Palouse
Seniors
September 2018
Inside: Popular sports for seniors Palouse Seniors is an advertising supplement of the Lewiston Tribune and Moscow-Pullman Daily News
2 | September 22, 2018 | Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune
Is a medical alert system right for me? F
by Tammie Poe Director of Sales & Marketing Good Samaritan Society – Moscow
or many of us, living independently for as long as possible is the ultimate goal as we get older. The technology available today gives seniors many tools to maintain their independence. One such tool is a medical alert system. It is estimated that one in four seniors will experience a fall each year adding up to more than $50 billion dollars in medical costs. Such falls can result in broken bones or even head injuries. In fact, 95% of hip fractures are a result of a fall.1 Fortunately most falls usually only cause tenderness and perhaps bruising of both
the body and the ego. Even falls that don’t require medical care can still take an emotional toll, leading to a fear of falling. After a fall a person may cut down on their everyday activities as a way to avoid falling again. Ironically, the less active one is, the weaker they become which in turn increases their chance of falling. Most of us are familiar with the ‘help I’ve fallen and can’t get up’ commercials and though we may make light of these ads, the wisdom behind having a medical alert system is not only sound but can be lifesaving. Even a minor fall can be detrimental to older persons and getting help as quickly as possible is crucial. This is
ENJOY PALOUSE SENIORS
Palouse
Seniors
September 2018
Inside: Popular sports for seniors Palouse Seniors is an advertising supplement of the Lewiston Tribune and Moscow-Pullman Daily News
IN PRINT: Palouse Seniors is published every other month, with 6,500 copies distributed in the Moscow-Pullman Daily News and Lewiston Tribune. Readers can also pick up a copy at the MoscowPullman Daily News and Lewiston Tribune offices. ONLINE: Check out the latest edition in digital format online at www.DNews.com, just click on the Special Sections tab. To advertise your business or service, contact Sally Imel at simel@lmtribune.com
particularly true when the fall is a result of a stroke, medications, vertigo or a vitamin deficiency. Even if the fall itself doesn’t require follow up care, some of these underlying causes certainly do! Imagine your mother or father or even yourself falling in the middle of the night. If you aren’t able to reach your phone to call for help it could be some time before anyone even realizes there is a problem. So as we approach national Falls Prevention day on September 22nd, it is a great time to remind seniors and their families of the benefits of a medical alert system. There are many companies that offer medical alert services and they can vary quite a bit in pricing and technology. Earlier this year Consumer Reports listed the top 10 best medical alert systems2 and posed the following three questions as important to consider when choosing a medical alert system: Do you want a home based or mobile system? Should you have a monitored system? Should you add a falldetection system? Let’s explore those three questions in a little more depth
PALOUSE SENIORS to hopefully provide clarity to seniors or their family members considering a medical alert system. First, should your system be home based or mobile? All medical alert systems should work in your home with varying ranges with some even working out in the garden or yard. However, for many active seniors, having a system that will work outside of the home is an important consideration. Although most of us have mobile phones today the ease of being able to push a single button to access help can be a relief when in a crisis situation. Whether to have a home based or mobile system really comes down to how active you are and how often you are alone when away from your home. An older person who doesn’t leave home except with a family member or friend, probably doesn’t need the extra expense of a mobile system. On the other hand, seniors who are still very active and away from home regularly may consider a mobile system. Should you have a monitored system? There are many systems on the market that are not monitored and work simply by automatically routing the number through 911. Usually these systems are less expensive and many may only have a one-time fee to purchase the equipment. However, there are advantages to a monitored system that connects you to a live person at a call center. This can be especially helpful if your reason for pushing the
PALOUSE SENIORS call button isn’t because of a fall. For example, perhaps you’ve woken up, started to get out of bed and before your feet even hit the floor you realize that you just do not feel right. You don’t necessarily want the EMT’s showing up at your door but you do recognize that something is wrong. The call center of a good medical alert system will call whoever you have listed as responders, perhaps a neighbor or one of your children, and let them know that you need them to come check in on you. While you tuck yourself back into bed, the call center works on your behalf to make sure your need for assistance is met. Should you add automatic fall-detection? Again, the answer to this question depends a lot
Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune | September 22, 2018 | 3
on your lifestyle and underlying medical situation. A person who experiences frequent vertigo may benefit more from the fall-detection feature which will automatically trigger a call in the event you have fallen and are not able to push the button yourself. This can also be a wonderful feature for someone with mild dementia or Alzheimer’s who may not remember to use their medical alert system in the event of a fall and consequently is completely helpless despite having a button around their neck. It is important to understand that these systems are not fool proof. They may interpret a sudden motion to be a fall when it is not or they may not trigger a call when there actually is a need. If you do fall and a call
isn’t automatically initiated you may have to physically press the button and in fact, this is recommended practice if one is able. When considering options for yourself or a loved one, one final consideration you may want to give some thought to, is how easy it is to get help for your system when you need it. Good Samaritan Society – Moscow partners with the Philips Lifeline Medical Alert system to provide local technical support for Latah and Whitman counties. Not only can we install the equipment, we also work with Philips Lifeline on your behalf to resolve other technical issues that may come up. Additionally, we have just started partnering with them
on medication dispensers that can also be an invaluable tool allowing seniors to be independent for longer. Our partnership with Philips is in large part due to their reputation and our belief that this system provides the most complete protection and the best value. However, this is not an article to plug Philips Lifeline but rather an entreaty to consider your individual situation and ask yourself, what would I do if I fell and didn’t have access to a phone? If there is any question in your mind that you may be ‘up a creek without a paddle’ then please consider a medical alert system. The peace of mind alone is well worth the expense!
