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A. TECHNOLOGY HELPS SENIORS AGE IN PLACE
Ageing in place – the answer many seniors in America are opting
– for is gaining popularity, and modern technology is getting into
the mix. It isn't a new concept; for millennia, humans have aged in place.
When Americans lived in a largely agrarian society, families lived together
in multi-generational homes. Children and adult children worked on the
farm that grandparents built, while the grandparents worked alongside
of them. The art of conversation was the common entertainment. Relaxing
on a screened porch after work was the precursor to television. When grandparents
became frail, the children and grandchildren in the family home cared
for them. There simply was no common alternative until the early 1900s,
when the government created "poor farms." The social stigma
and poor conditions of these facilities served to prevent many from choosing
them if at all possible. Not exactly how we want our beloved family members
to live.
The New Deal came into play in the 1930s, and in 1935 Social Security
was created. Payments matched "old age assistance" payments
from states, but were not provided to those living on government-paid
poor farms. As a result, private retirement homes began appearing so that
seniors could receive both the Old Age Assistance and Social Security
matching payments.
In 1946 the government began building modern hospitals, but with the
advent of WWII, the construction was limited and at the end of the war
there was a great demand for clean, safe, and respectable living and health
facilities. By the mid- 1950s, government subsidies to hospitals allowed
for the creation of associated nursing homes. These were a major transition
in and of themselves – now part of the healthcare system, as opposed
to being part of the welfare system.
This provided dignity to many seniors without other means of support.
The GI bill that followed, and expanding industry, meant higher-paying
jobs, affluence, and mobility. The National Highway System was created,
increasingly connecting a far-flung nation. "Progress" in the
1950s and ‘60s effectively meant two things were changing in American
housing. People had more income, and adult children began moving away
from their ancestral homes. When grandparents became infirm, the modern
nursing home industry was in full swing.
Vast improvements have been made to the system along the way ever since,
with government passing legislation to counter problems as they arise.
The care today in nursing homes is the best it has ever been – clean,
regulated, respectable, and safe. But there are some things that government
programs and nursing home care simply cannot do: equal the safety, economy,
and comfort of ageing in one's own home.
Modern technology – computers, that is – is helping seniors
move towards the goal of ageing in place, at home, with dignity. At first
blush you might think, "Computers? How are computers going to help?
I can't even get my email to work!" There is a general concept being
pursued by technology firms regarding assistance to seniors. Instead of
expending financial resources on treatment, focus on lower-cost prevention.
Instead of relying upon expensive clinical facilities, move the services
into the home. Finally, employ family, friends, and the individual patients
themselves to provide much of the care that clinical staff used to provide.
In short: "Back to the future."
With the focus on prevention and early detection of disease, digital
technologies can be of tremendous value. Some of the benefits include
improvement in adhering to physician-designed health regimens, staying
in compliance with insurance requirements and health plans, monitoring
of patients in their home, and in case of a health crisis, early detection
and emergency response. When combined, it is easy to see how such benefits
would not only lower costs of care and extend the time seniors can remain
in their own homes, but make ageing in place possible for some when it
would not be possible otherwise.
Industry, social scientists, and academia are working together on these
goals. The University of California at Berkeley is working on micro-sensors
that wirelessly transmit patient data in real time to a central computer
in the home. If a person's behavior or vital signs change negatively –
such as they would if the person takes a fall – the monitoring computer
can sound an alarm or some other response. Biometrics, the statistical
analysis of information, can be stored and measured simultaneously for
review by a health professional. Intel has established a proactive health
lab to study the needs of seniors and understand the best use of technology
in serving those needs. Intel builds prototypes and uses them in the real
world with families to test their effectiveness and make improvements.
Telephones with large display screens, wireless sensors, the PC, all
are being combined in a wireless network to help seniors with social interaction.
