4 Common Worries About Senior Living

by Sarah Posted on May 15, 2013

Senior living | Sharp SeniorsThe stress of caring for an aging parent is one of the most difficult things to go through. Many adult children admirably choose to take on this responsibility single-handedly. However, as the years go by, it often becomes apparent that a trained elder care professional is a better option. It’s not just the burden that wears us down or the interruption in our own personal lifestyle that makes caring for our parents difficult. The fact is that sometimes we are just not enough to take care of our parents.

But it’s not easy turning over a loved one to someone else’s care. It’s your parent and you want them to have the best possible care so that they can live out these golden years as healthily and happily as possible. However, when making the decision to move a parent over to a senior living center, the options can be overwhelming.

1. What kind of housing should I choose?

Independent living is for people who can still get around on their own, but need a little help here and there. Typically, an independent living situation will see someone keeping an eye on the residents, without controlling their every move. Seniors will have a personal consultant that will make sure they are eating well and taking medication on a regular basis. Residents can set their own schedule and are free to come and go, but there are active people her age around and planned social activities.

Independent living normally offer assisted living options for when residents might need extra care down the line; that way they won’t have to move and leave familiar surroundings. For an independent living situation, the idea is to have complete freedom in their schedule but not having to deal with the little things like laundry, cleaning, meal preparation, etc. At the assisted living stage, you might see more interaction on the part of the caretaker and less freedom for the resident. However, each situation is different and individual health care needs are monitored by the establishment so that the resident is taken care of properly.

Nursing care is a little more in depth and at this stage, there is more hands-on medical attention on a daily basis. If your parent needs someone to help them move around, go to the bathroom, do rehabilitative exercises, this is what you’re probably going to need.

Further Reading: Finding the Best Care for Your Parents

2. How will my parents adapt to their new environment?

This is a huge issue and one that worries most adult children when considering senior living options. No one wants to see their parents in some sterile, drab chamber with only a large community room and one big TV as the source of entertainment while others mill about looking lost or wait in line to play the only board game in the joint.

Thankfully, for many assisted living centers, those days are pretty much passed; elder care is a booming business and the comfort of seniors is well respected. Living conditions are more like personal apartments or condos than just a room in a large building. Personal space is respected and can be personalized with furniture and comforting keepsakes from home. The meals are taken care of and are usually prepared by an experienced nutritionist that works on a one-on-one basis with many residents and their families to ensure a proper diet.

Having varied activities is also quite common and really help new residents adapt to their new surroundings. Daily walks or outings, movies and city tours and many other options are offered. Many times, family members are also invited to tag along.

Further Reading: How to Convince Mom and Dad to Move into Senior Living

 3. How do I know if it’s the right time?

Once you start thinking about the possibility of senior living for your parents, it could be years until they actually need it. Although, alternatively, many people are caught off guard when they realize that one or both of their parents are incapable of caring for themselves. Don’t let this happen.

It may not be for years that your parent will need to relocate, not with the help of able-bodied children and grandchildren around. But as time moves on, taking care of an aging parent can interrupt and rupture family ties. Don’t wait until it is too late to start investigating a new living situation for your aging parent. Take notice of small changes in behavior or sudden mood swings that may seem out of character.

Also, a change in personal hygiene is also a strong signal that its time to start looking into options. If you notice that your mom or dad isn’t bathing or following their daily routine like they used to, it’s a sign that they’re going to need some help soon. Assisted living helps with daily tasks like bathing and dressing, things we kids may not be able to help out with on a constant basis, thanks to jobs and family matters.

Some of the best care facilities have waiting lists so its never to early to start looking at options. You don’t want to be caught completely unprepared when it becomes apparent that your mom or dad need help immediately. Be ready for it, so start asking around early to get referrals and get on the lists. It’s always a good idea to involve your parent in the decision. They should be able to check the grounds and interact with the people working or living there before moving in, too.

Further Reading: Transition Tips for Entering Assisted Living

4. How can I afford senior living for my parents?

Money always matters, sad as that statement is. Mom and dad probably have a fixed income now and to avoid still paying a mortgage, the house would need to be sold.

Budgeting is incredibly important when it comes to any type of health care, but there are programs to look into and other ways to help pay for housing and assistance, including financial help from family members. Most senior living communities are experts at getting their money in some way or another, but its always recommended that you speak with a independent financial consultant who is familiar with your parent’s economic situation. Also, Medicare might be an option for some, but the program only pays for skilled nursing care and may not be enough to cover 100% of senior living expenses.

The best advice I can give you is to talk to your parents about their economic situation years before considering. How much money do they have in savings? What is left on the mortgage? Any debt issues? Who will have Power of Attorney? Nobody likes to talk about these things, but when the time comes, you’re going to need this information to help finance your parents’ care. Fight through the uncomfortable part and find the answers you’ll need to make the best decision possible. Again, planning for senior living ahead of time will save you a lot of stress down the road.

Further Reading: Paying for Your Parents’ Care

Hopefully, some of the tips here will help you start to plan for your parents’ care. The best thing to do is to start the planning process early. Don’t wait until it’s too late to have a plan in place when its time for senior living. The good thing is that there are thousands of choices out there and although this situation can be frustrating, you’ll certainly be able to find something that you and your family agree is the best place for mom or dad.

For more information, check out our section on Care for Mom and Dad


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Starting a Business Post Retirement

by Sarah Posted on May 9, 2013

Senior Living ResourcesFor a variety of reasons, it is estimated that millions of people worldwide haven’t saved enough for retirement. In a recent survey conducted by HSBC, American retirees anticipate as much as a 33% shortfall once they retire. This means that what Americans have actually saved versus what will be needed to live comfortably in retirement creates a difference of 33 percent.

Thanks to inflation and cost of living increases, that 33 percent is likely to increase, not decrease. And so while today you can eat “like there’s no tomorrow,” costs associated with assisted living, or an in-home nurse may seem out of reach for many.

In a prior post, How to Plan for Senior Living Costs, I suggested cutting back on superfluous spending, asking for help, checking with Uncle Sam for ideas and going back to work to as ideas to make up for this shortfall.

I have since thought about what going back to work looks like and decided to expound on it further. And needless to say this can apply to you if you are fully prepared financially but you have a burning desire to start a new career.

Working for Yourself has Never Been Easier

There are several options for going back to work. One can choose to freelance or start a home-based business. Surprisingly neither of them will cost you an arm and a leg in the initial stages. The first step is to decide what you want to do in life. Yes, in almost the same fashion you did when you were just starting out in your career, but this time you have a huge advantage that you didn’t have decades ago.

Senior living decisions | sharpseniors.comWith lives so neatly planned, one thing that has always struck me so odd is that the conventional school of thought tells us we are expected to pick a career prior to entering college, at a time when most teenagers can’t even decide what to wear to school that day. This extremely important decision made when our brains are still developing continues to impact other equally important decisions for the rest of our working years. With that in mind, ask yourself, if you had it to do over again, would you have picked the same profession today that you did when you were a teenager? Here is an opportunity for a do over. Indeed if you have racked your brains and still aren’t sure what you want to be when you grow up again, consider talking with a retirement coach.

