Stress Can Contribute to Parkinson's Disease, Research Reveals

Q. I’m very concerned about my 70-year-old mother, a full-time caregiver to my dad, who has been an invalid for years. I’ve been trying to convince her to get additional help because I’m worried the stress will begin to take its toll on her. What can happen with too much stress? And any suggestions on how I can help her?

There’s much ongoing research about the devastating effects of stress on family caregivers. You only need to Google search “caregiver stress” to find the latest.

Most people are aware that living a stressful lifestyle can take its toll, making us age faster and become more susceptible to illness. According to a Northwestern Medicine study published in the journal Nature, researchers find when dopamine-releasing neurons become stressed out they die, which causes Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the United States, second only to Alzheimer's disease.

“Why this small group of neurons dies in Parkinson’s disease is the core question we struggled with,” says lead author D. James Surmeier, the Nathan Smith Davis Professor and chair of physiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. The good news is preclinical research shows drug therapy can help control this stress.

Your mother also should consider asking for help at home. Sometimes family caregivers become so entrenched in caring for their loved ones that it becomes difficult for them to let go. Do what you can to ease your mother away from home. If you or another family member can care for your dad a few hours a week so that she can get away with a friend or even to the mall, that will go a long way to rejuvenate her. Let your mom know that stress could be having negative effects on her health; if she gets sick she will be of no help to your father.

Or consider a professional caregiving service such as your local Home Instead Senior Care® office. Respite care is among the most valuable services that Home Instead Senior Care provides.

CAREGivers are screened, trained, bonded and insured, and can provide a variety of duties including meal preparation, light housekeeping, grocery shopping, medication reminders and errands – all tasks that could provide you and your family with relief from the daily rigors of caregiving.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627. For more information about the Parkinson’s study, visit http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2010/11/parkinsons-disease-stress.html.

Plant-Based Diet, Exercise Thwart Cancer at Any Age

Q. Cancer runs in my family but, at age 78, I see no point in trying to prevent it. At this stage in my life, it’s a lost cause, right?

Not by a long shot, according to recent research. Although one survey revealed that Americans feel increasingly helpless about their personal cancer risk as they grow older, emerging research from the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) shows that even in later life, many cancers can be delayed or prevented through regular physical activity and a plant-based diet.

According to the latest estimates, nearly four in five cancers are diagnosed after age 55 and by age 65, a person’s cancer risk is 10 times that of younger people. New consumer research commissioned by AICR finds that one in three adults over age 50 are unaware of the link between aging and increased cancer risk and many mistakenly believe it’s too late for them to take action.

Even more troubling, according to the AICR survey, is that many older Americans think there is nothing they can do to reduce their cancer risk. According to the survey, approximately one in five Americans over 50 – 22 percent – agreed with the statement, “It’s too late for me to reduce my personal risk of cancer.” Among Americans in the 71 and over age group, this figure was significantly higher: 32 percent.

Increasingly, research is demonstrating that at any age, individuals can take simple steps – like getting and staying more active and eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains – that will help delay aging and lower cancer risk.

AICR is joining forces with the Alliance for Aging Research to launch the campaign It’s Never Too Late to Lower Your Risk, which is designed to close a significant knowledge gap among older Americans about aging and increased cancer risk.

See your doctor to make sure all of your health screenings are up-to-date, and be sure to ask about diet and exercise plans that are appropriate for you. Companionship is important as well. If you need assistance around the house, contact a trusted home care provider like Home Instead Senior Care.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County visit www.homeinstead.com/627. For more information about the “It’s Never to Late to Lower Your Risk” campaign, log on to http://www.aicr.org/site/PageServer?pagename=nevertoolate_home.

Alzheimer's Disease a World-Wide Issue

Q. Alzheimer’s disease is such big news in the U.S. What about elsewhere? And what can the average person do to fight this terrible disease?

Recent news about the global impact of Alzheimer’s disease is very unsettling. A landmark report on the Global Economic Impact of Dementia finds that Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are exacting a massive toll on the global economy, with the problem set to accelerate in coming years. The World Alzheimer Report 2010 provides the most current and comprehensive global picture of the economic and social costs of the illness.

Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually even the ability to carry out the simplest tasks, according to the National Institute on Aging. In most people with Alzheimer’s disease, symptoms first appear after age 60.

The report reveals:

• The worldwide costs of dementia will exceed 1 percent of global GDP in 2010, at $604 billion.

• The number of people with dementia will double by 2030, and more than triple by 2050.

• The costs of caring for people with dementia are likely to rise even faster than the prevalence – especially in the developing world, as more formal social care systems emerge, and rising incomes lead to higher opportunity costs.

“This is a wake-up call that Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are the single most significant health and social crisis of the 21st century,” said Dr Daisy Acosta, Chairman of ADI. “World governments are woefully unprepared for the social and economic disruptions this disease will cause.”

Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. But a nutritious diet, physical activity, social engagement, and mentally stimulating pursuits can all help people stay healthy, according to the National Institute on Aging. New research suggests the possibility that these factors also might help to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease.

Home Instead Senior Care offers at-home support for seniors who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and their family caregivers. Our local office is participating in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk to help raise funds and awareness about the disease. To make a donation, visit our team page.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627. To read details of the Alzheimer’s report, log on to www.alz.co.uk/worldreport. For more about Alzheimer’s disease from the National Institute on Aging, log on to http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/adfact.htm.

Older Adults Catching Up to Social Media World

Q. My 58-year-old sister is the primary family caregiver for our parents. I have been trying to get her interested in social media as a way to stay in touch with the family and get support for herself. She says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Is she right? She desperately needs help and support.

No, she is not correct and here are the statistics to prove it. Social networking use among Internet users ages 50 and older has nearly doubled -- from 22 percent to 42 percent over the past year, according to the PEW Internet & American Life Project.

Although email continues to be the primary way that older users maintain contact with friends, families and colleagues, many users now rely on social network platforms to help manage their daily communications – sharing links, photos, videos, news and status updates with a growing network of contacts.

About half (47 percent) of Internet users ages 50-64 and one in four (26 percent) of users ages 65 and older now use social networking sites. That's up from just 25 percent of online adults ages 50-64 and 13 percent of those ages 65 and older who reported social networking use one year ago in a survey conducted in April 2009.

The use of Twitter and other services to share status updates has also grown among older users -- most notably among those ages 50-64. While just 5 percent of users ages 50-64 had used Twitter or another status-update service in 2009, 11percent now say they use these tools.

By comparison, social networking sites have gained a much larger foothold in the lives of older Americans over time. One-in-five (20 percent) online adults ages 50-64 say they use social networking sites on a typical day, up from 10 percent one year ago. Likewise, 13 percent of online adults ages 65 and older log on to social networking sites, compared with just 4 percent who did so in 2009.

Why not enlist the help of a younger family member to show your sister the ropes? Also, consider recommending to your sister a professional caregiving service, which can provide her with a break from the rigors of caregiving. Home Instead Senior Care CAREGivers are screened, trained, bonded and insured. Call today to learn more.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627. To read the full social media report, log on to http://www.pewinternet.org/.

Recommended Reading: Final Gifts

The joy in caring for seniors often lies in the wisdom and rich life history they impart, or perhaps in the chance to reciprocate the care a loved one once provided to you. The challenge, however, comes with their declining physical or mental health and facing their inevitable end of life.

Despite death’s inevitability, the elderly and their caregivers may never feel fully prepared for the difficult, or simply unknown, circumstances that lead up to that final breath. Final Gifts, a moving and compassionate book written by two seasoned hospice nurses, provides a comforting perspective about approaching the end of life. It discusses how everyone involved can better understand what is happening and what to expect. Hopefully it will similarly set you at ease in dealing with the sometimes trying circumstances involved in end-of-life care.

The authors, Maggie Callanan and Patricia Kelley, who have had years of experience dealing with terminally ill patients, relay true-life stories of people’s dying process and common themes among them. They wrote the book with the intent of helping family and friends understand the special awareness, needs and communications of the dying.

Final Gifts particularly resonated with the staff here at Home Instead Senior Care who have spent time caring for clients in their final days, or have interacted with the clients’ family members. We highly recommend this book to those looking for comfort, peace and clarity during the emotionally tumultuous circumstances that surround the death of a loved one.

