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According to the American Health Association, every 34 seconds, someone in the United States experiences a myocardial infarction (heart attack). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Each year, about 715,000 Americans experience a heart attack. Of these incidents, 525,000 are a first heart attack, and about 190,000 are a second heart attack. Risk factors include high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, overweight/obesity, and physical inactivity.

Rates of death from heart attack and cardiovascular disease are highest in persons age 65 and older. Therefore, it is important that those of us who care for seniors understand why and recognize the warning signs.

According to a summary fact sheet compiled by one retirement agency, the human heart starts to lose pumping power as people age. By the time a person reaches the age of 80, the heart’s resting capacity typically has been reduced by half. Depending on factors such as diet, lifestyle, and family history, over time the coronary arteries may develop a build-up of plaque, restricting blood flow and the supply of oxygen to and through the heart. Other chronic conditions associated with aging and physical inactivity might increase a person’s risk of heart disease too. A heart attack occurs when part of the heart muscle dies or gets damaged because of reduced blood supply. A myocardial infarction (heart attack) can happen at any age, but risks generally begin to increase for men beginning at age 45 and for women at age 55.

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In my last blog post, I talked about my client who is an 86 year old woman and is currently experiencing some issues with her teeth. Here is a summary of the story, some details that I didn’t share in the last blog, and how it ended.

As her Power Of Attorney For Health Care and senior living advisor, I had eagerly arranged for her to see the dentist who visited the assisted living memory care community where she resides. The upper denture had fallen out of her mouth. The nurse at the facility told me that it was a problem that needed to be addressed by a dentist.

After I arranged a visit with the dentist who serviced the facility, I was told by him that the remaining teeth in my client’s upper gums were all infected. The infection could spread to other parts of her body. When he discussed his treatment plan, I perceived them to be extremely complex. He wanted to extract 9 of her upper teeth (himself), conduct 9 house calls, complete two cleanings, and build a new upper denture. When I reviewed the pre-treatment plan he sent me, I was mortified when I saw the bottom line price was $7,800.

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I am currently in the process of assisting one of my clients who is having issues with her teeth She is 86 years old. I was appointed as her Power of Attorney For Health Care. Recently, the nurse at the assisted living community where she resides informed me that her upper bridge had fallen out. It wasn’t something that could be fixed with a tube of Poligrip. It may have fallen out due to her experiencing some weight loss.. The nurse said she needed to see a dentist. I thought it was fortunate that the assisted living community had just announced the appointment of a new dentist who would visit the community, rather than having the resident travel to his office. Because it seemed so convenient and I didn’t want to agitate her by transporting her to the office, I quickly made an appointment.

After a conversation with the dentist, I requested a pre-treatment estimate for the future dental work. I was told that he was unable to do further work at the assisted living community because a set of x-rays needed to be taken. Furthermore, she had 9 teeth on the top that needed to be extracted. Her lower teeth needed to be deep cleaned. He wanted to build a new upper denture and charge for two adjustments. The bottom line costs would be close to $7,700. My heart sank when I saw the figure.

I called the dentist and asked if there was any financial relief available in his figures. His answer was that he could offer a payment plan but no rate reduction.

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I know the above question addresses a topic that is not too popular. When my Father passed away due to a stroke and Alzheimer’s disease, my Mother was in her seventies and independent. She will be ninety-two on Tuesday, and she is still pretty independent. However, I am in an enviable position because one of my brothers lives close enough to her so that he can stop and take care of her errands every day. The other brother commutes to Chicago for his job and lives with her at night. Therefore, her needs are pretty well covered. However, the situation can become much more serious when each parent needs a different level of care. Could one survive on his/her own if one passed away? Please read on and be advised what could happen if you do not give this topic some thought.

REAL LIFE STORY

My client is a cherished friend from my childhood. I have known his parents since I was 6 years old, a fact that made my job a bit difficult from a personal standpoint. My friend (who lives out of state) contacted me because we had re-connected on Facebook. He was aware that I am a Certified Care Manager and asked me to assist with planning for his parents. His Father would be celebrating an 80th birthday in the near future. His Mother was in her late 70’s. When this story began, I was informed that his Father had suffered a fall at home. He was receiving treatment at a hospital that was located in an extremely busy area. My friend’s Mother was having some issues with her memory, and was driving to the hospital to visit her husband on a daily basis.

