Advanced Healthcare Directives For Seniors

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Sherry Elrod

Advanced Healthcare Directives For Seniors

If something unexpected happens, you will want to know your wishes will be carried out if you are unable to express those wishes. The best way to make sure your desires are carried out is to write them down.

Although a survey by the Pew Research Center shows that the majority of people agree they have a right to decide what kind of medical treatment they receive, only 27 percent put their wishes in writing.

Living Will

A legal document used to tell family and medical professionals what life-sustaining procedures – if any – you would like to be used on you. It can also describe whether you’d like healthcare workers to take measures to prolong your life.  A living will is used when you are unable to otherwise communicate your wishes in regard to life-saving medical treatment.  This advanced directive addresses the kind and extent of medical treatment you want if you become incapacitated and are unable to speak for yourself.  It can include instructions on resuscitation measures, life-sustaining equipment such as a ventilator and whether you will receive a blood transfusion.

Power of attorney
A legal document that enables you to designate someone (known as your attorney-in-fact) to make certain legal, financial and healthcare-related decisions on your behalf.  This document appoints someone to make health care decisions for you if you are incapable of making your wishes known. This agent can make decisions such as if or when to remove feeding tubes or other medical equipment. The benefit of a health care POA is that he or she can make decisions in situations that may not be covered in other advanced directives.

Having this information written down can alleviate confusion among family members. If you already have a living will, durable power of attorney and other legal documents, it is a good idea to have them reviewed to make sure they are still valid. Sometimes laws change, and documents that are several years old may not include all of the current legal requirements. With the growth in an aging population, longer life spans and advances in medical technology, having advance directives is more important than ever before.

For more information visit: http://www.seniorlivingrockies.com/legal.htm

Thank you to Andrea Rosen andrearosen@ezlaw.com and EZLaw for contributions to this blog.

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Celebrating Thanksgiving with Residents from a Nursing Home

Posted on November 17, 2011 by Jason Monroe

My father turned 77 this year and is celebrating his second Thanksgiving while in the care of a nursing home.  It’s been three years since his last time we were able to bring him home for Thanksgiving and he has been missed at family gatherings.  He always had great stories to share to his grandchildren of when he was young.

Time does not slow down as we age does it?  Thanksgiving is literally one week away already.  Most Americans are preparing for a big turkey feast with family and relatives. For some people it means getting up early to drive to Mom’s house while others have to fly across the country to be with family and to make the most out of a four-day weekend. For those with loved ones in nursing homes we have different concerns.  Is our loved one in good enough health to even attend with us OR are we going to join them seperately for a mini family get together?  Sadly, my father is not in good enough health to be transported by a standard vehicle anymore; of course we do have a great elderly transportation list to assist you in finding transport for your loved one.

Elderly Thanksgiving at a Nursing Home

Enjoy Thanksgiving with your gentle Elderly

I do like getting together with family and friends to enjoy a great day and most of the time good food.  I am not really particular how the turkey is cooked; since I’ve been focused on a healthy lifestyle I’ve learned to only take one plate of food at lunch and prevent myself from grazing.

Assisted Living Facilities and Board and Care Homes operate somewhat differently during the holidays; their residents require care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which means some caregivers don’t have a long weekend to enjoy with family.  Some of the elderly/residents are fortunate to be in good enough health to spend a few hours or the day with family and friends while others are not able to travel and have to stay behind. Good facilities try to create a family experience even for those that have no family visiting.  Luckily my dad is in one of those.  If you need help choosing a good nursing home check out our guide.

Many facilities don’t know until Thanksgiving Day who is going to stay and who is going to be picked up by family.  Once in while they have a family that has things come up the last minute and they are not able to pick up mom or dad which is like telling a little boy or girl that Christmas is not happening; most of them get sad and some more mad at what’s happening.  They don’t understand, even the ones that tend to forget because they suffer with Alzheimer’s or Dementia.

Remember if your dad or mom is not quite ready to be picked up when you get there that it’s usually not the facility’s fault.  It’s a crazy day for everyone.  Mornings are always busy, the caregiver has to get everybody up, even the ones that like to sleep in.  Residents have to be dressed, eat breakfast, etc.  Some will get picked up for a few hours over lunch while others are going for the afternoon or early dinner.  The Nursing Home has to make sure that any resident that is leaving has the proper medication for lunch and or dinner and that the family understands when to give this or that pill.  If a mistake is made, responsibility can fall on the nursing home.

This blog was provided by Jason Monroe. Thanks to JRS Medical for continuing to make a difference in the lives of seniors throughout America.

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In the elderly, the speed of your walk can affect recovery time after surgery

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Jason Monroe

Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2011 — Older people who walk more slowly than their peers may be at greater risk for complications and disability following surgery, according to a new study. In fact, a small amount of physical exercise could profoundly protect the elderly from long-term memory loss that can happen suddenly following infection, illnesses or injury in old age.

Researchers from the University of Colorado said surgeons should assess the elderly differently than younger patients and take walking speed into account when determining surgical risks.

“This approach may lead to a more individualized way of deciding who should undergo surgery. We are designing tests to get away from chronologic age, and instead are now focusing on physiologic age,” said study co-author Dr. Thomas Robinson, an associate professor of surgery, in a American College of Surgeons (ACS) news release.

Frailty, a condition marked by muscle loss, fatigue and a lack of physical resiliency, can be revealed by a slow gait or walking speed, the researchers said. In these cases the stress of an operation could lead to serious complications, they said, which could be avoided by assessing walking speed in a simple test before surgery.

5 Misconceptions about Exercise and the Elderly

Myth 1: There’s no point to exercising. I’m going to get old anyway.

Fact: Exercise and strength training helps you look and feel younger and stay active longer. Regular physical activity lowers your risk for a variety of conditions, including Alzheimer’s and dementia, heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, high blood pressure, and obesity.

old couple dock walking love

An older couple walks down a dock in the morning

Myth 2: Elderly people shouldn’t exercise. They should save their strength and rest.

Fact: Research shows that a sedentary lifestyle is unhealthy for the elderly. Period. Inactivity often causes seniors to lose the ability to do things on their own and can lead to more hospitalizations, doctor visits, and use of medicines for illnesses.

Myth 3: Exercise puts me at risk of falling down.

Fact: Regular exercise, by building strength and stamina, prevents loss of bone mass and improves balance, actually reducing your risk of falling.

Myth 4: It’s too late. I’m already too old, to start exercising

Fact: You’re never too old to exercise! If you’ve never exercised before, or it’s been a while, start with light walking and other gentle activities.

Myth 5: I’m disabled. I can’t exercise sitting down.

Fact: Chair-bound people face special challenges but can lift light weights, stretch, and do chair aerobics to increase range of motion, improve muscle tone, and promote cardiovascular health.

This blog was provided by Jason Monroe. Thanks to JRS Medical for continuing to make a difference in the lives of seniors throughout America.

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Welcome to the Senior Living Rockies Blog!

Posted on November 1, 2011 by Sherry Elrod

Hope you find the content informative and accurate.

We will try to update the content at least twice a month, so be sure to check back here often.

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