Why Elder Care Should Matter to You Too

I’m committed to finding ways to advocate for aging populations. And while I’ve been lax with original content for this space, I have been dutifully keeping up with the latest in issues relating to seniors, aging, dementia and elder care. I do so by reading as much as I can on these subjects whenever I can steal a moment.

With a rapidly aging global population and the likelihood of more individuals than ever before being afflicted with dementia,there seems to be a new study or report released every day. Many of these studies are from  highly reputable institutions. Others are from businesses looking to profit off the coming “grey tsunami” .

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Have You Had the Talk?

The best time to talk to the older people in your life about end of life matters is when they are still able to make decisions for themselves.

If the elderly people in your life haven’t had “the talk” with you and aren’t likely to do so, then you need to have the talk with them. And it’s best to do it sooner than later.  Believe me, carrying out a person’s wishes is much easier than having to decide for them.

Are You Guilty of Ageism?

Ageism is the cause of age-based discrimination. It is probably the most tolerated form of social prejudice world wide and it exists in many forms.

I am willing to bet just about everyone has practiced ageism at some point in their lives whether they realize it or not.

Think about it:

• Have you have ever made a joke about old people or laughed about how an older person was depicted on a television show or movie?
• Have you ever assumed something about an individual solely because of their age?
• Have you treated someone differently than you would others due to stereotypes about their age?

According to the Revera Report on Ageism, the three most common forms of age discrimination faced by Canadian seniors are:

1. being ignored or treated as though they are invisible (41 per cent);
2. being treated like they have nothing to contribute (38 per cent);
3. and the assumption seniors are incompetent (27 per cent).

Let’s face it. We’ve all been guilty of ageism at one point or another in our lives. But just because it’s so prevalent doesn’t make it right.  You probably experienced ageism when you were a teenager. If  we  live long enough to see our senior years, we’re likely to experience it again. Are you willing to stem the tide of ageism? If so, how?

Sifting Through Studies About Aging

Recently I wrote about my continuing interest in studies relating to aging populations. Now I want to tell you how I determine if a report is worth sharing with others.  This may not be how you go about it, but for an individual with a non-medical background who is neither an economist or a gerontologist, this is what works best for me.

When deciding if a study merits attention, I look to which organization commissioned the study and how many people were followed in order to achieve the reported results.  For instance:  if a report released by the Coca Cola Company claimed that increased soft drink consumption can cure Alzheimer’s, I’m not going to give that report any attention. Same goes for medical reports that looked at an extremely small cross-section of the population to come up with the stated results. Don’t get me wrong. I know there are some hard working scientists behind these reports. And I understand some of the medical findings may be significant down the road.  I hope many of them will lead to a greater understanding of age-related illness.  I just don’t want to be putting out false hope (or fear) based on results of a small sample size.
I share what I deem to be the more interesting information through my Twitter account. I hope you will follow along with me. If you’re not following already, my Twitter handle is @judila416.

Watch Out for Well-Attired Caregivers

Sadly, elder abuse is far more common than most of us realize. It’s certainly not an unfamiliar concept to me. Both my mother and my late uncle were victimized by paid caregivers.

A few years ago,  my brother and I were given three hours notice that my mother was to be released from hospital but would require around-the-clock care for several months. We didn’t have a clue how to hire a care giver. All we knew was my mother really wanted to go home and the hospital wanted its bed back.  Lorna was the only applicant I spoke with and I hired her immediately. She seemed trustworthy and competent. And she was immediately available.