Informative essay

Keeping Seniors in Their Homes
As people age and their abilities decline it becomes necessary to evaluate their living arrangements. Many do not wish to leave their homes. In recent years, there has been a trend toward people staying in their homes as long as possible. There is a wide variety of services available to help seniors stay in their homes but they must accept some changes to their homes and ways of doing things. Where does one start when facing the aging of a parent or other family member?
The family of the aging individual must determine the areas they may need help in. The Medicare website offers a “Long Term Planning Tool”. It asks for information about the individual’s health problems and abilities with various activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, walking and preparing meals. It also asks for some financial information then will show types of help you may need, how to find it and information on financial assistance. (“Long Term”)
To begin looking for services locally, each county has a department on Aging which is a good place to start. The Jackson County Department on Aging has a resource list with 26 different categories of services such as home medical equipment, home delivered meals and transportation. The staff of social workers, counselors, certified family life educators, home care specialists and nutritionists will assist families in determining the services they may need. (“Jackson”)
In order for an aging person to stay in their home some changes might need to be made for their safety. According to the National Resource Center for Supportive Housing and Home Modifications, falls are a leading cause of death for older Americans and half of all falls occur at home. Typical hazards that cause falls include loose throw rugs and clutter that obstructs pathways.(“Home Modifications”) Steps to take which help avoid falls in bathrooms are installing grab bars by the toilet and shower, using a raised toilet seat and use only non-slip rugs. If the person will be using stairs make sure stairs have hand rails on both sides. Light switches should be located at the top and bottom of the stairs and the stairs should be well lit. Throughout the house remove objects and clutter from walkways and remove throw rugs. (“Individuals”)
Changes that may need to be made range from the simple and inexpensive things listed above to altering the structure of the home, or “home modification”, which can become costly. The National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modification defines Home Modification as “the conversion or adaptation of the environment in order to make performing tasks easier, reduce accidents, and support independent living.” Typical renovations that may be needed are building a ramp to the door, a walk in shower which eliminates the need to step into a tub and wider doorways that will accommodate a wheelchair. (“Home Modifications”)
Once safety has been addressed then consider assistive devices. Assistive devices are tools that help elderly or disabled do the activities they have always done but must now do differently. Assistive devices include those for mobility like canes, walkers and electric scooters. Lever style door handles and larger cabinet handles are easier for arthritic hands to operate. Single lever faucets are easier to use. Telephones and clocks with large, lighted numbers are available. Most of these items are available at local home stores. (“Assistive Technology”)
The next area to address is services that are available to help keep seniors living in their homes. The National Institute on Aging publishes a guide called “There’s No Place Like Home –To Grow Old”, which outlines the services people most often need. The following are some of the types of help available from non-medical home care agencies. Personal care for when help is needed with bathing, dressing and grooming. Homemaking help for cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping. Some grocery stores deliver orders. When cooking is difficult options include the Meals on Wheels program which delivers meals to the home. Some senior centers serve meals. If help is needed with money management and a family member is not able to help some banks have programs to assist with bill paying. Home health care agencies provide medical care in the home. Some home health agencies also provide some non medical help too. Transportation is another issue when one is no longer able to drive. Public transportation prices are usually reduced for senior citizens. (“There’s No Place”)
The most difficult issue for many is paying for services. There is financial help available. The Jackson County Department on Aging does not charge a fee for their services. A donation is asked for but no one is denied service due to inability to pay. (“Jackson”)
Veterans should check with a Veteran’s Administration benefits counselor to see what they are eligible to receive. The number is 877-222-8387. Veterans’ benefits include medical care, home health aides and adult day care. Information is also available on their website, www.va.gov. (“There’s No Place”)
Medicare benefits can be determined with a tool on the Medicare website. (“Your Medicare”) or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE to speak with representatives who can verify your coverage.(“Contact Medicare”) This is also listed on the Jackson County Resource List as Medicare Helpline.
The National Institute on Aging recommends two benefits locater websites to help in finding benefits one may qualify for. www.govbenefits.gov provides information on federal, state and local government programs and their qualifications. They provide a questionnaire to answer and it will narrow down the list to programs you would be most likely to qualify for. The other website is www.benefitscheckup.org which is provided by the National Council on Aging. This also uses a questionnaire and provides information on programs, Medicare benefits, food assistance and eldercare assistance. There is also assistance for applying for Medicare extra prescription help. (“There’s no Place”)
Another resource is Central Michigan 211 Health and Human Services Information Line. This is accessed by dialing 211. 211 is a referral service, the call takers match callers with services they may qualify for and give the caller the contact information. (“Central”)
Reverse Mortgages may be what an aging homeowner needs to finance their Home modifications. A reverse mortgage is a special type of home loan for a homeowner over 62 which does not have to be repaid. You receive payments on your home as long as you still live in it. Payments can be monthly or for a fixed period of time or can be a line of credit to be used as needed. When the homeowner leaves their home the lender then sells the home and any proceeds in excess of the principle paid plus interest is paid to the person or their heirs. (“FHA”)
Some homes may need extensive work to be safe for an aging person to live in and may not be practical. Some people want to remain independent but feel the need to leave a big house they are no longer able to take care of. There are options for seniors to still live independently and on their own even though they may have to leave the home they are living in. Help guide.org defines the types of senior living choices. Independent living keeps seniors self sufficient yet provides the security of a senior community. Assisted living and congregate housing are very similar. These are for people without severe medical problems who, for the most part, live independently but need minimal assistance with tasks and some provide at least one meal daily. Board and care is a state licensed assisted living which provides more assistance, meals and activities. Continuing care retirement communities are campuses where a person can progress to the different stages of living from independent to assisted and even nursing home if it becomes necessary while staying in the same place. (Russell)
With some planning and use of services available to seniors it is possible for the aging population to remain in their homes as they age. Growing old no longer automatically means going to the Old Folks Home. It is possible for Grandma to live by herself and the rest of the family will still be able to sleep at night!

