26 million American adults have Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), and millions more are at risk. Most people are not aware that they have CKD or are at risk.  The National Kidney Foundation’s Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP®) offers free screening for those at risk – anyone 18 years and older with high blood pressure, diabetes or a family history of kidney disease. It is designed to raise awareness about kidney disease among high-risk individuals and provide free testing and educational information, so that kidney disease and its complications can be prevented or delayed.

Keep Screening

KEEP provides three simple tests that determine kidney function to nearly 2,500 people each month in dozens of cities across the U.S. Participants receive a comprehensive health risk appraisal, blood pressure measurement, blood and urine testing and the opportunity to discuss their health and review results with onsite clinicians.  The program, which recently screened its 130,000th participant, is finding kidney disease at the earliest stage possible.

Find a KEEP Location Near You.

Visit www.northstarcare.net for elder care management in the Northern NJ and NYC areas.

By Stephen J. Baetge

Original Content HERE

There have been numerous proposals to solve the problem of wandering dementia patients who go missing every day. But many families and caregivers are turning to GPS — a U.S. space-based global navigation satellite system — as a hi-tech solution.

The results of a 10-year collaboration between the Department of Justice and the Alzheimer’s Association found that wandering is one of the most common, frequent and potentially life-threatening behaviors associated with dementia stemming from Alzheimer’s disease.

Wandering is unique to dementia, and it occurs when seniors become disoriented and lost — even in their own neighborhood or places that are familiar to them. Wandering is also considered one of the greatest challenges facing Alzheimer’s caregivers.

Individuals who wander are confused and often unable to ask for help, leaving them vulnerable. Six out of 10 people with Alzheimer’s disease will wander, and seven out of 10 will do so repeatedly.

If not found within the first 24 hours, up to half of all persons with dementia who wander will become seriously injured or die. Information from the Alzheimer’s Association suggests that nearly 127,000 critical wandering events occur each year.

Numerous programs exist to combat the problem of wandering dementia patients.

The Alzheimer’s Association operates a government-funded Safe Return program to help reunite wanderers with those who care for them. In addition, 24 states have Silver Alert or similar programs designed to help locate wandering dementia patients.

The State of California does not have such a program although it has considered Silver Alert legislation.

There is also legislation pending to introduce a Silver Alert program on a national level, but critics contend that the proliferation of color-coded alerts will reduce their importance, creating a risk that alerts would lose their effectiveness because of their commonality.

Concerns about the cost of implementing the Silver Alert program on a nationwide basis have been raised. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that implementation of the National Silver Alert Act would cost $59 million over a five-year period.

One solution being promoted by advocates is the use of personal GPS tracking devices to help locate dementia patients within minutes of the realization they have gone missing.

“Personal GPS devices that can be tracked via an online dashboard can literally be lifesaving devices,” explained George Karonis, CEO of LiveViewGPS.

“Some devices are so small, they can fit on a keychain, in a pocket, or they can be sewn into clothing if need be.”

In addition to their small size, GPS devices have numerous other advantages because of their already widespread use by the public and law enforcement.

“These devices can be tracked online, meaning you can get an exact position of the GPS holder that is accurate up to the last 20 seconds if they are on foot,” said Karonis.

According to experts, a personal GPS tracking device should have several features if it is to be useful in keeping wandering dementia patients safe.

The GPS device should offer online tracking via the Internet. It should also provide rapid updates so the location reported is accurate.

Long battery life is another key feature, as is a motion-activated power button so the GPS unit is only using the battery for power when it is in motion.

The ideal GPS tracking device is also portable — capable of fitting in a hand or on a key chain — and equipped with memory that stores tracking points for future reference.

“A portable GPS monitoring system can be an invaluable aid for law enforcement and rescue workers trying to locate missing elderly people before they can be hurt and providing peace of mind for family members,” Karonis observed.

“When used correctly, it can act as a safeguard against tragedy because it enables family and police to find a missing person within minutes.”

Visit www.northstarcare.net to see how we can help you with an aging family member in Northern NJ and the New York City NY area.

Can We Stop Mom Sundowning?

By Frena Gray-Davidson

It’s called sundowning because, traditionally it tends to begin around sunset. It’s the agitation time, which affects many who have dementia. It typically continues for a couple of hours and then may pass. It is most likely to start in late afternoon, although some people begin earlier and others reported as starting in the morning.

