New Location for the Right at Home L.A. Blog

Along with the launch of our new website at www.glendale.rightathome.net we've moved our blog from our blogspot site to our new site.

We'll still keep our old blog up and running so you can visit it anytime right here at www.rightathomela.blogspot.com.

However, from this point forward we'll be posting on to our new blog site

So thank you to all of our old readers who are moving with us to our new site and we welcome all of our new readers.

Thank you for your continued interest in Right at Home.

Can a Robot Seal Really Take Care of Grandma?

Who doesn't want to hear more stories about senior citizens and robot seals? I sure don't and thanks to our friends at newser.com...we don't have to.

Is Paro—the adorable robotic seal designed to comfort the elderly—the best thing to happen to solitary seniors since the Clapper, or a tasteless substitute for human attention? Manufactured in Japan and recently cleared in the US as a Class 2 medical device, the $6,000 robot is intended as a sort of pet therapy (it can recognize voices and make "weird" sounds), just without the messiness of a living animal. But ethicists fear that we’re putting the emotional well-being of seniors in the hands (flippers?) of a gadget.

"Why are we so willing to provide our parents, then ourselves, with faux relationships?" asks one MIT professor. But Paro’s fans say it’s invaluable for certain needy patients, particularly dementia sufferers, reports the Wall Street Journal. The seal’s European distributor requires nursing home employees to take a class on the device, so they don’t allow patients to, in the words of one consultant, “escape into a strange seal robot’s universe.”

Senior Driving and Traffic Safety

While traffic safety is important for all drivers, seniors experience physical changes that can affect their driving abilities. Although some seniors can drive well into their 70s, 80s and 90s, others cannot. It can be a tough adjustment for people who are used to using their cars to visit friends and family, attend doctor appointments and go shopping. Seniors often equate losing their driving privileges to becoming dependent and losing control and spontaneity in their lives. However, there are simple safety steps older adults can take to ensure they are driving safely.

Vision
The ability to see clearly while driving changes with age. According to AAA, the amount of light needed to drive nearly doubles every 13 years. For example, a 45-year-old requires four times as much light as a 19-year-old, and a 60-year-old requires 10 times as much.

Change in vision is a common reason why many seniors have restricted licenses or have their licenses revoked. Good vision is crucial to driving and senior drivers should keep the following in mind:

• Get an annual eye exam. Your eyes change rapidly and early detection can slow the progress of many eye problems.
• Limit driving to the daytime. It takes more time for aging eyes to adjust to the glare of oncoming headlights.
• Keep your head and eyes moving. While driving look ahead of your vehicle for other vehicles, pedestrians, animals or hazards. While driving in the city look at least one block ahead and on the highway look 12 to 15 seconds ahead. Glance frequently in your rearview mirror.
• Keep your headlights, taillights and the inside and outside of your windshield clean. Choose a car with a clear windshield as tinted windows can reduce the amount of light entering the eye.
• Avoid wearing eyeglasses and sunglasses with wide frames that may restrict your side vision. Always keep your eyeglasses clean.

Medications
Many senior drivers take medications that may affect safe driving, leading to drowsiness and confusion. Seniors should talk to their doctors about the effects their medications may have on their driving abilities and follow these guidelines:

• Read the fine print. Many prescription and over-the-counter medication labels include the message “Do not use while operating heavy machinery.” Be cognizant of the warnings on your medications before getting behind the wheel.
• Consult with your doctor before taking any new medications. The interaction between certain drugs can affect your ability to safely drive.
• If any medications cause fatigue or disorientation, stop driving.

Physical and Mental Fitness
Driving takes strength, flexibility and coordination and seniors should continue to participate in physical exercise to keep their motor skills sharp. Mental fitness is also important as older minds sometimes react more slowly than younger minds. Here are some ways for seniors to enhance their physical and mental fitness:

• Take a brisk walk every day or start a garden in your backyard to stay physically fit.
• Stimulate your brain. Activities such as crossword puzzles, brain teasers and card games stimulate your mind and enhance your problem solving, memory, reasoning and concentration skills.

Alternatives for Older Drivers
A person’s driving ability is dependent on many factors. Chronological age is not always the best predictor of one’s ability to drive safely. If you or your loved one has had a series of minor accidents, is unable to concentrate, is getting lost on familiar roads or is unable to read or recognize ordinary road signs, it may be time to step out from behind the wheel. However, there are alternatives available. In-home care agencies such as Right at Home offer many companion services including transportation to doctor’s appointments and recreational activities, as well as shopping and errand services.

“We know that living independently has many benefits and we are privileged to help older adults maintain their independence and enjoy a full life,” said Doug Dickstein, President, Right at Home in Glendale “All older adults and their loved ones should be aware of traffic safety.”

Seniors can also utilize public transportation where available. There are often community agencies that provide volunteer transportation services for seniors, as well. These alternatives can give retired drivers the independence they once had while keeping them out of harm’s way.

