Baby boomers redefine retirement

The ‘forever young’ generation turns 60 and changes the rules

By Kevin Corke
Correspondent
NBC News
updated 12:07 p.m. CT, Tues., Nov . 8, 2005

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Jeff and Nelda Manna are among an increasing number of boomers who are moving to active adult communities like Sun City Anthem outside Las Vegas — neighborhoods that cater to the over-50 crowd, with activities like tennis, golf, swimming and fitness.

“It’s almost not if you did something today,” Jeff Manna says. “It’s what did you do today.”
It's an example of how the baby boom generation continues to change business models and marketing strategies in America. Construction of active adult communities, like the Manna's in Henderson, is already a multibillion-dollar industry and its growing because baby boomers are flexing their financial muscle and proving to the marketplace that that they are not winding down — they are rewinding.

Nationwide, more than a quarter of the homes built this year will be bought by someone over 50 — many in communities like Sun City Anthem.

Tips for Caregivers working with Vision and Hearing Loss Clients

We here at Synergy have learned some great tips for any caregiver that is dealing with someone who is losing both their sight and hearing.We here at Synergy have learned some great tips for any caregiver that is dealing with someone who is losing both their sight and hearing.

1. When a person first arrives, orient them to their bed, bathroom, closet, dresser, etc.

2. Notate up front in person's chart their vision and/or hearing loss.

3. To get the person's attention, gently touch their shoulder, arm or hand. State your name and reason for visit. Determine if person is visually and/or hearing impaired and adjust voice as needed.

4. Identify.....Yourself every time. If difficult for person to hear, and they have some remaining vision, write name and role (i.e. Judy — nurse) in large print with felt tip marker to show them.

5. Inform person before you begin to do anything with or to them! For example, do not move them or grab their arm without first explaining what you are doing and why. Use "sighted guide" technique if assistance is requested.

6. Speak clearly, at a slow-to-normal rate and pause between sentences. Do not shout. Shouting can distort the sound signal and make you seem angry. Stand within 3 to 6 feet of individual and keep movement to minimum while speaking.

7. Rephrase rather than repeat when you are not understood. For example, rephrase `Do you want a drink?' to `Would you like some water?'

8. Ask person if they can understand you, not just hear you. Understanding and hearing are two different things. Ask WH questions (what where, and why) rather than yes/no questions.

9. Do not move things in the room or on the bedside table unless necessary. If you do move something, let the person know and be specific about new location.

10. Do not stand in front of a light source or window as the glare may be difficult for the person facing you. Rather, position yourself where light falls on you and sit or stand at their level.

11. Ask person if they need help reading the menu and selecting meal choices.

12. When serving a meal, describe the position of food on the plate by relating them to the numbers on the face of a clock. For example, `Meat is at 6:00 and potatoes are at 10:00'. Explain where other items are such as beverages and salads.

13. Give explicit directions and verbal responses. Be careful not to only use hand signals, nod, or say things such as `over there'. Be specific: `The chair is 4 feet to your right'.

14. Read ALL materials clearly as they appear on the page; do not read excerpts or summarize unless the visually impaired person requests you to do so.

15. Be patient, positive, and relaxed. It may take time to learn how to best talk with someone. Experiment and ask how you can help!

TULIPS for better Parkinsons Awareness

Did you know that the Red Tulip is the world wide symbol for Parkinson's Disease?


Tulips is also a great acronym to understand what people with Parkinson's needs:


T: TIME
U: UNDERSTANDING
L: quality of LIFE
I: INCREASED Awareness
P: Pills On TIME
S: SUPPORT

Is your caregiver trained in special Parkinson's awareness??

14 QUESTIONS YOU MUST ASK WHEN SELECTING A HOME CARE AGENCY

“Home care” usually refers to “non-medical” services such as personal care, meal preparation, housekeeping services or transportation. (“Home Health Care” covers medical care). Be sure to know what services you need.
When you choose a home care provider, you are inviting someone into your home. Don’t let “nice” get in the way of asking tough questions. A little precaution and research can go a long way in giving you peace of mind and preventing problems. Asking friends, relatives or a trusted advisor for home care recommendations is a good start. Your medical providers (such as your hospital discharge planner, social worker or your family doctor) may also have suggestions.

