“These active adults are the largest, wealthiest and fastest-growing segment in the population and they are searching for products, services and programs that are designed specifically for them,” says Lisa Puma, senior director of Marketing of GHA Community Management. Essentially, these individuals are looking for a maintenance-free, activity-filled, and well-managed community where they can begin their transition into retirement.

An option that perfectly complements the lifestyles of these vigorous individuals””while shifting from the common misconceptions surrounding senior housing””are Active Adult Communities, a unique form of housing where individuals move in at the age of 55 or older to enjoy the perks of various amenities. Many communities offer the option of purchasing a home or renting to further accommodate individual financial needs.

As with any other housing option, it is recommended that individuals speak to residents and the management of prospective communities in order to become familiar with their philosophy. It is also important to understand how the management of active adult communities differs from multi-family management.

“Unlike multi-family, active adult communities are unique because they require more complex management to serve the lifestyle of the homeowners,” says Lisa.”The goal is not only to achieve a successful homeowners association, but to build social involvement, exercise, education, stress reduction and a balanced lifestyle.”

GHA Community Management has a specialty division that provides professional management and lifestyle services to meet the needs of active adult communities. This includes services ranging from in-home maintenance to energy and utility management as well as various consulting services, including those for community lifestyle directors and amenity and recreational building design reviews.

Although many do not offer healthcare services, active adult communities are an appealing housing option with their extensive list of amenities and homes that are low maintenance and easily accessible. The communities are typically adjacent to recreational facilities and golf courses, and often include tennis courts and swimming pools among other perks.

With all of these aspects of a community, it is the responsibility of active adult management and key members of the staff to establish a relationship with residents that ensures the different facets of their home suits their needs and overall lifestyle.

Dolores McGutherie is one example proving just how beneficial taking advantage of these unique resources can be. Following retirement, her husband returned home one day and mentioned an organization he had heard about that could deliver groceries right into one’s kitchen and even unpacked and put the groceries away when needed.

Top Banana Home Delivered Groceries, Inc. is a nonprofit organization whose services enable individuals to live healthier and more independent lives. Knowing this reputation and having met people from the organization, the couple decided to give it a try.

“We thought we both would like it and we certainly did,” said Dolores.

Almost every week, she and her husband made a list for groceries and placed a simple phone call to Top Banana who in turn delivered those items on a consistent schedule.

When her husband passed and Dolores began experiencing her own health problems, this service became even more vital in helping her to remain within the comforts of her home.

“After he passed, I stuck with them and they’ve helped me quite a bit,” she said. “It’s hard for me to get to the store and they assist me with the products and everything that I need.”

After 15 years with Top Banana, Dolores continues to place her order almost every week knowing her groceries will arrive promptly (at her door) on Friday mornings. This convenience has enabled Dolores to engage in more activities at the church she recently joined.

As a result, she does not hesitate to mention the trusted organization to other residents of her building.

“Top Banana is very helpful and I would recommend them to anybody,” she said.

With several available resources, individuals can surely find whatever they need to achieve their immediate or long-term goals. And because she sought help from a trusted organization, Dolores has maintained her independence and ability to age in place.

When her mother developed dementia, Karen realized she only had one week to empty her Pikesville condominium and prepare if for sale. During that same week, she also had to move her father from a nursing home to an assisted living facility.

As someone who is first to admit she is not the greatest organizer, Karen realized she needed support to ease the overwhelming of moving. She called Senior Transitions, a Maryland-based service that offers moving and downsizing assistance.

At first, Karen and Mary Ellen, a staff member, found nothing surprising-lots of paper, clutter, and the like. However, on the last day of sorting, they stumbled across an envelope with six $10,000 savings bonds.

The find came as an enormous relief to Karen, whose mother had dwindled her savings by generously giving money away to other relatives, friends and worthy causes. She was excited about the prospect of having more money to provide quality care for her mother.

