Average annual rainfall in Quillayutte is 101.7 inches a year. But at least that means the lakes and rivers (and the wildlife that live in them) are fresh and clean, right? Not exactly. Three recent studies by the Washington Department of Ecology showed that toxic chemicals banned decades ago continue to linger in the environment and concentrate in the food chain. The researchers also found unsafe levels of toxic substances in samples of freshwater fish and fish tissue collected from Lake Washington and the Spokane River, where fish consumption advisories are already in effect. So much for spending your retirement days freshwater fishing.

– Donna

We all know it’s hard to predict when a medical emergency will occur, what kind of emergency it will be, and how severely it will affect your life. The reality is that medical emergencies happen very often, sometimes with little to no warning.

Without planning ahead, emotional and financial stress can get the best of your loved ones. Proper planning can help ease this stress through making your wishes known and setting up a plan for the necessary costs associated with an emergency.

Kelly Canenah and her Mother Bertha are proud owners of “Home Instead Senior Care” and were nice enough to come in and share the programs they have with us.   Our residents are able to set up a “just in case” contract, so that in an emergency Home Instead can be called and the medical history is already known!

Our residents are so excited about this program, they are ready to sign up.  What a great service Home Instead has come up with to cater to the Seniors of  my community… Thank you Ladies.

– Donna

Raising the topic of driving with a senior parent is a very difficult task. Driving is something that carries a lot of weight in all our lives. How do we get food, run errands or do most of the things we do in a day? We drive.
Imagine how stressed you would be if you could not drive anymore starting today.  Asking a parent to give up driving is very difficult, but it needs to be done.
If you know your parent has become a bad driver, you have to think of the risk to innocent third parties.
– Donna

There are nearly 5 million Americans with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Dementia is a brain disorder that is generally associated with memory loss. AD is the most common type of dementia in senior citizens over the age of 65. AD affects various parts of the brain, including the regions that control memory, thought, and language. There is no cure for AD. And although researchers continue to make great strives in our understanding of the disease, they still do not know the cause.
Every year since 1997, the South Sound Alzheimer’s Council sponsors a conference in our community - Caring Pulls Us Through - to bring the latest information to help families better understand the disease and how best to care for someone with memory impairment. This one day conference has expert speakers and displays of community resources. Professional caregivers can also benefit from attending this conference.
I will be hosting at table at this conference, so be sure to stop by and say, “Hi”.
This year’s conference is:
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Masonic Lodge,
521 North Street SE
Olympia, WA
– Donna

In addition to taking the proper medication and allowing your joints to rest, exercise can help senior citizens to stay in shape, maintain strong muscles, and control symptoms of arthritis. Daily exercise like walking or swimming keeps joints moving, while lessening pain and strengthening the muscles around joints. Before starting any new exercise program, it is important to discuss options with your physician.
Three types of exercise are the best for senior citizens with arthritis:
Range-of-motion exercises reduce stiffness, improve flexibility, and keep joints moving. Activities like dancing fit into this category.
Strengthening exercises strengthen muscles, which improves support and protection to your joints. Weight training fits into this category.
Aerobic or endurance exercises improve health in the heart and arteries, prevent weight gain, improve how your body works overall, and may decrease swelling in some joints. Riding a bike fits into this category.
– Donna

While planning ahead is sometimes difficult because you may not know how or when your needs will change, consider the type of assistance that may be of use to you in the near future. Regardless of your situation, begin by thinking of any illnesses you may have such as arthritis, diabetes, or heart disease.
Talk to your doctor and brainstorm how these conditions may affect how you are able to take care of yourself. Perhaps you will need help getting dressed, or remembering to take your medicine. You may be the sole caregiver of your spouse, and what will you do if something happens to your health and you find yourself in the hospital for a short time?
This sort of assistance can easily be addressed in your own apartment using in home care. Kelli Cavenah from Home Instead will be coming into our facility and doing a brief explanation of how you can cover these needs in advance for the “ just in case” times in your life. Watch the newsletter in April to see when she will be coming in to talk to us.
– Donna

As people age, their muscles and bones can weaken, balance is affected, and certain medications and medical conditions can make falling and fractures more likely. Senior citizens who are also more prone to diseases like osteoporosis are more susceptible to experiencing a fall.
Bone fractures in senior citizens are not just traumatic, they can lead to more serious problems later on. You can decrease your chances of falling by following some simple steps in being aware of dangerous situations in your home. Falling rarely just happens, but rather results from multiple causes that occur over time.
Let us all make an effort to be aware of those things in our apartments and homes that could be a potential fall hazard.
– Donna

Approximately five percent of senior citizens between the ages of 65 and 74 have AD. After age 74 the likelihood of developing the disorder drastically increases; by age 85 nearly fifty percent of senior citizens have AD. Though it is age-related, it is not a normal part of aging and symptoms should not be dismissed.

Scientists have not identified the cause of Alzheimer’s Disease, however they have found some important influences. AD seems to be associated with both genetic and environmental factors. Some evidence that suggests that conditions like high blood pressure and cholesterol may also be related to AD.

The Alzheimer’s Awareness Walk is schedule for Saturday September 18^th at Marathon Park; the conference will be held May 20^th at the Tumwater Masonic Lodge.  The keynote speaker will be Vicki Schmall, PhD.  Dr. Schmall has contributed expertise to the field of aging in many areas, including family and caregiving issues as well as health related issues affecting ones physical, psychological ,and social well-being.  I am hoping to get a group of Colonial Inn staff to partake in the September walk!  Wish me luck…..

– Donna

Senior citizens can be taken advantage of through telephone, internet, insurance, or home repair scams. Sometimes they are taken advantage of by people they know and think they can trust. Here are some tips for avoiding possible cons:
• Do not feel hesitant to hang up on telemarketers to protect yourself from possible bullying, suggestiveness, or false information.
• Never give personal information such as credit card numbers, social security numbers, or bank account numbers over the phone.
• Do not take money out of your account when instructed to by a stranger. A common scam involves strangers pretending to be bank tellers and asking people to take money out of their accounts. Banks never use these methods for testing purposes.
• Be cautious of deals that sound too good to be true or involve presenting large amounts of money up front with promises of receiving money later. Checking with your local Better Business Bureau can give you more information about real companies in your area.
• Be cautious of people going door to door and offering home repair services. They may not be properly trained and can overcharge for services. If you employ someone for this kind of work, check references, get an agreement in writing for the services, and never pay in advance.

– Donna

. . . if you have been out of school for a while or engage in the same repetitive tasks each day. In other words, your brain is on cruise control when you should always strive to learn and stretch your mind. I have a grandmother who is 92 years old and still sharp as a tack. She keeps her mind sharp by continually learning new ideas, facts, and solving puzzles.
- Donna