Of that list, five risk factors usually related to lifestyle — high blood pressure, smoking, abdominal obesity, diet and physical activity — are responsible for a full 80 percent of all stroke risk, according to the researchers.

Read more from Health Day by Clicking Here.

For more assistance with an aging loved one in the Madison, WI area visit our website at www.comfortkeepers.com/caregivers/231/.

New program enlists doctors to protect patients, but you can take steps now to stay safe

More than 7.3 million older Americans — one out of every five citizens over the age of 65 — already have been victimized by a financial swindle, according to a survey released Tuesday as part of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

One problem is that few professionals or adult children appear prepared to spot when an older American may be vulnerable to financial abuse. A new program launched Tuesday seeks to train medical professionals to assess when older patients might be likely to fall prey to elder investment fraud and financial exploitation.

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Visit www.comfortkeepers.com/caregivers/231/ for caregiving assistance for an aging loved one in the Madison area.

Though the family was disappointed over the cake, of more concern was Grandma’s confusion with the recipe and her similar confusion about the loved ones around her. Could something be wrong with grandma’s mental state?

One might say that for an elder person a little forgetfulness or confusion is normal, but when do you know if there is a serious problem, such as dementia?

An online article from FamilyDoctor.org outlines some common symptoms in recognizing dementia.

“Dementia causes many problems for the person who has it and for the person’s family. Many of the problems are caused by memory loss. Some common symptoms of dementia are listed below. Not everyone who has dementia will experience all of these symptoms.

• Recent memory loss. All of us forget things for a while and then remember them later. People who have dementia often forget things, but they never remember them. They might ask you the same question over and over, each time forgetting that you’ve already given them the answer. They won’t even remember that they already asked the question.
• Difficulty performing familiar tasks. People who have dementia might cook a meal but forget to serve it. They might even forget that they cooked it.
  Problems with language. People who have dementia may forget simple words or use the wrong words. This makes it hard to understand what they want.
• Time and place disorientation. People who have dementia may get lost on their own street. They may forget how they got to a certain place and how to get back home.
  Poor judgment. Even a person who doesn’t have dementia might get distracted. But people who have dementia can forget simple things, like forgetting to put on a coat before going out in cold weather.
• Problems with abstract thinking. Anybody might have trouble balancing a checkbook, but people who have dementia may forget what the numbers are and what has to be done with them.
• Misplacing things. People who have dementia may put things in the wrong places. They might put an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl. Then they can’t find these things later.
• Changes in mood. Everyone is moody at times, but people who have dementia may have fast mood swings, going from calm to tears to anger in a few minutes.
  Personality changes. People who have dementia may have drastic changes in personality. They might become irritable, suspicious or fearful.
• Loss of initiative. People who have dementia may become passive. They might not want to go places or see other people.”

Dementia is caused by change or destruction of brain cells. Often this change is a result of small strokes or blockage of blood cells, severe hypothyroidism or Alzheimer’s disease. There is a continuous decline in ability to perform normal daily activities. Personal care including dressing, bathing, preparing meals and even eating a meal eventually becomes impossible.

What can family members do if they suspect dementia? An appointment with the doctor or geriatric clinic is the first step to take. Depending on the cause and severity of the problem there are some medications that may help slow the process. Your doctor may recommend a care facility that specializes in dementia and Alzheimer’s. These facilities offer a variety of care options from day care with stimulating activities to part or full-time live-in options. Sometimes if patients tend to wander off, a locked facility is needed.

In the beginning family members find part time caregivers for their loved one. At first, loved ones need only a little help with remembering to do daily activities or prepare meals. As dementia progresses, caregiving demands often progress to 24 hour care. Night and day become confused and normal routines of sleeping, eating and functioning become more difficult for the patient. The demented person feels frustrated and may lash out in anger or fear. It is not uncommon for a child or spouse giving the care to quickly become overwhelmed and discouraged.

Family gatherings provide an excellent opportunity to discuss caregiving plans and whole family support. It is most helpful if everyone in the family is united in supporting a family caregiver in some meaningful way.

“The first step to holding a family meeting, and perhaps the most difficult one, is to get all interested persons together in one place at one time. If it’s a family gathering, perhaps a birthday, an anniversary or another special event could be used as a way to get all to meet. Or maybe even a special dinner might be an incentive.

