Research conducted by the Home Instead Senior Care network found that 46% of family caregivers say their relationships with siblings have deteriorated from an unwillingness to provide help. Making decisions together, dividing the workload and teamwork are the three key factors to overcoming family conflict, according to the organization’s research.
“Senior caregiving can either bring families together or cause brother and sister conflict,” said Ingrid Connidis, Ph.D., from the University of Western Ontario. “In some cases it can do both. These issues can be very emotional.”
Family feuds often revolve around the following areas:
* Roles and rivalries dating back to childhood — Mature adults often find that they’re back in the sandbox when their family gets together. This tendency can grow even more pronounced under the strain of caregiving.
* Disagreements over an elder’s condition and capabilities — It’s common for family members to have very different ideas about what’s wrong with a loved one and what should be done about it. Take, for example, seniors and driving. You may be convinced that your family member is no longer capable of driving, while your brothers argue that he needs to maintain his independence. Your sister may not agree on the care that you and your mother have decided upon and be unwilling to assist as a result.
* Disagreements over financial matters, estate planning, family inheritance and other practical issues — How to pay for a family member’s care is often a huge cause of tension. Financial concerns can influence decisions about where the person should live, whether or not a particular medical intervention is needed, and whether he can afford a housekeeper. When aging parents need help with finances it can cause new conflicts – often fueled by ongoing resentment over income disparities and perceived inequities in the distribution of the family estate.
* Burden of care — Experts say the most common source of discord among family members occurs when the burden of caring for an elder isn’t distributed equally. “Usually one of the adult children in the family takes on most of the caregiving tasks,” says Donna Schempp, program director at the Family Caregivers Alliance. Research conducted for the Home Instead Senior Care reveals that in 43 percent of U.S. families, one sibling has the responsibility of providing most or all of the care for Mom or Dad.
Engaging parents in caregiving issues is important, Dr. Connidis said, and so are family meetings that involve a third party if necessary. A third-party resource, particularly a professional such as a doctor or or elder mediator, can provide an impartial voice of reason. “Talking before a crisis is best,” she said. “Talk to one another about perceptions of what happens if seniors need help, how available you would be, and the options that you and your family would consider.”
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Workplace benefits are needed to meet family obligations to help aging family members.
The collision of the economy, the health care crisis, and a growing number of aging Americans has put many families in or near financial crisis according to a new report from Volunteers of America.
“Plurality of caregivers say the economy has made it more difficult to provide care to a family member,” said the report. ”Few—roughly one in 10—are paid for the care they provide.”
More than 46 percent report that the economy has made it harder to be able to provide care. Three quarters of caregivers state that the person to whom they provide care is 70 years or older.
“We have a potential catastrophe looming with the collision of a significant, and growing, aging population, the economic downturn, and the health care crisis,” said Rosemarie Rae, executive vice president with Volunteers of America.
The number of older Americans in the 65 or older age bracket is expected to reach more than 71.5 million people by 2030 says the report. This will be the largest senior population in U.S. history and almost double the approximately 37 million seniors today. “This is a large, emerging crisis in America,” Rae said.
“Medicare already pays out more in benefits than it brings in and will be insolvent by 2017,” Rae continued. “Social Security will pay out more than it collects beginning in 2016 and the system as a whole will be insolvent by 2037.” Medicaid statistics are equally alarming. In order to qualify, most people must bankrupt themselves before they can receive long-term care coverage.
“We are hopeful that healthcare reform will begin to shape this discussion and mitigate the negative impacts of the current system,” Rae said.
The study also found that an overwhelming majority—97 percent of women and 94 percent of men—believe that the elderly should be allowed to age at home, if they want to.
A majority of those interviewed reported that they were unable to make financial, career or family sacrifices in order to care for an older family member. More than 65 percent stated that they would be unable to take time off of work to care for an elderly loved one, and 86 percent of women interviewed and 81 percent of men agreed that better workplace policies are needed to meet family obligations to help aging family members.
View a copy of the report here.
“Plurality of caregivers say the economy has made it more difficult to provide care to a family member,” said the report. ”Few—roughly one in 10—are paid for the care they provide.”
More than 46 percent report that the economy has made it harder to be able to provide care. Three quarters of caregivers state that the person to whom they provide care is 70 years or older.
“We have a potential catastrophe looming with the collision of a significant, and growing, aging population, the economic downturn, and the health care crisis,” said Rosemarie Rae, executive vice president with Volunteers of America.
