From the Alzheimer’s Association:

1. Clip coupons

2. Sort poker chips

3. Count tickets

4. Rake leaves

5. Use the carpet sweeper

6. Read out loud

7. Bake cookies

8. Look up names in the phone book

9. Read the daily paper out loud

10. Ask someone with a child to visit

11. Listen to Polka music

12. Plant seeds indoors or out

13. Look at family photographs

14. Toss a ball

15. Color pictures

16. Make homemade lemonade

17. Wipe off the table

18. Weed the flower bed

19. Make cream cheese mints

20. Have a spelling bee

21. Read from the Reader’s Digest

22. Fold clothes

23. Have a friend visit with a calm pet

24. Cut pictures out of greeting card

25. Wash silverware

26. Bake homemade bread

27. Sort objects by shape or color

28. Sing old songs

29. “Tell me more” when they talk about a memory

30. Put silverware away

31. Make a Valentine collage

32. Play favorite songs and sing

33. Take a ride

34. Make a cherry pie

35. Read aloud from Ideals magazine

36. Play dreidels

37. Make a basket of socks

38. Take a walk

39. Reminisce about 1st day of school

40. String Cheerios to hang outside for birds

41. Make a fresh fruit salad

42. Sweep the patio

43. Color paper shamrocks green

44. Fold towels

45. Have afternoon tea

46. Remember great inventions

47. Play Pictionary

48. Paint a sheet

49. Cut out paper dolls

50. Identify states and capitals

51. Make a family tree poster

52. Color a picture of our flag

53. Cook hot dogs outside

54. Grow magic rocks

55. Water house plants

56. Reminisce about the first kiss

57. Play horse shoes

58. Dance

59. Sing favorite hymns

60. Make homemade ice cream

61. Force bulbs for winter blooming

62. Make Christmas cards

63. Sort playing cards by their color

64. Write a letter to a family member

65. Dress in your favorite football team’s color

66. Pop popcorn

67. Name the presidents

68. Give a manicure

69. Make paper butterflies

70. Plant a tree

71. Make a May basket

72. Make homemade applesauce

73. Finish famous sayings

74. Feed the ducks

75. Mold with play dough

76. Look at pictures in National Geographic

77. Put a puzzle together

78. Sand wood

79. Rub in hand lotion

80. Decorate paper placemats

81. Arrange fresh flowers

82. Remember famous people

83. Straighten out underwear drawer

84. Finish Nursery Rhymes

85. Make peanut butter sandwiches

86. Wipe off patio furniture

87. Cut up used paper for scratch paper

88. Take care of fish tank

89. Trace and cut out leaves

90. Ask simple trivia questions

91. Finish Bible quotes

92. Paint with string

93. Cut out pictures from magazines

94. Read classic short stories

95. Put coins in a jar

96. Sew sewing cards

97. Put bird feed out for the birds

98. Clean out a pumpkin

99. Reminisce about a favorite summer

100. Roll yarn into a ball

101. Make a birthday cake

On June 14^th there was an informative article in the Wall St. Journal. If you are a caregiver I highly recommend that you read this article.

Here are some poignant excerpts and statistics from the below article:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304665904576383483508416152.html

A steep rise in people caring for elderly parents is taking a toll on the health, finances and career of many baby boomers, a new study says.

Average losses in wages, pension and Social Security benefits over a person’s lifetime while caring for an aging parent:

Men: $283,716 Women: $324,044

Percentage of men and women providing care for an aging parent:

Men: Women:

1994: 3% 9%

2008: 17% 28%

Source: MetLife

The study “points out the importance of considering what caregiving does to your financial security,” says Sandra Timmermann, director of MetLife Mature Market Institute, a research unit of MetLife Inc. that conducted the study with the National Alliance for Caregiving and New York Medical College’s Center for Long-Term-Care Research and Policy. “These were all people over 50, and these are their highest-earning years. They don’t have a lot of time to catch up.”

When it was time for me to decide how to handle my own mother’s circumstances I moved my mother into assisted living. I was a working mother with two children at home and a wife, with a full-time job. Considering loss of work time and budget… hands down my best choice was senior living with care provided onsite.

#1: Rates are oftentimes variable. There may be a real push to get their admission numbers up for the month. You may hit it at the right time. Don’t be shy, ask if there is a little flex in the price to help you out.

#2: Lock in your monthly rates. If you ask the facility may lock your rate in not just for the 1st year but also for the second year.

