Compared to the 10 percent of aging boomers who lived alone in the 1950s, today a third of older Americans are living by themselves. The reasons maybe for demographic or personal as well, more people are financially able to live alone as the age now.

People are living healthier lifestyles now which as decreased the disability rates. Advancements in medical science has also had a large part in keeping people active longer. Both of these have help older boomers to keep working longer as well, which in turn has lowered the poverty rates experienced in years past, forcing many senior citizens to move in with their children in the years past.

Aging alone is more common for older Baby Boomers. The ability to live alone is a way for older boomers to maintain their independence and identity, according to the paper. It also doesn’t necessarily mean being lonesome. On average single Baby Boomers are spending their time with friends and neighbors, staying active. They are able to stay active and social today, unlike generations before, because they are healthier.

According to a recent study, one third of Baby Boomers that are single have never married. Ten percent of Baby Boomers are alone due to a spouses death and divorce rates have increased in the over 65 age group.

While all this sounds good, there is also a side to this situation that should cause us concern. If dramatic cutbacks are made to entitlement programs, such as Social Security, the number of Americans who can afford domestic independence will decrease too. Seeing this fortune in reverse could be sped up with an increase in bankruptcies with more credit card debt and student loan debts.

Experts are concerned about the logistics as well. They feel that this country isn’t set up for proper housing for the older single person. Most are going to want to have their own, private apartment with convenience to services and support. While the more well off older Americans will have this in assisted living facilities, for many other senior Americans, it won’t be affordable.

By 2030, the number of Americans over the age of 65 will have doubled while the number of Americans over the age of 85 will almost triple. Experts are concerned about the strain this will put on Medicare and Social Security if a fix isn’t put in place soon.

With these staggering numbers and facts, it is possible that we will see a repeat in history – more senior citizens moving in with their adult kids.

Are you concerned about your elderly loved one’s future living arrangements and not sure where to turn to for help? Give us a call at Oxford Healthcare. Oxford Healthcare. Caring for you at home.

Our senior citizens are vulnerable in so many ways and with these findings, we are definitely have failed at taking care of them. Our call to action is to make certain that no senior citizen should go hungry in this country. The elderly do not have the resources or ability to modify the circumstances they have been left with, there fore it should be our duty to give them the special attention needed to correct this situation.

The elderly who live in the South and Southwest, ages 60 to 69 and those over age 75, minorities, disabled, divorced or separated are shown to be at the highest risk. In 2007, forty-four of the states had seniors that were facing the threat of hunger. Women, African-Americans and Hispanics are more likely to face hunger.

Reports from a one year study have shown that elderly citizens living with a grandchild, over 30 percent faced a threat of hunger. This is larger population than household that had no grandchildren living with them.

Hunger among our citizens, especially senior citizen, is a strong indicator the America’s economic challenges. Along with food insecurity, other issues come too such as poor health due to reduced nutrition. When the elderly don’t eat, they don’t feel up to daily activities either. The fear of many experts is the increase in elderly citizens hunger will extend to more health and nutritional challenges for this country.

If you suspect an elderly loved one in your family, or neighborhood, are going hungry, offer your assistance. If you aren’t comfortable or unable to help, give us a call at Oxford Healthcare, we have resources to recommend. Oxford Healthcare. Caring for you at home.

The study reported that on average, the men were five years older than their wives. As such, age-related physical problems often prevented the men from being able to care for the women at home. Up to the age of 85 years old and older, ill health increased with age for both men and women, but men were the sicker partner in most cases. As such, 40 percent and higher of the women in the study were more likely to be admitted to a nursing home.

So how do you know when it’s time to put a spouse in a home? Is there a minimum age requirement?
Is there a level of care requirement they must be at before they can be admitted in to a nursing home?
Nursing homes vary on their requirements and standards that patients are accepted. These are the first things you find out when you start looking at nursing homes, asking them individually their policies. For the most part though, age is not an issue when registering a patient in a nursing home. You will want to schedule a consultation with the loved one and the home. They are the best in determining whether the patient needs nursing home care or if an assisted-living facility would suffice. Each facility is different, but the general rule of thumb is assisted living centers are for those that have trouble living alone or their spouse is not able to care for them as they need to be.

Almost all assisted-living facilities necessitate that patients be able to care for themselves such as bathing, going to the bathroom, dressing and eating. Many may require the patient be able to move about independently, either on their own power or by using a wheelchair. There are assisted living facilities that have staff to render assistance with things like fastening buttons or snaps, while some will assist with showers if needed. There are some facilities that have to staff to assist with cooking, shopping, managing finances, and distributing medications. There are many levels of help and each assisted-living facility is differently equipped.

On the other hand, if your love done needs more extensive hep, a nursing home may be the better choice. Such as taking care of themselves with bathing, eating and taking medication or getting in and out of bed on their own. If you loved one needs assistance with these things and needs to be watched around the clock with every aspect of daily living, a nursing home would be better for them. Perhaps they have Alzheimer and have a tendency to wonder out of the house and get lost. Or they have had some close calls when cooking for themselves and left a pot on the burner or left the oven on.

If you have an elderly couple in your family that may be at the point one of them needs around-the-clock care but you aren’t sure, give us a call at Oxford Health Care. We offer free consultation and will be glad to offer guidance and suggestions to help you make that decision. Oxford Health Care. Caring for you at home.

Record numbers are at their highest of Americans that can’t even afford food. Reports show that over 9 million people age 65 and older don’t have enough money to cover their basic costs. Broken down by gender, the reports indicate that sixty percent of women versus 41 percent of men are unable to pay for necessities of living.

Supported by analysis from the U.S. Census data, all women age 65 and older in the United States, that live alone or with a spouse, are experiencing difficulty covering their expenses each month. Basic needs such as food, housing and health care are a struggle for over 60 percent of them. Everyday essentials such as deciding between having heat during the winter or having food on the table has become more the normal. Senior aged women often make the decision to split their pills in an effort to extend their medication.

Across the country, with the economy as it is currently, there is no State that is a harbor for the senior citizens. All Americans are facing challenges to exist but our elderly face a set of challenges of their own such as rising health care costs and the developing industry of scammers who target the elderly, with women experiencing a harder time of it.

Broke down by race, reports indicate that approximately 49 percent of older white women have trouble covering their basic costs while women of other races, the problem is more pronounced. The rate for older African-American women 74 percent with older Hispanic women 75 percent and older Asian women is at 61 percent. These numbers are more than staggering, it has become an epidemic.

Many experts feel that the earning imbalance today is results of a gender gap where women have traditionally earned less than men. While it varies by industry, the disparity averages out to about 77 cents on the dollar. Within the first year of joining the workforce, college graduates start to experience this pay gap and overtime, it only grows wider. In the end, the consequences are most women have smaller Social Security benefits upon reaching retirement compared to men.

It is difficult to know where to start repairing this situation because the base of where it starts is so varied. However, that does not mean that something can not be done about it, what it does mean though, we need to begin paying attention earlier on, such as in courses selected in high school and college. Once a woman reaches working-age, she should be more attentive to the statistics on divorce and widowhood and not only understand that they are the real possibilities of life, but accept them and be prepared. Women need to prepare for fife events that may lead to taking care of themselves alone in a financial sense.

The recent economy results such as the fall of home equity and the increase of unemployment, has seen more women who retire, more financially challenged than any other generation before. Most experts agree that with the current economic situation today, things are not any better than five years ago, and anticipate things to become worse. So we must ask ourselves, what can be done to fix this situation and turn things around for the future generations?

Although steps could be taken by the federal and state level policies would be a big step, such as pay equity and protect programs such as Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security, we need to begin changes with the younger generation. Such as the career choices that young men and women make and close the gaps at the high school and community colleges levels where students tend to break up into distinct vocational paths that create the pay gap in later years.

Start now for yourself and the generations to follow to make this world better for everyone, especially women. If you have an elderly loved one that is struggling with their basic necessities such as food, healthcare and medication, give us a call at Oxford Healthcare. Oxford Healthcare. Caring for you at home.

This is even more so with volunteers for the preservation of keeping our earthy healthy and green. Volunteers of the green movement are the ones that make our communities, our world as a whole, a better place to live now and into the future. For anyone that a green passion and a desire to develop a new skill, volunteering for activities that raise the awareness and aesthetic values for public spaces and the world at large, is the best a great way to contribute.

Elderly volunteers are the connection between the gray and green and provides a uncommon win-win situation. Studies have found that volunteering lowers the depression of our elderly, especially environmental volunteers. So what is good for the environment is good for us as individuals. especially the elderly. When it comes to our elderly, especially those who retire from busy careers and jobs, are shown to have better health when they keep busy. An increase in time with the outdoors and nature show even more striking health benefits according to results released from a study in 2010 that was conducted over twenty years.

Environmental threats are a major affect on the elderly health overall. Such as a changes in climate, the elderly are much more probable to be affected by temperatures and life-threatening weather events..The elderly are also more defenseless when it comes to environmental menaces such as air pollution and toxic chemicals.

The elderly can also acquire a sense of doing good when they are working to achieve something for the good of future generations such as protecting our environment. No matter their background, race or political views, the elder all care about maintaining the environment for the generations to come. More and more people from their 60s to their 80s and beyond are becoming more involved and working to make our society a sustainable one and to preserve our natural resources. The elderly want to not just leave a legacy to the future generations, but to leave this earth better than when they were here.

If the elderly one in your life has a desire to help and get involved but you don’t know where and how to get hem started, give us a call at Oxford Healthcare. We can help get you connected to organizations that are more than willing to take more volunteers and many have transportation too. Oxford Healthcare. Caring for you at home.

They keep everything, from something as small as paper bags and rubber bands to broken appliances and items that have absolute no value or reuse need such as empty cereal boxes. They even obtain more things at garage sales adding to their collection, even duplicating items they already have . Before long, they are no longer able to move freely amid their possessions, but can’t or won’t give any of it away or dispose of it, they aren’t able to give up any of it.

Hoarders aren’t collecting dolls and stamps. They collect, or hoard, all sorts of objects. An unmatched exception are those who hoard animals, with the most hoard animals being birds, cats and dogs. In their mind they begin to believe that they are the only one that cares for these creatures and nobody else can provide for them. The inclination to hoard these things can grow stronger and become worse, even spinning out of control after the death of their spouse.

As adult children we may not visit their home regularly, having all the holiday and family gatherings at our home. Then one day we have to enter the loved one’s home when they have been been hospitalized or passed away and they find that they have been living with stacks of old clothes, outdated newspapers junk mail and countless brochures, catalogs and sales circulars, all expired. Only then may we discover a side of them we didn’t know.

So what can an adult child do if they have discovered or believe their parent or grandparent is hoarding? The first thing to do is to get inside the home. If you only visit on occasion, or your loved one insists on meeting you somewhere each time, this step can be difficult. You should start making regular visits with an observant eye.

If you do visit regularly, your loved one may be able to kept their hoarding under control and not as easily visible. Whenever you suspect hoarding, address the subject with sensitivity. Don’t be judgmental and call what items you see as clutter or junk. Remember the hoarder considers all of their possessions to be valuable. It’s better to remain neutral while offering to help them organize and dispose of the unnecessary items.

Experts warn that adult children be aware that it is believed that hoarding may be genetic. Too often then, after cleaning out our parents’ home we bring a great deal of it home. We tell ourselves that we are taking it home with us so that we can sort through it all in time, This can be a sign that we are on the edge of hoarding ourselves. As adult children of parents that hoard we need to be aware of this transfer practice. Hoarding is not always with material things, it can include difficulty to process information or ability to focus. Being unable to make decisions when faced with a great deal of information. A hoarder often has trouble with categorizing and ascertain common objects. Everything looks to be unique.

There are various social service agencies to help the elderly that have a hoarding practice. As the adult child you should be aware that bringing that type of assistance into the picture though, there will be a great deal of stress on the hoarder. You as well need to be ready for the consequences as well as how mom, dad or grandma are going to be able to handle an outsider coming into their home and their lives.

You can find help at International OCD Foundation International OCD Foundation as well as a host of other organizations. For more information on getting help for your loved, give us a call at Oxford Healthcare. Oxford Healthcare. Caring for you at home.

For those millions of caregivers, care-giving alone for a loved one can hinder your taking care of yourself and if you still have children at home, along with a spouse, taking care of them as well. In the best interest of those who count on you as well as yourself, obtain assistance from others. You may feel that you are capable of helping and caring for a loved on, yet, often times, we find ourselves ill-equipped and unprepared to handle what can be daunting tasks. The daily routine of a loved ones medical regimen or getting their home handicapped accessible such as a wheel-chair ramp. Small things such as lining up someone to stay with their loved ones so they can have some time away alone or with friends, such as going dinner and a movie, and not having to worry that their loved one will have an accident and fall or forget a dose of medication.

Caring for a loved one is an act of love, but has its costs for the caregiver. Should you have to quit your job to care for a loved one, you forfeit lost wages, your pension plan and social security. Those things do not include the personal cost to your own welfare, not to mention the demands of caring for a loved one gives you less time for your own family. Many caregivers find themselves giving up hobbies, social activities and vacations. Caring for someone else full time will take a toll on your health as well. Studies show that caregivers are more likely to experience anxiety, depression and maybe require hospitalization.

Instead of asking for help from other, many caregivers become detached from others, they don’t want to bother others. Many fear the possible outcome if they let their stress be known to coworkers or employers. In our world today, we are youth-centered society and we look the other way when it comes to the inevitable, unpleasant reality that everyone will grow old and every will die. This way of looking at things leaves everyone unprepared.

As your parents or other loved ones start to age, what can you do? As uncomfortable as it may be, you need to start the discussion of “what ifs” with them and assist them in making a plan. What will happen to them if they become disabled, ill or die unexpectedly? Do they have a will in place and where to they keep it? If they have a living will, who have they selected to make any medical decisions if they are not able to do so themselves?

Community support is out there for you, utilize it. Find community resources that offer and support care-giving, such as a day program that helps the one you are caring for have social activities with peers of their own age. Transportation to and from these programs is often provided as well. For you and the loved one you are caring for, getting out and socializing has the additional benefit that gets bodies moving. Exercise and socialize are the two best effective interventions that assist your loved ones and the caregiver both.

If family and friends ask if there is anything they can do, don’t be shy. Take them up on the offer and suggest ways the can help. Get someone to take Mom to her physical therapy this week or ask them they are going to the store, as them to pick up some bread, fruit, milk, or any thing you or your loved one may need or could use. If you are caring for an elderly loved one and have small children at home, ask a friend to watch the kids for awhile so that you can get to the gym or get a hair cut. Most people that offer to help don’t know they can, give them specific ideas how they can help, they’ll appreciate it, and so will you!

As a caregiver, you worry about your loved one getting the nutrition and rest they need. Make sure to take care of your own health too. Make sure you are getting the nutrition you need with plenty of sleep and exercise regularly. Keep your hands washed to prevent spreading germs and keep colds and flu at bay. Laughter, prayer or even a deep breath can help you manage your stress. Nurture yourself with activities that energize your batteries. If you begin to feel anxious or depressed, talk to your own doctor.

Taking care of yourself and asking for help are the two best things you can do for your loved one for effective care-giving once you begin that mission. Before that begins though, find the courage to start talking to those elderly ones and the other family members about care-giving. If you find that you don’t know where to turn, give us a call at Oxford Healthcare. We have experienced staff and a host of resources to recommend. Oxford Healthcare. Caring for you at home.

Since we are living longer, it would be better if we kept involved in our communities and give back using the experiences and knowledge we gained during our time in the working world. Perhaps as we age and retire from our main career, we should use our energy toward volunteer work or change to a part-time position, maybe even go with a completely new new career.

The younger generations, such as the 20-something age group, are the least happy, most stressed and more inclined to suffer depression. Our perspective on life and all that is around us changes as we age, our sense of reality changes. This is proof that happiness is not owned the young, but in fact, quite the contrary. As we age, we realize to cherish our time more and and enjoy the simple things in life. With the exclusion of dementia-related diseases, the elderly experience an improvement in their mental health. As we get older, we have learned to concentrate on the things that really matter in live and not to sweat worry over the small things.

A large part of why we are living longer is because we are living better. While medical science has developed drugs, procedures and technology to keep us alive longer and even to pull us back from the edge of death, we have also learned to live a healthier lifestyle which has been passing down through the genes. Healthier living is a matter of common sense. The use of alcohol, drugs and tobacco as well as being overweight are things we have learned if you do them now, you will pay for it later in life. A study by Harvard University determined for us that our lifestyle won’t override our genetics, but a healthier lifestyle certainly won’t hurt either.

It is inevitable, we are going to grow old. The only option you have other than growing old is death. However, we can decide how we’ll grow old. A longer life span means that you will most likely have approximately three decades of being a senior citizen. Let go of the fantasy to have eternal youth and live for the moment and plan for what comes next. Seven steps to living healthier and longer: Don’t smoke. Drink moderately. Exercise regularly. Watch your weight. Develop stable relationships. Absorb an education. Acquire dependable coping skills so that you can handle what life throws at you.

With all this being said, it only makes sense that our elderly loved ones are staying independent longer and living on their own longer. They aren’t needing the use of nursing homes as soon as previous generations did. However, when they have been in the hospital for an illness or injury, many times they need temporary help when they get home.

That is what Oxford Healthcare is here to provide. Give us a call for a consultation or just to ask questions. Our professional staff is here to help. Oxford Healthcare. Caring for you at home.

A lot of elderly couples are would like to have that spark they had when they first married. They want the excitement and passion that comes with meeting the opposite sex. For elderly couples to find a mate can make retirement much more pleasant, especially for those living in retirement communities. Sharing activities and events with another person always makes things more interesting for anyone and senior citizens are no different.

It is common to see elderly couples these days, whether they have been together a life time or if they are new couple. With the internet, many activities can be found for elderly couples to enjoy together. However, not all senior citizens are comfortable or knowledgeable about the internet and may need some assistance. Offer to help them, asking what their interests are, what their hobbies are and then have them sit with you as you surf the internet for those activities.

If you are fortunate enough for both parents to be alive and well, they too want to have the early excitement and passion they once had. Now that the kids are gone and a hectic career has passed, they can have time for each other.

While your mom and dad enjoy the visits from the kids and grandchildren, those Sunday evening dinners are wonderful too, they still need that compassion and excitement that only a couple can share. If you have questions on finding activities for an elderly couple in your life, give us a call at Oxford Healthcare. Oxford Healthcare. Caring for you at home.

As a person ages, their thirst decreases and you will unknowingly not drink as much water as your body needs. For the elderly, the lack of water consumption can be linked to arthritis, circulation problems, constipation, hypertension, indigestion and kidney stones. For instance, kidney stones develop when there is inadequate water for minerals to flush through.

A deficiency of water causes the sodium levels to increase and when there has not been enough water ingested, the body holds water, thus causing fluid buildup and sodium retention. When the body holds sodium, it pulls water out of the tissues and causes dehydration. For the elderly, this can result in many problems including confusion and excitability, especially high blood pressure.

Elderly people have a higher complaint of constipation which is connected with their lack of water intake. Everyone’s digestive system needs water. Nausea, joint and muscle stiffness are commonly related to a lack of water as well. All of these ailments are indicative for a person’s need to get more water. Water is the body’s lubrication.

The lack of water in the body can also cause the blood to thicken making the circulation slow and the heart to work harder. This can be a major issue in the elderly as their body’s circulation is already sluggish as just a natural part of aging. The brain can be affected because of poor circulation doesn’t get the correct oxygen to it. Dizziness, fatigue, headaches and lack of mental alertness are signs of poor oxygen to the brain.

Elderly women are postmenopausal and often are taking estrogen supplements. Estrogen retains salt thereby increasing the need for more water intake in elderly women to rid the body of excess salt. If you notice your elderly loved one experiencing dark urine, dry, sticky mouth, encourage them to drink more water and see their doctor as soon as possible. A minim standard is eight 8 ounce glasses per day, evenly spaced throughout the day. However, some may need more and their doctor can advise accordingly.

If you have questions or concerns regarding your loved one’s water intake, give us a call at Oxford Healthcare. Oxford Healthcare. Caring for you at home.