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Prevention

It has been said that the United States is not a prevention society. We push our bodies until something breaks and then expect a pill or surgery to cure everything. After age 30, our bodies begin to weaken at the rate of 1% per year. This means that by age 60, unless we take steps to prevent the decline, our bodies will be 30% weaker. Prevention can take the form of health prevention or it can be seen as other actions taken to remain healthy and independent. Exercise is a significant action that can be taken to prevent physical decline.
For many of us, not only older adults, taking steps toward preventing the decline of our bodies or accepting preventative isn't easy. Exercise and eating well takes time, attention and work. Most of us "don't need any help" because we're stubborn, set in our ways or just do not want to consider that something else may be better. Think about family, friends or neighbors you know who may not be in the best of health. They may live alone, eat canned soup and frozen dinners, have little social contact and rarely leave their homes - they are just getting by, yet they "don't need any help". Who wants to admit that someone has a better idea or better way of doing things that we?
How much fuller could the life of this family member, friend or neighbor be with just a little in home help - nutritious meals, companionship, assistance around the house, running errands, doing a hobby or social activity or just knowing someone will be by to check on them? It doesn't take much to improve or make life a little more interesting, but it does take an open attitude and a willingness to try.
Many times it's not in home help that is needed - it's an individual or advocate who can manage organizational details: balancing a checkbook, paying bills, arranging car maintenance, setting doctor appointments, reordering medications, completing income tax returns, making sure insurance is up to date and so on. These tasks requiring what is called executive function, often fall by the wayside and have the potential to cause significant problems. I worked with individuals very adept at bouncing checks, forgetting to pay property taxes, having income tax penalties and lapsing on health insurance payments who have no idea this is even occurring because they have significant short term memory loss.
Whether you are at the beginning stages of considering help, I encourage you to do so in order to prevent significant issues. Having an advocate and personal manager is a good idea especially when these tasks have never been your strength, have been handled by a spouse no longer with us or when you are experiencing memory issues.
Copyright © 2009 Pamela D. Wilson All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic or electronic process, transmitted or otherwise copied for public or private use without prior written permission from the author. Website: www.thecarenavigator.com

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By Pamela D Wilson, The Care Navigator, CSA, MS, BS/BA, CG

It has been said that the United States is not a prevention society. We push our bodies until something breaks and then expect a pill or surgery to cure everything. After age 30, our bodies begin to weaken at the rate of 1% per year. This means that by age 60, unless we take steps to prevent the decline, our bodies will be 30% weaker. Prevention can take the form of health prevention or it can be seen as other actions taken to remain healthy and independent. Exercise is a significant action that can be taken to prevent physical decline.

For many of us, not only older adults, taking steps toward preventing the decline of our bodies or accepting preventative isn't easy. Exercise and eating well takes time, attention and work. Most of us "don't need any help" because we're stubborn, set in our ways or just do not want to consider that something else may be better. Think about family, friends or neighbors you know who may not be in the best of health. They may live alone, eat canned soup and frozen dinners, have little social contact and rarely leave their homes - they are just getting by, yet they "don't need any help". Who wants to admit that someone has a better idea or better way of doing things that we?

How much fuller could the life of this family member, friend or neighbor be with just a little in home help - nutritious meals, companionship, assistance around the house, running errands, doing a hobby or social activity or just knowing someone will be by to check on them? It doesn't take much to improve or make life a little more interesting, but it does take an open attitude and a willingness to try.

Many times it's not in home help that is needed - it's an individual or advocate who can manage organizational details: balancing a checkbook, paying bills, arranging car maintenance, setting doctor appointments, reordering medications, completing income tax returns, making sure insurance is up to date and so on. These tasks requiring what is called executive function, often fall by the wayside and have the potential to cause significant problems. I worked with individuals very adept at bouncing checks, forgetting to pay property taxes, having income tax penalties and lapsing on health insurance payments who have no idea this is even occurring because they have significant short term memory loss. 

Whether you are at the beginning stages of considering help, I encourage you to do so in order to prevent significant issues. Having an advocate and personal manager is a good idea especially when these tasks have never been your strength, have been handled by a spouse no longer with us or when you are experiencing memory issues.

Copyright 2011 Pamela D. Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

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