Dorothy

Three weeks ago I ran a marathon.  Throughout much of the marathon I kept seeing a "little old lady" running along.  Her shirt said "Go Dorothy Go" on the back and "Run Dorothy Run" on the front.  I picked up my pace for the last three miles and I never saw her again but I know she finished shortly after I did.  I was just leaving the finish area when I heard people yelling "Yay Dorothy, Go Dorothy".  Later I looked in the results and there was a 65 yr old woman named Dorothy who finished about a minute after I did. 
I do not know this woman but she has really left an impression on me!  I have thought about her quite often since the marathon.  She is 65 years old and runs marathons! The day after the marathon I went to the grocery store.  I saw people competing to get into a  handicapped parking spot; the first thing that came to my mind was that if Dorothy goes to the grocery store today she won't be parking in a handicapped spot.  In the store I saw a woman riding on one of those motorized grocery carts and I said out-loud, "Dorothy doesn't need one of those!"  My daughter wondered if I was losing my mind and asked me what I was talking about!!
I decided to look Dorothy up on Athlinks which is sort of the runners equivalent of Facebook.  She was there!!  According to her profile she began running at age 41 (same as me!) and has run 18 marathons in the last 14 years.  I looked at her recent results and noticed that she ran the Boston Marathon in April of this year!!! WOW!!  I haven't even been able to qualify to do that yet.  She ran marathons April 19 and May 29, just over a month apart! That's impressive!!    
When I started running races a few years ago one of the first things I noticed was the people 20-plus years older than me who ran the races and some of them just as fast or faster than I do.  I work in health care so I take care of people the same ages as these people who can barely walk to the bathroom and here are people the same age who run a 5K in less than 20 minutes.  (it takes me at least 23 minutes)   Sometimes working in health can be depressing. I see people and then wonder if I will be like that when I am that age.  My goal is to stay healthy and be able to drive, go to the store and just do the things I want to do without a cane, walker or wheelchair.  My goal in life is to never park in a handicapped parking spot or use a motorized grocery cart.  When I see people like Dorothy I have to believe that running will help me to achieve that. 
I've met people older than Dorothy in the past who still run.  It has always inspired me.  In 2007 I met a man shortly after I finished a marathon and I assumed that he had just finished but found out that, no, he didn't just finish but had finished 33 minutes ahead of me!!  He was 70 and had just run his 70th marathon!  He was very proud of that. 
So, when people ask me if I am crazy or why I want to put myself through running long distances I just think of myself as an 80 year old lady out running and amazing people over half my age!!!!!  Actually I think of my future 80 year old self traveling to great places without any problems getting around to run races!!!!  I picture myself running with my grand or great grand children!!!  I also have this idea that I want to be a lifeguard on cruise ships when I am retired.  I am counting on running to keep me healthy and active for a very long time. 
Just say NO to canes, walkers, riding grocery carts, wheelchairs and handicapped parking!!!!!!!

