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The premiere edition of Aging Answers
Citation preview
Sandwich Generation
Caregiver’s Place in the
Planning Ahead
Kids Learn the Pastfrom Grandparents
MAY 2014
New QuarterlySupplement to
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2C AGVistingnurse 4/17/14 7:56 AM Page C2
3 ROCKY KNOL 4/17/14 7:57 AM Page 3
4 Aging Answers May 2014
8 Caregiver’s Place in theSandwich Generationby Karen DistelhorstTaking care of both children and parents canbe a stressful time. Inorder to navigate this timein your life, you will need aplan and some help.
11 Off to Grandparents’House We GoChildren can learn andhave fun during visitsthrough these activities.
12 Living WithAlzheimer’sby Angela GartnerJoan Uronis turns diagnosis into a way tohelp others.
Contents
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May 2014 Aging Answers 5
14 Seniors Going Digitalby Jesse WeinbergerAre you tech support toMom or Dad? Get help foryour parents
16 Planning for TheirNeedsby Mary EllenBramwellMake financial plans either for the future or forthose facing challengesnow.
2022
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6 Aging Answers May 2014
My personal journey with my parents ended far too abruptly in 2010.
We didn’t recognize the strain caring for my father, who had con-
tracted leukemia, was taking on my 77-year-old mother. Sadly, she
suffered heart failure on my 46th birthday and passed away days later.
My father endured several more rounds of chemo and various care
and living arrangements until he passed away six months later. Those
days were filled with confusion, heartache and an overwhelming
amount of information, with even more decisions that had to be made.
My brother and I got a crash course in rehab hospitals, oncology,
platelet levels, visiting nurses, dementia, palliative care and hospice. I
clearly recall the cold fall day in Chicago when I realized that my dad
was incapable of making a rational decision about his care options
and it was my turn to be the parent for him.
We realize that many of you are currently raising children as well as
caring for aging parents. You’re not alone — you’re part of the “Sand-
wich Generation” — those squeezed by having to provide care for your
kids and their grandparents at the same time.
“Aging Answers” is a new quarterly supplement to Northeast Ohio
Parent that serves to educate and encourage you in your walk at what-
ever stage you find yourself with your parents and other aging loved
ones. We want to help you get out in front of the challenges by provid-
ing awareness, inspiration and education on the wide array of topics
such as financial planning, caregiver resources, housing decisions,
quality time with the grandkids, and insight into specific conditions
such as diabetes and Alzheimer’s.
You may be in crisis mode currently and my heart goes out to you
through this difficult time. Or, you may be blessed with healthy parents
who are able to make independent choices for health care, finances
and living situations. My hope is that in whatever stage you find your-
self, you will take the time to get informed and have the courage to
open a dialogue with those you love.
Most importantly, embrace the time you and your kids have with
your aging loved ones. The memories you create are truly the treas-
ures you and your children will cherish.
Aging Parents Can MeanRole Reversals, Tough Decisions
By Brad Mitchell
Supplement to Northeast Ohio Parent
Aging Answers is a property of Blue Bug Media,
a division of Babcox Media, Inc.
3550 Embassy Parkway, Fairlawn, OH 44333
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24500 Chagrin Blvd., Suite 300, Cleveland, OH 44122
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PublisherBrad Mitchell
EditorialAngela Gartner, Editor
Jennifer Clements, Managing Editor
Emma Kanagaki, Associate/Digital Editor
Contributors: Mary Ellen Bramwell, Karen Distlehorst,
Jesse Weinberger
Art & ProductionTammy House, Art Director | [email protected]
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CorporateBill Babcox, President
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Publisher’s Perspective
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May 2014 Aging Answers 7
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8 Aging Answers May 2014
Caregiver’s Place in the
SandwichGeneBy Karen Distelhorst, MSN, RN, GCNS-BC | Clinical Nurse Specialist
“Wait…when did I become the mother in this relationship?” Many adult daughters (and sons, too) findthemselves in this awkward position of “role reversal” as parents age and health declines.
Being a part of the “sandwich generation” — taking
care of both children and parents — can be a
stressful time, but it can also be very re-
warding and the lessons that it can
teach your children are priceless. In
order to navigate this time in your
life, you will need some help
and a plan.
Priority One: Communication
A strategy to manage this
time in your life is com-
munication. Ask your
parents key questions
about what they would
want in their later
years:
• Where would
you want to live
if you cannot
take care of
8-10 sandwich_Layout 1 4/17/14 9:23 AM Page 8
yourself?
• How do you feel about other
people coming into your home to
help you?
• Who do you most trust to help
you make decisions about your
care?
Do not wait until there’s a prob-
lem to discuss this information. It’s
also important to communicate
with siblings and other family
members about any plans. Diffi-
culty occurs when you have to
make decisions quickly, for exam-
ple in a crisis, and when family
members are not “on the same
page.”
Becoming a CaregiverWhat does a caregiver do exactly?
You may find yourself helping with
meals, housekeeping, transporta-
tion, finances or even physical
care. You can also be a caregiver by
making sure that others provide
the care for your parent appropri-
ately. This is called being an advo-
cate, and it’s an important role.
Karen Mullen, president of Akron
General’s Visiting Nurse Service
and Affiliates, says it’s a good idea
to talk to the family physician who
can help identify resources such as
home care.
However, sometimes you may
feel like there are many similarities
between taking care of your chil-
dren and your parent. Remember
that your parent is an adult, so they
should respectfully be involved in
all decision making.
Promoting an Independent LifeMost people age 65 and older
want to remain in their home, ac-
cording to a study by AARP. Here
are a few things that you can eas-
ily do to help promote your
parent’s independence and safety
at home.
• Safety checks. Daily phone
calls can ease your mind that your
parent is safe, and can also serve
as a reminder for certain activi-
ties, such as taking medications, if
needed.
