Latest CDC Report Shows Positive Trend in Life Expenctancy

You might want to go ahead and add that extra something to your "Bucket List." Why? Well, according to the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics’ preliminary death statistics for 2009, your life expectancy has increased by one tenth of a percent! That might not seem like a lot, but it just may be one more visit with the grandkids or that last cruise to the Caribbean. It’s also indicative of a very positive trend of declining death rates in the United States that has been continuing for the last ten years.

The study, the results of which were released on March 16^th 2011, shows that one tenth of a percent equates to two-tenths of a year for males (75.7 years) and one tenth of a year for females (80.6 years). That’s right–women are still expected to outlive their sweethearts by an average of 4.9 years.

The study also found that age-adjusted death rates have declined significantly for the top 5 of the 15 leading causes of death:
* heart disease (down by 3.7 %)
* cancer (1.1 %)
* chronic lower respiratory diseases (4.1 %)
* stroke (4.2 %)
* accident/unintentional injuries (4.1 %)

Things are looking bright for the next generation, too: life expectancy at birth increased from 78.0 years to 78.2 years in 2009, says SeniorJournal.com.

So it looks as if with a bit of luck and a lot of preparation and good decisions, you can be looking forward to many sunset years ahead. But what will you do if in fact you do fall into the statistical range, and outlive your spouse? Do you have a plan in place for those extra 5 (or sometimes more) years? If you don’t yet, we can help! Our Estate Planning services can provide you with all of the necessary documents you need. Call us at 1-800-399-FARR to schedule your free initial consultation.

You can view the original full-length study here, on the CDC website.

Photo by Ambro. Evan H. Farr on Google +

Film Raises Awareness of Adults with Disabilities

April is Autism Awareness Month, and on April 2, 2011 you’ll have the opportunity to see Wretches and Jabberers at the AMC Lowes Georgetown 14 Theatre in Washington, DC. If you're not located in DC, click here to see if this inspiring documentary is coming your way. 

Wretches and Jabberers is a ground-breaking documentary about two autistic men (Tracy Thresher and Larry Bissonnette) on a mission to change the global perception of people with disabilities. Presumed to have intellectual delays because of their challenges in communication, both men were excluded from classic schooling opportunities and relegated to institutions and adult disability centers. When they later learned to communicate by typing, it dramatically changed their lives and inspired them to teach others that intelligence can express itself in different ways.

Show your support for these two courageous men by purchasing presale tickets here.

AMC has also generously offered to donate 10% of the ticket proceeds to the Autism Society in honor of Autism Awareness month.

You can find out more about this independent documentary at www.wretchesandjabberers.org.

Photographer: Salvatore Vuono

New Elder Care Technologies Make Aging-in-Place a Possibility for Many Seniors

"Getting old is not for sissies" goes the quote, and many of my clients and their families find this to be true. One of the biggest challenges with growing older is the upheaval of changing your living situation, whether due to health reasons, financial circumstances or both. Generally, long term elder care is categorized into three main categories: In-Home Care, Assisted Living and Nursing Homes. As you can imagine, In-Home Care is the most expensive, even if you don’t have a 24-hour hired care giver. Assisted Living requires that you move out of your home and into other community housing, where you still may retain limited independence, but also be under monitoring by medical staff. For many people, Nursing Homes are a last resort, since they are financially draining (averaging upwards of $83,000 a year according to the MetLife statistics from October 2010) and don’t allow for any lifestyle independence in a hospital-like atmosphere.

But now, a fourth option is becoming popular and gaining recognition in elder care: Aging-in-Place. Aging-in-place is a care option that allows you to continue living independently in your own home without the need for a live-in care giver. For many seniors suffering from memory issues or a high fall risk, this option might be impossible–if not for the these latest developments in elder care technology.

Drug compliance is the most common issue for those living alone, and can have far-reaching health consequences if not monitored correctly. For those with memory issues, there are several pill-reminder services and gadgets that can help you stay on track with taking the right medication at the right times. One of them is TabSafe, a small electric powered box of drawers that sits on your countertop and issues daily visual and audio reminder alerts to take your medication, dispenses the correct pills at the right times, and can even send a confirmation message to a caregiver once the medication has been dispensed and taken. If a dosage is missed, an alert is sent to the caregiver via phone and action can then be taken. This alternative will save caregivers from having to call their loved ones several times a day to confirm that they’ve taken their medication, and can also alleviate medication worries of the patient themselves. TabSafe retails for $1099, plus a monthly fee.

