Combating isolation
Having companions can help aging population to improve their quality of life By Hannah Yang hannah.yang@austindailyherald.com
Whether it’s a simple get-together or a planned event for friends and family, spending time with a loved one can be a lifeline for those who may start isolating themselves from others. Maintaining independence when aging can be a challenge for some. Loved ones may have moved away and don’t have the capability to help with daily tasks. For those wanting to stay home and grow old without the need for an assisted living center, that desire for independence can cause potential loneliness and isolation. Home Instead Community Services Manager Karen Hanson has seen firsthand what isolation can do to the people who are going through their last phases of life. At Home Instead, the mission of enhancing the lives of aging adults and those who care for them also means providing hope by providing opportunities for developing friendships and connections with employees. “Their presence is of huge importance,” Hanson said. “For someone who lost their spouse or family is far away, having something there that shows them unconditional love gives them a sense of purpose. It helps them feel valued when they’re losing things in life.” Through Home Instead, there are 10 employees who work within Mower County and provide companionship for someone who may not have a loved one nearby to help them with daily tasks as well as establishing routines. By providing care at home, there’s a segment of the
aging population that’s being served. While some may be living at an assisted living center, many want to stay within their homes and maintain independence through the help of senior home care. The Home Care Association of America reported that nearly 70 percent of Americans who reach the age of 65 will be unable to care for themselves at some point without assistance. Those who are facing life’s natural progression as they age may end up isolating themselves if there are no means of making social connections with others. This type of loneliness is very common, as one in three seniors reported that they had feelings of isolation, according to the National Poll on Healthy Aging that was conducted by the University of Michigan. In this study sponsored by the AARP, researchers surveyed around 2,000 Americans between the ages of 50 to 80. More than a third of seniors in the poll said they felt they didn’t have companionship in some of the time, and 27 percent said they sometimes or often felt isolated. Nearly 30 percent said they socialized with friends, family or neighbors once a week or less. The AARP also shared that three in 10 adults report lacking companionship, feeling left out or have feelings of isolation from others. However, the AARP also shared that experiences with social isolation are more prevalent in younger adults than older ones surveyed, with most adults (94 percent) surveyed age 50 or older, said they had someone they can call for help
Cats and dogs can help seniors living at home fend off the feeling of isolation. Photos provided day or night if needed, but lower-income and minority respondents were less likely to say they had that kind of support. From those who felt socially isolated, 28 percent reported to be in fair or poor physical health in comparison to the 13 percent of the aging population who didn’t feel isolated, according to TIME. Additionally, 17 percent of people who called themselves socially isolated described their mental health as fair or poor, compared to only two percent who said they rarely felt isolated.
See COMPANIONS, Page 3
“For someone who lost their spouse or family is far away, having something there that shows them unconditional love gives them a sense of purpose. It helps them feel valued when they’re losing things in life.” Karen Hanson, Home Instead Community Services
Aging minority populations seek resources to address health needs By Hannah Yang hannah.yang@austindailyherald.com
Maríam De León would be willing to travel longer distances if it meant she would be able to make the health and wellness workshops offered by CLUES in downtown Austin. “This is a good place,” the 59-year-old Dodge Center woman said. “Rain or snow, I’ll be there. As long as the roads aren’t bad.” E v e r y W e d n e s d a y, CLUES hosts workshops for those in Austin or surrounding communities who are in need of advice or resources that pertain
to improving their quality of life. Lately, CLUES has been hosting virtual workshops from the Twin Cities to connect with people from Greater Minnesota. CLUES (Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio) has been in the Austin community for only a year, but the impact it has been having for the Latino community has been substantial, especially by answering questions for those who are nearing retirement age and are encountering health issues. Career Navigator and Community Liaison Jose
“We see often that older community members struggle with depression, arthritis, cancer and insomnia. We’re hoping to talk to them about how to take care of themselves now that they’re getting older.” Jose Rivera, CLUES Career Navigator, Community Liaison Rivera has been hosting workshops to help the minority community get engaged with taking ownership of their health and improving their quality of life. Especially for the aging population, having additional cultural ties helps
them feel more comfortable when approaching subjects such as taking care of themselves as they grow older. “We’ve been very busy helping our friends in different areas such as needing to see a doctor and get prescriptions for their
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health conditions like heart disease and diabetes,” Rivera said. “We see often that older community members struggle with depression, arthritis, cancer and insomnia. We’re hoping to talk to them about how to take care of themselves now that they’re getting older.” A report from the Minnesota Board on Aging State Plan found that there was a lack of culturally competent care and found that 22 percent of counties reported that their provider network is not at all prepared to deliver cultur-
ally competent care to new American, immigrant and refugee communities. Specifically in Mower County, the demographics demonstrate the need for culturally appropriate services for seniors, with nearly 20 percent of the population being aged 65 and older, 35.2 percent of those 65 and older are aging with a disability. Latinos make up 11.4 percent of the population and 8.7 percent of the total population speaks English less than proficient.
