9 Mistakes Adult Siblings Make When Parents Are Aging, Sick, and Dying

In her new book, They’re Your Parents, Too! How Siblings Can Survive Their Parents’ Aging Without Driving Each Other Crazy (Bantam, 2010), journalist and author Francine Russo discusses one of life’s most trying transitions: when parents are aging, sick, and dying. Below, she points out nine ways that adult siblings foul up when attempting to navigate this “new life crisis”:

Number 1

Helping your elderly parents out of a credit squeeze

My parents are 88 years old and 86 years old. They are physically and mentally fragile, but still living in their home with the assistance of aides provided by Medicare. My mother had a credit card that she maxed out at $20,000, which my father is struggling to pay. The interest rate is somewhere around 30 percent and the card issuer has not been receptive to lowering the rate. My dad is paying $600 a month, which represents the interest only. What can they do?

Full Article: abc2news.com

One-point decrease on social activity scale was equivalent to being approximately five years older at the start of the study – risk of death, disability jump

As senior citizens lose their interest in socializing with their friends and family, the motor skills that used to get them there also begin to decline – rapidly. This weakness in motor skills has been well established as leading to a number of problems, not the least of which are death and disability, according to a report in today’s issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

“It’s not just running around the track that is good for you,” said Dr. Aron Buchman, associate professor of neurological sciences at Rush University Medical Center. “Our findings suggest that engaging in social activities may also be protective against loss of motor abilities.”

Source: Senior Journal

“Longevity Genes” -Research Reveals Why Some Live Longer

Scientists have long been baffled as to why some people live so much longer than others. Diet and exercise account for some of it, but researchers have found that genetics also factor heavily into the equation, and that long life is somewhat hereditary as it is with living bristlecone pine that were alive when Caesar ruled Rome.

However, centenarians are known to have just as many—and sometimes even more—harmful gene variants compared with those who die much younger. So what is the secret advantage? That’s a question the experts have been eager to find an answer to.

Full Article

10 Health Habits That Will Help You Live to 100

8. Live like a Seventh Day Adventist . Americans who define themselves as Seventh Day Adventists have an average life expectancy of 89, about a decade longer than the average American. One of the basic tenets of the religion is that it’s important to cherish the body that’s on loan from God, which means no smoking, alcohol abuse, or overindulging in sweets. Followers typically stick to a vegetarian diet based on fruits, vegetables, beans, and nuts, and get plenty of exercise. They’re also very focused on family and community.

The Rest Of The 10 Health Habits

For Seniors With Concerns About Their Driving Skills

If you are a senior concerned about your driving skills, you can assess your driving abilities/needs at the AAA’s Seniordrivers.org.

Family members who want to help a senior keep driving safely, can read
Helping the Senior Driver in Your Life for some good tips and expert advice.

Study Shows Cigarette Smoking Jumps Risk for Alzheimer’s; All Research Not Trustworthy

Feb. 1, 2020 – A UCSF analysis of published studies on the relationship between Alzheimer’s disease and smoking indicates that smoking cigarettes is a significant risk factor for the disease. The study group also determined that the myth that smoking offers protection from AD has been perpetuated by tobacco industry-affiliated studies.

Full Article: Senior Journal

Life Expectancy After Dementia Diagnosis

People with dementia survive an average of four and a half years after diagnosis, with age, sex, and existing disability all having an influence on life expectancy, finds a study published on the British Medical Journal website.
The authors hope that these estimates will be of value to patients, carers, service providers, and policy-makers.

The number of people affected by dementia is estimated to double every 20 years to 81 million by 2040. Dementia is known to be associated with increased risk of death, but no estimate exists for actual survival with dementia in England and Wales. There is also considerable uncertainty about what influences survival.

Source: Science Daily

The High Blood Pressure Dementia Link

“This is a silent disease in the brain says. It’s evolving over time and it leads to very bad outcomes.”

Dr. Lewis Kuller
Lead Researcher
University of Pittsburgh.

Controlling your blood pressure is “at the top of the list” of possible preventatives against dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, new studies suggest. Brain scans by scientist uncovered a scarring, white matter lesions, in the brain from high blood pressure they feel is connected to dementia and Alzheimer’s. The scarring begins in middle age and impairs the mind later in life (1 in 8 people over 65 develop dementia). Another reason to have your blood pressure checked.

You can read more about the blood pressure dementia link at wfaa.com.

Guardianship Process In North Carolina For Seniors No Longer Able To Care For Themselves

As some seniors age, medical conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, may render them unable to take care of themselves, and for their safety they may need to be declared (1)incompetent and be assigned a guardian. To learn more about Guardianship in North Carolina, see North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services and North Carolina Guardianship Association for detailed information.

1. In almost all cases in which elderly persons are declared mentally or physically incompetent to adequately take care of themselves, state laws require that a minimum of two doctors, or other health professionals, vouch for evidence of such incompetence. Only then can legal supervision by a loved one or caretaker be initiated, including power of attorney, guardianship and conservatorship. If doctors’ corroboration cannot be obtained by interested parties, then other proof must be proffered to support the case for incompetence, including outstanding bills and financial debt, or substandard living conditions that would be deemed unsafe or hazardous to the elderly person.

-Wikipedia