Colleague, friend, and fellow younger Baby Boomer Chris G. emailed the other day that he and his wife “went with Genworth. We did through a broker, all by phone. It took a long time and a lot of back and forth. But we finally got it settled earlier this year. The big decision point was how many years coverage to buy into.” A few of my clients tapped into long-term care insurance policies-- all covered by Genworth -- and were able to really reduce monthly expenses. I thought about this as I reached out to my peers to explore this financial strategy for covering possible future costs of long-term care. I was inspired by Ron Lieber’s NY Times money column, ”Ignore Long-Term Care Planning at Your Own Peril.” Ron Lieber made me think about how I can use today’s current economic productivity, such as it is, to cover some future safety and security. Right now I have IRAs but no other type of long-term savings or life insurance. So I thought I would share a few of the resources I've discovered, such as this Nov. 2014 Forbes update on the status of long-term care as a business. Some people would do fine with just intelligent investment of retirement assets, PBS points out: "Insured for old age? An economist explains the dangers of long-term care insurance” LTC insurance links for Bay Area denizens California Partnership for Long-Term Care, comprehensive resource for people like us. California Department of Health Care Services offers a solid consumer overview. California's Health Care department also offers a list of insurance companies that offer long-term care insurance policies California Department of Insurance, consumers’ guide to Long-Term Care Insurance sample rates, and other reports Geared toward Bay Area residents, the esteemed Berkeley Parents Network offers a 2011 list of members' recommendations for long-term care insurance brokers. Before you contact a long-term care insurance broker Check out this slew of consumer tips and links from the New York Times’ June 2013 article, “Fine Print and Red Tape in Long-Term Care Policies,” by money expert Tara Siegel Bernard.
Beyond long-term care insurance While a long-term care policy can help cover the cost of care, it cannot ensure that you receive the TYPE of care that you would want and under the conditions that you would desire. SF Bay Times “Aging in Community” columnist Dr. Rachel Robaseciotti advises, write your own long-term care PLAN that describes your wishes. Her column suggests a number of topics for writing your own plan. The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care offers a vital, thought-provoking form for considering and sharing your choices for HOW you want to receive long-term care. The organization encourages you to write down what you want your caregivers to know. For example, How you relax and prepare for sleep at night. Activities you enjoy. Things that you would like to have in your room. In other words, the stuff that helps us live out our own ways of aging with dignity and joy. Download PDF form “Personal Directions for Quality Living” addressed to “My future caregivers, paid and unpaid” Please call or email to talk about how long-term care insurance policies affect the search for assisted living.
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I love my iPad. I LOVE it. For five years it’s been my nightly companion, travel survival tool, morning newspaper, and email enabler. It’s how I do my Facebookkeeping. Maybe you are addicted to your general-purpose social media machine, too. And we social beings use social media to share and engage. We’re sharing Selfies. Instagrams. Tweets. Links. Comments about links. Videos. Inspirational images. Family photos. Photo bombs. And on and on. In this networked world of “likes,” your iPad or smartphone is an unprecedented tool for learning, keeping in touch, and testing one’s mettle. And it may also be good for your head. Use of social media linked to reduction in brain decline Last year, scientists found that the ability of older adults to engage, plan, and execute digital actions such as web browsing and email can improve memory. Yes, using Facebook to engage with the world may have cognitive benefits for older adults. In another recent study, the two-year Ages 2.0 project funded by the European Union, researchers found that social media training improved cognitive capacity and increased one's sense of self-competence. You can download a PDF of the final Ages 2.0 project report: Activating and Guiding the Engagement of Seniors Through Social Media. Can social media websites boost cognitive function? Here’s more evidence to convince older adults to try using Facebook. In 2013, a preliminary research study from University of Arizona suggested that adults over age 65 who learn how to use Facebook may experience a boost in cognitive functioning. In the study, people from ages 68 - 91 were put into three groups: 14 people learned to use Facebook. Another 14 seniors learned to use an online diary site. A third group of 14 received no Internet training. Before the trainings, the seniors’ cognitive abilities were tested, and their level of loneliness and access to social support were evaluated. In the follow-up exam, seniors who used Facebook performed about 25% better on the cognitive tests. The people in the other groups saw no improvement, even if they faithfully wrote in their website diaries. Which might imply, you can’t just start up your computer and type in your thoughts or read online — you need to engage in an array of stimulating social interactions— like what people do when they use Facebook — to gain brain benefits. "The Facebook interface is actually complex," said Janelle Wohltmann, the UA psych grad student who conducted the study. Wohltmann suspects that the way we use Facebook, compared to an online diary, was largely responsible for Facebook users' improved performance. "When you create [an online] diary entry, that's all you see, versus if you're on Facebook, several people are posting new things, so new information is constantly getting posted." She added that the constant flow of new information forces the brain to prioritize what to pay attention to. And that’s good for the grey matter. More analysis is needed to determine: — whether using Facebook can make participants feel less lonely or more socially connected; and — whether, or by how much, social engagement, Facebook-style, contributes to cognitive performance. Use a laptop, boost your brain! In 2012, Mayo Clinic Research reported a synergistic interaction between computer activities and moderate exercise in “protecting” the brain function of people age 70 and up. Researchers studies 926 people ages 70 to 93, all in Minnesota, who completed questionnaires on physical exercise and computer use within one year. Of the study participants who did not exercise AND did not use a computer, 20.1% were cognitively normal and 37.6% showed signs of mild cognitive impairment. Of the participants who both exercised and used a computer, 36% were cognitively normal and 18.3% showed signs of MCI. Those who exercised AND used a computer decreased their risk of MCI by 50%. I'm excited about seeing the outcome of new studies. I'll try to keep you posted on findings. Ready to head out on the Internet highway? Would you like to use Facebook to see photos and news from family and friends?
