The Operation Medicine Cabinet which I blogged about recently has rounded up 60 pounds of unused prescription drugs in Oakland County.

The grand opening was Friday the 11th at the Royal Oak Police Department in partnership with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and Home Instead Senior Care, as well as other organizations. The residents were asked to bring their unused prescription drugs to the Police Department.

“It was a great success, and we’ve had dozens of people coming in since then, bringing their prescription drugs to our police station,” Police Chief Chris Jahnke said. ”Prescription drug abuse is on the rise, especially among teens, and that is one of our goals — to get narcotics out of the medicine cabinets and put them where they can be safely eliminated.”

This station in Royal Oak is now different than the situation at the Sheriff’s Office in Pontiac, as well as substations in Rochester Hills and Commerce Township. The new policy at the Royal Oak Police Department allows residents to drop off their prescriptions 24/7, while all the other stations are only on Wednesdays between 8 am and 4 pm.

Jahnke says that not only does this rid the streets of drugs, but it also has a green aspect; “Now the unused drugs won’t be going into the waterways and landfills,” he said.

These drugs will be disposed of in the same way that the police use to get rid of illegal drugs they have confiscated.

Bert Copple, general manager for Home Instead Senior Care in Birmingham, said disposing of drugs protects pets and children who spend more time at home.

“They’re around the house, and having prescription drugs in the medicine cabinet that aren’t being used, may open the door to experiment,” he said.

Posted: 11 Dec 2009 06:23 AM PST

Here’s a short video trailer to give a taste of what the new book, Trial & Heirs:  Famous Fortune Fights!, is all about:

[If it doesn't play for you, visit Trial & Heirs to see it there]

My co-author and wife, Danielle Mayoras, and I wrote this book because we wanted to give families a way to have the difficult conversations about estate planning that are so hard for people.  No one likes to talk about what will happen when someone dies.  So they put it off, procrastinate, and suddenly it’s too late.

With celebrity stories, not only can you start these conversations, but you can get your loved ones to actually do the proper planning.  For example, Michael Jackson didn’t use his trust properly and it led to a long fight in court that could have been avoided.  Princess Diana undermined her own will by using a letter of wishes the wrong way.  And everyone knows about the disastrous legal battles involving Anna Nicole Smith.

We use these stories, and dozens more, along with easy-to-follow education and practical tips to avoid family fights, so your families don’t end up the same way.  The book is now available at http://TrialAndHeirs.com.

We’ve been blow away by the positive reviews from The Washington Post, Forbes, Inman News Services, and more.  We’ve even been interviewed on The Rachael Ray Show and WGN about the book, and it’s only just come out.

[It's been a two-year labor of love to bring Trial & Heirs:  Famous Fortune Fights! to the market, so please forgive me if I'm both proud and excited.]

Posted by:  Author and probate attorney Andrew W. Mayoras, co-author of Trial & Heirs:  Famous Fortune Fights! and co-founder and shareholder of The Center for Probate Litigation and The Center for Elder Law in metro-Detroit, Michigan, which concentrate in probate litigation, estate planning, and elder law.  You can email him at awmayoras @ brmmlaw.com.

This afternoon, Fox News posted an interview with Home Instead Senior Care Co-Founder and CEO, Paul Hogan.  The interview is part of a series called, “Road to Retirement,” and is hosted by Patti Ann Brown. This interview provides an overview about Home Instead Senior Care and its services.  It also discusses Stages of Senior Care. There will be additional interviews featuring members of the Home Instead Senior Care team.  Upcoming topics will include The 40/70 Rule, Home Instead Senior Care Franchise Standards, tips on financial planning for senior care and the advantages of long-term care insurance. This series is being previewed on FoxNews.com.  Fox is planning to use the interviews across their properties — including Fox News and Fox Business Channel, but as of today this video has not yet been part of any story on the broadcast network. As soon as we know when that will happen, we will communicate with you. Watch the video!

Contact: Mandy Andrews, Community Liaison, at (248) 343-0129

The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, Royal Oak Police Department, and Home Instead Senior Care are kick off “Operation Medicine Cabinet” in Royal Oak

WHAT:            “Operation Medicine Cabinet” Prescription Drug Collection Program Kick-Off

Safety Bonus: Free Document Shredding provided by Royal Oak Recycling

WHO:              Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and Royal Oak Police Department

Home Instead Senior Care

Royal Oak Recycling

Sponsors: Beaumont Hospitals, Royal Oak Community Coalition, MichiganCaregiver.com

WHEN:            Friday, December 11, 12pm-2pm, Prescription Drug Collection

**Media Availability, 12pm-1pm**

Complimentary lunch (first come, first-served) for Attendees Dropping off Prescription Drugs beginning at Noon

WHERE:          Royal Oak Police Department

221 East Third Street, Royal Oak, MI

The kick-off of “Operation Medicine Cabinet” will occur at the Royal Oak Police Department on Friday, December 11^th from 12pm-2pm.  Any individual wishing to drop off their outdated or unused prescriptions is encouraged to attend.  All attendees arriving beginning at Noon will receive a free grab and go lunch (first-come, first-served).  Additionally, Royal Oak Recycling will be onsite providing free document shredding for individuals wishing to shred their sensitive or confidential documents.

Contact:   Mandy Andrews, Community Liaison, at (248) 343-0129

A study on the British Medical Journal website says that high salt intake greatly increases the risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease. It is well known that high salt intake is associated with high blood pressure, and there have even been suggestions of reducing the dietary salt intake population-wide, thus potentially leading to the substantial reduction in the levels of cardiovascular disease.

The World Health Organization recommended level of salt consumption is 5 g (about one teaspoon) per day at the population level, yet dietary salt intake in most Western countries is close to 10g per day (and much higher in many Eastern European countries).

Collaborative research conducted by Professor Pasquale Strazzullo at the University of Naples, Italy and Professor Francesco Cappuccio at the University of Warwick, UK conducted a thorough analysis of 13 published studies that involved over 170,000 people that directly assessed the discussed link between salt intake and stroke and cardiovascular disease.

Their analysis shows unequivocally that a difference of 5 g a day in habitual salt intake is associated with a 23% difference in the rate of stroke and a 17% difference in the rate of total cardiovascular disease.

Based on these results, the authors provide an estimate that by reducing daily salt intake by 5 g at the population level, we could avert one and a quarter million deaths from stroke and almost three million deaths from cardiovascular disease each year. Because most salt intake levels are measured imprecisely, these numbers are most likely and underestimation.

This study is a useful and welcome addition to the medical literature, and strengthens the case for population-wide salt reduction, says Professor Lawrence Appel from Johns Hopkins University, in an accompanying editorial. Not only does this show the need for a population-wide reduction in salt intake, but it reinforces how important low-salt foods are for senior citizens. The best part is that there is already a company out there requiring this great salt reduction for its clients, and that is Home Instead Senior Care.

Home Instead’s caregivers are trained specifically to cook and create healthy meals, and pay special attention to the sodium levels in the food served to our clients. This shows how important it is to reduce salt intake even at a younger age, so we take it seriously when it comes to our seniors.
Home Instead Senior Care will provide outstanding caregivers to help your loved one with personal care, incidental travel, companionship, medication reminders, light housekeeping, and even meal preparation. To learn more, call 248-203-2273 or visit www.homeinstead.com. Home Instead Senior Care is the world’s trusted source of in-home non-commercial personal care and companionship for seniors. Each franchise is independently owned and operated. And remember, to us, it’s personal.

SOURCE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091124204324.htm

Participating in high-impact sports may help boost bone mineral density in older persons, according to a new study of male and female athletes.

 

The findings stem from a study of athletes aged 50 to 93 who took part in the 2005 National Senior Games, including 560 who competed in high-impact sports like basketball, road racing, track and field, and volleyball.

 

Ultrasound scans found those who participated in high-impact sports had better bone mineral density than people who participated in low-impact sports.

 

“Our study represents the largest sample of bone mineral density data in mature athletes to date,” said Dr. Vonda Wright of the University of Pittsburg Medical Center. “My colleagues and I were surprised to see that active adult participation in the high-impact sports had such a positive influence on bone health, even in the oldest athletes.”

 

A HealthDay report notes that osteoarthritis and other factors will keep some people from taking part in high-impact sports.

 

“With a multi-part approach and the appropriate use of high-impact exercises, individuals may be able to make greater strides against bone loss than the current treatment strategies imply,” Wright said.

 

Clearly, able-bodied senior citizens participating in these higher-impact activities can produce great results; the only thing lacking may be the motivation to do so. People who will give them that extra push can be found at companies like Home Instead Senior Care. Home Instead hires outgoing and energetic individuals who will not only present the best home care to our clients, but promote healthy living and will motivate your loved ones to get back in the game.
Home Instead Senior Care will provide outstanding caregivers to help your loved one with personal care, incidental travel, companionship, medication reminders, light housekeeping, and even meal preparation. To learn more, call 248-203-2273 or visit www.homeinstead.com. Home Instead Senior Care is the world’s trusted source of in-home non-commercial personal care and companionship for seniors. Each franchise is independently owned and operated. And remember, to us, it’s personal.