#3: You might be able to customize your unit and pick the paint color!

#4: Staffing ratios and turnover. Find out how long employees have been at the same location. All new staff is not a good sign. Primarily referring to the direct caregivers, if you are moving into a place where you will receive personal care.

#5: Is your loved one a night owl? Is their night staff? You may find that your senior may be on your own in the PM hours. So make the right choice to pick the place that has the right mix of night staff.

#6: Is there a management or ownership change coming up? Places are more interested in filling a room, then to inform you as to upcoming ownership upheavals.

Downsizing in senior living usually leads to a lively discussion. It is rightsizing or is it recognition of one’s aging and changing needs? Don’t forget many seniors have lived in their same home for 30+ years and it will be a huge adjustment! You have to recognize that this is a major lifestyle change for your loved ones. According to a 2010 survey of the baby boomer generation, 50 percent plan to move upon retirement. There are many pros to downsizing:

Downsize and eliminate a mortgage. The cost of maintaining a home can be costly. Repair costs as the home ages can amount up. Since you are aging along with your home, you may find that you do not have the physical capabilities to do it yourself and will have to hire professionals, at a high cost. Property taxes continue to climb. Lifestyle can be enhanced with new friends and stimulating activities. Moving lawns, maintaining the landscaping, cleaning and decorating…. It is time consuming and no longer enjoyable. These chores may not allow you the time to do the things you really want to do.

As you would imagine, parents who decide on their own to sell the house and move to senior living, will lead to greater success in a move that will happen. The very thought of moving can be overwhelming. Do not take away the independence, allow them to stay in control. The adult children can be supportive and provide suggestions, but not take over. If these suggestions result in a move near their children and grandchildren, the seniors will likely find this new stage quite rewarding.

California will be the first state in 2011 to mandate the posting of nursing home rates. A system of 1 to 5 stars. In total in California there are 1,235 federally licensed nursing homes, more than any other state. In Los Angeles County the new law will be enforced at approximately 400 nursing homes serving about 300 people.

“In addition to providing incentives for operators to establish and maintain high-quality standards of care and compliance, this vital five-star rating system improves care for the patient by providing the information families need to make informed decisions when selecting a facility to meet the needs of their loved ones,” said Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich.

Initially the ratings were such that the bottom 20% received 1 star, and the middle 70% group received 2, 3, or 4 stars with proportional numbers in each category, with the top 10% of nursing homes receiving 1 star. The ratings are being revisited so that performance and rating correlate, instead of creating a system on a curve.

It is our responsibility to help protect our vulnerable elderly population. As a referral agency we help families make important decisions about where to place their loved ones when they need care. The rating system will be just one indicator to inform families. It is different than selecting which restaurant to dine at by making a decision by looking at the grade on the front door. The rating are just one aspect of the decision. It is important to visit the nursing home, speak with staff and get a feel for the home yourself. Ask family members about their experiences. Take a look at the seniors themselves… are they clean, smiling, engaged in activity? There are many factors involved in this very important decision!

How difficult it has been for my elderly uncle, age 95 to be given a notice from the DMV that indicated that his driver’s license has not been renewed. To have this privilege being taken away after close to 80 years of driving has been beyond devastating to him. His emotions are affected, but his safety and the safety of others on the road will certainly justify what he feels is a cruel fate. Seniors are a tough generation holding onto their own independence. Can you blame them?

According to USA Today’s article “Older, Dangerous Drivers a Growing Problem ”The numbers are particularly daunting at a time when the U.S. Census Bureau projects there will be 9.6 million people 85 and older by 2030, up 73% from today. Road safety analysts predict that by 2030, when all baby boomers are at least 65, they will be responsible for 25% of all fatal crashes.” Fatality rates begin to climb after age 65.

Age alone is not the sole determining criteria on whether one should stop driving.

Though there are age related conditions like hearing loss and vision issues such as Macular Degeneration that can interfere with being a safe driver. Decreased reaction time, judgment issues, memory loss, and medication related symptoms also typically come to play.

How do you bring up the subject with your senior about driving and whether it is time to consider turning in the keys? Be aware of the warning signs about driving issues. Be sure to be a passenger in their car. Would you let your child be driven by them? Review the senior’s driving record. Have they been in accident or does their car have scrapes and dents that they indicate someone else has done in a parking lot? Can they comfortably look over their shoulder to change lanes or backing up. Have they received a ticket or two? It was pointed out that Seniors are a tough generation and don’t know quit, stop or give up.

