If you are planning an early 2008 retirement, now is the time to contact Social Security!

Don’t let yourself be concerned by the possibility of traffic, bad weather or waiting rooms. Simply apply now through the Social Security’s Internet website at www.socialsecurity.gov and check off one more item on your busy fall schedule and upcoming holiday season.

If you are not quite ready to retire yet but are thinking about doing so in the near future, you might want to visit Social Security’s website to use the convenient and informative retirement planner at www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2/ . You can find out just how close you are to meeting your financial goals to retire and then save it to your favorites to be able to get right back to the site!

Please visit www.socialsecurity.gov for more information.

A simple blood test to predict Alzheimer’s may be just two years away after a breakthrough by Australian researchers that drastically improves disease detection.

Two biotech companies have reported promising results in their joint venture to develop a test that could foretell whether a person will develop the degenerative brain disease long before they get the symptoms.

At present there is no way to predict Alzheimer’s and the disease can only be diagnosed with complete accuracy with a open skull examination after death.

To read the full article please click here.

Source: www.news.com.au

THE FIRST of the 80 million American baby boomers have started applying for their Social Security benefits from a system that cannot afford to pay them! In only three years, they start going on Medicare.

The government has known for decades we were going to have a mass of Americans applying for mediacre and getting their social security checks, but little has been done to adjust either system to handle it. Given life expectancies, the number of Social Security recipients in 2030 will be about 84 million and the number of people on Medicare will hit 79 million!

Do you know who your aging parent’s Doctors are? Do you know your aging parents insurance information?

I would have to say that many do not… What would you do if there was an emergency?

Below is a list of 10 essential things you need to know today!

1. Names of doctors. This is probably the most important piece of information. Doctors offices keep records of visits, insurance information, medical problems, etc.. and basically the rest of the information below!
2. Birth date. Medical records and insurance information are usually cataloged according to birth date.
3. List of medications. It’s important that a doctor know every medication before treating in case of an emrgency.
4. List of allergies. This is important if one of your aging parents is allergic to any types of medication.
5. Religious beliefs. This is important in case blood transfusions are needed.
6. Advance directives. An advance directive is a legal document that states a person’s decisions about his or her health care, such as whether or not resuscitation efforts should be made and the use of life-support machines.
7. Major medical problems. This includes such diseases as diabetes or heart disease.
8. Insurance information. Know the name of your aging parents’ health insurance provider and their policy numbers.
9. Prior surgery. List past medical procedures.
10. Lifestyle information. Do your parents smoke or drink?

 

Now that your parents are getting older, you want to make sure that they’re taking care of themselves and staying healthy. You are probally starting to realize its quite challanging to monitor the health of your aging parents from far away. Try to use your next visit with your aging parents to ask about their health and find out if there’s anything you can do to help them maintain their independence.

Your parents probally won’t admit they need help around the house, few actually admit they need help even with light duties. This can be challanging and frustrating for you. You have to realize that sometimes they just don’t realize they need help.

Here are five things to look for on your next trip home, to help you asses whether your aging parents need assistance.

1. Have your aging parents lost weight? Its important to

2. Are your aging parents safe in their home?

4. Are your aging parents having difficulty getting around?

5. How are your aging parents’ spirits?

Be sure to take notes on each of these areas and talk to your parent or loved one if you have any concerns. Its better to be prepared then be called during a crisis situation. If you feel you need further assistance please contact a local Professional Geriatric Care Manager for further guidance.

AT&T has designed a new wireless plan designed for consumers over the age of 65. The new AT&T Senior Nation 200 plan offers 200 Anytime Minutes, 500 Night & Weekend Minutes and unlimited mobile-to-mobile minutes for $29.99 a month.

Andy Wilson, vice president of wireless consumer marketing, says AT&T has developed a voice package specially designed for seniors to stay in touch with friends and family.

This should be a great marketing campaign for AT&T. The need for cell phones for seniors could be a huge market. I don’t know many seniors that currently use one. ..Do you?

Planning for the holiday season can be a stressful time for families. Planning for the holidays with a loved with Alzheimer’s disease can make planning even worse. But why does it have to be? Why do people stress out so much? Imagine what it is like for the person with Alzheimer’s disease. The holidays should be a time for gathering and celebrating with the ones you love.

Below are some helpful tips to help make this holiday season a bit less stressful. I hope this helps!

If your parent, spouse or friend is in an assisted living facility or a nursing home please consider the following tips:

• Schedule visits at your loved one’s best time of day. People with Alzheimer’s disease tend to get tired easy, especially during the later stages. Your loved one may appreciate late morning or lunchtime visitors more than the late afternoon or evening.
• Celebrate in a familiar setting. For many people with Alzheimer’s disease, a change of environment can cause anxiety, even if you take them to your home. Consider holding a small family gathering at the facility. Also, see if there are activities planned at the facility that you can consider joining in on.
• Keep the visitor traffic to a minimum. Have only a few family members or friends visiting in on different days. Too many people can make things more confusing.

If you’re caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s at home:

• Host quiet gatherings. Try to keep noise and stimulation of an event at a low, steady pace. Keep things as quiet as possible and encourage your loved one to rest throughout the day.
• Have holiday activities planned to do together! Try opening holiday cards or baking cookies. Your loved one can help with each and if it doesn’t work, try something else!
• Minimize decorations. Large blinking lights and large decorative displays can cause disorientation for a person with Alzheimer‘s disease. Don’t put out artificial frui,t it can be easily mistaken for real fruit. The last thing you need is a broken tooth.

The best peice of advise is to not get upset is things don’t work out perfect. Things can change fast for a person with Alzheimer’s disease. Try to take things one step at a time. Frustration is the last thing anyone needs around the holidays.

* These are all recommendations made from observations and not to be taken as professional or medical advice.

The population 65 and over will increase from 35 million in 2000 to 40 million in 2010 (a 15% increase)and then to 55 million in 2020 (a 36% increase for that decade). By 2030, there will be about 71.5 million older persons, almost twice their number in 2005. People 65+ represented 12.4% of the population in the year 2005 but are expected to grow to be 20% of the population by 2030. The 85+ population is projected to increase from 4.2 million in 2000 to 6.1 million in 2010 (40%) and then to 7.3 million in 2020 (44% for that decade).

Resource: http//www.aoa.dhhs.gov

PLAN to be older! Be sure to consider your needs for housing,health, legal, financial and personal supports systems.

Stay involved with others around you, try not to isolate yourself!

Be sure to stay connected with family, friends and organizations you have interest in..

Know where to go for information . Be sure to have at least one phone number of a family member, friend or organization you can call in anytime of the day.

Don’t just hang out with people your own age-be sure to be diverse!

Get Help sooner rather than later. Don’t wait for a total crisis.

Basics:

A Power of Attorney is a document that allows you to appoint a person or organization to handle your affairs while you’re unavailable or unable to do so.

General Power of Attorney - authorizes your Agent to act on your behalf in a variety of different situations.

Special Power of Attorney - authorizes your Agent to act on your behalf in specific situations only.

Health Care Power of Attorney - allows you to appoint someone to make health care decisions for you if you’re incapacitated.

Durable Power of Attorney - The general, special and health care powers of attorney can all be made “durable” by adding certain text to the document. This means that the document will remain in effect or take effect if you become mentally incompetent.

Please talk to your lawyer or Eldercare Advisor to learn more.