This article was originally posted on December 21, 2009

Home safety is essential to successfully aging in place.  Home safety can take many forms, from preventing falls in the kitchen and bathroom, to preventing accidental fires.  As the holidays approach, we need to continue to pay close attention to home safety and fall prevention.  This time of year, we love decorating our homes for the season,  however, in our desire to be festive, we sometimes overlook safety issues.  The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that each year, 3,300 residential fires originate as a result of extension cords.  These fires kill an estimated 50 people and injure another 270.  The most frequent cause of these fires are overloading, short circuits, and/or misuse use of extension cords.

Important holiday safety decorating tips:

• When decorating, use a step stool/ladder, not a chair. If possible, get someone younger to help hang higher decorations
• When decorating your tree make sure you clear the pathway around the tree, moving  of boxes and extension cords If you have a real tree, don’t allow the water dry out
• Check your holiday lights before you put them on your tree, if they don’t work, don’t use them
• If bulbs on your lights are missing, replace them Use the right lights for the right area, some lights are just for indoors while others are for the outdoors, make sure yours are in the right place
• Don’t connect too many lights to one extension cord (no more than 3)
• The CPSC recommends that when disconnecting a cord you should pull the plug rather than the cord itself
• The CPSC recommends that you never use an extension cord while it’s coiled or looped. Also, you should never cover any part of an extension cord with newspapers, clothing, rugs, or any objects while the cord is in use.
• Unplug your tree before you go to bed and when you are not at home

Remember these important home safety decorating tips to make your holidays safer.  For more information, click here

Sources:  Consumer Product Safety Commission

Aging in place is an important topic for seniors as well as baby boomers.  Simply said, aging in place is as it sounds; it’s the ability to remain in one’s home safely, functionally, and independently as long as possible.  Baby boomers make up 28% of the US population and own 48% of all homes.  Boomers, now more than ever, are looking for ways to age in place, realizing that they may need to make changes to their current homes or move into one that will allow them to do so.  An AARP survey stated that 89% of older adults said that they wanted to stay in their current homes as they aged.

In 1997, the Mature Market Institute (MMI), MetLife’s research organization was established.  MMI has expertise in gerontology as well as conducts research to share information regarding the aging population and those caring for them.  This past November, MetLife released The MetLife Aging in Place Workbook Your Home As a Care Setting.  It is a very useful tool that

• provides information on assessing care needs
• helps determine if your home needs modifications that will allow you to age in place
• provides suggestions on areas to consider when determining if needs can be met in the home
• provides resources for family caregivers
• assess the cost of remaining at home and receiving care

The MetLife Aging in Place Workbook Your Home As a Care Setting workbook is free, click here to view it. Also, for more information about MMI, click here.

Keeping with National Diabetes Month, we will be discussing End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) this week.  Diabetes is the most common cause of ESRD and ESRD impacts all of the body’s major organs.

ESRD occurs when there is permanent failure of the kidneys meaning the kidneys no longer having the ability to regulate electrolytes, remove waste, and concentrate urine.

ESRD may occur after a person has suffered chronic kidney failure (which may span over a period of one to two decades).  Treatment for the disease includes dialysis or a kidney transplant.  Additionally, individuals may be placed on a restricted diet and be given medications to increase their urine output.

Symptoms of ESRD vary and may include:

• Fatigue
• Decreased muscle strength
• Decreased fine motor coordination
• Hypotension
• Decreased joint range
• A temporary loss of consciousness
• Loss of sensation
• Visual loss and decreased visual acuity
• Peripheral neuropathy such as tremors or foot drop
• Changes in mental status such as drowsiness and decreased attention span

With all the possible symptoms and complications related to ESRD home safety issues may be of particular concern for the individual with ESRD and their family members/caregivers.  Simple things such as using a grab bar and tub bench/bath stool may be beneficial.  Click here to learn more about fall prevention.

Source: Medline Plus and Emedicine

A major part of aging in place is living in your home safely and independently.  Diabetes can impact your independence, but you can limit its impact.  Education is key.

Atherosclerosis occurs when deposits of fats, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances build up in the arteries and cause a plaque buildup in the lining of the artery.  High blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes can contribute to atherosclerosis. A diabetic is at increased risk for developing high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems. In fact, it’s estimated that 60% of people with diabetes have high blood pressure.  So, for someone with diabetes, monitoring your blood pressure is crucial.

