What does it take to really drive change in how people view aging? How do you reverse the trends that our society has often taken in accepting “subtle” ageist actions and views, and treating them as “normal”?

For the third year in a row, Parker has conducted the National Survey on Aging in America to track opinions and trends in aging and to become better informed of what the conversation looks like regarding aging in America. This year’s results reveal disparities in views between males and females and different age groups. This translates into: more work needs to be done in changing the way people look at aging.

The Parker study unveils men are 13% more likely to consider someone “old” compared to women. Similarly, Millennials and people in the Generation X age group are far more likely to think of a person as “old” by the time they hit their 70s than members of the Baby Boomer and Silent generations. How can we bridge this gap?

The survey also addressed some common forms of ageism in disguise such as the recent “aging challenge” that hit social media, children being asked to dress up like 100-year-olds on the 100th day of school, and birthday cards and commercials that make fun of the aging process.

Some of these forms of ageism seem innocent but they need to be recognized for what they are -damaging to older individuals, our future generations and to ourselves. When people think aging is something to poke fun at, it creates a lack of respect for the process. Yet people may not consider them offensive until they are made aware. In fact, 20% of those polled by Parker say they are now better informed after hearing these examples of ageism and feel the knowledge will change the way they think about aging or act toward older people in the future.

A positive view of aging can happen when we continuously choose each and every day to speak up against these behaviors. Parker launched the #WithIt Movement to celebrate aging and it’s our hope that over time the positive messages that #WithIt brings will overshadow the negative conversations. Will you join me in becoming a driver of change in your own communities and families?

With appreciation,

Roberto Muñiz

President & CEO

By Danielle Woodruffe



Photo of Bob Gutworth, courtesy of Parker



Parker invited elders who have served our country to a unique Memorial Day Service honoring a local family. The ceremony was held in conjunction with Elmwood Cemetery.

 

The Howell family had a grandfather who survived World War I and a father who died in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. Both men were commemorated. Parker Veterans are proud to have served our country and happy to honor the Howell family.

 

“I think it’s nice that Parker is honoring Mr. Howell. You should honor people like that,” said Parker at Stonegate assisted living resident, Bob Gutworth. “At the Battle of the Bulge, I was laying bobbed wire in front of our positions. We were very thinly spread out, hoping that the German soldiers wouldn’t show up. We were up north a little bit so we lucked out.”

 

More than a dozen Parker veterans were in attendance. The ceremony included a poem reading of “Dulce Et Decorum est”, written by soldier and poet, Wilfred Owen during World War I and published posthumously in 1920. Participants wrapped up the service with the playing of Taps.

By Richard Eisenberg





Anna Nelson volunteering as a Knoxville Foster Grandparent. (Photo credit: compliments of Senior Corps)



As Dr. Ann Hwang of the health care advocacy nonprofit Community Catalyst has written on Next Avenue, research studies show that older adults who volunteer are less likely to have high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease. They face a lower risk of cognitive impairment, too. But there’s now evidence that low-income people age 55 and older who volunteer in the federal Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion programs report better health, decreased depression and less social isolation.



“What we’re learning is that these programs have a dramatic impact on the volunteers’ perception of their health and well-being over time. We thought that was the case, and hear it anecdotally all the time. But it was nice to see the research confirm it,” said Erin McGrath, deputy director of Senior Corps, the umbrella organization for the Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion programs run by the federal Corporation for National and Community Service.

How Health Improved for Senior Corps Volunteers

The researchers collected data from more than 1,200 first-time Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion volunteers over two years. Foster Grandparents are tutors and mentors to at-risk kids. Senior Companions help older homebound adults maintain independence through daily-living tasks like driving to the supermarket and alerting doctors and family members to potential problems. Volunteers must be 55 and older with incomes up to 200 percent of the poverty line.



Among the findings from the study of the Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion volunteers:

• 88 percent who described a lack of companionship before doing this volunteering reported a decrease in feeling of isolation after two years
• 84 percent reported improved or stable health after two years of volunteering
• 78 percent of those who reported five or mores symptoms of depression at the beginning of the survey said they felt less depressed two years later
• 32 percent who reported “good” health at the beginning of the study reported improved health after two years volunteering

One Foster Grandparent’s Rebound

Anna Nelson, 70, a Foster Grandparent volunteer with five- and six-year-olds in Knoxville, Tenn., for the past three years, can attest to the study’s results.