Now that you know how you want to make a living, decide if you will need capital to make this happen. Needless to say that freelancing will probably require less start-up cash than starting your own business. However, if you decide to open a business, although rules are stringent and require excellent personal credit, obtaining a small business loan is an option. Bear in mind, however that leaving aside your age, which makes you a bit of a risk in terms of whether you can repay your entire loan, whether your business is in the red or the black, you must make your monthly payments until the debt is satisfied.

Whether you decide to try for a small business loan, it is prudent to write a business plan. It is a common mistake for people to think that a business plan is for the sole purpose of applying for a loan. Consider your business plan your roadmap for success. It doesn’t mean you can never alter the route you take, but if you do, you know precisely why you are doing it.

Freelancing

Rather than start a business, maybe you have decided to freelance. If you were successful in a career prior to retiring, and you enjoyed doing it, this might be a good place to start.

What if, for the sake of argument, you have decided to freelance in an entirely different field than the one you were schooled in or that you built a career upon? Should you not follow your dreams because you weren’t successful doing it in the past? Heck no!

Prior to becoming a writer about four years ago, I walked away from corporate America. With the bulk of my career in marketing I chose instead to follow my life-long dream and become a writer. Now many accomplished writers who built successful writing careers in the brick and mortar world will tell you that passion alone is not enough to embark on a new writing career. Add 1/3 talent (both my parents were successful writers), 1/3 passion and 1/3 chutzpah and I am here to tell you that it’s never too late to be whatever you want(ed) to be!

Deciding what I wanted to do was easy; figuring out how to accomplish this was another story. I live in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean on the island of Puerto Rico. It would have been challenging enough to find freelance work on my own when I still lived in the US, but then trying to do that in a language that’s not my mother tongue seemed as realistic as me walking on the moon. I did what most people do in this circumstance. I let my fingers do the walking and asked Google for the top five freelance bidding sites. I tried my luck with the first one I saw, which is where I have gotten the majority of my work. It truly is that easy – well, opening an account is. Knowing how to submit proposals, marketing myself, understanding how to bid against competition and knowing when to raise my rates are things I have learned entirely on my own over time.

Frankly, I don’t recommend that anyone just wing it. Indeed it worked out well for me (albeit with a few bumps and bruises along the way), but had I to do it over again, I would have asked seasoned professionals to show me the ropes, which is why a fellow freelancer and I decided to create a forum and networking group for freelancers. Launched on May 1, 2013, our goal is to help new freelancers and business owners avoid pitfalls.

Taxes

Yes, it’s the epitome of a four-letter word, but it’s one that you can’t ignore. Whether you are a small business owner or a freelancer, you will have to pay taxes on your earnings. The IRS offers small business owners and freelancers many tax breaks. Some deductions need to be taken advantage of in the first year of running your business and others over the lifetime of your business. Although it is common knowledge you can write-off your home office, mileage and business attire, did you know that you can also deduct expenses associated with owning a guard dog who keeps your inventory safe? It’s certainly cheaper for the IRS to pay for Rocky’s healthcare, who will prevent theft than it is to file a huge claim against your insurance company after everything has been stolen.

Marketing 101, 201 and 301

Senior Living Resources | sharpseniors.comWhen your business is in its infancy, money to throw into a marketing budget is, in most cases, non-existent. Although traditionally marketing plans included knowing your target audience and then cold calling them, much of this advice made sense when you were going after clients versus clients finding you via the Internet and Social Media. Nowadays marketing on a shoestring budget can be as simple as opening Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts.

To prove that this method is full proof, those who used traditional means of building their empires, including Warren Buffet and Bill Gates, say that if they were starting their businesses today, they would use social media to do what took them years and “googobs” of money to do on their own. If you had considered the Yellow Pages or taking out an advertisement in print media, save that money and build a website, which you can link to your social media.

Once your business is in the black, I strongly urge you to consider Google AdWords to complement your marketing and promotions. What is Google AdWords? In simple terms, Google AdWords is a search engine marketing platform that allows businesses to advertise their services on Google.com and other partner sites. If you decide to go this route, it is advisable to hire someone who is Google AdWords certified. What this means in layperson’s terms is that he or she will get to work on your AdWords campaign from day one and know precisely how to get visitors to your website to click to other areas of your site and ultimately to the contact page, where you can then close the deal.

Starting a business can be fun, rewarding, challenging and sometimes a little frustrating all at the same time. There’s a certain pride in working for oneself that just doesn’t exist working for someone else. Although many who have never undertaken this challenge see it as nothing more than avoiding rush-hour traffic and wearing PJs and bunny slippers to work, I can tell you the highs are exhilarating and the lows beat working for someone else – hands down!


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Allergy Uprising in Seniors

by Sarah Posted on May 2, 2013

Senior Allergies | Sharp Seniors.comThere was a time when allergies were considered the problem of youth, to eventually and mercifully be outgrown. More and more, it’s becoming common for seniors to find themselves suffering from hives, sniffling, sneezing, watery eyes, sinus headaches and even sudden, unexplained and toothachesborne of sudden allergic reactions to anything and everything. While many would shake a fist at the pollen count and scramble to understand this wholly unfair development -you’ve paid your dues, after all- there’s actually a logical explanation to the event.

Your Body Decides Allergies
While allergies do tend to root themselves in childhood,adult onset allergies are common in the early 20s and 30s as well. Some people shed their allergies while young and have it reappear as an adult later, too. Generally, airborne allergies can eventually be outgrown; food allergies may stay throughout life. In some instances food allergies fall by the wayside with age and airborne allergies persist. Alternatively, one can go through childhood snorting pollen and rolling in pet dander with no problems at all, only to be forced later in life to re-home Miss Kitty because of swollen eyes at the mere mention of a feline. It’s not Miss Kitty’s fault: your body is the decision maker for this brouhaha.

Allergies happen when the body’s immune system identifies an airborne particle or food substance as an invading illness or as otherwise harmful. When it spies an invader, your body goes into alarm mode and starts to make antibodies called immunoglobulin E, or IgE. Age and sex has been noted in research to affect IgE counts where the peak amount is in the 20s and 30s and there is a progressive lessening after the third decade of life, more so in women than men.

However, that doesn’t mean elders are out of the woods just yet; it’s becoming more common for seniors to suffer sudden allergic reactions and keep them. The IgE attaches to certain cells that signal the release of histamines, that super fun substance that is the initiator of all your inflammation and other symptoms when it comes to allergies. (It’s also the same stuff that makes wasp stings and other insect venoms swell and itch your skin so much). Your immune system is more likely to make this incorrect connection between foods, airborne particles and other substances when it’s weak or weakened. Pregnant women may develop allergies during pregnancy that don’t subside after giving birth; seniors might also develop allergies if their immune system is compromised. Genetics can also play a factor: if allergies run in the family and one of your parents has or had them, you have a one out of three chance to ‘contract’ allergies, too.

But Why?
Well with children, it’s easier to figure out. It’s a massive trend these days to keep babies in something of a plastic bubble, figuratively speaking. Parents keep them away from dirt, filter the air, use hand sanitizer constantly, spray toys with germ killers, and basically keep life very sterile. While this is done for the child’s health it can actually be a disservice: without these exposures, the baby’s body can’t produce a resistance to them, so when the foreign substances are introduced later in life there is no immunity. The immune system goes into overdrive due to imbalance and you develop an allergy.