Need to know if someone brushed his teeth or took her medicine? If the
micro-sensor on the toothbrush hasn't moved today, you know that Dad has
yet to brush today. Perhaps you logged into Mom's monitoring system from
your office and see that the sensors haven’t been tripped on her
medicine box. Now you can begin to see some real-world benefits of this
industrial movement. One major goal is a focus on the activities of daily
living (ADL, the measurements we use, such as the ability to feed or dress
oneself) to see if a person can adequately function, and it is easy to
see why. With sensors on pill bottles and the medicine cabinet, reminders
can be sent by cell phone or television, to be sure the elder at home
alone remembers to take the prescriptions on time if that pill bottle
hasn't moved.
These technological combinations or networks can be the eyes and ears
for a caregiver who needs a meal, a rest, or a run to the store (or some
time in the office). In the clinical facility the applications are equally
valuable in an era of spiraling healthcare costs. A nurse may be able
to more effectively care for patients on her ward, or perhaps better care
for a higher population of patients more effectively without a second
nurse. Information in real time is extremely valuable to any caregiver:
If the coming advancements allow a senior to remain at home longer –
so much the better!
Additional Aging in Place information for seniors can also be found at:
http://www.seniorresource.com/ageinpl.htm
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B. ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?
"Getting older isn't for sissies." That's what we hear from
seniors who are in the know. The all- important senses begin to weaken.
Sight and hearing are often the first to go. Science, of course, has made
fantastic strides in the treatment of cataracts, which affect almost all
seniors, and the reversal of its effects. Laser eye surgery has eliminated
the need for glasses for many.
But the ears... we're still a little behind in technological advances
for the hard of hearing. Certainly, today's exterior hearing aids are
an improvement in orders of magnitude over early models. The current selection
of hearing-aid miniatures on the market is futuristic in comparison. The
various types of hearing aids available today are described by their physical
attributes:
-
Behind the Ear (BTE) Worn behind the ear, a
plastic tube brings the sound into the ear canal via a plastic fitting
that inserts into the ear. Commonly worn by older people, it is used
by patients with mild to severe hearing loss. One drawback is that
some people feel that the sound of their own voice is different with
this type of hearing aid.
-
Open Fit Similar to a Behind the Ear model,
but without the plastic insert. The plastic tube goes directly into
the ear, and doesn't effect the sound of the wearer's own voice as
a BTE may.
-
In the Ear (ITE) This device sits in the outer
ear of the wearer. It is less conspicuous than the BTE, and is molded
to the shape of the patient's ear for a custom fit.
-
In the Canal (ITC) These are the miniature devices
that fit down into one's ear canal. Molded to the exact shape of the
patient's ear and individually crafted, these are very popular devices
because they can barely be seen when worn. Typically these are used
for light to moderate hearing loss.
-
Completely in Canal (CIC) A smaller-yet version
of the ITC, these devices are molded to the patient's ear canal for
a custom fit and when worn can't be seen by the casual observer.
The main reasons people who own a hearing aid fail to wear it are the
sound quality and comfort. It just doesn't sound normal to many people,
and in some cases patients feel they hear well without the amplifying
devices. Feedback, tiny batteries, limited isolation of background noise
from the foreground audio source you wish to hear and focus on, are hurdles
that have yet to be overcome. An ill-fitting plastic hearing aid can be
painful, but there really wasn't much alternative choice beyond asking
everyone to repeat themselves "louder, please."
Until now! Implanted hearing aids are now on the market, and the FDA
is approving more of them all the time.
Called "Baha," these new devices are not cochlear implants.
Cochlear implants also require a surgical procedure, but they stimulate
functioning auditory nerves inside the cochlea. The Baha vibrates the
bone directly. They are more expensive and require minor surgery to implant
them (which means that they may be covered by Medicare).
However, they can last three to four times the life of a regular hearing
aid, and of course they function much better, with a higher quality of
sound. However, they are not for everyone. Often they are employed when
only one ear is damaged, when the patient suffers from chronic ear infections,
or congenital atresia (narrowing or closing of the ear canal). A titanium
screw is surgically implanted behind the ear. Once healed, the bone bonds,
and the patient can wear the outer sound processor discreetly behind the
ear. The process by which it functions is known as "direct bone conduction."
The "Vibrant Soundbridge" is new type of implanted device.
