World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15th, 2013. According to the Administration on Aging, "Every year an estimated 2.1 million older Americans are victims of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation". What are some of the warning signs of elder abuse?

• Signs of neglect: lack of basic hygiene, medical aids (i.e. glasses, medications), left without care if confined to a bed, or untreated bed sores.
• financial abuse: caregiver has control of the senior's finances and does not use the money to take care of the senior's needs or the older adult is giving large amounts of money or gifts to their caregiver.
• psychological abuse 
• physical abuse

You can learn more about the signs of abuse here and learn more on what you can do to protect Seniors from abuse by reading the National Center on Elder Abuse factsheet. In addition, the State of Florida Department of Elder Affairs also has a webpage about how to report elder abuse and how to prevent it.

If you suspect that an older adult is being abused, you should call the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873. Another great resource is the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas elder helpline: 1-800-963-5337. If the senior lives at a nursing home or assisted living facility, a volunteer from the Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman program may be able to help. You can contact them via the elder helpline: 1-800-963-5337.

New Report on Older Adults

The Administration On Aging, the Administration for Community Living, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have published a new statistical report: "A Profile of Older Adults: 2012". The statistics in the report are mainly from the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Center for Health Statistics, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This report defines older adults as age 65+. Here are some of the highlights from the report:

• Over one in every eight, or 13.3 %, of the population is an older American.
• People reaching age 65 have an average life expectancy of an additional 19.2 years ( 20.4 years for females and 17. 8 years for males).
• The median income of older persons in 2011 was $27,707 for males and $15, 36 2 for females. 
• Almost 3. 6 million elderly persons (8.7 %) were below the poverty level in 2011 .
• In 2011, approximately 497,000 grandparents aged 65 or more had the primary responsibility for their grandchildren who lived with them.

 You can read the entire report here.

Sleep is Important for Good Health

The Administration on Aging  has a webpage about how getting enough sleep is important for good health. Older adults need 7-9 hours of sleep, which is the same amount which younger adults require. As people age, they have more trouble falling asleep and sleep less deeply. It is very important to get enough sleep, because insufficient sleep can increase the chance of accidents and falls. Here are some suggestions from the Administration on Aging about how to get a good night's sleep:

• Go to sleep and get up at the same time each day, even on weekends. 
• Develop a bedtime routine. About 30–45 minutes before bedtime each night, do the same things so your body will know that it’s time to sleep.  
• Avoid caffeine late in the day.

You can find more information about sleep from the National Institutes of Health Senior Health website.

National Immunization Awareness Month

August is National Immunization Awareness Month. The Administration on Aging reported that  influenza and pneumonia were the seventh leading causes of death among people age 65 and older in 2010. According to CDC data, 63.6% of individuals aged 65 and above received an influenza vaccination in 2010, but only 41% of adults aged 50-64 years received this vaccination. You can find out about recommended vaccines by clicking here for a CDC chart with recommendations based on age.

Take Precautions in the Summer Heat!

We are entering the hot summer months in Florida and it is important to prevent heat stroke and heat exhaustion.  Older Adults (aged 65 and older) are more susceptible to heat stress than younger people and older adults may also be taking medications that decrease their ability to regulate their body temperature.  Here are some tips from the Administration on Aging to stay safe in the heat:

• drink more fluids (but avoid drinks with lots of sugar or alcohol)
• stay indoors as much as possible
• electric fans help some, but are not helpful if the temperature is in the high nineties
• take a cool shower or bath
• if you do not have air conditioning, consider visiting a public library or mall
• if you need help getting to a cool place, ask a friend or relative for help or call the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco Pinellas (1-800-963-5337) - they may be able to help.
• if you have air conditioner, but cannot afford the electric bill, you may be able to get help from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
• never leave anyone in a closed and parked vehicle

If you become very overheated, you may get heat stroke.  This serious illness occurs when the body can not regulate its temperature anymore and the body stops sweating.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists these symptoms for heat stroke:

• high body temperature - above 103 degrees
• hot dry skin
• rapid pulse
• dizziness
• nausea
• throbbing headache

For more information, on heat stress in Older Adults, you can click here.

National Immunization Awareness Month

August is National Immunization Awareness Month.  The Administration on Aging has listed the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommended immunizations for Older Adults age 65 and older:

• Seasonal Influenza
• Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough) (for adults up to 64 years, one lifetime dose)
• Shingles (for adults 60 years and older)
• Pneumococcal disease (for adults 65 years and older and adults with specific health conditions)

The complete 2011 CDC recommended adult vaccination schedule can be found here.

Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

The National Center on Elder Abuse of the Administration on Aging has announced that June 15, 2011 is the 6th annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.  This agency wants to increase awareness of elder abuse, which can occur in homes or in institutions such as nursing homes. The types of elder abuse include:

• physical abuse
• verbal abuse
• sexual abuse
• theft, fraud, or use of undue influence to gain an older person's money or property
• neglect
• abandonment

You can find the warning signs of elder abuse here.  For more information about elder abuse, you can click here for a tip sheet from the National Center on Elder Abuse.

To report suspected elder abuse, neglect or exploitation in Florida, here are the contact numbers:

• 1-800-962-2873 (For suspected elder mistreatment in the home)
•  1-800-453-5145 (For suspected elder mistreatment in the home, TDD/TTY access)
•  1-888-831-0404 (For suspected elder mistreatment in long-term care facilities). This is the number for the Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman program.

How can you help ?

• contact older friends, neighbors, and relatives often and find out if they are having any problems.
• Contact your local Area Agency on Aging office to find local programs and sources of support for older adults (such as Meals on Wheels). These programs promote the health and independence of older adults. The elder helpline phone number for Pasco County is 1-800-963-5337.
• Volunteer as a Long-Term Care Ombudsman (see video below)

Coping With the Summer Heat

We are entering the hot summer months in Florida and it is important to prevent heat stroke and heat exhaustion.  Older Adults (aged 65 and older) are more susceptible to heat stress than younger people and older adults may also be taking medications that decrease their ability to regulate their body temperature.  Here are some tips from the Administration on Aging to stay safe in the heat:

• drink more fluids (but avoid drinks with lots of sugar or alcohol)
• stay indoors as much as possible
• electric fans help some, but are not helpful if the temperature is in the high nineties
• take a cool shower or bath
• if you do not have air conditioning, consider visiting a public library or mall
• never leave anyone in a closed and parked vehicle

If you become very overheated, you may get heat stroke.  This serious illness occurs when the body can not regulate its temperature anymore and the body stops sweating.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists these symptoms for heat stroke:

• high body temperature - above 103 degrees
• hot dry skin
• rapid pulse
• dizziness
• nausea
• throbbing headache

For more information, on heat stress in Older Adults, you can click here.

Older Americans Month Contest

 In 1963, President John F. Kennedy designated May as "Senior Citizen's Month". The name was changed to "Older Americans Month" in 1980 by President Jimmy Carter.  Older Americans Month is celebrated throughout the United States by fairs, events, and celebrations that honor the contributions of past and current older persons.  The Administration on Aging has declared that the theme for this year's Older American's Month will be "Age Strong! Live Long!"  The Administration on Aging states that this theme "recognizes the diversity and vitality of today's older Americans who span three generations."

The Administration on Aging has created a contest called "My Recipe for Strength".  This contest asks older adults to share their own ideas about how to "Age Strong and Live Long". To enter this contest, simply submit a video, photograph, or poetry along with an entry form on their website by 11:59 pm EST on April 30th, 2010. For more information, please click here.  

Here is a video describing the contest:

Older American's Month 2009

May is the month to celebrate older adults. This observance was originally called "Senior Citizen's Month" when it was created in 1963, but it was renamed "Older Americans Month" by President Carter in 1980. The Administration on Aging has announced the theme for this year - Living Today for a Better Tomorrow. According to an article from Administration on Aging, "Nearly 40% of deaths in America can be attributed to poor health habits such as lack of physical exercise, poor eating habits and smoking. Older Americans can prevent or control chronic disease by adopting healthy habits such as exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy diet and ceasing tobacco use." The Administration on Aging provided the logo above and the poster below. These files can be downloaded and printed.


The following websites have helpful and accurate information about healthy aging:

• Medline Plus: Senior's Health
• National Institutes of Health: Senior Health
• Healthfinder: Senior Health
  
• Mayo Clinic: Healthy Aging

Older Americans Month 2008

May is "Older American's Month". It was originally called "Senior Citizens Month" by President Kennedy in 1963, but the name was changed to "Older Americans Month" by President Carter in 1980. The Administration on Aging described this month as "... a time to acknowledge the contributions of past and current older persons to our country, in particular those who defended our country." The Administration on Aging has published the theme for this year's celebration: "Working Together for Strong, Healthy, and Supportive Communities". The Administration on Aging provided the logo above and a nice poster for download:


The U.S. Census Bureau released a fact sheet for Older Americans Month. Selected facts include:

• 37.3 million people were 65 and older in the U.S. in 2006
• There is a projected 147% increase in the 65-and-older population between 2000 and 2050
• The poverty rate for people 65 and older in 2006 - 9.4%
• By 2016, the number of people 65 and older in the labor force will reach 10.1 million
• 7.3 million are taking adult education classes
• 1.6 million live in nursing homes
• Charlotte County, Fl has the highest percentage of 65+ at 31.2%