Why Does My Elderly Mom Keep Falling? Common Causes and Solutions

Why does my elderly mom keep falling? Common Causes and Solutions

This is a question that plagues many adults as they enter into the life phase in which roles reverse and adult children must take on more responsibility for their parent's well-being. Approximately one out of three adults over the age of 65 falls each year. Among these older adults, falls are the leading cause of injury, both fatal and non-fatal.

This issue is cause for great concern, since injuries can include hip fractures, head trauma, and cuts and bruises. Adult children of aging parents  http://www.caringseniorservice.com/fall-prevention-fact-sheet need solutions, both to protect their parents and for their own peace of mind.

There are several identifiable factors which contribute to elder injury due to falling. Thankfully, these same factors, when addressed properly, can also contribute to a solution.

Below is a list of some of the most common issues related to falling in the elderly.

• Exercise- While insufficient exercise is a contributing factor to falling, choosing a lifestyle that includes moderate exercise is an excellent solution. Exercise programs that build leg strength and improve balance are especially helpful.
• Vision exam- Make sure that your parent's prescription is up-to-date. Impaired vision can contribute to stumbling and/or falling. A once-a-year exam will insure that your parent's vision is as good as it can possibly be.
• Prescription review- While medicine prescriptions are a fact of life for most elderly people, it is extremely important to have a physician or pharmacist review all medicines and how they interact with each other. Some medicines used together can cause dizziness or drowsiness, increasing the probability of a fall. Simply substituting one medicine for another may put a stop to dangerous interactions. This step should never be taken without the advice of the supervising physician.

Dealing with the inevitable issue of elder care is stressful for almost every adult. Making improvements in the above-mentioned areas can have an impact on both parent and child, leaving more time to enjoy the precious moments we cherish as we watch our parents age gracefully.

To learn more about fall prevention, DOWNLOAD our Fall Prevention Fact Sheet.

Caring Senior Service has the experience, compassion, and training necessary for comprehensive home care, and we also offer a wide range of home care services that are all designed to make life easier for seniors and their families. To learn more about the services we provide, contact us today!

Visit us online @ http://phoenix.caringseniorservice.com/

The Cost of Assisted Living

Cost of Assisted Living

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If you haven't planned for senior living care, you aren't alone. Few people do - either because they don't think they'll need it or because they want to save their assets for their children and believe that government subsidies will cover any care they need. This doesn't mean they can't afford suitable care; it just means the choices may be more limited. Fortunately, just like the variety in settings, styles, and amenities, senior living residences are available at a variety of price points.

Costs vary with the residence, apartment size, and types of services needed. The basic rate may cover all services or there may be additional charges for special services. Most assisted living residences charge on a month-to-month lease arrangement, but a few require long-term arrangements.

Base rates may fluctuate depending on unit size: for example, studio, one, or two-bedroom apartment. Note also that base rates typically only cover room and board and two to three meals. Additional charges may include entrance fees up to one month's rent, deposits, and fees for other services such as housekeeping and laundry, though many providers include those services as well.

The average cost for a private one-bedroom apartment in an assisted living residence is $3,022 per month, according to research compiled by several nonprofit senior living organizations, including the Assisted Living Federation of America (2009 Overview of Assisted Living). Assisted living is of often less expensive than home health or nursing home care in the same geographic area.

More than half of assisted living communities use a tiered pricing model with bundled services, according to research. For instance, a resident needing very little assistance would be at the lowest tier. Other pricing models include all-inclusive, a la carte, or fee-for-service basis. Providers regularly review service and care plans to ensure residents' needs are being met. Billing is typically done monthly. 

Determining Your Budget for Senior Living Care

Senior living residents and their families generally pay the cost of service through private financial resources. Depending on the nature of your or your loved one's health insurance program or senior living care insurance policy, some costs may be reimbursable. Some residences also have their own financial assistance programs.