• Socialization. Seniors who so-
cialize have better mental health
than those who do not. Studies
have shown that social interaction
for older adults may even reduce
the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Encourage your parent to partici-
pate in local senior centers,
church groups or arrange lunch
dates with old friends.
• Daily routines. Maintaining a
consistent daily routine helps
memory and improves sleep qual-
ity for older adults, both of which
are important to maintain function
and independence. To be consis-
tent also helps for planning when
neration
May 2014 Aging Answers 9
“I have often joked with my
three teenagers, asking them
‘which one of you is going to
take care of me when I am
old?’ Fortunately, none of
them are appalled by idea.
They learned about
compassion and responsibility
each time that we took meals
to my parents or helped them
when they were ill. They
understand that families work
together to take care of each
other. Although this is a busy
time in your life, be sure to
take the time to appreciate all
that it means to you, your
parent and your children.”
— Karen Distelhorst
LifeLessons
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10 Aging Answers May 2014
outside assistance is needed.
• Family traditions and rituals.
Activities such as Sunday dinner
with extended family or baking holi-
day cookies with Grandma are tra-
ditions that improve the well-being
of an older adult through reminis-
cence and life review. It also pro-
vides an important family bond that
will benefit your children as they
grow.
• Divide and conquer. Some-
times older adults need a lot of
support to remain at home. If you
have siblings or other family
members who are willing to help,
make a list of who can do what.
One sibling may have a talent for
balancing a checkbook, while an-
other family member is handy
with repairs. Use your individual
talents. Don’t be afraid to dele-
gate; if your sister is organized,
have her plan the appointments.
Transitioning CareSometimes, even using all of the
strategies above, your parent’s
needs may be more than you and
your family can handle alone. For-
tunately, there are services avail-
able that bring additional help into
the home, including home health
care, home-delivered meals or an
emergency re-
sponse system
(such as Life-
line).
Mullen says
private home
health aides may
do light house-
keeping or help
with bathing, as it
depends on the level
of need.
That support can
also include a home
health provider. Older
adults who have re-
cently had major sur-
geries, but would like to stay
home during recovery, can seek
counsel from their doctor, if that’s
appropriate.
“With folks coming out the hos-
pital, home care bridges the gap
to make them successful at
home,” Mullen says.
Options for care outside of the
home range from senior inde-
pendent living apartments with
enhanced services (like group
meals and transportation), to as-
sisted living, to a long-term care
facility (nursing home). There are
also continuing care communities
that provide all of these levels in
one place.
When will you know if your par-
ent should not stay alone in their
home anymore?
A few “red flags” that you
should watch for include incor-
rectly taking medications for con-
ditions, frequent falling, memory
loss or the need for hands-on
physical care.
The Area Agency on Aging can
help you determine what the best
level of care is for your parent. The
AAOA is one of the non-profit
agencies that is a resource for
programs, services and informa-
tion for older adults and their
families.
Sandwich Generation
8-10 sandwich_Layout 1 4/17/14 9:23 AM Page 10
Visiting Grandma and Grandpa’s
house is always a treat. In fact,
many kids don’t only have one set
of grandparents, but have multi-
ples. Here are a few ways, from the
National Grandparents Council,
that your kids can remember these
special times with their grandpar-
ents — and they might learn a little
about them too.
• The grandchild can work with the
grandparents on a family tree chart.
• The grandchild can “interview”
the grandparent about his or her
life. Your child can record the ses-
sion to remember the conversa-
tion. Some questions would be
“What were your favorite games
and activities?” “Who was
more strict, your
mom or dad?”
“What were
your fa-
vorite
subjects
in school?” “What was your first
job?” “What was Mom or Dad like
growing up?” “How did you meet
Grandma or Grandpa?” “What
chores were assigned to you as a
kid?”
• Grandpar-
ents may help
grandchil-
dren write names and dates on
backs of old family photos. Grand-
parents can relate information
about ancestors, to preserve family
history.
“Hand in Hand” ActivitiesOne idea can be used to make a
refrigerator drawing, a framed
keepsake, a placemat, etc. The
child draws around grandparent’s
hand. Then places her own hand
inside the outline of the grandpar-
ent’s hand. Then child and grand-
parent work together to trace the
child’s hand.
Another “Hand in Hand” idea is
to make the grandparent’s hand-
print with red or yellow finger-
paint. After it dries, overlap the
child’s handprint using blue or
green finger-paint.
Traced handprints can also be
embroidered. This is an opportu-
nity for the grandparent to teach a
grandchild how to embroider.
Craft stores also have fabric
paints, which could be used to out-
line the handprints on T-shirts.
Visit
grandparents-
day.com for
more tips
and in-
forma-
tion.
May 2014 Aging Answers 11
To Grandparents’House We GoChildren can learn and have fun duringvisits through these activities.
Grandparent’s Day is Sept. 7 this year.
11 Grandparents Story redo_Layout 1 4/16/14 1:34 PM Page 11
12 Aging Answers May 2014
A few years ago, Joan Uronis of Hudson started
noticing she was having trouble remembering
everyday things.
Her primary care physician at-
tributed it to possibly being job-
related, as she was a general
manager in a hospice facility. The
physician suggested that she
also go see a neurologist, who
determined her condition was a
mild cognitive impairment. The
doctor mentioned this could be a
precursor to Alzheimer’s disease.
Two years later, after another
exam, along with a PET scan,
Uronis received a call from her
doctor, who said she did indeed
have Alzheimer’s.
“I was shocked. A terminal diagnosis is a hard
pill to swallow at age 62,” she says. “I had two
choices. I could sit there saying ‘poor me’ and
wait to die, or I could continue to
live. I am dying to live.”
