“In an aging population, no one knows what they are going to face. But we all know that as we grow older, we can’t do what we used to do.” – Rick Watson
A few weeks ago, I had the distinct pleasure of speaking with Rick Watson. Rick is the Vice President of Italbec US, one of the world leaders in high-end natural stone and design. His current projects are the W Hotel in South Beach and Four Seasons Palm Beach.
While that’s Watson’s day job, his passion is “aging in place” design. “I’m on a mission to improve education about what’s needed, taking the stigma out of preparing your home for getting older, and teaching consumers how to make aging in place beautiful and practical,” he explains. “It’s so much a passion that I almost forget it’s a business. It’s more like what life is about and what we do every day is a part of that.”
An architect who has worked in interior design for the past 20+ years, Watson’s love of improving “aging in place” design originated with a unique project in Israel. A client approached him with a request to design a facility for the 55+ community. His assignment: The facility should meet the needs of residents ages 55 and up, whatever and whenever those needs may be, and no matter how that aging process might look. Watson eagerly accepted the challenge; he wanted to understand design and aging from a different perspective.
He knew how important it was for the facility to be attractive without having an institutional feel.Furthermore, the facility had to be safe, convenient, and helpful to an aging population (who will, as mentioned above, have varying needs at varying times during their stay). Of course, typically, “safe, convenient and helpful” design had been unattractive, he thought. Think about hospital design –- sterile and functional perhaps, but not exactly warm and inviting. So the challenge for Watson was this: creating a facility that looked like a Ritz-Carlton with all the necessities for aging gracefully, i.e. lighting, grab bars, and non-slip surfaces.
There were two key highlights to this project, he says. First, the facility towered above a shopping mall and was also attached to the largest hospital in Tel Aviv. If residents have health issues, there is a clinic on site, along with assisted living, skilled nursing, and hospice services.
Second, with safety being of the utmost importance in Israel, that was another important consideration in building and designing an aging-friendly community there. Within 20-30 yards of the facility, you could be safe from any type of violent attacks, but the facility still looked like a high-end hotel with marble floors, rugs, chandeliers, and more. This type of design is rather unusual in Israel as most buildings are designed in a contemporary, old-World style, he says.
The project in Israel was an enormous success. After returning to the U.S., Watson duplicated the process in Fort Lauderdale (minus the attached shopping center and hospital). This led he and his business partner Jill (a certified Aging-in-Place specialist) to begin to look at all the ways to address an “aging in place” population.
They quickly realized they had to start with terminology. “Aging in place” has somewhat of a negative connotation, he points out, and it doesn’t truly apply because “everyone is aging in place.” The team decided to make it the positive experience it really is. “We founded our endeavors on making that a reality. We’re all going to age…why not make it enjoyable and entertaining?”
To do that successfully, it’s all about creating a conversation, says Watson. “It’s like anticipating a vacation. The anticipation is magnificent, but the actual vacation sometimes doesn’t work out so well. Most of us are both excited and afraid about aging, which creates a real opportunity for the conversation to take place.”
For Watson, “aging in place” design is personal. His mother will be 84 this year. She has lived alone for 23 of those years and has always been independent and healthy -– and thankfully, she still is.But let’s go back to the opening quote for a moment: as we age, there are things that we just cannot do the way we did at say 10 or 20. So when Watson’s mother had a fall, the siblings expressed the inevitable: “Oh no, what should we do” to which Watson supplied a hearty “She’s fine!” Rick says she was most upset because she couldn’t get her hair fixed for a week or so during the recovery.
Clearly, Rick’s mission for the education and execution of “aging in place” design is rooted in his personal experiences and understanding of the aging process as a natural part of life. His work is shaped by this goal: Since we are all aging in place, let’s make this experience something positive, not detrimental. Let’s make living alone both safe and functional for those who have various (and often unpredictable) needs as they age, and let’s address that beautifully, with architecture and with interior design.
I couldn’t agree more.
- Michelle Seitzer
How have you modified your home for an aging parent or to meet your changing health needs? Share your story here!
