Senior Living A special supplement to the Albert Lea Tribune Monday, January 20, 2014
Submitted
A resident at St. John’s Lutheran Home took a photo as Frosty the Snowman during an indoor winter carnival on Friday. The carnival included games, music and food.
Poor conditions can cause falls
By Tiffany Krupke
tiffany.krupke@albertleatribune.com
When the weather outside is frightful, the chance for accidents like slips and falls increases. Walking on the ice can be dangerous, particularly to people who already have mobility issues, such as senior citizens. Patty Peterson, a registered occupational therapist for the Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea, has spent 20 years working with patients in the area. She helps people do day-to-day tasks and help create plans to maximize well-being. During winter weather, people are more likely to break a bone, Peterson said, particularly in February and March when the snow begins to melt. When people aren’t used to the terrain change, they often slip and fall, the chance they will fall increases. Peterson said the icy conditions last year contributed to more broken bones than usual for people in the area. Peterson said seniors
need to be particularly mindful of weather conditions because they have an increased risk of getting hypothermia. “People typically experience a loss of circulation and sensation
as they age,” Peterson said. “This makes it harder for them to feel cold or notice the signs of hypothermia or exposure.” 4Safety, Page 3
Winter Safety Tips •Stay indoors during storms •Avoid driving during poor conditions •Walk carefully on snowy or icy walkways •Wear proper footwear and boot grips •Keep dry •Take breaks when shoveling snow •Watch for signs of frostbite or hypothermia •Keep an emergency kit
Senior Living ♦ Monday, January 20, 2014 ♦ Albert Lea Tribune ♦ Page 2
Some patients find far-off care CHIANG MAI, Thailand (AP) — Residents of this facility for people with Alzheimer’s disease toss around a yellow ball and laugh under a cascade of water with their caregivers, in a swimming pool ringed by palm trees and wind chimes. Susanna Kuratli, once a painter of delicate oils, swims a lap and smiles. Watching is her husband, Ulrich, who has a heart-rending decision: to leave his wife of 41 years in this facility 9,000 kilometers (5,600 miles) from home, or to bring her back to Switzerland. Their homeland treats the elderly as well as any nation on Earth, but Ulrich Kuratli says the care here in northern Thailand is not only less expensive but more personal. In Switzerland, “You have a cold, old lady who gives you pills and tells you to go to bed,” he says. Kuratli and his three grown children have given themselves six months to decide while the retired software developer lives alongside his 65-year-old wife in Baan Kamlangchay — “Home for Care from the Heart.” Patients live in individual houses within a Thai community, are taken to local markets, temples and restaurants, each with three caretakers working in rotation to provide personal around-the-clock care. The monthly $3,800 cost is a third of what basic institutional care would come to in Switzerland. Kuratli is not yet sure how he’ll care for Susanna, who used to produce a popular annual calendar of her paintings. But he’s leaning toward keeping her in Thailand, possibly for the rest of her life. “Sometimes I am jealous. My wife won’t take my hand but when her Thai carer takes it, she is calm. She seems to be happy,” he says. “When she sees me she starts to cry. Maybe she remembers how we were and understands, but can no longer find the words.” Spouses and relatives in Western nations are increasingly confronting Kuratli’s dilemma as the num-
ber of Alzheimer’s patients and costs rise, and the supply of qualified nurses and facilities struggles to keep up. Faraway countries are offering cheaper, and to some minds better, care for those suffering from the irreversible loss of memory. The nascent trend is unnerving to some experts who say uprooting people with Alzheimer’s will add to their sense of displacement and anxiety, though others say quality of care is more important than location. There’s also some general uneasiness over the idea of sending ailing elderly people abroad: The German press has branded it “gerontological colonialism.” Germany is already sending several thousand sufferers, as well as the aged and otherwise ill, to Eastern Europe, Spain, Greece and Ukraine. Patients are even moving from Switzerland, which was ranked No. 1 in health care for the elderly this year in an index compiled by the elderly advocacy group HelpAge International and the U.N. Population Fund. The Philippines is offering Americans care for $1,500 to $3,500 a month — as compared to $6,900 the American Elder Care Research Organization says is the average monthly bill for a private room in a skilled nursing U.S. facility. About 100 Americans are currently seeking care in the Philippines but more facilities are being built and a marketing campaign will be launched in 2014, says J.J. Reyes, who is planning a retirement community near Manila. Facilities in Thailand also are preparing to attract more Alzheimer’s sufferers. In Chiang Mai, a pleasant city ringed by mountains, Baan Kamlangchay will be followed by a $10 million, holidaylike home scheduled to open before mid-2014. Also on the way is a small Alzheimer’s unit within a retirement community set on the grounds of a former four-star resort. With Thailand seeking to strengthen its already leading position as a medical tourism and retire-