Prepared and confident Over 7 million people have counted on Philips Lifeline to feel safe at home and on the go
Good Samaritan Society
Simon Audiology
There’s a Lifeline solution for you Lifeline offers a range of choices to help you maintain your independence. Whether you need the go-anywhere protection of GoSafe, the automatic fall detection of AutoAlert, or the peace of mind offered by HomeSafe, we have you covered.
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208-882-6560 Coverage outside the home provided where AT&T wireless network coverage is available. AutoAlert does not detect 100% of falls. If able, users should always push their button when they need help. 540049I-18
4 | September 22, 2018 | Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune
PALOUSE SENIORS
How seniors can safely stay behind the wheel
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they’re as safe as possible behind the wheel. • Avoid driving on days when aches and pains are strong. Aches and pains are common side effects of aging, and seniors know that some days are better than others. Seniors’ ability to control their vehicles may be compromised on days when stiffness, aches or pains seem particularly strong, so it’s best to avoid driving during these times. Fatigue may set in on days when aches and pains require extra effort to perform relatively simple tasks, and drivers of all ages should avoid driving while tired.
Courtesy of Metro Editorial
greater sense of independence is often cited as the reason so many young people anxiously await the day they earn their drivers’ licenses. But the connection between driving and independence is not lost on seniors, either. Aging can take its toll on drivers, prompting such drivers’ families to feel as if their loved ones’ ability to safely operate motor vehicles has been compromised. However, many seniors can still safely operate motor vehicles, and those who do can take steps to ensure
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• Don’t skip medical checkups. Few seniors may look forward to their medical checkups, but visits to the doctor can reveal issues that can help seniors be safer on the road. Schedule routine vision exams so eyeglass prescriptions are always up-to-date. In addition, seniors should discuss hearing screenings with their physicians so they can ensure they can always hear sirens and other motorists while on the road. Great strides have been made in regard to helping people with fading hearing hear better, and seniors would be wise to take advantage of such advancements, which include hearing aids that can be connected to smartphones. • Familiarize yourself with medication side effects. Whether they do so temporarily or permanently, many seniors take medications, and every medication comes with side effects. When filling a new prescription, carefully read the dosage and description label to ensure that it’s safe to drive while taking the
medicine. Make note of how you feel when taking a new prescription, avoiding driving if the medication makes you feel fatigued or drowsy or affects your motor functions. If the side effects of a new prescription are making it difficult to safely operate a vehicle, discuss potential alternatives with your physician. • Avoid driving in certain conditions. Driving in inclement weather, during rush hour and at night makes many drivers uncomfortable, regardless of their age. But such conditions can be especially dangerous for aging drivers whose vision and reaction times might be fading. Seniors who avoid driving in harsh conditions and heavy traffic may be more comfortable behind the wheel, thereby reducing their risk of accident or injury. Seniors need not give up their drivers’ licenses at the first signs of aging. But adjusting certain behaviors and exercising extra caution can help these men and women stay safe behind the wheel.
PALOUSE SENIORS
Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune | September 22, 2018 | 5
Popular sports for seniors the arms, legs and core muscles of the body. If you fish on ge doesn’t have to the water, rowing out to your stop older men and lucky spot provides additional women from enjoying cardiovascular exercise. their favorite sports. In fact, GOLF remaining active can improve physical and mental health. Golf is enjoyed by people of all ages. Requiring a combination If a doctor has confirmed of strategy and skill, golf also that it is okay to participate in sports, these activities can help pays several physical dividends. Play at your own pace, taking men and women 50 and older enjoy friendly competition and your time walking from hole to hole so you can enjoy the physical activity. sunshine and soak in the beauty FISHING of the course. Fishing is more than just a SWIMMING leisurely day at the lake. Casting A few laps around a pool and reeling in your catch works your whole body. provides a good workout for
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Courtesy of Metro Editorial
Swimming is attractive to seniors because it works the muscles and provides a cardiovascular jolt without putting any strain on the joints. CYCLING Many seniors are avid cyclists. You can ride a bicycle in competition or for pleasure. You can even vary your route depending on how physically intense you want the ride to be. Seniors need not abandon their love of sport just because Father Time is catching up with them. Many sports can be enjoyed by athletes of all ages.