Public smoking ban

This week blog assignment:

Find a social issue you agree or disagree with.  Post your blog stating your position and reasons to support your opinion.

I'm a non-smoker so, obviously, I am in favor of the ban on smoking in public places BUT...

When you really think about it, a business owner should be able to decide if smoking is allowed or not.  Before there was a ban there were many places choosing to go smoke free.  They chose to not allow smoking even though an establishment next door could choose to allow it.  Many businesses have a particular client in mind such as whole families or just adults, for example.  Allowing or not allowing smoking would depend on the client the business wants to attract.   

There are some restaurants where no matter what they do to separate the smoking and non-smoking sections the smoke could still be smelled throughout the restaurant.  If enough customers say something about it a business owner should figure out how to make it better.  

I would not be surprised if some revisions to this law will be made someday.  

There is no question that smoking and second hand smoke is hazardous to our health but this ban isn't going to stop people from smoking.  It will definitely keep second hand smoke from non smokers in public places which is what I think the goal is.   

Oil Spill

This weeks English class blog assignment is the oil spill.  I recalled that Sunday's Detroit Free Press had several articles which I hadn't had time to read since I was more concerned with sleeping and visiting my favorite sports massage therapist after the previous day's 26.2 mile adventure!!

I had lost track of exactly when this happened.  I found out in one of the articles that it was April 20th.  WOW, it's been well over a month.  One of the articles is titled, "We Can't Make This Well Stop".  The  latest thing they tried which was filling the flowing well with mud but that has failed.  They are next going to try capping the well.  That makes sense to me although I know nothing about oil wells.  The cap is already on the sea floor and ready to go.  The article states: "It isn't immediately clear how soon crews would begin the procedure." HUH??  I sure hope they are beginning.  I hope they didn't take the holiday weekend off.  It is a 4 day procedure.  The estimates of the amount of oil spilled is anywhere between 18 and 40 million gallons; I can't even imagine that amount. 

There was a picture of people cleaning a pelican who was covered in oil.  I am sure there will be a lot of wild life lost to this.     I have to wonder what they are going to do with the pelican; will he be put back into the same water?  It would just get covered in oil again. 

Today the Freep is reporting that they began the process to cap the well.  They first had to saw something  off and the saw got stuck.  There is a second saw going down there to finish the procedure.  After the cap is placed another well must be drilled to completely stop the flow and the article says that might take until August.  AUGUST???
My worst fear is that the oil will drift to the Florida Keys which is what I consider to be the most wonderful place on earth!  The oil is getting close to the panhandle of Florida and the white sand beaches.  I've been to a couple of places on the panhandle and there are some beautiful beaches. 

This has to stop soon. 
I guess we will find out tomorrow if the saw got freed and the cap put in place.  We can only hope.