The end of the meeting should consist of asking everyone present to make his or her commitment to support the plan. This might just simply be moral support and agreement to abide by the provisions or it is hoped that those attending will volunteer to do something constructive. This might mean commitments to providing care, transportation, financial support, making legal arrangements or some other tangible support.” The Four Steps of Long Term Care Planning

Professional home care services are an option to help families in the home. These providers are trained and skilled to help with dementia patients. Don’t forget care facilities as well. It may be the best loving care a family member can give is to place their loved one in a facility where that person is safely monitored and cared for.

The National Care Planning Council supports caregiving services throughout the country.  www.longtermcarelink.net

Visit www.comfortkeepers.com/caregivers/231/ for caregiving assistance in the Madison WI area.

Caring for a sick or disabled elderly relative exacts a toll — physical, emotional, financial — on any family member, but being a spousal caregiver brings particular challenges.

“Spouses are older and dealing with their own age-related health limitations,” says Steven H. Zarit, a Pennsylvania State University gerontologist. The tasks they shoulder have grown more demanding: Family caregivers now administer arsenals of medications and undertake procedures, from wound care to dialysis, that were once the province of medical professionals.

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Visit www.comfortkeepers.com/caregivers/231/ for caregiving assistance in the Madison WI area.

Does it ration care for elderly? Will it disrupt Medicare Advantage plans? Is it the end of TRICARE?

The sweeping health care overhaul signed into law by President Barack Obama is more than 2,000 pages long and has been dissected by analysts, politicians and pundits. It’s no wonder that some consumers are confused – and perhaps frightened – about how the law might affect them. Some concerns were raised during the congressional debate or have been swirling around the Internet.

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For caregiving assistance in the Madison WI area, visit www.comfortkeepers.com/caregivers/231/.

With our current economic challenges, those of us looking forward to retirement need to be well-informed about our financial needs in coming years. And not only pre-retirees, but individuals already in retirement need to be wise to the changing economic environment. The good news is there are trained professionals who keep abreast of changes in the current economy, changes in laws and changes in government programs for the elderly. Professionals in this field are equipped to handle everything from help with retirement savings accounts, investment advice, and guidance on government programs, estate planning or even new funding options such as reverse mortgages. A little planning prior to retirement will allow you to maintain your current lifestyle; whereas, a lack of planning may require you to live on an extremely tight budget. For those already retired, taking time right now to deal with financial problems instead of waiting for a crisis to happen is well advised.

A large number of retired individuals feel that they have planned well for the future only to find that rising medical costs, damage done to investment portfolios (by the current economy) and many other factors have caused them to go into debt. According to an article in “USA Today” seniors are racking up debt like never before. Elderly individuals who are in debt live with a constant burden over their heads. Most of these people are on fixed incomes and have no way of paying off credit cards and home equity loans that continue to mount to cover household budget deficits. In order to meet ongoing payments, seniors often forego purchasing medications and skimp on food budgets. They live like hermits — never going out and pinching every penny — in order to pay their obligations.

Most of these people worked hard their entire lives and managed their debt. They never anticipated the rising costs of prescriptions, expensive medical care or depletion of savings by living too long. The good news is there is help for these individuals. Here are just a few examples of some relief options that could be available. There are many more besides these.

Reverse mortgages – A Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs), also known as a reverse mortgage, is a risk-free way of tapping into home equity without creating monthly payments and without requiring the money to be paid back during a person’s lifetime. Instead of making payments the cash flow is reversed and the senior receives payments from the bank. Thus the title “reverse mortgage”. For those seniors who are less fortunate financially but own a home, a reverse mortgage can allow them to remain in the home by creating extra income.

Life settlements — A life settlement enables older individuals, businesses and other organizations to sell life insurance policies they currently own – but no longer want or need – for an amount greater than the cash surrender value. In some cases the value can be 2-3 times the cash surrender value. Even some term life insurance policies with a conversion option to permanent coverage can qualify for a life settlement.

Government Programs — Some government programs such as food stamps provide temporary financial help for food. Other programs provide subsidized housing, help with medical expenses and provide tax credits. For veterans there is free health care, inexpensive prescriptions and disability income.  Area agencies on aging offer individual counseling, legal help and advice with Medicare costs. (National Care Planning Council)

For some, living on a fixed income and dealing with debt can be an overwhelming burden. There are knowledgeable professionals and debt relief strategies that can assist in easing this burden. The National Care Planning Council keeps a list of financial advisers and attorneys who specialize in this area of planning at www.longtermcarelink.net.

Visit www.comfortkeepers.com/caregivers/231/ for caregiving help in the Madison WI area.