Uronis is not alone,
more than 5 million peo-
ple in the U.S. are living
with the progressive dis-
ease, which causes loss
of memory and other in-
tellectual abilities. It is
the sixth-leading cause
of death in the country.
And Uronis isn’t a
stranger to this disease,
as she served as a caregiver
for her mother who was diagnosed with
Alzheimer’s. Her uncle also had the disease.
In response to her diagnosis and her will to make
the most of her life, Uronis has become a voice for
the people with the disease by getting involved in
the Alzheimer’s Association Greater East Ohio
Chapter.
“I believe whatever is handed to me, I can turn it
into something that benefits others,”
she says. Working with the organi-
zation gives her a lot to do. “I
couldn’t be more pleased and hon-
ored to have the opportunity to
work with them and get their mis-
sion across.”
Helping Family Members UnderstandThrough taking care of her own
family as well as countless oth-
ers at hospice where she was
employed, Uronis understands
the difficulties in caring for and
communicating with loved ones
with Alzheimer’s.
“Be supportive of a person with Alzheimer’s,”
she advises. “Let that person express their feel-
ings. You need to be a good listener and listen to
their fears.”
In fact, she and her husband Al also learned
through the Alzheimer’s Association how to com-
municate with each other.
“I talk to him in a different way,” she says. “I let
him know what my frustrations are.”
Programs such as the SHARE (Supporting
Health, Activities, Resources and Education) pro-
gram at the association are designed to help fam-
ilies prepare for the future.
“With the SHARE program, they talked to me
and Al separately,” Uronis says. “To start plan-
ning. (They asked me) who I want to take care of
me, if I can’t take care of myself. The choice was
my husband’s and mine.”
Also try to still “take time for yourself, and live
the life (you want) with your partner as much as
you can. Make a bucket list of some of the things
(you) still want to do.”
Living With Joan Uronis turns Alzheimer’s diagnosis into away to help others.
By Angela Gartner | Editor
Joan Uronis
12-13 Alzheimer's Story_Layout 1 4/17/14 9:24 AM Page 12
May 2014 Aging Answers 13
Uronis says the
caregivers have to
come into that
person’s world
because they can’t
go back into
theirs. “It’s very
hard to under-
stand,” she says.
An example she
provides is by
using an ordinary occurrence in
everyone’s lives — losing your
keys. While most people can re-
trace their steps or look in com-
mon places the keys might have
been set, it’s not the same for
those living with the disease.
“We don’t know where to go or
where to start,” she says. “It’s a
blank slate. I would put it in the
same place all the time, if I could
remember that same place.”
Taking Care in AdvancedStages As Alzheimer’s disease becomes
more severe, cognitive thinking
worsens. According to the
Alzheimer’s Association, personal-
ity changes may take place and in-
dividuals may need extensive help
with daily activities at this stage.
Caregivers are not only dealing
with physical difficulties of their
loved ones, but are also struggling
with their own emotions.
“This disease not only impacts
the individual, but the whole fam-
ily,” Uronis says. “They can’t get
paid for what they do. It’s so much
work, time and energy and so
much out of their own pockets to
care for their loved ones.”
It’s OK to take a break from
everything. Area support services
help give the caregivers a
breather — time away to think or
just take care of themselves and
their own needs.
For more respite information,
Uronis suggests looking to local
churches, neigh bors and/or adult
daycare centers.
The Ohio Department of Aging is
working with the Ohio Family Chil-
dren First Council and the newly
formed Ohio Respite Coalition to
enhance respite services across
the state.
It’s also a difficult experience
when a mother, sister, father or
brother doesn’t remember loved
ones’ names.
“She may not know your name,
but you (still) have a special place
in her heart,” Uronis counsels.
“You are someone special to her.
It’s so important for people to un-
derstand, just because you lose
your memory, you don’t lose your
heart. The disease has taken their
memory, but you will always be in
their heart.”
Children not familiar with nurs-
ing home facilities, may be un-
comfortable on initial visits.
“You have to be realistic with
(the children).” she says. “Just sit
with Grandma or Grandpa, hold
their hand, tell them you’re their
grandchild.”
Top photo, Joan Uronis, husband Al,far left, with parents Cyril and Mary.
12-13 Alzheimer's Story_Layout 1 4/17/14 9:24 AM Page 13
Health & Fitness• Runtastic Pedometer (Android and Apple)
— Are you trying to get your tech-savvy senior
to get out and walk regularly? After installing
Runtastic Pedometer, they just need to drop
their phone in their pocket and every step will
be counted.
• MediSafe (Android and Apple) — MediSafe
is a fantastic tool for reminders to take med-
ications. Caregivers can sign up to receive an
alert when a loved one hasn’t taken their med-
ication on time, and provides an option to send
a digital reminder.
Safety • Red Panic Button (Android and Apple) —
When an emergency need arises, your parent
can very easily tap the panic button in this
simple-to-use app. Immediately, a distress
text message and email message (including
the exact GPS location) are sent out to the pre-
programmed list of contacts.
• Where Did I Park the Car? (Android)
— Using Android’s GPS features, your
senior can record where she parked
her car at the mall with a tap of a fin-
ger. When it’s time to leave, the app
will lead her right back to her car.
Entertainment• Social Media — Did you know that your
grandmother loved Bon Jovi? You’ll get to know
your family members better as you engage with
them on social media. Facebook is the best
choice for seniors; the interface is easy to navi-
gate and the privacy settings are the strongest of
all of the social media platforms.
• Gaming — Seniors love to play video games
just like the rest of us. Have your youngest chil-
dren teach Grandpa how to play Candy Crush.
Other games such as Words With Friends have a
social aspect as well — you can play each other
virtually.
14 Aging Answers May 2014
Seniors engaging in the digital world is great news for caregivers.