 

 

Seniors who eat fruits and vegetables and who have good cognitive function are much less likely to die from heart disease than those who have poorer cognitive function and eat fewer fruits and vegetables, according to a new study.

 

Researchers at the Drexel University School of Public Health in Philadelphia analyzed diet and cognitive data on 4,879 people age 70 and older who took part in the U.S. Longitudinal Study on Aging. Participants were followed for an average of seven years.

 

According to a HealthDay report, the analysis found that:

 

• Those who ate three or more servings of vegetables daily had a 30 percent lower risk for dying from heart disease and a 15 percent lower risk for dying from any cause during the follow-up period than those who ate fewer servings of vegetables.

 

• There was a significant association between higher consumption of fruits and vegetables and decreased prevalence of cognitive impairment.

 

• People who scored high on cognitive function tests were less likely to die from heart disease or any other cause during the follow-up than were those with low scores.

 

Having a healthy heart is important when it comes to old age. That is why Home Instead Senior Care promotes this healthy heart through our caregivers. Our caregivers promote positive cognitive function, and they cook healthy meals which will often include fruits and vegetables. Mom and dad need all the help they can get; if you’re finding it difficult to take care of your loved ones and are looking for someone who will go that extra mile, then give Home Instead a call.

Home Instead Senior Care will provide outstanding caregivers to help your loved one with personal care, incidental travel, companionship, medication reminders, light housekeeping, and even meal preparation. To learn more, call 248-203-2273 or visit www.homeinstead.com. Home Instead Senior Care is the world’s trusted source of in-home non-commercial personal care and companionship for seniors. Each franchise is independently owned and operated. And remember, to us, it’s personal.

 

 

Seniors who neglect themselves, risking their own health and safety, tend to be individuals with limited social networks and little social engagement, according to a study by Rush University Medical Center.

“We need to better understand elder self-neglect – who is at risk and why – so that we can find solutions and establish appropriate policies,” said Dr. Xinqi Dong, the study’s lead author.  “This is particularly important because reports of self-neglect to social service agencies are rising.

“Moreover, as our aging population is rapidly increasing in size, elder self-neglect will likely become an even more pervasive public health issue.”

The study was based on records drawn from the Chicago Health and Aging Project, a study of 9,056 individuals 65 years of age and older who live in Chicago’s South Side. Over the 12-year course of the study, 20 percent of these seniors were reported to the Chicago Department of Aging because of concern about suspected self-neglect.

Elder self-neglect generally manifests itself as “a refusal or failure by the person to provide himself/herself with adequate food, water, clothing, shelter, personal hygiene, medication and safety precautions.”

Twice as many women as men and more than seven times the number of African Americans as whites were reported for self-neglect. Those reported, compared with those not reported, tended to be over the age of 80 and have a lower socioeconomic status. The individuals also tended to have nutritional deficiencies, medical conditions and cognitive, physical and psychological deficits.

However, independent of all these factors, lower levels of social well-being – specifically, limited social networks and little social engagement – were major risk factors for self-neglect.

The study has important implications for health and social service professionals, Dong said.

“Professionals who work with the elderly need to be mindful not just of their patients’ health profile, but also of their social well-being, a factor that may put them at risk of self-neglect,” Dong said.  “With social services being cut, and community and city resources lacking to help seniors, the problems of isolation can only grow worse.”

Lack of social engagement and staying networked with others in this world can bring on some of the worst feelings a person can have. Home Instead Senior Care has only the friendliest, talkative, and socially engaging CAREGivers for our clients. If you are finding your elderly loved one feeling less socially engaged or lonely, Home Instead may be the answer. Our CAREGivers make great companions, and can allow for loved ones to feel rejuvenated with social interaction, reducing the chance of self-neglect.
Home Instead Senior Care will provide outstanding caregivers to help your loved one with personal care, incidental travel, companionship, medication reminders, light housekeeping, and even meal preparation. To learn more, call 248-203-2273 or visit www.homeinstead.com. Home Instead Senior Care is the world’s trusted source of in-home non-commercial personal care and companionship for seniors. Each franchise is independently owned and operated. And remember, to us, it’s personal.

New research published on BMJ.com finds that older people who walk slowly are more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than those who walk faster.

