Sunday, August 17, 2014 n n D 9
He lthy L ving SpeciaL advertiSing Feature
tulsaworld.com/healthyliving
Caring for aging parents takes wisdom, planning By Stefanie Forney Special Sections Editor
Getting older is something we all face. Not only are our own needs changing, but many of us are, or soon will be, caring for an aging parent. Understanding their needs and providing the right assistance at the right time can be stressful and exhausting. The number of “unpaid family caregivers” is estimated to reach 37 million by 2050, an 85 percent increase from the year 2000, according to the Family Caregiver Alliance. You can help your parents maintain their independence as long as possible by having important conversations now and taking some steps to prepare for the future. “I always encourage aging parents to maintain an active lifestyle (i.e.: senior exercise groups) when they are capable,” says Dr. Sarah Andrews, an internist with Utica Park Clinic. “Continuing to be involved in community groups that are directed toward seniors helps promote their emotional well-being. Taking an active approach to health maintenance — getting regular physicals, addressing any concerns early as opposed to waiting until they become severe health issues and getting regular preventive screening — helps at any age, but it especially helps maintain independence as we age.” As your parents get older, it’s important to make sure they are able to take care of themselves so pay attention to their appearance. Do they appear to be taking good care of themselves? Are they safe in their home? Keep an eye out for any signs of problems. Scorched pots could mean they are forgetting about food on the stove. Neglected housework could be a sign of depression. Has your parent fallen recently? Are they able to read directions on medication containers? Driving can become a challenge for older adults. If your parent becomes confused when driving or you are concerned about their safety when driving, it might be time to stop driving. Help your loved one maintain his independence with other transportation options. “As individuals require more assistance, the family members caring for them must determine what help they are capable of contributing to their care,” Dr. Andrews says. “It is OK to admit you cannot give the 24-hour care mom/dad needs and knowing you need to help by bringing outside caregivers into the home or even looking at assistedliving or nursing homes. Even if mom and dad do have to be placed in a nursing home, families need to be actively involved and visit as much as possible. Anytime families stay involved in the care of their aging parents, those parents typically maintain better health and emotional well-being for a longer period of time.” Deciding to move to a retirement community often is a difficult time for older adults because it involves a significant change in lifestyle, yet it can be one of the most positive moves someone can make. It relieves them of the burden of maintaining a house, provides an added level of security and connects them to social activities and friends they can enjoy in the community. “When looking for a community, it is important to find one that feels comfortable and meets the resident’s needs,” says Gwen Stanberry, director of marketing for Covenant
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Among the many benefits of living in a retirement community are the friendships cultivated and activities enjoyed. Place of Tulsa. “Having the ability to progress to a higher level of care in the same community is something most residents are seeking. This gives residents and their families the comfort of knowing that, in most cases, the residents will be able to stay in the same place and stay involved in the same activity groups as their need levels change. For example, even if residents must move from residential independent living to assisted living, they will still be in their same community and be able to continue to participate in the groups and clubs they have become a part of, with the friends they have made and the staff that know them.” Sometimes residents may show signs of a need for increased care that may not be available in the community where they have been living. For instance, a resident may develop memory care issues. Memory care is a very specialized type of care. Residential communities can develop partnerships with memory care communities that they trust. This allows residents and their family peace of mind in knowing that regardless of the need, residents are getting the best care. “It is important to remember that everyone ages differently, and needs change at different times,” Stanberry says. “Being as flexible and accommodating as possible is
of the utmost importance. Being able to offer assistance and recommendations to the family and having families support the staff offers great advantages to the residents, and they trust that you will always have their best interests at heart.” Whether older adults are able to stay in their homes or choose to move into retirement communities or require more extensive care, it’s vital to take the time now to talk with your aging parents about a variety of issues, including having an advance directive. “It’s important that family members know our wishes in the event we are critically ill,” Dr. Andrews says. “However, as a parent ages, oftentimes we face issues many families have never discussed. Would mom/dad want to be resuscitated? Would they want dialysis or a feeding tube? These are the tough conversations that often are not addressed while parents/family are healthy. If for some unforeseen reason mom and dad are not able to have an active role in this discussion, families are frequently faced with these extremely difficult decisions. Planning for the different levels of senior care starts with talking with your loved ones about expectations, preferences and possibilities. There is no better time to start than now.
Control your blood pressure (Brandpoint) — A routine doctor’s appointment often involves a health professional checking your blood pressure. The screening is not painful or stressful and typically takes less than a minute to measure. However, the results of this simple test may identify a condition that, when managed, could help reduce your chances for stroke or heart attack. High blood pressure may not have any symptoms, but it can cause serious damage to arteries, leading to heart disease and stroke. Nearly one in three adults in the United States has it, and many remain unaware of the condition for years, according to the American Medical Group Foundation (AMGF). A blood pressure screening in a doctor’s office can determine if you have healthy or high blood pressure. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health professionals can recommend lifestyle modifications and/or medicines to control the disease.
Health myths that might surprise you (Brandpoint) — Living a healthy life takes some resolve, but success often comes down to knowing what pays the biggest dividends for a given effort. Health coaches are great sources for this insight. They’ve seen it all on the job and learned a lot in their training. Health coaches for Provant, a workplace well-being company, have identified seven health and wellness myths from their research: Myth No. 1: An aerobic workout boosts your metabolism all day. Wrong, it just burns calories while you’re doing it. Muscle-strengthening exercises, however, will burn calories long after your workout. Myth No. 2: If you don’t break a sweat, it’s not a workout. Wrong, sweat is just the body’s way of cooling itself. A better reflection of effort is the talk test: Your workout is moderate if you can talk, but not sing, and vigorous if you need to take a breath every few words. Myth No. 3: You should stretch before you exercise. Not really, you could hurt yourself. Better to stretch after you’re warmed up with light, smooth movement of gradually increasing intensity. Myth No. 4: Frozen fruits and vegetables are less healthy than fresh ones. Actually, they’re both healthy. Frozen fruits and vegetables are generally picked and frozen at nutritional peak. Canned can be a fine choice if you’re watch-
ing your budget. Avoid fruits packed in syrup. Myth No. 5: Cigars and chewing tobacco are safe because you don’t inhale. This is false. Cigar smokers have higher rates than nonsmokers of death from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and are four to 10 times more likely to die from cancers of the throat, mouth, lips, larynx and esophagus, according to the American Cancer Society. People who chew tobacco are more likely to develop oral cancers that affect the tongue, lips, cheeks and gums. Myth No. 6: Stress happens, and there’s nothing you can do about it. Not true. Stress doesn’t have to overwhelm you. There are several approaches to managing it. Set priorities and tackle simple problems first. Then move to complex difficulties. Practice relaxation exercises. Make yourself more resilient by eating smart, exercising and avoiding tobacco. Myth No. 7: Cold turkey is the best way to quit tobacco. Nope. It’s just one of the ways to quit, and the more times you try to quit, the better your chances of succeeding. Research indicates that to help improve success rates, you need the desire and readiness to quit, some form of pharmacotherapy (nicotine replacement therapy or prescription medications) and social support (family, friends and health coach). Keep this information in mind as you go about improving your health, and most importantly, don’t give up.