That’s untypical. It’s also untypical that someone begins agitated behavior in late afternoon and then continues all night long, but it happens. Whether that should really be called sundowning is something for a medical expert to decide. If I were a caregiver to someone with dementia whose behavior included agitation all night long, I’d be getting the help of a good psychiatrist.

Families tend to attribute everything to Alzheimer’s dementia, whether it is or not. You have other conditions as well. You could have Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and Alzheimer’s. You could have flashbacks and Alzheimer’s. So it’s very important not to blame everything on the dementia.

Sundowning needs a multi-faceted approach because we don’t know exactly what causes it. We can make good guesses though.

Five Possible Causes of Sundowning:

1. Fatigue;

2. Hunger;

3. Dehydration;

4. Disorientation;

5. Loss of purpose, belonging and sense of security.

In my 20 years of working with people with dementia, Alzheimer’s and other dementias, I’ve learned that we can make affective care plans for sundowning. Each plan is particular to each person, but every plan should include some or all of the following.

The Sundowning Care Plan:

1. Study the typical pattern of your person’s sundowning;

2. To decrease fatigue overall, encourage sleeping later and having a nap after lunch, if possible;

3. Give a nutritious snack of, for example, banana bread and a sliced apple about an hour before normal sundowning time;

4. At the same time, give a natural juice drink and plenty of water;

5. Listen attentively to the feelings expressed by your person during time of agitation to learn what emotional issues are unresolved;

6. Remember that, in sundowning, this person expresses real issues with which we can help;

7. Plan for diversion at the expected sundowning time and increase emotional support;

8. Use environmental support — music they love, lavender oil diffused into into the air (notably effective in reducing emotional stress responses);

9.Understand that agitation can be contagious and that your best contribution is to stay calm.

I have been able to recommend this approach to care units, which have found very positive responses from the plan. I and many other family members have found it very affective at home.

It is definitely possible to reduce sundowning time and intensity and even to eliminate it altogether. While you’re working on those results, remember anyway that sundowning tends to reduce and eventually disappear as dementia progresses.

As a caregiver, not as a doctor, I can assure you that we can do a great deal to help as caregivers. However, not all caregivers can do this and that’s okay too. Caregivers can only do what they can do. We are all human and it is out of our humanity that family caregivers undertake the heavy task of caring for a family member with dementia needs.

One last suggestion: it is not usual that sundowning involves violent acting out or extravagant fear reactions. Such manifestations suggest a deeper psychiatric issue. Please don’t hesitate to see mental health specialists if you have questions.

Frena Gray-Davidson is a longterm Alzheimer’s caregiver and her latest book is “Alzheimer’s 911: Hope, Help and Healing for Caregivers”, available from http://www.amazon.com. Frena presents dementia seminars nationally and internationally. Go to her website at http://www.alzguide.com/ and sign up for her free monthly online newsletter for caregivers. Email her at frenagd@gmail.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Frena_Gray-Davidson

Words for Seniors Facing Loss

By PAULA SPAN

Original content found HERE.  

My father is a relentlessly upbeat guy. “Up and around!” he reports when I call. “Keeping busy!” He tells me about his volunteer work, his card game winnings, the (seated) yoga class he enrolled in at the library. His favorite refrain is, “I can’t complain.” (And yes, yes, yes, my sister and I do know how lucky we are.)

He does tell me about the funerals, though. At 87, watching his peers struggle with the physical and psychological trials of old age, he goes to a lot of them. He keeps losing people he’s known for years — onetime co-workers, senior members of his synagogue, neighbors in his tightly knit apartment building.

His friend Molly, too frail in her 90s to remain alone in her house, recently moved to the Midwest to live with her son; they’ll probably never see each other again. The weekly card game now involves an entirely different group of guys than when he started years ago, and it sometimes stalls for several weeks as the players have health crises or move or die. Replacement players are growing harder to find.

“These things keep happening when you’re over 80,” he told me.

He goes to funerals because, he said: “It’s just the right thing to do. It shows that you feel bad, that you’ve lost a friend.”

