After a lifetime of working, raising families, and contributing to the success of this nation in countless other ways, senior citizens deserve to retire with dignity.
-Charlie Gonzalez-
While most of us aspire to live a long life, no one really wants to get old. The mission of this newsletter is to inform you of opportunities and prepare you or your loved one – before the fact. The need is easy to understand. We age. Most homes (home refers to any dwelling) do not keep up. Our once comfortable homes, designed for our younger needs, seem to turn into obstacle courses and booby traps. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Many homes that are designed for a “lifetime” incorporate comfort, accessibility, and safety. In most cases, special considerations and importance are made to prevent accidents and injury.
Aging is part of living. Our living environments are of great importance to our extended life and well being. Our relationship to our environment profoundly determines our mental attitude and behavior.
Although studies have shown that most elders want to age-in-place, we often forget that this is often impossible if our homes are no longer safe or appropriate for our aging selves. Often bathrooms, kitchens, and stairs are accidents waiting to happen. Unfortunately, studies show that most people will not act until it is too late. So if you notice the stairs that you used to easily navigate some years ago are now seeming steeper it is time to ask “Where Will I Live When I Grow Up?” Will you stay in your home and make modifications to make it safe and accessible? Will you move to a smaller and safer home? Will you move to a senior community? Whatever you decide, act before the fact.
Ninety-five percent of people 75 and older say they want to stay in their homes indefinitely. This desire for independence is perfectly natural, but for their children, it’s also a recipe for worry — that they’ll fall, forget to take their meds, or just need assistance. You can make your parents’ home far safer and more comfortable by investing in some of the new devices aimed at elders who have made the choice to age in place.
For information on products or free home safety assessments please visit our website at www.foreveractivemed.com or call (626) 389-8790
Geriatric Care Managers
Geriatric care managers — also known as case managers when employed by a facility instead of hired privately — are usually social workers, psychologists, nurses, gerontologists, or others with both training and experience in a number of aspects of elder care. They can assess needs, handle crises (such as an emergency hospitalization), help place an older adult in a long-term care facility, help solve family disputes, locate community resources, or simply fill in for family caregivers at doctor appointments and assist with other daily care.
How Geriatric Care Managers help
Geriatric care managers are best at helping organize care needs when there’s a change in situation, such as when your loved one moves or has a health crisis. They can also manage complicated ongoing care, as when a number of doctors and therapists are often involved. Working and long-distance caregivers, especially, often find their support and advice to be a godsend.
Joke of the Month
An elderly man in Phoenix called his son in New York and said, “I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; 45 years of misery is enough.”
“Pop, what are you talking about?” the son screamed.
“We can’t stand the sight of each other any longer,” his father said. “We’re sick of each other, and I’m sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Chicago and tell her.” With that, he hung up.
Frantic, the son called his sister, who exploded on the phone. “Like heck they’re getting divorced,” she shouted. “I’ll take care of this.”
She called Phoenix immediately, and screamed at her father: “You are NOT getting divorced! Don’t do a single thing until I get there. I’m calling my brother back, and we’ll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don’t do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?” and hung up.
The old man hung up the phone and turned to his wife. “Okay,” he said, “They’re coming for Christmas and paying their own airfares.”
-Anonymous-
What’s New at Forever Active
We are proud to announce that Forever Active in collaboration with Rebuilding Together Greater Los Angeles will be the official contractor for the Handyworker program in West Los Angeles as of April 1, 2012.
The Handyworker Program provides free minor home repairs for low-income seniors and disabled persons who own and occupy a single family home in the City of Los Angeles. Homeowner must be at least 62 years old or have a disability, have an income that is less than the required maximum and reside in the home as a primary residence. The repairs address safety and habitability concerns, including doors, windows, flooring, faucets, sinks, toilets, water heater, light fixtures, electrical outlets, railings, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, rain gutters and painting.