Senior Living Fall 2020 from The Coastland Times

SENIOR LIVING

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2020

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THE COASTLAND TIMES

November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month

Unique ways to stay close to family during distant time

Cooler weather is on the way

Senior Living

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2020

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THE COASTLAND TIMES

November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month

By Gail Sonnesso GEM Day Services Inc.

Back in November 1983, President Ronald Reagan designated November as National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. At the time, fewer than 2 million Americans had Alzheimer’s; today, the number of people with the disease has soared to nearly 5.4 million. Alzheimer’s is the 6th leading cause of death in the US. People can live with this

disease for 8-20 years with the help of 16 million Americans who provide un-paid care for individuals living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. Learn how you can provide “respite” relief from the caregiving role for these caregivers.

As you know, President Reagan also struggled with this disease. “I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life,” he wrote in

a letter addressed to his “Fellow Americans,” dated November 5, 1994. The letter continued with “In opening our hearts, we hope this might promote greater awareness of this condition . . . Perhaps it will encourage a clearer understanding of the individuals and families who are affected by it.”

Not every family will have the resources that President Reagan’s family had. GEM, with your help,

can add support and resources for these families.

GEM recognizes National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness month by inviting the general public and especially the faith community to be proactive and understand the scale of Alzheimer’s and related dementias among the U.S. population, as well as bring new enlightened care options for those affected. GEM invites you to help us “Reduce Stigma by

Increasing Knowledge.”

Delana Phillips, MD said “it takes more than love and good intentions to care for a person living with dementia!”

GEM Day Services, Inc. supported by a grant from the Outer Banks Community Foundation has developed a 60 minute program to share current knowledge and meaningful ways a faith-based outreach program can improve their support and

enhance their care of elders struggling with dementia and their families and friends!

To learn more about GEM’s educational and communit y programs supporting care partners and the wider community or to request a program, check out our website at www.gemdayservices.org, email Gail Sonnesso, executive director, at gsonnesso@gmail.com or call her at 252-480-3354.

Unique ways to stay close to family during distant times

By Kelli Harmon Edward Jones Financial Advisor, Member SIPC

I was raised in a family with sit down dinners and jam-packed holidays. Having moved around the world while I was in the Army, my Mom worked very hard to make sure that my siblings and I remained close . . . no matter where my military service took me. Even though my mother passed away in 2016, all fifteen members of my family get together 3-4 times a year, packed into one house, and enjoy family time as we vacation. Staying connected during these difficult times is more important than ever as we maintain social distancing and take precaution to keep our parents and grandparents safe. These actions, meant to keep our loved ones safe, have also left many of us feeling alone.

Whether you moved here for the beautiful beaches

or the more relaxed way of life, there are few places that serve as a more wonderful retirement destination than our beloved OBX. Though we’re lucky enough to call the OBX home, too often that blessing comes with the curse of being away from family. While we have a lot of fun facilities designed specifically for helping our retirees stay active and engaged, such as the Baum Center in KDH and the Dare Center in Manteo, staying close to family can be hard when they live so far away.

One way that can help to stimulate new conversations with children and grandchildren is to help them get ready for their future. Do you know that you can start an account for someone you love? Whether you’re the parent or grandparent of a school, helping your family prepare for education or retirement expenses is a great way to stay engaged while you can’t be together

in person. Of course, you’ll need to get theirs or their guardian’s permission first.

When the account is being opened, you get to talk to them about what their goal is for the money and what kind of investments they would like to do. Once the account is open, you can talk about how it has been performing, any changes you all are considering, and what you’ve learned during reviews with your financial advisor. It reminds them that you’re a team on the road of life.

Now that we’ve covered how it helps you to stay in touch with your family, let’s focus on one of the account options available. There are account options for adult children, but in the interest of time we’ll stick to custodial accounts for now. Anyone – at any age – can be the beneficiary of a 529 plan.

The account owner, not the beneficiary, controls the account and makes all the investment decisions. And if

the beneficiary decides not to attend college, the owner can generally change the beneficiary to another eligible family member. Grandmas, grandpas, family friends, parents . . . anyone can contribute to a 529 plan, regardless of income. We even have little postcards with cupcakes or a graduation cap that we print so you’re able to mail them out to family letting them know about the account.