“I’m not depressed anymore. My blood pressure has come down. My blood work is now normal. My cholesterol level is down,” said Nelson, one of 500 Senior Corps volunteers in Knoxville. In addition, Nelson said, “I’ve lost weight from being more active with the kids. They get me moving.”



A a former long-haul truck driver, Nelson said her physical and mental health had deteriorated after her husband died. She had both knees replaced and back surgery. “I just got really depressed for ten years. I didn’t do anything,” she noted.



“When I found out about the Foster Grandparent program, I thought it might be something I’d like to do. And I thought it could help with my money problems,” Nelson said. Foster Grandparents and Senior Companions receive a stipend of $2.65 an hour plus training and, sometimes, travel reimbursement.



Initially, Nelson signed up to volunteer 15 hours a week. She liked being a Foster Grandparent so much, she now spends 40 hours a week assisting kids. “It’s given me a sense of being worth something,” Nelson said.



McGrath said the programs’ volunteers like Nelson often report a reduction in depression and loneliness because they “feel a sense of connectedness” and a “renewed sense of purpose.” These programs are managed locally by staffers at area nonprofits and government agencies. “The local manager makes sure the volunteers are being successful and have the proper training,” said McGrath.



The government’s small stipend also helps give the volunteers the ability to be Foster Grandparents and Senior Companions. Low-income volunteer are “typically underrepresented” among volunteers in America, McGrath said.

Helping Caregivers With Their Lives, Too

One more bonus from Senior Companion volunteering: These volunteers providing respite services make life easier and better for caregivers of the people they’re helping, researchers found.



A Senior Companion Program study of 56 of these caregivers revealed that 76 percent of caregivers with “critical” personal and family needs said Senior Companion respite services helped them “a lot” with personal time and household management.



And 60 percent of the caregivers said the Senior Companions let them be more involved in social activities and enjoy time with their friends and family. Forty percent of caregivers surveyed who rated their own health as “fair” or “poor” before the Senior Companions arrived described their health as “good” two years later.



“Those were impressive numbers for what the respite care allows the caregivers to do for themselves,” noted McGrath.



The future for these two programs is cloudy, however. The Trump administration has proposed zero funding for them in three annual federal budgets, including the one released yesterday. But Congress recently committed a $6 million increase for Senior Corps.

The Impact on Volunteers and Their Communities

Deisha Finley, Senior Corps manager at the Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee’s Office on Aging — a public, nonprofit government agency — believes the programs’ volunteers benefit not only needy kids and adults, but their cities and towns as well. Her volunteers range in age from 55 to 95.



“We see the impact of their volunteer service in the community and we see a significant impact in the lives of the volunteers as well,” said Finley. “A lot of times, the volunteers may not have a lot of support or the best health. Then they become active with the programs and earn a small stipend. Pretty soon, they’re able to afford their medications and buy fresh fruit and vegetables. Just ask any Senior Corps director.”



Or ask Nelson. “I would say being a Foster Grandparent makes you a lot happier with your energy level. It just makes you happier,” she said.

 

By Debbie Swanson



Credit: Adobe



After successfully completing cancer treatments, Julie Eaton’s 81-year-old father wanted to resume living on his own at his home in Albuquerque, N.M. The family, scattered around Kentucky, California and New Mexico, enlisted professional services as well as technology to support his wishes. “(When he passed), every one of us said how technology helped us take care of our dad, no matter where we were,” Eaton says.



In a survey released by AARP, 87 percent of adults over 65 want to remain in their homes or communities as they age. As a result, many adult children are caring for a parent from afar. Whether it’s across the state or the nation, orchestrating care at a distance presents emotional and logistical challenges.

Lining Up Services

If you live more than an hour’s drive from the person for whom you care, you’re considered a long-distance caregiver, according to the National Institute on Aging. Dependable local services and resources are integral to success. Needs will vary based on your loved one’s situation, but common areas to cover include: lawn care or snow removal, grocery and meal delivery, dog walking or pet food delivery and housecleaning.



