Winter is nearly upon us and as the temperatures drop and the snow falls it is important to prepare for the dangers that come with winter. For seniors in the northern part of the country winter poses a number of risks we need to be on the look out for. Reports have shown much higher incidences of injury and illness due to icy sidewalks, cold and dry air, flu viruses and in many cases, hypothermia.  If you are worried about the upcoming winter fear not, I have compiled a list of tips that help you stay health this season.

• Older adults are more susceptible to hypothermia, which occurs when too much heat escapes from the body. It is important to dress warmly and keep dry, but equally important to remember good nutrition. Food provides the fuel we need to keep warm. Hot food and warm drinks are best to warm the body.
• When going outdoors, remember to dress warmly. Wear layered, loose-fitting clothing and mittens. When possible, wear a hat to protect against heat loss since close to half of all body heat is lost through the head.
• You can prevent many winter hazards simply by planning ahead. Before winter arrives, check all the windows and doors in your home for cracked or worn sealants. A new application of caulking may be needed; in a pinch, staple a sheet of plastic tarp over really old windows.
• To avoid slips and falls, wear non-skid boots or other shoes with plenty of traction.
• Cold weather can put extra strain on the heart. When doing winter chores such as shoveling snow, do some warm-up exercises first and take many breaks.
• When using a portable heater, plug the heater directly into an outlet, not to an extension cord. Make sure the outlet and wiring are in good condition. Keep the area around the heater clear of furniture, newspaper or other flammable materials and take special care to avoid tripping over cords.

I have doing a lot of reading recently about the pros and cons for seniors on the topic of owning a pet and I have come out conflicted.  Many studies have proven that pets are good for the health their owners Studies suggest that pet owners will commonly have their blood pressure improve, their disposition on life becomes more positive, and they seem to have more purpose in their day to day lives.

However there are other studies that suggest that pets, especially cats and dogs, are a great hazard to seniors.  240 seniors are sent to the emergency room everyday by pet caused falls. These falls usually happen because the senior tripped over their pet, a pet toy, or got tangled in a leash while on a walk. Ultimately it’s going to be a case by case situation for whether or not it’s a good idea for a senior to keep a pet based on whether or not the pet owner has a history of falls and if the pet owner has people that could help them take care of the pet more safely.

Tips for pet owners:

• Consider hiring a dog walker.
• Consider either get rid of chew toys or keep them to a minimal as they pose a tripping hazard
• Consider having your dog take obedience or behavioral training classes

Fishing is a great low stress and low impact sport that keeps the fisherman moving and active for an entire day. In addition to be a fun, relaxing, and relatively safe way to spend the day it is also a great way to stay active and healthy.

Benefits for the heart

Walking around your favorite fishing hole can be a great way to keep your heart rate up as you stroll around casting line after line. In addition to walking the act of reeling in a fish can also serve to keep your body in motion.

Benefits the Brain

Being outdoors and spending a few relaxing hours outside can be a great way to relieve stress. It also give the mind a chance to unplug and recharge which can give you more focus.

Benefits to the Body

Fishing is a great way to improve dexterity because it involves baiting a hook, casting a line, and reeling in the lines. This keeps your arms, fingers, and shoulders flexible and gives you a chance to use muscles that don’t see a lot of action day to day.

For those out there who are looking to expand your artistic horizons Fort Wayne is hosting a free to the public Arts festival on Saturday Aug. 23.  The festival will have ten stages and over 70 different live performances including music, theater, and dancing.  In addition to the performances there will be a number of hands on activities, a variety of great food available, and free admission to the museum of art and history center. It will be a fun way to take in the city and enjoy the summer season.

In a survey from the Center for Advancing Health it was revealed that patients with chronic conditions are not nearly proactive enough about their health.  Surveyed doctors state that patients don’t take the time to become more informed about their conditions and are often misinformed or lack critical knowledge.  Health-care providers want patients to take a more active role in their own care because it leads to lower costs and better outcomes.