What do you say to this litany? You want to offer something reassuring, something to lighten the sense of loss, but you can’t evade the reality: He’s outliving his friends and family members. His cohort is thinning.

Luckily, I can turn for counsel to Barbara Moscowitz, senior social worker at the Massachusetts General Hospital’s Senior Health program. (One benefit of writing this blog is that you can call up experts and pose questions, supposedly on behalf of readers, that you really want answered yourself.) Ms. Moscowitz hears such litanies from clients and their adult children all the time.

And her personal guideline is to remove age from the equation and ask yourself how you would respond if the one suffering losses was a peer, not an older person.

“We impose our expectations,” she said.

When old people lose their friends, she added: “We think, ‘You should be able to manage this. This is what happens. You should be used to it.’ Because if we ask what it’s like, we may hear what it’s like. We fear opening the floodgates of sadness.”

But we wouldn’t tell a 55-year-old friend who had attended three funerals in two months to just buck up, would we?

“When there’s been loss, to expect happiness is just denying the truth,” Ms. Moscowitz continued. “It opens up a divide between older people who then deal with the sorrow privately, knowing nobody wants to hear about it, and younger people who want them to be cheerful all the time.”

Of course, some older people don’t want to talk about the illnesses or deaths of their friends or neighbors, either — but in her experience, Ms. Moscowitz said, most do.

“Those people are part of their history, their legacy,” she said. “If we send a message that we don’t want to hear about it, it says: That person is not worth remembering.”

Grief — feeling sad, weepy, temporarily at sea — is different from clinical depression, it’s important to recognize. Grief is a normal response to loss; depression is an illness that’s usually treatable, both in young people and old ones. Symptoms that persist — like appetite loss, sleep problems, loss of interest in normal activities, thoughts of suicide and, in older people, confusion or agitation — are red flags that signal the need for a medical evaluation.

But my father is not depressed. He’s coping with one of the more difficult aspects of a long life. So I listen to the funeral reports and try not to respond by pointing out all the reasons he has to feel fortunate.

I try to remember to say things like: “Ah, that’s so sad. How long had you known this person? What was he like? Do you need help arranging a ride to the funeral home? I’m sorry, Dad. It must be hard. I bet you’ll miss him.”

Paula Span is the author of “When the Time Comes: Families With Aging Parents Share Their Struggles and Solutions.”

By Nell Bernstein, Caring.com senior editor

Original Content HERE

Understanding how older adults see housing

You sit down with a handful of colorful brochures and a burst of optimism to have “the housing talk” with a relative or the person you’re caring for — to help her sort through all the options as she gets older and her needs change. But instead of thanks you get emotions: an angry outburst, maybe even tears, and the accusation that you’re trying to “put” her somewhere.

Of course you have to talk to her about her options. But being prepared for the psychological roadblocks you’re likely to hit when you broach the subject will help make that conversation more productive, and maybe even pleasant.

David Solie, author of How to Say It to Seniors: Closing the Communication Gap With Our Elders, put it this way in an interview with Caring.com: “You have to understand exactly what you’re asking of older people when you ask them to move. You’re asking them to give up the equivalent of water or oxygen.”

An older adult’s home represents control.

You’re asking the person to let go of control at a time when age itself may be making her feel she’s losing control over so much else — fundamentals like mobility, vision, hearing, their very ability to navigate the world.

Look at housing from her point of view.

Try visiting a retirement community or nursing home that you’d consider for this person. Imagine you’re an older adult on her way in the door with no ticket out. What may appear to be a beautifully run community — if you don’t have to live there — could look to her like the end of the road.

Be tactful and gentle.

As the person in your care ages, preparing her for the possibility of living in a nursing home could help make her comfortable with the idea. But don’t be too surprised if the glossy retirement-home brochures don’t get more than a quick once-over, especially at first. Where you see safety, nutritious meals, medical supervision, and a calendar full of fun activities, she may see loss of control, a building full of strangers, and the end of all that’s familiar.

Attitudes change, and the most resistant older adults sometimes wind up as the happiest retirement community residents if they eventually realize they need help. But if she doesn’t wind up moving when you think she should, you can still support her by making her housing situation as safe and comfortable as possible.

Here’s the bottom line.

