Helping Seniors Deal with Winter Pains in Allentown, PA

How to dodge or deal with winter aches and pains

(ARA) - Happy holidays, time with friends and family, the freshness of a new year - there are many things to look forward to with the arrival of winter. If you're among the millions of Americans, however, who suffer from chronic pain, winter can bring on a whole new set of problems and pains.

Whether you suffer from chronic ailments like arthritis or fibromyalgia, or simply experience the aches, pains and stiffness associated with past injuries or with aging, winter's cold and dampness can exacerbate these problems. Plus, there's the potential to suffer painful injuries from winter activities like shoveling snow or hazards like slipping on icy ground.

Here is some simple advice to minimize winter's impact on chronic pain and avoid new pains from injuries:

Arthritis and fibromyalgia

While both conditions can cause excruciating pain, both also respond well to positive influences like exercise, diet and hot/cold therapy. To help minimize winter's impact on these two chronic ailments, be sure to stay active and maintain prescribed medications and therapies. Dress warmly when going outdoors, wearing layers that help trap heat near your body.

Turn to hot and cold therapy to soothe sore muscles and aching joints. You don't need to resort to a hot water bottle or an ice pack to get hot/cold therapy relief. The IMAK Therapy Wrap is a 38-inch wrap that fits virtually any part of the body. Insertable gel packs can be heated or chilled, depending on what works for your pain. Breathable cotton Lycra fabric keeps the wrap comfortable against the skin. Visit www.IMAKproducts.com to learn more.

Hot and cold therapy had also proven useful in treating normal aches and pains associated with aging, and with pain resulting from injury. To avoid common winter injuries from shoveling snow or slips and falls, follow this advice:

* Stretch before you start, just as you would if engaging in a workout.

* Shovel while it's still snowing and shovel repeatedly throughout the snowfall. That way, you're not trying to move a large amount of heavy, wet snow when the snowfall is over and the accumulation greater.

* Use a small shovel - a large one may tempt you to overdo it - and let the stronger muscles of your legs do most of the lifting and pushing work. Bend at the knees to avoid excess strain on your back.

If you do overdo it and wind up with some aches and pains, turn to hot and cold therapy to soothe sore muscles.

Other outdoor dangers

Raking leaves, shoveling snow, even sitting for long hours in the cold on stadium bleachers watching a football game - all can put undue strain on your neck and shoulders. When performing outdoor physical activity that could strain your neck, be sure to take regular breaks, and let your strong leg muscles do as much of the work as possible. If you're sitting for long periods in the cold, dress warmly in layers and be sure to protect your neck with a warm scarf. Shift position often, standing up when possible, bending forward and gently stretching your neck, arm and shoulder muscles to avoid stiffness.

Hot and cold therapy can also help alleviate neck pain if you do end up straining muscles. IMAK's Hot/Cold Neck Support allows you to put the therapeutic effects of heat or cold directly on sore neck muscles. A microwave-safe gel pack can be heated or chilled as needed.

Finally, be aware of the risk and dangers of inclement winter weather. Slips on ice and frostbite from snow send thousands to emergency rooms every winter. If you must walk on ice, take measures to ensure your footing is good, such as using special cleats that attach to your shoes or wearing thick-soled snow boots. Never shovel snow, play in snow or spend time outdoors in snow unless you are appropriately dressed in warm layers, including hat, gloves and warm boots.

With a few precautions and the right therapy, you can enjoy winter months free of the aches and pains associated with colder weather. Courtesy of ARAcontent

Planning for Your Elder Years.

If we were to ask an older person what his or her most important concerns for aging are, we would probably get a variety of different answers. According to surveys frequently conducted among the elderly, the most likely answers we would receive would include the following three principal concerns or life wishes:
1. Remaining independent in the home without help from others
2. Maintaining good health and receiving adequate health care
3. Having enough money for everyday needs and not out living assets and income

To address these concerns or wishes and maintain the quality of life wanted in the elder years, it simply takes a little preplanning. But few people do this kind of planning.
It is human nature not to worry about an event until it happens. We may prepare financially for unexpected financial disasters by covering our homes, automobiles and health with insurance policies. But few understand Long Term Care Insurance or consider it in their long plan. No other life event can be as devastating to an elderly person’s lifestyle, finances and security as needing long term care. It drastically alters or completely eliminates the three principal lifestyle wishes listed above.

The majority of the American public does not plan for this crisis of needing eldercare. The lack of planning also has an adverse effect on the older person's family, with sacrifices made in time, money, and family lifestyles. Because of changing demographics and potential changes in government funding, the current generation needs to plan for long term care before the elder years are upon them.

Here are a few facts to consider:
1. The population of the "very old,"--older than age 85--is thefastest growing group in America. This population is athighest risk for needing care. (Statistical abstract of the United States,2008, population)
2. Medical science is preventing early sudden deaths, whichmeans living longer with impaired health and greater risk ofneeding long term care.
3. The Alzheimer's Association estimates the risk ofAlzheimer's or dementia beyond age 85 to be about 46% ofthat population.
4. It is estimated that 6 out of 10 people will need long termcare sometime during their lifetime.
5. Children are moving far away from parents or parents moveaway during retirement making long distance care givingdifficult or impossible.
6. Government programs--already stretched thin for long termcare services--will experience even greater stress onavailable funds in the future.