The 529’s earnings accumulate tax-free, and withdrawals are federally income tax-free and penalty-free as long as they are used for qualified education expenses. Some examples of qualified post-secondary education expenses include tuition and fees, books, required school supplies, room and board – if the student is considered at least a half-time student (including off-campus housing – the equivalent of what it costs to live on campus), computers

and related equipment (such as printers), and internet access. 529 plan distributions for qualified higher education and tuition expenses are not subject to federal income tax. Effective January 1, 2020 after the passage of the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, student debt repayments and registered apprenticeships are now considered a qualified expense for 529 accounts. States may vary in the treatment of these expenses.

If the thought of putting money into a college account worries you since withdrawals used for expenses other than qualified education expenses may be subject to federal and state taxes, plus a 10% penalty on the earnings portion of the distribution, there are non-education options available for minors as well. Your unique situation creates a unique opportunity just for you and your

Kelli Harmon

family . . . make the most of it by reaching out to your financial partner to get started. Since I’m a Financial Advisor, but maybe not yours, this content should not be depended upon for other than broadly informational purposes and please consult your tax advisor about your situation. Edward Jones, its financial advisors and employees cannot provide tax or legal advice.

Your vision is our focus.

Edenton, Elizabeth City, Kinston, Kitty Hawk, Nags Head and Washington AECPEC.com 1-800-755-7535

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Senior Living

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2020

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THE COASTLAND TIMES

In an Outer Banks Garden…

Cooler weather is on the way! are a great way for trap- fungicide before bringBy Chris Stadther Dare Master Gardener ping aphids, white f lies ing indoor. Be sure the

COURTESY DARE MASTER GARDENERS

If your houseplants enjoyed a little vacation outside this year, its time to consider bringing them back indoors. Most houseplants will enjoy temperatures above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, anything below that may harm them.

But before bringing them in, there are a few things you need to do: Start reducing their watering because they will need less watering when indoors and they are dormant.

Clean your plant’s leaves with a clean damp cloth or brush the leaves, if fuzzy or prickly, with a soft paint or pastry brush. Remove old leaves and deadhead any remaining f lowers.

While cleaning your plants, check for unwelcome guests that can damage and kill the plant. Sticky tape traps

and thrips and will help your monitor the level of infestation. Check the leaves, both sides. Many insects hide on the undersides of leaves and on the stems. Look at the soil. If able, place the potted plant in a bucket of lukewarm water or drench the soil with an insecticidal soap. These measures will help avoid bringing insets such as ants or roaches into your home.

Keeping your plants healthy is the best way to avoid diseases. Powdery mildew, which appears like patches of white dust, or Botrytis, which is a gray mold, may not kill the plant but it can weaken it. Leaf spot, brown or black spots on the foliage surrounded by a yellow halo, is caused by a bacteria or fungi. Remove the affected leaves and spray the plant with a

fungicide is safe to use on your houseplant and follow the printed directions. Improve air circulation around the plants.

Do not fertilize them.

During the winter, which is their resting period, it will be wasted and may even harm your plant.

Wait until spring when there is active growth before fertilizing. Be sure to fertilize at the rate recommended on the label.

Houseplants can turn any space in your home into a peaceful getaway if you keep them healthy.

For more information on caring for houseplants go to: http://essex.cce. cornell.edu/gardening/ houseplants Chris Stadther is a Master Gardener SM volunteer for Dare County. For gardening questions, contact the Dare Cooperative Extension at 473-4290 or email greenlineobx@gmail.com

Multi-Generational Housing

For many reasons, families are increasingly finding that living arrangements that include multiple generations under one roof are beneficial.

Fast Company points out that the seismic shift in housing actually represents a return to the way humans have lived for thousands of years. and will lead to big changes to the buildings we call home.

THE TREND

Fast Company cited a John Burns Real Estate Consulting survey that showed that 41% of Americans shopping for a new home said they planned to have an elderly parent or adult child living with them.

A Pew Research study shows that about 20% of Americans lived in a home with two or more

generations in the 1950s.