See CLUES, Page 2
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Senior Living
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2019
A special supplement to the AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
Expert alert: Tips for driving safely into your golden years Austin Daily Herald
newsroom@austindailyherald.com
With more senior drivers on the road than in years past, the importance of assessing driver fitness has increased. In the latest issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, researchers look at this topic along with tools that clinicians can use to determine if patients are able to safely operate a vehicle. “Driving retirement is a normal part of aging,
and should be carefully considered and discussed openly,” says Ericka Tung, M.D., a Mayo Clinic internist and geriatrician, and lead study author. “Primary care providers are uniquely poised to counsel patients about driving safety because they understand their patients’ health conditions, capacities, challenges and goals.” While there isn’t a single one-size-fits-all test that
can be perfor med, providers can look at several areas of functioning to assess driving fitness. These areas include: •Cognition, including changes in memory, attention or language. •Vision, including visual fields and depth perception. •Mobility and physical function, including functional range of motion, and coordination of the
neck, upper body and lower body. •Health conditions, including underlying conditions that could affect the ability to safely operate a vehicle •Medications (A medication list should be reviewed to verify that there is no drug interaction that could impair driving alertness.) Equally important in a patient’s workup is the in-
put of family members or care partners. The authors note that recorded observations of a loved one’s driving performance, his or her ability in completing basic tasks of life, or a history of falls can be useful in determining when it’s time to stop driving. Depending on clinical findings, driving rehabilitation or alternative transportation may be warranted. Since driving provides a
sense of independence and control for many seniors, it is important that that any decision be communicated clearly and with compassion. When deter mining if it’s time to stop driving, it is critical that a conversation with a patient’s primary care provider occurs, so that patient can retire from driving at the appropriate time — rather than waiting for an accident.
CLUES: Workshops act as guides for senior citizens From Page 1 It’s projected that by 2060, the percentage of Hispanics 65 or older is going to be around 22 percent in the United States, which is the largest racial and ethnic minority in that age group. Through the virtual workshops, Rivera has been able to help seniors get access to resources from healthcare providers as well as receive wellness advice that they may not have known about, such as increasing intake of fruits and vegetables to help with heart health, as well as increasing physical activity, such as going for walks to improve muscles and joints. The workshops also discuss decreasing sugar intake by also minimizing and identifying different pieces of fruit that may actually contribute to weight loss. “This is our goal, and we want to focus on making our community more united,” Rivera said. “We want to see everyone in our community be strong and be successful. There’s not a lot of places like CLUES where services are completely free. If they need to talk to someone about MNSure and healthcare c ove r a g e, we c a n g e t them connected to someone that can help them with that.” Addressing the aging population has been an ongoing issue for Minnesota and for the rest of the United States. With many rural communities having more residents hitting retirement age and younger families with children leaving in search of more opportunities in metro areas, making sure that there are resources available for those in Greater Minnesota remains a priority for CLUES Associate Director of Community Health and Wealth Initiatives Carla Kohler. Despite having significant populations of minorities living in southern Minnesota, the resources to help them maintain quality of life remains sparse. Inversely, there’s a growing need to address isolation within the aging population and tackling that while also keeping in mind the cultural aspects of working with elders is also taken into consideration. “There are limitations that some of the aging may experience such as English proficiency and having access to a healthcare system if they don’t have transportation,” Kohler said. “Isolation transcends culture and race, and we’re hoping to reduce that feel-
