Kevin Knapp's Elder Care Blog

As Memorial Day weekend passes by, the summer season has began. We all know sunscreen is an important part of your daily regimen. But what most people don’t know is the need for skin protection is extremely important as you age, not just when you’re young. Below is an article that discusses the myths of sun safety for seniors. Check it out!

(HealthNewsDigest.com) – The summer sun is meant to be enjoyed but it can be a dangerous threat especially for senior citizens. That’s why Senior Helpers, the fastest growing provider of in-home senior care, reminds seniors and their loved ones to become sun smart.

“While sunshine is healthy, too much sun is dangerous, especially for seniors,” says Peter Ross, CEO of Senior Helpers. “Don’t forget, a suntan is your skin’s way of showing damage. The deeper the tan the more sun damage there is and the more the skin is trying to protect itself.”

Times have changed when it comes to people’s thinking about the sun. That deep, dark tan is no longer viewed as a good thing. Plus, there are plenty of misconceptions about the summer sun. So Senior Helpers, following the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, compiled this list of sun safety myths and senior sun safety tips. While seniors must be especially careful in the sun because their skin is more sensitive, everyone should be careful and learn to avoid the myths and observe the safety tips.

Sun Myth #1: Seniors need constant sun to supply vitamin D.

Seniors only need about 15 minutes or less of sun exposure two to three times a week on their faces and hands for their bodies to produce an adequate supply of Vitamin D. Vitamin D can also be found in foods and in multivitamins. Seniors should always wear sunscreen, a hat and light clothing that cover their skin when they are in the sun.

Sun Myth #2: Seniors only need to apply sunscreen once a day

Sunscreen needs time to work. Seniors should apply it about an hour before going out into the sun and reapply about every two hours. They should reapply more frequently if they are swimming. They should use a broad spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays cause tanning and wrinkling while UVB rays cause sunburn, aging, wrinkling and skin cancer. Use sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor of at least 15. Use SPF 30 or higher if you have a history of skin cancer or have fair skin. The risk for cancer increases as you get older. Seniors should especially pay attention to moles and other skin abnormalities.

Sun Myth #3: Seniors only need sunscreen at the pool or beach

Seniors should wear sunscreen everywhere if they go outside longer than 15 minutes. Seniors need to exercise but to avoid too much sun they can walk in malls, casinos, or museums.

Sun Myth #4: The sun isn’t a problem on cloudy days.

The sun doesn’t feel as hot when it’s cloudy but the UVA and UVB rays that tan and burn your skin are still shining down and being absorbed. Seniors’ skin is more sensitive. The sun’s rays are more intense in the summer so even on a cloudy day seniors should still wear sunscreen and sun protection.

Sun Myth #5: There’s nothing seniors can do if they get sunburn

The bad news is that’s partially true. The CDC recommends aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve pain, headache and fever. When seniors are exposed to too much sun they’re at severe risk for dehydration. They should drink six to eight glasses of water a day and eat fresh fruits and vegetables. They can also take a cool bath and use an aloe cream to moisturize skin.

Sun Myth #6: Sunburn is the only sun problem seniors should worry about

The sun can also hurt your eyes. The UV rays can cause cataracts, macular degeneration and skin cancer around the eyes. Seniors should always wear sunglasses. Choose brown, gray or green lenses and the darker and larger the lens the better. Seniors should choose glasses that wrap around their eyes and block a high percentage of UV rays.

Seniors Twice as Likely to Suffer Injuries or Death in Their Home
June is “Home Safety Month,” an opportunity to educate and empower older adults and their families to take action and increase the safety of their homes. The aging population can continue to live safely and independently in their homes by implementing fall prevention and fire safety habits.

“No one wants to think about being injured at home as it is a safe haven for many of us,” said Kevin Knapp, President of Right at Home South Jersey. “Thankfully there are many simple actions you can take to help save lives and prevent injuries. Right at Home is available to help older adults and their loved ones identify and correct household hazards that can lead to slips, falls and other dangers.”

For many older adults, falls can be a life-changing event leading to less mobility, independence and even death. According to the Home Safety Council, an average of nearly 5,000 Americans age 65 and older die from fall-related injuries in their homes each year. Right at Home offers free in-home assessments that include a safety check walk-through of a senior’s home to identify potential fall hazards and other safety ideas. For more information on these assessments, contact Kevin at Kevin@rahsj.com or visit www.rahsj.com. The Home Safety Council also offers the following tips for fall prevention:

• Install handrails on both sides of the stairs and ensure they go from the top to the bottom.
• Tape small rugs to the floor or do not use them at all as they can be a tripping hazard.
• Have plenty of lights at the top and bottom of the stairs and be sure to keep them clear of debris.
• Place night lights in the bedroom, hallway and bathroom.
• Lay a mat or non-slip strips in the tub and shower and have grab bars installed.

