One in Four Elderly Americans are Malnourished - Are You Malnourished?

Older Americans with varying degrees of malnutrition are found throughout the community – in their own homes, in long-term care facilities and even in hospitals.  Some reasons for senior malnutrition include loss of teeth, a hard time getting to the grocery store, and lack of money.  In fact, for many older people it’s not a question of eating well, but of eating at all.  For others, disease, medication interference and dependence on others add to inadequate nutritional intake.

For older Americans, malnutrition can lead to lost weight and strength, lessened immunity to disease, confusion and disorientation, and exacerbated frailty and debilitation. Good nutrition plays a crucial role in keeping older people healthy and functioning.

Studies have shown that older adults at nutritional risk see the doctor more frequently, and have more hospital and emergency room visits.  And when in the hospital, their stays are nearly twice as long as those of well-nourished patients, resulting in much higher hospital bills.

For senior women, it is recommended they eat between 1,600 calories a day for low activity levels, and up to 2,200 calories per day for an active lifestyle (walking 3 miles per day).  Senior men should eat between 2,000 calories a day for low activity levels, and up to 2,800 calories per day for an active lifestyle (walking 3 miles per day).  The average daily calorie consumption is 2,000 calories.

So what does 2,000 calories of food look like per day?  Here is a general breakdown:

2 ½ cups of vegetables such as tomatoes, sweet potatoes, broccoli and cauliflower, etc.

2 cups of fruit such as one banana, half cup of strawberries and half cup of orange juice

6 oz of Grain foods such as one slice of bread, roll or muffin, or 1 cup of cereal, or ½ cup of rice or pasta.

3 cups of Dairy such as low-fat milk, 1 cup of yogurt or 1 ½ oz of cheese.

5 ½ oz of Protein such as seafood, lean meat and poultry, eggs, beans, peas, nuts and seeds.

6 tsp. of oil, use mainly polyunsaturated and monounsaturated such as olive or canola oil.

At any age, it's important to feed your body a diverse amount of nutrients.  Of course you should always speak to your doctor about any food or diet restrictions they may have for any special conditions or medications that modify your food intake.

The Administration on Aging, through Titles III and VI of the Older Americans Act, administers the largest community nutrition services program for older Americans, the Elderly Nutrition Program.  This program provides nutrition services including meals, nutrition education and other services to mobile and homebound elders 60 years of age and older, with a preference to those in greatest economic and social need.

So where can seniors find assistance obtaining food?  Here are some nutrition resources for older Americans:

Congregate Meals Programs are government subsidized meal programs usually held in local community centers to provide reduced cost meals to seniors, an opportunity for socializing, and volunteer roles, which contribute to overall health and well-being of older adults.  Check with your local recreation center, church or senior center to see if they host senior meal programs in your area.

Meals on Wheels:  http://www.mowaa.org/

Oldest and largest membership organization supporting more than 5,000 Senior Nutrition Programs that operate in all 50 states.  Visit their website to search for a Meals on Wheels service near you.

Netgrocer online grocery store:  www.netgrocer.com

A grocery store online, delivers refrigerated, frozen, non-perishable groceries and health and beauty supplies direct to your door in 3-7 days. (Shipping charges apply)

Schwans: http://www.schwans.com/landing/landingaarp.aspx

A pioneer in the home delivery of food, now with a special program for AARP members!  They also offer modified diet foods such as gluten free, vegetarian, low sodium, heart healthy and more.

King Soopers/City Market Home Delivery:  https://homeshop.kroger.com/sf/servlet/storefront

Your local grocery store now allows you to shop from home and have your groceries delivered to your door.  Standard delivery fee is $10.95.  If you don’t have a King Soopers, check with your local grocer to see if they provide home shopping and delivery services.

Commodity Supplemental Food Program-Elderly – How to Apply:  http://www.fns.usda.gov/csfp/eligibility-how-apply 

Food Stamp Program Information:  http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap.

Sources: http://nihseniorhealth.gov/eatingwellasyougetolder; www.webmd.com/healthyaging; www.aoa.gov/naic/about.html

Reverse Mortgages: What You Need To Know

Reverse mortgages are increasing in popularity with seniors who have equity in their homes and want to supplement their income. 

A reverse mortgage is a loan against your homes equity that you do not have to pay back for as long as you live there, and are still living.  If you are 62 years or older and own and live in your own home, you are a good candidate for a reverse mortgage loan. 

All reverse mortgages become due and payable when the last surviving borrower dies, sells the home, or permanently moves out of the home. 

There are fairly standard “conditions of default” such as failure to keep your home insured, upkeep on maintenance and repair, and paying property taxes or special assessments. 

