Preventing Falls for Older Adults

Falls are the single largest cause of injury among seniors, and the second leading cause of accidental death in the United States.  It is estimated that one in three persons over the age of 65 is likely to fall at least once each year.  Nearly one-third of older adults who fall sustain serious injuries such as fractures and sprains.

Even if a fall does not result in hospitalization, fear of falling can become a major factor in a senior’s quality of life, as fear of falling leads to inactivity and loss of self-confidence.

How can you help prevent falls? According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, taking vitamin D supplements and participating in exercise or physical therapy can be effective.  This is because exercise, physical therapy, and vitamin D supplementation all have a beneficial effect on improving muscle strength and balance.  Vitamin D also is a supplement that is crucial for preventing loss of bone density.  Vitamin D decreases bone loss and lowers the risk of fracture, especially in older men and women. Along with calcium, vitamin D also helps to prevent and treat osteoporosis.  Click here for more information about Vitamin D and bone density.  Seniors can also make changes in their homes to prevent falls, such as adding hand rails to all stairs, tacking down rugs, clearing clutter from pathways, and wearing well-fitting shoes or slippers with non-skid soles. See the graphic below for more details.

When you think of your aging loved ones, what do you worry about most? One important way to gain peace of mind and to ensure they have the quality of life that they deserve is planning for the protections you want in your future.  To do so, consult a Certified Elder Law Attorney, such as Evan Farr at the Fairfax Elder Law Firm of Evan H. Farr, P.C.  for your estate planning and elder law needs. 

P.S. At the Fairfax Elder Law Firm of Evan H. Farr, P.C., we celebrate our clients and friends with monthly educational awareness events, featuring delicious refreshments. Click here for the complete calendar of events and be sure to RSVP for our next event focusing on Heart Month on February 7, from 6-7:30 pm.

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When to Take the Car Keys Away- Doctors Can Play a Role

It is often difficult to talk to an elderly family member about giving up their car keys — especially if the older person doesn’t agree that continuing to drive will be risky. 

Often, families are making the tough choice between safety and independence on their own. There is new evidence, though, that doctors could have more of an influence on one of the toughest decisions facing an aging population.  A study that was recently cited in an Associated Press article found that when doctors warn patients that the older folks may be medically unfit to be on the road, there is a drop in serious crash injuries among those drivers.

The American Medical Association recommends that doctors administer a few simple tests in advising older drivers. Among them:

• Walk 10 feet down the hallway, turn around and come back. Taking longer than 9 seconds is linked to driving problems
• On a page with the letters A to L and the numbers 1 to 13 randomly arranged, see how quickly and accurately you draw a line from 1 to A, then to 2, then to B and so on. This so-called trail-making test measures memory, spatial processing and other brain skills, and doing poorly has been linked to at-fault crashes.
• Check if people can turn their necks far enough to change lanes, and have the strength to slam on brakes.

Dr. Gary Kennedy, geriatric psychiatry chief at New York’s Montefiore Medical Center, often adds another question: Are his patients allowed to drive their grandchildren? “If the answer to that is no, that’s telling me the people who know the patient best have made a decision that they’re not safe,” said Kennedy.

At The Fairfax Elder Firm of Evan H. Farr, P.C., we urge families to sit down with their loved ones who are affected by poor eyesight, chronic disease, and medications that might impair driving and talk about your concern for their safety on the road.  Elderly drivers and family members should also take heed of the laws in your state regarding vision tests, restricting of mail renewals, and road tests.  For more information about Aging Drivers and the Law, see the article on the Fairfax Elder Law Firm of Evan H. Farr, P.C. website.  For tips on talking with an unsafe driver (with dementia or Alzheimer’s), click here. 

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VA Eliminates Requirement for Filing the Annual Eligibility Verification Report

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is eliminating the requirement to file annual Eligibility Verification Reports (EVRs).  These annual reviews are often cumbersome for vets or family members to complete, and could sometimes lead to the loss of benefits if improperly filed.

In the past, beneficiaries have been required to complete an EVR each year to ensure their pension benefits continued. Under the new initiative, VA will work with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to verify continued eligibility for pension benefits.
VA estimates it would have sent nearly 150,000 EVRs to beneficiaries this month. Eliminating these annual reports reduces the burden on Veterans, their families, and survivors because they will not have to return these routine reports to VA each year in order to avoid suspension of benefits.  It also allows VA to redirect more than 100 employees that usually process EVRs to work on eliminating the claims backlog.

All beneficiaries currently receiving VA pension benefits will receive a letter from VA explaining these changes and providing instructions on how to continue to submit their unreimbursed medical expenses.

More information about VA pension benefits is available at http://www.benefits.va.gov/pension and other VA benefit programs on the joint Department of Defense can be found on the VA web portal eBenefits at www.ebenefits.va.gov.

Are you or your spouse a veteran? Evan H. Farr is an Accredited Attorney with the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs, who understands both the Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit and the Medicaid program and the interaction between both benefit programs.  If you are a Veteran or spouse of a Veteran and you need assistance, make an appointment for a free consultation.  We can work with you to evaluate whether you qualify for The Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit and help you file the paperwork. 

P.S. Veterans can take advantage of a special 15% discount at The Fairfax Elder Law Firm of Evan H. Farr, P.C.  Call us at 703-691-1888 to make an appointment for a no-cost consultation. 

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