The Momentum Jan-March 2020

The Momentum Jan-March 2020

Rocky Mountain Aging

Older Adult Independence Month Adapting your home to suit YOU! Pg. 4

Multiple Sclerosis What you need to know Pg. 12

Valuing the Invaluable Why we LOVE Caregivers Pg. 16

Older Adults & Fraud What you need to know from the FTC Study Pg. 17

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National Bath Safety Month

80% The National Institute on Aging reports that 80 percent of falls suffered by those aged 65 and older occur in the bathroom. DID YOU KNOW?

Monitor the Temperature

Install no-slip mats in the bath One of the best ways to ensure your bath is safe is to add safety precautions, like non-slip mats. Place one inside your tub or shower and put a nice rug outside the shower as well. Preventing a slip or fall is crucial and non-slip mats are an affordable and easy way to combat falls.

Safety (handles) first

Another great addition to the bath or shower is safety handles. The towel rack, shower curtain or even slippery surfaces like the sink, are not reliable hand holds. Install (or better yet have a friend or family member help) grab bars today!

It may not seem like the temperature should matter, but too hot water can be dangerous! Test the temperature of the water. Try to make sure it is not hotter than 2 degrees warmer than your body temperature to ensure you do not scald your skin!

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National Mentor Month

750 B.C.E

The word mentor was created in 750 B.C.E when it arose as a name of a character in Homer's "Odyssey." DID YOU KNOW?

WHAT IS A MENTOR? A mentor is someone who supports the long term growth and development of their mentee. The dictionary defines a mentor as "an experienced or trusted advisor." To us, a mentor cares for and guides their mentee, who is usually younger or less experienced, in their career and life. The mentor/mentee relationship focuses on the growth of the mentee, and in many ways, encourages growth in the mentor, as well. A mentor can be a personal and professional advocate and help shape the life of their mentee. WAYS YOU CAN BECOME A MENTOR There are many ways you can become a mentor in your community! Reach out to local organizations, like Mountain Mentors, to get connected with a young kid or young adult to form a professional and fun relationship. That way you are giving back to the community, helping someone in need, and creating a partnership with someone new. The benefits are universal. MENTORING CREATES UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY The beauty of mentoring is that it helps people grow and improve themselves without having to do it alone. Especially in mountain communities, it can be lonely, so connecting with just one unique person (outside of your friends an family) can help alleviate loneliness and shape the way you feel about your environment. 3

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Modifying Your Home for Healthy Aging

1 (800) 677-1116 eldercare.acl.gov

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R esearch shows that most older adults want to live in their homes and communities for as long as «œÃÈLi° 1 Ƃ}ˆ˜}>Ì…œ“iLÀˆ˜}Ã܈̅ ˆÌ“>˜ÞLi˜iwÌÃpLœÌ…̜œ`iÀ>`ՏÌà and the communities in which they live. Ƃœ˜}̈“i…œ“iˆÃ>«>ViœvVœ“vœÀÌ >˜`“i“œÀˆiÃp>˜`V>˜Li>ÜÕÀVi œvVœ˜˜iV̈œ˜Ã̜v>“ˆÞ“i“LiÀÃ] ˜iˆ}…LœÀÃ]vÀˆi˜`Ã]«>ViÃœvܜÀň«] Vœ““Õ˜ˆÌÞ}ÀœÕ«Ã]v>“ˆˆ>ÀŜ«Ã>˜` …i>Ì…«ÀœÛˆ`iÀð œÜiÛiÀ]“œÃÌ…œ“iÃÜiÀi˜œÌLՈÌ ̜ÃÕ««œÀÌ̅i“œLˆˆÌÞ]Ãi˜ÃœÀÞ and cognitive changes that often >VVœ“«>˜Þ>}ˆ˜}°ƂÃœ˜i>}iÃ] iÛiÀÞ`>ÞÌ>ÎÃÃÕV…>ÃVˆ“Lˆ˜}̅i ÃÌ>ˆÀÃ]ÃÌ>˜`ˆ˜}Õ«ˆ˜̅iŜÜiÀ] }iÌ̈˜}ˆ˜>˜`œÕÌœv̅iL>̅ÌÕL]>˜` Ài>V…ˆ˜}œLiVÌȘŽˆÌV…i˜V>Lˆ˜iÌÃœÀ œÌ…iÀ«>ViȘ̅i…œ“iV>˜LiVœ“i “œÀi`ˆvwVՏ̰

