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Aging with Grace Welcomes
What do you
get when you ask caregiver employees rather than management to define the
essence of their company? You get a deeply held belief shared by employees
throughout Emeritus Senior Living communities, and the promise that, "Our
family is committed to yours." It is their commitment to making a positive
difference in the lives of the people they serve by providing an atmosphere of
family and community - a sense of place and belonging, of home. At Emeritus,
residents truly are family to the staff - as the staff is to the residents.
Emeritus
Senior Living is one of the nation's largest providers of senior living housing
options, with almost 300 communities in 37 states. Since 1993, Emeritus has
grown to become a leader in the assisted living industry, with one of the
largest networks of assisted living, retirement, Alzheimer's care and skilled
nursing services in North America. Their primary goal is to provide the support
their residents need to live full and satisfying lives, while helping them
maintain their independence and dignity.
Each
Emeritus community maintains the unique personality that makes it special to
its residents and their families. Different communities offer a combination of
services which may include their Join Their Journey® memory care program, their brain
health program, pharmacy services, rehab services, senior day care programs,
short stay programs and special financial solutions for this challenging
economy. Yet all communities embrace the same high standards that have made
Emeritus a preferred choice for elder care and premier senior living.
While each
community is managed locally and offers its own distinct personality, there is
a common bond that unites them-the Emeritus Family Values, understood and
embraced by all staff members to ensure that the promise is kept:
I welcome,
smile and greet everyone I have contact with.
I am a good
listener and I communicate honestly with others.
I take
pride in my appearance and in the appearance of our Emeritus home.
I am
responsive to resident and family choices.
I strive to
exceed the expectations of all those I come in contact with.
I am a
problem solver by taking ownership of issues and searching for solutions.
I make a
difference every day.
Emeritus Corporation is a national provider of
assisted living and Alzheimer's and related dementia care services to seniors.
To learn more about all Emeritus has to offer visit their web site or call (800) 429.4828
Aging with Grace does not accept fees from any providers or organizations for referrals. In lieu of referral fees, many Providers agree to extend a member discount to AWG Network Members.
Older Americans Month 2009
May is Older
Americans Month, a great time to bring attention to the issues that affect
older adults and create community-wide opportunities to help older Americans
improve their quality of life. This year's theme is "Living Today For a Better
Tomorrow," and we, as a nation, must work together to give older adults the
tools they need to make healthy decisions.
By 2030, one
in every five Americans will be age 65 or older. Although the risk of disease
increases with advancing age, poor health is not an inevitable consequence of
aging. Many illnesses, disabilities and even death associated with chronic
disease are preventable.
Nearly 40% of
deaths in America can be attributed to poor health habits such as lack of
physical exercise, poor eating habits and smoking. Older Americans can prevent
or control chronic disease by adopting healthy habits such as exercising
regularly, maintaining a healthy diet and ceasing tobacco use.
The benefits
of regular physical activity include weight control; healthy bones, muscles and
joints; arthritis relief; reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression; and
more. Exercise does not have to be
strenuous and is safe for people of all age groups. In fact, it's healthier to
exercise than eliminate it altogether. Older Americans can greatly benefit from
a regular exercise routine that includes strength, balance, stretching and
endurance exercises.
In addition
to a regular exercise routine, good nutrition is vital in maintaining good
health. Improving older Americans' diets can reduce the occurrence of chronic
diseases, but most older adults over age 65 do not maintain a healthy diet.
Reducing saturated fats and eating a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, and
grains can help out older Americans on the right track to staying healthy.
Tobacco use
increases the risk of heart disease and cancer and is the single most
preventable cause of death in the United States. Older adults who stop smoking
will gain immediate and long-term health benefits.
While it's
important for older Americans to have good physical health, it's equally
important that they maintain good mental health. Nearly 20 percent of Americans age 55 and
older experience depression and anxiety disorders.
Studies have
shown that engaging in social activities within the community can greatly
improve mental health. In fact, research has demonstrated a strong relationship
between volunteering and mental health and that volunteering provides older
adults with greater benefits than younger volunteers. Benefits include improved
mental and physical health, greater life satisfaction, lower rates of
depression and lower mortality rates.
The U.S.
Administration on Aging and its National Aging Services Network support a
number of successful programs throughout the country that are helping older
adults live better today and in the future. These programs keep people
independent and out of nursing homes through streamlined access to health and
long term care information and options and provide home and community-based systems
of services that include the support for family caregivers. These programs also
encourage older people to remain active and make behavioral changes through the
increased use of evidence-based disease prevention programs under the Older
Americans Act as well as the use of preventive benefits available under
Medicare.