That dropped to just 12% in 1980, before climbing again to 20% in 2016, representing 64 million Americans.

The trend is driven by growing racial and ethnic diversity, longer life expectancies and feelings of social isolation among families.

In recent years, young adults have become the group most likely to live in a multi-generational household, overtaking those 85 and older, a group which had long dominated the trend.

BENEFITS

There are many benefits to families living under one roof. Aside from sharing a mortgage or rent, they might save money on child care and gas, while getting more family time.

Chores and household tasks can be shared, and seniors can enjoy more companionship.

REAL ESTATE CHANGES

A trend in the new home building industry is the offering of multi-generational floor plans. These plans are more than just a typical single-family home with a mother-in-law suite. They might include multiple kitchens and living spaces, as well as separate entrances and garages.

The remodeling industry also is seeing an uptick in garage conversions, as well as major remodels to make homes more suitable for multi-generational living.

If your family is considering a multi-generational arrangement, get in touch with a local builder or remodeling contractor to check into your options.

Senior Living

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2020 THE COASTLAND TIMES

Reach Out to Nursing Homes

scarce, an army of helpers put their sewing machines to work to help fill the gaps.

Contact local nursing homes to see how their supply of cloth masks is holding up. Consider donating masks, either homemade or store bought, or ask if you can make a financial donation to cover costs of masks and other personMASKS In the early days of the al protective equipment. pandemic, when supplies took a hit and became STAY IN TOUCH Nursing homes and other senior living facilities have been hard hit

by COVID-19 and have responded w ith measures meant to keep residents safe.

An unintended consequence has been some seniors feeing isolated.

There are ways to help, however.

Due to restr ictions placed on nursing home v isitation, some resident s haven’t been able to see visitors for months. Many communal spaces and dining areas are closed, limiting the interactions residents can have.

Stay in touch with family by sending snail mail.

They will appreciate the thought you put into the gesture.

A A R P rec om mend s sending gifts that remind

seniors of family, such as a custom-made jigsaw puzzle of a family photo.

Ask about “adopting” a senior citizen in need of companionship. Visit within guidelines established by the facility. Get to know his tastes and interest and send small gifts or pass along interesting reading materials you think he might enjoy. If he has access to a smartphone or tablet and an internet connection, plan a virtual meal

where you can each enjoy a meal while chatting via video.

If you are part of a house of worship, consider asking youth in the congregation to make encouraging videos to send to nursing home residents, or organize a care package delivery.

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had additional demands placed on them, aside from their regular responsibilities, dur ing the pandemic. Look for ways to help show them you appreciate their efforts. This might include sending gift cards for local restaurants or coffee shops. You also could arrange to send donuts and coffee at breakfast time HELP BOOST for employees to enjoy.

EMPLOYEE MORALE Employees at nurs- They will appreciate being homes and other se- ing recognized for their nior care facilities have hard work.

Senior Living

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2020

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THE COASTLAND TIMES

Try Virtual Tourism With quarantine and social distancing requirements during the pandemic, it’s been more difficult to take a vacation.

Luckily, technology is primed to take you around the world virtually.

It’s never been easier to expand your horizons by seeing the world without leaving home. Here are some ways to dabble in virtual tourism.

Thrillist offers a list of VR and 360-degree photography resources at www.bit. ly/2DplyTZ. They include a tour of Japanese bamboo forests and sushi restaurants, a trip to Northern Ireland’s coasts, the Great Wall of China, the Northern Lights, dozens of World Heritage Sites, national parks and more.

GOOGLE EARTH

One benefit of visiting destinations virtually is the ability to skip the lines, and in some cases, the hike required to access the attraction. Take it easy with a virtual visit to destinations such as Disney World, Niagara Falls, Mount Rushmore, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Pyramids of Giza, the Eiffel Tower, the Colosseum and more.

The Guardian offers a list of links to popular attractions you can visit virtually. Some include interactive educational components so you can learn something new on your virtual travels.

Others include 360-degree aerial images, providing you a view you’d be hardpressed to have access to when visiting in person.

Grab some friends and plan a trip to a new destination.