Getting Things in Order, Before and After

Ever wonder what documents you need in place before you die? Or what your family needs to take care of after you die?

Two Frederick-area experts in end-of-life issues will address these important considerations at a dinner seminar on Wednesday September 29, 2010. David Wingate, Elder Law Attorney will discuss wills, durable power of attorney and living wills. Bill Buehrer from Stauffer's Funeral Home will discuss preplanning and topics to be taken care of after death.

The event will take place from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Frederick Senior Center on Taney Avenue. Please RSVP to (301) 600-1605 by September 24. A $2 donation per person is requested to cover the cost of dinner.

Report Shows Americans' Weight Peaks Before Retirement

Q. It’s such a struggle to keep my weight down; it seems that the closer I get to 65 the more my weight creeps up. Is that my imagination or have I just been lax about my eating habits? It’s been much more difficult to eat healthy meals since my wife died.

There’s good news and bad news. The bad news first: obesity is continuing to increase in the U.S., according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that focuses on obesity in each state. There is an interesting curve in this report that indicates Americans tend to peak in weight somewhere in their early 60s, just before they become senior citizens at age 65.

Now the good news: It is then – at about retirement age – that a rather rapid decline in weight occurs as seniors move into old age. About the same percentage of seniors age 70 or older claim to be obese as do the youngest adults – those age 18 to 29, according to the CDC’s Division of Nutrition.

Eating healthy is a daily challenge, as is the temptation to overeat. Here’s a tip from a study conducted earlier this year: Scientists recently reported results of a new clinical trial confirming that just two 8-ounce glasses of water, taken before meals, enables people to shed pounds.

“We found in earlier studies that middle-aged and older people who drank two cups of water right before eating a meal ate between 75 and 90 fewer calories during that meal,” said Brenda Davy, Ph.D., an associate professor of nutrition at Virginia Tech and senior author of the study.

“In this recent study, we found that over the course of 12 weeks, dieters who drank water before meals, three times per day, lost about 5 pounds more than dieters who did not increase their water intake,” she noted

A professional caregiving service also can help. Assistance with meal preparation and mealtime companionship are among the most requested services that Home Instead Senior Care CAREGivers provide. These professional CAREGivers, who are screened, trained, bonded and insured, also can assist with grocery shopping, transportation and errands – all tasks that help facilitate nutritious eating. Contact your local Home Instead Senior Care office today to learn more.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627. For more information about the appetite suppression study, log on to http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2010/08/082310-cals-davy.html and for more information on obesity prevalence, including an animated map, visit www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns or www.cdc.gov/obesity.

Latest Research Reveals Cell Phones Don't Cause Cancer

Q. I would like to get my 82-year-old mother a cell phone, but she remembers all that speculation in the early days about how these phones could cause cancer. Is there any new data on this topic?

Indeed there is. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says that available scientific evidence, including World Health Organization (WHO) findings released in May, shows no increased health risk due to radiofrequency (RF) energy, a form of electromagnetic radiation that is emitted by cell phones.

FDA also cites a separate National Cancer Institute program finding that, despite the dramatic increase in cell phone use, occurrences of brain cancer did not increase between 1987 and 2005. Although cell phones can be sold without FDA clearance or approval, the agency monitors the effects the phones have on health. FDA has the authority to take action if cell phones are shown to emit RF energy at a level that is hazardous to the user.

The study reported little or no risk of brain tumors for most long-term users of cell phones. “There are still questions on the effect of long-term exposure to radio frequency energy that are not fully answered by Interphone,” says Abiy Desta, network leader for science at FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “However, this study provides information that will be of great value in assessing the safety of cell phone use.”

WHO reports that Interphone is the largest case-control study of cell phone use and brain tumors to date, and includes the largest numbers of users with at least 10 years of RF energy exposure.

Although evidence shows little or no risk of brain tumors for most long-term users of cell phones, FDA says people who want to reduce their RF exposure can reduce the amount of time spent on the cell phone or use speaker mode or a headset to place more distance between the head and the cell phone.

These findings should help put your mom’s mind at ease. There are also other ways besides cell phones to help your mom stay independent. She can remain connected to her friends and family with the help of a non-medical CAREGiver from the Home Instead Senior Care® network.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627. For more about the study, visit http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm212273.htm.

Performance Tests May Predict Cognitive Impairment

Q. Dementia runs in my family. At 78, I seem to be doing O.K. Is there any way to predict whether I may have problems down the road?

Recent research from Rush University Medical Center has shed light on this issue. Scientists there discovered that lower, though not necessarily impaired, performance on tests measuring story learning predicted subsequent cognitive decline in a normal population. Other indicators were retention and processing speed in motor tasks dependent on visual control, as well as symptoms of depression.

However, none of the factors alone predicted the onset of mild cognitive impairment a year later. Rather, poor learning had to be accompanied by either slower body motor processes linked to vision processing speed or depressive symptoms.

Interestingly, researchers also found that neither gender nor the apolipoprotein E genotype, long believed to be risk factors for mild cognitive impairment, had any substantial influence on later impairment.

The 94 individuals who participated in the study underwent a battery of standard cognitive and psychosocial tests to assess mood, attention, visuospatial abilities, language facility, memory and intelligence.

“For a long time, researchers believed that memory alone was the only important factor in mild cognitive impairment,” said Dr. S. Duke Han, assistant professor of neuropsychology in the Department of Behavioral Sciences at Rush and lead author on the study. “Our study is one of the first to suggest the importance of other factors in predicting this possible pre-Alzheimer's condition.”

Hopefully, you’re not spending your days worrying about dementia. Instead talk to your doctor about the many ways to keep your mind active. Physical activity and good nutrition play vital roles. Human interaction also is important so if you spend long periods of time alone be sure to get out and mingle with others your age. Or consider hiring a caregiving companion such as a CAREGiver from the Home Instead Senior Care® network. CAREGivers are screened, trained, bonded and insured, and have passed thorough background checks. Also, efforts are made to match CAREGivers with seniors of similar interests.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, log on to www.homeinstead.com/627. For additional information about this study, log on to http://www.rush.edu/webapps/MEDREL/servlet/NewsRelease?id=1392.

Senior Driving an Individual Issue

Q. How do I know if my 86-year-old father is a good driver and should still be on the road? His doctor is starting to question whether he should be driving.

First, you’ll want to take seriously any concerns that your dad’s doctor is expressing. Have a candid discussion with your father. Make sure he has a valid driver’s license and check the laws in your state. Some require driving tests and physicals for those over a certain age and shorter renewal periods. Then make it a point to ride with your dad to see how he’s doing. If he is hard of hearing, encourage him to always wear hearing aids when he gets behind the wheel.

In addition, check the exterior of his vehicle for any fresh scratches or dings. Look for telltale signs that your father might be having problems seeing such as the seat pushed up close to the dash board. If your father seems to be doing O.K., don’t be surprised.

The latest research reveals that older drivers are holding their own. A study reported in the July issue of Accident Analysis & Prevention found that older drivers are more sensitive to potential hazards than young, inexperienced drivers.

The Study, “Age Skill and Hazard Perception,” from the Human Factors Safety Laboratory at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), suggests that older drivers focus more on potentially risky situations, such as approaching an intersection or pedestrians on a curb, than young drivers.

What’s more, an Insurance Institute of Highway Safety study released in June noted that by 2008, the number of people 70 or older in the U.S. increased to 78 percent. But fatal crashes per licensed driver in that group declined about 37 percent. Among drivers 80 and older the fatal crash rate fell by nearly half compared with the he fatal crash rate for drivers 35 to 54 years, which fell only 23 percent.

The Insurance Institute attributed older drivers’ superior driving record in part to self-policing. Many seniors whose driving fitness is questionable are giving up their cars on their own. Rules in many states to strengthen testing before renewing licenses instead of renewing by mail are also helping.

Driving is an individual issue. If and when your dad does need to give up his driving, remind him that he has options including companionship service. The Home Instead Senior Care® network provides support for older adults who can no longer drive.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627. For more about the driving study, log on to http://www.iihs.org/externaldata/srdata/docs/sr4506.pdf.

Health Costs Most Significant Factor in Seniors' Well-Being

Q. I’m curious; what are the biggest challenges that today’s seniors face and what can we older adults – particularly those like me who are living alone – do about it?