The day wasn’t done, however. A search of a file drawer uncovered lost family documents that included passports belonging to Karen’s grandparents, who moved during the holocaust to escape death. When they died, Karen’s family did not receive any of their historical belongings. Now she had something to treasure from years to come.

In one week, Karen was able to make arrangements for the sale of the condo. Her mother is adjusting and she has treasured mementos she never dreamed would be seen again.

To keep yourself in good shape mentally and emotionally, it is important that you think of yourself. It is O.K. to do this; in fact, you will be doing your loved one a favor as you will be far more effective as a caregiver when you are relaxed and rested. During their industry training, professional caregivers are encouraged to remember the importance of caring for themselves. The same advice is key, and perhaps even more essential, for the family caregiver.

Before you are drained of all physical and emotional reserves, here are a few recommendations that are sure to rejuvenate the spirit:

Pamper yourself. This could be anything from taking time to enjoy a massage or a manicure to doing absolutely nothing.

Make a date with your spouse or friends for a night out, so that you can enjoy some time away from home.

Take a walk. Whether it be in your neighborhood or in a nearby park, enjoy the beauty of nature. The fresh air will work wonders in clearing your mind.

Take time to laugh. Find humor in everyday situations. Laughter is surely the best medicine, and there is no copay!

Take care of your physical self. This can be as simple as taking time to eat nutritious meals and getting adequate sleep.

Buy yourself flowers. There is nothing like a colorful bouquet to lift spirits.

Take time to nurture your closest relationships as these can restore energy and alleviate some of the psychological effects of burnout.

Connect with a cause or community group that you believe in. Joining such a group allows you to meet others with similar interests.

Set limits. Do not try to do it all yourself. Remember you need to stay healthy, so accept help when it is offered. Do not be afraid to ask relatives and friends for assistance.

Make time to read. Get a book that will transport you to another time and place.

Bob Callaghan is the Immediate Past Chairperson, New York State Association of Health Care Providers. For further information, visit www.nyshcp.org/lichapter.shtml

Dr. Russell Tearney and his wife, Katherine, met while attending Virginia Union University in Richmond. The couple has spent their whole lives in education-either as students or as teachers. Dr. Tearney obtained a Ph.D. from Howard University and went on to teach cardiovascular physiology at the University until his retirement. Mrs. Tearney received a degree in elementary education and taught in the D.C. public school system for 43 years. After so many years in the same school, Mrs. Tearney had the pleasure of teaching parents and their children

Being a part of the D.C. school system’s Embassy Adoption Program was one of the highlights of Mrs. Tearney’s long career. She recalls, “I worked with children from France, Germany, China, and Thailand.” Throughout the course of the program, Mrs. Tearney’s students were “adopted” by a country. They studied the country’s history and culture in detail and received student visitors who spoke about their native land. The program, which continues today, culminated with a visit to the respective embassy.

The Tearneys had been living in their family home in Silver Spring for 30 years when Dr. Tearney got ill. His illness resulted in a long hospitalization and recovery process. The couple realized that their house was quickly becoming more than they could manage. After a visit to nearby Riderwood, a continuing care retirement community, they decided it was time for a move.

However, moving seemed like a daunting task to Dr. and Mrs. Tearney. She recalls, “I thought, ‘How in the world are we going to do this?’” When their Long & Foster Realtor, Brad Brown, recommended the services of Scott Swingler with Executor Assistance to help with moving and downsizing, the Tearneys were hopeful. Scott and his staff came over and went through the house with the couple. “They told us that all we would have to do was say “Yeah” or “Nah” for whether or not we wanted to take something, and they would help with everything else,” says Mrs. Tearney.

Executor Assistance associates, Peggy and Daphne, helped the Tearneys through every step of the moving process. They helped them decide what items to donate to charity and what to throw away. The couple composed a diagram of how they wanted their furniture placed, and they set up the new home to those specifications.