Repeated exposures to certain allergens such as mold or pollen can also trigger an allergy, meaning that as you age and are bombarded with them you could in fact develop an allergy, especially with a less robust immune system. Food allergies can be particularly nasty and the food causing the ruckus should be avoided completely. Aside from an allergy to a food, you may have developed an intolerance, meaning a small amount of that food can be taken in without ill effects. However, never do that unless you’ve had a doctor confirm it is indeed an intolerance at the risk of air passages swelling to the point of asphyxiation, also known as anaphylactic shock, which can require emergency treatment.

Asthma is Par for the Course
Unfortunately, allergies can also affect the bronchial passages, meaning anyone who develops allergies is open to also developing asthma. This can be serious at any age but especially to very young children and seniors. It’s disrupting and can affect the quality of life. It’s not uncommon forolder people ages 55-75 and even older being afflicted by sudden adult-onset allergies and asthma. While allergies are not the only cause of asthma, a good 50% of older adults who develop asthma will do so in connection to allergies.

Symptoms of asthma will include:

  • Difficulty breathing or a tightness in the chest
  • Wheezing or a whistling sound when exhaling (especially when exercising)
  • Coughing, especially a dry hacking cough
  • A chest cold that lasts longer than 10 days
  • Watery eyes
  • Greater amounts of mucous production

This is all due to obstruction of the airwaysas a reaction of the body. In essence, asthma can be the body strangling itself as it swells or otherwise lacks the ability to draw in air due to allergens. Asthma can be kept in check these days far better than ever before, so if you feel these symptoms and also have allergies, be certain to see your doctor right away and discuss the development with her. You should also go through the allergy tests to see just what you are allergic to; the results may be more surprising than not.


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The Impact of Immigration Reform on Senior Living

by Sarah Posted on April 25, 2013

Senior Living | Sharp SeniorsIf you are a baby boomer, you know that those once-distant “older years” are not so distant anymore. At some point, you just may need care, maybe even round-the-clock care. And these days, it is less likely that your children will be there to take care of you. It’s not for lack of family values, or about how they feel about you, but more the staccato pace of today’s workforce.

And, of course, as baby boomers age, there will be significantly more older folks needing care in the United States. Some will seek skilled nursing centers, assisted living communities, or other long-term options. Many choose, when possible, to live at home and have “in-home care.”

Whatever the situation, with the growing number of seniors, will there be enough workers to take care of them? A US News article talks in depth about the growth of the caregiving industry, which includes nursing homes, assisted living, semi-assisted living and home care, that has already ballooned 40 percent. In it, they quote Julie Northcutt, who surmises that the industry’s growth includes more than 2,000 caregiving sites and 1,250 franchises.

Finding workers to fill these positions will be the challenge. In fact, in a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Labor concludes that by the year 2050, 6.5 million nurses, CNAs or other direct, hands-on health care workers will be needed for the predicted 27 million seniors needing hands-on care.

That is where immigrants come in. As the need for senior care increases, immigration reform may very likely fill that need. As shown in a Department of Homeland Security, the trend in immigrant naturalizations has climbed from 619,913 in 2010, to 694,193 in 2011, to 757,434 in 2012. And these figures don’t even take into consideration the immigrants lacking proper documentation and those with expired visas, or refugees who sought or who are seeking asylum. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), over three times that numberis actually working. In a 2011 study of Foreign Born Workers, the BLS found that there were over 24 million foreign-born persons in the US Labor force. And it’s no surprise that service occupations were among the most common professions among workers born outside the United States. Historically, ex-US caregivers are hardly a new concept in the US.

Could Immigration Reform Be the Answer?

However, in a profession where licensing, standard of care and other restrictions prohibit hiring those without documentation (such as caregiving and long-term care), current laws need to change. The existing“guest worker” program, the H-2B visa program, which focuses on low-wage non-agricultural workers, caps the number of new workers to 66,000 per year and, at that, they are only hired for temporary or seasonal jobs. But change is in the air. Still awaiting legislative approval, the proposed “W” Visa program, is the positive outcome of talks between the US Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO, which is the largest union federation in the country. Pioneered by eight bipartisan senators, the W Visa program will allow year-round work for immigrants, starting with opening the doors to 20,000 low skilled foreign workers in 2015, and topping out at 200,000 after five years, depending on employment needs and other data.

“If I need someone to change my diapers some day, as long as that person has compassion and leaves me with some dignity, I don’t care where they were born. True caregiving is a universal language.”

This has come about by the growing concern of many who manage caregiving facilities who insist on quality care, but lack the workers to provide it. And this is no ordinary job. Caring for elderly people presents its ownset of challenges. “It’s tough work taking care of people with Alzheimer’s and dementia,” said Fred Benjamin, Chief Operating Officer of the Kansas-based company known as Medicalodges. “These are the types of patients,” he continued, who “may strike somebody or scream at people, may be incontinent, have difficulty getting in and out of bed, or need help feeding.”

Medicalodges, who prides itself on compassionate, consistent and quality care, has a major restriction – money. Given the fact that almost all its residents are fixed income Medicaid or Medicare recipients, the organization cannot hike its price without reducing the quality of care—which it won’t do. There is also the need for ongoing training, plus the pressure of strict government regulations at every turn. But quality of care is valued and, contrary to reports of minimum [hourly] wage pay, the company’s CNA salary is $11.50 per hour and includes a benefits package. They also offer training and other incentives. “Our dedicated staff do a very hard job for a wage that is as much as we can pay, but never enough, in my opinion, for the service they provide,” Benjamin said. Even after aggressively seeking employees, staffing needs still have not been met. The wage is simply not competitive in today’s economy. Often workers are trained, Benjamin admits, only to move on to less demanding or better paying positions.

Therefore, on March 14,2013, representing the American Health Care Association (AHCA), Benjamin appealed to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, stressing the need for more caregiver employees, and pleading for immigrant workers to fill the gap, stating, “we believe there are a lot of people from other countries who would gladly take these jobs.”

Benjamin added there are “many talented immigrants who are anxious to enter the caregiving field, yet are faced with insurmountable roadblocks. These talented caregivers should be given the opportunity to make a living and make a difference in their own lives and the lives of others. To increase the supply of labor, please give special consideration to permitting new entry for immigrants with nursing skills as well as increasing the pool of unskilled labor.”

Two days prior to the House Committee testimony, the ACHA, also a member of the Essential Worker Immigration Coalition (EWIC) published its principles for reform, envisioning, as President and CEO Mark Parkinson stated, “immigration as a story of personal success and achievement in a profession that cares for the greatest population.”

And it is a profession that often goes unseen, if not altogether unappreciated. These are the “unsung heroes,” Benjamin said in his testimony. These are the ones whose personalities have to be strong enough to endure dealing with a scared, angry, lonely or confused Alzheimer’s patient, someone who is strong enough to deal with that patient’s frustration and still be positive.

Training and Opportunity

Senior Living | Sharp SeniorsCompanies that are willing to train are among the many options for immigrants. The Community College of Allegheny County, PA, offers a Recent Immigrant Certified Nursing Assistant(CNA) program. Students must test at the 8th grade level, have a physical, provide proof of residency, and allow a background check.