Census Bureau provides this annual update on the state of older Americans

A meeting with the National Council of Senior Citizens resulted in President John F. Kennedy designating May 1963 as Senior Citizens Month, encouraging the nation to pay tribute in some way to older people across the country.  In 1980, President Jimmy Carter’s proclamation changed the name to Older Americans Month, a time to celebrate those 65 and older through ceremonies, events and public recognition.

Here are today’s facts about senior citizens, compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau.

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For help with an aging loved one in the Madison WI area, visit www.comfortkeepers.com/caregivers/231/.

Your Health: Strokes can be prevented

Don’t have a stroke.

It’s excellent advice, given that stroke is the nation’s third-leading killer and a major cause of serious, long-term disability in adults. And it’s advice you can act on today, even as scientists continue to study the reasons why nearly 800,000 in the USA have “brain attacks” each year.

Read more from www.usatoday.com….

Detect skin cancer early when it’s most curable

(ARA) – Do you know your skin? Beyond your face and hands, which you probably look at every day, do you know what the skin on the inside of your arms or the bottom of your feet looks like? It’s important to know what your skin looks like – every inch of it – so that if a suspicious lesion appears or a mole starts to change, you can make an appointment with a dermatologist to be checked for skin cancer.

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has two tools available to ensure that you get to know your skin: instructions for skin self-exams and a free skin cancer screening program.

“Substantially more than 1 million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed each year,” said dermatologist Dr. William D. James, president of the American Academy of Dermatology. “Fortunately, when detected in its earliest stages, skin cancer – including melanoma, the deadliest form – is highly curable. Skin self-exams and skin cancer screenings are important ways to detect the early warning signs of skin cancer, and when necessary, seek treatment from a dermatologist.”

It is vital for everyone to perform regular self-exams to look for moles that are growing or changing, or for any unusual marks that could be a sign of skin cancer. A skin self-examination consists of looking over your entire body, including the back, scalp, soles, between the toes and on the palms. To do a thorough skin exam, find a well-lit location and use both full-length and hand-held mirrors so it is possible to see the back of the head, back and buttocks.

While studying your skin, it’s a good idea to keep the ABCDEs of melanoma detection in mind. The ABCDE rule will give you an idea of what to look for in a changing mole.

* Asymmetry (one half unlike the other half)

* Border (irregular, scalloped or poorly defined)

* Color (varies from one area to another; shades of tan and brown, black; sometimes white, red or blue)

* Diameter (the size of a pencil eraser or larger)

* Evolving (a mole or skin lesion that looks different from the rest or is changing in size, shape or color)

If you notice any changes in the size, color, shape or texture of a mole, the development of a new mole, or any other unusual changes in the skin, you should make an appointment with a dermatologist immediately.

In addition, the AAD’s National Skin Cancer Screening Program provides free skin cancer screenings in local communities and teaches people how to conduct skin self-examinations. Since 1985, dermatologists have screened more than 2 million people at no cost and detected more than 188,000 suspicious lesions, including approximately 21,500 suspected melanomas.

Since sun exposure is the most preventable risk factor for all skin cancers, the AAD recommends that everyone “Be Sun Smart” by following these tips:

* Generously apply sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30 that provides broad-spectrum protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Re-apply approximately every two hours, even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating.

* Wear protective clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, where possible.

* Seek shade when appropriate, when the sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

* Use extra caution near water, snow and sand as they reflect the damaging rays of the sun which can increase your chance of sunburn.

* Protect children from sun exposure. Be sure to play in the shade, use protective clothing, and apply sunscreen.

* Get vitamin D safely through a healthy diet that includes vitamin supplements. Don’t seek the sun.

* Avoid tanning beds.

To get instructions on how to perform a skin self-examination or to find a free screening, visit www.melanomamonday.org. The website also includes the AAD’s free Body Mole Map, a tool individuals can use to track their moles to determine any changes over time, and more information about skin cancer.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Depression can tarnish the golden years. But recognizing symptoms and finding help can restore the glow.

Increasingly, health professionals are recognizing that depression among older adults is a serious problem that needs to be treated. They’re also recognizing that adult children are often oblivious.

“Younger people, including younger medical personnel, often don’t notice it,” says psychologist Bob G. Knight, associate dean at the Andrus Gerontology Center at USC. “When they do, it doesn’t surprise them. They think: ‘They ought to be depressed, they’re old.’ So instead of helping the person deal with it, they ignore it.”

But depression isn’t normal at any age, experts say. Most older people are satisfied with their lives, even when confronted with health problems or the loss of friends or a spouse. They grieve, but they bounce back..

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For help with an aging loved one in the Madison WI area, visit www.comfortkeepers.com/caregivers/231/.