For most seniors, the home is the biggest asset. One option is to sell or rent the home and use the proceeds or rental payments to fund senior living. A less-known and less-understood alternative is the reverse annuity mortgage, which allows seniors to use the value of the home without giving it up. With this option, instead of the resident paying a mortgage, the financial institution pays the homeowner a lump sum or monthly payment, which the homeowner can then use for senior housing. Most experts suggest the reverse mortgage be considered only for the last five years or so of senior housing. AARP and HUD both have additional information on reverse mortgages.

When meeting with senior living providers, ask for written material, including copies of the community's resident agreement that outlines, at a minimum, services, prices, extra charges, move-in and move-out criteria, staffing, and house rules.

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living and Senior Living Care

Several government subsidies are available to fund senior housing. However, the reality is that these amounts are limited and will impose restrictions on what care you receive and where you receive it.

• Medicare: Neither Medicare Parts A nor B offer coverage for comprehensive ongoing long-term care. Medicare A (hospital insurance) may cover costs for a semiprivate room, meals, nursing and rehab services, medications, and medical supplies in a skilled nursing facility for the first 100 days after being released from hospitalization for an acute illness or injury. The first 20 days are covered at 80 percent, with the rest of that time period covered at decreasing rates. It never covers a private room nor services in an assisted living residence. Medicare B only offers reimbursement for covered services you receive from a doctor. 
  
  Ask Medicare is designed to support and assist caregivers. Ask Medicare offers a wide range of helpful information for the nearly 66 million Americans who provide help to an aging, seriously ill, or disabled family member or friend. Ask Medicare offers tools that helps caregivers and those they care for make informed health decisions. 
  
• Medicaid: Medicaid, which provides federal health-care assistance to low-income Americans, is the biggest payer for room, board, nursing care, and social activities in nursing homes. Many, but not all, states now cover some assisted living services under their Medicaid programs; however, these fluctuate widely in terms of eligibility requirements, and dollar amounts of coverage. The Senior Assisted Housing Waiver provides eligible low-income adults a choice of receiving senior living care services in a community-based setting rather than in a nursing facility. Bear in mind that faced with budget deficits for years to come, states are more likely to cut, rather than expand, these programs. 
  
• Housing and Veterans Subsidies: Seniors with annual incomes under $12,000 may qualify for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 202 and Section 8 senior housing, which provide rent subsidies that can help pay for the room-and-board portion of both independent living and assisted living environments. The Department of Veterans Affairs also provides some skilled and intermediate-level care to veterans in its own residences, depending on space availability. 
   
• For more information on benefits, visit Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents or check out the VA's benefits fact sheets. 
  
• Life Care Funding Group (LCFG) assists people in need of funds to cover the costs of senior housing and long term care. LCFG specializes in converting the death benefit of an in-force life insurance policy into a long term care benefit to cover the costs of skilled nursing home care, assisted living, home health care, and hospice.
  

Visit us online @ http://www.mesa-eastassistedlivinglocators.com 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT About You Home Care

We are pleased to announce our newest advertiser in the 

SPOTLIGHT Senior Services & Living Options Resource Guide

Welcome About You Home Care!

About You Home Care is an innovative Physician directed non-medical home care
company serving the East and Southeast Phoenix Metro areas. The physician director works
with families and care providers to support client well-being and quality of life. He also oversees
caregiver training and supervisory visits to assure that high standards are maintained.

Dr. Morgan Brown, MD helped launch About You Home Care in 2011. While caring for his
mother he recognized that better communication among caregivers, families and medical providers
can result in improved health and may even reduce the need for costly hospitalization.  Dr. Brown
has over 25 years of experience in a broad range of healthcare areas including large hospital
inpatient care, outpatient primary care clinics and emergency medicine as well as clinical laboratory
 medicine and anatomic pathology.  He has also served on several hospital leadership and quality of care committees.