There are also organizations that offer numerous resources to immigrants seeking to make a living. One is Iowa’s Pathways, a collaboration between the Iowa Department of Workforce Development, the Iowa Bureau of Refugee Services, and Mercy College of Health Sciences, a subsidiary of Mercy Medical Center, Des Moines, and other healthcare partners. With over 35 nationalities represented, mostly Africa, Central America, and Asian countries, it offers ESL services, tutoring, interview preparation services and more. Another is Pennsylvania’s World Education Services, which provides numerous resources to trained professionals who are foreign born. These are just a few.

However the story plays out, there is much hope for continued immigration reform with an eye on senior care. To quote a friend of mine who assumes one day in the very near future she will require the aid of a nurse, “If I need someone to change my diapers some day, as long as that person has compassion and leaves me with some dignity, I don’t care where they were born. True caregiving is a universal language.”

– Realizing immigration reform is a very touchy and controversial topic, and given the jobs needing to be filled to ensure all boomers and seniors are cared for properly, it is understandable that there might be mixed feelings on this topic. I would really welcome discussion about it. –


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The New Look of Senior Living

by Sarah Posted on April 20, 2013

senior living | sharp seniorsWe all remember the carefree days of youth when we couldn’t wait to grow up and be adults. When we were finally shoved into adulthood, the harsh truth of reality glared back at us and we realized mom and dad were right: we shouldn’t have been in such a hurry to grow up! That began the whole snowball effect of brutally discovering mom and dad were right about most things – a mortal blow, to be sure.

But imagine your comeuppance when you witness another rush, from frenetic middle age into the silver years when retirement means a choice of palatial suites and skilled personal chefs. That’s right, you heard me and I know you weren’t expecting that! Seems that reaching senior citizen status may rapidly become enviable considering what possibilities it opens, making 55 the new sweet 16.

The New Look of Senior Living
Retirement communities and modern assisted living centers have gone luxury; maybe not TajMahal luxury but not far off. Some are downright opulent, staggeringly plush, and that’s their goal- to be everything you ever dreamed of and desired a la The LifeStyles of the Rich and Famous.

Gone are the visions of hospital-like sterility or small, staid rooms that sadden the heart more than gladden it; now you can choose to retire in a setting that the First Class guests of Titanic would have envied. The offerings truly are that magnificent. Everything is accounted for, everything is available, and the ambiance is a deserved indulgence gilded with practicality.

  • Five-star dining in lush communal dining areas complete with experienced chefs ready to cater to specific health and nutritional needs;
  • elegant day-spas staffed by trained masseuses and estheticians;
  • perfectly groomed golf courses;
  • the services of stretch limousines for daily runs into town to do shopping.
  • state-of-the-art gyms, heated pools, and tennis courts offered by most, or a mix may be available.

Eveything providing depends, of course, on how much you’re willing to pay.

senior living | sharp seniorsThe retirement communities seek to fill a niche that is still widely open, that of the demand this new crop of minted seniors has for high quality living; something vastly lacking in previous generation senior living facilities. This is the generation that witnessed their own parents’ senior living styles and who refused to suffer the same. Ask, and you shall receive.

The disgruntled looks and words were heeded, an industry opened, and now that chasm is rushing to be filled with a flood of new accommodations and their accompanying higher price tags. The choice to live on these magnificent grounds might well be decided by their affordability, as they do require some hefty entrance fees as well as other possible monthly considerations. Not to worry, as different price levels are available around the country and compared to some less-amazing retirement options, they can compare favorably.

Different Shapes and Sizes

Some of the accommodations appear from the outside to be grand resorts and look the same on the interior; they are marvelous, providing every luxury item you would imagine it looks like they would offer. Some are less shiny on the outside and pour the majority of the beauty into their suites, most of which are offered up as apartments. And some are “just” really nice but do supply all the little things, like room service, lounges with fireplaces, in-house bars, and extensive wellness centers.

Almost all boast professional interior design and styling. Some are true communities where seniors establish new living in villas instead of a ritzy hotel feel. They can vary between assisted living facilities, where aid is given with day-to-day tasks such as bathing and dressing, to memory care centers, to fully active senior retirement establishments where those who don’t need the extra help enjoy an extensive list of possible activities that would exhaust the young.

Is it Worth the Expense?

Senior Living | Sharp SeniorsThat’s a personal opinion: to some it may seem frivolous, a waste of money on things you don’t need and won’t use. After all, do you plan on taking every age-adjusted Zumba class, or partake in the services offered by a personal trainer? Are the CeasarStone countertops necessary or the brand-name faucets and fixtures? Do you really need that sweeping 360-degree view of the cityscape to survive? No, no you don’t.

On the other hand, haven’t you run your race and aren’t you worth the pampering? The happy lifestyle of an active senior, able to come and go as you please in a chauffeured vehicle, not having to worry about the lawn, or the dishes, changing a burned-out light bulb, or any of those household chores you’ve dealt with for the past 50 years? If you feel anxious over FiFi, your beloved Pomeranian, fret no longer because pets are usually welcome at even the most posh establishments.FiFi will be living the high life with you where she can stroll on a leash at the manicured dog park on premises. If being separated from the internet bothers you, be of good cheer: some locations will gift you an iPad to play with and wifi service is included in your club fees.

It may take financial planning earlier on to afford the Hyatt Hotel-like residences of some facilities, to be sure; but with the variety of possibilities popping up all over the country you certainly have your pick of establishments, and they’re getting nicer every day. Forget the dreary hospital-like drudgery of last generation or the cafeteria-style food and tiny rooms with a thin mattress on a squeaky bed frame. Today and tomorrow will all be about style, sushi chefs on standby (optional), bright interiors, and life as you want to live it.

Whatever senior living situation fits your style, make sure you do whatever is necessary enjoy your retirement on your terms. You’ve earned it.

 

While not exactly the same fancy pantsy topic, check out our previous series on the New Design Strategies for Alzheimer’s facilities.


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Senior Symptom Guide: How to Know When it’s Time to See a Specialist

by Sarah Posted on April 10, 2013

Senior Living Resources | Sharp SeniorsDiarrhea, constipation, heartburn, bloating, gas, vomiting, unexplained weight loss, high blood pressure, fatigue or lethargy, anemia, diabetes, dizziness, chronic headaches, sleep issues. 

One or two of these 15 symptoms could be yours, at one time or another. Granted, that would be one very bad day if you have all of these symptoms at once, but you wouldn’t be the first one to experience an onslaught of bothersome symptoms all at once.

It could be a bad food week or a touch of the flu. But as we age, any of these conditions can be warning signs it’s time to see a specialist. Not the same one, mind you. The 15 issues listed above are linked to at least three specialties: gastroenterology, nephrology (kidney care) and neurology, and perhaps even more.

The Gastroenterologist

Admit it- we all have gas, constipation and diarrhea from time to time. They come and go with stress, changes in schedule and/or diet. Heartburn, or acid reflux, can occur after a particularly greasy meal, causing stomach acids to rise back up the esophagus. An antacid can help. But when any of the above symptoms become frequent and more troublesome, it may be time to see a gastroenterologist.