Senior citizens in America are enjoying longer lives, better health and better economic security, but the cost of health care for the elderly has risen dramatically, according to Older Americans 2010: Key Indicators of Well-Being, which was released in June by the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics.

Here’s the evidence:

• After adjustment for inflation, health care costs increased significantly among older Americans from $9,224 in 1992 to $15,081 in 2006.

• From 1977 to 2006, the percentage of household income that people age 65 and over allocated to out-of-pocket spending for health care services increased among those in the poor/near poor income category from 12 percent to 28 percent.

• The number of Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Part D prescription drug plans increased from 18.2 million (51 percent of beneficiaries) in June 2006 to 22.2 million (57 percent of beneficiaries) in December 2009.

Sadly, there was no significant change in the percentage of people age 65 and over reporting physical activity between 1997 and 2008.

The best way to keep health care costs under control is to do all within your power to stay healthy, which includes following a nutritious diet and exercising. Many older adults lose their spouses and begin a downward spiral into poor health, sometimes just because they are lonely.

If you find yourself in this circumstance, please consider a professional caregiving service. The local office of the Home Instead Senior Care® network hires CAREGivers to go into the homes and care communities of older adults to help them with a variety of services and, oftentimes, just to provide companionship.

CAREGivers are screened, trained, bonded and insured. Many of these CAREGivers are older adults who share common interests with other seniors. So ensuring that you have adequate help including companionship is one way that seniors can reduce their risks of falls and other issues that could impact their health.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627. For more information about this report, log on to http://www.agingstats.gov/agingstatsdotnet/Main_Site/Data/2010_Documents/Docs/OA_2010.pdf.

Older Adults Face Declining Buying Power

Q. My 72-year-old mother seems to be short on cash and I am concerned. Perhaps it’s my imagination that her Social Security check doesn’t go as far as it once did. As much as I would like to, I am not in a position to help. Mom is in good health and I think would like to work, but she’s a retiree. What could she do? She has a caring and compassionate heart and lots of energy.

Seniors have lost almost one-quarter of their buying power since 2000, according to the Annual Survey of Senior Costs, released recently by The Senior Citizens League (TSCL), a senior advocacy group. So your mother’s financial concerns may, in fact, be reality.

In most years, seniors receive a small increase in their Social Security checks, intended to help them keep up with the costs of inflation. But since 2000, the Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) has increased average benefits just 31 percent while typical senior expenses have jumped almost 63 percent, more than twice as fast, according to the TSCL.

What’s more, seniors are receiving no COLA this year for the first time since the automatic COLA’s introduction in 1975, and are forecast to receive no COLA again next year.

A senior with the average Social Security benefit in 2000 received $816 per month, a figure that rose to $1072.30 by 2010. However, that senior would require a Social Security benefit of $1,328.40 per month in 2010 just to maintain his or her 2000 lifestyle.

A majority of the 37 million Americans ages 65 and over who receive a Social Security check depend on it for at least 50 percent of their total income, and one in three beneficiaries rely on it for 90 percent or more of their total income, the TSCL reports.

If your mother does want to go back to work, Home Instead Senior Care® values and regularly hires older adults. Home Instead Senior Care likes to employ seniors because they relate so well to others their age. If your mother is a good fit, she would be fully trained by Home Instead Senior Care. Encourage her to check it out. Work schedules are part-time and flexible.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627. For more about the survey, visit http://www.seniorsleague.org/images/press_release_2010_loss_buying_power.pdf.

Seniors Beware of Internet Magazine Sales

Q. My grandchildren have introduced me to the Internet in recent years and I have started doing more of my business online. But I am still very nervous. For instance, I subscribe to a number of magazines and have been thinking it would be much easier to order them online. What should I beware of and is there any way to help keep me safer from thieves?

It’s great that you are wary since thieves have found innovative ways to do their dirty deeds using the latest technology. The National Fraud Information Center, founded in 1992 by the National Consumers League to fight fraud, offers these tips:

• Get all the details before you decide to subscribe. The cost may be described as “pennies a month” but you need to know the length of the subscription commitment and the total cost. Legitimate companies will give you all the details upfront and never insist that you act immediately.

• Be cautious about unsolicited e-mails. They are often fraudulent. The best approach may be to not respond at all and simply delete the e-mail.

• Be wary of “free prizes.” They’re not free if you have to buy magazines to get them.

• Know the cancellation policy. Some subscription services don’t allow cancellations once they have placed the orders with the publishers.

• Watch out for imposters. Crooks may pretend to be acting on behalf of well-known magazine publishers when they have absolutely no connection with them at all and will simply pocket your money.

• Don’t give your credit card or bank account information unless you’re making a payment. There is no reason why the company would need that information for any other purpose.

Contact your Internet provider to help ensure that you are doing all you can to prevent spam e-mail from coming to you. If you’re looking for a second set of eyes to help keep you safe in your home, consider a professional caregiving company. Home Instead Senior Care® hires CAREGivers who are screened, bonded and insured, and well-trained to keep seniors safe in their homes.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627. For more about the NFIC and other ways to protect against fraud, log on to http://www.fraud.org/tips/internet/magazine.htm.

Controlling Weight Key to Avoiding Diabetes

Q. As I approach 75, I’m worried about contracting diabetes like my parents did. What can I do to avoid going down the same path? Since my wife died it’s more difficult for me to eat balanced and healthy meals.

Diabetes has doubled in the U.S. in the last 15 years and is highest among older adults ages 65 to 79 so many other seniors face these issues and share your concerns. Start with your doctor, who may very well tell you what other studies have confirmed: weight control is one important way to keep type 2 diabetes away. In fact, yet another recent study addresses this very topic.

Researchers at the University of Washington, Seattle, examined the relationship between measures of overall body fat, fat distribution, changes in these measures and diabetes risk among 4,193 men and women 65 and older.

They discovered that the Body Mass Index (BMI) at 50 years of age, weight, fat mass, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, and waist-height ratio were all strongly related to the risk of diabetes.

Compared with participants whose weight remained stable (plus or minus 4.4 pounds) over the time period, those who gained 20 pounds or more between the age of 50 years and entry into the study had an approximately three-fold greater risk of developing diabetes during follow-up, regardless of their BMI at 50 years of age.

Participants who were obese (BMI 30 or greater) at 50 years of age and who experienced the most weight gain (more than 20 pounds) between the age of 50 years and entry into the study had five times the risk of developing diabetes compared with weight-stable participants with normal BMI (less than 25) at 50 years of age.

Ask your doctor to recommend a good diet and exercise program. If you’re having trouble managing mealtimes, why not consider joining friends for lunch at a senior center or local coffee shop. Also consider seeking the support of a professional caregiving company. Shopping, meal preparation and mealtime companionship are among the most requested services provided by Home Instead Senior Care CAREGivers, who are screened, trained, bonded and insured.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627. For more information about the diabetes study, log on to http://pubs.ama-assn.org/media/2010j/0622.dtl#3.

Cataracts Are Not an Inevitable Part of Aging

Q. It seems as though all of my mom’s friends have cataracts. Is this an inevitable part of aging? My mom lives alone and needs cataract surgery, which is a concern for me as a long distance caregiver.

Cataracts, a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision, impacts more than half of all Americans by the age of 80, according to the National Eye Institute.

A cataract can occur in either or both eyes. It cannot spread from one eye to the other. Common symptoms, according to the National Eye Institute, include:
● Blurry vision

● Colors that seem faded

● Glare

● Not being able to see well at night

● Double vision

● Frequent prescription changes in your eye wear

A study published in the June 2010 research Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals, reports that cataracts could be less prevalent among aging women if they ate more foods rich in vitamins and minerals.

This study looked at the records of 1,808 women who participated in the Carotenoids in Age-Related Eye Disease study, residing in Iowa, Wisconsin and Oregon. Results from this study, conducted by researchers from the University of Wisconsin, revealed that healthy diets are more strongly related to the lower occurrence of nuclear cataracts than any other modifiable risk factor or protective factor studied in this sample of women. Nuclear cataracts are the most common in all people, forming through natural aging in the center of the lens – the nucleus.
The study further concluded that lifestyle improvements such as healthy diets, smoking cessation and avoiding obesity may substantively lower the need for and economic burden of cataract surgery in aging American women.

