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A List of Ten Things Seniors Can Do to Reduce Their Risk of Falling

November 28, 2022Filed Under: Senior Health and Wellness

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CDC reports that one out of five elderly falls causes serious injuries such as broken bones or head trauma. Injuries of this sort can make life difficult for an older person to do everyday activities or live on their own. Half of the time, when a senior falls, it goes unreported to their doctor, and the person is likely to become fearful, cutting back on their activities. Not reporting a fall creates a vicious cycle. Fearfulness leads to less activity, making a senior weaker, which increases their chance of falling. Right At Home provides ten tips to reduce the risk of senior falls. These tips are science-based, and seniors should try to implement them in their daily lives.

The first tip is to talk with your physician about your risk factors. You may have existing health conditions such as hearing and vision loss, arthritis, osteoporosis, or cognition problems, which raise the risk of falls. If you are honest with your doctor about your fall history, they can implement strategies to lower your risks. Every fall matters and should be addressed. Falling just once doubles the likelihood of falling again. Keeping quiet about a fall stops you from receiving personalized prevention advice.

You will need to get enough exercise of the right type. When visiting your doctor, ask for a customized exercise program. Activities will likely include endurance building, muscle strengthening, increasing flexibility, and improving balance. Even if gyms, recreation, and senior centers are closed due to COVID-19, you can work out at home with little need for equipment. There are also practical ways of improving your activity levels through gardening, house cleaning, and dancing about the house to some inspirational music.

If you have balance problems, get specific help. The vestibular system of the inner ear is crucial to your sense of balance. When you have vestibular dysfunctions, the likelihood of you falling increases. Many vestibular problems are treatable, which will improve balance. Your doctor may also prescribe a virtual balance class that uses special activities and exercises like tai chi, which will enhance proprioception, which is your sense of position. Also, make sure your shoes are properly fitted. Incorrect shoe size, width, or shoe type affects balance and stability.

CDC

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons recommends that you or a family member conduct a fall-prevention in-home inspection. The advent of the coronavirus pandemic keeps people in their homes more than ever, so it is time to identify any fall hazards. Remove clutter and improve the lighting throughout your home. If necessary, have grab bars installed in the bathroom or on entry stairs in the garage, or other key areas. Always keep clear pathways to walk throughout your home.

Routinely have your doctor review all of your medications. Although the prescription and over-the-counter drugs you take help you manage your health conditions, mixing them can produce dangerous side effects. Dizziness, drowsiness, and confusion are all typical side effects of mixing medications. Bring a complete list of every medication and supplement you take to your doctor or your pharmacist. If you start a new drug, be wary of any side effects, and report them immediately to your doctor.

Make sure to have routine hearing and vision exams. Ears provide you with important information about the environment around you that helps to prevent falls. If you have hearing aids, use them, and have them calibrated often. The same holds for eyeglasses; keep your lens prescription up to date and wear them. If you wear bi or trifocals, or progressive lenses, inquire if a second, single-vision lens pair of glasses would make your walking safer.

Eat a diet rich in foods that help prevent falling. The proper nutrients promote bone and muscle strength. You will often need to up your intake of calcium, protein, and vitamin D. Maintain a healthy weight through a nutritious diet plan your doctor prescribes for you. Be honest about how much alcohol you drink. If you drink, limit your intake as too much alcohol substantially increases your risk of falling. The same holds true in states where medical and recreational marijuana is legal. Talk to your doctor about your intake habits.

If you use walking aids, do so properly. Mobility devices like canes, walkers, and more can help you maintain your stability and avoid falls if used correctly. How you position your hands and use mobility devices is crucial. If you are unsure about your device, have a physical therapist or other medical professionals recommend, properly fit, and train you in its safe use. If you think you would benefit from a walking aid, make an appointment with a reputable medical group to get one.

Avoid walking if you feel distracted. Whether you are in unfamiliar surroundings or in your own home, being distracted often leads to falls. If you think about something else while navigating stairs, it is extremely dangerous and can lead to slips and falls. In the digital world of today, your smartphone may be the main culprit of your walking distraction. Sit down to take a phone call or text. Do not walk around a store, home, street, or sidewalk engaging with your smartphone when you should focus solely on walking. No phone call or message is worth a fall. Get somewhere safe and then interact with your smartphone.