Keep in mind that in the end, it’s her decision, not yours — and communicate that thought to her. As long as she’s mentally competent, acknowledging that she’s in charge of her own life will make the process of helping her navigate the housing maze a more positive and productive one for all involved.

Visit www.northstarcare.net for information and assistance for Northern New Jersey and New York City seniors.

Mark Sessions spent two years juggling his restaurant business with multiple daily phone calls to his elderly parents, checking on their needs and answering their questions. Family vacations were spent traveling the 500 miles to his parent’s home to personally take care of home maintenance and provide health care visits to their doctor. During his last visit, Mark noticed his father had difficulty walking and his mother was confused as to which medications she was to take and at what time. This alarming change in his parent’s condition concerned Mark that his parents’ care needs required more than frequent phone calls and vacation visits. Running his business and handling his parent’s long distance care was now becoming very challenging.

According to a report by the Alzheimer’s Association of Los Angeles & Riverside, California, there are approximately 3.3 million long distance caregivers in this country with an average distance of 480 miles from the people they care for. The report also states that 15 million days are missed from work each year because of long distance care giving. Seven million Americans provide 80% of the care to ailing family members and the number of long distance caregivers will DOUBLE over the next 15 years.
Long Distance Caregiver Project – Alzheimer’s Association LA & Riverside, Los Angeles, CA (May 15, 2002, National Web Seminar by Judith Delaney, MFT, Clinical Coordinator)

The long distance caregiver is a new role that is thrust upon children and younger family members. Families used to live closer together, with children residing and working near their parents. But nowadays family members are more distant from each other. Society, today, is recognizing this. Some caregiver services have tweaked their programs to work as liaisons between long distance caregivers, senior loved ones and local medical professionals.

Professional care managers — a lso known as Geriatric Care Managers, Elder Care Managers or Aging Care Managers — represent a growing trend to help full time, employed family caregivers provide care for loved ones. Care managers are expert in assisting caregivers, friends or family members find government-paid and private resources to help with long term care decisions.

They are professionals — trained to evaluate and recommend care for the aged. A care manager might be a nurse, social worker, psychologist, or gerontologist who specializes in assessing the abilities and needs of the elderly. Care manger professionals are also becoming extremely popular as the caretaker liaison between long distant family members and their aging elder loved ones.

Jacqueline Marcell — author of “Elder Rage, or Take My Father…Please! How to Survive Caring for Aging Parents” (Impressive, 2000) — says,

“The most important thing to do is to find a geriatric care manager in the area where your loved one lives. She will have knowledge of all the services in the area and can be your eyes.”

Below is a partial list of what a care manager or Professional Geriatric Care Manager might do:

• Assess the level and type of care needed and develop a care plan.
• Take steps to start the care plan and keep it functioning.
• Make sure care is in a safe and disability friendly environment.
• Resolve family conflicts and other issues with long term care.
• Become an advocate for the care recipient and the caregiver.
• Manage care for a loved one for out-of-town families .
• Conduct ongoing assessments to implement changes in care.
• Oversee and direct care provided at home.
• Coordinate the efforts of key support systems.
• Provide personal counseling.
• Help with Medicaid qualification and application.
• Arrange for services of legal and financial advisors.
• Provide placement in assisted living facilities or nursing homes.
• Monitor the care received in a nursing home or in assisted living.
• Assist with the monitoring of medications.
• Find appropriate solutions to avoid a crisis.
• Coordinate medical appointments and medical information.
• Provide transportation to medical appointments
• Assist families in positive decision making
• Develop care plans for older loved ones not now needing care
  “The 4 Steps of Long Term Care Planning,” National Care Planning Council

Services offered will depend on the educational and professional background of the care manager, but most are qualified to cover items in the list above or can recommend a professional who can. Fees may vary. There is often an initial consultation fee that is followed by hourly fees for services. Health insurance does not generally cover these fees but long-term care insurance might.