Your blood pressure is recorded as two numbers- the top number is the systolic pressure and the bottom number is the diastolic pressure.  The systolic pressure represents your heart when it‘s pumping, while the diastolic represents when your heart at rest between beats.

Low and High Blood Pressure:

Hypotension, or low blood pressure, occurs when your blood flow is so low that it can’t deliver oxygen to organs such as the brain, heart, and kidneys.  Low blood pressure can be a symptom of end stage renal disease and can cause:

• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Blurry vision
• Weakness
• Being light headed

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, typically does not present with symptoms.  However, individuals suffering from either can experience:

• Headaches
• Blurred vision, and/or
• Dizziness
• Nausea

Recommended blood pressure range for diabetics:

The National Institutes of Health and The American Diabetes Association both recommend that the target blood pressure for someone with diabetes be less than 130/80 mmHG.

Blood pressure can be managed through medications, diet, and exercise.  Manage your blood pressure and help manage your life.  Check out this week’s Technology in the Suite to find out more about technology for individuals with diabetes.

Sources:  WebMD The National Institutes of Health and The American Diabetes Association

November is National Diabetes Month

It’s estimated that 23.6 million people in the US have diabetes.  17.9 million Americans have been diagnosed with the disease and another 5.7 million are unaware that they are diabetics.  November is National Diabetes month.  The American Diabetes Association has a national movement this month to Stop Diabetes. In recognition of this, The Aging Suite will be discussing issues that affect older individuals with diabetes.  Diabetes impacts the entire body including a person’s sensation and vision.  The Aging Suite hopes to help empower people by educating them about diabetes and its effects on the body.  While having diabetes can impact someone’s ability to age in place, it doesn’t have to stop it.

Type I Diabetes:

Insulin is a hormone needed to change carbohydrates and other foods into energy.  When someone has diabetes, their body doesn’t produce or correctly use insulin.

It’s estimated that 5-10% of the US population has Type I Diabetes.  Type I Diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when the body does not produce insulin.

Symptoms of type I diabetes can include:

• Blurred vision
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Extreme Hunger
• Increased thirst and urination

Type II Diabetes Mellitus

Type II Diabetes is a chronic condition and the most common form of diabetes.  It occurs when there is an excess of sugar in the bloodstream and the body becomes resistant to insulin or when the pancreas doesn’t produce sufficient amounts of insulin to maintain a normal glucose level.  Diabetes can impact all of the body’s organs.

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes can include:

• Weight loss
• Excessive thirst and urination
• Blurred vision
• Fatigue
• Frequent infections and/or slow healing sores

Having a family history of the disease, excessive body weight, and inactivity increases the likelihood of getting the disease.  Also, American Indians, Asian Americans, African Americans and Hispanics, have a higher incidence of the disease as do adults over the age of 45.

According to the American Diabetes Association:

• There is a greater risk for stroke among people with Diabetes, as much as 2 to 4 times higher
• Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness for adults ages 20-74
• Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure
• Diabetes can result in  nerve damage
• The incidence of amputations is 10 times greater for individuals with diabetes than for non diabetics
• Its estimated that  one-third of people with diabetes have severe periodontal disease
• Having diabetes makes you more susceptible to other illnesses

People with diabetes may face challenges to aging in place, but they can still do so successfully and safely.

Sources: The American Diabetes Association and MayoClinic.com

Editors Note: This week, we will be featuring part II of  guest writer, Ellen Geotz article, Senior Marketers Cannot Ignore the Internet.  Ellen  is a regular author for All Assisted Living homes.com,  a website dedicated to helping seniors and their loved ones find assisted living facilities for retirement living.  Ellen grew up on the east coast and spent 10 years working in senior homes during her 20′s and 30′s before taking a break to raise her 3 children. Now that her children are in college, Ellen uses her knowledge of senior care to help her write about all of the latest industry news.

Now that you know more about seniors’ online habits, and why they are a very valuable audience to target, there are some essential tips below you should take into account before embarking on a major marketing or advertising campaign geared towards seniors.

1) Avoid using language and imagery that would make a senior feel old, or that stereotypes their demographic as weak or incapable. Instead you should appeal to them by showing seniors engaged in social activities,  which can include interactions with friends or family. Seniors want to be independent, and want products that appeal to that desire.