The founder Debbie McLay, has had a 10 year career working as a Behavioral Health
Technician providing Direct Care to youth and adults with behavioral challenges, including
substance abuse, eating disorders, domestic violence and mental health issues.  Debbie founded
About You Home Care with a vision of serving others who are faced with the struggles that her
family had experienced. As a strong believer in community service Debbie does volunteer work
for Duet, a nonprofit organization that provides free of charge services for homebound adults
and their families that face the difficult challenges associated with aging.

About You Home Care specializes in:

·         Chronic Condition Care - Our Condition Specific Program is designed to help improve the
health of our clients and keep them safe at home. If your aging loved one has a chronic or
post-acute condition we will customize a care plan and assign a caregiver trained in that specific condition.

·         AlzBetter Authorized  Provider  -  Our  specialized  Alzheimer’s and Dementia program can
help your loved one live a happier, fulfilled life. We combine essential tasks and meaningful activities, including our Music to Remember program, to enrich the lives of those struggling with Alzheimer’s
and other forms of dementia.

For more information visit http://aboutyouhomecare.com or call 480-427-4840

IN THE SPOTLIGHT MO MedTrans, LLC

We are pleased to announce our newest advertiser in the 

SPOTLIGHT Senior Services & Living Options Resource Guide

Welcome MO MedTrans, LLC!

WHO WE ARE

MO MedTrans, LLC is a progressive transportation provider with a passion for results. Since its inception, it was founded on a vision to revolutionize the non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) industry. From the day we had one vehicle, our commitment to excellence has been unparalleled.

Our Core Values:

• Integrity: you can trust us
• Respect: we treat everyone with dignity and respect
• Caring: our customers are family, friends and neighbors
• Uniqueness: we stand for something
• Innovation: we are creative in delivering service

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We are licensed and insured. 

We are licensed as a livery service by the Arizona Department of Weights and Measures and the Arizona Department of Transportation. We are also licensed by the Arizona Sate Board of Pharmacy to supply Oxygen.

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Our Dispatchers | Our Drivers
Our Fleet

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Our commitment to customer service and public safety has motivated us to self-regulate, join the Arizona Medical Transportation Association (AZMTA), and become an active associate member.

WHAT WE DO

Ambulatory | Wheelchair | Stretcher

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We provide transportation solutions for seniors and those with special needs and focus on non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT):

• Routine doctor appointments
• Dialysis appointments
• Patient discharges: inpatient hospital stay, outpatient surgeries, and endoscopy procedures
• Physical therapy
• Workers’ compensation claims
• Independent Medical Examiner (IME)

We offer a range of assisted transportation services, which include: 

• Door-to-Door
• Door-through-Door
• Hand-to-Hand
• Bedside-to-Bedside

Our team is available Monday – Saturday (6:00 AM – 7:00 PM), and is highly trained to meet your needs. Our fleet is comprised of sedans, minivans, and full-vans. Our wheelchair andstretcher vans meet ADA regulations and have been customized for safety and comfort. We are also licensed to supply Oxygen.

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Call 480-800-3130 To Schedule Your Next Trip

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We do NOT provide emergency medical transportation nor do we provide any medical monitoring or treatment during our trips. We fully comply with Arizona Statutes 36-2223 – thus, we can supply Oxygen, however we can not administer it.

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Call 911 in the Event of an Emergency

Visit us online @ http://momedtrans.com/ 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT The Inn at Freedom Plaza

We are pleased to announce our newest advertiser in the 

SPOTLIGHT Senior Services & Living Options
Resource Guide

Welcome The Inn at Freedom Plaza!

THE INN AT FREEDOM PLAZA features Personalized Assisted Living for those who desire social connections, clinical support, or need some help with routine activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, or assistance with medications. Compassionate associates provide care and “Respect for Individual Preferences,” with a smile, personal greeting, and personal attention – the Brookdale way.

The Personalized Assisted Living Promise: “Respect for Individual Preferences”

This customized and person-centered experience is designed to honor your individuality and respect those preferences that make you unique. In our community, “Respect for Individual Preferences” is our promise to you. Our way of discovering your personal needs, unique qualities and values requires the following approach, which is unique to our community.