In fact, a 2013 Pew Research Center survey shows that 59 percent of
senior citizens go online regularly — this is a 6-percent increase since
2012. In addition, 47 percent of seniors surveyed reported having a
high-speed broadband connection at home.
As caregivers, we are often called upon to offer 24/7 tech sup-
port. Luckily, app developers have made that role a bit easier.
If you are the de facto tech department for your beloved
family members, check out these helpful new digital tools
that would be great additions to their devices.
Caregivers can help their loved ones with new apps, also make sure
they stay safe online.
Seniors Going
DigitalBy Jesse Weinberger
14-15 digital story_Layout 1 4/17/14 9:26 AM Page 14
May 2014 Aging Answers 15
Digital Risks / Phishing ScamsIn the typical phishing scenario, a
victim receives an official-looking
email from his or her bank. The
email might warn them there is an
error in the account, which can only
be fixed by clicking on a link in the
email. This official-looking website
requests the victim’s username,
password and other personal infor-
mation. Once the data is entered
into the fake website, the victim’s
identity and/or property can be
stolen.
Bottom line: Do not ever click
through an email and enter per-
sonal information. If you receive an
email from your bank, call the bank
on the phone directly to address any
issue.
TMI on Public PlatformsGiving “too much information” on
social media is a very simple way to
increase chances of being robbed or
victimized. When Grandma posts a
note on her grandson’s Facebook
wall asking him to come over and fix
the broken lock on her back door
this weekend, she has accidentally
publicized her broken lock to all of
her grandson’s friends.
Bottom line: Warn your seniors not
to post private information on any
social platform, including upcoming
vacation plans.
Open Wi-FiUsing an unsecured Wi-Fi signal in
a public place (like a coffee shop or
airport) is a huge security risk. Any
data sent or received via that net-
work can be stolen by hackers who
will then use it to steal the victim’s
identity and property.
Bottom line: Never log into any
account while using a public Wi-Fi
account. This is especially true for
bank and brokerage accounts, but is
just as relevant for social media and
email accounts.
14-15 digital story_Layout 1 4/17/14 9:26 AM Page 15
When Time Is AvailableObviously, it’s best to make plans well in advance for
possible medical expenses, general care and end-of-
life costs. The hardest part of this might be just getting
started. As an adult child, your roles are reversing, and
it’s important to sit down and talk with your parents
about finances. While they may resist, even tell you it is
none of your business, you need to persist.
Try starting with an approach like, “What do you
think about long-term care insurance? Do you think
it’s a good value?” or “Do you have a good financial ad-
visor to recommend?” You may need to be more forth-
right and say something such as, “I’m planning for my
future and it made me wonder how you’re set and if I
might be able to help you down the road.” Regardless
of how you start the conversation, start it. You’ll get
nowhere on your journey without a beginning.
Basic Financial PlanningWhen you have time on your side, a good financial ad-
visor can steer your parents in the right direction. This
also will allow them autonomy, being able to make
these decisions without you. The best future plan in-
volves “not putting all of your eggs in one basket.” For
instance, money should be put into both savings and
investments.
Kent Harrison, a retired physics professor, took ad-
vantage of his university 401K savings plan, building
for the future when a steady income was assured. His
advice is to “do the hard thing — save early and often.”
He also says, “Get a financial advisor early, someone
you know and trust.” Years ago his advisor recom-
mended annuities with a floor. That meant that they
would not drop below a certain value. So, if the market
drops, you are not drastically affected by it. This piece
of advice saved him from losses that deeply affected
his friends.
It is also a good idea to mix your investments be-
tween conservative and high-risk. Again, this is a pro-
tection if things go poorly in a market that you don’t
control.
As you are looking into options for your parents, it
should become evident that these are things that you
should explore. Paula Kriz and her husband recently
retired. She said, you need to “start in your 30s and
40s,” making financial plans for the future. Besides
having a trusted financial advisor, they practice wise
spending. “We would save before we made a pur-
chase,” she says and they learned to “live within our
means.” Being on solid financial ground will also
make it possible to help out your parents, if it comes
to that.
Long-Term Care InsuranceYou might talk to your parents about investing in a
long-term care insurance plan. There are pros and
cons to this. The policies can be very expensive, and if
you don’t maintain the payments, all of that money
may be lost. Additionally, it depends on the individual
policy for what is covered and under what circum-
stances. However, if one of your parents needs long-
term care, the resulting bills can be financially
16 Aging Answers May 2014
Planning Ahead
By Mary Ellen Bramwell
Dealing with aging parents presents many challenges.Making financial plans for the future can come in manyforms, and will vary greatly depending on whetheryou are planning for years in the future or facing concerns that are already ontop of you.
for Their Needs
16-17 fiancial planning_Layout 1 4/17/14 9:28 AM Page 16
May 2014 Aging Answers 17
devastating, wiping out all of their
retirement savings and impacting
you as well. It is something to con-
sider. Weigh the risks carefully be-
fore making a decision.
What If The Need Is Now?When you’re caring for aging par-
ents, often the time is already too
late to feasibly consider the above
options. Harrison’s wife recently
suffered a stroke and needed ex-
tensive care. After leaving the hos-
pital, she entered a skilled-nursing
facility. They took care of physical
therapy, doctor visits, monitoring
and care all in one place. But
Medicare only covers 100 days in
such a facility. At the end of the 100
days, hard decisions needed to be
made. He decided to move her
back home, hiring various nursing
and support staff to come in on a
regular basis. Some of these are
covered by his health insurance
and Medicare, and some are paid
out of his own pocket.
MedicaidWhat options might you consider in
the same situation? If finances are
problematic, you can apply for Med-
icaid. It is federally funded, but state
administered, so the program
varies from state to state. You would
need to explore what the require-
ments are for acceptance in the
state where your parents reside.