One of the important things for planning is how to maintain your lifestyle as you age. You may be healthy enough to stay in your own home with help provided for the following activities of daily living: maintaining a home, providing meals, supervision, companionship, transportation and shopping services. This type of care at home is non-medical and must be provided free of charge by family, friends, or volunteers or the care is privately paid for by the family.
Government programs such as Medicare will not pay for this kind of care. It is estimated that 80% of all long term care is non-medical, with 90% of that care provided in the home. It is most likely that your long term care will begin with some type of home care.

It is wise to plan now how you will pay for care when it is needed. In evaluating your future income you may find it necessary to add some resources such as Long Term Care Insurance to pay for home care, assisted living or nursing home costs. Long Term Care Insurance must be purchased while you are younger and healthy. Failing health, stroke or other aging issues can cause you to be turned down for this insurance.

A reverse mortgage will also help pay for home care if staying in your home is an option. Consider where you may want to live in your elder years. Many assisted living facilities offer complete care alternatives with a nursing home wing if needed. Senior retirement communities also offer many amenities with some including home care options. But don't be too surprised with the financial outlay needed to enter some retirement communities. Look for those that don't require a buy-in fee.

Now is the time to do estate planning. A professional estate planner will give you direction on how best to protect your assets for future needs and for Medicaid planning. Do your paper work. Now is the time to create your trusts, will, medical directives in a living will and any other documents you want noted for future use. Gather Insurance policies and bank records where they can be found by family members in case you are not able to get them yourself. We don’t like to think of our elder years in terms of health problems, but a sudden stroke, heart failure or onset of dementia could make it impossible to carry out our own wishes if preparation was not made ahead of time.

The process of long term care planning involves the following four principles:
1. Knowledge and preparation are the keys to success. 2. Having funds to pay for care expands the choices for care settings and providers. 3. Using professional help relieves stress, reduces conflict, and saves time and money. 4. Success is assured through a written plan accepted by all parties involved. Quoted from "The 4 Steps of Long Term Care Planning." National Care Planning Council.

For more information about Long Term Care Planning speak with a Geriatric Care Manager at the Family Caregivers Network. Geriatric Care Managers are specialized nurses and social workers how assist families with LTC planning. Start today, become educated about your future and share the information with family and friends. Live your elder years well my friend, live well.

Medication Problems and the Elderly

At 83 years old, Martha still lived in her own home, and enjoyed working in her garden and canning peaches. It was becoming harder to motivate herself, to get up in the mornings and accomplish the day's tasks. She confided to her daughter that she felt anxious and tired. Her daughter, who was taking medication for her anxiety, took Martha to her own doctor, not Martha's and got her a prescription for Valium. In doing so, the daughter's doctor, who had never seen Martha and who did not have her medical history, was only aware of a few medications they told him she was taking.

Martha, in fact, was taking 9 different medications as well as herbal supplements.

The addition of Valium to her existing list of prescribed drugs sent her to the emergency room with respiratory distress. If she had gone to her own doctor, he would have found that a dosage adjustment of her current medications would have solved her anxiety.

Medication errors are common in the elderly. Many seniors take on average 6- 8 different prescriptions as well as over the counter drugs. Many times the elderly will not go back to their doctor to have their dosage evaluated and changed if necessary. Family members should be aware, that elderly parents may tend to take the family's advice over going to their own doctor. Even though children want to help increase the health and stamina of their parents, they may in fact be causing damage by misdirecting their loved ones.

An on-line article on HealthSquare.com , Titled "Drugs and the Elderly," talks about physical symptoms and medications.
“ Among the first signs that a drug may not be working properly in an older person is a change in mood, energy, attitude, or memory. Too often, these alterations are overlooked, ignored, or chalked off to "old age" or senility. Older people may themselves feel that their blue mood is caused by something external such as the death of a friend or simply by boredom. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Virtually every heart medication, blood pressure drug, sleeping pill, and tranquilizer has been known to trigger depressive symptoms.
When a psychological symptom appears in an older person, examine his or her medication or drug use first. Consider, too, factors like alcohol intake, poor nutrition, and hormone imbalance. And never dismiss the possibility that a real psychological problem has developed and may itself require medication.”

There are many things family members can do to help monitor medications for their elderly parents.
1. Make a list of medicines prescribed and all supplements being taken.
Give this list to the doctor and pharmacist and have one on hand for emergencies. Use the same Pharmacy to fill all prescriptions. Pharmacies keep a record of your prescribed drugs and will verify your doctor's instructions. They will also tell you if foods or over the counter supplements will interact with a prescription.
2. Dispense pills in a daily pill organizer box.
3. Have a family member be responsible to call or physically monitor the taking of medication
4. Family members who live long distances from their elders have available to them
new technology in medication monitoring.
5. Alarms for pill boxes, watch alarms, medical alarm bands and necklaces that ring a reminder. Computerized pill box dispensers that ring a designated number if the pills have not been taken.

For more information on these products go to FAMILY CAREGIVERS NETWORK, Inc.

Home Care Agencies offer a variety of service options in helping families care for and properly dispense medication to their elder parents, don’t let your loved one suffer from medication mismanagement.
Find a home care agency in your area http://www.longtermcarelink.net/a7homecare.htm