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PALOUSE SENIORS
6 | September 22, 2018 | Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune
Snack foods that promote better sleep
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Courtesy of Metro Editorial
ccording to the National Sleep Foundation, changes in sleep patterns are a part of the aging process. Many people experience difficulty falling asleep and then staying asleep as they age, and that difficulty can make men and women over 50 feel more tired during the day. But even though difficulty sleeping may be a part of aging, that does not mean men and women over 50 cannot take steps to improve their sleeping patterns. For example, certain snack foods may help to improve quality of sleep, especially when these foods replace less healthy snacking options. While men and women over 50 should always consult with their physicians before making any changes to their diets, the AARP notes that the following are a handful of snack foods that promote better sleep. • Almonds: Magnesium is a mineral with muscle-relaxing properties, and almonds contain
enough magnesium to help men and women get a better night’s sleep. A small amount of almonds before bed might be enough to make falling and staying asleep easier. • Bananas: Much like almonds, bananas provide a substantial amount of magnesium. Bananas also contain the amino acid tryptophan, which many people associate with Thanksgiving turkey. While tryptophan might be most often associated with the sleepiness people feel after eating a holiday meal, it also has been linked to better sleep quality, so a banana shortly before bed might be just what you need to fall and stay asleep. • Cheese and crackers: One more traditional snack may just help you get a better night’s sleep. Cheese and crackers contain tryptophan and carbohydrates, which can induce a better night’s sleep and help you fall asleep sooner. • Cherries: Cherries contain the sleep hormone melatonin,
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and the AARP notes that recent studies indicated that participants who drank tart cherry juice on a daily basis fell asleep more quickly and slept longer and better than participants who did not. • Hummus: The primary ingredient in hummus is chickpeas, which are loaded with tryptophan, folate and vitamin B6. Folate has proven especially beneficial to older men and women who need help regulating their sleep patterns, while vitamin B6 helps the body regulate its clock. • Peanut butter: Peanut butter is another snacking item loaded with tryptophan. Spread some peanut butter on a carbohydrate, whether it’s a slice of toast or some crackers, before going to bed, and you may enjoy a better, longer sleep. • Walnuts: Like cherries,
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walnuts contain melatonin, which can contribute to a longer, more restful night’s sleep. Walnuts also can help regulate stress, which is a leading cause of sleeping difficulty. Many men and women experience difficulty sleeping as they age. But the right foods may just help combat such problems and help men and women get a more adequate night’s sleep.
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PALOUSE SENIORS
Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune | September 22, 2018 | 7
Different generations can learn and benet from one another
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n the not-so-distant past, extended families frequently lived in close proximity to one another. Such families shared meals and experiences and essentially grew up together. Nowadays, families separate for various reasons, such as job opportunities and cost of living concerns. While there are advantages to spreading out, there are also some disadvantages, namely that grandparents and grandchildren may not see one another frequently enough. Even though people of different age groups may not entirely have the same interests, the
interactions between generations can benefit both young people and their aging relatives.
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Younger generations may not understand the concept of Òhard Senior living and active lifestyle timesÓ or Òdoing withoutÓ like a person who has lived through communities provide invaluable various ups and downs. Passing care and amenities for seniors. along advice about economic While being around like-minded individuals can be handy, itÕs also cycles, saving for the future and maintaining stability is one area limiting. Seniors who continue of expertise at which many seniors to age in place in mixed-age communities can extract joy from excel. watching youthful children and PRACTICING young adults growing up, playing INTERPERSONAL SKILLS and socializing. Being around multiple generations also can All the technological savviness in spark interesting conversation, the world cannot compensate for and all parties involved can learn the power of strong interpersonal
skills. Being able to address a group of people or speak one-on-one is essential in the workplace and in life. When younger generations speak to older adults, they may become stronger at verbal discourse and have greater perspective of different points of conversation.
LEARNING NEW TECHNOLOGY Younger generations can impart knowledge of technological devices to older adults. People with skills are usually happy to share their knowledge. Even if seniors arenÕt ready to purchase tablets or smartphones, they may be excited to have their grandchildren teach them about the latest gadgets.
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8 | September 22, 2018 | Moscow-Pullman Daily News & Lewiston Tribune
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