Reverse MortgageA reverse mortgage allows a
homeowner age 62 and older to
convert some of the equity in their
home to cash. The advantage of
this over a home equity line of
credit is that a reverse mortgage
requires no monthly payments. The
money is due back upon sale of the
home, death of the borrower or the
borrower moving, which would
include living in an assisted-care
facility for an extended length of
time.
There are several varieties of
reverse mortgages, for instance,
state-funded types have stricter
guidelines for approval, but offer
lower interest rates. The general
drawbacks are the high interest
rates and potential for the loss of
the home for the heirs.
End-of-Life CostsA life insurance policy, bought early
and maintained, can help with end-
of-life costs. But if it comes to
funeral costs, a small policy may
not be enough to cover all of it.
According to funeral-tips.com, the
average funeral costs run $8,000 to
$10,000. This includes a burial plot
and headstone. The drawback to
relying on life insurance to cover
this is lag time.
Many funeral homes require at
least some money upfront. A check
from the life insurance company
might not be quite as prompt.
16-17 fiancial planning_Layout 1 4/17/14 9:28 AM Page 17
18 Aging Answers May 2014
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1 Navigating theMedicare Maze, 6-7:30p.m.Sharon Honroth’s Medicarepresentation will guide youthrough the maze, answeryour questions and explainyour options regarding yourhealthcare benefits. Norton Branch Library, 3930S. Cleveland-Massillon Road,330-825-7800, nortonbranch.akronlibrary.org
1 Welcome toMedicare: 2014, 6 p.m.The Ohio Senior Health In-surance Information Pro-gram (OSHIIP) providesinformation and counselingto people covered byMedicare. New and soon-to-be beneficiaries can meetwith professional staff andlearn about Medicare bene-fits, supplemental insurancepolicies, Medicare Advantageplans and prescription drugcoverage. May 1: EhrnfeltSenior Center, 18100 Royal-ton Road, Strongsville; May6: The Gemini Center, 21225Lorain Road, Fairview Park;and May 12: Cleveland FoodBank, 15500 S. WaterlooRoad, Cleveland. 800-686-1578, insurance.ohio.gov.
6 The Mended HeartsGreater Akron Chapter #59, 1-2 p.m.Heart patients, caregivers re-ceive support in coping withstrong emotions that oftenaccompany diagnosis, treat-ment, or surgery for heartdisease. Summa Rehab Hos-pital, 29 N. Adams St.,Akron, 330-572-7300
6 Stroke – Risk, Prevention, Signs &Symptoms, 7-8:30 p.m.Neurologist Romeo Craciun,MD, from the Cleveland Clinicat Marymount Hospital, willdiscuss signs, symptoms andmore. Blood pressure screen-ings will be provided. Regis-tration required. GarfieldHeights Branch Library, 5409Turney Road, GarfieldHeights, 216-475-8178, cuyahogalibrary.org
7 Peace of Mind:Medicaid & Long-TermCare, 2 p.m.Attorney Linda Ulinskiguides you through all theimportant and useful infor-mation you need. PortageLakes Branch Library, 4261Manchester Road, Akron,330-644-7050, portagelakesbranch.akronlibrary.org
7 Affordable CareActAttorney Jim Koewler willspeak to the Richfield Cham-ber of Commerce about theAffordable Care Act and itsrequirements as well as op-portunities for employers.Open to the public. For moreevents for seniors hosted byKoewler, visit protecting
seniors.com. RichfieldChamber of Commerce,4300 W. Streetsboro Road,Richfield, 330-659-3300, richfieldchamber.com
8 Free Dementia CareWorkshop & Breakfast– 2 of 4, 8-9 a.m.Senior Helpers, 4807 Rockside Road, Independ-ence, Lower Level, 216-378-0022, RSVP requested.
8 Redefining Age, 4-6 p.m.Larry Minnix, president andCEO of LeadingAge, will dis-cuss “Redefining Age.”LeadingAge is an associationof 6,000 not-for-profit organ-izations dedicated to makingAmerica a better place togrow old. Benjamin Rose In-stitute, 11890 Fairhill Road,Cleveland, 216-791-8000,benrose.org
9 Life After Stroke,10 a.m.–noonProvides a forum for strokesurvivors and their familiesto share ideas and solveproblems after a stroke.Summa Rehab Hospital,29 N. Adams St., Akron, 330-572-7300.
12 Solving the Retirement IncomePuzzle, 7-8 p.m.Learn strategies and vehiclesto help maintain your incomeduring retirement. BrooklynBranch Library, 4480 RidgeRoad, Brooklyn, 216-398-4600, cuyahogalibrary.org.
13 Aging: ThrivingThrough Your GoldenYears, 6 p.m.Are you having trouble re-membering? Do you have awell-balanced diet? Need tostop driving? Find out waysto age healthier at this freeHealth Talk. 6 p.m. registra-tion; 6:30-8:30 p.m. pro-gram.Call 216-444-3641 or800-548-8502. Or registeronline at clevelandclinic.org/healthtalks. Cleveland ClinicWilloughby Hills FamilyHealth Center, Lower LevelConference Room, 2550SOM Center Road,Willoughby Hills, 440-943-2500, clevelandclinic.org
14Hearing HealthcareUpdate, 10-11 a.m.Join Sally Rachek, AuD,CCC-A, audiologist, EuclidHospital, to learn about thehuman auditory (hearing)
6 Free Dementia CareWorkshop & Dinner,5-6 p.m.Senior Helpers, TheGables of Hudson, 5400Darrow Road, Hudson, 330-653-9170, RSVP requested.