Senior Living Resources | sharpseniors.comWhile diet and lifestyle changes can help acid reflux, your gastroenterologist will want to rule out more serious conditions such Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn’s Disease and of course, the big “C,” Cancer. According to the Jakarta Post, with today’s widespread colorectal cancer, everyone over 50 should be screened, as early detection can get you the treatment you need before it’s too late. The usual screening method your gastroenterologist will use is endoscopic, involving a thin tube, complete with camera. In a gastroscopy, the tube passes into the mouth, down to the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. A colonoscopy involves the tube entering into the rectum and passing through the large intestine or colon. These procedures have become reliable diagnostic tools that can take biopsies of polyps or abnormal growths, can stop bleeding lesions and even remove gallstones!

An endoscopy can also detect the presence of Crohn’s Disease, an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes ulcers throughout the digestive tract, usually between the small and large intestine. Crohn’s patients typically have severe diarrhea problems, sometimes with blood, and usually always need to be near a bathroom. Stomach pain and unintended weight loss are other symptoms. Crohn’s can also inflame other organs in the digestive tract, cause fever, anemia and even intestinal blockage.

Treatment for Crohn’s includes the sulfa drug known as Sulfasalazine, one of the more common medicines whose active ingredient is 5-aminosalicyclic acid (5-ASA), which stops inflammation in the immune system. Other treatments include steroids, such as Prednisone, antibiotics, immune suppressors and other more experimental meds.

Interestingly, over 25% percent of Crohn’s diagnoses are patients over 60. It is more difficult to diagnose late-onset Crohn’s, however, since older people are more susceptible to similar diseases. They can use the same medications as other Crohn’s patients, but possibly in lesser doses.  And of course, all medications must be managed to prevent dangerous interactions.

Ulcerative Colitis is another painful condition. Sometimes confused with Crohn’s or Irritable Bowel Syndrome, it causes ulcers, redness and swelling in the walls of the rectum and colon and produces rectal bleeding, a light colored mucus and cramping in the abdomen. Patients may also be tired, anemic, have joint pain and a loss of appetite. Treatments are similar to that of Crohn’s Disease. In the most severe cases, the colon is removed.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is commonly known as a “spastic colon” and causes abdominal pain, gas, bloating and symptoms of both diarrhea and constipation. But unlike Ulcerative Colitis, there is no bleeding. Medications, changes in diet, probiotics and even therapy and mindfulness training have been known to help people with these conditions. Some foods and beverages, such as caffeine, alcohol, high fat foods, milk products, artificial sweeteners and “gassy” foods should be avoided.

Kidney Specialists and Renal Disease

If you find yourself urinating frequently, especially when it’s painful, if you are lethargic, or find your hands, feet and face are puffy, it may be time to see the nephrologist, or kidney doctor. This is especially true for older people. As the lifespan of our population increases, more folks are likely to experience kidney failure, also known as renal failure (“renal” is a Latin form of the word kidney). The kidneys, each about the size of a fist, are on either side of the spine at the lowest level of the ribcage. Containing millions of filtering units called nephrons, they have the all important duty of cleaning waste products from the blood and dispelling it through urine, regulating blood pressure, balancing body fluids and making red blood cells.

Aging seems to have a profound effect on these delicate purifiers, as does a history of diabetes, high blood pressure and overuse of OTC painkillers such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen or aspirin. Older people are at in increased risk, as are those who have a family history of kidney disease as well as African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asians and Pacific Islanders.

What types of kidney disease are we talking about? Kidney stones are common, for example. They can be caused by too much calcium absorption or from urinary tract infections or obstructions. According to the National Kidney Association, passing a stone can cause intense side and back pain. Urinary tract infections can also spread to the kidneys in other ways, causing fever and back pain. Polycystic kidney disease is an inherited condition in which cysts form on the kidneys and grow larger.

Warning signs for kidney diseases are blood or protein in the urine, swelling of hands and feet, puffiness around the eyes, painful and frequent urination. The National Kidney Association suggests regular blood pressure checks and tests for protein in the urine. Lab work looks for abnormal results for the Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) and Creatinine levels. These levels are used by nephrologists to measure GFR (glomerular filtration rate), or kidney function. The magic GFR level seems to be 60, and if it drops below that, fatigue, anemia and other signs, such as potassium and electrolyte problems, emerge.

Many kidney disorders, such as Kidney stones and urinary tract infections, can be treated. High blood pressure can be treated with ACE inhibitors (Angiotensin converting enzyme), which can slow down the growth of chronic kidney disease. The causes of other kidney dysfunctions are still unknown and not yet treatable. Kidney disease, unfortunately, can progress to kidney failure, where the only option is dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Kidney transplants are almost always successful. The donor may be a recently deceased person, but more often is a friend, relative or even a total stranger. Dialysis is an artificial process where the kidney patient is hooked up to a special filtering device that removes waste products, as the kidney would do. Older folks can protect themselves against Kidney Failure by learning the warning signs listed above, as well as watching what they eat and avoiding certain foods such as those high in salt and potassium. High blood pressure, diabetes and heart issues should be monitored. Exercise is also a big factor and should be encouraged.

The Neurologist

Senior living resources | Sharp Seniors.comA sudden feeling of spinning or dizziness; headaches that won’t stop, numbness or tingling that comes and goes and last but not least, seizures or stroke: any one of these could bring you to the neurologist. A specialist in disorders of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves and muscles, the neurologist treats everything from tumors of the nervous system to sleep disorders.

For seniors, the biggest concern is the risk of a stroke. According to the Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, older people are at an increased risk for a stroke, which is the third leading cause of death in the US. Defined as a sudden brain impairment caused by a blocked or broken blood vessel, the stroke victim can lose the ability to speak, walk or move properly. This is intensified with aging adults. The journal adds that high blood pressure, often thought a normal result of aging, can be a red flag for stroke. Other signs are numbness or weakness on one side of the body, loss of speech or writing ability, imbalance or vertigo, double vision and a particularly bad headache.

Fortunately, hypertensive treatment in these patients has been effective in reducing stroke. Also advances in emergency medicine have actually decreased stroke severity and added more stroke survivors to our population.

Neurologists also treat a host of other disorders, including vertigo, which presents as a spinning sensation and is caused by inner ear problems, dementia, sleep disorders, which are naturally more prevalent in seniors, and epilepsy. According to the Epilepsy Foundation, seniors are the fastest growing population group with epilepsy, numbering more than 300,000 nationwide. Epileptics have a series of seizures (defined as a sudden electrical impairment, or a glitch, in the brain). Each seizure blocks awareness and usually includes convulsions. Normally treated with anticonvulsant medications, specific types of seizures have different treatments. The neurologist will use an EEG (electroencephalogram) to study the electrical activity of the brain.

Before Seeing a Specialist

Some insurance companies require a physician’s referral before letting a patient see a specialist. Others must be pre-approved beforehand. If your insurance gives you carte blanche to see a specialist, make sure he/she is on the preferred provider list. Of equal importance is thorough medication management by all physicians involved in your care, to avoid dangerous drug interactions.

 

The Boomington Post strives to provide useful and informative articles on the various issues that are facing our aging population today. However, we are not doctors nor medical specialists. If you’re experiencing medical problems or any of the symptoms mentioned above, it’s best to consult a medical professional.

As always, we really appreciate your patronage of our site and wish you the best in health and happiness!