“It really was a lifesaver,” Mrs. Tearney says. Just a few months after moving in, the couple is completely settled. She says, “Since we moved, I have talked to people who have been living here for two years and haven’t finished unpacking. We are really lucky in that all we really had to do was walk in on moving day and almost everything was already done.”

Without stacks of boxes to contend with, the Tearneys are focusing on enjoying all the amenities at their new community. Mrs. Tearney lists the activities they are considering participating in: “My husband is interested in wood modeling, and he wants to go fishing in the pond. We are both going to take physical fitness classes, and I’m thinking about taking a computer class.”

The United Nations estimates that about one out of every 10 people on the planet today is at least 60 years old. By 2050, it’s projected to be one out of five. Which means that not only will there be more old people, but there will be relatively fewer young people to support them.

Demographer Richard Lee of the Universiy of California at Berkley says this aging of the world has a significant impact on economies. “Population aging increases the concentration of population in the older ages and therefore it is costly,” he said.

Aging populations consume more and produce less. With more people living longer, it could get expensive. But Mr. Lee says with continuing increases in worker productivity and smart planning, it can be manageable.

Societies have different methods for caring for the elderly, but each carries a cost. Generally, there are three types of support. Seniors can live off the wealth they accumulated when they were younger. They can rely on their family to take care of them, or they can rely on the government.

In industrialized nations, governments created publicly-funded support systems. These worked relatively well until recent years, when aging population growth in places like the United States and western Europe began to undermine the systems finances. These nations now face some tough choices. Mr. Lee says the elderly in some of these countries must either receive less money, retire later or increase taxes to make the system sustainable.

Most developing nations have not built this type of government-funded support, but have instead relied on families to care for their elderly. These nations also generally have much younger populations, which means their situation is not as urgent as more developed nations. But Mr. Lee says that doesn’t mean they can ignore the issue.

“Third world countries should give very careful thought to this process, to population aging and how it may affect their economies – now, before population aging may have even appeared on their radar screens as an issue,” he explained.

Mr. Lee says some governments see family support systems as a way to avoid the financial problems that industrial nations face with their publicly-funded safety nets. But he says history has shown that familial support systems are generally weakened when nations become more prosperous — as fewer children live with and care for their parents. And he says if the nations wait too long, it may be too late.

“Once population aging has become visible demographically, it’s really too late to tell people who are just about to retire that they should have been saving since the time they were 20,” added Mr. Lee.

For those people planning on retiring in 2050, the time to start saving was five years ago.

Article original printed on Voice of America’s website: www.voanews.com

Senior Health Watch focuses on what health care service providers are concentrating on-health issues that are specifically important to seniors and their families. Gerontology programs are among the most technologically advanced programs in area hospitals. From Diabetes to Alzheimer’s and from Cardiology to Orthopaedics, the health problems that directly affect a large majority of the senior population are now, more than ever, on the forefront of the medical community’s mind.

Preparing for the upcoming senior boom, while caring for the nation’s elderly, has already proven to be an arduous task. However, health care service providers have answered this challenges by funneling more financial, technical, and manpower resources toward delivering high quality treatment options for seniors.

Featured Health Issue: Orthopaedics
Orthopaedics focuses on the care and treatment of the musculoskeletal system. The musculoskeletal system includes the bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves, and skin. Physicians specializing in this area of medicine are called orthopaedic surgeons or orthopaedists. Orthopaedists treat diseases and conditions ranging from fractures and dislocations to arthritis and osteoporosis. Many of their areas of specialization are especially important to the continued health and mobility of seniors.

Treatment options for orthopaedic problems include medical treatments, rehabilitation, and surgery. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), “Typically, as much as 50 percent of the orthopaedist’s practice is devoted to non-surgical or medical management of injuries or disease and 50 percent to surgical management.”