Americans of
all ages and backgrounds can celebrate Older Americans Month. Contact your local Agency on Aging and
volunteer for activities in your area; promote community, state, and national
efforts to serve older adults; and find ways to enrich the lives of older
adults who touch your life. Additionally, actively search out ways you can
involve your community's older adults in volunteer efforts, allowing them to
share their wisdom and energy. By
working together, we can improve the health and well being of our Nation's
older adults and pave the way for better health as we age.
Please Stop This Ringing
in My Ears
By Tony Woods
Tinnitus is
the medical term for that annoying ringing in your ears. Remarkably, 1 out of 5
people actually experience this to some degree. Tinnitus symptoms are varied
from person to person. For some, it's a dull intermittent ringing. For others,
it can be a constant roar. Anyone with tinnitus should see a doctor to make sure
that there is no medical cause for it. It can be do to something as simple as
an upper respiratory infection. Other medical causes can include inner ear
tumors such as an acoustic neuroma or glomus tumor. Lyme disease at times can
cause tinnitus as well. Unfortunately, for most people there is no identifiable
medical cause, and therefore no available medical treatment for tinnitus.
While there
is usually a component of hearing damage present, other factors can contribute
to the tinnitus. The other factors can be varied and obscure to you. They can
be environmental and even related to your diet. While there are a large number
of possible foods causing the tinnitus, a couple more common examples include
chocolate (can you believe it), red wine and aspartame. The only way to find
out, is by temporarily eliminating them and seeing if your symptoms subside. If
you discover which food or additive it is, then you simply need to avoid that
particular substance. There are some supplements which can be helpful as well.
By making small changes in your lifestyle and simple diet modifications you can
often dramatically reduce or even eliminate your tinnitus symptoms.
There are
many tinnitus remedies that take these factors into account. Becoming educated
in these other inciting causes can be helpful to tailor a tinnitus remedy to
you. It may take some trial and error, but if you find a solution that works
for you, it will be well worth your time and efforts. For more
information on tinnitus go to http://www.ringinginmyears.org
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May Observances
American Stroke Month
Better Sleep Month
Better Hearing & Speech Month
Mental Health Month
Older Americans Month
Aging with Grace Online
Talk Show
Join host Patricia Grace
each Monday evening
at 6:30 PM EST
Important questions to help you decide if it's time for a personal emergency response alarm.
- Are you living alone or frequently spend periods of time alone while in your home?
- Do
you have any medical conditions that may incapacitate you without
warning such as heart disease, high blood pressure, past
surgeries,arthritis, diabetes or other medical concerns?
- Are you ever concerned about falling or consider yourself to be at risk of falling?
- Is your vision poor and pressing a button for help would be easier than trying to use a standard phone in an emergency?
- Do
you ever need assistance from others or find difficulty when using
steps, standing up, carrying items, or other similar activities?
- Do you have difficulty remembering phone numbers or addresses of nearby relatives or friends?
- Do
you care for someone on a part time basis and need a way to be
contacted if he or she has an emergency when you are not able to be
there?
If your answer is yes to any of the questions above start your Risk Free protection today.
Medication Safety and the
The RX Guardian
- Routinely checking the safety of your medications, screening for drug-drug and drug-disease interactions.
- Alerting you and your doctor (optional) as important safety information arises for your medications.
- Providing an easily accessible summary of your medications and conditions that you can share with your healthcare team.
- Helping you learn and share treatment satisfaction and side effect information within our patient community.
FREE Prescription Drug
Discount Program
Provides discounts on drugs and other healthcare supplies. You
can immediately save 10% to 70% on the cost of thousands of prescriptions.
Additionally, you can save on the cost of over-the-counter products, such as
smoking cessation aids and diabetic supplies.
Print out your RX Card now
Embrace the New View on Aging
Visit our Caregiver Blog
Connect with others who, like you, may be facing the same eldercare issues and challenges.
Chronic Medical
Conditions
Physical
diseases in the elderly are often more difficult to detect. Signs and symptoms
may be diminished or absent, delayed in onset or not characteristic of the same
disease in a younger person.
The illnesses
that affect the elderly can fill textbooks and generally are not different from
those affecting other age groups. As people grow older, acute medical
conditions become less frequent and chronic conditions become more prevalent.
Research shows that four out of five persons age 65 and over suffer at least
one chronic condition; and multiple conditions are commonplace.
The
caregivers, however, must be alert to symptoms and behavior and must carefully
communicate their observations to the health care professional.
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