When my mother was in her 70’s, we talked her into adding identity theft insurance to her home insurance policy, knowing that the chances she might be a victim of fraud were fairly high in the senior demographic. The policy offered by her insurance policy for identity theft coverage cost nearly $30 extra per month, but after careful research we decided the benefits were worth it. While fraud insurance doesn’t actually cover any financial losses at the result of identity theft, it does provide coverage relating to the recovery process that occurs after such a fraud has occurred, including lost wages and legal bills up to $15,000 per claim.

When choosing to get the identity theft insurance for my mother, I ensured that the whole family understood that we still can’t let our guard down when it comes to managing my mom’s affairs. The same precautions still need to be taken when reviewing her finances and handling important documentation to prevent identity theft and fraud; the policy is only an additional safeguard, but it doesn’t decrease her chances of becoming a victim.

I would recommend fraud insurance to all seniors provided the policy is affordable for their lifestyle and income level, and that appropriate coverage is available. Fortunately, while my aging mom has not yet been impacted by fraud, we know with the insurance, if it occurs, she will manage to recover from it.

Sources:
1. Spam Laws
2. Globe and Mail    Joanna Pachner

Home care negligence is unfortunately a sad reality that exists in the Oakland elder care industry. While negligence and elder abuse often occur at the hands of senior care providers in nursing homes and assisted living facilities; these problems can occur in a senior’s home just as easily. As family members of seniors, it’s important that we spot the signs when a loved one is being abused or neglected so that appropriate action can be taken and further issues can be prevented.

To determine if a senior in Oakland might be suffering from elder abuse or neglect, be aware of the following signs:

•    Sudden changes in the senior’s behavior
•    Physical injuries like bruises, scrapes, cuts, or even broken bones
•    A nursing home not allowing family members to see patients alone
•    Pressure sores or signs that restraints have been used
•    Sudden, inexplicable weight loss in the senior

Home care negligence can include a number of scenarios that range from less severe to more extreme, but all are serious issues that should be addressed.

•    Failure to provide food or water, even when a senior complains of hunger or thirst
•    Failure to assist with personal hygiene needs
•    Failure to provide clean, safe living conditions
•    Failure to provide supervision in situations where accidents may occur
•    Failure to provide appropriate prescription medicals on time or at all

Sources:
1.    Care Home Negligence
2.    EZine Articles

A major component of Oakland home care involves ensuring that a senior remains safe in their own home, and since stairs present a major risk for in-home falls and accidents, this is one area that should be focused on for immediate senior safety. When looking at stair safety for the elderly, Oakland caregivers and family members should focus on both the hardware and structure of the stairs, as well as the décor and lighting that surround the area. Complete the following checklist to ensure that your elderly loved one will be safe on their stairs.

Safe Stair Structure Checklist:
•    Steps are at least 11 inches deep and each step is even
•    Steps are not slanted or loose
•    Stair surfaces have slip resistant treads
•    Handrails are on one side of the stairs, if not both sides
•    Handrails are strongly fastened and supportive
•    Handrails and banisters are no thicker around than 6.25 inches so they can be easily grabbed
•    Indicators installed on handrails let seniors know when each step is coming to an end

Safe Stair Surrounds Checklist:
•    Stairways are well-lit
•    No objects are present on stairs
•    Tops and bottoms of stairways are free of rugs and mats that might slip
•    Assistive devices have been considered to help with mobility on stairs where appropriate

Sources:
1.    Ezine Articles  Daryl Lanhker
2.    Canada Safety Council

When moving an elderly parent or senior relative into your home so you can provide caregiver assistance, you might be doing it to benefit the level of eldercare they receive, but don’t forget to consider your needs as well as theirs.

In order to allow a senior to have some independence in your home, make sure they have their own personal space, whether a room fully equipped with a TV, bathroom and sleeping quarters; or a basement apartment with their own kitchen, depending upon what’s appropriate for the senior’s capabilities. If you live in a smaller home, ask the senior to contribute that way your family can purchase a larger space that will allow the family and the senior to have the space they need.