Made of two parts, an external audio processor and an internal floating
mass transducer, the audio quality is much clearer and represents a leap
forward in technology. It is not considered a "hearing aid," which amplifies
sound. The audio processor picks up the sound and transmits it across
the skin to the implanted transducer. The transducer vibrates the tiny
bones in the ear (the ossicular chain) and thus, the patient hears. Again,
these devices are not for everyone. A visit to your physician, and a likely
referral to a specialist will be your first steps to discover if the new
technology is appropriate for you or a loved one. But it is a major leap
forward in audio quality for those with hearing loss.
Be sure and check with your physician. If you've been storing your hearing
aids in your nightstand instead of in your ear canals you should check
with your hearing specialist, regardless!
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/
http://www.vibrantmedel.us/archive/layout/patients.asp?SCREEN=patients&page=sbalternative
Additional and expanded health information for seniors can also be found
at: http://www.seniorresource.com/health.htm
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C. WHERE MEN AND WOMEN DIFFER IN FOLLOWING THE
NEWS
A look at the public's news interests over the past year shows continuing
differences between women and men in the types of news stories that they
follow very closely. Women consistently express more interest than men
in stories about weather, health and safety, natural disasters and tabloid
news. Men are more interested than women in stories about international
affairs, Washington news and sports. See Chart 1, Stories of Greater Interest
to Women.
At the same time, men and women often express comparable levels of interest
in the top news stories of the day. For example, the presidential campaign
has attracted only modestly greater interest among men than among women.
In five weekly news interest surveys in 2008, 37% of men and 32% of women
say they have followed campaign news very closely.
Yet there are substantial gender differences in news about several subjects.
Weather news was of particular interest to women: in 2007, 37% of women,
on average, followed weather-related stories very closely compared with
29% of men. The largest gender difference in interest in any news story
last year was for the tornadoes and violent storms that hit the South
and Midwest in March. Four in ten women followed this story very closely
compared with only 25% of men. Floods in the Midwest in August also attracted
a much larger female audience 32% of women compared with 20% of men
followed this story very closely.
Women also expressed a particular interest in health and safety issues
this past year. One of the biggest gaps was on news about a drug-resistant
staph infection. Driven largely by interest among women, news of the staph
infection was the public's most closely followed story the week of Oct.
14. More than three in ten women (31%) followed this story very closely,
compared with 21% of men.
For several of the major health and safety stories of 2007, news coverage
lagged behind public interest. In the case of the drug resistant staph
infection, the national news media devoted 3% of its overall coverage
to this story, making it the ninth most heavily covered story of the week,
according to the Project for Excellence in Journalism. Two product recall
stories also received broad interest from women in spite of limited media
coverage: the recall of contaminated pet food in May and the recall of
Chinese-made toys in November.
In addition to weather and safety stories, women were more interested
than men in high-profile crime stories and tabloid news. When two kidnapped
boys were found safe in Missouri in January 2007, 30% of women followed
the story very closely, compared with 16% of men. And women consistently
followed the biggest tabloid story of the year the death of Anna Nicole
Smith more closely than did men. In mid-February, women were more than
twice as likely to list Smith's death as their most closely followed story
(22% vs. 10%). Younger women were especially hooked on the story 29%
of women under age 50 listed this as their top story.
Men Dominate Sports Audience
The gender gap in interest for individual news stories over the past
year generally reflects broad differences in the news topics that men
and women follow. Pew's 2006 news consumption survey showed that men particularly
dominate the audience for sports news, comprising 74% of this audience.
In addition, the audiences for news about science and technology, business
and finance, and international developments all are more than 60% male.*
By contrast, women make up more than 60% of the audience for news about
religion, health and entertainment, and nearly as great a proportion of
the audience for local or community news (58%). They also are disproportionately
represented among those who closely follow news about culture and the
arts. See Chart 2, Gender Profile of News Audience
The review of public interest in news stories is consistent with these
patterns, though there are important exceptions. For example, of the 15
stories last year with the largest gender gap in favor of men, nearly
half were stories dealing with international affairs. When tensions flared
between the U.S. and Iran in February, 40% of men followed the story very
closely compared with 27% of women. Similarly, men paid closer attention
to political instability in Pakistan.