If you do not think you can properly equip and de-clutter your home, or exercise safely in it, add home care as part of your fall prevention strategy. Right At Home and other caregiver groups can enhance walking safety in your home, provide transportation or run errands for you, provide appropriate care for seniors with cognitive issues, and create an extra measure of protection for you in your daily life. Being a confident and active senior, getting the help you need can keep you from unwanted falls.

These safety tips to prevent falls are easy to implement. Every year three million older Americans seek treatment at a hospital after they have fallen. Tragically, more than 27 thousand of them will die because of their fall injuries. Thousands more will experience disabilities leading to a loss of independence. The effects of falling are often life-changing or life-threatening for seniors. Put into practice these and other safety measures to keep you on your feet.

We hope you found this article helpful. If you’d like to discuss your particular situation, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Please contact our Cincinnati office by calling us at 513-771-2444 and schedule a consultation.

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A Pandemic Can Have a Silver Lining

February 21, 2022Filed Under: Senior Living

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As a result of the COVID-19 business closures, record unemployment rates have hurt business owners and their workers, many of whom are 50 or older. Though workers of all ages have felt the effects of unemployment or reduced working hours, older workers will fare worse upon re-entering the workforce. Research shows the recession of 2008 found that those adults age 62 or more were the least likely group to re-enter the workforce, and it is most likely as the employment situation stabilizes the same will hold in 2020. Ageism plays a role when employers have huge swaths of potential employees from which to choose.

Elderly Unemployment During Coronavirus

Many unemployed older workers feel the effects of income loss and wild financial market swings wreaking havoc on their retirement savings accounts, as well as the potential that Social Security benefits may be reduced in the near future. Happily, before the pandemic, a trend towards later retirement, transitional work, and “encore” careers became the norm. Out of either necessity or desire, aging Americans choose to be active in the workforce, and policies and practices are starting to catch up to age discrimination. AARP has more than 350 companies that have signed an Employer Pledge that sources experienced workers. These companies provide job opportunities and career fairs online that are age-diverse.

COVID-19 Leading to Seniors Sheltering in Place

Sheltering in place during this pandemic has kept many older Americans from having pre-existing physical, social, and emotional needs met as healthcare systems and network services for seniors are minimizing service to large numbers to protect and serve the most vulnerable.  This disruption of services like regular check-ups and elective procedures leads to a lack of personal care, proper nutrition, and medical management for many. Telehealth can remotely connect a patient to a medical professional, and with wearable devices, important medical information can be assessed in real-time by a doctor. If the situation warrants, medical intervention will follow. In the case of nutrition, beyond take-out and meal delivery services, grocery stores are now providing home delivery systems for fresh food. These delivery services include Instacart, Walmart Grocery, Safeway Grocery Delivery, Kroger ClickList, Vitacost, Peapod, AmazonFresh, and more.

Seniors Loneliness During the Pandemic

The effects of increased isolation are producing more anxiety and depression in aging Americans. Loneliness is linked to negative mental and physical health outcomes such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, cognitive decline, obesity, and death. The good news is that we live in a digital age where the Internet of Things (IoT) can connect people virtually. There is a steady growth of tech-savvy seniors who are well-versed in the use of digital devices and apps that let them talk in real-time to family and friends. Family and inter-generational connections are stronger than ever since this pandemic has encouraged everyone to stay in touch. Programs like Students4Seniors  and ZoomerstoBoomers are examples of younger generations lending a helping hand to seniors. Digital social connection is combating the negative consequences of isolationism.

Before the coronavirus, only about one-half of Americans have had conversations about their end-of-life situation with loved ones. Only 27 percent of those have legal documentation reflecting their wishes. The need to address mortality is uncomfortable but unavoidable for older Americans during this pandemic as they are disproportionately dying from COVID-19. There are general and specific pandemic-related end-of-life planning resources online that can help a senior think through scenarios before meeting with their attorney. Most law groups and individual attorneys are now set up for teleconference or video conference to create advance directives and associated legal documents. Many states are permitting online signatures for these documents during the pandemic.

