Marin Women's Hall of Fame

 HOLIDAY SHOPPING? 

GREAT IDEAS FOR EVERYONE!

HI-TECH DEVICES DESIGNED FOR OLDER USERS


For many of those who are 50+, well-designed gadgets and gizmos that are easy to use -- even by those who can’t see, hear or punch tiny little buttons as well as they used to -- are becoming a very welcome part of everyday life. This is good business, of course: The 78 million baby boomers represent one-quarter of the US population and, according to research done by the AARP, they own more than 70% of US financial assets and generate more than $2 trillion in annual income. (The same research also pointed out that, "With life expectancy growing, boomers' focus is on health and hipness quotients to fight ‘old' aging and keep them in the game.")

"The negative stereotype of older adults -- that they’re technophobic, can’t learn anything new, they’re all sick -- is slowly but surely changing," says Sara J. Czaja, PhD, codirector of the departments of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and Engineering at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s Center on Aging. "We really have to think of older adults as active users of technology."

BOOMER TECH

To learn about some of the best or latest examples of well-designed tech that’s geared to the boomer-and-older crowd, I spoke with Susan Ayers Walker, managing director of SmartSilvers, a group that works with manufacturers to promote the development of 50+-friendly technology. Some of the gadgets here are for the tech-savvy set... some are for new users... and some are simply interesting takes on already existing technology. All rank among her favorites.

A simpler cell phone: The Jitterbug phone is a prime example of well-thought-out design for seniors interested in using new technology but who feel more comfortable with old-school versions. Two unique features: When you open the Jitterbug phone, you hear a dial tone that tells you it is ready to use and if you hit "0," you connect with an operator who can help you. Plans start as low as $14.99 per month for 50 "anytime" minutes, and you do not need to sign a contract. Jitterbug.com.

A senior-oriented computer: The Go Computer is a simple, inexpensive computer designed for ease of use -- all you need is a broadband Internet connection, either through your cable or telephone company. (Note: It won’t work with dial-up Internet connections.) Plug the computer into your wall outlet, turn it on and press the "Go" button to access e-mail, the Web, photos, games... all the basic functions for which most people actually use a computer. There’s virtually no set-up involved, and it comes with a keyboard and screen designed specifically for seniors. $879, plus $19.96 per month for service. thegocomputer.com.

Getting the picture: The Ceiva digital picture frame automatically updates itself to generate a continually fresh family album. Connected to a phone line, the frame automatically dials in to its servers at night to download new pictures, if they’re available. Sending photos is as simple as loading them from your computer to the Ceiva server.  This is a great idea for home use or for a gift for an older family member not living with you -- he/she can wake up to new photos whenever you choose. From $127.99 for a frame and one year of service. ceiva.com.

Time to relax: We all could use less stress in our lives, especially at this time of year. The emWave Personal Stress Reliever is like a high-tech, credit card-sized mood ring that measures stress levels, and provides audio and visual feedback. A free tutorial is included (you call a number printed on the box to listen). Also available for purchase are e-books that offer instructions for using the device to help manage such problems as emotional eating or insomnia. Some pro golfers are using the emWave to help them relax before they tee off, and a number of Veterans Administration hospitals are using the devices to help returning soldiers cope with post-traumatic stress disorder. $199. Emwave.com.

FIND MORE STUFF AT...

If you want to explore: Susan Ayers also recommended the online retailer Firststreetonline.com  as a place to poke around to find the latest gadgets coming to market for the aging set. After all, it’s a growing market -- and manufacturers are finally paying attention.


Source(s):


Susan Ayers Walker, managing director, SmartSilvers, www.smartsilvers.com/.

Sara J. Czaja, PhD, professor and codirector, departments of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and Engineering, Center on Aging, University of Miami.

 

"Savvy Seniors" offers...More Than BINGO!!

Just ask:

Mary Murtagh, EAH Housing, as she ensures a sense of safety and well-being for countless people needing affordable housing; Sister Marion Irvine, O.P. - if you can catch "The Running Nun" as she works to promote peace, justice and the end of capital punishment and war; Paula Kamena, Marin County's first woman District Attorney and advocate for women and children.  Ask these highly accomplished women about all that life offers over 50...not that any of them are over 50...but, you could ask...and they might tell you that Marin Women's Hall of Fame is on the right track! 

And, before you know it...MWHF will have programs and services that address the needs, wants and opportunities of our aging population in Marin.  There is a tremendous amount of talent and expertise and energy in women over 55...and they will have "think tanks" and brainstorming sessions and ways to give back to make sure that the young women and girls that follow in their footsteps...are prepared to achieve, lead, influence and live a life of EXCELLENCE!