Do you have an iPad, Kindle, tablet, smartphone, or computer that you’d like to enjoy more? Would you like help using your websites, email, shopping and searching on the Internet? Call 510-926-0699 to discuss how to make the most of the digital devices in your life. Curious about how “senior massage” differs from other types of massage, I grilled my colleague and friend, Cait McWhir. She has been a Massage Therapist since 1998, and trained in senior massage in 2004. Cait provides massage treatments in seniors’ own homes, and teaches self-acupressure classes to seniors at assisted-living communities. She is a member of the Senior Injury Prevention Partnership of Alameda County, and also works for DayBreak Adult Care Centers. How does senior massage therapy differ from other types of massage? Senior massage draws from many massage modalities: Swedish, acupressure, joint mobilization, and comfort touch, with techniques modified and adapted to each person’s unique health needs. No deep-tissue or sports massage with seniors. That can do more harm than good. Usually seniors receive massage lying face-down or face-up — but not both. Seniors experience benefits to a greater extent when they receive shorter massage treatments on a regular basis. I offer massage in seniors’ homes to enable deeper rest and relaxation. What chronic medical conditions benefit most from senior massage? So many conditions associated with aging benefit from senior massage:
Massage can dramatically improve blood circulation, lessen anxiety and stress and promote deeper, more restful sleep. Mental and physical energy levels can also benefit from massage. Many seniors feel isolated. Everyone has a need for nurturing. By providing a caring touch, a massage can create a sense of reassurance and intimacy, especially for those who live alone and may be “touch-deprived.” Any recent research findings that quantify the benefit of this wellness technique? The Weaver’s Tale Retreat Center in Oregon conducted a 2-year study examining the effects of massage therapy for seniors. At least 50% of seniors tested showed reduction in rates of breathing, increase in range of motion, improvement of postures, and development of more body awareness. Their skin took on healthier colors. Their muscle tone was enhanced. The same study also showed that 100% of the seniors who were tested showed a dramatic improvement in their moods and attitudes toward life in general. What medical conditions might prevent someone from having a massage? Certain heart conditions, some inflammatory conditions, osteoporosis, varicose veins, thrombosis, some skin conditions. Extreme caution must be taken if a person bruises easily or has thin, delicate skin. If a client has severe health issues, I get their doctor’s approval. Is senior massage therapy suitable for people with cognitive impairment? For many people with mild to moderate cognitive issues, it’s very beneficial. For people with advanced cognitive impairment, massage could be intimidating or frightening. But in some cases, a person with advanced impairment responds positively to touch. It’s important for the therapist to be trained to work with people living with dementia. I had a long-time client who became cognitively impaired. This condition progressed to the point where he no longer recognized me. Then he would become disoriented when I brought in my massage table. But his family felt it was important for him to continue receiving massage because he had enjoyed and benefited from it for such a long time. So we switched to using a chair in his living room. He remained clothed and I worked on his hands, feet, back, and shoulders using modified techniques. How are your fees? Senior massage fees are comparable to regular massage rates in Oakland. Massage should be affordable for seniors. My fees are sliding-scale, based on clients' needs and frequency of massage treatment sessions. What should a new client expect? First we decide if a doctor’s approval. When scheduling the first treatment, we make sure there is a quiet, warm room in the home where I can set up my massage table. Wheelchair-bound or bedridden clients receive massage treatments while seated or reclining in bed. At a typical first visit I will ask about your needs and preferences, and determine which modalities to use, and the duration of the massage. During the massage, you can be clothed or semi-clothed depending on comfort level and type of massage. Cait, why do you practice this type of massage therapy? I’ve loved interacting with seniors for many years through my work in a non-profit senior service agency. By also practicing massage therapy for seniors, I feel gratified to contribute to a senior’s health and well-being in such a personal way. Helping people in this phase of life is something I hope to continue