Are you seeking home care for an aging relative in Dallas? Call Home Instead Senior Care in Dallas at 972-239-3934.

Members of the Silver Haired Legislature are selfless individuals who are active in bettering the lives of seniors. In addition to the volunteer work that they do for the SHL, many also have a history of active members of their general community that don’t relate to their duties as representatives of the SHL. It should be no surprise that the committee volunteers appointed by registered voters of the SHL every 2 years take interest in activities that better the lives of people of all ages in their communities. Many are actively involved with religious organizations; sit on boards of community organizations; have a history working with consumer awareness businesses, like the Better Business Bureau; and had careers in fields like nursing and teaching.

While the members of the Silver Haired Legislature have certainly had a positive impact through their work within the general population, it is the elderly advocate work that they have done to improve the lives of older citizens that is most profound. Since the inception of the SHL in 1973 in 31 states, their government help for aging Americans and legislative involvement has resulted in addressing the following needs of the aging community:

Priority Bills Passed by the SHL in the 1990’s

• The senate passed a bill to provide low-income seniors with a pharmaceutical tax credit
• They made free health insurance counseling available to Medicare recipients
• State tax deductions for pensioners in Missouri were established
• Establishment of Department of Aging
• Funding for nursing home inspections
• Severe penalties for elder abuse
• Nursing home reform law

Top 10 Resolutions of the 12th Session of the SLH in Texas

• To establish a Legislative Committee to address issues of the aging population over the next 10-30 years
• To increase Medicaid funding
• To increase funding for public transportation systems in small urban and rural settings
• 5% increases in Cap Annual Property Valuations
• To develop support programs for grandparents caring for grandchildren
• To reenact state regulation of electric utilities
• To correct misuse of Eminent Domain power and not allow private property to be taken to benefit another private owner
• To increase the Personal Needs Allowance for nursing home residents on Medicaid
• To integrate more geriatric health awareness to students in the first 2 years in medical school
• To increase tax deductions for those volunteering to help senior citizens (i.e. transportation deductions for those delivering for Meals on Wheels)

Sources: http://www.txshl.org/docs/resolutions/12TH%20TSHL%20TOP%20TEN.pdf
http://www.nemoaaa.com/shlfacts.htm
http://www.txshl.org/

Are you seeking home care for an aging relative in Dallas? Call Home Instead Senior Care in Dallas at 972-239-3934.

The Silver Haired Legislature, present in 31 states across the US, advocates the needs of aging adults, which includes providing guidance and support to their family members. One of the major issues that has been on the minds of the SHL relates to the sandwich-generation; those family caregivers who provide assistance to any aging relative, while raising their own young families and managing careers. Not only can providing care for an elderly parent or other relative take a physical toll on the lives of these Americans, but it can also carry a serious financial burden which only grows as life expectancy continues to rise. The Oklahoma SHL is trying to pass Senate Bill 725, which has been cleared by the Senate, but has not yet been heard by the House. This Bill will provide a tax deduction to families providing care and support for its elderly members.

Not only is The Silver Haired Legislature in many states focused upon legislation that will provide family caregivers financial support, they provide community resources through the Area Agency on Aging to help educate seniors and their families about rights, care issues, and other factors which can impact the lives of older adults. The Texas Silver Haired Legislature offers online courses for family caregivers; understanding that when balancing responsibilities, it’s important to offer educational resources which can be accessed at their convenience. These courses provide useful tips relating to care techniques, provide community support for common care-related issues, and makes them aware of the resources available.

Once per session, the elderly advocates of The SHL meet to discuss and vote upon which issues faced by older Americans that they will present to the Senate. First, however, the groups in each state reach out to the senior community to learn about what issues the population believes requires government support. Every year, when the SHL and Senate are in session, the Texas Senior Advocacy Coalition organizes Senior Day at the Capitol. This took place at The Capitol in Austin on February 10th. Seniors and their families were invited to attend independently or with the groups they’re involved with where they had the opportunity to mingle with representatives of the SHL and of the state legislature to voice their concerns and learn about senior living resources. Seniors and their families are also welcome to contact SHL representatives directly by phone or email, or approach other state advocacy groups which will present the issues before the SHL.

The Silver Haired Legislatures across the United States exist to represent the needs of older adults. So Families, it’s time to get yourselves and the seniors in your lives involved in advocacy for senior welfare.

Sources: http://www.oksenate.gov/news/press_releases/press_releases_2007/pr20070925b.html
http://www.txshl.org/training.cfm
http://www.txshl.org/calendar.cfm

Are you seeking home care for an aging relative in Dallas? Call Home Instead Senior Care in Dallas at 972-239-3934.