 Worry-Free Care for Faraway Parents

     If you are responsible for the care of an aging parent or relative -- especially one who is sick and lives far away -- you may wish you knew a wise, willing sage with answers to tough questions and the time and energy to follow through on the details. Enter the geriatric care manager. Phyllis Mensh Brostoff, CISW, president of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, and learn more about these professionals who offer expertise in dealing with the special needs of the aging.

"Our specialty is based on an amalgam of nursing and social work, providing a variety of services for aging individuals."   Finding the right care manager to help with eldercare challenges is important.

     Brostoff illustrated the difficulties facing families with two hypothetical scenarios: Nancy's father lives alone, hundreds of miles from his daughter. She calls one day and he sounds confused, unsure of her identity and unable to tell her the date or even what time it is. What should she do? Then there is Louis, who juggles a busy work schedule, his own family needs and he visits his elderly mother every few months. All's going well enough, till one day he arrives to find the usually neat home in chaos. Unpaid bills and unwashed laundry have piled up. His mother is unkempt and, of even greater concern... pill bottles are filled with medication that hasn't been taken. Where should he turn for help?

A geriatric care manager can step in to solve problems like these efficiently and sensitively -- helping, for instance, with...
    •     Housing. Geriatric care managers can provide suggestions for relocation, as well as advice and coordination of a combination of services, including emergency response systems and meals-on-wheels that can allow an elderly person to remain at home.
    •     Liaison. Geriatric care managers can act as a liaison between clients and attorneys/trust officers... physicians... social workers... home care companies... residential facilities.
    •     Mediation. Siblings don't always agree on what's best for their parents and aging parents may not want to admit they are no longer able to care for themselves. The geriatric care manager can mediate between adult children worried about a parent's safety and well-being, and the older person who wants to maintain a sense of independence. Brostoff recalls meeting with a family who exemplified this problem. The daughters worried about their mother's continuing ability to care for their frail father, while the mother didn't want her daughters taking over her life. With Brostoff's guidance, the mother came to realize that her daughters' concern would help, not hinder, her ability to stay independent. "She was then open to suggestions, such as an adult day program or help in the home," Brostoff said.
    •     Crisis management. Geriatric care managers are familiar with available resources and may have creative solutions to difficult problems. Brostoff points out that it's better to establish such a relationship before a crisis occurs. If and when you face an emergency, such as a fall or sudden illness, you'll then have the benefit of an impartial local expert.
    •     Transitional planning. Advice from someone who knows the family and circumstances is helpful when elderly patients are ready for discharge from a hospital and need advice about the next step, whether it's a nursing home, rehab facility or their own home with outside help. Hospital discharge planners can and do assist families and patients with advice, but they don't have a personal relationship, haven't been to the patient's home and cannot evaluate how realistic the care plan for when the patient returns home actually is, notes Brostoff. For example, a hospital discharge planner may assume a spouse can care for the patient returning home from the hospital, but may not know of health problems that individual has that will make such an arrangement risky for both.
    •     A local presence for regular check-ins. Geriatric care managers who work with a family over time get to know the details of the client's life, their routines and likes and dislikes. The relationship that develops allows the care manager to anticipate necessary changes and perhaps even avert a crisis by providing supportive counseling and advice.

     To find a geriatric care manager in your area, log onto the Web site of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers (NAPGCM) at www.caremanager.org. NAPGCM has developed Standards of Practice and a Pledge of Ethics for members that address a variety of topics including training, billing, etc. Look for a professional who has an advanced degree in nursing, social work, gerontology or psychology, and who is certified by one of these organizations -- the National Academy of Certified Care Managers, the Commission for Case Management Certification or the National Association of Social Workers. Care managers typically charge an hourly fee, which varies in different communities. Fees range from $50 to $200 per hour, depending on the region.

Brostoff advises asking these questions of all candidates before making a decision to hire:
    •     How long have you been providing care management services? Experience is essential, says Brostoff, noting that many people have been in a related profession for a long time before specializing in care management.
    •     What services do you provide? For instance, some organizations provide home care while others are purely advisory.
    •     How would you handle my problem? You want someone who presents solutions you may not have thought of or that are in accordance with your own ideas.
    •     How will you communicate information to me? Look for someone who provides regular updates and is willing to work with your needs -- for instance, via e-mail or scheduled phone calls, if you have a complicated schedule.
    •     What happens if there's a crisis after hours? Make sure there is a plan in place. Ask how problems that arise after regular working hours are handled and what backup exists for care managers.
    •     What is your fee? Can you send a fee schedule?

Ask for references, especially if you know nothing at all about the person you are considering hiring. And as with any kind of counseling, you should like the person you'll be working with -- the goal is to find a professional who will make the situation better for everyone, not one who adds complexity at a time that is already emotionally difficult. For those who can't afford private GCMs, the Area Agency on Aging can provide information on other local resources -- call 800-677-1116.

Reference Source(s): Bottom Line Publications;  Phyllis Mensh Brostoff, CISW, president, National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, www.caremanager.org.