12 AARP MatureSafe DrivingCourse, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.The American Associa-tion of Retired Persons(AARP) Driver Safety Pro-gram offers this (nondriv-ing) refresher course todrivers 50 years of ageand older. In manycases, completion willresult in a discount on in-surance. Registration re-quired: 330-721-5987.Medina Hospital, EdwardA. Hall Conference Cen-ter, 1000 E. WashingtonSt., Medina, 330-725-1000, clevelandclinic.org
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May 2014 Aging Answers 19
system and the latest innova-tions in hearing aid technol-ogy. Have your earsexamined using video-oto-scopy. Space is limited. Free.Reservations required: 216-692-8760. Euclid Hospital,Human Resources Confer-ence Room, 18901 LakeShore Blvd., Euclid,216-531-9000,clevelandclinic.org
14 Lorain CountyArthritis Expo & Wellness Fair, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.May is National ArthritisAwareness Month. The eventwill feature presentationsfrom three physicians and anarthritis speaker. Free healthscreenings, an ArthritisFoundation Aquatic Programdemonstration, exhibits frommore than 40 communitygroups and businesses, lightrefreshments and doorprizes. Registration is re-quired. Spitzer Center, 1005Abbe Road North, Elyria,800-245-2275 ext. 6420, loraincountyexpo.kintera.org
14 Senior Day, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.Join the City of Cleveland De-partment of Aging for an in-formation fair, program,lunch and entertainmentgeared toward seniors.Cleveland Public Hall, 500Lakeside Ave., Cleveland,216-664-3685
14 UnderstandingStroke, 5:30 p.m.Join Neurologist Megan Don-ahue, MD, and a panel ofhealthcare experts for an ed-ucational session on thesigns and symptoms ofstroke, as well as preventive
measures. Free. Registrationrequired: 877-243-3488, orvisit lakewoodhospital.org.Rocky River Civic Center,21016 Hilliard Blvd., RockyRiver
15 Skin Care as WeAge, 10:45 a.m.Join Cleveland Clinic derma-tologist John Anthony, MD,as he shares how to care foraging skin along with impor-tant skin cancer preventionand screening tips. Registerfor free skin cancer screen-ings 8:30-10:30 a.m. Free.Registration required: 330-721-5987. Cloverleaf Recreation Center, 8525Friendsville Road, Lodi
15 Benefits Check-Up, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.A Web-based program foradults 55 and over developedby the National Council onAging. Connect with govern-ment programs that can helppay for prescription drugs,healthcare, utilities and otherneeds. Stephanie TubbsJones Health Center, 1stFloor Lobby – NavigationCenter, 13944 Euclid Ave.,
East Cleveland, 216-767-4242, clevelandclinic.org
16 Senior Fraud,10:30 a.m.Join Medina Hospital Secu-rity Director Jim Bigam as hediscusses senior fraud andhow to stay safe. This is aHealthy Medina event. Free.For information, call 330-721-5987. Medina Commu-nity Recreation Center, 855Weymouth Road, Medina
20 Caregiver Support Group, 3 p.m.Professionally facilitatedsupport group meets thirdTuesday of each month todiscuss resources, tools andtechniques. Fee $2. OrangeCommunity Education andRecreation Center, 32000Chagrin Blvd., Pepper Pike.216-831-8601,orangerec.com
20 Stroke Prevention, 5:30 p.m.Education on stroke risksand prevention from BrianSummers, NREMT-P, EMS-I.Free. Call 216-587-8683.Maple Heights RecreationDepartment, 15901 LibbyRoad, Maple Heights, clevelandclinic.org
21 Better Balance,More Stable Life, 6 p.m.Are you having trouble main-taining your balance? Isdizziness a menace? Thesequestions and more will beaddressed at this free HealthTalk. Call 216-444-3641 orregister online at cleveland-clinic.org/healthtalks. RichardE. Jacobs Health Center,Conference Rooms A & B –1st Floor, 33100 ClevelandClinic Blvd., Avon
22 Free DementiaCare Workshop &Lunch, noon-1 p.m.Senior Helpers, Bath CreekEstates, 186 W. Bath Road,Cuyahoga Falls, 330-922-9911, RSVP requested.
22 Ask the Experts:Relieving Your JointPain, 5:30 p.m.Complimentary healthscreenings and wellness in-formation. Sit-down dinnerand informal Q & A discus-sion with a panel of medicaland surgical physicians fromCleveland Clinic. Reserva-tions required. Cost: $15 (in-cludes meal). 700 BetaBanquet & Conference Cen-ter, 700 Beta Drive, MayfieldVillage, clevelandclinic.org
27 Southwest General HealthScreenings, 9-11 a.m.Stop in for a blood pressureand/or blood glucose screen-ing. Discuss other health top-ics with a Southwest Generalnurse. Brunswick Library,3649 Center Road, Brunswick,330-273-4150, mcdl.info
15 24th AnnualMature Workers’Job & Career Fair, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. If you are a job seeker40 and older, this is agreat opportunity tomeet employers whowant to hire older adultswho bring with them ex-perience, dedication anda great work ethic. Freeparking and admission.Akron Fairlawn Hilton,3180 W. Market St.,Akron
21 Healthy Bones, 1–2 p.m.Elizabeth File, MD, discusses the effects ofosteoporosis and waysto maintain high bonedensity as you age. Freeon-site bone densityscreenings at the SeniorCenter from 12:30 to2:30 p.m. Free event. Registration suggested.Strongsville Senior
Center, 18100 RoyaltonRoad, Strongsville440-580-3275.
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One in eight people living in North-
east Ohio has diabetes — and it
can be a difficult disease to handle
alone. If you are a caregiver of a
loved one living with diabetes, you
can have a significant impact on
their well being. Diabetes is a dis-
ease involving a hormone called
insulin and its regulation. In dia-
betes, your body either does not
make enough insulin or does not
respond to the insulin it makes in
the usual way. As a result, you
have high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes affects about one in five
people age 65 and older. These
adults can develop either type 1 (in-
sulin-dependent) or type 2 dia-
betes. However, most elderly
people with diabetes have type 2.