Tips to help become a more proactive and engaged patient:

• Bring a list of questions to doctor’s appointments.
• Ask if the medicines you are being prescribed will interact poorly with other medicines you are taking
• Ask if the medicines you are taking will interact poorly with other health problems you may be having
• Maintain a personal medical record

We all know that leading an active lifestyle can improve the quality of your life significantly but did you know you can get the same benefits in your own backyard?  A recent study by Texas A&M looked at the benefits of gardening on the health and wellness of Seniors.  Researchers observed and interviewed 298 seniors and discovered the participants who kept a garden were more likely to have a more optimistic outlook on life, a more positive self-image, and (not surprisingly) a diet comprised of more healthy fresh foods.

If you are reading and thinking of starting your own garden I have a few tips that can help make all the difference for the senior gardener:

• Purchase seed and seed tape for easier handling and planting.
• Use a vertical garden or trellis. This allows you to plant and weed without stooping or bending.
• Build and design raised beds that provide a place to sit and garden.
• Try using a stool, chair, or bench to avoid constant stooping or squatting.
• For safety sake, garden early in the morning or late in the day. Avoid being out between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Drink plenty of decaffeinated fluids to prevent dehydration. Also, allow time for breaks in the shade.
• Wear lightweight clothing, long sleeved shirt, eye protection, sunscreen, a big hat to shade face, and gardening gloves.

On behalf of People TrueCare, we hope you have a bountiful season of healthy and colorful outcomes of your gardening talents!

Are you taking over the responsibilities of caring for your parents, a loved one or a senior friend?  Understanding and organizing another person’s personal, financial, and legal affairs can be overwhelming if you don’t have a set of guidelines to work from.

What should be on the list?

Attorney, Certified Public Accountant, Certified Financial Planner, Trust Officer,  Insurance Agent, Religious advisor, Doctor, a neighbour who runs errands, social services in use such as home-bound meals.

Find out where important documents are kept and write everything down on a log. Estate documents, living will, birth certificates, marriage licenses, social security card, insurance cards.

Financial information should be stored in a secure place. Make a list including address, account owner, account number, beneficiary and value. Chequing, Savings, and Investment accounts, Stocks, Mutual Funds, Investments, Trusts, IRAs, Retirement Plans, Pensions, etc.

Compile basic medical information. Physicians, Specialists, Medical Conditions, Current medications or treatments, allergies, past surgeries. Keep a copy of medical information in the person’s home in an easy to access place in case of an emergency and a second copy with the Health Care Attorney-In-Fact.

Having information at your fingertips will help ease the transition and make the process less overwhelming for all concerned.

Make sure this list is accessible at all times to anyone who is taking care of the seniors you care for.

Since mid-August, the attentive commuters in northeast Indiana, may have noticed bright, lime green Ford Fiestas wrapped with People TrueCare logos criss-crossing the area.

“People TrueCare is a new, state-licensed personal services agency. We provide customized care to individuals and families throughout every stage of their lives, from newborns to seniors,” Jami VandeVelde, CEO of the Auburn-based company, says, “Our professionals use our People True Care Cars to provide in-home, hands-on assistance or can also be seen running errands for clients.”

Shown with one of the bright, lime green Ford Fiestas, wrapped with People TrueCare logos are company officials. From left, are Dianna Holmes, chief operating officer; Jami VandeVelde, RN and chief executive officer; and Bryan Nugen, owner.

Founded in 2013, People TrueCare has three divisions, Baby TrueCare, Personal TrueCare and Senior TrueCare. “We were formerly known as Concierge for You,” VandeVelde explains, “we’ve been in business since 2011 but needed to expand.”

The full-service agency grew out of an increased demand
for a wider array of personal services and the need to provide them in a more specialized manner.

“For instance, with Senior TrueCare our services allow individuals to live independently longer in their own homes and continue with their daily routines,” she says, “Our home care professionals are a great asset for our seniors.”

