Friday, February 25, 2011

You Can Help the Elderly Get the Health Equipment They Desperately Need!

And you can borrow health equipment (wheelchairs, shower chairs, etc.) that you may need as well! So please take the time to watch the video and donate any equipment you may have for others to use.

You can also support Austin Groups for the Elderly (A.G.E.) by purchasing the products you need via the Amazon links on this Blog. It cost you nothing extra and earns 4-6% of the purchase price for A.G.E. Use the search bar on the right side of the Blog and follow the specials I write about often to help!

Thank you  from all of us at A.G.E. for your assistance.

Frank Hayes
A.G.E. Board of Directors Member





Learn more about the A.G.E.  H.E.L.P. service.

It's the Friday Sale!

The Friday Sale @ Amazon!

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

6 Estate Planning Questions

The essential issues your parents will address through estate planning

By Barbara Kate Repa, Caring.com Author

In deciding whether they need to do any estate planning, the key questions your parents should answer are whether there is any property they would like a particular person or charity to receive after their deaths and whether they have strong opinions about their medical care and final arrangements. If so, it's usually wise for them to get some simple documentation in writing to provide legal assurance that those wishes will be enforced.


Specifically, when considering whether to take any steps toward estate planning, your parents should ask themselves:

  1. What are my assets and what is their approximate value?
  2. What people or organizations do I want to have these assets -- and do I wish to give them up during my lifetime or after my death?
  3. Who should manage these assets during my lifetime if I become unable to do so, or after my death if management is needed?

4. Who should be responsible for taking care of any minor or dependent children if I become unable to do so?
5. Who should make decisions about my medical care and finances if I cannot make them?
6. After I die, do I want my remains to be donated, cremated, scattered, or buried?

http://www.caring.com/checklists/estate-planning-questions

"Learn About Senior In Home Health Care in Austin, Texas Senior Helpers Provides Many services in the Austin, Texas area. We provide a full array of Home Care services for seniors and the elderly living in this beautiful area. Our Home Care Services are provided by bonded and insured employees and all employees pass a National Background check. If you need Home Care services in Austin, Bartlett, Bertram, Briggs, Burnet, Cedar Park, Florence, Georgetown, Granger, Holland, Hutto, Jarrell, Johnson City, Killeen, Leander, Liberty Hill, Manor, Marble Falls, Pflugerville, Round Mountain, Round Rock, Salado, Spicewood, Taylor and the surrounding areas we are an excellent choice with impeccable references. Home Health Care for your elderly loved ones is never an easy choice but we can promise we will do our best to make it as painless as possible. From our family to yours we sincerely thank you for considering Senior Helpers of Austin Home Health Care Company. "

PSA: Voluntary Nationwide Recall of All Lots of Alcohol Prep Pads, Swabs and Swab Sticks Due to Potential Microbial Contamination

Alcohol prep pads, swabs and swab sticks have been voluntarily recalled by the manufacturer, Triad Group, due to potential contamination with an objectionable organism, Bacillus cereus. The recalled products can be identified by either "Triad Group"listed as the manufacturer, or products manufactured for third-party use will use any of the following names: Cardinal Health, PSS Select, VersaPro, Boca/Ultilet, Moore Medical, Walgreens, CVS, or Conzellin. These products were distributed in the United States and internationally. The recall applies to both sterile and unsterile products.

Alcohol prep pads, swabs and swab sticks are used to disinfect an area of skin prior to injection. Use of contaminated products could lead to life-threatening infections, especially in at-risk populations including immune suppressed and surgical patients. To date, one non-life-threatening skin infection has been reported.
If you have a supply of these products, do not use them, but return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

The press release for the recalled products is available at the following web link: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm239219.htm
 
Updates of the original press release are available at the following web link:
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm239319.htm
 
Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program:
• Complete and submit the report online: www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm
• Download form or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178 (1-800-332-0178)

Friday, February 18, 2011

New Advice on Preventing Falls

Exercise and Med Management are the Keys.

For the first time since 2001, the American Geriatrics Society and the British Geriatrics Society have updated their guidelines for preventing falls in older people. The update includes two notable changes: One recommends tai chi — the meditative, slow-motion Chinese exercise — as an effective way to prevent falls, while another suggests that doctors review medication use by all elderly patients, with an eye toward reducing use of those drugs that increase the risk of falling.

Read the whole article.

How Senior Helpers can help with fall risk management.