Jose Rivera, career navigator for CLUES in Austin, talks with those attending a finanical workshop at CLUES. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com ing of isolation by bringing these virtual workshops to southern Minnesota.” From the State Health Access Data Assistance Center and the Minnesota Department of Health, Latinos have the highest uninsured rates of any racial or ethnic group in Minnesota at 11.7 percent uninsured compared to 3.4 percent of non-Latino whites. Health disparities within those populations also mean that there needs to be additional awareness in how the aging in minority groups are encountering barriers to them seeking services from a formal healthcare system: •With limited English language proficiency, lack of insurance and a lack of understanding of how the United States health system works, those challenges obstruct timely, culturally-competent healthcare and contribute to persistent health disparities. •Latinos are disproportionately at risk of developing chronic diseases such as asthma, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and hypertension. Not only is there a high prevalence of chronic or multiple chronic diseases in the U.S. Latino population, there is a majority of Latinos living with chronic disease self-report feeling that their diseases are inadequately managed. From feedback gathered through the workshops, those who use CLUES have reported wanting more resources that address health and wellness, especially when it came to aging. By offering a culturally specific Spanish language chronic disease management program, CLUES can connect with participants in a meaningful way while facilitating the engagement necessary to make a positive change. Classes are offered to both seniors and their caregivers in order to support the wellbeing of both populations, which in turn enhances the length of their ability to live well at home.
“We have incorporated healthy wellness prog rams and improving communications so that clients can work through technolog y and reach someone who can help them,” Kohler said. “It’s very empowering to have these presentations so that it brings community voices to us.” Many seniors within minority populations are often in lower-income backgrounds and aren’t able to retire. Some work well past their retirement age and take up labor-intensive work that ultimately affects their health and physical well-being down the road. Culturally, many often desire to stay with their children and not in senior housing. These choices and sacrifices that the elderly have to make will ultimately affect their ability to take
care of themselves when they grow older. Navigating the health system is met with obstacles such as varying education, income, and English proficiency levels, lack of insurance and lack of materials and resources that are culturally and age-appropriate for all caregivers. Caregivers themselves may have varying levels of education and face complicated work schedules, shared and not always equal caregiving responsibilities, lack of materials that are culturally and age appropriate for all caregivers and distance between family members. That’s further displayed from a report by Evercare and the National Alliance for Caregiving. According to the report, Latinos work more hours per week providing care to their loved ones (37 hours compared
to 31 hours) and assist with more daily activities (2.6 compared to 1.9) when compared with the national average. Also, about 40 percent of Latino caregivers report that caregiving has reduced or eliminated their ability to engage in paid employment activities, and 25 percent of Latino caregivers as opposed to 13 percent of non-Latino caregivers shared that it would be very difficult to find someone to help out with caregiver responsibilities if they needed a break. “T he workshops on nutrition and exercise are so important, and it’s all about maintaining a healthy lifestyle,” De León said. “But, not many people can take off work to be here, and we need to be taking extra care of our bodies. Many Hispanics I know are still working in their 60s. CLUES workshop is teaching us how to eat healthy, and avoid foods with chemicals in them. We’re getting older, and our bodies are breaking down too much to keep working more.” Another avenue that CLUES hopes to explore down the road is providing access to mental health care providers and being able to offer counseling and therapy to those who may have experienced trauma in the past. Having these service providers
be bilingual is a gap that CLUES hopes to bridge. “CLUES is exploring how to make that happen,” Kohler shared. “We do know from data that we pulled that there are minimal resources for minority populations living in Greater Minnesota. We need to be able to reach down into southern Minnesota so that we can be able to address these disparities. It can be an isolating experience living in rural areas, and we want people to create bonds and relationships through these workshops to improve their healthy wellbeing.” As for whether the workshop attendees take what they learn and put it into action, De León said that she has since become more physically active and takes regular walks to improve her muscles. Despite wishing there was a closer CLUES office to Dodge County, De León said that she hopes that those within the Hispanic community can make the trip to Austin. “It’s a small town and everybody is working,” she said. “They could really benefit from coming to these workshops. They can make friends and meet others who are going through the same thing as them. Our goal is to get healthy. Especially if you’re in your 50s. I’d love to see them move more.”