Remember, when living with a senior it’s important to provide for their safety in the home. Ensure that furniture in the main areas of the home is arranged to allow ample space for a senior to walk through without tripping, and try to reduce additional clutter. Senior safety devices can also be installed in bathrooms for assistance with mobility, like grab bars, bathtub transfer benches and raised toilet seats. Also keep in mind that while you may have moved your elderly parent in to act as their main caregiver; you deserve a break to, so take advantage of Oakland home caregiver services in your area for some respite.

Sources:
1.    Ezine Articles
2.    Seniormag

As a family caregiver, one of the best ways to prepare for the safety and comfort of your aging family member is to think about caregiving proactively. Many in-home accidents occur when families and seniors exercise reactive versus proactive thinking. Instead of reacting to potential hazards after accidents have already happened, caregivers need to think proactively and anticipate potential dangers to seniors that are present in their home, by installing safety equipment, removing tripping hazards, and evaluating the day-to-day tasks that are difficult for a senior independently.

However, proactive thinking by a caregiver doesn’t have to stop at home safety; even before your elderly family member reaches a stage where home care, family caregiving or residence in a long-term care home is needed, family members can be proactive and begin to discuss the senior’s wishes with regards to care assistance. When involved with the care decisions of an elderly parent, you can learn what role they would like you to play in a crisis and you can assist them in preparing the necessary legal paperwork required for making senior medical decisions. As family caregivers and concerned family members, it is our job to help plan for our seniors’ futures; by arming ourselves with knowledge and thinking proactively, we can ensure that they receive quality caring throughout their elder years.

Sources:
1. StrengthforCaring.com

2. Answers4Families.com

3. AARP: (Olympia Dukakis)

Home Care Oakland and Alameda County provides senior care and elder home care in East Bay Area and Alameda County, including Alameda, Berkeley, Castro Valley, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Oakland, Pleasanton and Union City. For more help, please call Home Instead Senior Care Oakland at 510-663-3652.

On a recent episode of ABC’s “What Would You Do”, the TV show setup a scenario to determine how bystanders would react to an elderly driver exhibiting signs that he shouldn’t get behind the wheel of a car. The aging driver, an actor, aged 92, approaches people on the street asking for help getting out of his parking spot (his car is parallel parked on the street) since his son who was supposed to meet him has failed to appear. Three of the four people featured in this first segment of the episode, which tests what people would do when faced with an elderly driver with impaired abilities, help the senior into his car. The bystanders help the senior driver with starting his ignition and putting his car in reverse; only to direct him from the spot to have him run down the motorcycle parked in the spot behind.

Watch “Driving While Disoriented”

What would you do when faced with the same situation? While statistics show, that apart from drivers under 25, drivers over 70 are involved in the most driving related accidents; family members in particular are very reluctant to take away a senior’s main source of independence. And while some states do mandate stricter licensing standards for drivers who have reached old age, very little mandatory testing is in place to ensure that older adults can drive without impairment so the decision of when to take away the keys is often left up to the family to determine.

If you’re starting to wonder whether it might be time to take away a senior’s right to drive, look at the following factors to determine if they might be a hazard behind the wheel:

• Does a loss of hearing acuity affect their ability to respond to sirens or honking horns?
• Has the old driver’s sight been tested? Do they have trouble seeing lines on the road, especially during night driving?
• Is the senior driver physically able to control the vehicle safely? Do they have any conditions, like arthritis, which might affect their reflexes?
• Do they take any medications that could affect their driving abilities? Do any medicines interact to make driving unsafe?

Sources: http://www.abcnews.go.com/whatwouldyoudo - February 17 (Driving While Disoriented) Episode
http://www.troubledwith.com/Relationships/A000000656.cfm?topic=relationships%3A%20caring%20for%20elderly%20parents

Home Care Oakland and Alameda County provides senior care and elder home care in East Bay Area and Alameda County, including Alameda, Berkeley, Castro Valley, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Oakland, Pleasanton and Union City. For more help, please call Home Instead Senior Care Oakland at 510-663-3652.