Aging Institute Reveals 2010 Trends

"Our older adult population continues to expand as each year passes, so more focus is being placed on ways to live a longer, healthier life," said Linda Hollinger Smith, PhD., Vice President, Mather LifeWays Institute On Aging "Progress on extending human life, either through genetic research or living a healthier lifestyle, will be one the top trends older Americans will witness next year."

Hollinger-Smith said that in 2010, not only will there be more Americans over the age of 65, but the number of those 85 and older will increase as well. "A decade ago, reaching the age of 85 was considered very old. Now it's more the norm. Next year, 14.4 percent of the age 65+ population -- 5.7 million individuals -- will be over age 85," explained Hollinger-Smith.

Among the top 2010 trends identified by MLIA are:

1. Scientific breakthroughs will demonstrate that healthy lifestyles can actually repair DNA by boosting a key enzyme, telomerase, that is vital for improving the body's immune responses and may even increase longevity.

2. The movement to age at home or more homelike environments for older adults living in long-term care communities will grow. Programs will provide care, support individuality, and promote safety in residential environments.

3. Improvements in health care will lead to ever slowing rates of aging, increasing the number of adults who will reach the age of 100.

4. There will be an increased focus on positivity and its impact on happiness, health and longevity for older adults.
5. More emphasis will be placed on individual patient care through hi-tech advances in development of uniform electronic medical records. Doctors & health care professionals will be in a better position to understand treatment options resulting in significant improved care.*

6. The use of technology among older adults will grow exponentially - whether this means surfing the Internet, joining social networks such as Facebook, or using technologic devices in the home to monitor their health as well as promote independence and safety.

7. Progress on extending human life will be a growing focus of researchers, as we learn more about how substances in our foods - such as resveratrol, found in the skin of red grapes and in several other plants - may protect us from some life-shortening diseases such as diabetes.

8. Older adults will play an increasingly important role in "helping the Earth age well", by working in green jobs, volunteering, gardening, and teaching others about how to help the environment.

9. Significant advanced in treatments for diseases including cancer will occur through genetic research efforts that are preventing DNA mutations.

10. Greater numbers of older adults will use the Internet to learn about their health. Health professionals will need to incorporate web-based health resources into their patients' visits to assure that accurate websites are being sought out.

11. Senior living residences will also make "healthy living" a priority as future prospects will be looking towards a variety of programs and amenities that support wellness lifestyles at home and at residences.

"The ability to live a longer, healthier life will depend on the right combination of lifestyle choices, technology advances and medical breakthroughs," concluded Hollinger-Smith. "It's something we call Aging Well, and the chances of that happening will continue to expand in 2010 and beyond.
Reprinted by permission of: Stuart Greenblatt, Mather LifeWays, (847) 492.7434

Where are you,your family member going to live as they age?
AGING TRENDS SUGGEST YOU MAP OUT STRATGIES TO AGE WELL AT HOME

Dr. Fix-It Can Help
• Most people want to age and stay in their own home for as long as possible
• They feel more comfortable, safe, and secure at “HOME SWEET, HOME
• Dr. Fix-It offers services and products that allow independent living
• Design build and universal design environments for baby boomers
• Creative & cost effective solutions to improve quality of life for existing older clients living at home
• Staying at home clients receive community based care with doctors and providers who know their history and needs
• One of our primary goals is to enable your clients to avoid the high cost of institutional placement
• DR. FIX-IT in conjunction with your financial plan and health care providers can facilitate clients living, enjoying, and staying at home

* Edits from Bob Bakst bobbakst@msn.com 781-598-5437 www.drfix-it.net

Ways We Assist Seniors to Stay at Home

We recently provided a client with Parkinson's Disease & MS, a more functional kitchen.

To be able to remain in their home, despite the challenges of aging and disabilities, many are making modifications to their homes in order to stay there. That's the question many older people ponder as they move into their 70s and beyond.

As we age, the day-to-day challenges of getting around will most likely increase, whether for basic things such as turning a doorknob or more complex tasks such as taking a shower or climbing a stairway. Often, people wait until a stroke, heart attack, hip replacement or other crisis before thinking about housing adjustments.

Such hasty decisions can end up being unattractive and costly.

Older people are settling on staying put, according to a recent survey by the Home Safety Council, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing home-related injuries. Positive aging at home is about independence, dignity and control. Proper Aging in Place planning enables you to move around and get out of the house on the day you feel the very worst.

Aging in Place is all about Senior Citizen empowerment. It's about no limits and no barriers. It's about nursing home diversion, fall control, and community based care. The fact is more and more people want to live as long as they can in their home with familiar surroundings- where they are comfortable, secure, and have peace of mind.

Staying put makes economic sense. It is not only more comfortable to live out your life in your own home, it's much more affordable. In order to have your home age safely with you, you need professionals to make a Home Safety Functioning Assessment. This plan will show you how to live safely, prevent falls, and add convenience features so that you fully enjoy your home. Bob Bakst can be reached at 781-598-5437 or www.drfix-it.net.

Smart Bathrooms part one Showers

Are you thinking of renovating or remodeling your tired bathroom? If so here are some ideas to think about before you do your project. Boomers, families with young children, and Seniors should consider elements of Universal design in their new bathroom. It not only yields very beautiful results, but is very practical. It will give you ample circulation space, organization, convenience and other design essentials for your needs and style.
No-curb or low-curb showers are a design highlight in bathrooms today. The floors are slightly sloped to the drain and present no tripping obstacles and can be entered on wheels. A built in bench or folding seat, a handheld shower spray on a vertical slide bar, integrated soap compartments, and well placed grab bars make a shower safe, and luxurious washing place. Here, as elsewhere in the bathroom, pressure-balancing valves keep hot water temperatures safe, and nonskid flooring prevents slips. At Dr. Fix-It we know how to design and build safe, sumptuous bathrooms. We have built and designed over three hundred. Visit us at www.Dr.Fix-It.net to see our work and to contact us. We are reliable, dependable and get the job done to your satisfaction. Call 781-598-5437 for more information.

Fall Prevention and installion of Grab bars

Fall prevention is so important to the healthy lives of those over 65. One in three older adults fall in the US each year. Out of those three, one of them will fall again within six months. Every 18 seconds an older adult gets treated in the emergency room due to a fall and every 35 minutes someone dies as a result of their injury.

At Dr. Fix-It we understand the importance of safety and preventing falls in the home. Preventing and protecting yourself against a fall is important to maintain a healthy and independent lifestyle. Grab bars are a must. They come in all sizes and shapes, they don't need to look institutional at all. By having grab bars it will allow for easy maneuverability and give safety to people of all ages.

Grab bars are very important in the bathroom to help get in and out of the bath or shower to prevent slipping. Having a grab bar vertically on the outside of the shower helps to get into the shower and having horizontal and vertical grab bars in the tub are most important. They are also useful by the toilet for easy access. Having a railing system in hallways are helpful if walking or dizziness is a problem. Grab bars are also helpful at the top of a staircase.

Grab bars are safety supports only if they are installed accurately, at the correct height and into the proper structural elements to provide maximum safety. They are designed to bear the entire weight of the person. They offer stability in the home.

Visit http://www.DrFix-It.net for additional information and talk to a Certified Aging in Place Specialist