"Falling is the most common cause of hospital admissions for trauma and the leading cause of injury and death among those ages 65 and older, the CDC reports" says SmartMoney.com. For those with a high fall risk, there’s the eNeighbor Remote Monitoring System from HealthSense that "uses a series of small, unobtrusive sensors that work together to monitor a resident's daily routine. The system looks for basic activities, and establishes a normal range for these activities." If the resident were to fall and not be able to get up or reach the phone for help, eNeighbor would notice the change in activity patten and trigger a phone call to a list of contacts (and the HealthSense 24-hour call center) that could come in to check on the resident. This way, a senior citizen can retain their independence in their own home without ever running the risk of being truly "alone" in a crisis. eNeighbor is quoted as being "about $100 a month" by the New York Times but costs can vary greatly between private health care companies.

Another offering from the world of technology is the HomMed Genesis™ DM Remote PatientCare Monitor,  useful on its own or paired with one of the first two gadgets. When you wake in the morning, you are greeted by a friendly voice saying "Good morning. It is now time to record your vital signs." But you’re not at a clinic or doctor’s office–you’re sitting at your kitchen table in the comfort of your own home. This device measures heart rate, weight, blood pressure and oxygen level, and blood glucose levels–making it useful to patients with a variety of health concerns, from cardiovascular disease to diabetes. It also asks a series of additional relevant questions such as "Are you having more difficulty breathing today than a normal day?" that can help pinpoint a potential problem. The results are then sent to a monitoring clinic where a nurse can take action if the readings are out of the ordinary. Prices for this service vary between different private health care services, but it can save you and your loved ones hours of hassle and stress each week of shuttling around from one doctor’s office to another. Daily readings can also help you stay abreast of your own health by increasing self-monitoring.

Putting some of the responsibility of daily care for loved ones who live alone in the hands of technology can alleviate much of the worry and stress that caregivers feel. It allows you both to focus more on the things you enjoy in your life, and your relationship can be given the opportunity to flourish when every conversation is not centered on how you are doing each day.

BUT–such advanced technology comes at a price, and for some of these systems (and many others) it is a high one. But you CAN afford it! At the Farr Law Firm, we specialize in a branch of Elder Law that focuses on protecting your assets so that we can apply for Medicaid and Veteran’s Benefits (if applicable) for you. Our goal for that Level 4 Planning is to protect your assets from the disastrous expenses of long term care, so that some of those assets can be used to enhance your standard of living with goods and services not covered by government financial assistance, such as the ones I've described. And if the aging-in-place option is not for you, we can help you prepare for and decide on your other long-term care options.

If you have a family with seniors who are contemplating their long-term care options, we can provide the solutions that you may be looking for. Achieving long term peace of mind is an invaluable asset that we are honored to assist you with. Please do not hesitate to call us at 1-800-399-FARR to schedule a free, initial consultation. Evan H. Farr on Google +

Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Fish Reduce Risk of Macular Degeneration in Women, Study Finds

A Women’s Health Study conducted by William G. Christen, Sc.D. of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston and colleagues has concluded that the regular consumption of fish and omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in women by 42%!

AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in senior citizens, primarily affecting "central vision." Your central vision allows you to see objects clearly in fine detail and do such tasks as driving, reading and writing. Sometimes, AMD will creep up slowly–so slowly that you won’t even notice your eyesight beginning to falter. Other times, it can happen quickly and ultimately result in the loss of vision in both eyes. But you can take steps right now to stop AMD in its tracks, and reduce your risk.

The study reported that women who ate fish once or more per week had a 42% lower risk of age-related macular degeneration than those who ate fish less than once per month. I know you men are probably saying "Hey! What about me?" and I have good news for you, too. Fish (and the omega-3 fatty acids it provides) has also been proven to be very beneficial for cardiovascular health and to lower triglycerides for men AND women over 50. A healthy heart, better cholesterol and clear vision is a winning combination for this superfood.

Fatty fish like albacore tuna, canned light tuna, sardines, lake trout, mackerel, salmon and herring are the most beneficial and also carry a lower risk of mercury poisoning. These fish also have the added benefit of being a great, clean source of protein without a lot of saturated fats. Fresh fish it always best, but you can find delicious frozen fish entrees in the freezer section of your grocery store too. Keep it healthy by broiling or grilling instead of deep frying, and use low-sodium seasonings, lemon juice and fresh herbs for fantastic flavor.

Here are some delicious, healthy recipes to get you started:
Soy Glazed Salmon with Watercress Salad
Grilled Tuna with Cherry-Tomato Salad and Herbed Bulghur
Smoked Mackerel, Cucumber and Potato Salad with Mustard Dressing

But of course, remember that it’s always important to stay current on all of your health check-ups, and that includes your eye doctor. Regular check ups can help to detect age-related macular degeneration before it leads to vision loss.