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The Seriousness of Food Borne Illness in Seniors

by Sarah Posted on April 4, 2013

Senior Health and the Dangers of BacteriaIf you (or someone you know) ever suffered through an illness contracted through contaminated food – colloquially referred to as food poisoning – you know how excruciating the pain and vomiting can be, which can lasts for hours. More often than not, food borne illness is the result of careless storage or preparation of food, and the majority of the time it is completely avoidable. While nasty and inconvenient in the young and relatively healthy, in the elderly, fragile of health and very young it can, and has, caused death.

How Food Becomes Contaminated

Although easy to ensure food doesn’t end up tainted before served, it is just as easy to befoul it with a plethora of shockingly simple oversights. Food borne sickness is a very common health threat, especially in large facilities or public restaurants. It can result when pathogenic bacteria, toxins, parasites, chemicals, medicines, or viruses contaminate food that is then ingested or drank. While there are many types of bacteria that can cause gastronomical ailments, the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse cautions us that Salmonella, E coli, C. jejuni, Shigella, listeria, vibrio, and C. botulinumare the most serious and commonly seen culprits of food poisoning.

Cross-contamination of food, such as cutting fresh vegetables on a board immediately after it was used for chopping raw meat and serving those veggies uncooked, is not uncommon. Storing open chemicals like cleaning agents above improperly sealed food containers is also widely reported. Accidental spills into food, spoiled foods, unwashed or incorrectly washed foods is exceptionally common, as is handling foods with unwashed hands. Undercooked meat in itself is not necessarily jumping with pathogens but if you fail to properly cook meat that is contaminated with a pathogenic bacteria, such as Salmonella, you can put yourself at serious risk. If you like your steaks rare, you can be safe as long as the internal temperature is sufficient for killing bacteria: 145°F for whole cuts of beef. For ground beef the internal temperature needs to reach an additional twenty degrees or 160°F for safety. Conversely, poultry and pork require thorough cooking at 165°F.

Symptoms of Food Borne Illness

The contaminated food affects us through our gastrointestinal system where the incubation period, or the time span it takes for the illness to make its effects felt, ranges anywhere from hours to months. Surprisingly, it is actually rarer for food poisoning to show itself quickly and within a matter of hours than it is for the incubation frame to be a day or longer. The food that instilled the infection is not always the last one ingested, either. Hepatitis A and listeriosis are two pathogens known for their extensive incubation periods of one to two months after exposure, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

Since pathogens can take so long to announce themselves you might be far from ground zero when they show, which can often lead to confusion as to the source. There are some common signs to be on the watch for that generally hold true no matter how long the incubation takes: nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. Age and physical health of the sufferer will also be a consideration while additional heralding signs might include headache, fever, a general feeling of physical unwellness, muscle aches, waning of appetite, weight loss, dehydration, and chills. Amount of pathogen eaten -how much tainted food you consume- will also stand as a factor. There are a number of symptoms rather specific to certain diseases; for example jaundice (yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes) is known to be frequently paired with hepatitis A.

Facts About Food Borne Illness

The CDC offers some startling statistics about food borne illness:

  • 3,000 people are killed each year
  • 128,000 Americans (which is 1 in 6, or 48 million) are sent to the hospital annually

To impress on you that it is not simply a condition to be endured over a weekend and then ruefully chuckled about later with friends, these shocking numbers will receive honorary mention with information plucked from the annals of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC used nearly 4,600 food-borne disease outbreaks from 1998 to 2008 to obtain their results.The compilers knew both the specific type of illness and the specific food causing the outbreak. Among their discoveries:

As previously mentioned, food borne illnesses and subsequent deaths can be avoided. The number one method used to avoid food borne illnesses is the simple proper washing of hands.

Thoroughly washing food surfaces and utensils is a safe bet for number two followed up by proper food washing as number three. Basically, if it is food or touches food, make sure it’s clean. Be careful of the foods you use, too; more than once has a food-related fatality occurred from cooks using toxic ingredients (like wild mushrooms) in their sauces and stews which is absolutely avoidable. Spoiled shellfish or mayonnaise grabbed by negligent servers and cooks, or those trying to save a few pennies, are common culprits as well so refrigerate properly. Also, if you buy packaged food in a bag that claims to already be washed and ready to eat, wash it again anyway. It’s not worth the risk.

Preventing Food Borne Illnesses in Senior Living Facilities

Senior Living and Food Borne IllnessBefore making a decision on a assisted living facility for a loved one it’s always best to check out multiple facilities. Of course, you’ll be taken to spotless pilot rooms that are specifically for showing potential residents. Afterwards, you’ll be introduced to some of the current residents, you’ll stroll through the common areas, the exercise rooms, the gardens, etc. Perhaps, you’ll meet some of the staff and be able to ask pertinent questions.

However, if you really want to know the cleanliness of a senior living site, ask to see the kitchen. It’s here where you’ll get a clear understanding of the center’s hygiene priorities. The kitchen is a magnet for all types of bacteria and unfortunately, many health problems in assisted living facilities can be traced back to unsanitary food practices. It’s also the place that is often left off the visitors tour. If they don’t let you see the kitchen, insist on it and make them show you how they guard against contaminated food. You have every right to see the kitchen and their food preparatory practices so whatever you do, don’t let them steer you out to the rose garden again!

Don’t be shy and don’t worry about being too pushy. You could be saving the life of a loved one.


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The Dangers of A Sleepless Senior

by Sarah Posted on March 28, 2013

Senior Living We all know how important sleep is. It is that feeling of softly being pulled into a dreamland, closing the eyelids and drifting off, to later awaken relaxed and refreshed. Maybe we have all known that feeling. Unfortunately, many people experience just the opposite:  a troubled, fretful sleep night after night.

As most people know, a good night’s sleep reboots our immune system, repairs cells and helps fine tune the memory. A refreshing sleep makes us happier people. Likewise, lack of a good night’s sleep has equally negative effects. Old or young, sleep deprived individuals can experience depression, forgetfulness, memory lapses and daytime snoozes. They could add sleep medications into the equation.

The Impact on Senior Health

So why is it more difficult for older individuals? One could assume that seniors, with no job or children to attend to, can sleep like a baby. But that is not the case. Although their worldly responsibilities may have declined, unfortunately, so has the quality of sleep for most older people. At the same time, the aging population’s need for a good night’s sleep is even greater than your average Joe.

Simply said, the clock is slowing down. As the body ages, less melatonin is produced, so the body’s need for sleep also decreases. There is also less deep, or “slow wave” sleep.  Advanced sleep syndrome sets in, the body’s internal clock, known as the circadian rhythm, changes and so do sleep patterns.Typically, the aging body has more fragmented sleep and more rapid sleep cycles.

So how much sleep do seniors need? Observations made by the National Institutes of Health determined that aging adults need about an hour-and-a-half less than younger, healthy adults (who need between seven-and-a-half and nine hours). Older folks expecting to sleep a full 8 or 9 hours may think there is a problem when they can’t. Many experience a skewed sleep schedule, daytime sleeping and often a less-than-satisfactory sleep environment. Tossing and turning, often accompanied by restless leg syndrome, makes for a bad night and poor senior health. “Insomnia is more common for seniors, partly because of health issues,” said Jack Gardner, a neurologist at the Sleep Center at Baylor Medical Center in Texas.  He cited frequent urination, medication, pain as well as just the anxiety of aging as some of reasons older people lose out on sleep.

