As we can understand here in Minnesota, seniors are at their highest risk for hospitalization during the winter, according to 82% of nurses surveyed by Home Instead, Inc. This high risk is due to vulnerability to colds, influenza, pneumonia and other respiratory infections which is far more prevalent in senior care facilities compared to seniors living in their home. Weather-related falls and accidents partly due to icy Minnesota roads and sidewalks also play a factor.

The survey was part of research conducted by Home Instead, Inc. which indicates that the problem of preventable hospitalization of seniors is viewed as very to extremely serious by nearly 75% of the North American nurses surveyed who specialize in senior care.

Those same nurses estimate that almost half of senior hospitalizations (48.5%) could be prevented with early detection and intervention. In addition, the survey indicates that families play a critical role in helping to keep their aging loved ones out of the hospital – with 99% of nurses surveyed saying that the role family plays is as important as the role played by health care professionals. If a family member is not available, home care services can help bridge the gap.

Families of Minneapolis seniors certainly have good reasons for keeping their loved ones out of the hospital but nurses noted the most important reasons are:

• They are at risk of hospital-acquired infections
• Seniors who have been hospitalized have a hard time getting back into their routine
• Hospitalization can cause more serious health declines
• Hospitalization leads to confusion for seniors
• Once hospitalized, seniors often do not regain full function. This is why it’s important to continue care even once the senior has gone home.
• Immobility in the hospital puts seniors at risk for various health issues

What are some things you can do to help prevent your senior loved one from being hospitalized?

Delaying or avoiding medical care is one of the most common actions by seniors that can put them at potential risk of needing hospitalization. Don’t ignore symptoms! The body is trying to tell you something… listen and relay how or what you are feeling to your doctor. In addition, not following medical orders can be a clear predictor of potential risk. Check in with your aging family members on a regular basis to make sure they are following doctor’s orders, taking their medication when prescribed and not avoiding medical care. Three of the top reasons some seniors don’t comply with doctor’s orders – unwillingness to change ways, denial of health issues and apathy – are all attitudinal.

There are other ways you can reduce the rate of hospitalization. Maintain a healthy diet, particularly if your loved one has diabetes. Learn 3 tips to help seniors avoid diabetes complications and 10 superfoods that should be part of your grocery list. Stay active both physically and mentally to prevent falls and accidents. Work a daily crossword puzzle or take a walk each day, even if it’s a short one. Also make sure you have sturdy shoes or a walking cane to prevent falls.To provide families with resources to minimize the major risk factors and to play an active role in hospitalization prevention, Home Instead, Inc. has created the Five Ways to Prevent Senior Hospitalizations^SM guide. The guide focuses on these above-mentioned actions to help keep seniors safe at home and out of the hospital through proactive and preventative measures.

Each section of the guide outlines some warning signs and risk factors, as well as specific preventative steps and resources. The goal of this guide is to strengthen the role families can take in hospitalization prevention, and to help them feel more confident about actions they can take to keep their senior safe at home.

Survey results, overall, also indicated that unnecessary hospitalization of seniors can put them at risk for hospital-acquired infections. Involvement of families is key to helping to minimizing these events and in ensuring that that their loved one receives proper care if they do happen to be hospitalized. Nurses surveyed recommended providing education and instructional resources as a means of helping to reduce hospitalizations.

Hospitalizations should be prevented and it is possible. With the help and education from Home Instead Minneapolis, you can better care for your aging loved one in their home, help prevent time spent in a hospital and also reduce the risk for other health issues that come along with hospitalization. Together, we can keep your senior healthy and home instead.

Did you love our blog post “Having The Talk if You’re the Brady Bunch” but hate  “Making Sense of Senior Home Safety“?

Take this short poll and never have to read a useless blog post again!