In 2002, the AARP published a survey from geriatric care mangers about their fees:

“Respondents were asked how much they charged for their services, which might include: an initial consultation; fees on an hourly or per visit basis; fees for development of a care plan; and fees on a fixed-price contract basis. Hourly fees averaged $74 an hour. GCMs charged an average $168 to develop a care plan. Initial consultations averaged $175. Seven of ten current GCMs responded in the affirmative when asked if they had a statement that listed their fees. ” Written by Robyn Stone, DrPH, Principal Investigator; Susan Reinhard, RN, PhD, Co-Principal Investigator; Jean Machemer, MSG, Research Associate; and Danylle Rudin, MSW, Research Associate of The Institute for the Future of Aging Services, Washington, D.C.Barbara Coleman, Project Manager, AARP Public Policy Institute November 2002

When you take into account the time absent from work and time to find the right care resources for your loved ones, along with the cost of travel expenses to monitor their care, you will probably concur that using a caregiver is money well spent. Add on to this the stress of handling your own life circumstances combined with being a caregiver and you will probably wonder how you could have ever done without the care manager.

A professional or geriatric care manager can be an important asset to all families in elder care situations. Here is an example of how a care manager can help.

Mary is taking care of her aging husband at home. He has diabetes and is overweight. Because of the diabetes, her husband has severe neuropathy in his legs and feet and it is difficult for him to walk. He also has diabetic retinopathy and, therefore, cannot see very well. She has to be careful that he does not injure his feet, since the last time that happened he was in the hospital for four weeks with a severe infection. She is having difficulty helping him out of bed and with dressing and using the bathroom. She relies heavily on her son, who lives nearby, to help her manage her husband’s care.

On the advice of a friend, Mary is told about a professional care manager, Sharon Brown. The cost of an initial assessment and care plan from the care manager is $175.00. Mary thinks she has the situation under control and $175.00 for someone from the outside to come in and tell her how to deal with her situation seems ridiculous.

One day Mary is trying to lift her husband and injures her back severely. She is bedridden and cannot care for her husband. Her son, who works fulltime, now has two parents to care for. On the advice of the same friend, he decides to bring in Sharon Brown and pay her fee himself.

Sharon does a thorough assessment of the family’s needs. She arranges for Mary’s doctor to order Medicare home care during Mary’s recovery. Therapists come in and help Mary with exercises and advice on lifting. Sharon advertises for and finds a private individual who is willing to live in the home for a period of time to help Mary with her recovery and watch over her husband. Sharon makes sure the new caregiver is reliable and honest and that taxes are paid for the employment. Sharon enlists the support of the local area agency on aging and makes sure all services available are provided for the family.

Sharon also calls a meeting with Mary’s family and explains to them the care needs and how they need to commit to help with those needs. Sharon makes arrangements to rent or purchase medical equipment for lifting, moving and easier use of the bathroom facilities. Medicare will pay much of this cost. Sharon also works closely with an elder law attorney and a financial planner who specializes in the elderly. The attorney prepares documents for the family including powers of attorney, a living will and advice on preserving Mary’s remaining assets. The financial planner recommends a reverse mortgage specialist to help Mary and her husband tap unused assets in their home’s equity. Some reverse mortgage proceeds are used to pay off debt. The remaining proceeds are converted into income with a single premium immediate income annuity in order to provide Mary adequate income when her husband is gone and she looses one of the Social Security payments.

With the help of the care manager, Mary’s life and future have been significantly improved. Her husband as well, if he adheres to the care plan, may end up having a better quality of life for his remaining years.
“The 4 Steps of Long Term Care Planning,” National Care Planning Council

The National Care Planning Council promotes and supports professional and geriatric care managers on its website www.longtermcarelink.net .

Visit us at www.northstarcare.net for help with an aging loved one in the NYC area.

Baby Boomers and Aging Parents – Six Tips to Prepare For Their Care

By Katie B. Marsh

Although there is some debate over the exact age range of the Baby Boom generation, the US Census Bureau identifies most Boomers as those who were born between the years 1956 to 1965. In any case, whether you were born within that time frame or fairly close to it, chances are you are beginning to deal with end-of-life issues regarding your elderly parents. Your many considerations run the gamut from the practical to the spiritual and everything in between. So, where do you begin?

Caregivers. Imagine if we ended our lives as babies, completely dependent on a caregiver tending to all of our needs: loving us, feeding us, changing our diapers. Imagine now that we are not as cute as little babies but still have the same need to be cared for gently with love and respect. Who would you want to take care of you in this situation? Who do your parents want to care for them? This question should be posed directly to your parents. Don’t assume you know the answer. What they may have said 10 to 15 years ago may not still hold true today as they are closer to facing their mortality.