In most healthy adults, cataract surgery is not a difficult procedure, but your mother most likely would need help with transportation and other services for a time. Consider contacting Home Instead Senior Care® for assistance. CAREGivers provide companionship, meal preparation, medication reminders, light housekeeping, errands and shopping. A CAREGiver could give both you and your mother peace of mind following her surgery, especially if you can’t be there yourself.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627. For additional information about cataracts, log on to http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-06/jaaj-hda061010.php.

Clutter Control an Important Part of Home Safety

Q. My arthritis is worsening and I am having more trouble keeping newspapers and magazines from piling up in my house. In addition, it’s difficult parting with things that have meant so much to me through the years. Is this a common problem?

Yes it is, but there are solutions. While clutter is not a problem unique to seniors, conditions of aging including arthritis can lead to disorder and chaos.

Too much clutter is a safety risk such as slipping on loose papers, threat of fire or the health effects of mold and mildew. Clutter might also make you uncomfortable to have guests in your home.

We suggest a three-step plan using three bins -- one for the stuff you want to keep, one for donations and the other for trash. If you need a little help, why not enlist the assistance of a family member like a daughter or granddaughter. It could be a fun activity and an event that will help you share memories with your loved ones. Here are some other ideas:

• Save only a piece of a dress to make a quilt or display it in a shadow box. Scrapbooking and converting photos to DVDs are other ways to save treasured keepsakes without all the extra mess.
• Give unused gifts back to the giver or grandchildren.

• Buy a shredder to help you dispose of those unwanted papers. Recycle newspapers and magazines.

• Say “no” to free stuff and get off junk mail lists. (Go to http://www.dmachoice.org/, http://www.catalogchoice.org/, http://www.optoutprescreen.com/ for help getting off the lists.)
•  If your family doesn’t want old photos, give them to museum, historical society, theater, library, church or synagogue.

Maybe what you really need is companionship. Make sure your stuff isn’t taking the place of people. Loneliness may also lead to depression, which also makes it difficult for seniors to get organized. Consider the services of a professional organizer and caregiver. CAREGivers from the locally owned Home Instead Senior Care® network would be happy to help you manage your home and keep you company.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627. For more information visit http://www.cluttercreep.com/.

Caffeine May Help Seniors Avoid Dementia

Q. I love coffee, but my daughter is always after me to quit drinking it at my age (86). In fact she thinks my diet isn’t so great, either, since my wife died. I do the best I can and feel pretty good for an old codger.

As it turns out, the evidence continues to grow showing the benefits of caffeine in fighting Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Although caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive drug worldwide and a particular favorite for senior citizens who thrive on coffee, its potential beneficial effect for maintenance of proper brain functioning has only recently begun to be adequately appreciated. Here are some interesting findings you can share with your daughter from the report “Therapeutic Opportunities for Caffeine in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases”:

● Multiple beneficial effects of caffeine to normalize brain function and prevent its degeneration.

● Caffeine's neuroprotective profile and its ability to reduce amyloid-beta production (a characteristic of those with Alzheimer’s disease.)

● Caffeine as a disease-modifying agent for Alzheimer's disease.

● Positive impact of caffeine on cognition and memory performance.

● Studies suggesting that caffeine may be protective against Parkinson's disease

As far as the rest of your diet goes, that’s something you’ll have to work out with your daughter. According to a study conducted for the Home Instead Senior Care network, 57 percent of seniors rarely cook for themselves. And yet, a well-balanced diet is essential to healthy aging. Seniors whose diets are nutritionally lacking are at increased risk for a variety of health problems.

Have you thought about visiting a local senior center for lunch? Such facilities offer nutritious meals at an affordable price with a dollop of companionship on the side. Many older adults don’t realize how much they miss the companionship of dining with others after a spouse has died. You could find that improves your diet as well.

Or, if you’d like to remain in your home for meals, why not invite over friends or hire a caregiving companion. CAREGivers for the locally owned office of the Home Instead Senior Care network, for instance, provide errands for shopping, meal preparation and companionship. And that’s something that your daughter might approve of as well.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, log on to www.homeinstead.com/627. For additional information about research on the benefits of caffeine, link to http://iospress.metapress.com/content/t13614762731/.

Caregivers of Seniors with Dementia at Greater Risk

Q. I have been trying to care for my husband who has dementia and the strain is wearing on me. I love my husband and want to keep him at home with me, but I don’t know what to do. Am I at greater risk as a caregiver myself?

Caring for a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most stressful jobs around.

More than 40 percent of family and other unpaid caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s and other dementia rate the emotional stress of caregiving as high or very high, compared with 28 percent of caregivers of other older people, according to the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2010 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report. About one-third of family caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s and other dementia also have symptoms of depression, the report noted.

What’s more, new research published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society has revealed that older married adults whose spouse has dementia are at significantly higher risk for developing dementia themselves, compared with similar older married adults whose spouse never develops dementia.

Dementia caregivers have been shown to provide more assistance, and to report more personal sacrifices and stress, than those who care for physically impaired elderly without dementia. While there are many published studies showing that dementia caregivers are at higher risk for health problems and depression, none have examined risk for dementia in the caregiver.

The 2,442 subjects (1,221 married couples) in the study aged 65 and older from Northern Utah, without dementia at onset, were studied for up to 12 years to monitor for onset of dementia in husbands, wives or both. During this time, 125 cases of dementia only in the husband were diagnosed, 70 only in the wife, and 30 where both spouses were diagnosed (60 people). The results showed that incident dementia was significantly associated with older age, and having a spouse with dementia.

What remains unclear is how much of this association is due to caregiver stress compared with environment. One thing is for sure, you need help. In fact, a little extra help at home can not only make it easier for you to care for your husband, but it could keep him safely at home for a longer time.

CAREGivers with Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County have experience caring for older adults with Alzheimer’s disease. Contact your area office to learn more today, and call your local Area Agency on Aging for additional resources in your community.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627. For more about the study log on to http://www.americangeriatrics.org/press/id:665.

Medication Mismanagement Can Lead to Falls

Q. My 85-year-old mother has had several incidents of falls recently. What’s causing this and how can I ensure she remains safe at home?

Falls could be caused by a number of aging-related issues so it’s important that your mother sees her doctor as soon as possible. A medical professional will be the best person to make an accurate diagnosis. If your mother is on multiple medications, here is one possibility:

Older adults increase their chances of falling by not taking their medications as directed, according to an article in the latest edition of the Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological and Medical Sciences. This new information comes from a recent study of Boston-area residents over age 70, which found that those who sometimes neglected their medications experienced a 50 percent increased rate of falls compared with those who did not.

Sarah D. Berry, MD, MPH and her co-authors at the Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew Senior Life in Boston, are the first investigators to study the association between falls and medication adherence.

A study participant was characterized as having low medication adherence if he or she answered “yes” to any of the following questions:

● Do you ever forget to take your medications?

● Are you careless at times about taking your medications?

● When you feel better do you sometimes stop taking your medications? Sometimes if you feel worse when taking your medication, do you stop taking it?

High adherence was defined as a “no” answer to every question. In total, 48 percent of the respondents were classified as having low medication adherence.

Those in the low-adherence group experienced falls at an annual rate of 1.5 times that of the high adherence group.

Be sure your mother shares all her medication information with her medical professional when she visits her doctor. No matter what your age, sometimes it helps to have a second set of eyes and ears when visiting the doctor’s office. If you can’t go along with your mom, why not call a trusted friend or a CAREGiverSM from the locally owned office of the Home Instead Senior Care® network. CAREGivers are screened, bonded, insured and trained in a variety of non-medical home care tasks including medication reminders.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627. For more information about the study, log on to http://www.geron.org/About%20Us/Press%20Room/Archived%20Press%20Releases/72-2010-press-releases/681-irregular-medication-use-puts-seniors-at-risk-for-falling.

Statistics Forecast Need for More Care

Q. Since May is Older Americans Month, what do the latest statistics tell us about growing older in the United States? What future needs are unfolding for seniors and their families?

An interesting profile is emerging that does provide a clearer picture of the face of aging in this country today and into the decades ahead. First of all, more people are centenarians. An estimated 104,754 seniors in the United States were at least 100 years old on Nov. 1, 2009, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

What’s more, projections reveal that reaching that magic century mark will become more common. By 2050, the U.S. Census Bureau predicts that 601,000 seniors will be at least 100 years old.