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ment destination, similar projects are likely. The number of people over 60 worldwide is set to more than triple between 2000 and 2050 to 2 billion, according to the World Health Organization. And more are opting for retirement in lower-cost countries. “Medical tourism” has become a booming industry, with roughly 8 million people a year seeking treatment abroad, according to the group Patients Beyond Borders. The U.K.-based Alzheimer’s Disease International says there are more than 44 million Alzheimer’s patients globally, and the figure is projected to triple to 135 million by 2050. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that in the U.S. alone, the disease will cost $203 billion this year and soar to $1.2 trillion by 2050. The pioneering Baan Kamlangchay was established by Martin Woodtli, a Swiss who spent four years in Thailand with the aid group Doctors Without Borders before returning home to care for his Alzheimer’s diagnosed mother. Wanting to return to Thailand and knowing that Thais traditionally regard the elderly with great respect, he brought his mother to Chiang Mai, where she became the home’s first “guest.” Woodtli never uses the word “patient.” Over the next 10 years, the 52-year-old psychologist and social worker purchased or rented eight two-story houses where 13 Swiss and German patients now reside. Two people normally share the modest but well-kept, fully furnished houses, each sleeping in a separate bedroom along with their caretaker. Breakfast and lunch are eaten together at another residence where Woodtli, his wife and son live. On most afternoons, the group gathers at a private, walled park to swim, snack and relax on deck chairs. Regular outside activities are organized because he believes these stimuli may help delay degeneration. “Movement is important. Tensions are also relieved if they have freedom to move. Our carers allow our guests a lot of space as long as it does not pose a danger to them,” he says. “In Switzerland we don’t have opportunity for such care.” He says his guests “cannot explain it, but I think they feel part of a family, a community, and that is very important.” Yet Woodtli says he has received criticism about “the Swiss starting to export their social problems.” The German press has recently described shifting the aged and ailing abroad as “grandmother export.” Sabine Jansen, head of Germany’s Alzheimer Society, says that while some with Alzheimer’s may adjust to an alien place, most find it difficult because they live in a world of earlier memories. “People with dementia should stay in their familiar environment as long as possible. They are better oriented in their own living places and communities,” she says. “Friends, family members, neighbors can visit them. Also because of language and cultural reasons, it is best for most to stay in their home country.” Angela Lunde of the U.S.-based Mayo Clinic says that generally the afflicted do better in a familiar environment, but over time, even those with advanced stages of the disease can adjust well. “I think a positive transition has less to do with the move itself and more with the way in which the staff and new environment accommodates the person living with dementia,” she says. Woodtli agrees that moving to country like Thailand is not the answer for everyone with Alzheimer’s, but those who have traveled widely and are accustomed to change can probably adapt.
Senior Living ♦ Monday, January 20, 2014 ♦ Albert Lea Tribune ♦ Page 3 We are located behind Perkins Come Check us Out!
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Safety: Seniors more at risk for falls Continued from Front Page Seniors are also at a greater risk of falling because of loss of muscle mass and balance. Peterson recommends bundling up in appropriate clothing, including under armor which can provide extra insulation. She also recommends buying a gripping attachment for boots that help increase traction. Certain people have a greater risk of breaking a bone when they fall, Peterson said. People who smoke, have osteoporosis or have a poor diet
have an increased risk. Peterson said keeping bones healthy and strong can reduce the chance of a break. She recommends exercise, drinking lots of water, and eating healthy. Peterson also recommends getting a balance check to help assess any potential problems. When the weather is bad, Peterson encourages people to stay at home. According to data from the National Weather Service, most fatalities related to snow and ice occur in automobiles.