Many experts agree: by the time you approach age 40 and a loved one is around 70, you should have had the “talk” about issues so many families want to avoid. The Home Instead Senior Care® network refers to this concept as the 40-70 Rule®, a program launched in 2008 to start important conversations early, before a crisis occurs. Through it, we offer education and resources to help make planning, initiating and facilitating “the talk” easier and more productive. When families with special circumstances need to discuss difficult situations, it often gets pushed aside.

Blended Families

Enter the Brady Bunch – they seemed to have it all: family harmony and the desire to care for one another. But we never saw the Brady clan grow older, did we? Blended families can face a variety of unique challenges when it comes to aging and caring for one another. An estimated 25% of American men and women report being married at least two times by age 50, according to the National Stepfamily Resource Center. About 42% of adults have at least one step relative, with 30% indicating they have a step- or half-sibling, according to a Pew Research Center survey.

A majority of senior care professionals interviewed by the Home Instead Senior Care® network say that factors such as having a blended family make disputes over aging or end-of-life issues more likely. It can also muddy the waters when it comes to who provides care to aging loved ones. So who does? “That’s a huge question, and one that’s difficult to answer,” said communication expert Dr. Jake Harwood of the University of Arizona. “It probably depends a lot on the family history,” he pointed out. “But communication matters: the more all children (biological and stepchildren) can communicate about what is going on, what needs to be done, and who is going to do it, the better.”

Aging Alone

The North American family isn’t what it used to be. In fact, it’s shrinking. And that leaves many boomers and seniors alone and concerned about how they will cope as they grow older. A MetLife Mature Market Institute study “The New American Family”, found that here were 7 million Americans living alone in 1960, representing just 13% of all households. Now there are 31.2 million, a jump of 350%. Among those who are age 65 or older, 45% live alone. This development will have significant repercussions for both retirement planning and long-term care.

Growing older alone isn’t impossible. But it does require careful planning. If you, a family member or client expects to be aging alone, consider the following tips from financial experts and others who are traveling that same path: 

• Talk with an attorney about developing or updating a will.
• Designate a person with power of attorney and a health care proxy. Make sure those individuals know what you would prefer for care if any end-of-life decisions must be made.
• Meet with a financial planner to help ensure you understand your finances, including the money and benefits that you can expect from savings, pensions, and other means.
• Arrange for automatic bill pay in the event that you are unable to care for yourself.

4 Fears Surrounding End of Life Care and How to Overcome Them

Many families find conversations about end of life care difficult to broach with a parent or aging loved one, but surely they have come up.
Perhaps you were driving away from a nursing home visit with your mother when she told you she “never wants to live in a place like that.”
Or, maybe you were sharing coffee after a family funeral when your father told you that he “never wants to be hooked up to ventilators like Uncle Mark was.” Statements like these open a window into their desires as they relate to end of life care, but they don’t provide you with the full picture you need to adequately plan ahead.
Here are a few of some of the most common fears and ways to overcome them.

1. Fear #1: “I hate the thought of having feeding tubes and ventilators keeping me alive.”
   What you can do about it: Consider establishing a living will. Living wills detail an individual’s treatment preferences in the event he or she is unable to make those decisions for him- or herself. The requirements for living wills vary from state to state, so you should also consider having a lawyer assist with this. Many lawyers will prepare a living will as part of an estate planning package.
2. Fear #2: “I’m afraid I will end up in a nursing home, and I don’t want to die in a hospital or institution.”
   What you can do about it: There are many options for end of life care outside of nursing homes and hospitals. Make sure that you have a conversation with your parent about his or her wishes and look into home care and respite options together so that you are prepared when the time comes.
3. Fear #3 “What if I get dementia and can no longer make my own decisions?”
   What you can do about it: It’s wise to have your parents designate a trusted person with power of attorney (POA) who will act on their behalf in the event that they are no longer able to advocate for themselves. Designating a person with POA will give them peace of mind that their care wishes will be met regardless of their mental acuity.
4. Fear #4: “I don’t want to lose my independence.”
   What you can do about it: Look into the home care options in your area so that your parent can have the help they need to continue living independently at home without feeling like they have to rely on you to help meet their daily needs.

