Q – I live in Florida and am a huge fan of Dancing with the Stars. I’m in my late 70’s and have thought about ballroom dancing as a fun activity now that I’m retired, but is it safe for people my age?

A – Older Dancing with the Stars contestants like Cloris Leachman have the right idea; not only is ballroom dancing your way through retirement safe, if you’re careful, there are many proven health benefits–including some that you wouldn’t expect. Try to find a safe, supervised environment where you learn how to ballroom dance with the assistance of a dance instructor. In Florida, senior centers, community centers, or local dance studios may offer ballroom dancing instruction for people who are retired which take into consideration special health needs of the older demographic. Try to limit ballroom dancing to about 5 minutes of warm up, followed by a 20 minute dance routine.

The benefits you will receive from ballroom dancing as a senior will not only affect your body through better cardiovascular health, weight maintenance, and improved flexibility, but it’s an activity ideal for seniors since there are also benefits to the mind. According to a study by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, seniors over the age of 75 who ballroom dance also have lower occurances of Alzheimer’s and dementia!

Sources:
1. Senior Advocate
2. SeniorJournal

Image: jupiterimages.com

Home Care Florida provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 904-794-9450.

When my father-in-law began to experience serious vision loss, it took a much greater toll on his life than we ever would have expected. While he managed to find ways to cope with his lack of sight, the emotional effects were far more damaging and through association, the rest of the family found themselves dealing with similar emotional struggles. It was hard to see a family member forced to sacrifice his independence and give up on some of the activities he enjoyed. Once an avid card player, my father-in-law withdrew from his weekly card game night because he was self-conscious and discouraged by his vision impairment that presented additional challenges that his friends weren’t facing. Eventually, because he felt he didn’t have anyone that could relate to what he was going through, he found a local support group here in Florida for seniors coping with loss of eyesight and began to realize that all the struggles he was facing were normal and by talking over his experiences he was better able to grieve.

While we wished we could do more, our family tried to offer the encouragement and support we felt he needed. We pushed him to re-join his card night and helped him find ways to adapt to his declining vision so he could continue to enjoy his life and all his favorite activities.

Sources:
1. Web MD
2. Eldercare ABC Blog

Home Care Florida provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 904-794-9450.

Q – I’m a family caregiver for an elderly grandparent in Florida. At the caregiver support group I attend, someone introduced the idea of a geriatric assessment. What does it involve and how could it benefit my grandparent?

A – First of all, it’s very commendable that you are seeking support within your local community from other caregivers, and as I’m sure you’re discovering, they can be great resources to learn about care options in Florida. Geriatric assessments can be completed by medical professionals, such as doctors or nurses in a variety of settings, including an outpatient clinic, hospital, or even your grandparent’s home. Often, geriatric assessments are recommended to older adults who are exhibiting signs of confusion, memory loss or dementia; but can be requested by anyone who wants professional insight from a healthcare perspective about improving and forecasting eldercare.

A geriatric assessment involves the following:

• Assessing a senior’s status by looking at physical, mental and psycho-social; factors; their ability to perform activities of daily living independently, and any care they currently receive

• Identifying problems that might be present based on the senior’s status now or in the future

• Developing a “Care Plan” with recommendations for support services

• Helping seniors attain the support they require

• Monitoring the success of the care plan

Sources:
1. HelpGuide
2. Southwestern Medical Center

Home Care Florida provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 904-794-9450.

Q – I suspect that my elderly grandfather, who has an elder care provider assisting him in his home in Florida might be a victim of home care negligence. He doesn’t seem to get along with his caregiver and is reluctant to look her in the eyes. I don’t want to make a big deal out of nothing, so what are the signs I can look for to determine if he’s a victim of negligence?

A – If you believe that your father in Florida might be a victim of negligence, or doesn’t get along with his caregiver. Don’t hesitate to talk to the caregiving agency about your suspicions and request another elder care expert to provide home care services. However, if you want to justify your concerns, there are other signs that could indicate your father is being neglected.

• Sudden changes in his behavior, such as becoming more withdrawn, depressed or angry

• Physical injuries like bruises, scrapes, cuts, or even broken bones

• The home care provider not allowing seniors to spend time alone with family members for fear something might be revealed

• Pressure sores or signs that restraints have been used

• Sudden, inexplicable weight loss in the senior

Sources:

1. Care Home Negligence

2. EZine Articles

Home Care Florida provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 904-794-9450.

Q1 – Is there any connection between physical activity and the prevention of diseases like Alzheimer’s or dementia?

A1 – According to a study, active seniors over the age of 60 who have a declining brain mass are at a higher risk for the development of cognitive problems like Alzheimer’s or dementia, and active seniors experience substantially less brain shrinkage than those who are inactive.

Q2 – How does exercise improve the functioning of the mind?

A2 – By increasing blood flow from the heart to the brain through exercise, a senior’s brain is stimulated and optimal health is maintained. Because exercise also decreases blood pressure, cholesterol and other diseases which could influence the onset of Alzheimer’s or dementia, a senior’s overall health is better improved through physical activity.

Q3 – Will seniors who start exercising later in life still receive the same benefits?

A3 – It’s never too late to start exercising, and while the positive benefits may not be as great for Alzheimer’s prevention as those who have been routinely active throughout their lives, there are still benefits to the mind.

Q4 – How can Florida seniors begin an exercise program?

A4 – In order to become active, Florida seniors can choose any physical activity that they find enjoyable and that fit into their physical abilities. Walking, biking, swimming, stretching or exercising with weights all have their benefits; and those who are able can increase their endurance to engage in more moderate exercise programs.

Sources:

1. About

2. BBC News

Image Source: pro.corbis.com

Home Care Florida provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 904-794-9450.