Slippery roads are a top driving concern
Winter is in full swing, and with the magical season come the potentially unpleasant snow, ice and slippery conditions that can make driving a challenge. But, even in this less-than-ideal driving weather, Americans are ready to take on what Mother Nature throws their way. Even though 63 percent of Americans say icy roads are their top winter driving concern, 76 percent also say they are comfortable driving in snow, according to Hankook Tire’s Winter Gauge Index. And if Americans are right — 41 percent of all Americans polled expect more snow this winter, as compared to last year — there will be plenty of opportunity to drive through a winter wonderland. Confident and prepared is the resounding tune among drivers, and that’s not just in the area of getting behind the wheel in slick conditions; Seventy-one percent of Americans spend less than one hour digging their car out of the snow and nearly half (49 percent) maintain their driveway themselves, according to the survey. So clean up that driveway, embrace the cold
weather and get out and enjoy the winter season. Before hitting the road for the ski slopes or embarking on a winter excursion, keep in mind Hankook’s top winter driving tips: • Keep your tires aired up: Ensure your tires are properly inflated. For every 10 degree Fahrenheit change in outside temperature, your tire’s inflation pressure will change by about 1 pound per square inch. Improperly inflated tires can lead to poor traction, decreased control and skidding. • Slowly accelerate and decelerate: Applying engine power slowly to accelerate is the best method for regaining traction and avoiding skids. Don’t try to get moving in a hurry, and take extra care and time to-slow down when stopping. • Invest in a set of dedicated winter tires for your vehicle: Winter tires are specifically designed to provide improved traction in cold, snowy and icy conditions. Whether your vehicle is front, rear or allwheel drive, winter tires can offer an additional element of performance to get you through those tricky winter driving months.
“When things get bad, it is must safer to stay home for non-emergencies,” Peterson said. If you must go somewhere, let other people know when you are leaving and the route you plan to take, she said. “It is very important to stay healthy and flexible,” Peterson said. “There are a lot of excellent resources in the area to help seniors stay in shape.” Peterson encourages seniors to exercise regularly and to participate in an activity that promotes flexibility, like yoga.
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Historical Society plans to expand
Mankato Senior Center will move
MANKATO (AP) — After 26 years as roommates, Mankato’s senior citizens center and the Blue Earth County Historical Society are breaking up on July 1. VINE Faith in Action, which operates the senior center, is moving out of the building at Cherry and Fifth streets to the newly renovated Nichols Office Building down the street, leaving the Historical Society looking forward to a lot more elbow room but also a lot of new financial obligations. Historical Society leaders announced Tuesday that they want to buy VINE’s 50 percent ownership of the current building — part of an ambitious longterm plan to expand its exhibit space, provide desperately needed storage room for its large collection of artifacts and improve accessibility to the facility.
Their first stop was the Blue Earth County Board, where they asked for a $57,500 donation to cover the down payment the society will have to make on July 1 if it is going to exercise its option to take full ownership of the building. If the board agrees, that will be only the first step. An appraisal done after VINE gave notice of its plans to leave the building puts the building’s value at $575,000, meaning that the society will ultimately have to come up with $287,500 to purchase the half of the facility it doesn’t already own. “So we’re planning to launch a capital campaign,” said Jessica Potter, executive director of the society. The purchase is the initial phase of a multiyear plan that could also involve an expansion of the building eastward.”That’s something that’s phase two, down the road,” Potter said.
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Page 4 ♦ Albert Lea Tribune ♦ Monday, January 20, 2014 ♦ Senior Living
Thorne Crest residents celebrate with holiday meal
Residents at Thorne Crest Retirement Community enjoyed a holiday meal.
Submitted
A group of residents pose for a photo during a holiday meal at Thorne Crest.
St. John’s residents enjoy pageant and holiday meal
Submitted
Santa poses for a picture with a resident at St. John’s Lutheran Home. St. John’s held several holiday activities, including a holiday meal that served to over 500 people.
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Residents at St. John’s sing a song during their Christmas pageant. Current residents and activity directors participated in the yearly pageant.
Good Samaritan hosts Luau and pageant
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Residents at Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea took a break from the cold weather with a Hawaiian luau. Pictured from left: Vickie Lee, Donald and Delores Worke, Jennie Loverink, Marvin Christensen, Clayton Hatleli, Luetta Hinkle and Joe Jensen.
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Resident Delores Worke played Mary in the Good Samaritan live Nativity scene and held a staff member’s baby, who played Jesus.
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Chaplain Kent Otterman sings a song during the live Nativity scene. Pictured are Vickie Lee, Donald and Delores Worke, Jennie Loverink, Marvin Christensen, Clayton Hatleli, Luetta Hinkle and Joe Jensen.