Surgical procedures can be used to correct problems with bones, joints, muscles, and tendons and restore lost function. One of the most common surgical procedures performed by Orthopaedic surgeons is total joint replacement, during which an injured or diseased joint is replaced with a prosthetic device. The most common joint replacement surgeries are hip replacement and knee replacement. “In 2002, more than 557,000 hip or knee replacement surgeries were performed,” notes AAOS’ website.

Hip replacement surgery is most often performed as a result of a current hip fracture, joint pain from a previous injury, or arthritis. The overall goal of hip replacement surgery is to allow patients to perform most of the activities they did prior to surgery without pain. Before deciding to undergo hip replacement surgery, patients should first attempt to treat their condition with the use of a cane or other walking aid, medication, and physical therapy. Patients should also consult with their Orthopaedist regarding other joint rehabilitation options.

Knee replacement surgery can be helpful for individuals who are suffering from stiff, painful knees that prevent them from performing normal daily activities without pain. Knee pain can be a result of arthritis, a previous injury, joint overuse, or a number of other causes. Like candidates for other joint replacement surgery, Knee replacement patients should exhaust all other treatment options-including the use of walking supports, anti-inflammatory drugs, and physical therapy-before seeking surgery. A qualified orthopaedic surgeon can help patients make a final determination as to whether or not surgery is right for them.

Following joint replacement, patients will spend several days recovering in the hospital and will then be sent home or to a rehabilitation facility to continue the initial healing process. After the initial healing period, patients will generally work with a Physical Therapist for outpatient therapy for another one to two months. With the help of Orthopaedists, Physical Therapists can put together a comprehensive exercise routine that will help patients recover from surgery and regain the ability to perform daily activities without pain.

Aging Joints
While muscle and joint problems are often caused by arthritis or injuries, exercise and a healthy lifestyle can help to prevent problems or relieve pain once it exists. Many patients that experience muscle or joint pain erroneously assume that increased movement will increase their pain. Normal soreness after exercising will likely occur, but with continued activity, many patients actually experience a reduction in pain.

The loss of muscle and bone mass is a normal part of the aging process and cannot be prevented. However, exercising and regulating diet can help to slow the process, thereby reducing the risk of age-related joint and muscle injuries. Stretching, walking, swimming, or engaging in another moderate physical activity for just 30 minutes a day will help to keep muscles and bones strong and healthy.

As the field of Orthopaedics continues to grow, patients are benefiting from an increasingly wide range of options to treat muscle and joint problems. Senior patients in particular have seen a dramatic increase in the treatment options available to remedy painful muscle and joint problems resulting from old injuries, recent falls, or arthritis and other chronic conditions. By making more pro-active personal care decisions and seeking proper treatment from medical professionals, seniors can now experience increased mobility and decreased muscle and joint pain and weakness for generations to come.

Article adapted from information available on the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ website. Visit www.aaos.org for more information.

Get Out and Get Moving

Did you know that . . .

Lack of exercise and poor diet are the second largest cause of death in the U.S.

Physical activity helps to delay, or even prevent, diseases like cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, and diabetes.

Seniors can improve their muscle mass, balance, and strength by exercising.

Regular exercise can help seniors retain their mobility and avoid disabilities.

Exercise can improve some diseases and disabilities in older people.

Exercise can help relieve depression.

Adapted From: http://www.nia.nih.gov/health/agepages/exercise.htm.

BONE HEALTH: Spotlight on Arthritis

Arthritis . . .

Can cause pain and loss of movement in joints in any part of the body

Is one of the most common diseases in the U.S.

Affects half of all adults over the age of 65

Causes joint pain and lessened mobility

Can lead to serious disabilities

Is most effectively treated by rest and exercise

Improves when sufferers are taught how to properly use their joints

Adapted From: http://www.nia.nih.gov/health/agepages/arthritis.htm

This has led many people to seek out an increasingly popular option-retirement communities in disguise. These are homes apartments, condos, or customized living arrangements that give people many of the benefits of an active adult or retirement community without age restrictions. Active adults are turning to these unofficial retirement communities as an excellent alternative to more traditional communities. Communities are made up of intergenerational residents, providing diversity and eliminating stigma. Yet, active seniors are still able to enjoy amenities such as pools, common areas, secure buildings, and a variety of other services now available in apartment, condo, and new home communities.