The Personalized Assisted Living Approach: Listen. Recognize. Integrate.

The Inn at Freedom Plaza’s Personalized Assisted Living program is designed to accommodate individuals who need daily assistance to maintain a relatively independent living lifestyle. The Inn is a family-centered community that serves the physical, social and emotional needs of residents and their families. After listening to our residents, we recognize who they are and the importance of developing relationships, and then we integrate their desires into every aspect of community life. Delivering Personalized Assisted Living with respect for individual preferences is both our goal and our promise – your preference is our priority!

Services and Amenities

Ø  Private or shared accommodations furnished with resident’s own belongings (furniture

available if needed)

Ø  Individual assessment of personal and health care needs, the Personalized Care Plan

Ø  Licensed nurses on-site 24 hours a day

Ø  Medication Administration

Ø  Trained staff on-site 24 hours a day

Ø  Assistance with personal care needs such as bathing, grooming, dressing, and ambulation

Ø  Emergency Response System in each apartment

Ø  Ongoing monitoring of changing care needs

Ø  Assistance with scheduling appointments

Ø  Complete therapy program available by in-house Brookdale Therapy team

Ø  Three freshly prepared, nutritionally balanced meals served daily, planned by a registered dietician

Ø  Therapeutic diets available

Ø  Snacks and beverages available throughout the day

Ø  Private Dining Room for your family celebrations

Ø  Social history to determine residents’ interests and preferences

Ø  Daily lifestyle activities that include clubs, cultural, social and fitness programs

Ø  Library, Media Room, Club Room, Living Rooms, and Outdoor courtyard

Ø  All utilities with Cable TV are included except telephone

Ø  Weekly housekeeping, personal laundry and flat-linen service

Ø  Beauty Salon / Barber Shop

Ø  Weekday scheduled transportation services

Ø  As needed, for additional fees, a full continuum of care is available on the Freedom Plaza campus

Ø  All inclusive Monthly Fee

THE CLARE BRIDGE PROGRAM FOR ALZHEIMER’S AND DEMENTIA CARE

Clare Bridge offers programs and secured environments for those with Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia. We believe that no matter where an individual is in their life journey, each has the right to enjoy life and to have meaningful experiences every day. Highly trained associates provide CAREconnections dementia care services as they deliver on our promise - “ensuring daily moments of success.” We embrace this promise by offering opportunities to find happiness and meaning in an environment that supports their unique interests and needs.

The Clare Bridge program is deeply rooted in a person-centered approach focused on sustaining feelings of belonging and purpose while seeking to preserve a sense of self. The Clare Bridge concept has evolved during more than 25 years by continually embracing the latest research and innovations in the delivery of quality dementia care.

The Clare Bridge Program Promise: “Ensuring Daily Moments of Success”

Clare Bridge Daily Path

The Daily Path offers a gentle daily structure (seven days per week) choreographed with a minimum of six programs per day. All are designed to maintain the resident’s abilities and encourage the use of their current skills. The Daily Path creates a routine that gives each resident a sense of security that they are “right where they need to be.” Daily Path activities include: 

•       A Morning Mental Workout with discussions, brain stimulating games, and reminiscing.
•       Daily Physical Activity with a variety of exercise opportunities including “Movement is Medicine” group exercises, walking programs, and dancing.
•       Daily Life Skills for individuals or as group activities provide a sense of purpose, meaning and belonging.
•       Person Centered Programming includes activities designed to use the resident’s “Guide to the Daily Path” social history information as a foundation. By honoring past interests and involvements, programs tap into current skills and support successful experiences.
•       We’re Keeping Our Promise” personal notes periodically sent to a family member to communicate Daily Moments of Success.

