|
Dear Friends,
Are you
looking forward to a walk in the sunshine?
Sometimes a simple walk is enough to put a lift
back in your spirits. However, as we get older,
sometimes going for a simple walk isn't that
simple. Health concerns, growing frailty and
loneliness can all get in the way. This month
we're engaging with ways to think about your own
care. Boomers understand aging with care in ways
different from their parents, care manager's
provide company and resources that free your
family to enjoy you and their own lives,
and assessments help one understand one's own
needs. There are so many resources now and for
your future. Take a walk in the sunshine and think
about what you need.
We hope
you will share Engage with your
family and friends.
Sincerely,
Institute
on Aging
Helping
Bay Area Seniors Live Independently
|
Will Boomers Be
Any
Different?
By Paula
Span from The New Old Age Blog
 "Not every elderly person
needs help, and not every elderly person who needs
it resists it. But the No. 1 question I encounter
when I speak to family caregivers is how to cajole
old people into adapting to increasing disability
when they are, to be a tad euphemistic, "fiercely
independent."
It makes me
wonder how much of this apparently widespread
intransigence has to do with a particular cohort -
anyone over 80 was shaped by the Depression,
whether they were old enough to remember it or not
- and how much of it is intrinsic to aging itself.
In 20 or so
years, when we baby boomers enter the ranks of the
"old-old" ourselves, will we be any different?
I vote yes, in
certain important ways...." Read more.
| |
Instrumental Activities of
Daily Living
In the
wake of holiday hustle and bustle, you finally
have a moment to reflect on recent
interactions with aging friends and family
members. During your holiday visits you may have
noticed changes in what care professionals refer
to as Instrumental Activities of Daily Living.
These activities
include light
housework, preparing meals, shopping for
groceries, using transportation, taking
medications, managing money and paying bills,
sorting through and handling mail, and using the
telephone. Though not necessary for fundamental
functioning, the ability to manage these
activities is an important factor in whether an
individual can continue living safely and
independently in a community.
It's important to pay attention to
and address these concerns as soon as
possible. Early detection and treatment of
cognitive and/or emotional changes makes a
tremendous difference in an individual's response
to care and long-tem quality of
life.
What can
you do?
If you are concerned by the way an
aging family member or friend is handling (or not
handling) some activities of daily living, you may
want to speak with the individual about your
concerns. If possible, you may also want to
contact his or her primary care physician to find
out whether a referral for a neuropsychological
evaluation would be helpful. You can also call IOA
for a consultation with one of our psychologists
so we can help you sort through some of these
issues and figure out how to best approach the
situation.
What is a neuropsychological
assessment?
A neuropsychological
assessment is a description of an individual's
current cognitive and emotional functioning. This
is determined through a full battery of
neuropsychological
tests.
How is a neuropsychological
assessment useful to the individual, family and
caregivers?
Assessments are conducted
to evaluate individuals within their environment.
Recommendations are intended to enhance
quality of life, promote independence, and help
individuals use their strengths to attain the
highest level of
functioning.
Learn more about what's involved in
a neuropsychological assessment, how results from
a neuropsychological assessment enhance the
quality of life of the individual, and the costs
involved in receiving Assessment
Services.
|
|
Community
Events
The Golden Gate Express
Garden Railway
The Conservatory of
Flowers brings back its popular garden railway
exhibition with new features & surprises sure
to delight young & old alike. It's a
celebration of the city of San Francisco as a
model train, cable car & more wind their way
through a lush landscape of dwarf plants & zip
past mini versions of the city's landmark
buildings.
When:
Tues-Sun, 9am-4pm, through April 18,
2010
Where: Golden Gate Park
Conservatory of Flowers, San
Francisco
Cost: SF Residents:
$5 general; $3 youth 12-17, seniors & students
with ID; $1.50 children 5-11; ages 4 & under
FREE; Non-residents: $7 general, $5 youth
12
Info: Call (415) 831-2090
or visit www.conservatoryofflowers.org
Be Good to
Yourself
Taking care of yourself is
the first step to finding balance in life,
managing stress and caring for others. This
workshop will focus on the importance of being
kind to yourself and will provide concrete tools
for self-care. Learn how to make use of your
inherent skills and community resources.