Yet there were no gender differences in interest about the assassination
of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto earlier this year; 33%
of men and 32% of women followed news about this story very closely. Bhutto's
murder attracted a relatively high level of public interest for an international
news story it was the second most closely followed story during the
week of Dec. 30, 2007.
Several stories dealing with policy issues and the inner workings of
Washington attracted more interest from men than women. While 28% of men
paid very close attention to the Supreme Court's ruling on the role of
race in public school placement, only 18% of women followed this story
very closely. Men also paid closer attention to the Justice Department
scandal involving the firing of eight U.S. attorneys (24% of men vs. 15%
of women were following this story very closely in March).
News Sources and the Gender Gap
Not only do women and men follow different types of news stories, they
go to different places for their news. According to the 2006 news consumption
survey, women are more likely than men to regularly watch network morning
shows 28% of women and 17% of men regularly watch the Today Show, Good
Morning America or the Early Show. Women are also more likely than men
to watch the nightly network news (31% vs. 25% watch regularly) and network
TV news magazines such as 60 Minutes and Dateline (25% vs. 21% regularly).
See Chart 3, Network News Appeals More to Woman
Men, on the other hand, are more likely than women to get their news
from the radio either radio news or talk radio. Men also use online
news sources more often than do women. And more men than women read the
newspaper regularly
* Notes: 1. Online
Papers Modestly Boost Newspaper Readership, July 30, 2006
http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=282
Source: PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE & THE
PRESS FEB. 6, 2008
Additional education information for seniors can also be found at:
http://www.seniorresource.com/senioreducation.htm
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D. DID YOU KNOW...?
Free Program Provides Access to Affordable Housing for Disabled
ElderHomes Corporation, a non-profit provider of free residential rehabilitation
and weatherization services to the elderly and disabled in Central Virginia,
completed installation of the 100th residential wheelchair ramp on June
27, 2007. ElderHomes’ free wheelchair ramp program targets low-income
individuals with a disability.
Several installations have also aided families in which at least one
child is disabled.
"I have 11 steps going from the street to my house and I am on the
last of my artificial knees," says Robnette Johnson, the ecstatic
recipient of the 100th residential wheelchair ramp from ElderHomes. Ms.
Johnson is actually on her second set of artificial knees, which were
last replaced 10 years ago. This installation will enable her to negotiate
steps to her own home with relative ease and enable her to stay there
indefinitely. "I’m very glad because it will be a significant
time before I land in a wheelchair and I didn’t want to leave my
home," says Ms. Johnson, who was recommended to ElderHomes by her
therapist.
"With the shortage of affordable housing in the region, we’re
on a full-scale rescue mission to help the thousands of low income, elderly
and disabled in our community to remain in their homes and age in place,"
says Lyn Boyer Haines, CEO of ElderHomes. "Imagine, what started
as a community-based initiative by a small group of volunteers in 1998
has turned into a significant and ongoing benefit to those who need these
accessibility services."
It is a complex, life-altering hurdle when the disabled or elderly suddenly
find themselves challenged to survive in their own homes, where they have
lived, loved and thrived problem-free for many years; and for people with
low income, this proposition becomes nearly impossible because of the
prohibitive costs of installing such devices. ElderHomes specializes in
servicing this low-income gap, which is but one facet of a social problem
that continues to grow in our community and will only get worse as the
years progress.
For more information on "Aging in Place" see: http://www.seniorresource.com/ageinpl.htm
For more information on "ElderHomes" and "Lyn Boyer Haines,"
see http://www.elderhomes.org
Get Your "Stimulus Package" Tax Payment.