The picture is even more complex for seniors with Alzheimer’s Disease. For these folks the symptoms of erratic sleep are more pronounced. Patients in early stages may sleep more and wake up disoriented. Those in later stages sleep more during the day and are more wakeful at night. “Sundowning” or early evening agitation can be very trying on AD patients, as well as their caregivers. According to a study at UC San Diego of sleep patterns of 67 patients in various stages of dementia, both the quality of sleep and the quality of wakefulness were greatly impaired. The result, according to the study, was the “complete fragmentation of sleep/wakefulness during the night and day.” The subsequent stress on caregivers is one reason patients end up in nursing homes.

Alzheimer’s (also referred to as AD) patients can also be linked genetically with Sleep Apnea, a disorder where breathing is interrupted, and become both serious in some cases life threatening. In a Stanford Medical Center study, it was found that the gene associated with sleep-disordered breathing, commonly referred to as ApoE epsilon4, is also a high risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.

Help for the Caregiver

It comes as no surprise that caregivers of elderly and AD patients suffer sleep issues right along with their patients. Stress in dealing with their patients, along with the immense responsibility of being a caregiver, can cause sleep deprivation in caregivers, along with other health issues. At the same time, the level of care may be compromised.

Many useful tips exist to help caregivers of elderly patients, especially those with AD, get the rest they need. Keeping the home safe and comfortable, with adequate locks and motion detectors is obviously important. So is adequate lighting, to ward off anything unfamiliar that might agitate a patient.

Tight Schedule

Keeping a regular schedule of waking, bedtime, meals and bathing is vital. Also, stay busy.  Resting and dozing during the day is the primary cause of sleep disturbance. If a caregiver can keep their patient or loved one at least in motion, such as going for a walk or going on errands, the chances are better for a restful sleep.

Smart Diet

Stimulants such as coffee and sweets should be avoided later in the day, and alcohol and nicotine are best if eliminated completely. Big dinners at the end of the day are also a hindrance to good sleep. Regular exercise, as much is possible, is also important. That might be a water aerobics class or walking up and down the driveway. Either way, it is a fact that regular movement releases endorphins that improve one’s mood and reduce stress.

Peaceful Environment

Turn down distractions such as TV, loud noise or other irritations before bedtime. That includes lowering lights. Bedrooms should be quiet, dark and cool. And hide the clocks, which can worsen insomnia as the minutes tick by. Avoid falling asleep with the TV on and don’t let your patient do the same.

Find Options

Respite programs and senior day care options for elderly and AD patients have proven to be some of the best medicine for all. They offer a break for both the caregiver and the patient. Programs vary, as do prices and the level of services. But many are free. Many also offer other resources to assist caregivers, such as legal information, mental health resources, training and, most of all, support groups for caregivers. Just sharing with others can help immensely.

Above all, don’t give up on your goal of healthy sleeping, for you, or for someone you care for. As sleep MD Gardner said, “Healthy sleep is something one should expect at all ages.”

 Check out our Healthy Sleep Section for more information!


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Unusual Senior Living Options

by Sarah Posted on March 21, 2013

senior living on a cruise ship Who doesn’t love a good cruise (or resolve to someday take one)? The majestic ocean stretching out, the great service, fine food and entertainment combined with the fun of meeting people from all over the world, stops in exotic places, and other great amenities are many of the reasons people book cruises.

For most, there is the inevitable (perhaps welcome) moment that they get to say goodbye to this floating hotel and go home. Hundreds of digital pictures taken and stories to relive their adventures hold them over as they return to normal life, until they are able to book their next one.

By contrast, for many others the cruise is home.

In 1999, Robert and Beatrice Muller of New Jersey were in the middle of one of many world cruises aboard the Queen Elizabeth 2 when they decided rather than disembark and book another at some point in the near future, they would stay on board for a year and see the world the way only a cruise ship can deliver it. Unfortunately, Mr. Muller passed away during what many might consider a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Mrs. Muller decided to keep the dream, but make it permanent. With the approval of the QE2’s bigwigs, in 2000 she made her home a fourth deck windowless 10 x 10 foot cabin, which ran her $5000 monthly.

In case you were concerned, don’t worry about her comfort. She reported not feeling confined, despite the small living quarters she had compared to the two large homes she and her husband owned in New Jersey and South Carolina. By all accounts, Mrs. Muller remained on board the QE2 until she was decommissioned in 2008 and from there, reports are conflicting. Mrs. Muller is either aboard a private yacht or on the QM2. A check in numerous forums, there have been reports of multiple sightings of Mrs. Muller, and it is safe to assume she is still sailing the high seas. As you can imagine, being that lone trailblazer, at one time she garnered a lot of press. To quote Mrs. Muller, “I plan to be a passenger on this beautiful ship or, if necessary, another, until I am bored or dead, and don’t expect that to be for a long, long time.”

What more could one ask for? A trend that is becoming pretty popular, perhaps not quite the same way Zumba, mobile apps and Chia seeds have, it is easy to see what the appeal is. If the idea of living out the best years of your life on a cruise ship is something you have been toying with (and you are willing to scoff off strange looks and concern from loved ones), be sure that you are comfortable with the idea of living on the sea. If you are prone to seasickness, and/or you need to see the terra firma stretching out before you, this is probably not for you.

Let’s Talk About Options

If you enjoy the gentle rhythm of the ocean, the ebb and flow of waves, this could be paradise.  And of course, knowing you will get to explore a brand new port in a few days or weeks makes for even more excitement. It may even be enough to quench your thirst for dry land.

So how does it work? For the more energetic retirees, it could be as simple as booking a new cruise each time your cruise disembarks for good at port, then climbing aboard the next. If you are used to traveling light (which you will need to be), that could be a spontaneous and somewhat exciting way to go. If you prefer to stay put for a while, you could forego the typical 7-10 day cruise and book a cruise anywhere from 90-150 days. Prices and destinations vary, specials exist and unfortunately to be privy to itineraries and rates, you will be required to create an account.

If renting a room for $5000 a month doesn’t interest you, perhaps buying into a condo on a cruise ship suits you more. A wide array of prices and options exist. Like most cruise ships, some have pools, some don’t, some offer golf courses and theatres, and staterooms vary considerably for windowless to luxury suites.

If you had the feeling you could get more if you were to spend more, you would be right! World Cruises is ideal for people whose vocabulary doesn’t include the word budget. The destinations, living quarters, amenities and dining options vary by ship and judging from the photos of suites available on board the Silver Whisper, this sure ain’t no Motel 6, my friends! To give you an idea, prices range from just under a million to several million.

Medical Care on Cruise Ships

An obvious concern for those who live aboard a cruise ship is medical care. To know there is always a doctor onboard may not be enough.  However, the Cruise Lines International Association, which includes 26 of the major lines, all follow the requirements of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). They assert that, with licensed and trained shipboard physicians and staff, CLIA ships maintain strict protocol and sanitation, with aggressive steps taken to prevent and treat gastrointestinal disorders, and viral infections.