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• Installing grab bars near the toilet, in the shower and/or bathtub • Installing handheld shower heads and/or shower seats • ,i“œÛˆ˜}œÀÃiVÕÀˆ˜}ÀÕ}Ã̜̅iyœœÀ • Adding high-contrast non-skid tape to stairs • Adding handrails to both sides of staircases • ˜ÃÌ>ˆ˜}˜œ˜‡ÃŽˆ`yœœÀˆ˜}œÀœÜ‡«ˆi carpet • Improving lighting throughout the home • Installing ramps or no-step entries to assist individuals using wheelchairs, walkers, or canes • Widening the width of doorways and/ or hallways to accommodate assistive devices • Installing variable height countertops in the kitchen that allow an individual to sit or stand while cooking The above list is just a sampling of the “œ`ˆwV>̈œ˜Ã̅>ÌV>˜…i«œ`iÀ>`ՏÌà continue living in their homes as they age. It is important to understand that home “œ`ˆwV>̈œ˜ˆÃ>«ÀœViÃÃ̅>ÌÃÌ>ÀÌÃ܈̅ ˆ`i˜Ìˆvވ˜}܅>Ì“œ`ˆwV>̈œ˜Ã>Ài`iÈÀi` or needed by the individuals living in the home.

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/…ivœœÜˆ˜}ÃÕ}}iÃ̈œ˜ÃV>˜…i«œ`iÀ >`ՏÌÃ>˜`V>Ài}ˆÛiÀÃw˜`>«ÀœÛˆ`iÀ̜“>Ži …œ“i“œ`ˆwV>̈œ˜Ã\ • œ˜Ì>VÌ̅i `iÀV>ÀiœV>̜À̜w˜`ޜÕÀ œV>ƂÀi>Ƃ}i˜VÞœ˜Ƃ}ˆ˜}ƂƂƂ®] i˜ÌiÀ vœÀ˜`i«i˜`i˜ÌˆÛˆ˜} ®œÀ-Ì>Ìi Assistive Technology Act Program. These i˜ÌˆÌˆiÓ>Þ«ÀœÛˆ`iœÀVœ˜˜iVÌœ`iÀ >`ՏÌÃ>˜`V>Ài}ˆÛiÀÃ̜…œ“i“œ`ˆwV>̈œ˜ ÃiÀۈViÃ]ÀiviÀÀ>Ã>˜`w˜>˜Vˆ>>ÃÈÃÌ>˜Vi vœÀ…œ“i“œ`ˆwV>̈œ˜ÃiÀۈVið • œ˜Ì>VÌ>,iLՈ`ˆ˜}/œ}i̅iÀ>vwˆ>Ìi ˜i>Àޜհ>˜Þ,iLՈ`ˆ˜}/œ}i̅iÀ >vwˆ>ÌiÃëiVˆ>ˆâiˆ˜«ÀœÛˆ`ˆ˜} …œ“i“œ`ˆwV>̈œ˜ÃiÀۈViÃvœÀœ`iÀ …œ“iœÜ˜iÀÃ܅œ“>Þ˜ii`w˜>˜Vˆ> assistance in making changes to their …œ“ið/œœV>Ìi>˜>vwˆ>Ìi˜i>ÀޜÕ]ۈÈÌ\ ÜÜÜ°ÀiLՈ`ˆ˜}̜}i̅iÀ°œÀ}Éw˜`‡ÞœÕÀ‡ œV>‡>vwˆ>Ìi° • Get recommendations from friends and v>“ˆÞ“i“LiÀÃ܅œ…>Ûi…>`ȓˆ>ÀܜÀŽ done in their homes.

• iëiVˆwV>LœÕÌ̅i…œ“i“œ`ˆwV>̈œ˜Ã that you would like to have installed. • Ask for a written agreement that contains `iÌ>ˆÃœ˜̅iëiVˆwV…œ“i“œ`ˆwV>̈œ˜Ã Liˆ˜}“>`i° • v>Îi`]«ÀœÛˆ`iœ˜Þ>Ó>`œÜ˜ «>ޓi˜Ì>˜`«>Þ̅iÀi“>ˆ˜`iÀœ˜Vi ̅iܜÀŽ…>ÃLii˜Vœ“«iÌi`̜ޜÕÀ iÝ«iVÌ>̈œ˜Ã° • ˜ÃÕÀi̅>Ì̅i«ÀœÛˆ`iÀˆÃÌÀ>ˆ˜i`>˜`…>à iÝ«iÀˆi˜Viˆ˜“>Žˆ˜}̅i˜ii`i`…œ“i “œ`ˆwV>̈œ˜ÃLÞ>Έ˜}vœÀÀiviÀi˜ViÃ>˜` checking reviews from the Better Business ÕÀi>ÕœÀœÌ…iÀÀi«ÕÌ>LiÜÕÀVið œÀ“œÀï«Ã]ۈiÜ Home Improvement Scams: Tools to Reduce Your Risk, an `iÀV>ÀiœV>̜À«ÕLˆV>̈œ˜̅>̈à >Û>ˆ>Liœ˜ˆ˜i>Ìi`iÀV>Ài°>V°}œÛ°