Senior Living
A special supplement to the AUSTIN DAILY HERALD
Winona assisted living facility offers housing for students By Peter Cox Minnesota Public Radio News
WINONA — There’s a new housing option for students at Winona State University. But it helps to be good with letters and numbers. “B 11, B one one,” nursing student Ashley McGaw is calling the day’s bingo game in the basement meeting room at Senior Living at Watkins, an assisted living center. In her senior year, McGaw chose to take part in the student residence program at the facility, which is run by Winona Health. It’s a new program that allows up to 10 students to reside in the Watkins Manor for $400 a month. That fee covers utilities, Wi-Fi, cable and three meals a day in the facility’s cafeteria. There’s one catch: The students have to volunteer 10 hours a month in the assisted living facility, which is connected to the mansion, Minnesota Public Radio News reported.
If they volunteer 20 hours a month, rent goes down to $200 a month. “It’s a steal,” said McGaw, who moved in this August. McGaw works a summer job as a cer tified nursing assistant in Wisconsin. So, the arrangement is a perfect fit for her, she said. “I was like, ‘This is the coolest idea ever.’ I always wish I could just sit down and hang out with residents and just talk and do life with them, instead of doing my job and trying to do life with them,” she said, talking about her summers working as a certified nursing assistant. “So, this is just like one of the coolest opportunities that just honestly fell into my lap and I’m so happy.” She’s not the only one. “I think that’s wonderful, so they can be close to us and we can have an association with them,” said Alan Thompson, who has lived at the as-
sisted living facility for two years. “They lear n about us; we learn about them because I think most of us as elders do not know enough about what confronts the younger generation.” There are 46 residents i n t h e a s s i s t e d l iv i n g wing of the building. A squat building connects the facility to the mansion where the students live. The mansion is filled w i t h o r n a t e l y c a r ve d wo o dwo rk , a n e a rly Steinway g rand piano and large paintings in elaborate gold frames. T he home, which was built in a Jacobethan — or English Renaissance Revival — style, was built between 1924 and 1927 for Paul Watkins, who ran the J.R. Watkins Company for several years. The mansion was donated to the local Methodist church in the 1950s and became part of a s e n i o r l iv i n g f a c i l i t y. For several years, older
Pets can add a sense of being valued for those who are facing life alone. Photo provided
Companions: Even small Improvements are noticed From Page 1 Before someone decides whether aging in place is right for them, making sure communication happens between family members and their loved ones ensures that the individual feels respected, as well as having a better grasp on what unique needs have to be met. Within Mower County, Hanson stated that she has seen about “half and half ” when it came to whether someone had a human or pet companion helps with their loneliness. Regardless if it’s a person or an animal, the feeling of being valued is universal. “Everyone wants to be loved,” she said. “When they’re feeling alone, (these people or pets) are their lifeline for them. It’s really amazing watching them give that additional support. When you find your
sense of purpose when this part of life you’re losing things, it does give you that sense of companionship that’s desperately needed.” Someone who can provide at-home care for their loved one and assist with daily tasks, or a pet companion that’s unconditionally loving their owner, are just a couple of resources that can help aging in place, as well as combat isolating behaviors and thoughts. “It’s really amazing to see whether it’s a volunteer from the organization, or a pet, the improvement is very apparent since they’re getting extra attention,” she said. “It makes them feel like they’re not forgotten about. For family who moved far away and aren’t able to communicate as often, has an additional set of eyes that make sure their loved ones are cared for.”