Solutions to the Issues of the Coronavirus Pandemic

For every negative consequence of the coronavirus pandemic, there are solutions that drive positive outcomes, especially in the case of seniors. Efforts that improve the services of private and non-profit agencies, advocacy groups and policymaking, healthcare, and business models are accelerating to meet the needs of our most vulnerable population. Technology, creativity, and sensitivity to senior needs are making life a better experience during a difficult time not only for seniors but also for the families and providers meeting those needs that create a stronger, more interconnected America that values its elders. If you’d like to discuss your particular situation, please contact our Cincinnati office by calling us at 513-771-2444.

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Easing Isolation for Seniors While Maintaining Social Distance

January 24, 2022Filed Under: Senior Health and Wellness, Senior Living

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Our ability to socialize has been severely impacted by medically suggested protocols for social distancing and government mandates restricting large gatherings to slow down the spread of the coronavirus. This isolation holds especially true for those seniors who live alone or in long-term health care facilities. Human beings are, by nature, designed for close contact and social interaction. Maintaining human connection, whether it be family or casual acquaintances, can help boost immunity, combat anxiety and stress, and can even lower health risks that are exacerbated by stress like heart attacks and hypertension.

The Association of Health Care Journalists reports that it is critical for older adults’ well-being to maintain social ties. Those seniors who experience loneliness and social isolation are more likely to develop dementia, more likely to fall, have an increase in hospital readmissions, and an increase in mortality. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, health care facilities and hospitals across the country have put a pause on in-person visitation. This separation will protect the most vulnerable populations, such as older adults and those individuals with chronic health conditions.

To help your loved ones in a facility or living on their own during this challenging time of COVID-19 Right at Home, a leader in the in-home senior care industry, has some ideas to stay connected to those you love who are isolated during this outbreak.

  • Set up phone dates. Scheduling a regular call at a prescribed time and date brings you closer through conversation and also gives a senior something to look forward to experiencing. Do not over-promise. It is better to have two calls a week that you always attend rather than to miss a promised chat session because you overscheduled your time.
  • Write letters to each other. Getting postal mail is fun for all ages, especially when it is a letter, filled with memories of shared times. Include self-addressed stamped envelopes back and forth to encourage continuing the exchange. Lonely seniors will usually re-read these notes and treasure them.
  • Set up chatty technology. Whether it’s a tablet, home device, or smartphone, you can use your digital device to use apps like Facebook Messenger, Alexa, FaceTime, Skype, and more to videoconference with your senior. If your senior needs some technical help, most health care workers will be able to help get them started as you will not be permitted to be onsite.
  • Virtually watch movies together. If you and your senior have a desktop computer or laptop that uses the Chrome browser, Netflix Party will synchronize video playback and add group chat capability to your chosen show or movie. It’s like having a long-distance movie night or tv watching party.
  • Attend online events and activities. Participating online is a big deal when faced with isolation. There are thousands of people online who have similar interests as you. com is a free membership group that has 24 separate categories, like dance, language, and culture, photography, family, tech, health and wellness, music, and more. All of these categories host multiple online events in which your senior can participate.
  • Attend virtual religious services. Faith is so important right now, especially for some seniors. If your loved one has a worship service they used to attend, see if they are now providing their services online. Many houses of worship have Facebook pages where a service is a click away. It will lift your senior’s spirits immensely to see and listen to their familiar pastor, rabbi, or priest.
  • Make use of the public library online. More than ever, libraries are offering their services for things like movies, e-books, and audiobooks.
  • Stay physically active. Log into a virtual exercise class online. Most of the classes are free, and they are found everywhere on YouTube. Just be sure to search for an exercise class that is appropriate for your age and physical abilities. As with any new exercise regime, always consult your doctor first.
  • Get outdoors, even for 5 minutes. If at all possible to do safely, step outside on the porch, patio, or balcony and encourage your loved one to do the same. Take in some sunshine and fresh air, take a deep breath and see the bigger picture of life.

Prolonged loneliness can bring about depression and even dementia. However, social distancing does not have to bring about social disconnection. Employ some of these ideas in the world of your senior to protect them from isolation during this pandemic. It is crucial to your loved one’s wellbeing to have direction and routine, hope, and human connection.

We are also using video technology for our meetings so we can continue to help with the planning needs of our community. If you have questions about what you read or would like to discuss planning for you or a loved one, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Please contact our Cincinnati office by calling us at 513-771-2444 with any questions. We would be honored to help.