Q1 – How can a senior find a doctor?

A1 – The American Medical Association Doctor Finder is a directory of American doctors that includes their history as medical professionals. Find doctors that are located in your local area, but make the final decision based on other important factors.

Q2 – What else should seniors consider when choosing a doctor?

A2 – It’s important to decide whether a general practitioner or specialist is required based on the elderly person’s medical history. For affordability, a doctor that complies with your health benefits or medical insurance plan should also be chosen; and naturally, you want a doctor that has a great track record.

Q3 – How can you tell if a doctor’s good?

A3 – To understand how well a doctor performs, by interviewing them and their office staff.  Find out if they encourage questions, and if they remain respectful. A doctor’s professional history can be reviewed using a number of online directories, including the NCQA Recognized Physician Directory, The American Board of Medical Specialties and The Federal State of Medical Boards.

Sources:

1. Seniors for Living

2. MedicineNet

Home Care Florida provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 904-794-9450.

Finding the right doctor can play a major role in providing for a senior’s health, while location and ease of accessibility may seem like a major factor in determining which physician to see; many other things come into play which seniors might not think about.

1.    Does your insurance or health plan cover your physician choice? Often doctors need to be plan-approved or affiliated with a specific group in order to be covered by health and insurance plans.
2.    What kind of doctor do you need? Consider whether a general practitioner managing your overall health is what you require, or if you need a specialist to address a specific aging health issues.
3.    Can your doctor practice at your local hospital? In case of senior medical emergency, you may need your doctor to treat you at the hospital of your choice. Ensure the doctor you choose has the authority to do so.
4.    Have you checked out his/her reputation – if possible, choose a doctor who comes highly recommended by friends, family or other people in your network who have seen the doctor. You want someone who will listen to your concerns, is respectful and answers questions.
5.    Check their qualifications – all general practitioners must be board certified, having completed a medical residency. Specialists must have additional training.

Use Administrators in Medicine to learn of any disciplinary actions taken against the doctor of your choice, as well as the Federation of State Medical Boards and the NCQA Recognized Physician Directory to grasp the history of your chosen medical professionals.

Sources:
1.    Seniors for Living
2.    MedicineNet

Home Care Florida provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 904-794-9450.

Identity theft insurance can be obtained by seniors as part of their home owners insurance or they can acquire a separate policy. While it does offer peace of mind for the elderly, by offering reimbursement for any expenses incurred following identity theft, it can still be difficult to evaluate whether or not identify theft protection by way of insurance is really worth it.

Since the elderly demographic tend to be the main victims of fraud, fraud insurance may be tempting. But seniors need to weigh the costs against the benefits. From a monetary perspective, identity theft insurance can be quite costly ranging from $20-$150 per year for $15,000-$20,000 in coverage and like any insurance plan, offers maximum claim amounts for specific elements related to the recovery from identity theft. For example, a maximum benefit amount for lost wages may be $2,000 and legal fees covered may range from $5,000 to $15,000. Unlike insurance policies that the aging population may have grown used to, identity theft insurance cannot recover the effects of the fraud; having fraud insurance will not rebuild damaged credit, it will simply cover costs related to proving the identity theft and trying to secure lost finances.

Provided identity theft insurance works within a seniors budget, and they understand the coverage available should they become a victim of fraud, the right insurance policy can help protect the elderly from fraud, but should not create the impression that they can drop their guard.

Sources:
1.    Spam Laws
2.    Globe and Mail

Home Care Florida provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 904-794-9450.

Until you or someone you love has faced vision loss during their elder years, it’s hard to understand what an impact it can have on your life. For many seniors from Florida decline or loss of eyesight can mean giving up their independence and many of the activities that they love. Seniors who love to read, build puzzles, complete crosswords, or take photographs may suddenly find that their favorite pastimes are made more challenging, or in some cases even impossible.

While learning how to deal with loss of vision is important, even more crucial is the healing process that needs to occur while seniors grieve. When the elderly lose their vision, it’s normal to feel lonely and helpless or even become anxious or depressed. Support groups for those with vision loss are available in Florida and can help seniors cope by having the opportunity to talk to their peers and understand that they’re not alone.

When seniors lose their eyesight, family members also need to learn to cope with the changes their loved one is undergoing; feelings of helplessness are normal since it’s impossible to take away the pain that an elder is experiencing. The best thing that caregivers can do, is to offer support and come up with alternative ways that allow them to maintain their desired lifestyle even with a visual impairment.

Sources:
1.    Web MD
2.    Eldercare ABC Blog

Home Care Florida provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 904-794-9450.

According to the Better Business Bureau, there’s a new phone scam targeting senior citizens  – specifically grandparents-  in Florida and around the United States by playing upon their dedication to helping their loved ones. The phone fraud, which targets American grandparents, involves a scammer posing as a grandchild in need of money following a trip to Canadian jail or a car accident while traveling North of the border. The scammers exercise a form of phishing, while trying to get information to propel the conversation with the concerned grandparent since naturally they are unaware of the specific details regarding the senior’s grandchild. Often, such a scam phone call starts with “it’s your favorite grandchild!” giving the senior the opportunity to fill in the missing details.

Once the caller seems to have the senior’s attention, they then request that money be sent from Florida to Canada using money wire or Western Union since these financial transfer methods make it hard to trace scammers. While grandparents of course always want to help a grandchild in need, if they receive such a call they should ask to call to their grandchild back or confirm the story with a family member before agreeing to send money. Any suspicious phone calls can be reported to the Better Business Bureau.

Sources:
1.    Senior Advocate News

Home Care Florida provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 904-794-9450.