SYNERGY HomeCare Magazine - Summer 2017

SYNERGYHomeCare.com Summer 2017

WHEEL TALK FOR SENIOR DRIVERS

SYNERGY HOMECARE MONTHLY WEBINARS

Art, Music and Movement

Building New Holiday Traditions

Wednesday, September 20th, 2017 | 4:00 - 5:00 PM EDT Register here: https://goo.gl/YYo7ZA

Wednesday, October 18th, 2017 | 4:00 - 5:00 PM EDT Register here: https://goo.gl/EmL4ss

GEARED TOWARD HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS

Caring for Chronic and Progressive Disease

Working with Family Systems

Thursday, November 9th, 2017 | 3:00 - 4:00 PM EST Please Save the Date: Link to Come

Wednesday, December 6th, 2017 | 3:00 - 4:00 PM EST Register here: https://goo.gl/AXbkLE

Webinars - Led by Carla Sutter Seminars will be led by Carla Sutter, MSW and Director of Operations for the SYNERGY HomeCare franchise system. Ms. Sutter has provided guidance and consultation for families and clients for over 30 years as they navigated family and health transitions. After registering, you will receive an email confirmation containing information about joining the webinar. A certificate of attendance available at the conclusion of each webinar.

WHEEL TALK FOR SENIOR DRIVERS: WHEN TO STOP DRIVING

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iving up the keys to the car is arguably one of the hardest conversations adult children will have with their parents.

Driving stands for independence and self-reliance — qualities our elders prize and helps keep them vibrant.

For many seniors driving is their lifeline to connect with their community and the fear of isolation can be frightening, says Carla Sutter, MSW, C-ASWCM Director of Operations for SYNERGY HomeCare Franchising LLC

Source: https://goo.gl/dmMKxs

Because aging affects reaction times and mental awareness in people at different rates, a blanket policy about when someone should stop driving isn’t feasible.

Some people in their 90’s may have no trouble driving while someone in their 70s shouldn’t.

One recent study found 78 percent of senior drivers surveyed admitted to driving regularly even after reporting declining physical abilities.

stop driving – especially if it’s in writing.

When people feel they are losing control, for example, their physical abilities, they instinctively try to control something else; even if it increases their own liability, adds Sutter.

What are some signs it may be time to retire from driving?

• Frequent accidents or close calls.

• Finding dents and scrapes on the car, fence, mailbox, garage door, or curbs.

• Have them take a driving education course for seniors. Tests are offered by organizations such as AARP and the Automobile Association of America.

• Difficulty backing up or changing lanes.

• If appropriate, suggest they limit to • Receiving multiple driving in daytime traffic tickets or during good weather. “warnings” from law enforcement.

Quality of life improves Once you realize your aging parents shouldn’t drive anymore, how do you get them to stop?

• Talk to them right away. It may take many conversations to convince them to stop driving.

• Acknowledge their feelings. “Dad, I know you don’t like to • Getting lost, especially have to rely on other in familiar locations. people to get around.”

• Having trouble seeing “Mom, we’ll find a way to get you to your or following traffic signals, road signs and weekly bingo games.”

Statements such as pavement markings. these can proactively • Slow response times, minimize some of confusing the gas their concerns. and brake pedals or • Appeal to their sense experiencing trouble of responsibility. moving between the two pedals.

• Get their doctor involved. They may • Becoming easily respond better if a distracted or having difficulty concentrating medical professional tells them they need to while driving.

when seniors find the balance between risk and independence, states Sutter. Hiring a professional caregiver from SYNERGY HomeCare, for instance, can allow seniors the freedom and flexibility to continue their social schedule while ensuring that they are getting out in the community safely.

In addition to a caregiver, seniors need to also remember that there are many public transportation options including buses, subways, light rail trains, taxis as well as ride sharing services available to help them get where they want to go.

Families should help seniors research what the best options are for their circumstances.

SUMMER 2017 | SYNERGYHomeCare.com

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Lauren McLane

SYNERGY HomeCare of Little Rock

F

or Lauren McLane, #LiveUnlimited means living independently.

At the age of six, Lauren was diagnosed with Facioscapulohumeral or FSH - a form of muscular dystrophy that affects the skeletal muscles of the face, scapula, and upper arms.

When the disease forced her into a wheelchair at age 12, everyone assumed she would have to depend on her parents for the rest of her life.

Lauren had other plans.

Now 23, she lives on her own in Little Rock, Arkansas – more than 650 miles away from her parents in Chicago, Illinois.

Lauren says she always had a vision for her life – one that included graduating college, living on her own, and having a career.

She is about to graduate from Brigham Young University with a degree in Sociology and a minor in Marketing.

Thanks to SYNERGY HomeCare of Little Rock, Lauren is checking off another goal - living independently. Her caregiving team is set up to visit every few hours in order to help her transition in and out of her wheelchair. Lauren says the support from SYNERGY HomeCare will help check off the third item on her list – working from home in the marketing field.

I’ve been fortunate to live out my dreams.

Everything is working out the way I wanted.

Life is really good, says Lauren.

Thanks for sharing your story, Lauren. It’s time to start a new list.