Even if you paid no taxes you may be getting a "stimulus package"
tax payment. Certain people who normally are not required to file but
who are eligible for the stimulus payment will have to file a 2007 tax
return. This includes low-income workers or those who receive Social Security
benefits or veterans’ disability compensation, Railroad Retirement
benefits, or pension or survivors’ benefits from the Department of
Veterans Affairs in 2007. The IRS also released a special version of a
Form 1040A that highlights the simple, specific sections of the return
that can be filled out by people in these categories to qualify for a
stimulus payment. These taxpayers will be eligible to receive a payment
of $300 ($600 on a joint return) if they had at least $3,000 of qualifying
income. Qualifying income includes Social Security benefits, certain Railroad
Retirement benefits, certain veterans’ benefits and earned income,
such as income from wages, salaries, tips and self-employment. For taxpayers
filing joint tax returns, only a total of $3,000 of qualifying income
from both spouses is required to be eligible for a payment.
For more information visit
http://www.irs.gov/irs/article/0,,id=177937,00.html
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E. THOUGHTS FOR THE MONTH
We present here some words from those with a birthday this month.
Marlon Brando: "If we are not our brother's keeper, at least let
us not be his executioner."
Maya Angelou: "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold
story inside you."
Tony Orlando: "Nothing is by accident"
Picabo Street: "I think I'll still be able to grasp the sensation
even if I'm only living vicariously."
Eddie Murphy: "Right now, we've got to stretch that dollar as
far as we can."
More "Thoughts" at: http://www.seniorresource.com/thought.htm
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F. SPECIAL THINGS THIS MONTH
Celebrate Diversity Month
Throughout the year there are many admirable diversity observances that
acknowledge the contributions and unique traditions of certain segments
of the population – African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Native
Americans, women, gays and lesbians, and those who are disabled, among
others. The month of April has been designated to celebrate the wide range
of diversity that not only includes these groups, but also goes beyond
them and reaches out to everyone. Here are some things you can do to prompt
the diversity among us.
- Dedicate time to learning about the diversity surrounding us.
- Appreciate our differences and similarities by exploring the cultural
celebrations and significant life events of others.
- Build connections with those we don't usually get the opportunity
to know.
- Include everyone. Each of us represents unique dimensions of diversity.
Our uniqueness is our difference.
- Recognize that one person does not represent an entire group –
great variation exists within all groups.
- Realize that we each have the power to create a better world by reaching
out across differences one person at a time.
Learn more about ways to do even more at http://www.celebratediversitymonth.org
National Humor Month
Founded by Larry Wilde in 1976, National Humor Month is celebrated in
April. It was designed to educate people about the therapeutic value of
laughter. During National Humor Month, special events are organized nationwide
to emphasize how laughter can enhance one's quality of life by reducing
stress, improving work performance, and boosting morale.
The idea of laughing and the use of humor as a tool to lift ailing spirits
are growing. There are numerous articles on the Web that indicate that
the power of laughter has curative ability to relieve debilitating stress
and burnout. You might also want to check out Norman Cousins’ famous
book, "Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient," in
which he describes and credits his recovery from a severe and potentially
crippling disease by (in large part) watching Marx Brother movies. This
book is also available as an audiocassette and audio download.
Visit http://www.seniorresource.com/jokes.htm
for over 1000 jokes to keep you busy this month.
Jazz Appreciation Month
April is the one month for an annual public spotlight on jazz. Jazz Appreciation
Month is intended to draw public attention to the glories of jazz as both
an historical and a living treasure. The idea is to encourage musicians,
concert halls, schools, colleges, museums, libraries, and public broadcasters
to offer special programs on jazz every April.
A month of focus is deserved because of the extraordinary heritage and
history of jazz and its importance as an American cultural heritage. In
addition, the dedicated month is intended to stimulate the current jazz
scene and encourage people of all ages to participate in jazz – to
study the music, attend concerts, listen to jazz on radio and recordings,
read books about jazz, and support institutional jazz programs. To learn
more visit http://www.smithsonianjazz.org/
Music for Seniors is available at: http://www.seniorresource.com/SRBaz.htm
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G. SPECIAL SURFING SITES
Seniorresource.com Website Enhancements
Aging in Place
We are pleased to announce two significant enhancements to our popular
seniors’ site. Both are focused on areas that have seen growth
in significant interest from our seniors’ audience.
