In this Edition:

Time for Renewal
Aging with a Positive Attitude
Hurricane or Disaster Preparedness: 10 Things
You Should Do.

Time for Renewal
by Rona Bartelstone LCSW, BCD, CMC, Chief Executive Officer

Spring is a time of renewal. Rejuvenation, rebirth and opportunities are the stuff of spring season.  It is a time to sweep out the cobwebs, not just from our homes, but from our hearts and minds. 

I think it is no coincidence that all of the major religions also have celebrations at this time of year to recognize the cyclical nature of life.  Whether you are a religious observer, a nature lover, or just intrigued by life itself, this is often a good time of year to think about and plan for a future of renewal.  It is a time to think about positive attitudes toward aging and how to make the most of our years in this existence. 

Those of us in the field of aging know that despite the stereotypes, aging is not just a downhill run.  It is true that later life can be filled with challenges, but we also see the rich tapestry that begins to emerge from the accumulation of wisdom and experience.  By engaging with elders it is possible to learn about the internal strength that allows individuals to flourish in the face of life’s challenges. 

I have a new sign on my bulletin board that reads, “It takes guts to grow old.”  This was made for me by an elder at a senior center at which I recently gave a talk.  The women, who were hosting the craft sale where I found my sign, were quite adamant that they were all courageous in their efforts to make the most of life.  They found meaning in the participation with a community of elders and they were so devoted to the center that they were helping to raise funds for its support.  A sense of community/congregation can be found in a senior center, among a group of friends, in a support group, as well as in religious traditions and institutions.  This feeling of belonging and contributing facilitates a positive attitude for each individual, as well as for the community, as a whole.

Those older individuals who make a choice to maximize their later years are our role models for aging with a positive attitude.  Younger generations can develop positive attitudes about aging, by creating our own images for successful aging and building on the role models all around us.  We can look beyond the superficial appearance of aging and create a rich vision for later life that holds out more potential than at any other time in history. 

So, sweep out those cobwebs and those outdated visions of aging.  Let’s create a new image of later life that allows us to face our challenges with a sense of anticipation and renewal!

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Aging with a Positive Attitude
by Linda Gaibel, Care Manager

When I think about positive aging, the person who immediately comes to mind is Sylvia Tate (fictitious name used for the purpose of this article).  She is a very talkative, petite 86 year old who always has a smile on her face and is extremely sociable.  She had been married for over fifty years and had helped her husband run a photography studio in upstate New York.  She enjoyed recalling the many happy times they had shared.

Sylvia and her husband moved to Boynton Beach, Florida fifteen years ago, but several years after moving there, her husband had a stroke and died.  After grieving his loss, Sylvia made a new life for herself, attending many activities, including a daily lunch program at a nearby senior center.  Within a couple of years she developed a relationship with George, a fellow resident of this community, and they enjoyed a ten year relationship.

When George died in March, 2006, Sylvia went through a particularly hard time again grieving the loss of this relationship. Sylvia started having medical problems- high blood pressure, arthritis, and the beginning of short term memory problems.  Her son, Ben called Rona Bartelstone Care Management & Home Healthcare to hire a geriatric care manager to recommend different services that would help his mother maintain her independent lifestyle. 

Linda Gaibel, a social work care manager, did the consultation and assessment for his mother, Sylvia Tate.  It was obvious that she was still very upset about the loss of her significant other, George, so Linda recommended supportive counseling to help her cope with her grieving process, a nurse to come once a month to do the medication management, an aide/companion to see her once a week to help with shopping; and an emergency response system to help her feel more secure in case of a medical emergency.

The supportive services, including the counseling, helped Sylvia become less depressed and more able to resume the activities that brought her pleasure in her life. 

Family was always important to Sylvia.  Her daughter, Joan, her granddaughter and great granddaughter, Becky, live near Atlanta, Georgia.  When she visited them over Thanksgiving, Joan convinced her mother to look at several Assisted Living Facilities.  When she returned to Florida, she discussed with her care manager, Linda Gaibel, the pros and cons of this potential move.  Linda supported her decision to move, and kept in touch with her son and daughter to help make the arrangements for Sylvia to be near her family.

In her last meeting with Linda, she talked about wanting to start a Red Hat Society in her new residence and was enthusiastic about all the activities that would be offered.  Throughout her life she has been a vital person with a zest for community involvement and activities.  Her positive attitude and sense of humor will enable her to make a good adjustment to this new housing option.

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Hurricane or Disaster Preparedness: 10 Things You Should Do
by Susan Fleischer, Chief Operating Officer

Whether you live in hurricane territory, tornado alley or other area where there is likely to be an emergency situation, you need to prepare for meeting your needs and the needs of your family. Here are the 10 basics that you should have prepared, just in case:

These are the basic plans that everyone needs to have in the face of a natural disaster.

• Have a family disaster plan and make sure that everyone is familiar with it
• Have a safe place to go either in your home or other location (advance planning for evacuation is critical if you have special healthcare needs)
• Be sure that you have extra cash because banks and ATMs may not be available for many days
• Fill your car with gas
• Have all of your important insurance, healthcare, and other papers in a waterproof container that you can take with you, if you need to be in a safe room or to evacuate
• Secure your home, as best as you are able
• Let other family/friends out of your area know what your plan is and where you will be
• Replace batteries and check for the operating ability of radios, flashlights, cell phones, portable computers and TVs
• Be sure that you have enough first aid supplies and supplies of medications, food and water to last two weeks
• Make sure that pets are cared for, including enough supplies for two weeks of maintenance

We have recently introduced a new Hurricane Preparedness Program that can help you and your family be prepared this hurricane season. Click here for more information on our dynamic program.

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