S

ophia Spooner had just returned from a semester studying abroad when her parents sat her down to share news no daughter ever wants to hear: Her dad Ray had been diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). This devastating disease weakens and paralyzes muscles, leading to the inability to move, talk and breathe. Those diagnosed often live only three to five years after diagnosis.

Unwilling to accept his disease without a fight, Ray decided to embark on a crosscountry cycling tour from San Diego to St. Augustine, Florida to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). As he completed his adventure and raised more than $80,000 to help MDA fight ALS, his condition progressed unrelentingly.

Ray died a year and a half after he was diagnosed on August 8, 2016.

When every minute of every day matters more than anything, you really start to know what it means to live every day with meaning and intention,” Sophia says. “That’s what [my dad] gave us.

Like her father, Sophia set out on a longdistance adventure to fight back. On April 18,

Sophia Spooner

MDA supporter and adventurer

she began a 2,650-mile hike on the Pacific Crest Trail in California to raise $25,000 for MDA. The money Sophia is raising will help fund more research to fight ALS and support MDA/ ALS Care Centers where ALS disease experts come together to provide comprehensive care to families and support groundbreaking clinical trials.

Sophia exemplifies the Live Unlimited spirit that MDA believes empowers everyone to transform perceived limits into unlimited possibilities to live life to the fullest. Inspired by the strength of MDA families like the Spooners who do remarkable things every day, MDA’s Live Unlimited campaign shows the world that limits don’t define us. Learn more about the campaign and make a donation to help Sophia fund more research and care for ALS at mda.org/LiveUnlimited.

ART, MUSIC, AND MOVEMENT

C

ould the arts be used to slow down aging? More studies seem to link brain benefits to creative pursuits of all kinds.

Dance Therapy

Music Therapy

Art Therapy Whether it’s painting, coloring, or sculpting with clay, hands- on art activities promote coordination and creativity.

Art therapists say these activities help with joint health and flexibility because it engages seniors use of their fine motor skills.

Dr. Gene D. Cohen

Research also shows art therapy works like meditation — blocking out negative thoughts and improving mood.

It is particularly useful for those suffering from depression or loneliness.

Maybe you’ve seen the videos on social media where a woman with Alzheimer’s is brought back to life with an iPod and some headphones that filled her ears with the music of her youth.

It has long been realized that our brains are hard-wired to connect music to long-term memories.

Therapists point to other benefits seniors’ experience when they hear music.

Listening to music can help seniors: • Regulate mood and emotional state.

• Increase awareness of self and their environment.

• Allows them to share creative experiences with family members.

Movement can enhance the quality of a senior’s life in a variety of ways.

Balance, mobility, and strength can be improved with a simple two-step.

People who haven’t been active in years, even those who can no longer stand, can participate.

Dancing is a social activity. It can reduce feelings of isolation.

Dance programs for elders have also been linked to lowered blood pressure, reduced levels of stress hormones, and weight loss.

“After I started dancing, my weight began to come down,” said 72-year-old Evelyn Marks. “Not only am I getting exercise, but I’m also getting out of my house and making new friends. This dance class has saved my life.”

There are plenty of programs designed to help seniors achieve their artistic pursuits. Contact your local SYNERGY HomeCare office for help in finding a creative class near you. You can also join us for an Art, Music, and Movement webinar on Wednesday, September 20th at 4 pm EST. Register online at https://goo.gl/YYo7ZA.

Source: https://goo.gl/m8m2qP | https://goo.gl/rva9gj | https://goo.gl/HYAo25 | https://goo.gl/mxj7mE

One of the biggest advocates for the mental and physical benefits of creativity for elders was Dr. Gene D. Cohen, a gerontologist at George Washington University. Dr. Cohen pointed out that creativity challenges the mind and results in the formation of new communication channels in the brain.

MEDICA RE CA T

RD MAK EOVER: W H

he Medicare ID cards carried by more than 58-million Americans are getting a fraud-fighting makeover.

AT SENIO RS NEED T

The current cards identify recipients by their Social Security numbers which puts users, especially seniors, at risk of fraud. The new cards will use a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier made up of 11 randomly assigned numbers and letters.

O KNOW

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) says

Personal identity theft affects a large and growing number of seniors. People age 65 or older are increasingly the victims of this type of crime. Incidents among seniors increased to 2.6 million from 2.1 million between 2012 and 2014, according to the most current statistics from the Department of Justice.

Here’s what you need to know about the new cards:

Things to remember:

• CMS will begin mailing the cards to beneficiaries in April 2018.

• Beneficiaries do not need to do anything to receive the new cards.

• Benefits will not change.

• During a transition period through 2019, providers can use the MBIs or health insurance claim numbers.

• The cards are free. No payment is necessary.

• The replacement cards will automatically be mailed out.

• CMS will never ask for a Medicare card number because they already know it.

Anyone who receives a phone call from someone purporting to be from CMS and asking for personal information, should hang-up immediately!

Beware of Scams Fraudsters are already trying to exploit the confusion surrounding the changes to the new cards. Some Medicare recipients report getting phone calls from con artists asking them for payment for the new card.

SUMMER 2017 | SYNERGYHomeCare.com

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Life is better with SYNERGY HomeCare by your side.

Call anytime 877.432.2692 or visit www.synergyhomecare.com Proudly Independently Owned & Operated