It’s Blog Carnival time again, this time over at SandwichInk.com. You won’t want to miss the informative posts this time around. Just consider these topics:
How to save for retirement during the economic crisis
The truth about organic produce
How sandwiched boomers can stay positive
Alzheimer’s disease take the national stage
We don’t want to give it all away here. Be sure to check out the Boomers and Seniors Carnival, and leave a comment about your favorite post, or what you’d like to learn more about. And, to enter your blog post in a future Carnival to be hosted here at SeniorsforLiving.com on June 9th), click here!
Staying safe is a worthy goal for people of all ages, but we all know that seniors are often targeted for their perceived vulnerability. I say “perceived” because many older people are less fearful of things that go bump in the night than their younger counterparts, and many of them would strongly defend themselves in a scary situation, rather than cower in fear.
Several elderly women I know have each shared their own stories to confirm this: one of them told me a burglar had entered her house and she wasn’t the least bit afraid. She came after him with a frying pan, or a baseball bat… honestly, I can’t quite remember what the object was in the story because I was just so darn impressed that she confronted him and told him to get lost. And you know what? He did get lost –- he left her home, and as far as I know, he never returned again.
In another case, my neighbor had stopped by to drop off my spare house keys after walking my dogs for me on a night I was getting home late from work. I asked her if my husband could walk her home and she refused, saying, “I’m a tough old bird. If someone tried to mess with me, he’d be sorry.”
Maybe you know a senior like these women who just aren’t afraid of becoming crime victims. But whether or not they’re brave does not matter to the person(s) committing the crime. Whether you are talking about burglary, rape or even something as subtle as fleecing or fraud, there is a tendency for criminals to view the elderly as an easy target. And, in today’s mess of an economy, more people are strapped for cash and seeking desperate measures, which means that maybe the neighbor down the street, who never so much as waved or said “good morning” before, is taking a new interest in old Mrs. Smith, who lives alone and is known to have money stored under her mattress.
This post isn’t meant to cause fear or panic, but as with so many things, education and awareness can make the difference in a difficult situation. Know what to do (or not do) when you’re parking your car in a lot that’s quite a distance from your destination. Learn how to see the signs that you are being swindled or cheated out of money. Recognize that if you live alone, there are a number of things you can do to give the appearance that someone else is there, which may discourage a burglar.
It’s no fun to live in fear, but in this case, ignorance is not bliss. Be aware of your surroundings, and like my friend with the frying pan, be ready to protect yourself. Read the tips on the Sarasota County Sheriff’s office website – even though they are marked as “crime prevention tips for seniors,” these guidelines are useful for people of any age.
By now, I’m sure many of you have hear of 47-year-old Susan Boyle, the Generation Jones, or Baby Boomer member who blew away the notoriously cranky Simon Cowell and the other judges on the TV show Britain’s Got Talent with her performance of “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables.
While Susan is certainly not a senior citizen, it’s obvious that before she sang, she was being judged on not only her looks, but her age. As I’ve said before, I enjoy stories about people doing things that they are thought too old to do, like college basketball player Ken Mink.
When Simon asked her age, he rolled his eyes when she said she was 47. So many of these talent and reality shows are based on the young and beautiful, it makes you wonder how regular people get a chance to shine, but I’m glad Susan did, and she showed us how it’s never too late to pursue your dreams.
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by a blow to the head or other head injury that disrupts the function of the brain. Not all blows or jolts to the head cause a TBI. Severity may range from “mild” (a brief change in mental status or consciousness) to “severe” (an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia). In the United States, falls are the leading cause of TBI.
Fall risk increases with age and is often caused by environmental hazards in the home. Other risk factors for falls are medication, other medical conditions, visual impairments, orthopedic problems, lack of exercise, and improper footwear.
Symptoms of TBI may be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the extent of damage to the brain and some symptoms are evident immediately, while others may not surface until several days or weeks later.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke:
A person with a mild TBI may remain conscious or may experience a loss of consciousness for a few seconds or minutes. Other symptoms of mild TBI include headache, confusion, lightheadedness, dizziness, blurred vision or tired eyes, ringing in the ears, bad taste in the mouth, fatigue or lethargy, a change in sleep patterns, behavioral or mood changes, and trouble with memory, concentration, attention, or thinking.
