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Home InsteadNearly 90 percent of seniors say they want to stay in their home. Doing so gives them a wonderful sense of continued independence.
But having mom or dad live alone can be a source of worry for their adult children. The, "What if?" scenarios can often overwhelm the mind. "What if she falls down?" "What if he forgets something on the stove?" "What if she doesn't tell me it's getting harder for her to get around?"
If you feel like this, you're not alone. In 2007 the AARP surveyed boomer women and found that two-thirds are concerned about their parents' ability to live independently.
With the CARE Medical History Bracelet, your complete personal health history will always be within arm's reach. In the form of a USB flash drive compatible with any computer, the wristband makes essential medical information readily available to medical staff in the event of an emergency. Simply use the wristband's preloaded software to enter or update your health data on a computer and then download that data to the band.
Pharmacist Rob Albers tells the story of his 89-year-old dad, whose medication accident left him paralyzed from the waist down.
Dr. Amy D'Aprix outlines ways to assist in medication management for anyone caring for an older parent, other relative or friend.
If you're confused about the many medications Mom and Dad are taking, join the crowd. On average seniors ages 85 and older take 34 prescriptions, including refills, per year, according to the ASCP.
Keeping seniors safe at home means learning more about the many resources that are available to older adults and their family caregivers. If your mom and dad want to stay at home, make sure they have everything they need to guard against medication mistakes.
After 35 years as a pharmacist, Rob Albers was familiar with many of the medication risks that older adults face, from overdosing to improper medication use. But he wasn't prepared to see a medication mistake result in an accident that left his own father, John, paralyzed from the waist down.
If you don't have a medical background, you can feel overwhelmed about how to keep your seniors safe at home, especially if they are taking many medications.
Safe medication management involves give and take between your senior loved one and his or her doctor and pharmacist. You are an important supporter as well for Mom and Dad. You can accompany your parents to the doctor or pharmacy to make sure they ask the right questions.
Drugs offer many life-saving benefits that keep seniors healthier longer. But ads that promote the many pharmaceuticals on the market can cause confusion for both seniors and their family caregivers. Make sure to confer with doctors about any medications a senior is taking and check out www.SeniorEmergencyKit.com for more resources.
The Senior Emergency Kit features several worksheets that family caregivers can complete with the help of a senior loved one. This toolkit can be kept in an easy-to-reach location, such as a nightstand, to allow easy access to information.
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