Vetting is critical. You’ll need trustworthy individuals who will persist should your loved one ignore their call. Seek local referrals from neighbors, your own contacts in the area, senior centers, the chamber of commerce or places of worship. Check online for lists and read reviews.



National and local caregiver support organizations also provide resources and ideas. The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging offers this booklet, which you can order online for 50 cents.



Also consider hiring a geriatric care manager, who will oversee things locally while keeping you in the loop.

Informal assistance is also helpful, such as a responsible neighbor willing to check in as needed, or a trustworthy high school or college student on standby for chores or errands. It may be best to stay within your network for these individuals — someone you know and trust.



“There was a fantastic neighbor … I could text her and she would check on my mother,” says Claire-Anne Aikman of Indianapolis, whose mother lived an hour away. “She had a key and my mother loved her.”



It’s also beneficial to look into plumbers, electricians and general contractors before the need arises to call on them. “Better to know who to call, than scramble and take the first person who answers the phone,” Aikman says.

Make Yourself Known

Be sure any individual — professional or informal — knows you are the main point of contact and will reach out if he or she finds anything questionable. Share your contact information readily and keep it easily visible in your loved one’s home. Try to stay familiar with the people in his or her circle; these individuals can offer early clues into changes in well-being.



“My mother had a weekly grocery outing with a very kind friend,” Aikman says. “(My mother) told my son that her friend was now dropping off groceries instead … I asked the friend how long this arrangement was in play, and I learned it had been several weeks.”

Technology Can Help

Today’s technology is an asset to long distance care. Mounted cameras, devices that warn of a fall, motion detectors and refrigerator cameras can offer daily insight into a person’s well-being.



“We set up a camera to monitor (Dad’s) living room and kitchen table,” says Eaton. “We would check periodically from our phones, especially when we knew he would be sitting at the table reading his paper.” In addition to their own peace of mind, Eaton says the cameras made her father feel less alone.



“When I saw he was falling, we ordered something to hang around his neck that would notify (emergency medical technicians),” she says.



Depending on your loved one’s comfort with technology, it could take some discussion and time for him or her to warm up to it. Eaton reports that, initially, her father disliked the fall-alert device; it wasn’t until he actually did have a fall that he was more willing to wear it dependably.

Things Don’t Always Go Smoothly

Once you’ve set everything up, in theory, long-distance caregiving should run smoothly. But in reality, it could be a headache. Your loved one may neglect to charge his or her cell phone. He or she might turn off the motion detectors or complain about the meal delivery. Your service providers may quit due to the uncooperative nature of your parent, or your loved one may dismiss them.



“Understand and act on what matters most to your parent. For example, if someone is very independent, they like to call the shots, appeal to that. Try to involve them in the process and give them options,” suggests Rani Snyder, program director at The John A. Hartford Foundation in New York. “Or if they’re very conscious of finances, be aware of that.”

Dealing With Feelings of Guilt

Caregiving is emotionally draining, but you may face additional feelings of guilt or pressure about the many miles between you and the person you’re caring for.



“Try to offer options. Rather than moving in with you, maybe the parent would consider moving into an assisted living center near you. Or, perhaps set up a regular visitation or phone call schedule, rather than moving closer to them,” Snyder says.



Remind yourself of what’s possible and what best serves you, your loved one and your family, and try to stay within those boundaries.



Supporting another’s health and independence from afar can be exhausting. Applaud yourself for doing the best you can. Remain flexible; if one method isn’t working, don’t hesitate to hire additional help or try a new arrangement.

Signs a Different Arrangement Might Be Needed

Despite your diligent efforts, a more assisted-living arrangement may become necessary for your loved one. Watch for these signs:

• Worsening health or increasing medication dependencies
• Increased cognitive decline: forgetfulness, cooking mishaps, household accidents
• Lack of reliability with eating, hygiene or daily activities
• Decreasing mobility, lack of coordination, more frequent falls
• Signs of depression: excessive sleeping, reclusive behavior, poor hygiene, declining interests

Don’t overlook your own side of the situation:

• You are overburdened with complaints, guilt or unrealistic demands
• Care efforts are too time consuming or are negatively affecting your professional life or family
• You are traveling back and forth much more than anticipated

Don’t despair. Make a list of some new options and discuss them with your loved one and any other family members to see what might help ease the problems.