As a caregiver, you can help
your loved one cope with their
disease. Oftentimes your loved
one won’t want to discuss their
diabetes and the consequences
of uncontrolled glucose levels,
however it’s important to remain
steadfast in your support and
discuss these matters.
Diabetes can affect older adults
in many different ways. If you notice
changes in their behavior it’s im-
portant to contact their physician.
• They may be taking over-the-
counter medications that
don’t interact well with their
diabetes medications.
• They may have a change in
appetite.
• High glucose levels may result
in conditions such as blurry
vision, and mobility issues due
to developing neuropathy.
• Uncontrolled glucose levels
may also cause confusion
and mask other medical
issues such as dementia.
There is a lot to learn about living
well with diabetes. As a caretaker
it’s important to be knowledgeable
about the complications of un-
treated diabetes. Complications
may include blindness, kidney dis-
ease, nerve disease, infections,
heart disease and strokes.
Below are some tips about how to
communicate with your loved one
about coping with diabetes. Ask
yourself the following questions:
• What things are hard/easy for
him or her to manage?
• How does he or she stay on
track to reach these goals?
• How can you help with
diabetes care tasks?
• Does your loved one feel down
sometimes?
• What can you do to help him or
her feel better?
• Does your loved one talk to his
or her doctor or other health
care team members about
feeling down?
Find out what your loved one
needs by asking these questions:
• What do I do that helps you with
your diabetes?
• What do I do that makes it
harder for you to manage your
diabetes?
• What can I do to help you more
than I do now?
Find ways to help. Nagging won’t
help either of you. When you’ve
found one way to help, add another
way. When it fits his or her lifestyle,
you could offer to:
• Keep track of health care visits.
• Make a list of questions for the
health care team.
• Go along on a visit to the
health care team.
• Find places to buy healthy,
low-cost foods.
• Prepare tasty, healthy meals.
• Find a safe place to walk or to
be more active.
For more information, contact the
Diabetes Partnership of Cleveland
at 216-591-0800.
20 Aging Answers May 2014
Helping Care for a Loved One with Diabetes
By Lori Izeman
Are you the caregiver of a person living with diabetes? You are not alone.
20 diabetes_Layout 1 4/16/14 10:41 AM Page 20
May 2014 Aging Answers 21
DirectoryCOUNSELING AND SUPPORT SERVICES
The Alzheimer’s Association of Cleveland23215 Commerce Park
Drive, Suite 300,
Beachwood,
216‐721‐8457, alzclv.org
Benjamin Rose Instituteon Aging11890 Fairhill Road,
Cleveland, 216‐791‐8000,
benrose.org
Caring Connections Geriatric Care Management9225 Cambridge Road,
Chardon, 216‐312‐7153,
clevelandcaring
connections.com
The Center for GeriatricPsychiatry at West Medical Center36000 Euclid Ave.,
Willoughby,
440‐918‐6366
Cleveland Clinic GeriatricEvaluation ProgramMain Campus: 9500 Euclid
Ave., Cleveland
Euclid Hospital: 18901 Lake
Shore Blvd., Euclid
Lakewood Hospital: 14519
Detroit Ave., Lakewood
clevelandclinic.org/
geriatrics
JFSA Care At Home3569 South Green Road,
Suite 316, Beachwood,
216‐378‐8660
The Gathering PlaceEast: 23300 Commerce
Park, Beachwood
West: 800 Sharon Drive,
Westlake, 216‐595‐9546,
touchedbycancer.org
National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners LLC,Alzheimer’s/DementiaTraining and Certifica-tions877‐729‐5191, nccdp.org
Parma Hospital GeriatricAssessment Medical Arts Center 4, 6115
Powers Blvd., Suite 202,
Parma, 440‐743‐2888
Psycho Social Therapies23715 Mercantile Road,
Suite 203A, Beachwood
216‐292‐2880,
pstofohio.com
Shaker Clinical Adult andGeriatric Psychiatry20600 Chagrin Blvd., Suite
620, Shaker Heights, 216‐
751‐4762, shakerclinic.com
University Hospitals Senior Adult Assessment
Program, 216‐844‐8447,
uhhospitals.org
Second Family AssistanceServices 30251 Euclid Ave., Suite A,
Wickliffe, 440‐943‐3025,
SecondFamily4U.com
Medina County Senior Services NetworkP.O. Box #1788, Medina,
medinaseniorservices.org
Geriatric AssesmentClinic- Akron GeneralMedical Center1 Akron General Ave.,
Akron, 330‐344‐6000,
akrongeneral.org
Brecksville Senior Center 49 Public Square,
Brecksville
Geauga County Dept. on Aging 12555 Ravenwood Drive,
Chardon, 440‐285‐2222
Elyria Senior Center 807 West Ave., Elyria,
440‐284‐9192
Soprema Senior Center & Café 617 School Drive,
Wadsworth, 330‐335‐1513,
wadsworthcity.com
Greenleaf Family Center580 Grant St., Akron,
330‐376‐9494,
greenleafctr.org
Community Support Services150 Cross St., Akron,
330‐253‐9388, cssbh.org
MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
Keeping Us SafeCleveland,
877‐907‐8841
Miracle Medical Transportation
5001 Mayfield Road, Suite
100, Lyndhurst,
440‐995‐8888
Mobile Care Group1495 Warren Road,
Lakewood,
216‐513‐1630
VNA Home Assist2500 East 22nd St.,
Cleveland,
216‐694‐4260
American Medical Transport 934 Grant Street, Suite 101
Akron, 330‐752‐4477,
bluevan.org
ADULT DAY SERVICES
Gateway Family House3 Gateway Drive, Euclid,
216‐486‐4949
St. Anthony Adult Day Center19350 Euclid Ave., Euclid,
216‐481‐4823 ext. 104
Acacia Place10603 Detroit Ave.,
Cleveland, 216‐226‐6090
Anna Maria of Aurora889 N. Aurora Road,
Aurora, 330‐562‐0702
Adult Day Center Akron1250 W. Exchange St.,
Akron, 330‐836‐9657,
seniorindependence.org
21 directory_Layout 1 4/15/14 9:28 PM Page 21
According to Chef Judson Allen, a “Next
Food Network Star” finalist and chef who
has maintained a 150-pound weight loss,
Americans can take care of their hearts
without sacrificing their favorite foods.