2) When designing a website targeted toward Seniors, make sure and keep it simple and easy to use. Things like drop down menus or dynamic menus can be more difficult for a senior to use, as they need precision with the mouse to be accessed. Also make sure the font is not too small, and that you use enough color to make it stand out, without making it loud and busy.

3) Seniors are not afraid to pay for quality, as they have the money to spend for the right product they desire, and do not want to waste time on an inferior product. They enjoy guarantees, as they want to be confident that the product they purchase will last. This also means that if something does go wrong, a senior will expect you to provide them with excellent customer service to resolve whatever the issue may be.

4) Respect seniors, and market to them that way. No need for glitz and glamor, just present your product or service to them in an honest way. This does not mean that you cannot have fun with your marketing or advertising, but keep in mind that seniors are smart and want to be treated as an equal.

Editors Note: This week, we will be featuring a guest writer, Ellen Geotz.  Ellen  is a regular author for All Assisted Living homes.com,  a website dedicated to helping seniors and their loved ones find assisted living facilities for retirement living.  Ellen grew up on the east coast and spent 10 years working in senior homes during her 20′s and 30′s before taking a break to raise her 3 children. Now that her children are in college, Ellen uses her knowledge of senior care to help her write about all of the latest industry news.

As technology evolves, so do the ways in which marketers attract the attention of the senior demographic, to ensure that seniors aware of their product or service. Many marketing and advertising campaigns over the last couple decades have shied away from targeting seniors, as they preferred to focus on younger consumers. This is because many companies have not looked at seniors as a demographic that has enough disposable personal income to spend, when in fact, many seniors have more disposable personal income than younger demographics. Recently though, many marketers have embraced the senior demographic, and currently conduct a variety of offline promotions to grab their attention. However not many are truly diving into the online space to reach seniors. Anyone marketing to the senior demographic, can no longer afford to ignore the Internet as a channel, as the number of seniors actively using the Internet has increased dramatically over the last 5 years. In November 2004 there were only 11.3 million active seniors online as reported by Nielsen, but as of November 2009 the number had risen to 17.5 million seniors. Women are leading the way for seniors, as more of them have jumped online to become regular Internet users over the past 5 years.

Additionally, seniors are spending more time online, as Nielsen data shows that they went from roughly 52 hours per month in November 2004 to a bit more than 58 hours in 2009. What is more interesting, is where seniors are spending their time when they go online, and what activities they are doing. The clear leader in online activities for seniors was checking and using their personal email account, followed up by viewing or printing maps, and checking weather. This does not mean that seniors are not spending money online, as the 4th most visited site by people over the age of 65 in November 2009 was Amazon.com as reported by Nielsen. Ahead of visiting Amazon.com, seniors also like to use Google to search, Windows Media Player to watch videos, and Facebook to stay in touch with friends and family. Facebook is not the only social network where seniors have a profile, as eMarketer data from May 2009 shows many seniors also have a presence on MySpace and Twitter.

Visit us next week for part II of  Senior Marketers Cannot Ignore the Internet

This article is being re-posted with permission from Women at Forty.

Cancer is a word, not a sentence.” – John Diamond

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  A few stats about breast cancer – Besides skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among U.S. women and about 70-80% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history. Now the promising news – regular self exams can save your life, and a new study shows that breast self exams can lower the death risk for women in their 40s. Today 76% of women with breast cancer have a survival rate of 10 or more years. But we still have a long way to go. Here are 6 ways you can help yourself and others in the fight against breast cancer.

1. Cancer knows no geographic boundaries – Pink Ribbon International helps create worldwide awareness for breast cancer and provides information, resources and support for patients, caregivers, family and providers. In an effort to spread the word, The Pink Ribbon blog encourages entries from those impacted by breast cancer. As a welcome present to new blog participants, they’re randomly giving away Pink Ribbon International Mugs to blog participants. But you don’t have to be a blog entrant to get one. Visit their online store to purchase Pink Ribbon International products and donate to a worthy cause. (Image: The Pink Ribbon International Mug)

2. Visit The Susan G. Kolman Breast Self Awareness Card (BSE) link to download a free breast self exam reminder card. This handy card includes a checklist and step-by-step instructions on how to perform a breast self-examination. Click here for non-English downloads and for downloads which contain expanded information for various ethnic groups.