Should health issues become more serious, provisions are made to send patients to the nearest mainland hospital. That is where things could get sticky. As you will learn reading this article, emergencies happen and if the ship is days from the next port, airlift may be the only option, which is extremely costly and if your cruise is out of the country, Medicare won’t cover even a portion of it. However, Dr. Lee Lindquist of Northwestern University points out, the presence of cruise ship physicians round the clock often beats assisted living facilities, who may have a doctor on call, but not necessarily on the premises 24/7.

If this something that really interests you, you may want to revisit the idea should you require extensive care (such as bathing and dressing) in the future, which won’t be offered on most regular cruise lines, and will be an option you will have to come out of pocket for (in the form of hiring an “in-home” nurse who lives in your suite or in the adjacent stateroom).

Hotels and Spas

An alternative to cruise ship living is to forgo the ocean in favor of a hotel. 58-year old Eli Portnoy rented condos in the Canyon Ranch Hotel and Spa in Miami, for his mother (now deceased) and him. With excellent amenities, including on-site doctors, healthy eating and numerous classes designed to keep them both in shape, he estimates that he saved somewhere between $50,000 and $75,000 – a year - off the cost of assisted living with round-the-clock care. Apart from the money he saved, he was able to be with his mother day in and day out versus putting her in a home.

Creative Retirement

Whether you choose to float the seas, live the hotel life, or try something else, the options for seniors are growing and getting more creative. As Dr. Lindquist put its, “People are getting more creative in how they’re spending their senior years.” And with medical issues increasing with age, assisted living options are becoming more diverse and attainable in order to meet individual senior needs.


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How to Plan for Senior Living Costs

by Sarah Posted on March 14, 2013

Senior Living ResourcesIf the time has come for you to consider assisted living for your parent(s) or yourself, as with anything, the better your plan and the more organized you are, the better the outcome.

It isn’t uncommon for people to get “sticker shock” as they set out to compare costs for senior care. Although monthly costs vary by state, with prices increasing in urban areas approximately 15%, on average you can expect to pay around:

 

  • Assisted living in a private room: Can start at $2,500
  • In-home care: between $3,000-$6,000/month (based on an hourly rate, with cost of supplies and expenses added)
  • Nursing home in a semi-private room: $5,000 and up (based on services offered)
  • Nursing home in a private room: Can start at $6,000

If you like reading and have the time, I highly recommend Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey for 2012. It breaks down senior care costs to its minutia far better than I can. If you prefer to just know the bottom line, if you were to take the figures above and average them out, it would cost you approximately $36,000 a year to pay for assisted living and for an in-home nurse, anywhere from $36,000 to $72,000 a year. Nursing homes can set you back anywhere from $60,000 to $72,000 a year.

What makes this more of a bitter pill to swallow is that Medicare only covers acute care costs associated with assisted living. To explain further, whether you live in an assisted living facility, a nursing home or you have a part or full-time nurse come to your home, Medicare will pay for a hospital stay, drug costs, doctor visits and physical therapy. To understand Medicare better, it might not be a bad idea to review my series on the Medicare Process. Medicare will in no way shoulder or even share in the cost of day-to-day living as you age. If you are someone who plans well, the sooner you start planning for this eventuality the better. If on the other hand, you are just now realizing that you need to come up with a bunch of money to pay for long-term care, either way, I have some tips for you.

Long Term Planning for Long Term Care

In a perfect world, you have a few years to think about your long term care costs. You are one to plan everything from the day you pay off your mortgage and the very moment you retire to how much you will need in retirement to live with the same standard of living that you enjoy presently (which includes health care costs if you retire before Medicare kicks in). For you, long term care insurance is ideal. Covering most, if not all of your costs for assisted living, in-home care, nursing home care and hospice care, it is never too early to start paying for Long Term Care (LTC) insurance. In fact, I know people who started paying premiums after they landed their first job out of college.

Although you can start paying for LTC insurance in your 50s or 60s, premiums are considerably higher than they would have been had you started paying in your 20s, 30s or even 40s. Another benefit to starting early to pay for LTC insurance is that it is best to buy a policy when there are no pre-existing conditions. Carriers of LTC are not required to insure everyone and they can turn someone down with a pre-existing condition. If you do plan to buy Long Term Health insurance, do a thorough search and like life insurance, vet the company carefully. You want to make sure the company you choose will still be around when it is time to start using their benefits.

Paying for Senior Care in a Time Crunch

If you are among the millions worldwide who feel they haven’t saved sufficiently for retirement, you may not have considered long term care insurance when you were younger and are now feeling the pressure as it means you may have a serious shortfall to afford an assisted living facility or having an in-home nurse care for you. In a recent survey taken by HSBC, respondents in the US indicated that of the estimated 21 years they expect to live beyond retirement age, they had only saved enough for 14 years. And now on top of this, add the cost of living in an assisted living facility or having a nurse come in your home and you may be feeling a sense of panic.

Surprisingly, there are things well within your control that you can do to offset the looming expenses ahead of you.

1. Check with Uncle Sam, First

Did you know that if you care for a spouse, loved one (parent, for example), you may qualify for a tax exemption? As with everything Uncle Sam allows you to claim, there are rules to follow and not everything is exempted. Many things, such as some long term care services, portions of health care premiums, mileage or out of pocket-expenses related to travel to and fro, and a few others are tax deductible. With April 15th not far off, do check to see what expenses are covered that can be written off.

2. Do You Really Need that Double Chocolate Macchiato with Whip Cream?

Senior living costsYou would be surprised what “necessities” can be eliminated from your budget that once gone can add up to huge savings. Sure that specialty coffee from Starbucks only costs $3.50, but at three a week, multiplied by 12 months a year is a whopping $546.00 that can go toward your in-home nurse’s salary. We all have areas in our budget that can be trimmed. Maybe it’s coffee that tastes just as good at home with a touch of vanilla soy milk (which is healthier), a Netflix movie instead of paying $10.00 for a ticket, or asking your son or daughter to share in the expense of your granddaughter’s visit over the summer, you would be incredibly surprised that when you trim the fat on your daily expenditures how much money you can save.

3. Against Your Better Judgment, Ask for Help!

You never know whom in your family would be happy to help you, if only you would ask! One of my favorite quotes from Oprah Winfrey is, “You get in life what you have the courage to ask for.” Or phrased another way, “you don’t get what you don’t ask for.” You never know who’s willing to assist you if you don’t have the courage to ask. Help may come in the form of financial assistance or the offer to help care for you or any number of ways. I can count on five hands how often I have heard of friends of mine who moved back home to care for their parents – for free or who gave their bonus on a six-figure income to their parents, grandparents or aunts and uncles because did they really need another expensive car or gadget? Stop over analyzing it, just ask!

4. Go Back to Work, Kind of

If the thought of going back to an office is truly dreadful, but the need to make some extra dough is staring you in the face, it is possible that all you need is a computer and a lot of chutzpah. In many cases, however you earned your living in your full-time working days can still fetch a bit of cash – on a freelance basis. If you were an administrative assistant, a writer, an artist, share your talents with businesses who are in need of your skills. If you don’t mind bidding against other equally qualified people, sites like Elance match talented freelancers with companies who want to hire them. You can work from the comfort of your home, set your own hours and work as many or as few hours in a week as you like or need.

See how easy that was? For every problem there is a solution and with that, I leave you with another quote from Oprah Winfrey. “Where there is no struggle, there is no strength.”

 

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