The first is the addition of multiple web pages to our "Aging in
Place" section, http://www.seniorresource.com/ageinpl.htm
With more individuals choosing to stay in
their current homes as they grow older, the need for alterations to
the home becomes a possibility. Our expanded section addresses the need
for such changes and provides checklist of things to review. The checklists
include the following topics:
- senior difficulties
- senior safety
- low vision
- fire safety.
We also identify resources to aid in making any necessary
alterations. Please visit the section and give us your comments.
Seniors’ Education
Our second enhancement is in the education area. In your earlier years
did you have a special interest area in which you considered energizing
your brain cells but didn’t have the time? Well, your chance is now.
Many colleges and universities offer reduced or no-tuition programs for
seniors. Seniorresource.com has been in an ongoing search for free and
low-cost educational opportunities for senior citizens and has found numerous
opportunities to report. The report has been organized by state, so finding
a location near you is easy.
Our report can be found at http://www.seniorresource.com/senioreducation.htm
Give it a visit and find a place to exercise your brain. We would be pleased
to add other schools if you let us know about them. Send us an email at
the address at the bottom of the report. Please provide the full school
name and their seniors’ section Web address (URL).
Music on the Internet
http://Audiversity.com
is a resource for discovering new, diverse music. The site uses free samples
in a manner that piques the interest of listener/viewers and sends them
in the right direction to rightfully purchase the music for their own
personal use. The music infrastructure can only function if you support
the artists you love by purchasing their albums/merchandise and attending
their live shows. Audiversity features free downloads and reviews of new,
rare and unreleased songs. These are chosen by a team whose tastes range
from R&B to reggae. Offerings have included tranquil songs blending
jazz and hip-hop beats by artists Ill Padre and Akello Uchenna, t, and
a hypnotic guitar track from Group Doueh, a band in Western Sahara. For
selections of music with a seniors’ focus visit http://www.seniorresource.com/srmusic.htm
For Oldies but Goodies Music visit http://www.seniorresource.com/SRBaz.htm#music
Additional health-related information for seniors can also be found at:
http://www.seniorresource.com/health.htm
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H. OH MY AGING FUNNY BONE
Catskill Jokes of Old Vaudeville Days
"She was at the beauty shop for two hours. -- That was only for the
estimate"
" She got a mudpack and looked great for two days. Then the mud fell
off."
"I was just in London. There’s a six-hour time difference.
I'm still confused. --
When I go to dinner, I feel sexy. When I go to bed, I feel hungry."
"The doctor gave a man six months to live. --
The man couldn't pay his bill, so the doctor gave him another six months."
"The Doctor called Mrs. Cohen saying, 'Mrs. Cohen, your check came
back.'
Mrs. Cohen answered, 'So did my arthritis!' "
"Doctor: 'You'll live to be 60!'
" Patient: 'I AM 60!' "
" Doctor: 'See! What did I tell you?' "
"A doctor has a stethoscope up to a man's chest. The man asks, 'Doc,
how do I stand?'
The doctor says, 'That's what puzzles ME!' "
"Doctor says to a man, 'You're pregnant!' The man says, 'How does
a man get pregnant?'
The doctor says, 'The usual way– a little wine, a little dinner,
you know?' "
Some Things to Ponder
- The nicest thing about the future is that it always starts tomorrow.
- Money will buy a fine dog, but only kindness will make him wag his
tail.
- If you don't have a sense of humor, you probably don't have any sense
at all.
- A good time to keep your mouth shut is when you're in deep water.
- How come it takes so little time for a child who is afraid of the
dark to become a teenager who wants to stay out all night?
- Business conventions are important because they demonstrate how many
people a company can operate without.
- Why is it that at class reunions you feel younger than everyone else
looks?
- Scratch a dog and you'll find a permanent job.
Visit 1000's of jokes of interest to people who have lived a long and
rich life.
"Oh My Aging Funny Bone" is at:
http://www.seniorresource.com/jokes.htm
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This issue has been edited by Betsy Day (Betsyjday@aol.com).
Copyright 2008 seniorresource.com, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Information in
this document is subject to change without notice. Other products, service
and companies named herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of
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