A person with a moderate or severe TBI may show these same symptoms, but may also have a headache that gets worse or does not go away, repeated vomiting or nausea, convulsions or seizures, an inability to awaken from sleep, dilation of one or both pupils of the eyes, slurred speech, weakness or numbness in the extremities, loss of coordination, and increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation.
Signs and symptoms of head injury in seniors may be mistaken for signs of aging or even other medical conditions, and it’s important to know what to look for. The best cure for head injury is prevention, and older people especially should actively minimize risks of falling. Should a fall occur, immediate medical attention should be sought, including screening for TBI.
Ready for some good news? A new study has found a simple way to stay and feel young at heart — just get involved with helping young people. At least that’s the case with the older adults taking part in The Experience Corps, an award-winning national program that utilizes seniors to tutor children in inner-city communities in 23 cities across the United States. The 2,000 Experience Corps members tutor and mentor, providing literacy coaching, homework help, consistent role models and committed, caring attention.
Compared with adults of similar age, demographics and volunteer history, Experience Corps tutors reported improvements in mental health and physical functioning (including mobility, stamina and flexibility) and maintained overall health longer. In addition, Experience Corps members reported more physical activity, larger social networks and higher self-esteem as a result of their participation.
Over a single school year, students with Experience Corps tutors made over 60 percent more progress in learning two critical reading skills – sounding out new words and reading comprehension – than similar students not served by the program.
I love this whole concept. My dad will be 77 this year and he teaches high school full-time. It was a second career for him after 35 years in retail. Though his degree isn’t in education, he was hired largely on the basis of his experience, both professional and life. His job has brought countless benefits to him and he was so fortunate that someone valued his experience at the right time and place.
Find out more about the Experience Corps program through this video:
“Older Americans have carried our Nation through great challenges and triumphs. They have enriched our national character and strengthened the Republic for those who have followed. During the month of May, we pay tribute to the wisest among us.”
Established in 1963 by President John F. Kennedy, Older Americans Month (initially called “Senior Citizens Month” before President Jimmy Carter changed the name) is an annual tradition sponsored by the Administration on Aging (AoA).This year, the theme of “Living Today for a Better Tomorrow” highlights the importance of prevention efforts and programs for older Americans.Chronic disease, disability and injury plague our nation’s elders; therefore, the national network of aging services and other community providers must include a focus on prevention in the programs/services they offer. Across the country, area agencies on aging and other aging service providers will participate in a number of activities (community events, fairs, ceremonies, etc.) during the month of May to honor those in the 65+ bracket.
When JFK designated May as Senior Citizens Month,” about 1/3 of older Americans were living in poverty. Few programs were available to meet their needs, and senior issues were moving up on the national agenda and onto the public’s radar screen, hence the dedication of an entire month for a national focus on these challenges. Now, although there is still much work to be done in terms of strengthening programs/services, raising awareness, and defying myths/stereotypes, aging is a hot topic. You can’t go very far without hearing about some issue that relates to seniors. Even aging-related terms have become a part of our day-to-day vocabulary (i.e. sandwich generation, aging in place, caregiver burnout, etc.).
It is truly amazing to think about how fast our country has “grayed.” When Older Americans Month was established in 1963, there were a mere 17 million Americans who were over 65. I say “mere” because the most recent estimate (from 2006) indicated that 37.3 million Americans – that’s about 12.4% of the population, or 1 in 8 persons – had blown out 65 candles on their birthday. But wait, there’s more! By 2030, there will be 71.5 million older citizens, representing 20% of the population (for more aging statistics, http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Aging_Statistics/index.aspx). Wow!
I recently attended a meeting of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Elder Law Section, where the state Secretary of Aging, Mike Hall, gave a presentation on the status of aging affairs in the Commonwealth. He spoke about the challenge of rebalancing the state’s long-term care system to include more equal funding for home & community-based services and skilled nursing care. According to Hall, achieving this balance is a huge paradigm shift just by nature of the aging demographic explosion (thanks to increased longevity). Toward this end, Hall shared that when he started working in the aging services network about 30 years ago, most nursing home residents were about 60 years old.