For Chef Allen, those favorite foods in-
clude fried pork, greens and corn bread —
a meal he remembers enjoying with his
family on Sunday nights. “Just like so
many people across the country, there are
certain meals that I just don’t want to give
up,” Allen says. “When I decided to create
a healthier version of that dish, I used pork
tenderloin, which is certified as heart-
healthy by the American Heart Associa-
tion, and so flavorful and versatile enough
to include in any generational recipe.”
For a complete meal that everyone will
love, serve Chef Allen’s BBQ Roasted Pork
Tenderloin Stuffed with Braised Collard
Greens & Caramelized Onions with corn
bread and a salad on the side. And re-
member, for a tender eating experience,
cook pork loin roasts, chops and tender-
loins to an internal temperature between
145° F (medium rare), followed by a three-
minute rest, and 160° F (medium), using a
digital thermometer to ensure an accurate
reading.
Learn about all the leanest cuts of pork
and try even more great-tasting pork ten-
derloin recipes at porkbeinspired.com.
22 Aging Answers May 2014
Article courtesy of Family Features.
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 c. onion, chopped
1/4 c. red bell pepper, finely
chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/8 tsp. sea salt to taste
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 c. low-sodium chicken stock
1/2 c. stout beer or 1 c. low-
sodium chicken broth
1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp. honey
1 lb. collard greens, washed
and cut
1 tsp. no-fat cream cheese
1 tsp. hot sauce
1 lb. pork tenderloin
1-1/2 c. any jarred BBQ sauce
Toothpicks
In a heavy pot, add oil and
onions and cook over medium
heat until caramelized. Add
red peppers, garlic, sea salt
and black pepper. Cook for
about 2 minutes.
Add chicken stock, beer,
vinegar and honey and bring
liquid to a boil. Add greens to
liquid. Cook for about 45 min-
utes to an hour or until tender.
Remove pot from heat and
drain remaining liquid. Add
cream cheese and hot sauce
and stir.
While greens cook, prepare
pork tenderloin. Butterfly your
pork tenderloin by cutting a
slit down the middle. Do not
cut through pork. Cover pork
with plastic wrap; pound with
flat side of meat mallet until
about 1/2-inch thick, starting
from middle and working out-
ward. Discard plastic wrap.
Spread collard green mix-
ture over tenderloin and tightly
roll. Secure seams with tooth-
picks.
Place pork in baking dish
and brush liberally with BBQ
sauce. Bake in 350° F pre-
heated oven for 25-30 minutes
or until internal temperature
of pork has reached 145° F.
Let pork rest for 5 minutes
and then slice and serve.
BBQ Roasted Pork Tenderloin Stuffed with Braised Collard Greens & Caramelized Onions Yield: 4-5 servings
Nutritional information per serving: 290 calories; 6 g fat; 1 g saturated fat;
26 g protein; 330 mg sodium; 65 mg cholesterol; 34 g carbohydrates; 4 g
fiber.
Love Your Heart withLean Pork Tenderloin
Photo courtesy of Family Features.
22 Recipe_Layout 1 4/16/14 10:42 AM Page 22
As the population continues to
age, the number of senior drivers
is increasing. Slower reaction
times, reduced eyesight and cop-
ing with a loss of independence,
are all issues that senior drivers
cope with daily.
Through the Geriatric Services
Department at Southwest General,
certified social workers are avail-
able to help families address the
key issues of safety and independ-
ence with Keeping Us Safe’s “Be-
yond Driving with Dignity” program.
The program was designed to
provide individuals with the tools
necessary to help older drivers and
their families work through the
complicated issue of age-related
diminishing driving skills. The pro-
gram is not built around the pre-
meditated goal of “taking the keys
away” from an older driver. Rather,
the program helps the older driver
and concerned family members
make appropriate
decisions on the future of the indi-
vidual’s safe driving career.
“Our program is designed to
save lives while simultaneously
helping to ease the burden of
family members as they find
themselves faced with this very
challenging issue,” says Matt Gur-
well, a retired Ohio State trooper
and CEO of Keeping Us Safe.
The Keeping Us Safe program
has three primary functions,
providing:
• Timely relief to families in
need as they face the challenging
issue of a loved one’s diminishing
driving skills as a result of the
natural aging process.
• Assistance and support to
older drivers as they face the emo-
tional issue of a driving retirement.
• Educational programs for pro-
fessionals as they find themselves
confronted with this issue in a
professional setting.
“Having received this
certification, we
feel confident in knowing that the
Geriatric Services Department at
Southwest General is now well-
suited to provide older drivers and
their families with a very specific
program that will help them make
decisions on how to keep the older
driver safe,” said Donna Barrett,
manager, Community Health and
Geriatric Services, Southwest
General. “Our goal through this
program is to provide as many
resources as possible to the older
driver and the family as well as to
serve as an emotional guide
throughout the process.”
If you would like to learn more
about Southwest General’s Beyond
Driving with Dignity program, call
the Health Connection at 440-816-
5050 or visit keepingussafe.org.
Helping Older Drivers Stay Safe
May 2014 Aging Answers 23
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