The 14 Recommended Questions:
1. Does my state license home care? If ‘yes’ - is the agency licensed? If ‘no’ - does the agency follow policies and procedures similar to those in a licensed state?
2. Is the agency locally owned and operated? Are the owners on-site actively managing the agency? If the agency is part of a franchise, what ‘watchdog’ organizations is the franchise a member of?
3. Are the agency’s care givers employees or independent contractors? (You might want an agency that knows its employees, not one that just acts as an employment agency.)
4. Are caregivers bonded and insured? (They should be.)
5. What criminal screening and background checks does the agency run on its caregivers? Are these national or simply local?
6. What sort of training do the employees receive? Is training ongoing?
7. Will an agency supervisor evaluate the quality of care you receive? How often?
8. How is billing handled? If private insurance will pay for some of the costs, will the agency bill them directly?
9. If you have a family member who is involved in your care, how does the agency ensure they stay informed and included? What if your family lives in a different state?
10. What provisions are there for backup care? Who do you call if no one shows up? Does the agency have someone on call? After hours? What provisions are there for care during a disaster?
11. What is the process for resolving problems? Who can you call to discuss any issues and be sure to have them resolved?
12. Are you committed to a long contract with the agency?
13. How long will it take to get a care giver?
14. Can the agency provide services to someone in a facility or residential living (hospital, nursing home, assisted living etc)?

Synergy HomeCare Website

How to Choose Between Home Health Care, Assisted Living, and a Nursing Home

Caring for someone can be time-consuming and exhausting—for you and your bank account. Family and friends can step in to assist, of course, but there may come a point when your loved one needs professional care. Here are some basic options to consider.

Home sweet home
In-home health aides average $19 an hour, and hired companions who don't provide health care are slightly less expensive. Do the math and you'll see that for round-the-clock assistance, the tab can run as high as $170,000 a year, making home care a very costly option.

"It's so expensive because people are basically trying to recreate the nursing facility at home," says Chris Cooper, a certified financial planner and social gerontologist in Toledo. Medicare and private insurance generally do not cover long-term in-home care. So unless you have a long-term-care insurance policy, the cost must be paid out-of-pocket, which may mean liquidating assets or applying for a reverse mortgage.

Despite the expense, "most people try to do what they can to stay at home before placement in a facility," says Nancy Wexler, a Los Angeles–based geriatric care manager and author of Mama Can't Remember Anymore: Care Management of Aging Parents and Loved Ones. The good news is that many people don't need 24-hour care, at least not right away. Someone with a chronic condition like heart disease, for instance, might only need help with specific tasks, like meal preparation or bathing.

To find an in-home aide, ask others who have used one or consult a geriatric care manager. It might cost more to employ an aide through an agency, but if any sort of problem arises, the agency will furnish a replacement quickly. That beats spending stressful days trying to find aides and conducting background checks.



Click here to find out more! at Health.com
Lead writer: Ilana Polyak
Last Updated: November 06, 2008

Can We Talk: A Financial Guide for Babyboomers Assisting Their Elderly Parents

By Bob Mauterstock ’68
Posted on March 16, 2009

(Soar with Eagles) Drawing on his experience as a financial advisor, the author provides a practical and comprehensive guide for baby boomers helping their elderly parents organize their financial lives. This book discusses step-by-step plans to open up lines of communication, address investment strategy, and create a plan to deal with the costs of long-term healthcare. Mauterstock specializes in retirement income planning, long-term care planning, and veterans’ benefits.

Seniors and Diabetes

Fitness for Seniors

By Chris Sparling

At sixty-one years old and in remarkable shape, Sylvester Stallone is a bit of a physical anomaly. But unlike the Italian Stallion, you need not lift heavy weights and run the stairs of the Philadelphia Museum of Art to shape up. A moderate-intensity workout, performed three-to-five times per week, is more than enough for seniors and older adults to begin experiencing the health benefits of regular exercise.

The National Institutes of Health recommends that seniors and older adults follow a fitness program that involves both cardiovascular training and strength training. There is an enormous amount of research to support the effects of each of these components on blood glucose levels, weight management, osteoporosis, and blood pressure. To that end, the following workout will split your week into sessions designed to target muscle-building and toning, and sessions geared toward improving circulation and cardiovascular health.

It’s never too late to begin a regular exercise program. The only person who can tell you differently is your doctor. As a senior citizen, you may be dealing with some common ailments, such as joint pain and arthritis. Provided that he or she gives you the O.K., start with an easy fitness program – such as joining a fitness class at your local senior center, walking around your neighborhood, or the workout suggested here, – and build from there. Even if you are dealing with a condition that limits your mobility, you can still get fit. There are classes that offer special exercises for people using wheelchairs, classes that take place entirely in a pool, and even different fitness trainers who specialize in coaching people with disabilities.