Worried about how your parents will manage in a hurricane, cyclone, earthquake, flood, or other disaster? Get them gabbing. Talking is one of the most important ways to protect seniors in a natural disaster, according to a recent report from the Hartford Financial Services Group, an insurance company that funds research on aging, among other things.

A recent survey of older Americans commissioned by Hartford found that a huge majority expect to rely on others in a disaster. But most of these same folks haven’t talked about disaster planning with their family, friends, or neighbors. So the people most likely to help them don’t know what they need or expect.

The solution: Sit down for a chit-chat with your parents or other elderly loved ones and hatch out a plan for handling disasters. Covers such basics as:

• Establishing a network of people to check on them and then to pass information to others
• Making sure they have an emergency supply kit. Check out these tips on kits from the Red Cross and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• Back-up medications, prescriptions, hearing aids, glasses
• Extra food and medications for pets

This information plus much more is covered in detail in a great booklet published by the Hartford with the MIT AgeLab. The Red Cross also has helpful disaster planning information for seniors.

It’s so easy to put this stuff off until it’s too late. I’m guilty of this, and I live in earth-shaky California, where the next “Big One” is expected any second. What I like about this recent advice is that it's straightforward: “Mom, dad, let’s chat. Do you own a flashlight? Got any bottled water on hand?”

Image by Flickr user pink moose under the Creative Commons Attribution License.

Shingles is a pretty nasty skin condition that can be extremely painful and sometimes dangerous -- and seniors are especially vulnerable. So the news that everyone over 60 should get a shingles vaccine adds an important item to the “To Do” list for anyone caring for a senior (or inching toward 60 themselves).

In fact, put a giant star by it on the list, as the vaccination is a recent recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). There's a good NPR story on it, and plenty of bloggers spreading the advice, including this Harvard Med School doc (via video!).

But this isn’t the only vaccine recommended for older folks. I hate to add items to your list, but while you’re looking into getting your parents vaccinated for shingles, it's a good time to see what else they need. The CDC’s adult vaccination list includes:

• Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis...  Read more

If your parents have high blood pressure, add a home monitor to their shopping list. So suggests a bunch of high-powered and well-respected heart organizations, including the American Heart Association and the American Society of Hypertension.

(Hey, this might make a great Father’s Day gift, especially for a dad who appreciates practicality.)

Their announcement got lots of attention in blogdom and traditional news. The upshot:

• Doctor’s office measurements can be misleading, either higher than usual, called the “white coat effect,” or lower.
• Because blood pressure normally varies throughout the day, home testing makes it easier to get a generalized or Big Picture look at rates, versus the snapshot of an occasional doctor’s visit.
• The immediate feedback of home testing can be a great incentive for patients, sending them out on a jog or away from the salt shaker...  Read more

Something caught my eye recently that really puts a human face on today’s economic uncertainties (beyond scowls at the gas pump).

An article in the New York Daily News looks at how some seniors are being walloped by the rising cost of food. Spikes in the price of bread, milk, eggs and other basics are tough for many seniors, especially those on a fixed income. And yes, their health is at stake.

Government forecasters say these rising prices aren’t going away any time soon, as the Associated Press reports. Bloggers are abuzz, circulating the latest stories.

Fortunately, there are ways to help. If you’re concerned about your parents' ability to pay for food, here are some possible ways to save:

• Meals on Wheels and other meal delivery programs. Many charge on a sliding scale. Because they can buy in bulk, consumers pay less...  Read more

I'll bet you think that osteoporosis (bone thinning) is a woman’s condition. I did. Looks like we need to adjust our thinking -- and we’re not alone. The American College of Physicians released new clinical guidelines this month on screening men for osteoporosis. This is good info to share with your dad and with his doctor.

These first-ever guidelines call for doctors to periodically screen older men using these risk factors:

• Low body weight or recent weight loss combined with physically inactivity
• Ongoing use of corticosteroid drugs (such as prednisone) or some drugs used to treat prostate cancer
• Low calcium diet
• Smoking
• Previous fractures not caused by trauma

Doctors are advised to give high-risk men further x-ray testing -- as early detection is key with osteoporosis -- and several simple approaches can slow its progress, such as increasing Calcium...  Read more

Think “fall prevention” and what comes to mind? Walkers and canes, getting rid of easy-to-trip-on throw rugs, installing bathroom grab bars, maybe checking out senior exercise classes.

