For those children who live away, the change they see in their parent’s health and mental capacity may be alarming — whereas siblings that have daily contact are working with these issues constantly. Here is the chance to compare notes and work together as a complete family in the long term care planning process.

For you parents who are well and active, this is a good time to hold a family meeting and share with your children your plan for long term care. Tell them where financial and legal documents are located. Review health care directives, living wills and long term care alternatives.

Experience has shown that even families that are close can quickly grow angry, jealous and hostile towards each other when an aging parent begins to need long term care. If a sibling moves into the parent’s home, others can easily be suspicious of ulterior motives and fear losing their inheritance. On the other hand, the child providing the elder care becomes bitter and feels there is no support or help from siblings. Pre-need meetings for the purpose of making a plan, before eldercare becomes imminent, avoids these types of conflicts.

In its book, “The 4 Steps of Long Term Care Planning,” the National Care Planning Council provides guidelines and checklists for family planning meetings. Here’s an excerpt from the book:

“The first step to holding a meeting, and perhaps the most difficult one, is to get all interested persons together in one place at one time.

If it’s a family gathering, perhaps a birthday, an anniversary or another special event could be used as a way to get all to meet. Or maybe even a special dinner might be an incentive.

The person conducting the meeting can be a parent or one person of a couple who are doing their planning, years before the need for care arises. A meeting on behalf of someone already receiving care or needing care in the immediate future could be conducted by that person or by a member of the family, by an adviser or a friend.

The agenda could be formal or informal. If you want a formal agenda, we suggest using our care planning checklist as the agenda.  Copies of the care plan should be prepared prior to the meeting and  presented to those attending. Discussion is encouraged and we recommend that the person in charge not dictate but encourage input from everyone.

After a thorough discussion of the issues and the presentation of the solutions to the problems that will be encountered, there should be a consensus of all attending to support the plan. If the plan needs to be altered to meet everyone’s expectations then by all means do so if that can be done. But it is not always possible to please everyone so there must sometimes be compromise.

The end of the meeting should consist of asking everyone present to make his or her commitment to support the plan.

GET IT IN WRITING! All good intentions seem to be forgotten with time. It may be years after this meeting before the long term care plan begins. If there are vocal commitments to help with transportation to doctors, give respite to the caregiver or other commitments, write them down on the care agreement. You can even have each person put a signature to his or her commitment if you think that is important.”

“The 4 Steps of Long Term Care Planning ,” by The National Care Planning Council

The U.S Department of Health and Human Services states:

“No one wants to think about a time when they might need long-term care. So planning ahead for this possibility often gets put off. Most people first learn about long-term care when they or a loved one need care. Then their options are often limited by lack of information, the immediate need for services, and insufficient resources to pay for preferred services. Planning ahead allows you to have more control over your future”.

http://www.longtermcare.gov

“Whether you plan a formal meeting with an agenda or informally gather for a discussion, when the family is together make it a point to start the long term care planning process.

There is a lot to learn and many decisions to make concerning finances, health issues and legal work. It may take research and a lot of time to put a plan together, but if everyone is involved it will work, and be worth it.” National Care Planning Council, www.longtermcarelink.net

Visit us at www.sanitasole.net if you need help with an aging loved one in the Marco Island FL area.

15 Tips Caregivers Should Know After A Loved One Has Had A Stroke

The following is being issued by American Stroke Association:

1. It’s better to find out than miss out. Be aware of the medications that have been prescribed to your loved one and their side effects. Ask if your home should be modified to meet the specific needs of the stroke survivor. Ask a doctor, nurse or therapist to clarify any unanswered questions or to provide written information that explains what occurs after the stroke and during recovery or rehabilitation.

Continue reading this very important article here: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147785.php

Loud music made hearts beat faster and blood pressure go up, while softer passages lowered both heart rates and blood pressure, a new study shows.

It’s the latest word on how music affects the cardiovascular system, from researchers at Pavia University in Italy. Their earlier studies found that music with quicker tempos had people breathing faster, with increased heart rate and blood pressure, while slower tempos produced opposite effects.

The findings “increase our understanding of how music could be used in rehabilitative medicine,” study author Dr. Luciano Bernardi, a professor of internal medicine at Pavia, said in a statement. The report appears in the June 22 online edition of Circulation.

Continue reading here: http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.aspx?docID=628283

If you need help with an aging loved one in the Marco Island FL area, visit us at http://sanitasole.net.

Here is an interesting article about what the future holds for the senior population in our country.  Remember, if you need help with an aging loved one in the Marco Island FL area, visit us at http://sanitasole.net.

The world’s 65-and-older population will triple by mid-century to 1 in 6 people, leaving the U.S. and other nations struggling to support the elderly.