Clare Bridge Dining Program

As a part of the Brookdale CHOICE approach to dining, the Clare Bridge Dining Program was designed by a team of experts specializing in dementia care, culinary associates, and registered dieticians. This unique dietary program sustains the resident’s opportunity to enjoy and master the dining experience. The program offers such specialized aspects as:

Ø  Dementia Friendly Menus provide diverse offerings that help prevent weight-loss. Selections are easy to manage, familiar and are appealing to the senses.

Ø  Individualized Dining Assistance includes evaluating each resident to determine the level of prompting assistance needed to preserve the resident’s use of utensils as long as possible.

Ø  The Supportive Dining Environment incorporates small dining rooms with consistent seating to support the challenges of those with dementia. This encourages familiarity and socialization while supporting the needs of the residents through the assignment of resident care assistants. Music, centerpieces, reFRESH warm scented wash towels and fresh linens enhance the dining experience for our residents.

SERVICES AND AMENITIES

The Clare Bridge Place program is dedicated to the special needs of individuals with dementia. We provide a secure and caring environment with 24 hour a day support to older adults that require assistance with activities of daily living.

Clare Bridge staff assists our residents in every way, from ongoing monitoring of our residents’ health care and behavioral needs to daily support such as helping our residents’ bathe, dress and take their medications.
Our team is carefully selected and trained to handle the special needs associated with memory loss and receive ongoing support from our Dementia Care Specialists. The staff meets the diverse needs of our residents from the most basic to the most challenging . . . while always treating our residents with dignity and respect.
 Ø  Private or shared accommodations furnished with resident’s own personal belongings to encourage past connections (furniture available if needed)
Ø  Individual assessment of personal and health care needs
Ø  Medication Administration
Ø  Purposefully designed environment that includes a fully sprinkled fire safety system
Ø  Exterior doors alarmed at all times, with access to outdoor, enclosed courtyard
Ø  Licensed nurse on staff
Ø  Trained staff on-site 24 hours a day
Ø  Emergency response system
Ø  Assistance with personal care needs such as bathing and dressing
Ø  Three freshly prepared, nutritionally balanced meals served daily, planned by a registered dietician
Ø  Therapeutic diets available
Ø  Snacks and beverages available throughout the day
Ø  Social history to determine residents’ interests and preferences
Ø  Individualized activities and programming
Ø  Weekly laundry and linen services
Ø  Housekeeping services
Ø  Cable TV, gas, electric, and water service (telephone hook-up available)
Ø  Ongoing monitoring of health care and behavioral needs
Ø  Beauty Salon / Barber Shop
Ø  Scheduled transportation services
Ø  As needed, for additional fees, a full continuum of care is available on the Freedom Plaza campus
Ø  All inclusive Monthly Fee

Visit us online @ https://www.brookdale.com/communities/inn-freedom-plaza/

IN THE SPOTLIGHT The Center at Arrowhead

We are pleased to announce our newest advertiser in the 

SPOTLIGHT Senior Services & Living Options
Resource Guide

Welcome The Center at Arrowhead!

Visit us at:  www.CenteratArrowhead.com

IN THE SPOTLIGHT Senior One Source

We are pleased to announce our newest advertiser in the 

SPOTLIGHT Senior Services & Living Options
Resource Guide

Welcome Senior One Source!

 Ask Yourself

• Do you have any friends who need more help than they can get at home?

• Did you know that there are people who match the best communities' for each

          based on taste, needs and budget?

• Did you know these services are free to you or your friends?

We Offer Free Senior Living Guidance

 How we can help you:

• Senior Housing, In-Home Care & other resources
• Personalized assessments to match best options for needs & budget
• Coordinate & attend tours with you
• Help with the admission process & with you every step of the way

Expert Advice:

• 10+ years experience leading Seniors to resources
• Worked in multiple senior living communities
• Research & experience with local options
• In depth knowledge of best resources for you or a loved one
• Use an expert when making a life changing decision

“Cost Free — Search Free — Worry Free — Hassle Free”

Senior One Source

Stop Worrying, Start Living!

Call a Senior Living Advisor Today!

or click Here to Contact Us