Custom Fit-Mouth Tray for Teeth Bleaching May Improve Oral Health of Senior Citizens

My father always told me to take care of my teeth. "Don't be like me," he said "take care of your teeth or you'll regret if forever." Of course, not all of my father's advice was so sage, like when he told me to buy Telecommunications and Technology stocks right before their bubble burst about 8 years ago or so...or the time when he claimed Costco Hot Dogs were the best hot dogs in their world (I like Costco Dogs, but they're not the best in the world). Still, for seniors trying to maintain their oral health, the following story from seniorjournal.com might strike some as interesting.

A tooth-bleaching agent may improve the oral health of elderly and special-needs patients, say dentists at the Medical College of Georgia and Western University of Health Sciences. Standard oral hygiene methods, such as brushing and flossing, can be difficult or impossible for patients with mental challenges or senior citizens with impaired manual dexterity.

Additionally, when health problems or medications cause xerostomia, or dry mouth, the lack of saliva reduces the mouth's natural protective mechanisms. These problems lead to plaque accumulation, cavities and periodontal disease, and could further impact the patient's health.

A report featured on the cover of this month's Journal of the American Dental Association noted that applying the tooth whitener carbamide peroxide through a custom-fit mouth tray might combat those problems. The report was based on a literature review and the authors' clinical experiences with special-needs patients and tooth bleaching.

"What we've noticed through whitening patients' teeth over the years is that as they bleached, their teeth got squeaky clean and their gingival health improved," said Dr. Van Haywood, professor in the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry and co-author of the report.

Dentists have used carbamide peroxide, or urea peroxide, for decades to whiten teeth, but its original use was as an oral antiseptic. It removes plaque, kills bacteria and elevates the mouth's pH above the point at which enamel and dentin begin to dissolve, which results in fewer cavities.

"All these benefits lead us to believe that tray bleaching can be a very effective supplemental method of oral hygiene for patients facing greater challenges keeping their mouths clean," said Dr. David Lazarchik, associate professor in the Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine and the report's co-author.

The trick is in the tray, Haywood said. After a complete dental exam, the dentist can make the custom-fit tray that the patient can wear comfortably at night or for several hours during the day. The carbamide peroxide gel can be prescribed or purchased over-the-counter.

Lazarchik said further research is needed to determine a specific protocol for using tray-applied carbamide peroxide specifically to improve oral health.

Activities for Senior Citizens in Los Angeles

As we head into the Dog Days of Summer, we thought the following list of activities and events for Senior Citizens throughout the Los Angeles area might of some value.

Summer Recreation Classes (City of Garden Grove)
Monday, July 5 7:00p
City of Garden Grove, Garden Grove
The Community Services Department offers year-round programs that provide a full range of opportunities for life enrichment, self improvement, personal growth, and artistic expression.

NARFE (National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association)
Wednesday, July 7 1:00pm
Joslyn Senior Center, Covina

Lean 101 Workshop
Thursday, Aug 5 9:00am
Cmtc Headquarters, Torrance
CMTC Presents the Lean 101 Workshop August 5, 2010 - 9:00am - 3:00pm - Lunch provided CMTC presents the 2010 Lean 101 Workshop.

Google Seminars for Success - Los Angeles, CA
Saturday, Aug 21 9:00am
Hilton Los Angeles North/Glendale & Mtg Center, Glendale
Google™ Seminars for Success Learn Google Analytics & Website Optimizer in the Classroom! Make it a full week of training: Join Stasia Holdren for Monday & Tuesday's Google AdWords Seminars for Success!

Super Senior Saturday "Seniorstock 2010"
Saturday, Aug 28 10:00am
Buena Park Senior Activity Center, Buena Park
Come Boomers, come Seniors to the grooviest aging health fair of the year. Join us for a far out day of peace, love and information.

9th Annual West Hollywood Book Fair
Sunday, Sep 26 10:00am
West Hollywood Park Auditorium, West Hollywood
The City of West Hollywood and LA Weekly present the multiple, award-winning West Hollywood Book Fair that will take place on Sunday, September 26, 2010 at 10 am.

Happy Independence Day!

Everyone at Right at Home would like to wish you a happy and safe Independence Day!

Caregiver of the Month - Julio M.

Right at Home is pleased to announce that Julio M. has been named Right at Home Caregiver of the Month for June 2010.

Julio began working with Right at Home early this year. After working well on a case in Tarzana, Julio started working part-time for a gentleman in the West Hollywood area. His work ethic, compassion, and professionalism however eventually led to the patient request Julio to work full-time hours.

Julio is a prime example of what a caregiver can accomplish if they're willing to travel to where a case takes them, show up on time and work hard. He's an asset to our organization and we're proud to announce him as our caregiver of the month.

Congratulations Julio!