It's the Friday Sale at Amazon

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Getting Dad to Talk About It

My widowed father-in-law didn’t tell anyone about his symptoms — not his doctor, and not his grown son, who found out only when a member of the extended family called to say my husband needed to fly across the country immediately to see his dad.

By that point, the kidney cancer that would have been easy to treat if detected early had passed the fail-safe point. My father-in-law was not the kind of guy who liked to depend on people, so he made sure he had to for only a very short time before he died.

Read more, from the NY Times

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Influenza-like Illness Now Widespread in Texas

The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) has issued the following Provider Alerts or Bulletins:

Influenza-like Illness Now Widespread in Texas.


Reports of confirmed influenza and influenza-like illness (ILI) have increased in Texas during the past two weeks, and are now considered to be "widespread" by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). See DSHS news updates at: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/news/updates.shtm

The current flu activity report can be accessed at: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/disease/influenza/surveillance/2011/.

Information on the control of influenza in various settings may be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website at: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/.

The CDC continues to recommend that every person over the age of six months get a flu vaccination. Other recommendations to prevent the spread of the infection are frequent hand washing and coughing and sneezing into your shoulder, elbow or into a tissue.

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Friday, February 11, 2011

Aged care market will drive franchise growth; Paul Wheeler

Aged care market will drive franchise growth; Paul Wheeler

  • MEREDITH BOOTH
  • From:AdelaideNow
  • February 02, 2011
BABY Boomers are the target for a new Australasian franchise headed by former Cartridge World chiefs Paul Wheeler and Mike Fuller.

The duo has announced its first master franchise deal with US group Senior Helpers since launching their consultancy business Group Seven last year.

The deal comes three years after Mr Wheeler and co-founder Bryan Stokes sold down their share of the successful global Cartridge World business for a reported $70 million. Group Seven aims to build a $150 million business in the next seven years as it opens 75 and 100 outlets across Australia and New Zealand to offer non-medical help to the elderly in their homes.
Mr Fuller said Australia was "crying out for an organised alternative" to services which help the elderly live in their own homes.

Medicare Changes Update

Even as the federal courts kick around the new health care law, certain improvements for Medicare recipients are nonetheless under way.
Donald Berwick, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
 
Dr. Donald Berwick, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, ticked off several new developments in a recent interview.

Read all about it in the  NY Times article.

It's Friday. You know what that means!

The Friday Sale at Amazon!

This blog is an Amazon Affiliate. All earnings go to support Austin Groups for the Elderly. It costs you nothing to help - but gives a lot to help support the elderly in Central Texas.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Looking for Some Good Reading Suggestions?

Editors picks: Best books of 2010

In a Graying Population, Business Opportunity

Now that the oldest baby boomers are turning 65, he says, their sheer numbers may attract industries that had earlier shied away. “If you are a Fortune 100 company, or an inventor in a garage, where are you going to find another demographic that is that large, that robust in spending power, that open to new possibilities, and that underserved?” he asks. “There’s nothing to rival it.” Read the NY Times article

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Amazon Deal of the Day

59% off the Complete Deadwood Series!

Senior Helpers Emergency Procedures are in Effect For Central Texas

Due to the potential for a weather related emergency, primarily icy and hazardous road conditions, Senior Helpers has initiated its Emergency Preparedness Procedures as of 9 AM CST today. Our main goal is to SAFELY provide coverage for ALL clients throughout Thursday and Friday as weather conditions permit.

Our priority are clients that do not have a primary caregiver close by. Senior Helpers will staff these clients under all conditions without interruption. For those clients that do have a Primary Responsible Caregiver, that can assume caregiving responsibility,  Senior Helpers has notified them of the potential of unsafe travel conditions for Senior Helpers' Caregivers and has alerted them as to their responsibilities.

This is a precaution at this time and Senior Helpers plans to staff all shifts. If there are delays or postponements Senior Helpers will call to inform you as quickly as possible.

Please call the Senior Helpers Primary Phone Number if there is a change in the client's condition or the Primary Responsible Caregiver's availability @ 512-388-4357. If the Auto Attendant Answers please press 0 [ZERO] and leave a message in our Emergency Mailbox. All staff will receive this message immediately and return your call within 10 minutes.

Our phone system is on a battery backup and can withstand up to a 2 hour power outage. If you have not heard back from Senior Helpers within 10 minutes please call the following mobile numbers:

512-797-6256
512-791-9321
979-676-3355

Please call us if you have any questions or if you lose power. We will work with you to ensure your or your loved one's safety.

Sincerely,

Frank Hayes
President
fhayes@seniorhelpers.com