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3WGUVKQPUVQ#UM&WTKPI C*QOG/QFKƂECVKQP #UUGUUOGPV Whether an assessment is conducted by older adults and caregivers themselves, an occupational therapist, or other aging professional, the following basic questions should be asked to ensure that relevant factors are considered. • Can you get into and out of the residence easily and safely? • If the home has stairs, are there rails on both sides of the stairs? • Do you need help standing up from a seated position? • Is there enough lighting in hallways and other places in the home? Can you safely navigate the home during the night when it is dark? • Are there rugs or other items on the yœœÀÃ̅>Ì“>ÞV>ÕÃi>v>¶ • Is there a need for supportive and safety features in the bathroom? For a more detailed list of questions and links to other resources, visit JVVRUGNFGTECTGCENIQX2WDNKE 4GUQWTEGU(CEVUJGGVU*QOGA /QFKƂECVKQPA4GUQWTEGUCURZ

Living at Home After /QFKƂECVKQP9JCVoU0GZV! Modifying homes to meet the changing needs of older adults is not necessarily a one-time event. As functionality changes over time, œÌ…iÀ“œ`ˆwV>̈œ˜Ã“ˆ}…ÌLi…i«vՏ°˜ÃÕV… cases, another in-home assessment may need ̜LiVœ˜`ÕVÌi`°

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PUBLISHED BY

Eldercare Locator 1 (800) 677-1116 (Monday–Friday, 9:00 am – 8:00 pm ET) eldercare.acl.gov Launched in 1991, the Eldercare Locator is the only national information and referral resource to provide support to consumers across the spectrum of issues affecting older Americans. The Locator was established and is funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living and is administered by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a). The Eldercare Locator’s website contains helpful information that can help older adults and caregivers determine which home modifications they need. Preventing Falls at Home is a brochure that provides information on recommended steps, such as annual vision exams, that can be taken to reduce the incidence of falls in the home. The Caregiver Corner of the Eldercare Locator’s website contains a host of information on resources that can support caregivers as they help older adults stay safe in their homes.

National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) n4a.org

The mission of n4a is to build the capacity of Area Agencies on Aging and Title VI Native American aging programs so they can better help older adults and people with disabilities live with dignity and choices in their homes and communities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thank you to the University of Southern California Leonard Davis School of Gerontology for lending its expertise to the development of this brochure.

The University of Southern California Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, Fall Prevention Center of Excellence www.homemods.org The Fall Prevention Center of Excellence (FPCE), based at the University of Southern California Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, promotes aging in place and independent living for persons of all ages and abilities. With support from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, it offers research, training, and technical assistance opportunities for the Aging Network. FPCE also serves as an information clearinghouse on home modification to equip professionals and consumers with a comprehensive inventory of resources such as a National Directory of Home Modification and Repair Resources.

This project was supported, in part, by grant number 90EEIR0001, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy.

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National Low Vision Awareness Month

DID YOU KNOW?

4.2 Million

Alpine Area Agency on Aging's VISION IMPAIRMENT PROGRAM If you are 60 or older and have: Diabetic Eye Disease, Glaucoma, Macular Degeneration, Cataracts, or another condition that cannot be corrected with lenses, we are able to provide assistance in purchasing adaptive equipment.

VISION REHABILITATION With people in the United States living longer, eye diseases and vision loss have become major public health concerns. Currently, 4.2 million Americans, age 40 and older, are visually impaired. By 2030, when the last baby boomers turn 65, this number is projected to reach 7.2 million, with 5 million having low vision. Low vision is a visual impairment that cannot be corrected by standard eyeglasses, contact lenses, medication, or surgery. Having low vision can make activities like reading, shopping, cooking, writing, and watching TV hard to do. In addition, the consequences of vision loss may leave people feeling anxious, helpless, and depressed. Vision rehabilitation can help people with vision loss to maximize their remaining vision and maintain their independence and quality of life by teaching them how to:

CONTACT: Amanda Rens-Moon

Move safely around the home Continue to read, cook, and do other activities Find resources, adaptive devices, and support

970-315-1325

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[email protected]

Multiple Sclerosis ÀMSÁ Awareness Not only is March National MS Awareness month but \nowledge is power. Here's some information on MS.

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Multiple Sclerosis ÀMSÁ Basics

What causes MS?

What is MS?

MS is a central nervous system disorder which disrupts the flow of information between the brain and different parts of the body. Among others, MS symptoms can commonly affectÐwalking,Ðvision,Ðthinking,Ð speaking,Ðsensation, and memory. The average person in the United States has about one in 750 À.1åÁ chance of developing MS. However, there is no real >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43

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