A hearty welcome to all our new readers. We're glad to have you along on this up and down ride!  Remember, there's no such thing as a dumb question, and none of us know what we don't know.

HELP!

In addition to grab bars in the bathroom, which I recommend to just about everyone of any age, I almost always suggest an emergency response system to the seniors I work with who live alone or with someone who couldn't respond in an emergency. Emergency response systems have saved lives and prevented serious long term consequences for thousands of people.

That said, whenever there is a product or a service that is proven to be successful and popular, there will be someone who tries to take advantage. Today I bring you an excellent article from an expert in these things who can tell you what to look for so you don't end up with an expensive regret:

Medical Alarm Scams and Fraud: 7 Ways to Protect Your Loved Ones

By Suzanne Wouk

There comes a point when the decision has to be made whether our elderly parents are capable of living on their own. Our gut tells us that the longer they stay in their familiar setting the happier they will be. One of the new technological tools that has made staying at home for people who are weak or are in danger of falling is the personal medical alarm systems. But unfortunately, there are people out there that will try to scam you out of your money and will offer a service that can be deadly!

1. Check the company with Better Business Bureau (BBB). Just because they might have the BBB logo on their website does not mean that they are in good standing. You must actually visit the BBB site and check the business’s name. This is good advice for any service you purchase but especially important here when dealing with you loved one’s lives.

2. If the contract that you are offered is written in small letters be wary! Any company who offers a contract written in small type to customers who are largely hard of seeing raises alarms. Either they are not being mindful of their customers' needs (and if so would you want them to be taking care of your loved ones), or they might be trying to hide something…

3. Physically try to meet all the people that will be involved in helping your loved ones. Use your gut feeling whether you like these people and you trust them.

4. Always double check the contract to make sure that the price of the service does not suddenly jump for the next few years and that the service DOES NOT automatically renew itself. You want to always be in charge of when the service is being renewed.

5. Shop around and make sure that you are not over paying for the service.

6. Test the service at sporadic moments and from different sections of the house to make sure that the service works from all places.

7. Check your rights with your State Attorney General regarding purchasing such a service. Once you do, make sure the company that you choose is fulfilling all the State’s guidelines. If not, be wary.

Once you choose a service or a product the most important thing is to train your loved one in using it. Make double and triple sure that they understand how to use it. Test them in various situations. Make sure that they understand how the product works and how to know if it is broken or turned off. I hope this information helped you.

To read actual cases of Medical Alarm Scams please check out http://www.medical-alarm.org/medical-alert-scams-and-frauds.htm

Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible. ~ St. Francis of Assisi

Medication Could Be The Problem

All too many medications can cause symptoms of dementia, especially if they are prescribed for a long time. Because they tend to have more chronic health problems older adults are especially at risk for cognitive changes brought on by one or more medications. This is why you should bring along ALL medications and supplements to every doctor visit. Not just the internist, but ALL doctors.

Much of the time medication induced dementia symptoms can be relieved or reduced by changing medications or changing the dose. This is not something to do on your own. Follow this link to a list of some of the more common medications that could cause memory side effects. If you or a loved one is taking any of these and you have observed cognitive changes print it out and take it with you on your next visit.

It's The Little Things

When you've been independent for decades it is understandable that you'd like to stay that way. Having to ask someone to help you tie your shoes is humiliating when you're not five years old any longer.

So many things can make it hard to  fasten shoes. Some we don't think about. The more obvious causes might be arthritis or hip problems. Other less obvious issues could be the inability to breathe properly when bending over caused by emphysema or congestive heart disease.  Inner ear disturbances can cause dizziness. And, of course, cognitive losses can take away the memory of how to tie a shoe.

Did you know you can replace the laces on most shoes with Velcro tabs? My father had rheumatoid arthritis. He put these on his favorite pair of shoes, and he could close his right shoe with his left foot (and vice versa) without ever having to bend over.

Closed shoes are much safer than slip-ons, and shoe lace converters can keep the tie shoes your elder already has wearable longer. New shoes cost a bunch, and they're hardly ever as popular as the old, broken in pair.