to offer for a long time. Learn more about senior massage therapy: Visit Cait’s website “Physically and socially, the dining room can be seen as a microcosm of the larger environment,” writes J. Kevin Eckert in his book, Inside Assisted Living: The Search for Home. “Meals organize the day for residents and staff members, in part because of the amount of time involved in all aspects of dining.” Given the pleasure, health, and fellowship associated with eating, your evaluation of an assisted-living community isn’t complete until you’ve experienced the dining room. Besides, people considering the move to assisted living often fear loss of control. When you can’t control every aspect of your daily life, the process of choosing when and what to eat becomes a highly valued human right. News flash! Food is good at East Bay assisted-living communities Makes sense, right? Berkeley and Oakland boast a rep as “foodie” destinations. Our senior living places offer skilled cooks who love whipping up delicious dishes. Our high-end communities use fresh, seasonal ingredients, serving foods of many cuisines made from scratch. Consumer demand for greater variety and quality of foods, combined with growing emphasis on autonomy, have resulted in full-service dining programs that deliver diverse, nutritionally balanced menus, 2-3 choices of popular entrees and side dishes, and healthy snacks and drinks available day and night. Everything but the Kitchen Sink? Some assisted living apartments have updated kitchenettes with dorm-room half-size fridges, microwave or convection oven, and deep sinks, but lack a stovetop or much counter space. But from what I hear, most residents prefer to eat in the dining room. In many East Bay board and care homes, the dining room is a cozy common space adjacent to an upgraded kitchen, where cooks customize each meal for each resident. Most board-and-care residents need special and/or pureed diets so individual attention is vital. It’s important to know the quality of the ingredients so ask during your evaluation visit. The other day, I visited an El Sobrante assisted-living home where the chef was fixing a meal of fried quail eggs with chorizo in a contemporary suburban kitchen. Then I dropped by a Richmond home where lunch was sizzling rice soup and beef chow fun served in a large commercial-style kitchen. All the big national assisted-living companies have shifted to using fresh, not frozen, ingredients, from local sources when possible. Some major providers even send their chefs to culinary institute training and competitions. They regularly switch up their menus. All East Bay assisted-living kitchens offer low-sodium and diabetic choices, among other dietary needs, such as vegetarian or gluten-free. Individual menus at group homes also more easily can cater to specific international, regional, and cultural preferences. Corporate foodies take command Some assisted-living places contract meal prep and service to large food-service and dining management firms that specifically cater to residential-care communities and nursing facilities, such as Unidine, which emphasizes sustainability and culinary excellence. Yes, it’s institutional food. But the institution has been taken over by corporate foodies. In a 2011 report, “Dining Programs in Senior Communities Require a Fresh Approach,” Unidine describes its philosophy as “a more natural approach… fresh, high quality ingredients and … preparation techniques that preserve nutrition, flavor, texture and visual appeal. “As a result, seniors find their dining experience more enjoyable and increase their intake of nutrient‐rich food,” the Unidine report continues. “Residents receive their daily calories, protein, vitamins, minerals and fiber without – or with only minimal – use of supplements, diuretics and medication to support regularity.” Food and dining trends in East Bay Senior Living
Dining programs at high-end communities MUST offer premium menus that justify the costs of living there. And regardless of assisted-living costs, residents should expect meals that are pleasing, nourishing, and comforting. Make sure your assisted-living evaluation visits involve dining -- at least ask for a menu! Our guided tours of assisted-living dining rooms can include a meal. On the house. Email Linda -at- EldersTogether -dot- com I'll make reservations. "Food, as well as mealtime memories, intrinsically links individuals to memories of home” |
AuthorLinda Jacobson, Eldercare Consumer Advocate & Technologist • Guide to assisted living communities • tech educator • neuroscience enthusiast Archives
September 2019
CategoriesAll Alternate Therapies Consumer Concerns Culture & Lifestyle Dementia Care Diet & Nutrition Health & Wellness Technologies For Better Aging |
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