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A Guide for Parent Caregiving

June 21, 2021Filed Under: Estate Planning, Long Term Care

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Something that affects all of us and our families is aging. It can be challenging for adult children to imagine their parents as seniors and to understand and respond to the reality that each parent will age differently. Even if you are in the fortunate circumstance where your aging parents can go it alone for a long time there will come a day when assistance or long term care will be needed. There are things to consider as you help your parents live their best possible aging scenario. Managing their welfare takes time, research, and planning.

Your parents and their abilities to remain independent are most easily defined by activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living (ADLs and IADLs). Activities of daily living address daily functional mobility like getting in and out of bed or a chair, self-feeding, bathing and personal hygiene, the ability to use the toilet, and the ability to get dressed. These are essential daily living requirements that promote dignity and physical as well as emotional well- being for your elderly parents. If your parents are having difficulty managing these ADLs, it is an appropriate time to find help for them whether it is you or another qualified caregiver.

IADLs include all ADL activities and more. The additions are grocery shopping and cooking, medication management, laundry, and other housework, bill paying and finance management, using a telephone, and driving or using public transportation. Recognizing your parent’s limitations in any of these categories is a sign that you need to develop a care plan that provides appropriate assistance. The degree of change or sometimes multiple changes is an indication that staying at home may no longer be appropriate and safe for your parent. If you require assistance in determining suitable care needs, you can set up a comprehensive geriatric assessment by a medical professional. Take an honest look at the stage of life your parent is experiencing and then find the support and help they require.

Your aging parents’ geographical location is critical to consider as a family. Families are fortunate when one adult child lives nearby and can ensure their parent’s well-being. Video chat either online or through a phone application is one way to daily check on a parent. A friend may live close by and can do wellness checks and provide information about behavioral or health changes. If none of these options are viable, it may be time to discuss the idea of your parent(s) downsizing into another more supportive location and living arrangement.

Having this discussion is best before a parent’s adverse health event. Making residential changes without a previous plan in place can negatively impact on the parent, especially when experiencing a health care crisis. When aging at home cannot be appropriately managed, it is time to consider the alternatives. These alternatives may include independent living communities, assisted living communities, nursing homes, or living with a trustworthy and capable relative or family member.

All of these assessments and changes in your parents’ lives impact their financial outlook. Making necessary residential changes can often be very costly, and your parent may need additional financial support from government or community programs to offset the difference in expenses. It is critical to take advantage of all possible financial help. As an adult child, you may have to begin managing their finances and retirement funds more actively. There are various federal, state, and non-profit groups that provide free tax assistance for seniors.

Some of the better organizations to help you navigate what is available are online and include Benefits.gov, Area Agency on Aging, and Benefitscheckup.org. These groups can help you assess the best strategies for housing, healthcare, financial assistance, legal aid, transportation, in-home services, prescription drugs, energy and utility support, and nutrition. BenefitsCheckUp is part of the National Council on Aging and is considered the nation’s most comprehensive online service for seniors with limited income and resources. The information available canvases all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Caring for your aging parents should not be the job of one family member. The commitment should not be a burden, and responsibilities should be shared. Look for caregiver support organizations and forums as well as involving all family members. Everyone should do their part. The goal is to find the best blend of options and resources to allow your parents to age happily and well. Your parents’ health changes require that programs and opportunities change too. Caring for your aging parent is a dynamic process that must be retooled as their needs change.

We help families who are trying to navigate the maze of long term care either for themselves or for an aging parent. If you’d like to discuss your particular situation, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Please contact our Cincinnati office by calling us at 513-771-2444 with any questions.

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Olivia K. Smith, Attorney at Law
Cornetet, Meyer, Rush & Stapleton Co., L.P.A.
123 Boggs Lane,
Cincinnati, Ohio 45246
Tel: (513) 771-2444
Fax: (877) 483-2119
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Olivia K. Smith, Attorney at Law
Cornetet, Meyer, Rush & Stapleton
123 Boggs Lane
Cincinnati, OH 45246
Phone: 513-771-2444
Fax: 877-483-2119
oksmith@cmrs-law.com

Family Law Attorney Olivia K. Smith, LLC represent clients in Cincinnati, Anderson Township, Batavia, Loveland, Mason, Milford and other communities in Hamilton County, Clermont County, Butler County and Warren County.

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