Seniors are a busy bunch as well. An estimated 6.2 million were in the labor force in 2008. Projections indicate that by 2016, the number will reach 10.1 million, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Statistics also reveal a population either living alone or with relatives. Nearly one-third (29 percent) of people 65 and older were widowed in 2009, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Some were relying on family support. In 2008, 68 percent were in households with relatives, 5 percent lived in group quarters and 2 percent lived with non-relatives, as reported by the 2008 American Community Survey.

A study conducted by the Home Instead Senior Care® network found that an overwhelming majority (86 percent) of seniors want to continue living at home for as long as possible. But who will care for this growing number of seniors, which could reach nearly 72 million by 2025?

It should be no surprise that caregiving is emerging as one of the fastest-growing professions in this country. It’s estimated that more than two million caregivers will be needed to keep pace with the demand in the decade ahead. For instance, Home Instead Senior Care, the largest provider of care in the world, currently employs more than 65,000 CAREGivers. For the company to keep pace with projected demand, it will have to double its care force in just two years.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, view our eBrochure: http://www.hisc627.digbro.com/, or visit www.homeinstead.com/627.

Reminiscing Helps Ward off Depression

Q. My 85-year-old dad, who was a successful businessman, seems depressed lately and I'm not sure what I can do to pull him out of the blues. He's starting to experience a little dementia and I know he struggles with loneliness, since he lives by himself.

Reliving your dad’s glory days may help. A new study of 158 Georgia centenarians has found that past satisfaction with life, even if it's simply recalling isolated career accomplishments, is the key to happiness in our oldest years. Researchers from Iowa State University's gerontology program have helped identify what predicts happiness and long life in centenarians, as well as what causes depression in seniors 80 and older.

“The past is the best predictor of the future, so you’re not going to turn your life around at 85 or 90,” said Peter Martin, director of Iowa State's gerontology program and a professor of human development and family studies (HDFS), who collaborated on both studies. “But it's also good to know that past accomplishments and the happiness that you had -- looking back at your past -- carries you through these very last years.”

Your dad’s cognitive decline also could be contributing to depression, researchers discovered. For the depression study, researchers added 78 octogenarians (people 80 or older) to the happiness centenarian sample. They found that diminished cognitive problem-solving ability was a significant predictor of depression in octogenarians, while living in a nursing home increased depression among centenarians.

Researchers also were surprised to learn that overall cognition was not a stronger predictor of depression at either age. Rather, it was the loss of the subject's control -- problem-solving in the octogenarians, and choosing where they lived in the centenarians -- that tended to depress them.

While there was no indication that resources affect happiness, past life satisfaction, even individual achievements, was found to have a direct association.

Why not help your dad reminisce by reconnecting with others with whom he could share stories. Senior centers and churches or synagogues are good places to go. Or consider hiring a caregiver companion who would love to hear all about his life. Home Instead Senior Care® hires CAREGivers who love to listen.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, contact visit www.homeinstead.com/627. For more about the studies above, log on to http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2010/mar/centenarians.

One in Four Lacks Ability to Make End-of-Life Decisions

Q. My 82-year-old mother refuses to address her end-of-life wishes. I don’t like to think about her passing either, but I’d much rather know what she would want. Do you have any suggestions? I’m afraid she will get to the point where she will be unable to make these decisions for herself.

Your concerns are certainly warranted. More than one in four elderly Americans lacks the capacity to make their own medical care decisions at the end of life, according to a study of 3,746 people that was published April 1 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Those who had advance directives including living wills or durable powers of attorney for healthcare received the care they wanted most of the time, says lead author Maria Silveira, M.D., M.P.H., physician scientist at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System’s Clinical Management Research and assistant professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan.

“Our research shows that a substantial number of older adults need someone else to make decisions about whether aggressive, limited or comfort care should be provided at the end of life,” Silveira said. “This study underscores the need to prepare oneself and one’s family for the often emotional and difficult medical decisions that can arise at the end of life. It also suggests that the time spent to craft a living will and appoint a durable power of attorney for health care can be worthwhile.”

Advance directives usually document patients’ wishes for life-sustaining treatment in a living will, as well as their choice of a proxy decision-maker in a durable power of attorney for health care.

Many people do not understand that advance directives are used only when patients can’t make medical care decisions for themselves, and they can be revoked by the patient at any time, either in writing or orally, Silveira said. Advance directives are frequently confused with wills and durable powers of attorney, which have no bearing on medical care decisions.

If you need help talking to your mother about end-of-life issues or for more information about resources, go to http://www.4070talk.com/ and click on “Life Legacies.” You’ll find tips about how to discuss sensitive topics like these.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care® of Frederick County, log on to www.homeinstead.com/627. For more about the research, log on to http://www2.med.umich.edu/prmc/media/newsroom/details.cfm?ID=1532.

Family, Friends and Caregivers Important for Ill Seniors

Q. My 86-year-old widowed dad has become ill. I'm the closest relative and yet I live four hours away. I'm beside myself with worry. What can I do?

Did you know that nearly 40 percent of chronically ill older adults in the U.S. live alone, and a majority of those who are married have spouses with at least one chronic illness that can affect their ability to provide support? That’s according to a University of Michigan study published recently in the journal Chronic Illness.

Researchers found that 93 percent of the chronically ill older adults had adult children, but for half of them, the children lived more than 10 miles away. Roughly 19 million older chronically ill Americans have adult children like you living at a distance.

“Fortunately, most of these people had adult children who could be another source of support for their chronic illness care,” said John D. Piette, Ph.D., professor of internal medicine and a senior career scientist with the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System. “But these relationships are increasingly strained as adult children move farther away from their parents. Distances pose a barrier to the monitoring and frequent support for behavior change that many chronically ill patients need.”

These Michigan researchers are working to develop telephone monitoring systems that involve family members in a relative’s care through e-mail alerts or automated phone calls. The “CarePartners” program has been developed for patients with heart failure, diabetes, depression and cancer chemotherapy. The program is currently being studied.

“Family members need more than just information to be successful,” said co-author Ann-Marie Rosland, M.D., clinical lecturer in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School and research investigator for the Center for Clinical Management Research in the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System. “We need to teach family members communication skills and provide the tools that they can use to encourage patients to stick to their health regimen.”

Respite assistance also can be a benefit to a long distance family caregiver like you. Having a trusted companion could help put you at ease and give your father the assistance and support he needs at home. Contact Home Instead Senior Care® for more information.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627 or view our web brochure at http://www.hisc627.digbro.com./ For more about the article, visit http://www2.med.umich.edu/prmc/media/newsroom/details.cfm?ID=1550.

More Families Living Under One Roof

Q. I'm thinking of moving my 90-year-old father in with the family. Is this common and what should I know?

Multigenerational living is on the rise. As a matter of fact, about 6.6 million U.S. households in 2009 had at least three generations of family members, an increase of 30 percent since 2000, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures.

When "multigenerational" is more broadly defined to include at least two adult generations, a record 49 million, or one in six people, live in such households, according to a study released recently by the Pew Research Center.

The rise in multigenerational households is heavily influenced by economics, with many young adults known as "boomerang kids" moving back home with mom and dad because of limited job prospects and a housing crunch, according to the Pew report.

But extended life spans and increased options in home health and outpatient care over nursing homes have also played a role.

Other findings from recent studies:

• The most common multigenerational family is an older parent who owns the house, living with an adult child and grandchild.
• Older women are more likely than older men to live in a multigenerational household.

Consider the emotional, financial, comfort and safety aspects of intergenerational living before you move your dad in with you. There are many things you should consider before merging households. Matthew Kaplan Ph.D., Penn State Intergenerational Programs extension specialist, said that families should approach decisions of combining households from a partnership perspective.

“Ask yourself, ‘Can I get the whole family behind the idea?’ When a decision is made to combine families, expectations must be set right away. Family members must listen and become engaged in conversation. The more the entire family buys in at the beginning, the more likely they will be to come up with great ideas,” he noted.

“People need independence, but seeking interdependence and family unity are important as well, particularly in today’s hectic and demanding world.” Perhaps your father would rather stay at home with a little extra help?

