Monday, February 18, 2013
Sixty percent of Alzheimer's patients will wander, but there are tools that can help to keep them from getting lost.
Alzheimer's can be a stressful disease for everyone involved, including caregivers and their loved ones. One thing that can heighten the stress is the wandering that can occur. Sixty percent of Alzheimer and dementia patients wander, which is the afflicted individual walking off for a reason and getting lost in the confusion. In order to keep Alzheimer's and dementia patients safer, there are services that can be used to help keep track and return wanderers home safely, which Bernadette Homan, Business Development Specialist at Arden Courts in Largo shared with Patch. Comfort Zone and Safe Return are offered by the Alzheimer's Association and Project Lifesaver is offered by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. Sign up for the free Largo …
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Need a grab bar installed? Want a ramp built? Here are some resources to make a Largo home more accessible for yourself or a loved one.
Here is a list of companies that serve people with limitations or disabilities who need help retrofitting or modifying homes. 1. Abilities, Inc. of Florida 2. Custom Mobility Inc. 3. Get-A-Grip Bath/Shower Safety Rails 4. Home Safe LLC 5. Lela Williams and Associates Interior Design 6. Lifestyle Remodeling 7. Mobility Express 8. Welcome Home Relocation, Inc. 9. Wrightway Consulting, Inc. Check the area agency on aging database for more resources in the Largo area for seniors and caregivers.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
After surviving the collapse of the Twin Towers, this former financial trader changed careers to helping seniors.
A decade after the collapse of the World Trade Center Michael Fineo, who was in one of the towers when the planes hit on 9/11, started a new career with a focus on helping prevent people from falling. Fineo installed his anti-slip floor treatment at the Palms of Largo. "I always wanted to do something on my own with my wife...My parents were aging (fall prevention) made perfect sense. It really sparked my interest. My father was falling all the time. It was one other way to do something I was really proud of," Fineo said. Fineo was in Tower 1 on Sept. 11, 2001, working as a money market broker on the 25th Floor. "As I stepped out of the subway that Tuesday morning, I was greeted by a perfect fall day... It was business as usual. Then, just…
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Tigers Way, a local martial arts school, teaches people to use a traditional walking cane for self-defense and self-protection.
Using a cane isn't a disability, according to the Tigers Way Martial Arts School of St. Petersburg. It's an advantage. Tigers Way specializes in teaching self-defense for use in real-world situations, including a cane, if attacked. The cane can offer the victim a two-foot extension to his or her reach, said Tony Bilotta, lead instructor at Tigers Way. The cane may be especially handy for a senior. A caregiver may realize a loved one is afraid to go out alone. Grand Master Mark Shuey developed the Cane Master system, after he observed seniors and their use of canes, according to an ABC News report on 20/20. Shuey's dad would not use a cane due to the stigma associated with using it. During the same time period, several seniors were robbed …
Monday, February 11, 2013
'Losing our body is like losing our best friend,' said Larry Prescott, who runs Grand Villa of Largo. He tells caregivers that exercise needs to be adapted to a senior's needs.
As people age they tend to stay at home and get less exercise through daily activities, such as trips to the grocery store, said Larry Prescott, executive director of Grand Villa of Largo. "The fear of falling, pain from arthritis and neuropathy of the feet, and not recouping as quickly from illnesses often keep people from exercising," Prescott said. Exercise needs to be adapted to the individual's needs. "Person-centered exercise takes the time to determine individual needs. It is completely focused on our residents and what is going to make their life enriched," Prescott said. "Losing our body is like losing our best friend. It can be very depressing and can inhibit motivation to do anything," Prescott said. The key is having the right…
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Gardening, chair-exercises, and balloon volleyball are a few of the exercise options available for seniors.
The New Year is a time when many people start thinking about getting fit and exercising and it’s no different for seniors. As seniors age, remaining active becomes increasingly important. Senior living communities and caregivers should consider looking beyond traditional physical therapy options to keep seniors engaged and active. Seniors are most receptive to physical therapy when caregivers and their therapists develop individualized plans that fit both their lifestyle and interests. Research shows that it is difficult to motivate seniors to begin to exercise if it hasn’t previously been a priority. Integrating modified, low-impact activities, like yoga, into seniors’ exercise plans increases the likelihood that they will …
Friday, November 2, 2012
The experiential tour at Grand Villa of Largo was meant for caregivers to gain a better understanding of how to interact with a loved one who has dementia.
Wonder what it's like for a person with dementia to walk, talk or interact? It's impossible to know exactly what it's like to have dementia. But caregivers had the opportunity recently at Grand Villa of Largo to participate in a hands-on, interactive sensory experience, which simulates the mental and physical challenges faced by people with dementia. Community members wore devices that simulated vision, hearing, walking and tactile impairments. This included goggles with special lenses impairing vision, headphones simulating noises in the head, bulky garden gloves making fine motor skills a challenge, and plastic shoe inserts making it harder to walk. Wearing the various devices, participants walked down a hall and into an apartment suite…
Monday, October 22, 2012
An analysis of the latest U.S. Census Data indicates there has been a huge increase in the number of people 50-plus getting a divorce.
On any given day you can walk into the law office of William D. Slicker, P.A., 4554 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg, and see one or more seniors, from young Baby Boomers in their early 50s, to those in their 60s or 70s, waiting for professional law help by this local attorney. Given the fact that Slicker is an elder law attorney this makes a lot of sense. Many come for his legal advice on wills and trusts, estate planning, probate, powers of attorney and other issues commonly facing seniors. But not all of these individuals are there for these services. They are there because they need Slicker’s help in getting a divorce. According to a recent research study done by Bowling Green State University in Ohio, the divorce rate among Baby …
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Here's a list of factors to consider when selecting a senior care community.
Naturally, adult children and caregivers want to find an assisted living facility that is best suited for their parents and their individual needs. Choosing a community can be a difficult and time-consuming process, but there are ways to make an informed choice. I recommend that all caregivers and family members take a proactive approach, visiting out a number of communities and asking important questions of the professionals at each facility. This makes the evaluation process easier and ensures an informed decision that is right for your loved one. Begin your search process by identifying the communities you will be considering and developing your list of questions and then visiting the communities in person. Following is a list of …
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Older Americans often have savings and are trusting. They become targets for thieves, con artists and other unsavory characters.
Investment schemes, reverse mortgage scams, even funeral and cemetery fraud are common among senior citizens. Why do con artists target seniors? According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, older Americans are most likely to have excellent credit and a nest egg. They also are often trusting and polite. They make a prime target for thieves. Seniors are less likely to report a crime, are embarrassed about having been scammed, or they don't know they've been duped in the first place, according to the FBI's "Common Fraud Schemes: Fraud Target: Senior Citizens" report. Local Help for Free If you are over 60 and believe you have been victimized, there is a local government program that just may be able to you get justice. And it won't cost …
Angela Wilkins
10:55 am on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
The best exercise is the one you'll do regularly more ›