These days, with 60 being the new 50, it’s hard to imagine someone at that age needing skilled care. Most nursing home residents in the year 2009 are in their eighties or beyond. Hall also made the point that just a few decades ago, it was quite uncommon to hear about centenarians. But now, Willard Scott can barely fit all the 100+ birthdays into his short time slot on the Today Show.
America is aging rapidly, and it’s going to take more than one month of every year to solve the problems and celebrate the successes of this gold & silver generation. Let’s get to work!
Visit www.aoa.gov for more information on Older Americans Month, and be sure to celebrate the elders in your life year-round.
Welcome to the May 13, 2009 edition of Boomers and Seniors – News You Can Use. From Swine Flu prevention and life insurance scams to mobility issues and how to make a senior smile, this edition is jam-packed with useful information for boomers and seniors alike.
When Kaye Swain’s Dad had to give up his rolling walker for a wheelchair, she became aware of a lot of new things. Read along as she shares her tips in Wheelchair Needs For Caregivers: Inches and Ramps posted at SandwichINK.com. “I discovered some new needs and some great links you may find useful if you need wheelchair ramps for aging parents.”
Catherine VanWetter offers an interesting post on The Power of Words and Thoughts at her To The Heart of the Matter blog. “It is important to watch the words that you use and the thoughts that may be ruminating around in your head,” she says. “This article provides helpful tips to become aware of your words.” And that is something that caregivers especially need to be aware of!
Financial Issues
SeniorsForLiving looks at an issue that our struggling economy has brought to the forefront: Affording Health Care in Retirement. Find out why it has become more important than ever to save for future medical costs.
“You are being foolish by not having Life Insurance to cover your dependents in the eventuality of your untimely death,” says Jim DeSantis. But at the same time, he warns, don’t let smooth-talking agents talk you into coverage you don’t need. Learn more in his post 3 Major Ways Your Life Insurance Company May Be Scamming You at On Line Tribune | Health.
The latest nutrition culprit all over the media is sodium. And with good reason! That’s why Maxx’s post on How To Cut Back On Your Sodium Intake posted at How To Maximize Your Health And Fitness is such an important read. “Have you recently been told by your doctor that you had to go on a low-sodium diet? You are probably finding this to be quite difficult as you discover that sodium seems to be everywhere,” says Maxx. Get his tips.
“It seems every week brings a new barrage of articles and studies which often contradict what you read the month before: Does Gingko Biloba help delay Alzheimer’s Disease? Can physical exercise help you stay sharp as you age? Which computer-based brain fitness programs, if any, are worth your money?” questions Alvaro Fernandez. Learn about a new resource to help guide you on these topics and more in Maintain Your Brain and Stay Sharp: An Upcoming Guide and Resource posted at SharpBrains.
Roy Schwartz tackles one of themost frightening health concerns among boomers and seniors today in his post Chest Pain – Is It a Heart Attack?. Check out this serious read on the Disease A Day blog.
As you age, you may have to modify your exercise regimen. Along those lines, Joe E presents Got Joint Soreness?…Walking can be as Effective as Jogging at the Promote Health blog. “In some cases, you can burn nearly as many calories by walking than you can jogging over the same period of time,” he explains. Learn how…
That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of Boomers & Seniors: News You Can Use using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page. The next edition will be hosted at SandwichINK.com on May 27th. The deadline for submission is May 21st. Join us!
“Currently, about 40 million Americans have Medicare insurance, according to medicare.gov.”
An article in The New York Times documents a disturbing new trend: As millions of baby boomers become eligible for Medicare in the coming years, more doctors are opting out of the insurance system and turning away patients with Medicare coverage.
Citing low reimbursement rates and too much paperwork, internists, gynecologists, and other specialists are shifting the cost burden to the patient. These doctors can charge whatever they want, but they cannot bill Medicare (nor can the patient) for reimbursement for their services.