For a variety of tools and resources that can help you decide whether or not to combine families as well as offer tips if you decide to make the move, go to www.makewayformom.com.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, log on to www.homeinstead.com/627. For more about the research, log on to http://pewsocialtrends.org/pubs/752/the-return-of-the-multi-generational-family-household.

Maintaining Weight as We Age Means More Exercise

Q. I've exercised most of my adult years and now, at 79, enjoy good health. I've been trying to lose a little extra weight that I gained over the holidays, but I've been having a terrible time. Is this my imagination or am I doing something wrong?

Unfortunately, no. You are not imagining your weight struggles. A study of more than 34,000 healthy women – half of whom were 55 or older – found that it takes these women on a usual diet approximately 60 minutes a day of moderate-intensity activity just to maintain a normal weight.

The study published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) also found physical activity was associated with less weight gain over 13 years only among women of normal weight. “These data suggest that the 2008 federal recommendation for 150 minutes per week, while clearly sufficient to lower the risks of chronic diseases, is insufficient for weight gain prevention absent caloric restriction,” according to the report in the March 24 issue of JAMA.

For women consuming a usual diet, physical activity was associated with less weight gain only among women whose BMI was lower than 25. “Because the average U.S. adult gains weight with age, developing ways to prevent unhealthful weight gain would help them avoid having to lose weight and then trying to maintain that loss. Compared with the vast body of research on the treatment of overweight and obese individuals, little research exists on preventing weight gain,” the authors write.

What is clear is the fact that staying active is vital to healthy aging. Research also reveals that remaining active can become more difficult, which is why it is so important that you continue to be diligent about your exercise program. A recent national survey conducted for the Home Instead Senior Care® network found that 74 percent of seniors 65 and older say that staying physically active is a major challenge.

Companionship is a vital component of staying active. So encourage a friend to exercise with you or join a class. Or consider a caregiver companion from Home Instead Senior Care. Many enjoy hobbies and activities with their clients.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627. For more about the study, log on to http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/303/12/117.

Research Could Lead to Cancer Home Detection Kit

Q. Cancer is prevalent in our family and I live in fear both for my 75-year-old mother as well as myself. My father died recently of cancer and my mother has been struggling with depression and her own fears about getting breast cancer, the disease that killed her mother. Is there any new research out on cancer detection?

Coincidentally, a University of Missouri researcher is developing a tiny sensor, known as an acoustic resonant sensor, which is smaller than a human hair and could test bodily fluids for a variety of diseases, including breast and prostate cancers.

“Our ultimate goal is to produce a device that will simply and quickly diagnose multiple specific diseases, and eventually be used to create ‘point of care’ systems, which are services provided to patients at their bedsides,” said Researcher Jae Kwon. “The sensor has strong commercial potential to be manifested as simple home kits for easy, rapid and accurate diagnosis of various diseases, such as breast cancer and prostate cancer.”

This could mean good news on the horizon for your family. Also, April is National Cancer Control Month, sponsored by the American Cancer Society – a great time to focus on habits that can improve the health of you and your family.

“Healthy personal habits can reduce the risk of cancer,” wrote President Barack Obama in last year’s monthly proclamation. “Smoking accounts for thousands of cancer deaths every year, and quitting – even after many years – can greatly reduce the risk of cancer.

“Physical inactivity and obesity may cause a substantial proportion of colon, breast, endometrial, kidney and esophageal cancers in the United States, so maintaining physical activity and a healthy diet can help prevent cancer, among other diseases. Finally, moderating alcohol intake and sun exposure can help protect Americans.”

Attitude can play an important role as well in staying healthy. Perhaps your mother is in need of companionship since the passing of your father. Why not contact Home Instead Senior Care to find out how a CAREGiver could keep your mom working toward a healthy life.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, log on to www.homeinstead.com/627. For more about the home detector kit, log on to http://munews.missouri.edu/news-releases/2010/0217-small-liquid-sensor-may-detect-cancer-instantly-could-lead-to-home-detection-kit/.

Less Sleep Needed as Seniors Age

Q. I've notived that I'm sleeping less the older I get. Is this normal? Since my wife died, I sometimes get a little fearful when I awaken at night. Is there anything I can do about that?

It appears that your night-time habits are typical. A new study from researchers at the University of Surrey in the U.K. and published in the Feb. 1 journal SLEEP found that older adults slept about 20 minutes less than middle-aged adults, who slept 23 minutes less than young adults.

What’s more, healthy senior citizens without sleep disorders can expect to have a reduced “sleep need” and to be less sleepy during the day than healthy young adults, researchers said. So healthy aging appears to be associated with reductions in the sleep duration and depth required to maintain daytime alertness.

“Our findings reaffirm the theory that it is not normal for older people to be sleepy during the daytime,” said principal investigator Derk-Jan Dijk, Ph.D., professor of sleep and physiology at the University of Surrey in the U.K.

Conditions of aging also impact whether or not seniors get a good night’s sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, 24 percent of seniors ages 65-84 have been diagnosed with four or more medical conditions. Of this group, 80 percent reported having a sleep problem.

Dr. Sonia Ancoli-Israel, professor of psychiatry and director of the Sleep Disorders Clinic at the University of California at San Diego, says it’s not necessarily the aging process that disturbs sleep, but those changes that accompany getting older. “In addition to those medical illnesses and medications common in older adults, there can be psychiatric problems and changes in circadian rhythms.”

Circadian rhythms are body rhythms that help determine when we sleep – and they become imbalanced as we age, according to Ancoli-Israel.

Because of all these issues, seniors can become frightened at night. If you are apprehensive at night, why not consider the services of a professional caregiving company. Home Instead Senior Care hires CAREGivers – both men and women – to provide companionship services 24/7 including holidays. CAREGivers are screened, trained, bonded and insured, and have been through thorough background checks.

A CAREGiver could help ease your nighttime apprehension.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627. For more about the seniors and sleep study, visit http://www2.surrey.ac.uk/mediacentre/press/2010/22985_study_suggests_that_healthy_adults_may_need_less_sleep_as_they_age.htm.

Seniors Struggling with Smaller Incomes, Lack of Jobs

Q. I'm a 68-year-old retiree whose pension and savings accounts have taken a real hit during the recession. I think I may need to go back to work, but as a widow past retirement age, what could I do?

Take comfort in knowing that many others share your circumstances. A new study released last fall – Buddy, Can You Spare a Job? – from the MetLife Mature Market Institute reveals that many Americans over the age of 55 plan to work at least until age 69.

It’s true that seniors can face unique challenges. Since the recession began in December 2007, the number of unemployed people 55 and older increased from about 800,000 to nearly 2 million – more than double the previous record, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Many seniors like you have seen their nest eggs shrink as a result of the recession. And a majority of seniors are receiving a smaller Social Security check this year compared to 2009, according to an annual survey of elderly Americans, released in February by The Senior Citizens League (TSCL). This is not a big surprise, however, since there was no cost-of-living increase in Social Security, while Medicare costs did increase for 2010.

The Social Security check is negatively impacted because many seniors have their Medicare Part D (drug program) or Medicare Advantage premiums automatically deducted. Then, too, Medicare Part B costs, significantly higher in 2010, are also deducted from Social Security.

In spite of these grim facts and figures, Department of Labor projections indicate that the 55+ population will account for almost 93 percent of the net increase in the U.S. Civilian Labor Force in 2006-2016. And there are various jobs that seniors like you can do. For example, Home Instead Senior Care often hires older adults to serve as CAREGivers for other seniors.

Seniors can often relate best to the needs and interests of others their age, which makes them a perfect companionship match. CAREGivers complete a comprehensive training program and the hours are flexible. Learn more about jobs with Home Instead Senior Care by contacting your local office.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627. To read more about the MetLife Mature Market Institute Study, Buddy, Can You Spare a Job? go to http://www.metlife.com/assets/cao/mmi/publications/mmi-pressroom/mmi-buddy-can-you-spare-job-press-release.pdf.

Vitamin D and Companionship Good for the Heart

Q. Heart disease runs in my mother's family and since Dad died last year, Mom just isn't taking care of herself. What's the latest on preventing this common threat?

An interesting study from the University of Warwick Medical School found that middle- aged and older adults with high levels of vitamin D could reduce their chances of developing heart disease or diabetes by a whopping 43 percent.