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Join Us At Cantata, 8700 West 31st Street, Brookfield, Illinois, 60515, on October 24, 2013 from 2-5 PM, as a panel of experts discusses the best ways to organize, smart-size, simplify, and plan ahead for a move to a new home.

The panel of experts will include:

– A Certified Professional Organizer – Patty Wolf – A Senior Living Advisor – Andrea Donovan – A Real Estate Specialist – Roz Byrne – People who’ve conquered the clutter and made the move – and are happier for it!

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In the past several weeks it seems like I have been deluged with cases involving senior citizens who need to give up there driving privileges. My own Mother is 91 and still independent. Yet, she had enough common sense to relinquish the keys when she realized her age and the effects of her medications could cause her to have an accident. We live in such an auto-dependent society that most seniors don’t take charge of the fact that memory impairment coupled with the effect of medications can impair visual -spacial abilities, reaction time, and concentration behind the wheel.

As a senior living advisor, I have collected copies of the transportation schedules from over 400 communities. Many of the retirement communities offer transportation options that are quite flexible and could be a saving grace in a child’s quest to encourage a parent to stop driving. My REAL LIFE STORY exemplifies how retirement community transportation may help in that regard.

REAL LIFE STORY

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Great FREE seminar coming up to discuss the overwhelming decisions that everyone will need to make one day regarding their or their family’s real estate, senior housing, financial and estate matters. Leave feeling better prepared to assist those you care for to make a successful transition into senior living! I was pleased to have been invited to speak at this event offered through the Lyons Township Adult and Community Education Program. It will take place at the Lyons Township High School – South Campus – 4900 S. Willow Springs Road, Room B115, Western Springs, Il. The date is Tuesday October 8, 2013, from 7:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M. If you would like to attend, please call Andrea Donovan Senior Living Advisors..

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I am usually hired by the child of a senior who engages my services and entrusts their loved one’s placement or geriatric care management to me. The child often lives out of state. I would like to share a, “Real LIfe Story,” that not only emphasizes the point in the title, but stirred a deep appreciation for how tirelessly the paid and family caregivers must work.

REAL LIFE STORY

My client is the child of an 86 year old senior. The child lived out of state and hired me to find permanent placement in a nursing home for the parent. The senior was currently completing some short-term rehabilitation under Medicare. The community normally had a waiting list for its long term care beds. The child asked me to find three communities that were within a certain location parameter so that the other sibling and family members. It was also to be of a certain religious affiliation.

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Many of my clients have asked me if they are making a mistake by “preparing too soon,” for a senior loved one’s life changes. My response is you can avoid an emotional and financial crisis by educating yourself with regard to the options for your loved one. Please read the following “Real Life Story” to learn what one of my clients experienced when they were forced into a “rush” decision.

Real Life Story

My clients are a woman and her elderly parents. There is a large age difference between the parents. One is in his/her mid-nineties, while the other is in his/her early eighties. The older of the two parents is totally independent and functioning very well. Unfortunately, the younger parent has dementia, can walk without any assistive devices, and recently began wandering. When a person with dementia wanders once, they will do it again. The parent had held a very prestigious job and was able to talk to me about past responsibilities.

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Sometimes you must face the fact that you are in denial about your senior loved one’s needs. I am sharing the following Real Life Story with you to emphasize that point.

My clients are a family of ten children who attended my, “Senior Living Myths Unmasked,” presentation over three years ago. Their elderly Mother was living alone in a large home. At that time, she had been diagnosed with early onset dementia. The children were divided in their opinions on whether to keep their Mother at home with a caregiver or seek placement in a long term care community. After countless conversations with them, they decided to hire a caregiver on a part-time basis.

The family contacted me recently to advise them on their Mother’s situation which had changed dramatically. The caregiver was helping their mother on a full-time basis. Her finances had changed drastically. Reportedly, she was down to her last $30,000. She owed no money on her home, but the house was not on the market to be sold.

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