The number of senior citizens has already jumped 23 percent since 2000 to 516 million, according to census estimates released on Tuesday. That’s more than double the growth rate for the general population.

Continue reading here:  http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2009372611_apusagingpopulation.html

The recent deal between the White House and the pharmaceutical industry is a big development towards meaningful health reform – drug manufacturers have agreed to donate half the cost of their brand-name and biologic products to seniors in the gap.

Click here to watch a video of AARP CEO A. Barry Rand as he discusses the agreement which could mean, “the doughnut hole will be substantially filled for millions of middle-income Americans as part of health care reform.” Then click here to learn more about the agreement. But unless Congress acts, the agreement may never become a reality – which is one more important reason for you and everyone you know to demand Health Action Now!

As always, if you need help with an aging loved one in the Marco Island Florida area, visit http://sanitasole.net.

Here is a terrific article about an island where people live longer!  If you have any questions or need help with an aging loved one in the Marco Island Florida area, visit http://sanitasole.net.

Link to article: The Island Where People Live Longer

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103744881&sc=nl&cc=es-20090531

Unsafe at Any Speed

An Alzheimer’s expert talks about when and how to take the keys away

By Art Jahnke

Last week, when 93-year-old Louis Vesprini accidentally drove his car through the front entrance of a Wal-Mart in Danvers, it was the fourth time in nine months that a Boston-area driver over the age of 80 had lost control of his vehicle and seriously injured a pedestrian. The Wal-Mart crash, which fractured the skull of a one-year-old sitting in a stroller, renewed calls for legislation requiring elderly drivers to pass regularly scheduled tests of their driving abilities.

But according to Robert Stern, a School of Medicine associate professor of neurology and codirector of the Alzheimer’s Disease Clinical & Research Program, any such legislation would be dead in the water, stalled by opposition from the powerful AARP (the American Association of Retired Persons), which claims that the proposed law is ageist.

Continue reading here: http://www.bu.edu/today/2009/06/08/unsafe-any-speed

In anticipation of his presentation “Outfoxing the Senior Scam Sham,” to be presented Mon.15 June, at 7 pm, Keith Dameron, VP/Manager at Orion Bank, pays a surprise visit to the clients at Sanitasole, Marco Island’s Premier Place for Senior Health. Seen here (L to R) are Betty Iannello and Gloria Saul (seated) with David Kocourek and Jean Reed (standing). The presentation observes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

When Islander Keith Dameron entered “Scams Senior Citizens” on a Google search recently, he received 454,000 listings within one second. “There seems to be no end to the crafty creativity of scammers when it comes to employing scams for their most vulnerable targets…seniors,” Dameron said. “It’s today’s reality but awareness can make all the difference in thwarting it.”

Thankfully, protecting oneself is possible through a number of simple actions as Dameron will assure when he presents, Outfoxing the Senior Scam Sham, at Sanitasole, Marco Island’s Premier Place for Senior Health, at 7:00 pm on Monday evening, 15 June, 2009. The event is free and open to the public, though reservations are recommended due to space limitations.

“On Monday, June 15, we’re observing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day at Sanitasole because advocacy and education is what we’re all about,” said Paula Camposano-Robinson RN, Vice President of Clinical Services. “Everyone is encouraged to wear the color purple as a sign of solidarity with our elders. Keith is so attuned to issues that could threaten their safety –especially economically- and we are thrilled to have him as our guest to do this important presentation.”

As Vice President & Bank Manager at the Marco Island branch of Orion Bank, Dameron’s affable, statesmanlike presence throughout the community has become his trademark. His presentation will focus on the types of scams that have been and ARE being perpetrated in our area: Sweepstakes’ telephone scams, jury duty scams, lottery scams, ATM devices capturing card information, check fraud, credit card “swiping” devices, work-at-home scams including “mystery shoppers,” pyramid schemes and identity theft.

“While there certainly are other important topics that can be covered, I don’t want to create too much confusion-or fear,” Dameron explained. “By creating greater awareness, the vulnerability factor is reduced considerably.”

What: “Outfoxing the Senior Scam Sham”
Where: Sanitasole, Marco Island’s Premier Place of Senior Health
218 South Barfield Drive, Marco Island, Florida 34145
Why: to raise awareness of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
When: Mon. 15 June (6:30 – 7 pm Meet & Greet /light refreshments)
Presentation begins promptly at 7 pm
RSVP recommended: 239.389.6100 or email probinson@sanitasole.net

To learn more about the many programs for seniors at Sanitasole, visit www.sanitasole.net.

Background
The International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) was founded in 1997 and is dedicated to global dissemination of information as part of its commitment to world-wide prevention of abuse and neglect of older adults.

