Getting on the Same Page

Well, I write this while homebound thanks to the gigantic snowstorm in Ohio! It does bring to mind the issue of independence.

In my last blog, I wrote about a report called “Aging in Place in America,” which you can get from Clarity Research Initiatives. The report polled more than 800 seniors and baby boomers and found that 25 percent of seniors feared losing their independence most of all (only 3 percent greatly feared death). If losing independence means being unable to drive a car or having to be in an institution when other options are available, then I think we can all relate to that.

Interestingly, the study found that seniors and their children share many of the same concerns but see them differently when it comes to independence. While 90 percent of seniors want to grow older in their own homes, many of them worry about their ability to do so. Eighty percent of boomers are concerned that their parents will be mistreated in nursing homes, which tends to indicate that they would prefer for their parents to be at home.

The seniors who live at home are determined to stay independent and feel they need and receive only limited support from others to do so. However, two thirds of boomers feel they are contributing that support to their parents. Are they on the same page? Maybe it’s the definition of what is considered “limited support” by seniors versus maybe “quite a bit” by boomer children. Or, maybe it’s the parent’s determination of wanting to stay at home that overshadows what it actually takes to make that happen. Or, maybe some of the support the adult child provides is not truly what contributes to independence. Who knows for sure?

Fully half of seniors are receptive to using new technologies to enhance independence, including in-home monitors. However, less than 15 percent of boomer children had even explored such technology. One newer concept is telehealth at home. Individuals who are physically able to use the equipment and who can reliably check monitors and answer questions specific to their health care conditions are finding this technology to be extremely helpful in remaining at home. The equipment can detect key changes in health status and signal the need for care before the individual becomes so sick that a trip to the emergency room or a hospital admission is necessary. Their adult children find peace of mind in knowing that mom or dad is being checked on daily.

Parameters are individualized for each person, so monitored results that are good news for one person might not be good news for another. And, the questions asked each day are tailored to each person’s needs. The information collected via devices in the home, such as weight scales, blood pressure and blood glucose monitors, are transmitted to a nurse in a centralized area who reviews the results. If anything looks out of line for each patient, or if the patient fails to check in for the day, the patient is called to see what is going on. If necessary, the doctor is called, a nurse may be dispatched to the home or other instructions are provided.

Some progressive home care agencies are now offering this service. Let me know in a blog response or by if you want more information.

So, families getting on the same page in terms of what it means to be independent, what it takes to remain that way — both on behalf of the senior and the boomer children — and exploring options such as new technology are all important in this journey of smart aging.

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Past Post

Ticking Toward 100 (Feb. 25, 2008)

Smart Aging Requires a Full Dance Card (Feb. 11, 2008)

Time on your hands (Jan. 28, 2008)

Getting Ready for Retirement — Can You Hear Me Now? (Jan. 14, 2008)

Karen Talbott

President, Visiting Nurse Service and Affiliates

I am a native of Cadiz, Ohio (the infamous birthplace of Clark Gable), a resident of Fairlawn, Ohio, and am the president of Visiting Nurse Service and Affiliates, which is the largest comprehensive home health care system in Ohio. I am also a Fellow of Hospice and Home Care, one of only a few so designated in the United States by the National Association for Home Care. At Kent State University, I received both bachelors and masters degrees.

I’ve always been interested in the health care industry and especially as that relates to services for the senior population. That has led me to be involved in many community organizations such as the Senior Independent Living Coalition and Social Services Advisory Board in Summit County.

I’m privileged to have been recognized for my professional work over the years, including Crain’s Cleveland Business’ Woman of Note; Northern Ohio Live’s Top Woman Rainmaker Award; 2006 Extraordinary Woman Award from the Akron Beacon Journal; and more.

I’m a baby boomer. One of 78 million in fact. Lost in a crowd — no way! Baby boomers and those before us will leave and have left their mark on America for generations to come. Now that’s exciting.