Older adults and their families are also encouraged to prepare for fire emergencies. Older adults are twice as likely to suffer injuries or lose their lives in a fire than the general population, according to the Home Safety Council. The Home Safety Council also offers the following tips for fire safety:
• Make sure there is a least one working fire alarm on each level of the home, located inside or near sleeping areas.
• Create a home escape plan and practice it at least twice a year. Move the bedroom to the first floor to escape outside quickly in case of a fire.
• Keep escape routes clear and make sure doors and windows open easily.
• Keep a phone in the bedroom to call for help if necessary.
• Always stay in the kitchen when food is cooking on the stove and avoid loose clothing while cooking.
• Smokers should use large, deep ashtrays on a sturdy table and stay alert while smoking.
• Plug only one cord into each electrical outlet and unplug appliances when not in use.

“Taking many of these simple safety steps can help to keep older adults living safely and independently in their own homes,” Kevin said. “We know that living independently has many benefits and we are privileged to help older adults maintain their independence and enjoy a full life.”

About Right at Home
Founded in 1995, Right at Home offers in-home companion and personal care and assistance to seniors and disabled adults who want to continue to live independently. Right at Home directly employs all caregiving staff, each of whom are thoroughly screened, trained, bonded and insured prior to entering a client’s home. All ongoing care is monitored and supervised by more than 185 local independent franchisees. Right at Home’s global office is based in Omaha, Nebraska, with franchise offices located in 40 states nationwide, as well as in the UK and Brazil. For more information on Right at Home, visit About Right at Home at http://www.rightathome.net/homecare.asp or read the Right at Home caregiving blog at http://www.rightathome.net/seniorhomecare. To sign up for Right at Home’s free adult caregiving eNewsletter, Caring Right at Home, please go to www.caringnews.com.

Here is an article that I found and wanted to pass along to you.  For more assistance with an aging loved one in the Cherry Hill or Williamstown, NJ visit our website at www.cherryhill.rightathome.net.

Will the “CLASS ACT” Really Help with Long-Term Care Costs in the Future?

by Phyllis Shelton

http://www.ltcconsultants.com/

The Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act is a provision in the new health care reform bill (Public Law 111-148) that is supposed to provide a small cash benefit of $50 – $75 a day with a lifetime benefit period depending on the level of impairment (needing help with 2 Activities of Daily Living vs. 4 ADLs). It is supposed to be effective 1/1/2011 and all employees would pay through payroll deduction unless they opt out. Premium must be paid for at least five years before benefits could be claimed. Earlier versions of this legislation suggested low monthly premiums starting at $30 a month. The final version says in Sec. 3203 that the premium is yet to be determined and that it will be based on keeping the program solvent throughout a 75 year period. Premiums can start as low as $5 a month for people below poverty level and workers who are also full-time students under age 22. People who drop out for more than 90 days will have to re-enter at attained age. Even so, the premium can be recalculated in the future and rate increases applied except to enrollees who are age 65 and have paid premium for at least 20 years.

The concern about this program is two-fold: that it will cost much more than is projected and that it will lull Americans into a false sense of security that they are truly protected for long-term care. A $50-$75 a day benefit seems very small vs. current costs of $150+ per day for 8 hours of home care, the cost of which could triple in the next 20 years due to the extreme shortage of caregivers. Also, employers don’t have to offer it and even when they do, employees can opt out. [See "Alternative Enrollment Procedures" Sec. 3204 (2) (C)]

Sec. 3204 Enrollment and Disenrollment Requirements

(2) Alternative Enrollment Procedures — The procedures established under paragraph (1) shall provide for an alternative enrollment process for an individual described in subsection (c) in the case of such an individual–

(A) who is self-employed

(B) who has more than 1 employer; or

(C) whose employer does not elect to participate in the automatic enrollment process established by the Secretary.

The Academy of Actuaries including the head actuary at CMS (the government branch that runs Medicare and Medicaid) thinks that the premium should be more like $180 per month. I just can’t see employees accepting that much premium for so little benefit. We know how hard it is to educate employees to buy private long-term care insurance for much less premium than that and it doesn’t look like there are dollars budgeted to educate the public at all.