adults lived in the mansion. But, for a variety of reasons, the home shifted all those residents into the newer wing of the building. Cheryl Krage, director of assisted living and hospice services at Winona Health, said the mansion isn’t built for wheelchairs or walkers. “Re gulations for the elevator have made it a little more challenging,” she said. “That’s where we had the opportunity to do something different.” McGaw, the student, lives in a spacious thirdfloor room with high ceilings, a large window with painted glass inserts and a giant fireplace framed by tiles. Resident Nancy Neumann, a for mer nurse, said the students help the residents enjoy getting older. “We are like grandparents to the young people a n d t h e y a re l i ke o u r grandchildren, which is a joy,” she said.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2019
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What veterans should know about caregiver jobs By State Point Media
Today, there are over 18 million U.S. veterans, many of whom are seeking civilian jobs. Experts say that the caregiving industry — which is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years due to an aging population — is particularly well-suited to the skills and experience of those who’ve served their country. In honor of Veterans Day, celebrated November 11, the experts at Interim HealthCare Inc. are offering some tips and information to help veterans know what to look for before taking a position in the caregiving industry. • A track record of hiring veterans: Companies with a proven track record of hiring veterans may be more likely to value the skills veterans bring with them, and may be more likely to accept military training in place of civilian training. • Diverse opportunities: Veterans should seek employment with
companies that offer opportunities for growth, as well as exclusive benefits to veterans. In the case of Interim HealthCare for example, the company offers comprehensive continuing education and in-service programs, and is actively seeking veterans to fill office and field staff jobs. • Support: Does the company offer resource g roups for veterans? Look for signs that you will be supported once you are hired. • Meaningful, interesting work: After having served one’s country, finding work that’s meaningful is of importance to many veterans. Helping patients stay vital and healthy has a positive impact on individuals, families and communities, and for many in the industry, is an immensely rewarding career path. What’s more, caregiver jobs are interesting and dynamic and no two days are the same. For job opportunities, visit interimhealthcare. com/careers.
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2019
Senior Living
There are warning signs that point towards Alzheimer’s and dementia that allow families to start planning. Photo provided
Alzheimer’s and dementia: The 10 warning signs you need to know By State Point Media
Recognizing and taking steps to address the warning signs of Alzheimer’s and other dementias can be extremely challenging — especially in the early stages. It’s easy and common to dismiss cognitive changes in oneself or a family member as “normal aging.” “Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging,” says Dr. Keith Fargo, director, scientific programs and outreach at the Alzheimer’s Association. “With normal aging, you may forget where you parked your car — that happens to all of us. But if you get in your car and get lost coming home — that’s not normal.” Alzheimer’s is a fatal progressive disease that attacks the brain, killing nerve cells and tissue, affecting an individual’s ability to remember, think, plan and ultimately function. Today, more than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. By 2050, that number is projected to skyrocket to nearly 14 million. To help families identify signs early on, the Alzheimer’s Association offers 10 Warning Signs and Symptoms, a list of some common signs that can be early symptoms of Alzheimer’s or other dementias: 1. Disruptive memory loss. Forgetting recently learned information, asking the same questions over and over and increasingly relying on memory aids. 2. Challenges in solving problems. Changes in one’s ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers, such as having trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. 3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks. Difficulty completing daily tasks, such as organizing a grocery list or remembering the rules of a favorite game. 4. Confusion with time or place. Losing track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. 5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships. Vision problems, which may lead to difficulty with balance or trouble reading. 6. New problems with words in speaking or writing. Trouble following or joining a conversation or a struggle with vocabulary. For example, calling a
“watch” a “hand-clock.” 7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps. Putting things in unusual places and being unable to go back over one’s steps to find them again. 8. Decreased or poor judgment. Changes in judgment or decision-making when dealing with such matters as money and grooming. 9. Withdrawal from work or social activities. Changes in the ability to hold or follow a conversation can result in a withdrawal from hobbies or social activities. 10. Changes in mood and personality. Mood and personality changes, such as
confusion, suspicion, depression, fearfulness and anxiety. To learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and to find resources, visit alz.org, the website of the Alzheimer’s Association or call its 24/7, free Helpline at 800.272.3900. It’s important to note that exhibiting one or more of these 10 warning signs does not mean someone has Alzheimer’s. In fact, these signs may signal other — even treatable — conditions. However, it’s important to talk to your doctor to understand what is driving cognitive changes so you can better manage the condition — whatever the diagnosis.
A special supplement to the AUSTIN DAILY HERALD