San Rafael, CA.....As an increasing number of baby boomers struggle to care for their older parents, AgingParents.com helps families come together to address legal, health, and physiological/
Interviews are Available With the Following Experts:
Carolyn Rosenblatt, R.N., Attorney at Law, author of The Boomer’s Guide to Aging Parents. Familiar with health, legal, financial, and insurance issues.
Dr. Mikol Davis, clinical psychologist with 30+ years of experience addressing family conflicts, caregiver stress, and the mental competence of elders.
AgingParents.com Issues and Quotes:
Elder Abuse Prevention
Financial abuse is estimated to cost elders $2.6 billion a year, and has devastating emotional consequences. The incidence is growing as our population ages, and in the U.S., the increase comes at the exact time when we need to spend more resources to safeguard our elders while our country faces unprecedented economic conditions. If we don’t spend budget dollars on prevention and protection as well as law enforcement, this will become even more of a rampage than it already is, said Rosenblatt
Communication with Elders
“Don’t be discouraged if your aging loved one resists; it’s normal and is fundamentally about loss of control. Keep bringing the topic up, and mention that it is for your peace of mind and perhaps they will do it just for you. Involve your aging parent or loved one as much as you can in the process. Even if the participation of your elder is ‘token,’ it is respectful and kind to help the elder feel a degree of control in the process,” said Rosenblatt.
“For many elders, there has never been a focus on feelings or emotional difficulty. Unlike the baby boomer children they produced, elders may lack the “emotional vocabulary” to put feelings into words. Therefore, they may lack the ability to seek help and to identify problems such as depression,”
Driving
“The subject of driving is a “charged” one and sparks can fly. Most older drivers who are losing their ability to drive safely don’t recognize it or are in denial and can’t face the terrible thought of giving up their independence and control. Yet if you avoid it, every person walking on the street and every driver on the road is put at risk,” said Rosenblatt.
Long-Term Care Solutions
“If your parent is in fragile health and seems to be steadily declining physically or mentally, be cautious about choosing an assisted living facility over a nursing home (also known as a skilled nursing facility). No one chooses a nursing home first, but assisted living facilities are not licensed to give nursing care. Nursing homes are more like hospitals, which they must be to deliver skilled care to frail seniors,” said Rosenblatt.