Google Earth is a website and app that you can access from a PC, tablet or smartphone. Using satellite and local 360-degree photography, you can “fly” to destinations worldwide. Immersive images of historical and cultural sites even include extra content to help you discover the history and context of the area. If you’re nervous about tackling this technology, look for online courses that teach users the basics of Google Earth and facilitate virtual “trips” for beginners.

OTHER VIRTUAL OPTIONS

There are various other online options for virtual tourism, but you’ll need to do some legwork to fi nd the resources you need. Think of it as vacation planning.

SKIP THE LINES

Aging in an Urban area As the number of seniors continues to increase, cities are making efforts to become friendlier to their aging populations.

By 2030, nearly 20 million Americans will be age 80 or older. In addition, 87% of the people in North America will live in urban areas by 2030, according to Governing. com. Given that surveys have shown that seniors prefer to age in place, cities will need to adapt to their needs.

THE TREND

In 2017, A Place for Mom, a senior housing services provider, published a survey showing seniors prefer walkable neig hborhood s.

According to a synopsis of the survey, “Cities should plan for multiuse, multi-generational communities in suburban centers to serve these growing needs.”

European cities have been on the cutting edge of adjusting to the demographics shift.

The National Institutes of Health published a study of two European cities — in The Netherlands and Poland — that have made improvements in safety, affordability and access to services in order to support their aging populations. These have included better access to public transportation and more walkability, the use of universal design principles, and

improvements in access to health care and housing, among others.

According to an NIH report on the study, “Cities may be the best possible environment for older people to live and age in place, if they are under a cycle of continuous reinvention and adaptation to guarantee they are in line with the needs of an older population.”

Governing.com gives the example of ensuring crosswalks are accessible to seniors. “Have you ever thought the walk signs at street corners weren’t long enough? Probably not. But if you’re over 65 years old, it may be a different matter. What seems like a reasonable amount of time to cross a street

is more like an Olympic community, reach out to sprint for the elderly.” your city council or mayor’s office about how you can help support any onHOW YOU CAN HELP If you are concerned going efforts. There may about your friends and be an advisory council or loved ones being able to task force tackling this age comfortably in your topic that could use your

help. If no efforts are in place, start the conversation by sharing your concerns about your city’s accessibility for seniors.

Encourage your local lawmakers to begin exploring solutions to the problem.

as well as skin and hair.

A 2019 study from Massachusetts General Hospital showed that replacing a few servings per day of either coffee, tea or soda with water may reduce risk

for symptoms of GERD. The Mayo Clinic recommends total fluid intake of 125 ounces a day for men and 90 ounces for women, with 20% coming from food.

Watching your Diet for GERD Heartburn can get more severe as you age. If you have two or more episodes of heartburn a week, you could be diagnosed with gastroesophageal ref lux disease, or GERD. Changing your diet can go a long way toward managing this condition.

More than 25% of people over age 75 take medication for heartburn, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Conditions that can

worsen heartburn as you age include weight gain, side effects of medications and hiatal hernia, according to the clinic.

The National Institutes for Health recommends a slate of diet changes that can help control GERD. They include loosing weight, avoid eating within three hours of bedtime, decreasing dietary fat and volume of meals and avoiding dietary irritants.

end of the month, look for patterns in your records. Some common trigger foods include alcohol, peppermint, onion, citrus juice, coffee, tomatoes and fatty foods.

Making changes to your diet might be challenging, but you will be rewarded with fewer uncomfortable episodes of heartburn, and it will get easier to stick to the changes you’ve made.

DIET CHANGES

Changing when you eat is also important to reduce GERD episodes. Eating large meals can trigger heartburn, so focus on eating smaller meals throughout the day. Eating too close to bedtime also can trigger GERD, so consider bumping up your dinner schedule.

Paying attention to what you eat is an effective way to manage heartburn.

Learn which foods trigger your heartburn episodes and avoid them. Track your food intake for a month by keeping a small notebook or making notes in an app on your phone. Note any heartburn symptoms you experience, and at the

CHANGES IN ROUTINE

DRINK MORE WATER

Another change that has been proven to help prevent GERD episodes is drinking more water. This practice, of course, comes with numerous other benefits for your general health,

Community Care Clinic of Dare can help bridge the gap For those finding brand name prescriptions too expensive and who do not have Medicare Part D, the Community Care Clinic of Dare may be able to help.

