Is Elder Abuse Really That Prevalent?

Type "elder abuse" into a Google search and you will probably be surprised about how much comes up on the issue.  Just now I did it and some of the headlines under the News section include: "Bill Requires Bank Tellers to Report Elder Abuse," "Abuse of Elderly Growing in East Tennessee," "Taking Advantage of the Elderly is a Reality," and "Education, Awareness Keys to Fighting Elder Abuse."  This is a big problem, but for some reason it receives little attention.  Why?  What does this say about our culture?  While answering these questions is important, equally important is figuring out how to solve the problem.  The last headline gives some pretty sound advice: start with education and awareness.  Once you are aware of the warning signs (see one of the previous posts on elder abuse for examples), make an effort to engage with some of the elders in your community.  Show them that they are valuable in our society.  Some of the best advice I'm ever received has come from people over 75.  If I'm going through a problem, chances are I can find an elder who has been through something similar - twice or three times.  So make an effort.  Maybe you'll end up making some great friends. 

Alzheimer's Experts Ask for More Funding from the U.S. Government

Alzheimer's experts have seen the difficulties that the disease causes, and they feel that the government is not providing enough funding for research on the disease, especially as the population ages and more Americans are at risk for it.  In this article, Reuters discusses the fight against Alzheimer's: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/23/us-alzheimers-hearing-idUSTRE75M88M20110623?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews&WT.tsrc=Social+Media&WT.z_smid=twtr-reuters_health&WT.z_smid_dest=Twitter

Respite Care

For caregivers who are feeling overwhelmed, need to attend to their own obligations, or simply want to relax, respite care can provide great relief.  Three important things to consider:

1. Forms of Respite Care

Respite care comes in all shapes and sizes.  Respite facilities will take care of a loved one for as short as a few hours to as long as a few weeks.  These different settings can be adult day care, skilled nursing, or home health facility, and in-home care is also an option.  In adult day care programs, the facility will provide supervision during the day while you go to work or attend to other duties.  For in-home programs, depending on your loved one's needs, paid caregivers can provide services such as housekeeping, meal preparation, help with bathing or other activities of daily living, or even skilled care such as medication management.

2. Payment

The cost of different respite care services vary, but federal and/or state programs can help pay for it.  Additionally, many long-term care insurance companies help cover the cost of respite care.  To find out more about payment, you can contact your local area agency on aging.

3. Ensuring Quality Care

Firstly, when looking at respite care program, you should make sure that it is licensed by the state and that the caregivers it employs are properly qualified, i.e. have background checks and experience with caregiving.  A few pertinent questions to ask:

Are families limited to a certain number of hours for services needed?
Does the program keep an active file on the senior’s medical condition and other needs?
How are the caregivers screened for their jobs?
How are the caregivers supervised and evaluated?
How much does the respite care cost? What is included in the fee?
How do the caregivers handle emergencies?

So remember, if you are feeling overwhelmed as a caregiver, you can always call a respite care program to help. 

WeCare+ Can Help with Caregiving Difficulties

The Wall Street Journal recently published the results of a study on caregiving in the U.S. here.  The study concluded that being a caregiver for an elder family member can put you at a much greater risk for health problems such as depression and diabetes, among others.  Additionally, the study outlines, caring for an elder leads to much greater financial strains.  If you are a caregiver or know someone who is, and are looking for help, please visit the WeCare+ page on our Website at http://www.longtermsol.com/programs/wecare.  Through WeCare+, we will coordinate a nursing assessment on your loved one, develop a plan of care that will detail an individualized plan for taking care of your loved one's needs, refer you to providers that will deliver these needs, and we will offer ongoing care consultation.  Please visit our website or feel free to call us at 1-855-WECARE1 (932-2731) for more information.

Worldwide Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Tomorrow is Worldwide Elder Abuse Awareness Day.  Elder abuse is much more commonplace than you might think, and it can take the form of physical abuse, neglect, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, or financial abuse.  Here are some warning signs for each type:

Physical Abuse: Slap marks, unexplained bruises, and certain types of burns or blisters, such as cigarette burns.

Neglect: Pressure ulcers, filth, lack of medical care, malnutrition or dehydration.

Sexual Abuse: Bruises around the breasts or genital area.

Finacial Abuse: Sudden change in finances and accounts, altered wills or trusts, unusual bank withdrawals, checks written as "loans" or "gifts," and loss of property.

Here are 4 ways you can help prevent elder abuse.

1. Report suspected mistreatment to your local adult protective services agency or law enforcement. 

2. Keep in contact.  Talk with your older friends, neighbors, and relatives.  Maintaining communication will help decrease isolation, a risk factor for mistreatment.  It will also give them a chance to discuss any problems they are experiencing.

3. Contact your local Area Agency on Aging office to identify local programs and sources of support, such as Meals on Wheels.  Thse programs help elders to maintain health, well-being, and independence - all good defenses against abuse.

4. Vounteer.  There are many local opportunities to become involved in programs that provide assistance and support for elders.

Why are Americans Scared of Aging?

A fantastic video of Dr. Bill Thomas speaking about Americans and aging:

Why are Americans so scared of aging and why do we pay so much money to avoid it?  Dr. Thomas gives some great answers and looks into the sociology of why Americans are so wary of giving up adulthood and entering "elderhood."  My favorite part is when he discusses this wariness, and elaborates on how people need to embrace their elderhood.  It reminds me of a history teacher I had years ago.  Our class was discussing elders in Greek society, and our teacher, who was about seventy, began discussing his own personal elderhood.  He said he had liked being young, but he also liked being older.  Each age presents different advantages and disadvantages.  When we accept the advantages and appreciate each day, that is when life becomes truly fulfilling.  As my teacher would have said, carpe diem.

How Much Caregiving is Too Much?

These days, much of the literature surrounding caregiving advises caregivers to "take a break," "care for themselves," and "put themselves first."  This advice is easy to give, but at the end of the day, when you are caring for your own loved one, it is much harder to take.  All the statistics show that increased negative health effects across the board and  monetary strain accompany caregiving, but when you know you can help prevent your loved one from suffering, it is pretty hard to divorce yourself from total investment in caregiving duties.  So what is the solution?  When should you step away from your loved one? 

Obviously, these questions are impossible to answer.  Often, you receive the best advice from others who are in the same situations as you.  For caregivers, support groups are a fantastic outlet.  They give you the opportunity to not only vent stress, but compare notes and advice on how best to manage duties.  As the proverb goes, "A trouble shared is a trouble halved."  And when you are discussing these troubles with others experiencing the same troubles, it makes it much easier. 

To find a caregiver support group near you, you can reach out to local community centers.  Caregiver.com also provides a very valuable resource for finding local resources here.  Good luck, and I hope you find a solution that best fits your needs. 

Is Laughter the Best Medicine?

Probably not, but it certainly helps in many situations.  This article from The Gainseville Times gives tips on how laughter can help alleviate the stress attached to caregiving.  For me, laughter certainly helps to let off some steam.  When I am feeling really stressed, I like to watch reruns of the show Seinfeld.  One of my favorite clips: