By Rick Banas of assisted living provider BMA Management, Ltd.
The coolest things in the world are happening in the world of technology, and they will impact the lives of seniors as well as senior and assisted living communities. You can argue about whether it will happen in three months, six months, a year or five years, but what is happening in technology will have a major impact.
Jack York delivered this message earlier this month in his keynote address at the 2012 Senior Living Conference hosted by the Life Services Network (LSN). Jack is the Co-Founder and President of It’s Never Too Late (iN2L), a company dedicated to empowering lives through technology. LSN is a statewide association that has represented leading providers of older adult services, including senior living, assisted living and supportive living communities, for more than 75 years.
It is so remarkable that you can sit a 92-year-old down in front of a computer, pull up Google Maps, and zoom in on the farm the person grew up on, York said. He showed a video of an older adult who said her one goal in learning how to use a computer was just to learn how to send e-mails. She found many other benefits. She found out how yogurt is made and did research on the figure that sits atop the dome of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The older adult in the video explained that if she were to visit Washington, “I could not see the figure on top” because of her eyesight. Using a computer, she found a picture of the dome and was able to enlarge the statue. “It is the most incredibly overdressed female,” she says. Ironically, the statue is titled freedom, but “she could not move with all those clothes on.”
Some of the remarkable advancements in technology that Jack cited include:
Tabletop technology that enables a person to do surface computing on a countertop, wall, coffee table or kitchen table.
90-inch interactive smart boards and touch screens that you can use to Skype. A grandmother can be playing games with a granddaughter who lives miles away. They can share pictures and share videos.
A night light toilet seat that is red when the toilet seat is up and green when the seat is down.
A tattoo that is a cell phone.
GPS shoes that have built-in sensors that keep track of where someone is.
An electronic compression shirt from Under Armor that monitors a person’s heart rate and the speed at which they are moving.
A device that quadriplegics can wear that walks for them.
A 23-inch HP Touch Smart computer screen and a magnifier in Windows 7 for those with poor vision.
The ability to “visit” and participate in activities at a Senior Center through video conferencing.
The technology is everywhere and becoming available for everyone. It is much less costly and much easier to use. Under Armor is talking about a price of around $30 for the electronic compression shirt; GPS shoes are available for less than $300; and the price tag on the nightlight toilet set is under $20.
Seniors who are isolated and homebound can benefit, and there are some pretty simple things that senior living and assisted living communities can do to transform the lives of residents and their families.
When it comes to seniors, most of the innovations are not coming from the Information Technology people, Jack said. They are coming from the people who are delivering the care.
How do you see technology impacting the lives of seniors and their families? How do you see it impacting senior living and assisted living communities?
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let us know.
“BMA Management is the leading provider of affordable assisted living in Illinois and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”
By Rick Banas of assisted living provider BMA Management, Ltd.
How fast can you recite your ABCs. I’m not talking about the traditional way, starting with A, and then B, and then C and working your way through LMNOP to the letter Z. I am talking backwards, going from Z to A.
Would the letters glide off your tongue as easily for you as they do for Joe Hunter?
Joe is resident in assisted living at Bridle Brook of Mahomet, a community that BMA manages in Champaign County, Illinois.
On Monday, his 85th Birthday, he talked with Bridle Brook staff member Ashley-Jo Hart, about how he learned to say the ABCs backwards and demonstrated his ability to say them with such ease.
Joe also talked with Ashley about five-point stars and the Gettysburg Address. He explained why Betsy Ross used the five-point star when creating the Flag for the United States of America and showed her an easy way to cut a five point start out of a sheet paper. He recited the Gettysburg Address from memory.
We invite you to watch and listen to Joe.
Bridle Brook is an assisted living and memory care community located in Champaign County, Illinois.
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let us know.
“BMA Management is the leading provider of affordable assisted living in Illinois and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”
By Rick Banas of assisted living provider BMA Management, Ltd.
Many older adults use one or more medications.
The medications help them live longer and healthier lives. At the same time, older adults often have greater potential than other age groups to have an adverse reaction to their medications.
The program is designed to train older adults, their loved ones and caregivers on the safe and appropriate use of medications.
Tips for Managing Your Medications
Know your medications – what medications are you taking and for what conditions.
Take your medications exactly as directed.
Continue taking all your medications until your doctor tells you to stop.
Keep a list of your current medications. The list should include prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins and dietary or herbal supplements. Bring an updated list of your medications to all of your doctors’ appointments.
Do not use old or expired medications.
Store your medications in a cool, dry place. Do not store your medications near a stove, in direct sunlight, or in a bathroom.
Store all of your medications in one location.
Use only one pharmacy.
Talk to you doctor or pharmacist before taking any over-the-counter medications.
Read the labels on all of your medications before taking them.
Do not share your medications with other people.
Tips for Adult Children
Adult children should talk with their parents about medications.
What are they taking and for what conditions.
How often do they take their medications.
How do they take them.
Do they feel the medication is working.
Have they fallen more often, been groggy or sleepy, been less hungry since they started taking their medications.
Have they had any problems taking their medications such as forgetting a dose or being unable to tell the pills part. Have they had any annoying side effects.
Do they feel they were given enough information about their medications or instructions for taking their medications.
Watch for Side Effects
Be sure to watch for side effects such as agitation, anxiety, confusion, memory loss, fatigue, decreased sexual desire, depression, weakness, fainting or black outs.
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let us know.
“BMA Management is the leading provider of affordable assisted living in Illinois and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”
By Rick Banas of assisted living provider BMA Management, Ltd.
With September designated as World Alzheimer’s Month, I wanted to share with you highlights of an informational program on the ABCs of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia that was conducted earlier this month at the Heritage Woods affordable assisted living community that BMA manages in Bolingbrook, Illinois.
Dementia is a broad umbrella description used to describe declines in cognitive and intellectual abilities. It includes memory loss, confusion and disorientation.
There are almost 80 different types of dementia.
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia. It is a progressive degenerative disorder that is characterized by an increasing loss of memory and changes in language, personality and the ability to handle activities of daily living.
Increasing age is the most common risk factor for Alzheimer’s. The prevalence among those 65 to 74 years of age is 2% to 4%; among those 75 to 84 years of age, it is 18% to 20%; and among those 85 years of age and older, it is 50%. If you hit 90 years of age, however, the odds of getting Alzheimer’s start going down.
Cognex (tacrine), Aricept (donepezil), Exelon (rivastigmine), Reminyl (galatamine), and Namenda (memantine) are medications currently available for Alzheimer’s. Cognex is one of the very first drugs to be approved for Alzheimer’s and is not being used much anymore. Some of the medications are available by patch.
The purpose of the medications that are currently available to treat Alzheimer’s is to try and slow down the progression of the disease. There isn’t a cure. Patti did note that when Namenda was first released, we put eight residents at Arden Courts on it and four were able to communicate and function better for a period of time. At that time, it was really significant because of the drastic change. Now, however, doctors are prescribing the medication so soon that most families will not see these shifts in ability. She stressed the importance of seeking the counsel of a doctor regard medications.
The signs and symptoms of early stage Alzheimer’s include loss of memory, difficulty following directions, difficulty handling money, difficulty driving a car, changes in mood, poor judgment and poor concentration. People are doing things that are not typical for them. They get lost within a mile of their home. They start drifting when they are driving. They often give away money to anyone and everyone. You’ll see changes in their mood because of the way the disease affects their brain.
For those in the middle stage of Alzheimer’s, memory loss is more severe because there has been more damage to the brain. People will be getting up in the middle of the night thinking they have to go to work. They will not understand what a tool is for, such as a toothbrush being used to brush your teeth. They will get agitated because they can’t make sense of the world around them. People will be wandering possibly because they are in pain, they are looking for something, or they are constipated. They will be rummaging because they no longer have an understanding of mine and yours. If they are hungry but can’t communicate this to anyone, this might trigger inappropriate or harmful behavior.
Late stage Alzheimer’s is probably the hardest stage for families. The person may be unable to communicate or use one word sentences. Immobility is common, and they likely need total assistance with activities of daily living.
Patti provided some helpful advice on handling challenging behaviors:
Introduce yourself by name, and communicate at eye level. Remind the person that “we used to do such and such.” Speak and move slowly. Hand movement or the waving of hands as you talk can be a problem. Use a calm, non-demanding approach. Maintain good eye contact.
Validate the person’s feelings rather than patronizing them and saying everything will be okay.
If they are hallucinating or having delusions, do not tell them that it is just in your mind. To them, it is real. Patti talked about a resident she found sitting with her trench coat on and in tears. She was reliving her Mom’s death and was waiting for the undertaker to arrive. To her, the situation was real.
Understand that the layering or stripping of clothing is common because executive brain functioning and sense of modesty are gone. Patti talked about a person who wrapped a pair of pants over her head, with the pant legs around her neck. She was cold and used the pants as a hat and scarf.
Limit environmental distractions, and simplify the environment because an environment that is over stimulating can cause harmful behaviors. This includes too many bright and bold things and too many things that sparkle. Blinking lights on a Christmas tree, for instance, can be a problem.
Simplify tasks and routines. Give one step directions.
Be patient for responses. If you need to ask a question again, ask it the same way, using the same language.
If the person is not sleeping well at night, keep them active so they are not napping all day long.
Allow adequate rest between stimulating events. This often can be a problem during the holiday season. Someone with Alzheimer’s needs down time.
Patti also provided some tips on what you can do to help maintain a healthy brain and possibly reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease:
Physical Exercise – Physical exercise gets oxygen to your brain. It also helps you keep your muscles strong, which can help reduce your risk of falling and hitting your head. Show up for the exercise classes that are available at Heritage Woods, Patti told the residents who were in attendance at the program she was conducting.
Mental Exercise – The more you work your brain, the better it will function. Be sure to try new things. For instance, Patti told the residents of Heritage Woods, be sure to take advantage of the Dakim computerized brain fitness program that is available at Heritage Woods.
Get adequate sleep. Your brain needs time to rest.
Maintain a low stress level as stress is a factor that can feed into dementia.
Maintain normal blood pressure.
Eat a brain healthy diet. If it is good for your heart, it is good for your brain.
Protect yourself from head injuries. Wear a seat belt when driving or riding in a car and a helmet when riding a bicycle. Take steps necessary to maintain or improve your balance so you do not fall needlessly. If you feel wobbly, don’t ignore it. Seek help.
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let us know.
“BMA Management is the leading provider of affordable assisted living in Illinois and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”
By Rick Banas of assisted living provider BMA Management, Ltd.
Did you know that two of the three members of the “Holy Trinity of Singing Cowboys” had connections to Chicago?
I didn’t until I had the opportunity to attend the “Songs of the Singing Cowboys” performance by Rick Pickren last week at our Heritage Woods affordable assisted living community is Batavia, Illinois. He also has performed at other Heritage Woods communities.
He portrayed the role of Jim in the original Chicago production of Pump Boys and Dinettes.
About Rick’s “Songs of the Singing Cowboys” Performance
Rick combines performing the songs of the singing cowboys using guitar, harmonica and vocals with telling stories and talking history.
Here is some of what I learned:
“Home on the Range” is the official state song of Kansas. We have an official state song here in Illinois. It’s called “Illinois.”
The song “Oh My Darling, Clementine” is from the Gold Rush of 1849.
Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and Tex Ritter make up what Rick calls the “Holy Trinity” of the Singing Cowboys.
Before saddling up and heading out to California where he became a famous movie cowboy, Gene Autry came to Chicago and joined the WLS National Barn Dance radio show. The Barn Dance was performed at the 8th Street Theatre twice on Saturday nights in front of a live audience. (In case you didn’t know, WLS was started by Sears Roebuck and the call letters stand for “World’s Largest Store,”).
The first movie that Roy Rogers was in was a Gene Autry film. Roy played a villain. His band, the Sons of the Pioneers, played stage coach robbers.
Tex Ritter was the only member of the “Holy Trinity” to win an Academy Award. He won the Oscar for singing the title track to the movie “High Noon.” The father of actor John Ritter was just about to start classes at Northwestern Law School when he received a telegram about a small role in a folk musical in New York. He took the part and the show ran for nine months.
Among the songs that Rick performed were “Back in the Saddle Again,” “Red River Valley,” “Tumbling Tumbleweeds,” “Don’t Fence Me In,” and “My Rifle, My Pony and Me,” a song performed by Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson in the John Wayne movie “Rio Bravo.”
If you ever get the chance to see Rick perform, I would recommend you take advantage of the opportunity.
Thought you might enjoy seeing Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson perform “My Rifle, My Pony and Me” in Rio Bravo.
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let us know.
“BMA Management is the leading provider of affordable assisted living in Illinois and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”
It is so remarkable that you can sit a 92-year-old down in front of a computer, pull up Google Maps, and zoom in on the farm the person grew up on, York said. He showed a video of an older adult who said her one goal in learning how to use a computer was just to learn how to send e-mails. She found many other benefits. She found out how yogurt is made and did research on the figure that sits atop the dome of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The older adult in the video explained that if she were to visit Washington, “I could not see the figure on top” because of her eyesight. Using a computer, she found a picture of the dome and was able to enlarge the statue. “It is the most incredibly overdressed female,” she says. Ironically, the statue is titled freedom, but “she could not move with all those clothes on.”
On Monday, his 85th Birthday, he talked with Bridle Brook staff member Ashley-Jo Hart, about how he learned to say the ABCs backwards and demonstrated his ability to say them with such ease.
Many older adults use one or more medications. 
With September designated as 
Mental Exercise – The more you work your brain, the better it will function. Be sure to try new things. For instance, Patti told the residents of Heritage Woods, be sure to take advantage of the 
Did you know that two of the three members of the “Holy Trinity of Singing Cowboys” had connections to Chicago?