The Community Care Clinic of Dare is one of 106

sites across North Carolina that offers the Medication Assistance Program (MAP). MAP is a safety net for uninsured adults or seniors without Medicare Part D and can provide access to free prescription

drugs available through pharmaceutical manufacturers to patients who cannot afford them.

For more information, call them at 252-261-3041 or visit www.dareclinic. org.

Senior Living

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THE COASTLAND TIMES

Stay Safe with Technology Dealing with COVID-19 has been a challenging time for Americans.

Thanks to technology, there are ways for at-risk populations such as seniors to stay safe at home.

Here are some ideas of apps and websites to help when sheltering at home.

FOOD DELIVERY

If you aren’t able to do your own grocery shopping or prefer to avoid the risk, look into grocery pickup or delivery services such as Walmart Grocery Pickup or Instacart.

For prepared meals, dow nload apps for restaurant delivery, such as GrubHub or UberEats.

Remember that the workers who deliver your food are assuming a lot of risk to keep you safe. If

you are able to tip gener- heartbeat, temperature and other vitals, as well ously, do so. as activity, and might also include fall-detection HEALTH TECH Virtual doctor visits sensors. can keep you from having to visit your doctor in the ONLINE PROGRAMS office, where you might It’s important to stay acbe exposed to the virus. tive and keep your brain Check with your doctor’s engaged while sheltering office about options for at home. If you’re feeling getting non-emergen- out of touch with peers cy care via telemedicine. or your community, look Some complicated or ur- into virtual programs gent issues may require offered by your local lian in-person visit. brary, senior center or seIf loved ones want to nior living community. help manage your health You might find book conditions from afar, look clubs, hobbyist groups, into digital health devic- writers’ workshops, medes that can track your itation classes, cooking health and upload the in- classes, cultural discusformation to the cloud. sions and more.

An Apple Watch can track Your library is probably EKGs, sleep cycles and offering curbside pickactivity levels. up, to prevent you needOther wearable health ing to go into the library dev ices can monitor to pick up your reserved

materials.

Call your library or senior center or check their website to ask about services they’re offering.

Staying in Touch with

Family and Caregivers Staying in touch with family and caregivers is crucial during the pandemic. Consider purchasing a video conferencing

device, such as a Facebook Portal or Google Home Hub. With the touch of a button, you can check in with loved ones or ask for assistance.

app your doctor’s office will provide.

• Be sure you have filled out any paperwork your doctor’s office requires before the visit.

• Check with your

insurance company to be sure the visit will be covered.

• Prepare as you would for any other doctor’s visit, including making notes of symptoms and questions

you’d like to ask, as well as a list of current medications.

• Find a quiet, private, distraction-free location in your home to have your visit.

Use Telehealth Wisely The pandemic has brought telemedicine into the mainstream. While previously online doctor visits were an emerging concept, the pandemic accelerated their adoption by the public.

Here are some tips to make the most of your doctor’s telemedicine capabilities.

DailyCaring.com lists challenges in mobility and transportation as barriers to seniors being able to attend in-person doctor visits, as well as challenges for their caregivers. Managing chronic health conditions can be made more manageable with telehealth visits.

When seniors find their doctors to be more accessible, they are more likely

to keep recommended intervals for doctor visits.

In addition, with wearable technology that can track health information, doctors can access data to help them better treat patients from afar.

CHALLENGES

NIH notes that some seniors who are not digital natives might need some technological training in order to use telehealth services.

In addition, AARP reports that some government insurance programs have been slow to sign off on coverage for telehealth visits and may have restrictions that prevent some people from accessing care.

TIPS

It’s important to know that not all visits can be conducted virtually. Check with your doctor’s office about whether your specific concern or condition is a good fit for a telehealth visit. As usual, if you are experiencing symptoms such as chest pain, symptoms of a stroke or any other life-threatening situation, call 911 or visit an emergency room.

U.S. News and World Report offers the following tips for a successful telehealth visit.

• You’ll need a telephone line, a high-speed internet connection, a smartphone, tablet or computer for access to video streaming, and you will likely need an