The number of older Americans in the 65 or older age bracket is expected to reach more than 71.5 million people by 2030 says the report. This will be the largest senior population in U.S. history and almost double the approximately 37 million seniors today. “This is a large, emerging crisis in America,” Rae said.
“Medicare already pays out more in benefits than it brings in and will be insolvent by 2017,” Rae continued. “Social Security will pay out more than it collects beginning in 2016 and the system as a whole will be insolvent by 2037.” Medicaid statistics are equally alarming. In order to qualify, most people must bankrupt themselves before they can receive long-term care coverage.
“We are hopeful that healthcare reform will begin to shape this discussion and mitigate the negative impacts of the current system,” Rae said.
The study also found that an overwhelming majority—97 percent of women and 94 percent of men—believe that the elderly should be allowed to age at home, if they want to.
A majority of those interviewed reported that they were unable to make financial, career or family sacrifices in order to care for an older family member. More than 65 percent stated that they would be unable to take time off of work to care for an elderly loved one, and 86 percent of women interviewed and 81 percent of men agreed that better workplace policies are needed to meet family obligations to help aging family members.
View a copy of the report here.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Sharing good news...
20. New Old Age Blog
21. AARP
22. Aging with Grace
23. RetireLife
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Eliminating the confusion that surrounds end of life choices
Advance directives, which allow people to plan ahead for end-of-life care, can be too vague to cover many medical situations. Now, a growing number of states are promoting another program to help guide physicians with a patient's specific instructions.
The programs are known as Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment, or Polst. They are meant to complement advance directives, sometimes known as living wills, in which people state in broad terms how much medical intervention they will want when their condition no longer allows them to communicate. A Polst, which is signed by both the patient and the doctor, spells out such choices as whether a patient wants to be on a mechanical breathing machine or feeding tube and receive antibiotics.
Polst programs are currently in use in 14 states and regions, including California, Oregon and New York. Three states, Colorado, Idaho and Pennsylvania, adopted Polst programs recently, and another 16 states and six regions are developing programs. Besides providing documents that meet local regulations, the programs train health-care providers to discuss end-of-life treatment choices with patients with terminal illness or anyone wishing to define their care preferences.
Read full article
The programs are known as Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment, or Polst. They are meant to complement advance directives, sometimes known as living wills, in which people state in broad terms how much medical intervention they will want when their condition no longer allows them to communicate. A Polst, which is signed by both the patient and the doctor, spells out such choices as whether a patient wants to be on a mechanical breathing machine or feeding tube and receive antibiotics.
Polst programs are currently in use in 14 states and regions, including California, Oregon and New York. Three states, Colorado, Idaho and Pennsylvania, adopted Polst programs recently, and another 16 states and six regions are developing programs. Besides providing documents that meet local regulations, the programs train health-care providers to discuss end-of-life treatment choices with patients with terminal illness or anyone wishing to define their care preferences.
Read full article
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
How will the growing issue of inflation affect older Americans
Prices are going up and Americans are already feeling the effects of higher food, property taxes and energy prices that are having a direct impact on their pocketbooks and the psyche. These rising costs and the fixed incomes of retirees are on collision course given the current trajectory of price increases.
Not only are are the costs of living rising rapidly but housing options are becoming increasingly more expensive for seniors through higher rents, higher property taxes and increased utility costs. Whether independent living at home or at a senior living facility, cost increases will threaten decisions as the effects of inflation compound on pricing increases. Besides inflationary pressures, the lack of supply and increasing demand will exacerbate cost increases creating challenges for retirement planning.
How will inflation show up in senior housing? Assuming a 10% growth in property taxes, home maintenance, heating and air conditioning, food, gas and other household expenses every five years, assets will be depleted faster or retirees will need to find a way to supplement their incomes, most likely through part-time work. Notice how the list does not address healthcare expenses?
Part-time employment for retirees will increase and will become competition for traditional demographics of part-time workers. Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) cannot keep up with inflation in any scenario given the fiscal issues associated with the federal and state budget problems and investment returns cannot keep pace with inflationary trends.
The solution? It will be time to go back to work but are employers ready for a rise in part-time, senior workers coming back into the job market?
Not only are are the costs of living rising rapidly but housing options are becoming increasingly more expensive for seniors through higher rents, higher property taxes and increased utility costs. Whether independent living at home or at a senior living facility, cost increases will threaten decisions as the effects of inflation compound on pricing increases. Besides inflationary pressures, the lack of supply and increasing demand will exacerbate cost increases creating challenges for retirement planning.