Finally, a really big reason it passed is because people have to pay into it 5 years before they can collect benefits. For that time period, Congress looked at it as a revenue generator to help fund the overall health care reform bill. I think they will be sadly disappointed when they see how few employees will accept it. The head actuary at CMS thinks the participation will be only 2%.* Most of them will likely be people who have health issues, which will drive up the number of claims which ultimately leads to the program being underfunded. Therefore I think it will fall way short of the revenue generator it is expected to be.

*Source: Richard Foster, Chief Actuary for CMS, 11-13-09 (p. 11)

You can pick up the CMS report AND the final version of the CLASS Act by scrolling to the bottom of this same article on my website at http://www.ltcconsultants.com/articles/2010/classactposition/index.shtml .

Right at Home South Jersey held a business development conference last Tuesday, May 11th at the Cherry Hill Crowne Plaza. This business seminar, entitled, Make Sense of The Non-Sense: Making Social Media Relevant for Your Business, was lead by Julie Steelman. Julie Steelman’s credits read like a Who’s Who of big-name corporate giants with Apple, Microsoft, Honda, Nissan and Sony Pictures in her rolodex. She generated over $75 million in sales using her entrepreneurial techniques and style. She leveraged one meeting with the world’s most recognized brand to broker a $1 million deal, and then turned it into another $4 million in sales.
Julie stresses, “Everyone has a personal story about their product or service they need to get across. I am here to nurture them through that process so they possess the audacity to monetize their idea confidently. It really can be as natural as breathing.”
The presentation had about 15 attendees and went from 9-11 with lunch following after.
Julie also provided guests with a step-by-step guide on how to create strategic business relationships using Facebook. To get that step-by-step guide, please email Kevin@rahsj.com.

May is Stroke Awareness Month, a good time to take stock of your risk factors and overall cardiovascular health. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of adult disability. Arm yourself with knowledge this May by talking to your doctor, considering a preventive stroke screening, and learning how to recognize the warning signs of a stroke so you can react FAST if you think someone is having a stroke.

F.A.S.T.

FACE – Ask the person to smile? Does one side of the face droop?

ARMS – Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one side drift downward?

SPEECH – Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred?

TIME – Call 911 or to get to a hospital fast. Brain cells are dying.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

If you are in need of caregiving assistance for an aging loved one in the Cherry Hill & Williamstown, NJ area, visit us at www.cherryhill.rightathome.net.

Here is a good and informative article that I found and wanted to pass along to you.  For more great information and assistance with an aging loved one in your life visit our website at www.cherryhill.rightathome.net.

Older Americans Month 2010 Age Strong! Live Long!

May is Older Americans Month—a tradition dating back to 1963 to honor the legacies and ongoing contributions of older Americans and support them as they enter the next stage in life.

This year’s Older Americans Month theme—Age Strong! Live Long!—recognizes the diversity and vitality of today’s older Americans who span three generations. They have lived through wars and hard times, as well as periods of unprecedented prosperity. They pioneered new technologies in medicine, communications, and industry while spearheading a cultural revolution that won equal rights for minorities, women, and disabled Americans.

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After a stroke life for the person who suffered a stroke and their loved ones around them. Many things need to be done in order to rehabilitate the patient who suffered a stroke. Right at Home can help with many of a patients needs. Here is an interesting article about what happens after a stroke and what to do next.
Read more by Clicking Here.

For more great information and how we can help you, visit our website at www.cherryhill.rightathome.net.

Eating right plays a major part in a person’s overall health. What many people fail to realize is what and how you eat may reduce or even cure existing diseases. This is an interesting article from the MAYO Clinic on the “Dash Diet” which can help lower high blood pressure. About 74.5 million people in the United States age 20 and older have high blood pressure. Many of these people were unaware of their condition. It helps manage high blood pressure as well as prevent it and other diseases, read this nutrition article from the MAYO Clinic
Read more by Clicking Here.

For more great information and how we can help you, visit our website at www.cherryhill.rightathome.net.

Here is an interesting article that I found and wanted to pass on to you. For more great information and assistance with dealing with cancer symptoms and treatments, visit our website at www.cherryhill.rightathome.net.

Colon Cancer affected over 106,000 Americans in 2009. If caught early, treatment can be successful and remission is possible. But if missed and the tumors begin to grow and metastasize, treatment becomes much more difficult. This online booklet from the National Cancer Society of America helps you realize what signs and symptoms to look for, risk factors, treatment methods, and much more.

Read more by Clicking Here.