The best way to address the end-of-life fears your parent may be struggling with is to communicate clearly with them about their wishes in advance. If the topic doesn’t come up naturally, set up a specific time to talk.

As you complete the plan 40-70 Rule®: An Action Plan for Successful Aging, you will find sections that address special circumstances, such as blended families, and how to deal with aging issues in a variety of areas including:

• Living Choices – Consider what other family members may want and how a living situation could impact them. Plan a family meeting to discuss the situation.
• Financial Choices- Consider obtaining independent financial counsel for each family member.
• Health – Try scheduling a family meeting or family conference call to talk about any health issues of concern with the family. Make sure you know what you want to achieve at the end of the meeting.
• Relationships and Dating – You may need the help of a counselor or financial planner to work through sensitive relationship issues surrounding blended families, including money or inheritance.
• Driving – If you are concerned about someone in the family driving, try to schedule a meeting or conference call to address the issue. If you can’t reach a consensus, ask a third party professional or member of the clergy to step in and mediate.
• End of life – If families cannot agree, consider a mutually acceptable third party mediator to help you resolve issues.

The plan will help families ACT (Assess, Consider and Talk) about their best options.

Some topics are difficult for adult children to discuss with their aging parents.  The most difficult topics for Boomers to speak to parents about are:
42% Needing to leave home
30% Losing driving privileges
11% Money/Finances
11% Health
5% None

Try to remain open and put yourself in your loved ones’ shoes to better understand their wishes and the reasoning behind them. Be sure to record your discussion by taking notes so you have something to refer back to when making plans and decisions in the future.
For many, it’s normal to feel anxiety surrounding these topics, but know that having open communication with your loved ones will likely give your family a sense of peace that will far outweigh any anxiety you feel broaching the subject.

Today, we wanted to continue the discussion that we started last September about how clients with dementia might feel. We had shared some thoughts from family caregivers and then asked you to weigh in on the question, “Are people suffering from Alzheimer’s really suffering, or are they just as happy as anyone else?”

Here are 5 of the responses that CAREGivers shared:

Tough question. I have been sitting here swinging back and forth. First I replied that they suffer 90% and occasionally feel free of being lost, but I don’t really know if they ever have a bit of time that they feel free of confusion.

–Carole

As a CAREGiver, I’ve found positive results from our dementia clients by complimenting them constantly. Because of our clients’ memory problems, they simply don’t remember that a CAREGiver said something positive, even sometimes just an hour prior. Fun example to use all day long: “Well look at you with that gorgeous dress today. Where did you get it?” Our client may have told the CAREGiver 3 times already in the same day or shift that their daughter bought the dress as a birthday gift. Well guess what? That dress is only part of the happy memory that is brought to surface, just by the complimentary conversation. Our client may now remember other positive moments that occurred in the past while she was wearing the dress, and here come all the beautiful smiles. How wonderful!

–Stephanie

It is my experience that even people with fairly late stages of the disease will communicate that they know something is wrong with their mind and cannot understand why they cannot succeed in calling up the information that they are searching for or put together their thoughts well enough to answer a question. There are good and bad days, joyful and angry, peaceful and frustrated, ornery and despondent, just like the rest of us, only on another level and possibly changing from moment to moment. The good part is that, with redirection, we can often affect the change that we desire for the benefit of the patient and bring them to the positive place once again. With music and existing memories, a well-timed joke, an expression of understanding and reassurance, and most importantly a developed understanding of the person, which takes some time, the tables can be turned and relief achieved, if only temporarily.

–Heidi

I think each person reacts differently to the care, people and the moment. We have to think in short periods of time like they do. Explain, explain, and you still may get a bad reaction, but never stop explaining, and have patience. Agitation is to be expected; you need to know how to deal with it, and again, it’s different with each person. I’ve seen people with this disease go through it with no agitation or anger and others that do. As far as they are not feeling the changes, I’m sure they do, and each day is a challenge for them. To me, it would feel like waking up to a new nightmare each day.