Caring Today is a quarterly magazine that has been developed to educate readers about the trends in aging and what families like yours are doing to help loved ones age in place gracefully. Caring Today is often seen in physicians’ offices around the nation. Articles featured include: Managing Medication, Handling Finances and Legal Matters, Long-Term Care Planning, Arranging Respite Care, and Reducing Stress. Home Instead Senior Care is regularly featured in Caring Today as a reputable resource for respite care, home care, senior companion services, home helpers, and as a trusted information source for senior issues. If you cannot find a copy in your Doctor’s office, contact your local Home Instead Senior Care offce and share any questions or concerns you may have with us. Our mission is not just to be a provider of Home Care but a source of information to the communities that we serve.

Are you seeking home care for an aging relative in Dallas? Call Home Instead Senior Care in Dallas at 972-239-3934.

As the economy suffers and a number of jobs are lost daily, the need for senior CAREGivers continues to rise. What is a CAREGiver? Simply defined it is someone who gives assistance to another person who is no longer able to perform their critical tasks of personal or household care necessary for everyday survival. Anyone who helps someone maintain their independence. Of course a CAREGiver is much more than just this. A CAREGiver often becomes a companion, a best friend, a confidant, a support system and a client/family liaison. Finding the appropriate CAREGiver to match every need of their client can be a challenge but because so many people these days are turning to CAREGiving as a second career and to give back to their community the selection is much more broad and makes it easier for a nearly perfect match.

Of course not everybody is a quality CAREGiver. A quality CAREGiver is someone who is a professional and usually has a history of CAREGiving whether it be for a loved one or professionally but they must be someone who has compassion for those in need. CAREGivers who receive ongoing training and have a support system of people who listen and understand tend to be happier and have less burnout.

The economy may be bad but the opportunity for a great career as a CAREGiver is out there. The impact a CAREGiver can make on the life of a client is immense, but the client can also make a similar impact on the CAREGiver.

Are you seeking home care for an aging relative in Dallas? Call Home Instead Senior Care in Dallas at 972-239-3934.

It’s human nature to worry about finances, but as the recession continues to haunt our lives our concerns are increasing; especially those of us in our senior years, retired and living on limited incomes. With the current state of the economy, now might be the time to gain access to additional financial resources through effective asset management to unlock equity and leverage your home.

There are many major lenders and institutions beginning to encourage seniors in this increasingly common practice. Older adults who have already paid off their home mortgages, can leverage the equity in their homes by re-mortgaging or financing to get the money they need to pay for medical bills, assist family members to pay for education costs, or to complete much needed renovations in their own homes.

Maintain Your Independence

A reverse mortgage can give you access to your home equity without having to make monthly loan payments. Instead, you receive tax-free loan proceeds that will not affect Social Security or

Medicare benefits.
You can choose any combination of these flexible payout options at closing:

. A lump sum to cover large expenses
. Monthly installments to supplement income
. A line of credit to draw on as needed

And you can change how you receive proceeds as often as your needs change during the loan term.

Secure Your Financial Future

There are no income, employment or credit requirements. The amount you can qualify for is based on your age, your home’s value, its location, and current interest rates.

. You keep title and ownership of your home
. You continue to pay property taxes and insurance
. The amount you owe can never exceed the home’s value.

Funds received during your loan term, and interest, become due and payable by you or your estate when you sell or permanently leave your home. The home itself-and remaining equity-belongs to you or your heirs.

Reverse mortgages are another option and are HUD backed.

Thanks to Wells Fargo Reverse Mortgage Solutions for providing this information.

Are you seeking home care for an aging relative in Dallas? Call Home Instead Senior Care in Dallas at 972-239-3934.

It seems cruel to victimize seniors with fraud when they have limited resources and are the most likely to struggle with the state of the economy today. However, predators target the elderly just for this reason; because they are more vulnerable, they are more likely to agree to situations that may boost their financial standing or may trust more easily because they are lonely.

There are many types of scams that target senior citizens, some of which take place online by requesting a credit card or bank account number in exchange for goods or services that are never delivered. Other common types of senior fraud include sweepstakes scams and lottery prizes, investment fraud, “phishing” scams and fake charitable solicitations.

Seniors and their families need to be aware that there are people out there looking to pull the wool over the eyes of the elderly and take advantage of them. To remain safe from fraud, here are a few tips to help seniors keep what is rightly theirs and avoid the influence of criminals.

1. Beware of any sweepstakes or lottery that requires you to pay in order to claim your prize. By law, it should never be necessary to send money or make a purchase.
2. Never give financial information to a telemarketer who has called you. If you are interested in making a purchase from them, ask for a number to call them back after verifying their legitimacy. It is usually safe to provide information to an organization that you have called directly, but never give out your bank account, credit card or Social Security number if you get a bad feeling.
3. Before making a charitable donation, don’t hesitate to ask them how they use the money and if contributions are tax-deductible. If they are not willing to give out this information, they may not be a legitimate charity.
4. Remember these is no such thing as a risk-free financial investment, beware of organizations that guarantee huge returns upon your investment.
5. Make sure when hiring a contractor to do work around your home, that everything is put in writing and avoid working with those that show up at your door offering last minute specials.
6. If you are in a car accident, call the police if someone tries to bully you, claiming it’s your fault, before offering to pay them for the damage
7. Have someone watch your home if you are on vacation or staying in a nursing home.