Finances. As we know, in our society it’s considered impolite to ask someone about their finances. Many adult children hesitate to inquire about the exact state of their parents’ finances for fear that their parents will think that the real questions is about potential future inheritance money. But it’s extremely important to have an honest discussion about finances at this point in life. First of all, you need to know if your parents have long-term care insurance. This is the only type of insurance that pays for future assistance that may be needed in the performance of activities of daily living. And, as the name implies, it helps cover the cost of long-term care usually for an undetermined length of time. Long-term care insurance combined with your parents’ net worth, any financial assistance from family, and personal preferences will all factor in to determining where and how your parents live out their final years.

Memoirs. The written word is a way for us to live on beyond this lifetime. Encourage your parents to share their unique stories on paper. My great grandfather actually typed his life story and had it bound in leather and embossed in gold leaf. My brother, sister, and I cherish it and each wish we had our own copy.

Legal Instruments. A living trust is a very important instrument for any family with assets to bequeath. Its main purpose is to avoid probate. Much of a family’s estate can be lost through probate; setting up a living trust is a way to prevent such a loss. It is best to hire an attorney to set up a living trust tailored to your family’s specific needs.

The next consideration is to find out to whom your parents have given or intended to give power of attorney. Power of attorney assigns power to an individual to act on your behalf to handle all of your legal and business matters in the event that you are unable to do this for yourself.

Lastly, an advance directive is a legal instrument prepared in advance by an individual. It gives health care instructions to your care providers in the event you are unable to conduct such matters on your own. A living will, power of attorney, health care proxy, and Five Wishes are all forms of an advance directive.

Possessions. A Last Will and Testament is the instrument to be prepared by your parents to assign care for their dependents, if any. This can include pets as well. Also, this is the legal mechanism through which they can identify one or more persons to manage their estate and provide instructions for the distribution of their personal possessions. This includes everything from real estate and expensive jewelry to the simplest sentimental items. Funeral and burial instructions can also be outlined here. Although this is a legal document, completing one can give great comfort to your parents, giving them control and certainty over one aspect of their lives.

Final Messages. Encourage your parents to write letters to each of their children if they feel comfortable doing so. Some families even make audio or video recordings of their elders. It can be about anything – a full life story, funny anecdotes, family stories, or loving good-byes to each of their children. My husband’s grandmother came to this country from Armenia and she recounted her tumultuous life on CD. He cherishes it and plans to share it with our children when they are older.

Your parents are entering a time of life where many people feel particularly vulnerable. This can be especially difficult for parents who are used to being in charge and may not be comfortable at all with the reversal of roles. Please keep that in mind as you gather information from them and help them create a plan for the future. If done tactfully and respectfully, this time of life can bring you closer to your parents than ever before.

Katie B. Marsh is co-author of The Birth of Dying: A Sensitive Workbook to Help You Broach and Explore End-of-Life Issues with Your Terminally Ill or Elderly Loved One http://BooksForSharing.com/

(c) Copyright – Katie B. Marsh. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Katie_B._Marsh

Understanding Memory Loss

What is memory loss?

Memory loss is something we all experience in life. We forget familiar names, we cannot remember where we left our wallets and purses the previous evening, and we can’t remember everything needed at the grocery store without having a list. This type of memory loss is perfectly normal and as we age, such mild forgetfulness may start happening more and more.

Continue reading HERE.

For readers interested in contributing to help victims of the earthquake in Haiti,  here is a list of contact information and links for some agencies that plan to provide relief.

The New York Times does not certify the charities’ fund allocations or administrative costs. More information about giving, for this and other causes, is available online from the GuideStar database on nonprofit agencies.