The United Nations International Plan of Action adopted by all countries in Madrid, April 2002, clearly recognizes the importance of addressing and preventing abuse and neglect of older adults and puts it in the framework of the Universal Human Rights.

INPEA is dedicated to supporting the plan of action. As part of INPEA’s research agenda, they launched a World Elder Abuse Awareness Day to be held on June 15, 2006.  This project was in partnership and collaboration with interested individuals, agencies, organizations, NGO’s, governments and corporations.

Follow this link for the complete article:  http://www.aginghomehealthcare.com/baby-boomer-generation.html

Visit us at http://sanitasole.net with any questions, or if you need help for an aging loved one in the Marco Island Florida area.

Women especially, have unique warning signs, and research shows stroke risk doubles for a woman if a relative in her immediate family has suffered a stroke.

Once you have been diagnosed with a stroke, it can be very demoralizing. It can completely take away your abilities to walk, talk, think, remember or even breathe depending on the type of stroke and its location.

Because stroke is the leading cause of adult disability in America, it is also the number one reason for nursing home placement according to the American Heart Association.

I have lived through the 911 call. It was 12:10 a.m. on January 30, 2000 when the call came from my Dad alerting me that he was in the Emergency Room at NCH hospital downtown. I immediately thought something happened to him, but I will never forget his tongue-tied words “it is your mother”; I think she had a stroke”.

I could feel the adrenaline rushing through my body as I headed to the hospital, about 10 minutes away. Dad was in shock; he didn’t comprehend the complex environment and somewhat orderly chaos, which is the norm in an ER in the peak of the season in Naples FL. This was also a setting that I was quite familiar with.

I started my career as a graduate nurse in the Intensive Care Units and remained with the healthcare system for 28 years, so I worked closely with the emergency room staff for more than 18 years while overseeing a free standing outpatient Urgent Care Center, an affiliate of the hospital.

On my arrival, Mom was awake, had slurred & garbled speech and was unable to move her left side. As a RN who cared for many sufferers of stroke in the ICU at NCH, I tried to maintain my composure to facilitate the communication from the physicians in layman’s terms to my family.

It was a lengthy and thorny stay in the ER, and several days thereafter as we spoke with physicians, waited for test results, gathered family from around the country while just trying to make sense of it all.

Mom had a hemorrhagic stroke (the least common type). This is when a blood vessel breaks and the blood spills into the brain. If the blood continues to seep into the brain cavity, pressure builds up in the surrounding tissues and irritation and swelling can occur.

With all of the innovative technology, drug remedies and the well known Stroke Center of Excellence at NCH, Mom was not a candidate for any of the miraculous “clot busting” drugs that were available.

The clot–dissolving drugs are only effective if you have a clot, meet the formal criteria and the “window of time”, which is normally within the first three hours of having a stroke.

My siblings and I always said we would never put our parents into a nursing home, so we were already developing an action plan for when Mom would come home. We immediately thought we must have a ramp built on the new house my parents just purchased on Marco Island and perhaps my sister, Jean who is also an RN and I could rotate shifts and take care of mom at home. Surely we would do it.

Each day however was more harrowing than the next, as the CT scans showed blood continuing to seep into the brain tissues, and our loving, spirited and selfless mother, who had just moved with my Dad to Marco, full-time lapsed into a coma.

No one is ever prepared for the sorrow of such an abrupt event, however with family at her side, Dad’s vocals on CD echoing the corridors, and her 5 children offering up the funniest stories of their childhood and beyond aloud, in-between crying and laughter, Mom was at peace and without pain.

This month as we honor mothers, I would like to say ‘I love and miss you mom’ (Grammy Eileen who would have been 80 years of age this year), and Happy Mother’s day from all of us, who you touched so deeply with the simplest of gestures.

And geez, we really miss your awesome cooking and funny stories too! Why didn’t I pay more attention to ‘a little bit of this and a pinch of that” . . . you were an honorable, loving and one amazing woman in all ways, mom. Thank you for teaching us your selfless ways and to always believe in ourselves.

We are taking good care of Dad . . . it was really tough for so long, but don’t worry, we will never put him in a skilled care facility either.  Oh, and you will never believe it; he has finally learned how to cook!  You would not believe it . . . no kidding!

No one will ever replace you mom and although we are still saddened and wish you were here, we feel blessed that you did not have to suffer. Watch over us until we meet again. You are with us, always.

Note: Remember, nearly 80 percent of strokes can be prevented; know the risk factors: stop smoking; keep your BP within normal range, and exercise. Strokes can happen to anyone at any age.

For more information about strokes you can contact the American Stroke Association at 1-888-478-7785 or Sanitasole- Marco Island’s Premier Place for Senior Health at 239.389.6100, or visit our website at: http://www.sanitasole.net