protect your money from financial predators, legal or criminal.

DeLiema summed it up with great advice: ‘Get into the habit of using these suggested defenses for all important transactions to help you get the most from your hard-earned money.'”

Caregivers having the guts to do so, find a balance

How Do We Balance Autonomy and Risk for Older Adults?

Like this:

Senior Law Day