ACTION AGAINST HUNGER
247 West 37th Street, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10018
(877) 777-1420

AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE
1501 Cherry Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 241-7000

AMERICAN JEWISH WORLD SERVICE
45 West 36th Street
New York, NY 10018
(212) 792-2900

AMERICAN RED CROSS
Text “HAITI” to “90999″ to make a $10 donation.
2025 E Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20006
(800) REDCROSS (733-2767)

AMERICARES
88 Hamilton Avenue
Stamford, CT 06902
(800) 486-4357

AMERICAN JEWISH JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE
JDC Haiti Earthquake Relief
P.O. Box 530
132 East 43rd Street
New York, NY 10017
212-687-6200

B’NAI B’RITH INTERNATIONAL DISASTER RELIEF FUND
2020 K Street, NW, 7th Floor,
Washington, D.C., 20006

CARE
151 Ellis Street
Atlanta, GA 30303
(800) 521-CARE (521-2273)

CONCERN WORLDWIDE US
104 East 40th Street, #903
New York, NY 10016
(800) 59-CONCERN

CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES
(800) 736-3467
P.O. Box 17090
Baltimore, MD 21203-7090

CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL DISASTER INFORMATION
(703) 276-1914

DIRECT RELIEF INTERNATIONAL
27 South La Patera Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93117
(805) 964-4767

DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS USA/MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES (MSF)
333 7th Avenue, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10001-5004
(888) 392-0392

EPISCOPAL RELIEF & DEVELOPMENT
815 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10017
(800) 334-7626, ext. 5129

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION
1752 N Street NW, Suite 700
Washington, D.C. 20036

INTERNATIONAL ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHARITIES
P.O. Box 630225
Baltimore, MD 21263-0225
(877) 803-4622

INTERNATIONAL RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT
1621 North Kent Street, 4th Floor
Arlington, Va. 22209
(703) 248-0161

INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE
122 East 42nd Street
New York, NY 10168-1289
(877) REFUGEE

ISLAMIC RELIEF USA
3655 Wheeler Ave.
Alexandria, Va. 22304
(888) 479-4968

ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF NORTH AMERICA
P.O. Box 38
Plainfield, Ind. 46168
(317) 839-8157

THE JEWISH FEDERATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA
(212) 284-6500

MAP INTERNATIONAL
4700 Glynco Parkway
Brunswick, Ga. 31525-6800
(800) 225-8550

MERCY CORPS
Dept. W
P.O. Box 2669
Portland, OR 97208-2669
(888) 256-1900

MOBILE GIVING FOUNDATION
800 112th Avenue NE, Suite 260-E
Bellevue, Wash. 98004
(866) 810-1203

       Text the word “Yele” to 501501 to donate $5 on behalf of the Yéle Foundation, the leading     contributor to rebuilding Haiti founded by Wyclef Jean.

      Text the word “Haiti” to 85944 to donate $5 on behalf of the Rescue Union Mission and MedCorp International.

      Text the word “Haiti” to 25383 to donate $5 On behalf of the Internal Rescue Committee.

      Text the word “Haiti” to 90999 to donate $10 On behalf of the Red Cross in the U.S.

      Text the word “Haiti” to 45678 (in Canada only) on behalf of the Salvation Army in Canada.

OPERATION BLESSING INTERNATIONAL
977 Centerville Turnpike
Virginia Beach, Va. 23463
(757) 226-3401

OXFAM AMERICA
226 Causeway St., 5th Floor
Boston, MA 02114-2206
(800) 77-OXFAM (776-9326)

OPERATION BLESSING INTERNATIONAL
977 Centerville Turnpike
Virginia Beach, VA 23463
(800) 730-2537

PARTNERS IN HEALTH
P.O. Box 845578
Boston, MA 02284-5578
(617) 432-5256

THE SALVATION ARMY
615 Slaters Lane
P.O. Box 269
Alexandria, VA 22313

SAVE THE CHILDREN
Haiti Earthquake Children in Emergency Fund
54 Wilton Road
Westport, CT 06880
(800) 728-3843

SAMARITAN’S PURSE
P.O. Box 3000
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 262-1980

WORLD VISION
Haiti Earthquake Relief
P.O. Box 9716
Federal Way, WA 98063-9716
(888) 511-6548

UNITED NATIONS CENTRAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUND
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
380 Madison Avenue, 6th floor
New York, NY 10017

U.S. FUND FOR UNICEF
125 Maiden Lane
New York, NY 10038
(800) FOR-KIDS (367-5437)

Related Topic: Connecting to People Affected by the Quake

Original source of content here: http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/13/haiti-disaster-relief-how-to-contribute/

For additional information or assistance, please visit us at www.northstarcare.net.