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in some foods and is also produced when ultraviolet rays from sunlight strike the skin and trigger vitamin D synthesis. Fish such as salmon, tuna and mackerel are good sources of vitamin D, and it is also available as a dietary supplement.

Researchers looked at 28 studies including 99,745 participants across a variety of ethnic groups including men and women. These studies revealed a significant association between high levels of vitamin D and a decreased risk of developing these three disorders:

● Cardiovascular disease (33 percent compared to low levels of vitamin D)
● Type 2 diabetes (55 percent reduction)
● Metabolic syndrome (51 percent reduction)

The literature review, published in the journal Maturitas, was led by Johanna Parker and Dr. Oscar Franco, Assistant Professor in Public Health at Warwick Medical School.

Why not have your mother check with her physician to learn more about her potential risk of developing heart disease. Her doctor also can provide input on the ways that she can keep herself healthy, whether it’s with vitamins or lifestyle changes.

You mentioned that your mom isn’t taking care of herself. Perhaps she is lonely. Most family caregivers like you work and have families of their own, which make caring for a senior loved one a challenge. Why not consider a professional caregiving company?

For instance, Home Instead CAREGivers could assist your mother with meal preparation, light housekeeping, medication reminders, errands and shopping. A little extra help with these types of activities could be just what your mom needs to stay healthy and fit. And that could be just as good for her heart as any vitamin.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627. For more about the study, log on to http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/med/newsfront/?newsItem=094d43cd26c2e92a0126d130e23d5be1

Nutrition Important to Older Adults

Q. The older I get, the less appetite I have. How do I know if I'm eating too little? Living alone, I sometimes forget to eat.

Proper nutrition is vital to healthy aging. Look for these warning signs that you could be headed for trouble, from Home Instead Senior Care’s “Cooking Under Pressure” public education campaign:

Loss of appetite: If you have always been a hearty eater but no longer eat as you used to, it’s time to find out why. Underlying illness could be the root cause.
Little to no interest in eating out: If you have always loved eating out at a favorite restaurant but no longer are interested, dig deeper to determine the problem.
Depression: Change in appetite is a classic sign of depression. Be sure to follow up with a physician if you suspect depression may be a problem.
Sudden weight fluctuation: A weight change -- losing or gaining 10 pounds in six months -- is another sign that something could be amiss.
Expired or spoiled food: Check the refrigerator for expired or spoiled food. You could be saving food until it’s no longer safe. Make sure that all food is labeled, with the date, in large letters and numbers.
Skin tone: Observe your skin tone. If you are eating properly, skin should look healthy and well-hydrated.
Lethargy: If you have regularly been active and enjoyed taking walks but suddenly become lethargic, see a doctor. Poor nutrition could be to blame.
Cognitive problems: Seniors who live alone might forget to eat. If you suspect dementia, quick intervention is vital.
More than three medications: Medication can influence both appetite and weight. Check with your doctor to find out if your medications could be the culprit.
A recent illness: Illness or a hospital stay could make you lose interest in eating. Make sure you have reliable help at home.

Support in the way of companionship, and meal preparation and shopping assistance could be just what you need. Contact Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County to learn more.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627. For more information about seniors and nutrition, log on to www.foodsforseniors.com.

Resources Can Help Caregivers Talk to Seriously Ill

Q. My 83-year-old- dad is seriously ill, but he won't even broach the subject of his legal and financial affairs or his personal wishes. Any suggestions?

You’re not alone. Discussing such subjects with older adults can be very difficult. Home Instead Senior Care research has revealed that nearly half of all Boomers would like to know more about their parents’ end-of-life wishes.

Knowing how to get personal financial and legal affairs in order is something every older adult should consider.

The "Legal Guide for the Seriously Ill" – a project by the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging commissioned by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NAPCO) – was designed for both the seriously ill individual and those caring for someone who is seriously ill.

The guide explains “Seven Key Steps” in a brief, clear way while offering additional tips and resources for readers looking for more detailed information and guidance. The recently released guide addresses societal issues that have gained prominent media attention in recent years, such as paying for health care, managing health and personal decisions and patient rights.

J. Donald Schumacher, president and CEO of NHPCO added, “Hospice and palliative care organizations are frequently asked for information regarding end-of-life planning and decision-making. This guide will be a tremendous resource to them as well as faith communities, caregiver organizations, aging service providers, hospitals and others who work to support people living with a serious illness."

Broaching these subjects with their senior parents can be difficult for adult children. That’s why Home Instead Senior Care created the 40-70 Rule public education campaign. If you’re 40 and your older loved one is 70, it’s time to start discussing these sensitive subjects like end-of-life issues. No matter what the age, it’s never too late to get the conversation going.

Go to www.4070talk.com for more information. By clicking on “Life Legacies” in the list on the left, you’ll find tips on discussing sensitive subjects, a pre-planning checklist and “five wishes,” a tool by which to help older adults know that their wishes will be honored.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, log on to www.homeinstead.com/627. For more about the new guide, visit http://www.caringinfo.org/UserFiles/File/PDFs/AdvanceCarePlanningLegalIssues/Legal_Guide_for_Seriously_Ill.pdf.

Volunteering Helps Fight Frailty, Study Shows

Q. As a typically active woman in my early 70s, I'm finding that it's harder to get motivated to do much of anything. Is it really all that important?

In a word – yes! Add another study to the growing list confirming the premise that keeping the mind and body active appears to slow many of the signs and consequences of aging. This research finds that volunteering seems to produce the best results, and paid work was a benefit as well.

Frailty is a geriatric condition marked by weight loss, low energy and strength, and low physical activity. UCLA researchers followed 1,072 healthy adults aged 70 to 79 between 1988 and 1991 to determine if productive activities – specifically volunteering, paid work and child care – prevent the onset of frailty.

At the beginning of the study, 28 percent of participants volunteered, 25 percent performed child care duties and 19 percent worked for pay. After three years, participants in all three activities were found to be less likely to become frail. After accounting for levels of physical and cognitive function, however, only volunteering was associated with lower rates of frailty.

For information about volunteering opportunities in Frederick County, contact a local church or synagogue, senior center, or other nonprofit organization to find out how you can help out.

If you would like to know more about how to prevent frailty, visit http://www.getmommoving.com/, Home Instead Senior Care’s public education campaign that is geared toward keeping seniors active and healthy.

Also, please take note of these warning signs of frailty:

Change. If you’ve always been interested in talking to the neighbors, reading the newspaper, or volunteering, but you’re withdrawing from those interests, see a doctor.

Inactivity. If you’re suddenly much less active than usual, take some time to consider why.
Slowing down. If you used to have a bounce in your step and now, suddenly, you trudge along, that’s a bad sign that needs to be addressed.

Loss of appetite and weight. If you’ve enjoyed cooking and always had a healthy appetite, but seem to have lost interest in food, you’re right to be concerned.

Unsteadiness. Loss of balance comes with aging, but increasing unsteadiness is a sign that something could be wrong.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care or Frederick County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627. For more about the study, log on to http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/volunteering-may-prevent-the-elderly-150545.aspx

Seniors More Vulnerable to Fire

My 85-year-old mother loves candles and is always burning them, especially on chilly winter nights. She also often falls asleep with a candle burning. Since she lives alone, I’m worried about her safety.

Your mother could be vulnerable to a very real safety threat. The U.S. Fire Administration says people over the age of 65 have a home fire death rate nearly twice the national average. For those over 75, that risk nearly triples. Older adults account for 32 percent of fire deaths and 12 percent of estimated fire injuries, according to the National Fire Data Center (NFDC) of the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA).

In Canada, the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshall reports that seniors over the age of 65 accounted for 30 percent of all fire fatalities reported between 1999 and 2008.

People with limited physical and cognitive abilities, especially older adults, are at a higher risk of death from fire than other groups.

Ask your mom to consider these safety tips from the National Candle Association:

• Keep lighted candles within your sight.
• Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Never burn a candle on or near anything that can catch fire.
• Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets.
• Trim wicks to one-fourth inch prior to each use.
• Keep candles away from drafts and vents.
• Always use an appropriate candleholder placed on a stable, heat-resistant surface.
• Read and follow all manufacturer instructions carefully.