Another concurrent trend creates further complications: If you’re looking for an internist (a primary care doctor who treats adults) who accepts Medicare, the challenge is even greater. According to the New York-Presbyterian Hospital’s website, “only 37 percent of the hospital’s 93 affiliated internists accept Medicare.”
Julie Connelly, the article’s author, advises those approaching the age of eligibility to get a head start on things. Patients should talk to their current doctor about keeping them on their service after their 65th birthday, even if that doctor does not accept Medicare.
And if you can’t find a doctor who accepts Medicare? Don’t give up. Ask about signing a private contract that “stipulates the patient will be responsible for paying the doctor’s fees.”Be sure the contract lists exactly what those fees are and what they cover. Connelly says some doctors may be willing to negotiate and tailor prices to what patients can afford.
There are other options too, one being utilizing the increasingly popular, stand-alone urgent care centers. Currently, there are 18,000 of these centers in the U.S., and nearly all of them accept Medicare. Boutique or concierge care is also an option, albeit a more costly one.
Yet another sign of the times, the amplified need for more doctors to participate with Medicare lends itself to the creation of these niche operations like urgent care or concierge care. I’m sure there are pros and cons to both care settings (urgent/concierge vs. primary care), but it might be too early to say at the moment which is best. I do know for sure that a lot of baby boomers will need a lot of care in the coming years, and our health care system probably needs to change to meet those needs.
What are your thoughts about the ever-changing health care environment?Have you heard stories about patients with Medicare being turned away or being forced to pay higher costs?Tell us all about it!
Maria Shriver. Newt Gingrich. Sandra Day O’Connor. These high-profile advocates testified before the Senate Special Committee on Aging on Wednesday, March 25th with one common goal: Congress must act now to address the public health crisis of Alzheimer’s. And for a disease as devastating (and with effects as far-reaching) as Alzheimer’s, it will take more than just the efforts of Congress and all the high-profile leaders in the country to do it. Shriver, Gingrich, O’Connor and a number of other testifiers confirmed that that reality as they spoke to the Committee.
On that morning, the Senate Dirksen hearing room was filled not only with members of the press wanting to catch a glimpse or get a quote from Shriver or Gingrich, but also with a strong contingent of Alzheimer’s Association staff and volunteers donning purple sashes and armed with data from the Association’s newly released (as of March 24th) Facts & Figures report. This grassroots network had also been inspired and empowered by educational sessions at the two-day Public Policy Forum (sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association) that preceded this Senate hearing, and everyone in the room was exhilirated by the passion and commitment set forth by Shriver and her colleagues on the Alzheimer’s Study Group (ASG, a high-level, bi-partisan task force co-chaired by Gingrich and former Senator Bob Kerrey from Nebraska).
Shriver shared her personal experience with Alzheimer’s in the shape of her father, Sargent Shriver, who is still battling the disease at age 93 (diagnosed in 2003). Recommendations laid out by the ASG were shared by Gingrich, Kerrey and O’Connor, and included the need for public-private partnerships and better coordinated care for those with Alzheimer’s.
During the hearing, hundreds of Alzheimer advocates met with their individual members of Congress, seeking their support on three priority policy issues. It was truly a banner week in terms of awareness, media coverage, and attention from legislators and the public on all things Alzheimer’s; I was thrilled to be right in the middle of it all, thanks to my position as an Alzheimer’s Association staff member.
I was inspired by Maria Shriver, but I also found great inspiration in mentoring first-time advocate attendees from my home state of Pennsylvania – many of whom had never before made a legislative visit. Although exhausting, it was a phenomenal three days, and I returned from our nation’s capital invigorated and ready to take the Alzheimer cause to the next level.
For a compilation of the week’s events (including a link to the Facts & Figures report, Forum photos, and a webcast of the Senate hearing), visit www.alz.org. To find out more about Alzheimer’s Care options near you, click into our Alzheimer’s Care portal.
A few weeks ago, I had the distinct pleasure of speaking with Rick Watson. Rick is the Vice President of Italbec US, one of the world leaders in high-end natural stone and design. His current projects are the W Hotel in South Beach and Four Seasons Palm Beach. 