As tough as the cold weather is on everyone, it’s particularly dangerous for senior citizens. Jim Miller, editor of Savvy Senior, a syndicated newspaper column, was invited on the “Today” show to share some steps seniors should take to stay safe as the mercury plunges.           

Home heating safety 

More home fires happen during the winter months than any other time of the year mainly due to home heating devices and people age 65 and older are three times more likely to die or be injured in a home fire as those younger. In addition, heating devices and household appliances that are fueled by gas, oil, kerosene or wood in a closed up house can also produce deadly carbon monoxide gas. Some simple things seniors can do to protect themselves are: 

    * Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on every level of the home and check the batteries every month and change them at least once a year.

    * If you’re using a space heater remember that space heaters need space. Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from the heater, and if you’re looking to by a new space heater get one that automatically shuts off if the heater falls over.

    * If you use a wood burning fire place make sure you have a glass front or screen large enough to catch flying sparks and rolling logs and have chimney flue pipe checked once a year.

    * Get an ABC multipurpose fire extinguisher for the home; learn how to use it and check it yearly to be sure is working. 

Winter auto safety

To ensure winter time driving safety — if you live in a cold climate — have your vehicle serviced and winterized so it’s ready for winter driving and winter road conditions. Some specific items to be checked are the: 

    * Tires: check the tire air pressure and make sure your tires have sufficient tread.

    * Radiator: have the anti-freeze levels checked.

    * Belts: inspect the belts and hoses for cracks or leaks.

    * Oil: ask you mechanic about switching to a thinner grade of engine oil for better performance in colder temperatures.

    * Wipers: inspect the windshield wipers and wiper fluid to ensure better visibility.

    * Battery: make sure the battery is fully charged. 

Here are a few other handy winter safety items for seniors to carry in their car, especially on trips out of town: 

AAA Severe Weather Travel Kit

Price: $39.99

Lifelinefirstaid.com, 503-352-1396 

This #1 selling auto safety kit designed for winter and cold weather emergencies. It includes 46 vital items that can help in an emergency like a folding shovel, emergency survival blanket, ice scraper, emergency candles and water proof matches, 3 packets of water, poncho, flashlight with batteries, gloves, hand warmer, LED safety light, 5 in 1 whistle, 27 piece first aid kit, AAA car care guide and a carry bag. Available at Target or your local AAA Travel Store.

AutoSport 660i Jump Starter/Inflator

Price: $129.95

Autosportcatalog.com, 800-953-0814 

A life saver on a cold winter night when your car battery’s dead or if you have a low or flat tire. The Jump Starter/Inflator is a 3-in-1 tool that’s a flash light, battery charger and air compressor all in one handy unit.

Preventing wintertime falls

A common problem among the elderly is broken hips, which happen more frequently in winter due wet and slippery conditions. To help prevent wintertime falls seniors should wear shoes with non-skid soles, stay only on sidewalks or areas that have been cleared of snow and ice, use handrails when available and avoid getting out after dark or in hazardous weather conditions. Here are some other handy helpers to consider:

Yaktrax Walker

Price: $19.95

Yaktrax.com, 866-925-8729

For seniors who want greater stability walking on ice and snow, the Yaktrax Walker fits over your shoes or boots for snow-tire-like traction. Available in four sizes. 

Ice Pick Cane

Price: $46.00

Fashionablecanes.com, 877-890-7677 

A walking cane with a retractable ice pick tip for use on slippery surfaces. The black or bronze shaft is adjustable in length and has a comfortable hard plastic handle that is specially designed for support on slippery surfaces. 

Ice Carpet Set Of 2

Price: $24.98

Fulloflife.com 800-521-7638

Prevent slips, skids and tumbles on your entrance walk and sidewalk even on thick accumulations of ice and snow. The Ice Carpet uses a non-skid material to help provide surefootedness on your walks no matter what the weather. 10 ft. long x 18″ wide. 

Wovel

Price: $119.95

Wovel.com 800-430-0475

The snow shovel on a wheel makes snow removal easier and faster reducing your risks of back and heart injuries. Instead of lifting a heavy shovel full of snow, you just push down on the handlebar and the scooper lifts up and throws the snow forward.

For additional information or assistance, please visit us at www.northstarcare.net.