For more information on the study, click here.
Evan H. Farr on Google + 　

Lawyers Sweating it Out to Raise Funds for Children with Muscular Dystrophy

The Farr Law Firm is making progress raising funds for the April 2nd Muscular Dystrophy walk being held in Fairfax, Virginia, but we still have a long way to go.  Below is our current barometer reading.  To make a donation, please click here.  We will post all contributors by first name and last initial on our heavily viewed Virginia Elder Law blog here (unless you would prefer to stay anonymous, of course).  Thank you in advance for your generosity!

 And if you are a parent of a Special Needs Child (or know someone who is), you may be interested in reading about Special Needs Estate Planning. 

Potentially Groundbreaking Alzheimer's Study: Liver, Not Brain Source of Plaque?

Alzheimer's disease has perplexed scientists and researchers for years due to its complex and debilitatitng nature.  Not only is it difficult to diagnose, but symptoms of the disease are similar of many other forms of dementia.  A new study suggests the liver -- not the brain -- may be the organ for medical professionals to focus upon.

Read this excerpt from the article physorg.com, here:  

"Unexpected results . . . could completely alter scientists' ideas about Alzheimer's disease—pointing to the liver instead of the brain as the source of the "amyloid" that deposits as brain plaques associated with this devastating condition. The findings could offer a relatively simple approach for Alzheimer's prevention and treatment."

For more on Alzheimer's Disease, see our recent blog post here; we discuss the unlikely cast of characters uniting to fight the disease.  Evan H. Farr on Google +

Considering Home Care? Read this First!

Making the decision to hire a home care service to provide care for your loved one is an important decision and can, at the same time, be very difficult. If an illness or recovery from surgery requires nursing care or physical therapy, a physician may order skilled home care services that provide both skilled providers and personal aides. Your decision is then based on the obvious medical determinations made by the doctor. But what if you as the family caregiver must determine the extent of care needed without the help of a doctor?

Each home care situation is unique. In the beginning, family or friends step in to help with simple tasks and support for aging seniors who want to stay in their homes. As long term care needs progress, more time is required to manage those needs. Physical and mental conditions change with aging making usually routine hygiene and daily living activities difficult for an aging individual. Even with the healthiest of seniors, the ability to drive a car, shop for groceries or do general housekeeping eventually needs to be relinquished to the responsibility of another person.

In one example, Karen, would stop by her parents' home on her way to work every morning and again on her way home from work in the evening. She checked in the morning to see that they were up and ready for the day and Karen would take a shopping list for things they needed. In the evening she delivered the needed items she had purchased during her lunch break and sometimes she fixed a meal when one was not prepared by her mother. This worked well until Karen began to notice her father did not shave or dress during the day and both parents were forgetting their medications. Karen felt more time and supervision was needed in their care but with her own family and job, she could not do it. Non-medical or personal home care services would be a good option for Karen to consider.

Before starting your search for a non-medical or personal home care company, determine what the care needs are and how much time each week will be required for assistance from the company. You may want to consult with the family physician and other family members as well as experienced social workers or care managers to determine needs. Most home care companies, as well, will help you do an assessment at no charge. With your care needs in hand, you are ready to begin your search.

The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (http://www.nahc.org/home.html) gives the following guidelines and checklist in searching for a home care company.

• How long has this provider been serving the community?
• Does this provider supply literature explaining its services, eligibility requirements, fees, and funding sources? Many providers furnish their home care clients with a detailed "Patient Bill of Rights" that outlines the rights and responsibilities of the providers, clients, and family caregivers alike.
• How does this provider select and train its employees? Does it protect its workers with written personnel policies and malpractice insurance? Does it protect clients from theft or abuse by bonding its employees?
• Does this provider assign supervisors to oversee the quality of care clients are receiving in their homes? If so, how often do these individuals make visits? Who can the client and his or her family members call with questions or complaints? How does the company follow up on and resolve problems?
• What are the financial procedures of this provider? Does the provider furnish written statements explaining all of the costs and payment plan options associated with home care?
• What procedures does this provider have in place to handle emergencies? Are its caregivers available on notice?
• How does this provider ensure client confidentiality?

If a home care company has not previously been recommended to you, ask for a list of previous clients and call for their experience with this provider.

Following up on these guidelines can help you determine the quality of personal care that is given. Many states license non-medical home care companies and require both legal and health standards to be maintained.
Read about individual home care companies in your area on the National Care Planning Council's website www.longtermcarelink.net. Photographer: photostock Evan H. Farr on Google +