Diet and Better Health

There has been some recent hoopla about the effectiveness of multivitamins taken over time. Some of us take multi-vitamins to treat a deficiency in our diet (low calcium or iron) or just because it seems the prudent thing to do. Unfortunately, for some vitamins more is apparently not better. If we are getting enough of the proper nutrients in our diet, vitamin and mineral supplements may not be needed. We just need to eat our vegetables and drink our milk the way our mothers taught us.
Older persons may have an additional barrier to good nutrition. The inability to drive makes it very hard to do the marketing. Stocking up on canned or frozen goods may reduce the need for weekly trips to the market but when we are looking at nutritional content, fresher is usually better. Make it a point to assist your aging relative to get to the market at least weekly. If this is a problem, consider making use of the delivery programs more and more food markets are making available. Your loved one can place an order one time a week and have there groceries delivered directly to the house. There is usually a small fee but this will be off set by a decrease in the need for medical care.

Safety on Your Feet

As we get older, our sense of balance can diminish. Our ability to catch ourselves if we start to fall also declines. In order to prevent a fall, we need to be sure that we are wearing the proper footwear. I am seeing some really attractive and cute slippers being offered in the catalogs we get this time of the year. If you intend to order these, take the time to check the soles. If they do not indicate that they are slip resistant, don't buy them. If you have them in hand, return them.

Flexibility: the Key to Mobility

Thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) it has become easier for mobility challenged folks to get around but it is not yet perfect. There are some public spaces that have been grandfathered into the act that have not been adapted for wheelchair accessibility. As facilities are remodeled, more and more are making the adaptation for access. Unfortunately, non-challenged people may not be able to spot subtle barriers. A 2" step may be too much for a small powered wheelchair or the rest rooms may be on another level without an elevator. Some places are just too narrow or otherwise cramped for someone to get through using a wheelchair or a walker.

Being adaptable and thinking creatively will go a long way to overcoming these challenges. Restaurants need to get supplies in somehow, you may find yourself coming in through the kitchen. If you can transfer or stand briefly, you maybe able to shift to a chair at the slightly higher level while someone lifts the wheelchair up one set of wheels at a time.

This is also the "teachable moment" for the manager or owner of a facility. Point out the barriers as pleasantly as  possible and if you can, suggest a solution for future reference. It has been our experience that most facilities are more than eager to help and happy to have the feedback.

Medication Safety: Keep it Bright

As we age, our eyes change. We may need glasses to read, cataracts may form or other issues arise. We are also more likely to be taking medication for a long term health issue. It is not uncommon for someone to be taking several medications several times a day. In order to be sure that we are taking the correct medication at the correct time we need to be able to identify the bottles when we go to take our medications. One of the best things to be done is to be sure that the area is well lit. If the medications are moved from the bottles from the pharmacy to a pill case, be sure to fill the pill case in a well lit location.

Trust But Verify

Everyone who is old enough to vote is old enough to have a will. Power of Attorney documents should also be set up at the same time as well as Advance Directives. These should all be reviewed every 5 years or so or when there is a significant change in circumstances.
What sometimes happens is that sometimes there is family strife and seniors may be told that Person A is now in charge of the money and medical decisions. Don't take this at face value. Insist on seeing the documents in question and verify the signatures. Bear in mind that a document is not enforceable if the person signing away rights is not competent to do so. If your estranged relative has signed over control of finances to someone after they have been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's challenge the documents through your attorney. This is especially important if you feel that this person does not have your best interests in mind.

Gift or Not to Gift

Keep in mind that when we are retired, there is no easy way to replenish the money in our accounts. We are not working or any work we do perform is often poorly paid. It is therefore a bad idea to gift our children or grandchildren with large sums of money. Even making a loan is chancy.
One thing that may not come to mind is that if you were to need to apply to Medicaid for assistance there may be consequences to giving money to family members. Many states will look at your monthly income, your resources and how you have spent your money for the last number of years. In New Jersey, the look back at spending patterns is five years. If you have given money away, it will delay your ability to receive assistance.
This will also apply to your house. You may sell it to a child or family member but do not just sign it over in an attempt to continue to live there.

Medications and the Granny effect

There has been a recent rise in the number of children being seen the Emergency Room for accidental poisoning. Children have been known to take prescription pills, thinking that they are candy. They come in such an array of pretty colors after all. One of the reasons that children find medications and take them inappropriately is the "Granny effect."
When grandparents come to visit they will naturally bring their medications. Often there will not be a particular place to store the medications out of the reach of children and the medications may be in a pill dispenser case and not in a child proof container. Older adults often receive their medications in non-child proof containers because child proof can also mean senior proof as well.
Remember to find a place for visiting grandparents to store their medications safely out of the reach of little hands.