How will inflation show up in senior housing? Assuming a 10% growth in property taxes, home maintenance, heating and air conditioning, food, gas and other household expenses every five years, assets will be depleted faster or retirees will need to find a way to supplement their incomes, most likely through part-time work. Notice how the list does not address healthcare expenses?
Part-time employment for retirees will increase and will become competition for traditional demographics of part-time workers. Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) cannot keep up with inflation in any scenario given the fiscal issues associated with the federal and state budget problems and investment returns cannot keep pace with inflationary trends.
The solution? It will be time to go back to work but are employers ready for a rise in part-time, senior workers coming back into the job market?
Monday, March 21, 2011
Alzheimer's takes increasing toll on healthcare system
Alzheimer's disease will take an increasing toll on the healthcare industry and entitlement programs, report USA Today and Reuters. Altogether, $183 billion is expected to be spent on professional caregivers in 2011, up from $172 billion a year ago, according to a new report by the Alzheimer's Foundation.
Those ever-increasing expenditures will take a huge toll on Medicare and Medicaid. By 2050 it is expected that Alzheimer's and dementia-related costs for Medicare will increase six-fold and for Medicaid, four-fold. Elderly individuals with Alzheimer's are about three times more costly to care for than other patients because they often require long and repeated hospitalizations.
Meanwhile, nearly 15 million Americans are caring for someone with Alzheimer's or age-related dementia--up more than 37 percent from a year ago. Those family caregivers provide 17 billion hours of uncompensated care, for a total of $202.6 billion.
"Stress is extremely high, and one-third (of caregivers) are experiencing depression," said Beth Kallmyer, the Alzheimer's Foundation's senior director of constituent services.
Those ever-increasing expenditures will take a huge toll on Medicare and Medicaid. By 2050 it is expected that Alzheimer's and dementia-related costs for Medicare will increase six-fold and for Medicaid, four-fold. Elderly individuals with Alzheimer's are about three times more costly to care for than other patients because they often require long and repeated hospitalizations.
Meanwhile, nearly 15 million Americans are caring for someone with Alzheimer's or age-related dementia--up more than 37 percent from a year ago. Those family caregivers provide 17 billion hours of uncompensated care, for a total of $202.6 billion.
"Stress is extremely high, and one-third (of caregivers) are experiencing depression," said Beth Kallmyer, the Alzheimer's Foundation's senior director of constituent services.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Safety tips needed for planning foreign travel
The retirement years can be an exciting time to see the world, and travel is easier and safer than ever before for older Americans. With a little planning and some caution, seniors can safely visit almost any destination. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urge older travelers to follow the simple tips below to ensure safe travel.
All travelers, including the elderly, should see a doctor for a pre-travel visit, ideally 4-6 weeks before planned trip, although even a last-minute visit can be helpful.
The doctor should be told about illnesses the traveler has and medicines he or she is taking, since this will influence medical decisions. In addition to providing vaccines, medicine, and advice for keeping healthy, a doctor can conduct a physical exam to assess a senior's fitness for travel.
Seniors should consider their physical limitations when planning a trip. Seniors with heart disease, for example, might choose an itinerary that does not involve strenuous activities. Seniors may also have a hard time recovering from jet lag and motion sickness, so they should take these factors into account when planning a trip.
Before travel, seniors should have information about their destination that could affect their health, such as the altitude and climate. They should be aware of whether the destination is prone to natural disasters, such as earthquakes and hurricanes, since seniors may have more problems in those extreme situations.
Vaccines - Before travel, seniors should be up-to-date on routine vaccines, such as measles/mumps/rubella and seasonal flu. Some of these may be considered "childhood" vaccines, but their protective effect decreases over time, and the diseases they protect against are often more common in other countries than in the United States. More than half of tetanus cases are in people over 65, so seniors should consider getting a tetanus booster before they travel.
Seniors should also receive other vaccines recommended for the countries they are visiting. These may include vaccines for hepatitis, typhoid, polio, or yellow fever. Recommended vaccines are listed by country on CDC's destination pages.
Use of some vaccines may be restricted on the basis of age or chronic illnesses. Yellow fever vaccine, for example, should be given cautiously to people older than 60 years, and it should not be given at all to people with certain immune-suppressing conditions. Seniors should discuss their detailed travel plans with their doctors and, if necessary, alternatives to vaccination.