Urban environments and college towns are popular areas for retirement communities in disguise. These environments generally offer excellent public transportation systems, extensive cultural offerings, and the opportunity for socialization and interaction with people of all ages and from all walks of life.

While these communities provide an exciting new option for retirees, they do have their potential downsides. Unlike retirement communities, there are no healthcare offerings. Individuals will need to plan ahead for any healthcare needs that may arise in the future. Organized social clubs or special transportation programs will likely not be available either. Neighbors may be in a different phase of life. This could mean late night parties or small children. However, if individuals are seeking a community without the age restrictions and resulting stigmas associated with retirement communities, these options are worth investigating.

Although locating a retirement community in disguise will be more difficult than finding a traditional retirement community, the process can lead to an ideal living situation for seniors who are seeking something different. Researching local options and investigating availability is the first step in the process. After reviewing several of the available options, individuals should create a wish list of everything they want in a new home. The list should be specific and include all needs and desires. Some items to consider are an open floor plan with a first-floor master bedroom, communities that require no yard work or exterior maintenance, and locations that are in close proximity to shopping centers, churches, country clubs, or public transportation. The longer and more specific the wish list, the better the fit will be.

Armed with this list, active adults should seek the help of a Realtor, preferably one that specializes in working with seniors and their families. Interview several Realtors before making a final decision.

Realtors can use their expertise and their professional resources to identify neighborhoods, apartments, condos, and other options that provide nice alternatives to traditional retirement communities. Neighborhoods filled with no maintenance patio homes, convenient condos or apartments, and planned communities offering great floor plans are all readily available in this area.

Consumers will need to be patient and dedicated in order to find their dream retirement home. There may be nothing available immediately, but a little diligence will undoubtedly pay off. By working hard on their dream house lists, finding a good Realtor, and having a little patience, active adults just might uncover a retirement community in disguise.

While Alzheimer’s may be a household word, less well known is the fact that there are several other causes of age-related dementia — and that all of these need to be considered and ruled out before an Alzheimer’s diagnosis is made.

Vascular disease can affect the brain

A diverse group of vascular diseases constitute a major cause of cognitive decline among elderly Americans and Europeans. Among these diseases are mild cognitive impairments such as memory problems, multi- and single infarct dementias, lacunar lesions, hemorrhagic lesions, Binswager’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease compounded by vascular problems.

“For decades, vascular causes of cognitive impairment in the elderly were most commonly known as senile dementia and arteriosclerosis,” observes Meg Borders, R.N., director of health services at Candle Light Cove Assisted Living and Alzheimer’s Care. Hypertension is present in about half the cases, and stroke certainly increases risk, but Borders notes that there are also small vessel problems, such as Binswager’s and lacunar disease, and large vessel cardiac diseases that can cause dementia.

Getting an accurate diagnosis is important, given the many treatments available for vascular conditions. Although Alzheimer’s cannot be diagnosed through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or other non-invasive technology, vascular disease (as well as tumors or other problems) can. Some of the newer drugs for Alzheimer’s disease also help manage the symptoms of vascular dementia.

Neurological conditions causing dementia

In addition to vascular conditions, Parkinson’s disease and Lewy Bodies Syndrome are two significant causes of dementia. In dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), microscopic deposits in the brain cause damage to nerve cells.

“Overall, people with this kind of dementia seem more ‘in and out’ – they may be reasonable and lucid in the morning, and extremely disoriented and confused a few hours later – whereas Alzheimer’s patients have a more consistent cognitive disability,” Borders observes. “DLB patients not only have the reasoning and memory losses that Alzheimer’s disease causes, they also suffer delusions and visual hallucinations.”