When it is time to discuss their driving… first have a family meeting to decide on the best approach. Encourage the senior to talk about their feelings. Don’t paint them into a corner, be supportive and non-threatening. The entire family needs to be on board with the same goal in mind.

At the same time offer up alternatives to getting around. The senior does not want to be isolated in their own home. Look into the special programs available to seniors, some of which are quite low cost offering vouchers for reduced costs or nominal fees for prearranged transport. Taxis and shuttle services are door to door. Other options could be public transportation, such as the city bus or train, if one lives conveniently in a city. Enlist friends and family members to pitch in too. You may be surprised how helpful your neighbors may be.

It may take a third party such as their physician, or a social worker to be the objective party to help seal the deal to get the senior’s commitment to retire their driving.

Driving is a privilege not a right! One must be safe to continue to drive. In 2003 in Santa Monica, California, an 86 year old driver lost control of his car in an open shopping area. Ten people died and many others were injured. The 86 year old man stepped on the gas rather than the brake!

How much does it cost to live in senior living facilities? That is the most asked question. People are concerned about their finances and running out of their money! The same question was asked by your parents and by their parents. We are all concerned about the cost to live. In California on an average, a skilled nursing home averages $275/ day. A home caregiver providing companion and personal care services can be up to $25/hour. The average to live in an assisted living is approximately $3000/month for the accommodations and then can be typically $500-$750 for basic care such as medication management and basic shower assistance. Personal care rates can climb up to $1500 - $2000+ when the senior requires heavier care such as transfer assist, incontinence care, and insulin management.

I was fascinated to find that starting when we hit age 20, there is a name for the decade of that age category. We are aware of the terms, octogenarian and centenarian, but have you ever heard the term septuagenarian? We are all categorized even after we achieve 110 years of age! I hope you find these age terms as interesting as I did.

Here is the entire life line:
Vicenarian: someone between 20 and 29 years of age
Tricenarian: someone between 30 and 39 years of age
Quadragenarian: someone between 40 and 49 years of age
Quinquagenarian: someone between 50 and 59 years of age
Sexagenarian: someone between 60 and 69 years of age
Septuagenarian: someone between 70 and 79 years of age
Octogenarian: someone between 80 and 89 years of age
Nonagenarian: someone between 90 and 99 years of age
Centenarian: someone between 100 and 109 years of age
Supercentenarian: someone over 110 years of age

I have a particular fascination with our eldest elders, those over the age of 100. It is most interesting to read about the large numbers of Japanese seniors. The average lifespan for Japanese men and women reached a record high in 2009, with men living an average of nearly 80 years and women close to 86 1/2 years. Japanese women have the longest life expectancy in the world, according to the Japanese Health Ministry. Japan’s population of age 100+ has more than tripled in the last ten years. Nearly 90% are women. Silver cups and congratulatory letters are sent at the time of the 100^th birthday by the Prime Minister. Japan’s Health Minister Akira Nagatsuma yesterday said the government would ensure all pension recipients aged 110 or older are still alive according to the report.

Japan seems to have an issue keeping track of the whereabouts of their oldest citizens. When Tokyo officials chose to bestow an honor upon their city’s oldest senior, a 111 year old man, they chose to visit him at his own residence. Family would not let the officials in to visit with the man. Later it was discovered that he had passed away 30 years ago and his family had been collecting the man’s monthly pension. His mummified remains were still in the house where he lived. His death has never been registered.

Fall, 2010 it was reported that over ¼ million centenarians listed as living by families could not be proven as such to be alive. Over 200 Japanese centenarians are actually missing!

Every few months, either I call my dear, elderly friend Glenda or she calls me. Glenda resides in Florida and we don’t see each other as often as we would both like. This morning she called me to wish me a wonderful holiday season. Glenda, age 98, was a high school friend of my late mother. I asked how she was and she proceeded to tell me, not in a complaining way, that she was getting by. Due to aches and pains she said she does not get out much, but that I should not be concerned as she was keeping quite occupied. I then asked her what she looks forward to doing at home that keeps her so busy. Glenda’s voice perked up and she said that her favorite sports team was the Dolphins. She said she was a diehard Dolphin fan and watches all the games. She told me she loves it, knows all the player’s names and follows their careers. Glenda told me that keeping up with sports keeps her mind young. We ended our delightful conversation with Glenda telling me that if I needed to know any past scores …. just to call her.