The authors say the findings underscore the essential role of fitness in preserving life and function in older age.

“These findings show that assessment of motor performances in older people with simple measures such as walking speed can be performed easily and that the role of fitness in preserving life and function in older age is important,” the report notes.

A team of researchers from France studied the relationship between low walking speed and the risk of death in older people. Their findings are based on the five-year monitoring of 3,208 men and women aged 65 to 85.

Participants in the lowest third of walking speed at the start of the study had a 44 percent increased risk of death compared to those in the upper third. And, those in the lowest third of walking speed have a three times increased risk of cardiovascular death than those who walked faster.

For more information, see the report on bmj.com.

As this study clearly shows, exercise can help you throughout your lifetime. Even when you’ve hit that age that it does not seem to help anymore, every bit of cardiovascular activity you perform keeps you healthier. Loved ones who are still able to walk but are still stuck in this mindset will be excited to hear these new findings. But you may not have time to accompany mom or dad on even short walks; a companion caregiver from Home Instead Senior Care is here for your loved one.
Home Instead Senior Care will provide outstanding caregivers to help your loved one with personal care, incidental travel, companionship, medication reminders, light housekeeping, and even meal preparation. To learn more, call 248-203-2273 or visit www.homeinstead.com. Home Instead Senior Care is the world’s trusted source of in-home non-commercial personal care and companionship for seniors. Each franchise is independently owned and operated. And remember, to us, it’s personal.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                Contact: Bert Copple

Telephone: 248-203-2273

Be a Santa to a Senior Holiday Gift Giveaway

Again Brings Cheer to Area Older Adults

The popular campaign that over the last five years delivered more than 12,000 gifts to local needy seniors is being planned again this holiday season.  Area retailers, along with agencies that serve older adults, have partnered with a local senior-care service to make sure that isolated seniors receive gifts and companionship through the Be a Santa to a Senior program.

The area office of Home Instead Senior Care, the world’s largest provider of non-medical home care and companionship for older adults, has joined several aging networks and senior centers in cooperation with regional National City banks, ACO Hardware locations, and the Dignity Memorial Group to provide presents to seniors who otherwise might not receive a gift this holiday season.

Throughout North America, this is the sixth year of the program where last year more than 28,000 volunteers distributed gifts to deserving seniors.  In the past five years since introducing this Be a Santa to a Senior program, Home Instead Senior Care has helped provide more than one million gifts to 700,000 seniors in North America.

“Be a Santa to a Senior is a great way to give back to the older adults in the community during the hectic holiday season when many are forgotten,” said Tina Rowley, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving Birmingham, MI.   “The holiday is often considered a time for children, but seniors – especially those who are isolated and lonely – need to be remembered as well.  Be a Santa to a Senior also is designed to help stimulate human contact and social interaction for older adults who are unlikely to have guests during the holidays.”

Here’s how the program, which runs from Nov. 16 through Dec. 12 works:  Prior to the holiday season, the participating local non-profit organizations will identify needy and isolated seniors in the community and provide those names to Home Instead Senior Care for this community service program.  Christmas trees, which will go up in participating National City banks, ACO Hardware stores, and other retailers, will feature ornaments with the first names of the seniors and their respective gift requests.

Holiday shoppers can pick up an ornament, buy items on the list and return them unwrapped to the store, along with the ornament attached.  Home Instead Senior Care then enlists the volunteer help of its staff, senior-care business associates, non-profit workers and others to collect, wrap and distribute the gifts to these seniors.  A citywide gift-wrapping day, when hundreds of the presents will be wrapped, will be held on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at the Troy Community Center.

Martha, 82, is one area senior who will benefit this year from Be a Santa to a Senior.  She lives below the poverty level, has no family in the area, and would normally receive no gifts or visitors at Christmas.  This year she’s asking for a new towel set, a modest but much-needed request, and sugar-free candy due to her being a diabetic.

“Be a Santa to a Senior is a way to show our gratitude to those older adults who have contributed so much to our community,” Bert Copple, the franchise’s general manager said.  “We hope to reach out to many with this gesture of holiday cheer and goodwill.”

If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering to help on the regional gift-wrapping day, contact Mary Sue Sarzynski at 248-203-2273.  Businesses are encouraged to contact the local Home Instead Senior Care office about adopting groups of seniors.  For tree locations in your area, or for more information about the program, log on to www.beasantatoasenior.com.

* * *

Editor’s Note:  For more information about Be a Santa to a Senior, or to arrange photos of the gift-wrapping day, contact Bert Copple at 248-203-2273.