3. Click to give free mammograms – While the healthcare debate rages on, thousands of women – and men – around the country don’t have access to potentially life-saving mammograms. The Breast Cancer Site helps you help them. When you visit their site and click the pink “Click Here” button, the site’s sponsors pay for women to get free mammograms. 100% of sponsor money goes to charity. So click, click, click away!

4. 2 days, 39 miles, thousands of lives – The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer raises money “to provide women and men the breast cancer screening, support and treatment they need regardless of their ability to pay.”  This year’s remaining walk cities include New York and Charlotte. Walks in 2011 include Houston, Chicago and San Francisco. Visit this link to receive additional information and a free brochure.

5. Beyond the Shock – Whether you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, have a loved one who has or just want to know more, The National Breast Cancer Foundation’s Beyond the Shock® is an informative 3-D video presentation created by physicians. Watch Beyond the Shock® here.

6. Too important to skip – Although this is Five for Friday, this information was too important to save for another day. For those without health insurace, the CDC’s National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) provides access to breast and cervical cancer screening services to underserved women in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, 5 U.S. territories, and 12 tribes. Click here to find your local program.

If you’ve been personally impacted by breast cancer, or have a loved one who has, and would like to share your story, email Women at Forty at contribute@womenatforty.com.  And help spread awareness during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month  by clicking any one of the “share and enjoy” buttons below this post.

National Aging in Place week first started in 2003 when the National Aging in Place Council designated a week in the fall for families to discuss livability issues.  Today is the first day of National Aging in Place week 2010.  So you may be asking, what’s aging in place?  Simply said, aging in place is as it sounds; it’s the ability to remain in one’s home safely, functionally, and independently as long as possible.

For the older population, aging in place may mean the difference between being able to stay and age in their homes or moving out and living with family members or at a nursing home.  The aging in place concept is great for older adults but is also beneficial for all populations.  For example, wider doorways are beneficial for people in wheelchairs but also benefit someone trying to maneuver a baby stroller in the house.  Lower light switches make turning on a light easier to someone in a wheelchair and to a child.

So, why is Aging in Place important and how can it affect you?

Everyone from baby boomers to senior citizens wants to be able to live out their golden years in the comfort and security of their own homes.  Baby boomers make up 28% of the US population and own 48% of all homes.  Boomers, now more than ever, are looking for ways to age in place realizing that they may need to make changes to their current homes or move into one that will allow them to do so.  An AARP survey stated that 89% of older adults said that they wanted to stay in their current homes as they aged.

Aging in Place incorporates the concept of universal design.  The Center for Universal Design defines universal design as the:

“design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest   extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.”

Some features of universal design include step-less entry ways into homes, wider doorways, handrails on both sides of stairs, use of grab bars in bathrooms, and lever door handles.

So, if you want to Age in Place and think you need home modifications, who do you turn to?

There are numerous professionals that may work with individuals who desire to Age in Place.  They can include:

• Builders and contractors
• Occupational therapists (OTs)
• Physical therapists (PTs)
• Realtors
• Engineers
• Social workers
• Interior designers

To learn about aging in place events click here

Source: AARP.org and The National Association of Home Builders

Breast cancer does ­ affects women of all ages­, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds.  Besides being a woman, aging is the biggest risk factor for breast cancer.

The American Cancer Society estimates that there are 2.5 million breast cancer survivors living in the US.

Here are some statistics on breast cancer

• Over the course of their lifetime, 1 in 8 women in the US will develop invasive breast cancer.
• In 2010, an estimated 207,090 new cases of invasive breast cancer is expected to be diagnosed in women in the US and about 1,970 new cases of invasive breast cancer in men will be diagnosed.
• Aside from skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women in the US.
• About 20-30% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have a family history of the disease.
• About 70-80% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of the disease.

Education is key.  The American Cancer Society Recommends that:

• Women 40 and older have a screening mammogram every year and continue doing so as long as they are in good health
• Women in their 20s & 30s have a clinical breast exam as part of their regular exam at least every 3 years.
• After 40, women should have a breast exam every year
• Women perform monthly breast self-exams

To learn more, visit these sites:  American Cancer Society, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Breast Cancer.org

Source:  American Cancer Society, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Breast Cancer.org