When: Wednesday, April 14,
12:30-2pm Where: 2100 Webster
Street, Suite 106, San
Francisco Cost: $10 donation
suggested Info: Please
pre-register for all programs. Call 415-923-3155
or email cpmcchrc@sutterhealth.org. Visit www.cpmc.org/chrc for a
detailed course description.
The Art of Aging
Gracefully: Women's Resource
Fair
Back for a third year,
this upbeat, dynamic and informative event is
devoted to women's successful use of resources in
the quest for graceful aging. The day features
health presentations by Kaiser Permanente and
representatives from a broad spectrum of
organizations and businesses. Visit the IOA's
table!
When: Tuesday,
April 27, 9:30am-3pm
Where:
JCCSF, 3200 California Street
Cost:
Free Info: Visit
jccsf.org
|
ENCOURAGE
Dear
Encourage,
I was talking with a
friend of mine the other day and she told me she
has a "care manager" who helps her organize her
life. I had never heard the term before and
wondered what kinds of services this person
offered as I certainly need some help organizing
my life! Ever since I moved to San Francisco from
Seattle to be closer to my children, I have felt
disconnected and lost. I just hate to bother my
kids with all the little things I need because
they have their own lives to lead. I raised them
to be independent and to pursue their dreams...at
my age, I want to remain as independent as
possible and be a role model for them. I have been
here now for almost a year and recognize that some
things need to be different in my life because I
can't do all the things I use to be able to do on
my own. Does it sound like I need a care manager,
too?
Dear
Relocated One,
I hear
similar stories from lots of people who relocate
from their homes of many years to live closer to
their adult children. First of all, I want to say,
"welcome," and secondly to express my admiration
for your courage in moving away from your familiar
environment and being open to settling into a new
place! Although there are benefits in living close
to your children, I oftentimes wonder if children
realize what a significant life transition this is
for their parents and how much effort goes into
the adjustment process. Obviously, you know as you
describe feeling disconnected and lost...this is
not surprising at all given the huge change you
recently made in your life!
Your friend
is smart to have elicited the support of a
geriatric care manager because this is a trained
professional whose primary purpose is to identify
what services you need in order to live to the
fullest in the environment you have chosen to live
and then make sure you are connected with those
services. A Geriatric Care Manager is trained
and experienced in any of several fields related
to care management, including, but not limited to
nursing, gerontology, social work, or psychology,
with a specialized focus on issues related to
aging and elder care. Here are just some of the
services they can provide:
ü Conduct
care-planning assessments to identify problems and
to provide solutions.
ü
Screen, arrange, and monitor in-home
help or other services, including assistance in
hiring a qualified caregiver for home
care.
ü
Provide short- or long-term
eldercare assistance for those engaged in local or
long distance care giving.
ü
Review financial, legal, or medical
issues and offer referrals to geriatric
specialists.
ü
Provide crisis intervention.
ü
Act as a liaison to families at a
distance, overseeing care, and quickly alerting
families to problems - especially important when
families are engaged in
long distance
care giving for a loved one.
ü
Assist with moving an older person
to or from a retirement complex, assisted care
home, or nursing home.
ü
Provide consumer education and
advocacy.
ü Offer eldercare
counseling and support.
How do you
find the right person for you? Call Institute on
Aging (415-750-4111) and you will be connected
with our care management services so that you can
begin to feel more at home and more in control of
your new environment. A smart person knows when to
ask for help so I salute you for recognizing your
unmet needs and being proactive in seeking out
solutions!
Do you have a
question about engaging with life as a
senior? Send it our way. Please note, questions
may be printed but will be kept strictly
anonymous. Click
here to email
us.
| |
| |
|
Every month we highlight a family
tradition, such as a recipe, a craft, or a cultural
holiday. Please suggest a tradition from your
family!
This month's family
tradition:
Quilting!
Though associated with colonial
America, quilting didn't take hold in America until
the 1840s. The industrial revolution brought about the
widespread production of affordable textiles. This meant
women no longer had to spend time spinning and weaving
to provide fabric for their family's needs. They now had
the inexpensive
fabric and the extra time necessary
to practice the ancient art of quilting.
If you are a quiltmaker, spend a minute to recognize
and appreciate that you have been blessed with a special
skill. If you are not a quiltmaker, wrap yourself in a
quilt and enjoy the warmth.
Click
here to email
us.
| |