–Anonymous

If I’m correct, I think that, to some extent, the patient is unaware of having developed the particular disease, but, to a greater extent, he or she is aware that something has changed. Of course I imagine that change brings about changes in his or her thinking that also affects the emotions and behavior. I also think that they suffer only because they get frustrated and are confused, especially fearing they may no longer be the same or in charge of their lives and affairs. I feel they suffer mostly if they’re not properly cared for.

–Janett

by John Stuck

Observing the safety hazards in a senior’s Minneapolis home is one thing. Living them is another. According to research conducted by Home Instead, Inc., nearly 100% of emergency room doctors in the U.S. and Canada report that the following health conditions are very serious risk factors for injuries or accidents at home:

• Confusion or Dementia
• Balance Issues
• Mobility Problems
• Poor Eyesight
• Impaired Motor Skills

Try putting yourself in a senior’s shoes. Difficult? Perhaps this will put things in perspective: As time goes on, the effects of aging could impact all senses including hearing, vision, taste, smell and touch. These sensory changes often affect a senior’s lifestyle as well. This domino effect, of sorts, might make a senior vulnerable to safety issues in the home. Poor eyesight, for instance, could make it more difficult to see a throw rug, safely use a knife to cut an apple or take the proper dose of medication.

Aging’s Effects on the Five Senses

The following describes how aging can compromise the five senses:

Touch: Decreased blood flow to nerve endings as we age can reduce the sense of pain and temperature.

Sight: By the time someone is 60, pupils decrease to about one-third the size they were at age 20. Add to that aging-related eye conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration.

Hearing: Our ears control hearing and sense of balance, both of which can be compromised as we age.

Taste: We start out with about 9,000 taste buds. They decrease in both number and mass with aging.

Smell: Sense of smell can diminish, especially after age 70, because of loss of nerve endings and less mucus in the nose.

Making Home Safer for Seniors with Diminished Senses

It’s possible to counteract the effects of aging by being proactive. As we mentioned in our post Senior Friendly Home Adaptations, 100% of emergency room doctors surveyed say it is very important that adult children perform a safety check of their loved one’s home once per year, yet only 44% have done this.  A little extra help at home could be just what a Minnesota senior needs to stay safe. In fact, doctors estimate that 61% of seniors in the U.S.  who come to the emergency room could benefit from more care at home. What are the most unsafe areas of the home for seniors? Bathrooms and bedrooms lead the way, according to a survey of ER doctors. Physicians say that injuries are most likely to happen in these areas of the home:

• Bathroom – 69%
• Bedroom – 13%
• Kitchen – 9%
• Stairs – 5%

100% of ER doctors, 85% of adult children and 94% of seniors agree that falls are the most common home accidents for older adults. So what can older adults who want to stay at home do? ER doctors in the U.S. and Canada are unanimous. One hundred percent agree that an annual home safety check is very important to a senior’s home safety. But do you know which rooms in the house pose the greatest danger for your aging loved ones? Explore the everyday items that could become hazards to seniors as they age at home. Discover the ways you could help older adults safeguard their homes by completing a room-by-room safety check.  This checklist explores nine areas rooms of the home, including the bedroom, bathroom, living room, hallway, kitchen, laundry room/basement, garage and front yard.

In this video, Erin Albers from Home Instead Senior Care^® explains a few simple and inexpensive home modifications that seniors can make to remain safe at home as they age.

So, too, can having additional help around the house. An estimated 97% (99% in Canada) of ER doctors report that not having help at home with activities of daily living is a very serious risk factor for accidents or injuries at home. Check out this interactive, virtual safety tour.
Then, download this infographic to learn more or to share.

It’s not always easy to understand the physical limitations older adults face that could make home a virtual minefield for an aging parent. With resources and help from Home Instead Senior Care Minneapolis, your senior loved one has a much higher chance of remaining safe and independent in their Minnesota home for as long as possible.