Other potential clauses to consider that can cause default on your loan are: declaration of bankruptcy, donation or abandonment of your home, fraud or misrepresentation, and eminent domain or condemnation involving your home.  Also, renting out part or all of your home, adding a new owner to the title, change of zoning classification, or taking out new debt against your home can cause default.

The only reverse mortgage insured by the US Federal Government is called a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage, or HECM, and is only available through an FHA approved lender. 

FHA tells lenders how much they can lend you based on your age and home value.  The HECM program limits your loan costs, and the FHA also guarantees that lenders will meet their obligations. 

The amount of money you can get depends on the plan or program you select.  It also depends on the kind of cash advances you choose.  These options can include: single lump sum of cash; regular monthly cash advance; a line of “credit” that allows you to decide when and how much cash you want available; or a combination of these payment methods.

The older you are, the more cash you can get.  Also the more your home is worth, the more cash you can get. 

After closing a reverse mortgage, you have three extra days to reconsider your decision.  If for any reason you decide you do not want the loan, you can cancel it.  Your lender can provide you a form to execute the cancellation.   

Of course HECM loans also involve “financing” costs such as loan origination fee, third-party closing costs, a mortgage insurance premium, a servicing fee and, of course, interest.  A lender may require a cash application fee to pay for an appraisal and credit check. 

Reverse mortgages generally must be “first” mortgages (the primary debt against your home). 

The total cost of a reverse mortgage depends on these factors:  How long you live in your home and what happens to its value during that time. 

Three important questions to Ask:

How much would I get?

How much would I pay?

How much would be left at the end of the loan?

http://assets.aarp.org/www.aarp.org_/articles/money/financial_pdfs/hmm_hires_nocrops.pdf

 

Employers and Obamacare: What it Means for You

Adapted from ObamaCare Survival Guide by Nick J. Tate

As the Affordable Health Care Act rolls out over the next year and beyond, we are finally learning the details of what ObamaCare means to working Americans.

First and foremost, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the government agency that will oversee our new healthcare mandates. Employers are required to report to the IRS about each of their employees, and individuals will have to report to the IRS regarding health care insurance status.

Senior Citizens
It’s no secret that ObamaCare will be significantly funded by money cut from Medicare. The original projected cuts totaled $455 billion over the next decade. Since then, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has twice updated that figure. In 2011, the CBO’s estimated cuts were re-estimated to be $507 billion between 2012 and 2021. Then, in July 2012, the CBO projected Medicare outlays would be cut by about $716 billion between 2013 and 2022. That is $209 billion more in cuts than originally projected. However, ObamaCare does expand Medicare’s prescription drug coverage, and certain preventive care services. It also caps what insurers can charge older Americans.

Large Businesses - 25 or More Employees
From a cost perspective, ObamaCare has not been good for large companies as new mandates imposed on their health insurance providers have increased business operating costs. Many Americans are worried that ObamaCare will force their employer to drop their insurance since it may cost less for some businesses to simply pay the $2,000 fine per worker for not providing insurance. Some businesses need to offer benefits to attract workers, and some don't. If you work for a company that easily attracts workers, may be in greater danger of losing your coverage.
Also, large businesses will have to wait to be able to participate in health insurance exchanges, assuming it is granted to them at all. Each state will have to decide itself whether or not to let large businesses purchase insurance through its exchanges.

Small Businesses - 25 or Less Employees
These companies have suffered from rising healthcare costs in the past, but will benefit more from ObamaCare, especially in the short term. They will receive significant tax breaks and in 2014 they will have immediate access to health insurance through exchanges, unlike large businesses. However, if a small business exceeds 25 employees, they will receive no tax credits, and possibly no access to exchanges. For employees who work for small businesses with no insurance, ObamaCare is great news if their employer decides to take the generous tax credit. If small businesses do not participate, workers may be required to purchase insurance through a government-subsidized exchange, or face a fine.
Approximately 6% of businesses with employee payrolls are considered large businesses in America, yet over 175 million Americans work for a large business. Approximately 37 million Americans have no health insurance.

It is also interesting to note that fear of an acute doctor shortage, which existed prior to ObamaCare, may be exacerbated by the new law. With lower expected incomes and student loan debts that are the highest in the world, there could be far fewer doctors to provide health care.

Also Sourced: http://www.census.gov/econ/smallbus.html

Reverse Mortgages for Seniors

Reverse mortgages are becoming more popular in America, for senior homeowners.

HUD, via FHA, offers The Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) which enables a homeowner to withdraw some equity from their home. The funds can we withdrawn with a fixed monthly amount or a line of credit, or both. So, if you need a monthly source of income, or a larger one-time amount to do home improvement, you have several options to choose from.

To borrow with HECM, you must be 62 years of age or older, own your property outright or have a small mortgage balance, occupy the property as your principal residence, not be delinquent on any federal debt, and participate in a consumer information session given by an approved HECM counselor.