Senior TrueCare provides customized, independent living to individuals. While the services are defined by each client, social media testimonials gush that the care givers attentions go beyond expectations. Along with prolonging seniors’ autonomy, such custom arrangements have the added benefit of allowing heads of families to maintain their traditional roles and relationships with family members.

Senior TrueCare’s careful hiring practices, mean senior care-givers are personable, close-in-age, veterans in their field, have a lifetime of experience, make common-sense decisions and are trained to assist with an individual’s evolving needs.

“We carefully select our team members through an extensive interview process and background check,” the CEO says of her professional and experienced care-givers.

“But the real difference is that our people have a calling. A lot of it has to do with their can-do attitudes, they see themselves as problem solvers and have a deep-set and personal desire to make a difference in individuals’ lives,” says VandeVelde.

Now, when Northeast Indiana residents see the People TrueCare Cars, they’ll know it’s a good thing. They’re on the road to provide a helping hand to someone in the community.

See full article in Senior Life Newspaper

Great article from AARP

Do you ever wonder what you are looking for when checking on your aging parents or relatives? This is a fantastic article that will help answer some of the most asked questions. In home care is a great service that we provide to overcome many of the obsticles your aging family members or neighbors face.

Read article

AUBURN — Often times, Auburn attorney Bryan Nugen hears woeful tales from clients he serves in his practice, which focuses on elder law, estate planning, trusts and asset preservation.

Those tales of institutionalization in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities led Nugen and nurse Jami VandeVelde to develop a cutting-edge personal service agency called Concierge For You, which operates out of Nugen’s Auburn office and serves clients in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio, Nugen said.

“I often see my clients aging and see their needs changing,” Nugen said. “They aren’t as independent as they once were, and they need a little extra help at home. We provide quality care in home so clients can maintain thier dignity and stay in their homes longer.”

Nugen said the goal is twofold — to match clients with a concierge who will serve as both a personal assistant while developing a friendship, and to allow clients’ families to enjoy life with their loved one without having to worry about being constant caregivers.

“Another goal is for families and loved ones to maintain traditional roles to clients so they don’t fall into the role of a caregiver, themselves,” Nugen said.

Nugen and VandeVelde have spent the better part of the past year researching the pitfalls of other personal-service agencies and hammering out a plan to avoid similar problems. The result, both agree, is a revolutionary way of caring for the elderly.

Concierge For You tracks all of its staff via GPS satellite on mobile devices to ensure they are where they are supposed to be. In addition, the company provides routine email updates and photos of their loved one’s day to family members.

“A child could literally have every-eight-hour updates of what is going on with their parent,” Nugen said. “They can feel like they are a part of mom or dad’s life without being in the home.”

The service, he said, is great for families who are spread across the country and worry about their parents’ well being.

Another unique feature of Concierge for You, VandeVelde said, is the matching of the concierges with clients. All concierge employees are age-appropriate for the clients they are assigned to, in order to build a companionship-based relationship. The company’s oldest concierge is 84.

“The key is to match a client’s likes and dislikes and needs with the likes and dislikes and skill level of a concierge,” Nugen said.

All concierges are subjected to rigorous screening, Nugen said, which includes a criminal background check, credit check, a sexual predator history and employment history, among other things.

Nugen said those accepted for employment then complete an in-depth training regimen focusing on skills such as detecting signs of stroke, dementia or Alzheimer’s, how to treat skin appropriately and how to lift clients when necessary.

Concierges also are trained to be at the beck and call of their clients. Nugen said the company’s philosophy is to never say no to a client.

The blending of Nugen’s elder law experience and VandeVelde’s 10-year nursing history, they say, has created a level of knowledge, expertise and care.

“I’d challenge any other company to try to compete with what we offer,” VandeVelde said. “This is very personal to me, I feel a personal responsibility to ensure every client is receiving the best care possible. We want every client to have a five-star experience.”

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