Maximum burn times vary from candle to candle; follow the manufacturer's instructions, the National Candle Association recommends. Always extinguish a candle if the flame gets too close to the candle holder or container. For a margin of safety, discontinue burning a candle when two inches of wax remains (one-half inch if a container candle or jar candle).

Since your mother lives alone, ask her to consider hiring a home care companion, who could serve as a second set of eyes to keep her safe at home. Home Instead Senior Care hires CAREGivers who are screened, trained, bonded and insured. Also, why not purchase for your mother battery-operated flameless candles? They look like the real thing without the real fire danger.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627. For more safety tips from the National Candle Association, log on to http://www.candles.org/about_faq.html.

Majority of Caregivers Working; More Seeking Support

Q. As a full-time employee caring for my 85-year-old father, I often feel alone among my co-workers who are younger and caring for toddlers. Are there others out there like me? Where do I go for help?

According to the latest study Caregiving in the U.S. 2009, you are in good company. This latest research was compiled by the National Alliance for Caregiving in collaboration with AARP and funded by The MetLife Foundation.

This latest study, which compares findings from 1997, 2004 and 2009 surveys, reveals that caregiving is still mostly a woman’s job and many women are putting their career and financial futures on hold as they juggle part-time caregiving and full-time job requirements. What’s more, 29 percent of the U.S. adult population, or 65.7 million people, are caregivers, including 31 percent of all households.

Other interesting findings:

• While caregivers and care recipients continue to be predominately female (66 percent), they are approximately three years older now than their counterparts were five years ago. Among caregivers age 18 and older, the average age of today’s caregiver is 49, and the average age of today’s care recipient is 69.
• A higher proportion of caregivers report helping their care recipient get into and out of beds and chairs, assisting with housework and preparing meals. There is also an increase in the proportion of caregivers who say they need help or information.
• Approximately three-fourths of caregivers have worked while caregiving. While this has remained consistent since 2004, there has been an increase in the proportion who say they have had to make a workplace accommodation because of caregiving.
• There are indications that caregiving is becoming more emotionally stressful for some who are experiencing more financial hardship fulfilling this role than five years ago.

One encouraging note from the study indicates that caregivers say they have increased their use of supportive services, such as outside transportation services and respite services or sitters.

Respite help is the key to maintaining a healthy balance in your life. Contact your local area agency on aging and Home Instead Senior Care to find out about the services that are available in your area.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627. For more information about the study, log on to http://www.aarp.org/research/surveys/care/ltc/hc/articles/caregiving_09.html.

Seniors and the Flu Facts

Q. I'm an older adult and increasingly confused about flu shots -- what I need and when. I'm also getting emails about shots. Where do I go for credible information?

Your doctor will be your best source of information about what flu shots you need and when. Please contact your physician and beware of information you receive by e-mail.

The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions in December alerted the media to a scam e-mail circulating the internet attempting to fool Americans into revealing personal information. Those who click on the link are downloading a malicious code on their system.

The CDC said it has received reports of fraudulent e-mails (phishing) referencing a CDC sponsored State Vaccination Program for H1N1. There is no such program. The messages request that users create a personal H1N1 (swine flu) Vaccination Profile on the CDC.gov Website.

Users that click on the embedded link in the e-mail are at risk of having malicious code installed on their system. CDC reminds users to take the following steps to reduce the risk of being a victim of a phishing attack:

· Do not open or respond to unsolicited e-mail messages.
· Do not click links embedded in e-mails from unknown senders.
· Use caution when entering personal information online.
· Update anti-virus, spyware, firewall and anti-spam software regularly.

Recent studies have shown that about a third of adults 65 years of age and older may have some level of immunity against the H1N1 flu virus. As a result, this group is not among the priority groups to receive the H1N1 flu vaccine, according to the CDC Web site.

It is, however, still extremely important that the elderly get the seasonal flu vaccine as soon as possible, according to the CDC. For older adults, the seasonal flu can be very serious, even deadly, says the CDC.

“Each year in the U.S., an average of 36,000 people die and more than 200,000 are hospitalized from serious flu complications,” the CDC reports. “Ninety percent of flu-related deaths and more than half of flu-related hospitalizations occur in people age 65 and older.”

If you need help getting to your doctor’s appointments or picking up medications, contact Home Instead Senior Care for assistance.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care, visit www.homeinstead.com/627. For more about flu shots, log on to http://www.flu.gov/individualfamily/vaccination/index.html#priority.

Loneliness Spreads Among Older Adults

Q. I think my 83-year-old widowed mother is lonely, but I'm not sure what to do about it. It seems that she has fewer friends all the time. Is she at any kind of health risk as a result?

Not only can loneliness isolate your mother and keep her from forming meaningful relationships, it can also spread, according to a study by researchers at the University of Chicago, the University of California-San Diego and Harvard. A team of scholars found that lonely people tend to share their loneliness with others. Gradually over time, a group of lonely, disconnected people moves to the fringes of social networks.

“We detected an extraordinary pattern of contagion that leads people to be moved to the edge of the social network when they become lonely,” said University of Chicago psychologist John Cacioppo, leader of the study and one of the nation’s leading scholars of loneliness. “On the periphery people have fewer friends, yet their loneliness leads them to losing the few ties they have left.”

Before those relationships are severed, they transmit feelings of loneliness to their remaining friends, who also become lonely. Because loneliness is associated with a variety of mental and physical diseases that can shorten life, Cacioppo said it is important for people to recognize loneliness and help those people connect with their social group before the lonely individuals move to the edges.

People’s chances of becoming lonely were more likely to be caused by changes in friendship networks than changes in family networks. Research also shows that as people become lonely, they become less trustful of others, and a cycle develops that makes it harder for them to form friendships.

Try to encourage your mother to cultivate more interaction with others, which could lead to meaningful friendships and relationships.

Why not suggest that she get involved in a senior center. Or contact Home Instead Senior Care. Companionship is among the company’s most requested services. CAREGivers, who are often seniors themselves, share many of the same interests as their clients. CAREGivers are screened, trained, bonded and insured. For just a few hours a week your mother could have the kind of interaction that may ward off loneliness and keep her healthy and happy.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care, log on to www.homeinstead.com/627. For more about the study, Alone in the Crowd, log on to http://jhfowler.ucsd.edu/alone_in_the_crowd.pdf.

Hospital Infections Can Sideline Seniors

Q. I have a friend who went into the hospital and got sick from an infection. I am 79 years old and will be hospitalized briefly after routine surgery. What can I do to protect myself?

Sadly, there is research that does confirm your concerns. A check of nearly 1,300 ICUs in 75 countries found that about half of the patients in these units had infections associated with a risk of dying in the hospital.

“Infection and related sepsis are the leading cause of death in non-cardiac ICUs, with mortality rates that reach 60 percent and account for approximately 40 percent of total ICU expenditures,” the authors report in the December 2 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

The lungs were the most common site of infection, accounting for 64 percent of infections, followed by the abdomen and bloodstream. “The study demonstrates that infections remain a common problem in ICU patients,” the authors write.

There are steps you can take to reduce hospital infections including:

1. Ask that hospital staff clean their hands before treating you, and ask visitors to clean their hands, too.

2. Before your doctor uses a stethoscope, ask that the diaphragm (the flat surface) be wiped with alcohol.

3. If you need a "central line" catheter, ask your doctor about the benefits of one that is antibiotic-impregnated or silver-chlorhexidine coated to reduce infections.

4. If you need surgery, choose a surgeon with a low infection rate.

5. Beginning three to five days before surgery, shower or bathe daily with chlorhexidine soap.

6. On the day of your operation, remind your doctor that you may need an antibiotic one hour before the first incision.

7. Ask your doctor about keeping you warm during surgery.

8. Do not shave the surgical site.

9. Avoid a urinary tract catheter if possible. It is a common cause of infection.

10. If you must have an IV, make sure that it’s inserted and removed under clean conditions and changed every three to four days.

Also, if you need assistance before or after your surgery, contact Home Instead Senior Care. CAREGivers can provide non-medical assistance and companionship that will help you prepare and recover from your operation. Good luck.

To learn more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Frederick County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627.

For more information about the study, log on to http://chinese.eurekalert.org/en/pub_releases/2009-12/jaaj-pod120307.php.

For the 15 steps you can take to reduce hospital infections, log on to Reduce Infection Deaths at http://www.hospitalinfection.org/protectyourself.shtml.