Medication - A doctor may prescribe medicine for malaria, altitude illness, or travelers' diarrhea; seniors should make sure the doctor knows any other medications they take, to watch out for possible drug interactions. Travelers' diarrhea is common and may be more serious in seniors, so seniors should also follow food and water precautions.
In addition to medicine prescribed specifically for travel, seniors are likely to take other medicines regularly, such as medicines for high blood pressure, diabetes, or arthritis. They should plan to pack enough medicine for the duration of the trip, plus a few days' extra in case of travel delays. Counterfeit drugs may be common overseas, so seniors should take only medicine they bring from the United States.
Prescription medicine should always be carried in its original container, along with a copy of the prescription, and all medicine should be packed in carry-on luggage, in case checked luggage gets lost.
Injury Prevention - Although exotic infections make the headlines, injury is the most common cause of preventable death among travelers. Seniors can minimize their risk of serious injury by following these guidelines:
Always wear a seat belt.
Don't ride in cars after dark in developing countries.
Avoid small, local planes.
Don't travel at night in questionable areas.
In addition, seniors should consider purchasing supplemental travel health insurance in case of injury or illness overseas. Many health plans, including Medicare, will not pay for services received outside the United States. Seniors who are planning travel to remote areas should consider purchasing evacuation insurance, which will pay for emergency transportation to a qualified hospital.
For more information on healthy travel, visit www.cdc.gov/travel.
All travelers, including the elderly, should see a doctor for a pre-travel visit, ideally 4-6 weeks before planned trip, although even a last-minute visit can be helpful.
The doctor should be told about illnesses the traveler has and medicines he or she is taking, since this will influence medical decisions. In addition to providing vaccines, medicine, and advice for keeping healthy, a doctor can conduct a physical exam to assess a senior's fitness for travel.
Seniors should consider their physical limitations when planning a trip. Seniors with heart disease, for example, might choose an itinerary that does not involve strenuous activities. Seniors may also have a hard time recovering from jet lag and motion sickness, so they should take these factors into account when planning a trip.
Before travel, seniors should have information about their destination that could affect their health, such as the altitude and climate. They should be aware of whether the destination is prone to natural disasters, such as earthquakes and hurricanes, since seniors may have more problems in those extreme situations.
Vaccines - Before travel, seniors should be up-to-date on routine vaccines, such as measles/mumps/rubella and seasonal flu. Some of these may be considered "childhood" vaccines, but their protective effect decreases over time, and the diseases they protect against are often more common in other countries than in the United States. More than half of tetanus cases are in people over 65, so seniors should consider getting a tetanus booster before they travel.
Seniors should also receive other vaccines recommended for the countries they are visiting. These may include vaccines for hepatitis, typhoid, polio, or yellow fever. Recommended vaccines are listed by country on CDC's destination pages.
Use of some vaccines may be restricted on the basis of age or chronic illnesses. Yellow fever vaccine, for example, should be given cautiously to people older than 60 years, and it should not be given at all to people with certain immune-suppressing conditions. Seniors should discuss their detailed travel plans with their doctors and, if necessary, alternatives to vaccination.
Medication - A doctor may prescribe medicine for malaria, altitude illness, or travelers' diarrhea; seniors should make sure the doctor knows any other medications they take, to watch out for possible drug interactions. Travelers' diarrhea is common and may be more serious in seniors, so seniors should also follow food and water precautions.
In addition to medicine prescribed specifically for travel, seniors are likely to take other medicines regularly, such as medicines for high blood pressure, diabetes, or arthritis. They should plan to pack enough medicine for the duration of the trip, plus a few days' extra in case of travel delays. Counterfeit drugs may be common overseas, so seniors should take only medicine they bring from the United States.
Prescription medicine should always be carried in its original container, along with a copy of the prescription, and all medicine should be packed in carry-on luggage, in case checked luggage gets lost.
Injury Prevention - Although exotic infections make the headlines, injury is the most common cause of preventable death among travelers. Seniors can minimize their risk of serious injury by following these guidelines:
Always wear a seat belt.
Don't ride in cars after dark in developing countries.
Avoid small, local planes.
Don't travel at night in questionable areas.
In addition, seniors should consider purchasing supplemental travel health insurance in case of injury or illness overseas. Many health plans, including Medicare, will not pay for services received outside the United States. Seniors who are planning travel to remote areas should consider purchasing evacuation insurance, which will pay for emergency transportation to a qualified hospital.
For more information on healthy travel, visit www.cdc.gov/travel.
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