The amount you can borrow depends on 1) the age of the youngest borrower, 2) current interest rate, 3) lesser of the appraised value of your home or the HECM FHA mortgage limit for your area or the sales price and the initial Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP) option you choose. Basically, the more valuable your home is, the older you are and the lower the interest rate, the more you can borrow.

Unlike ordinary home equity loans, FHA reverse mortgage HECM does not require repayment as long as the home is your principal residence and the obligations of the mortgage are met. Lenders recover their principal, plus interest, when the home is sold. The remaining value of the home goes to you or your heirs.

If the sales proceeds are insufficient to pay the amount owed, FHA will pay the lender the amount of the shortfall. FHA collects an insurance premium form all borrowers to provide this coverage.

Of course as with all loans, there is a cost associated with the loan, and those can be rolled into the mortgage.

Many companies offer reverse mortgages, which means there are also scammers trying to steal hard earned money. HUD offers a Lender List that can help you to find a viable reverse mortgage lender. Also, if you or a anyone you know is a victim of homeownership fraud, contact HUD.

HUD Homeownership Center & FHA Resource Center can be reached at info@fhaoutreach.com or call 800-225-5342.

Source: http://www.hud.gov/buying/rvrsmort.cfm

Staying Healthy & Active as You Age

People in the U.S. are living longer than ever before. Many seniors live active and healthy lives. But there's no getting around one thing: as we age, our bodies and minds change. There are things you can do to stay healthy and active as you age.

First is eating correctly and having a balanced diet. For seniors, the benefits of healthy eating include increased mental acuteness, resistance to illness and disease, higher energy levels, a more robust immune system, faster recuperation times and better management of chronic health problems. As we age, eating well can also be key to a positive outlook and staying emotionally balanced. Eating three small meals and two snacks per day that include fruits, vegetables, calcium, grains and proteins is key. Also seniors are prone to dehydration because bodies lose some of its ability to regulate fluid levels and our sense of thirst is dulled. Also medications can affect how and what you eat. Talk to your doctor about a healthy diet that is right for you.

Keeping mind and body active, and not smoking are also important. Emotional health affects physical health and in particular, our immune system can be damaged by poor mind health. Stimulating the brain with activity (puzzle games, reading, new learning experiences, daily conversation, meeting new people) shows a positive correlation with a healthy body. Spirit-health is also important and can include religious group participation, meditation, admiring nature’s beauty and reading thoughtful books, to name a few.

Be sure to get regular checkups. If you have several doctors and ongoing medical issues, keep a medical journal in a DayTimer type book. Record appointments, medications prescribed including dose, and any diagnosis. Take this DayTimer with you so you can reference the information at each appointment. Also keep a quick reference list of all medications and dosage handy and updated. Taking charge of your healthcare is important.

Practice safety habits at home and in the car. Remove any tripping hazards and make all floors and rugs slip resistant. Have an emergency plan to call for help, including in-home emergency call systems if needed. Keep a currently tested fire extinguisher, and regularly test smoke and carbon detectors. Equip bathrooms with movement aids such as grab bars, non slipping mats and shower chairs. Use a walking cane or walker to safely move around. Make sure all stairs have secure footing and handrails. Everyone ages differently, so some can drive a car in their 80’s and beyond, while others cannot and should not. The statistics on older adults and driving is sobering. Fatalities rise sharply for drivers over 70 so know when its time to stop. With the help of friends, family, community resources and personal initiative, you can remain mobile without driving.

Sources: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/seniorshealth.html; http://helpguide.org/life/senior_nutrition.htm; http://www.seniorcitizen journal.com/health-and-fitness/annual-physical-exam-for-seniors-mind-body-spirit/; http://www.helpguide.org/elder/senior_citizen_driving.htm

The Golden Years

Getting older stinks. Everyone but our youth understands that.

Hair disappears only to be found growing in odd places. Joints make the sound of a popular brand of cereal, and start to ache when the weather changes. Glasses need to be purchased, or made stronger and more "versatile" with bi or tri focals. Hearing aids are needed so that larger gatherings are more enjoyable and you dont have to stand there just smiling and nodding.

If you think about it, there are so many products out there that make getting older so much easier. Little tools and gadgets that our grandparents never dreamed of having. They improve the quality of life substantially!

I love hearing about seniors getting out and about and being active and embracing their life, even if it is somewhat modified because they now have to use a walking cane for stability. They have made the choice to not sit and become more immobile!

I intend to fight my age with every gadget I can get my hands on. I want my grandchildren to have to keep up with ME! I want to hear those whispered secrets, and actually be able to see and find them in a game of hide and seek.

There is no shame in needing a little help as we age.

We at Mountain View have a wide variety of Mobility Products. I have decided when the time comes, I'm going to get me a walking cane in Blue Floral because it represents my personality and adds some style!