Compounding these are physical symptoms such as slowness, stiffness, and tremor that impair their ability to take care of their personal needs and increase their risk of falling.

Traumatic brain injury such as those caused by accident or severe seizures also can cause dementia in people of any age, as can HIV and incurable diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, Huntington’s Disease and Pick’s Disease.

The role of alcohol abuse

Borders also has managed many cases of alcohol dementia. The most severe form, Korsakoff’s Syndrome, results from heavy drinking over a long period of time, which causes a thiamine deficiency that damages a small area of the brain. Once alcohol consumption stops, a patient can make a total or partial recovery, unless he or she also suffers from a broader form of alcohol dementia.

“Damage to the stomach lining and poor vitamin absorption can result from long-term alcohol abuse, and in turn, these can cause severe short-term memory loss and impairment in a wide range of cognitive skills,” Borders explains.

The importance of early diagnosis

On a more positive note, Borders points out that confusion and memory loss can be caused by easily treatable conditions such as severe depression, thyroid deficiency, and severe deficiencies in B-vitamins.

“It’s important for families to avoid jumping to the Alzheimer’s conclusion,” says Borders. “And to avoid jumping to the conclusion that confusion, forgetfulness, or personality changes are merely inevitable effects of aging that can’t be treated. Seeking assessment and pursuing diagnosis sooner rather than later will most likely result in a treatment plan that addresses the symptoms and maybe even halts, or at least slows, the disease progression.”

Kate Gallagher is marketing director for Candle Light Cove.

Combine this information with the Center for Disease Control’s findings that falls are the leading cause of injury deaths among people 65 years and older and 60% of these fatal falls happen at home, and it is no wonder that there is a growing trend among homebuilders and remodelers to create “universal design” living spaces.

Universal design homes need to accommodate occupants with decreased health, vision, mobility, hearing, dexterity and income. There are a number of ways that new houses can be designed, or existing houses can be remodeled, to make life easier for people with such limitations, whether they be elderly or a teenager with a ski injury. And the bonus is that such modifications usually make the home more comfortable for everyone. The concept of universal design works for all.

Most issues related to universal design fit into one of three categories: convenience, safety/health, and economy. Designs for convenience include anything that makes life easier, such as automatic garage door openers, lighted switches, lever handles for doors and faucets, wheelchair ramps, home elevators and stair lifts, wider halls and doors, intercom systems, taller toilets, openings without raised thresholds (including shower stalls), among many others.

Safety considerations include adjusting water temperature to avoid scalding injuries, good lighting, installation of smoke detectors, placement of handrails and grab-bars, removal of slippery throw rugs and generally reducing clutter and obstacles.

*Universally Designed Homes generally include:*

* No-step entries. A universal home has no stairs leading into the home or between the home’s main rooms.

* One-story living. All living spaces are located on one, barrier-free level.

* Wide doorways. 32-36 doorways make it easier for wheelchairs to pass through and also make moving big items in and out of the house much simpler.

* Wide hallways. Hallways in a universal home are 36-42 inches wide. This allows for easier movement throughout the house.
Extra floor space. Added floor space affords individuals in wheelchairs more space for turning and helps everyone feel less cramped.

* Floors and bathtubs with non-slip surfaces. This safety measure is helpful for everyone.

* Handrails on steps and grab bars in bathrooms. Makes climbing steps and bathing safer and more convenient.

* Thresholds that are flush with the floor. These make it easy for a wheelchair to get through a doorway and keep others from tripping.

* Good lighting. Appropriate lighting helps everyone see better, including those with poor vision.

* Lever door handles and rocker light switches. Easy to use knobs and switches are great for people with poor hand strength and are convenient for others too.

_Adapted from the Universal Design section of the AARP’s website at: http://www.aarp.org/life/homedesign/Articles/a2004-03-23-whatis_univdesign.html_