If you would like to consult with someone from Home Instead Senior Care to provide more information about ways to prevent scams contact your local office at the number above.

Sources: http://www.ahealthyme.com/topic/srfraud
 http://www.consumer-ction.org/english/articles/just_say_no_to_senior_scams/

Are you seeking home care for an aging relative in Dallas? Call Home Instead Senior Care in Dallas at 972-239-3934.

Older adults who exercise regularly have increased blood flow and more small blood vessels in the brain, a new study shows.

The study, conducted at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, is the first to compare brain scans of older adults who exercise to brain scans of those who do not. The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.

“Our results show that exercise may reduce age-related changes in brain vasculature and blood flow,” said presenter Feraz Rahman, M.S., currently a medical student at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. “Other studies have shown that exercise prevents cognitive decline in the elderly. The blood vessel and flow differences may be one reason.”

The researchers did MRIs and MR angiography on 12 healthy adults, age 60 to 76. Six of the adults had participated in aerobic exercise for three or more hours per week over the last 10 years, and six exercised less than one hour per week.

“The active adults had more small blood vessels and improved cerebral blood flow,” said the study’s senior author, J. Keith Smith, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of radiology at UNC School of Medicine. “These findings further point out the importance of regular exercise to healthy aging.”

We know that most seniors have some worry about their health and longevity, so this year, why not focus your New Year’s resolution on leading a healthier life. Plan to make simple changes to your exercise routine and nutritional habits, that way your resolutions are more likely to last through 2009 and beyond.

• Start by speaking to a doctor about your plans, so they can provide any suggestions regarding activities that might harm you, or tips regarding benefits
• Try to slowly introduce greater levels of exercise into your life and work up to at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular activity 5 days a week
• Create a routine that includes cardio; stretching, to help with flexibility; strength training and balance
• Consider speaking with a nutritionist regarding your eating habits
• Ensure your diet consists of fresh fruits and vegetables
• Avoid: fat, cholesterol, and excessive amounts of sodium and sugar
• Include: calcium, vitamin D, and lots of water
• Cut out excessive alcohol consumption and smoking

Family traditions help us form connections with our relatives and shape our own sense of identity. Every family has their own rituals that are important to them and are valued parts of their lives that they look forward to each year. Home Instead Senior Care providing the most trusted elder home care in America! Helps family caregivers cope with senior care in Dallas. Call us today at 972-239-3934. 

It doesn’t matter what the traditions are, they can be whatever the family deems as important to them. They can be as elaborate as throwing large surprise birthday parties for every milestone, or as minor as reading bedtime stories to children every night. Whatever the traditions are, it’s important that they are passed along to future generations so they can be part of making the memories too.

Families can pass along significant heirlooms from generation to generation, while making sure that other individuals understand why it’s so important. An heirloom can be any object that represents the family; like a piece of jewelry, a quilt or an ornament.

Another tradition that can be passed on within families, can be to teach skills which can be enjoyed together or by members on their own. They can be creative skills like painting, photography, or needlework crafts like knitting or patchwork. Or, they can focus upon music, like learning to play an instrument or singing. Other areas of expertise that can be passed on are cooking, gardening, or handyman skills.

Families should also focus upon sharing their stories about family history and traditions with all generations, so they understand the significance of the rituals to their family. This can make them even more special and unique and help tighten the bonds between the members.

Source: http://aginggrandparents.suite101.com/article.cfm/preserving_family_memories

When visiting an older adult over the holidays, or in the New Year, families need to be prepared to appropriately handle any signs that the senior is struggling. According to Dr. Harwood, there are a number of ways to do it right; complete the following checklist to learn if you can productively handle your holiday visit.

• You know that their home might signify negative changes – unopened bills, clutter, or an under stocked fridge may indicate that they’re struggling to keep up with the responsibilities at home.
• You are prepared for no change or positive changes within their homes – they might have assistive devices, which can indicate that they are accepting and coping well with the aging process.
• You will do your best not to overact and will not try to do too much too soon, no matter what you witness.
• You know that the aging process is not always responsible for changes in a senior, so you take the chance to talk and learn what’s really been happening in their life. This helps you learn if they’ve recently lost a friend, experienced a health change, or begun taking new medications.
• You consider how you would like to be treated if you were in a similar situation.
• After learning why the senior is experiencing these changes, you help them find simple solutions.

Jake Harwood, Professor Department of Communication, University of Arizona