Add meat. (Lean, please.) And eggs, chicken, tofu and nuts. Yep, protein. And make that plenty of it, especially for your mom.

As we age, we lose muscle mass, making us weaker and more prone to falling. Exercise and a balanced diet with ample protein, which builds muscle, help counter this effect.

But when looking closer at the relationship between protein and muscle, researchers at Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Nottingham in England found that protein isn’t as helpful to elderly women as to men. This recent study showed that the muscle of older women didn't synthesize or utilize protein as efficiently as that of older men.

So what’s an old gal supposed to do? Get adequate protein, says Dr. Bettina Mittendorfer, a professor of medicine at Washington University and one of the study’s authors. A good supply of protein is especially important for older, post-menopausal women, she said.

What's enough protein? Dr. Mittendorfer agrees with the government’s RDA or recommended daily allowance: 0.8 grams of protein for every 2.2 pounds you weigh. Say what? Translation: about 70 grams of protein daily for a 154-pound person, or 50 grams for a 100-pounder. Helpful hint: protein is expressed in grams on food labels. Here's a handy on-line food by food protein counter.

Protein is actually pretty complictated stuff. But there's good information out there, including for seniors. Check:

• The US Department of Agriculture’s Nutrition.gov senior page, and MyPyramid, nutritional guide
• MedlinePlus nutrition for seniors. (National Institutes of Health and the National Library of Medicine)
• Harvard School of Public Health's protein report

Photo by Flickr user Wildcat Dunny under the creative commons attribution license.

Even if you gave your mom a gift, here's an after-the-fact Mother's Day present with meaning any time of the year: A check-up. If you're a daughter caring for your mom, give it to yourself.

Women around the country are being urged to give themselves a medical check-up, as part of the ninth annual National Women’s Health Week, which kicked off on May 11 (Mother’s Day). Well, not to give themselves a check-up, but to schedule one with their health care provider. National Woman’s Check-Up Day is May 12, and for motivation, you can even take an on-line pledge.

Research shows that women do a much better job caring for others than for themselves. We’ll hustle and bustle scheduling appointments for our parents, kids, and spouses -- leaving our own health as the last priority.

More than a hokey proclamation, National Women's Week, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is packed with useful activities, on-line and off...  Read more

If your mom lives far away, showing up with a box of chocolates on Mother’s Day or taking her out to brunch may be impossible. (Reminder: Mother's Day is May 11.) Don't worry, there are all kinds of special ways you can honor your distant mom. And there's still time.

You can always go the flowers, gift, or card route -- reliable standbys. (For mailing information/deadlines, check these sites: the U.S. Postal Service, Fedex, UPS, and DHL.) Or, take a look at some off-the-usual-path ideas:

• A surprise conference call or trickle of calls through the day. Coordinate with family members. Here’s a conference call tip.
• A warm home-delivered meal. Do an internet search with your mom’s town and terms such as “home delivered meals,” “home delivered gourmet meals," or "personal chef."
• A box of home-delivered groceries filled with delicacies or necessities...  Read more

The news that everyone over 60 is supposed to get a shingles vaccine is an important one for the “to do" list of anyone caring for a senior (or getting up in years themselves). Put a giant star by it. (The Centers for Disease Control recently made this recommendation.)

Shingles is a pretty nasty skin condition that can be extremely painful and sometimes dangerous. Seniors are vulnerable. Hallelujah for anything that prevents shingles. (Lots of news and blogging on this announcement.)

But after this isn’t the only vaccine recommended for seniors. I hate to add items to your list; I really do. But while you’re looking into getting your parents shingles vaccines, you may as well see what else they need. The CDC’s adult vaccination list includes:

• Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis
• Influenza (the flu shot)
• Pneumococcal (pneunomia)
• Varicella (chicken...  Read more

Sometimes small efforts can make a huge positive difference. I like to think of these as heart-gems. I discovered one a few weeks ago, when I was writing a blog about nursing homes and diaper care. Many elders need diapers (incontinence is a common problem for seniors) but are too embarrassed to shop for them. (Utterly understandable.) They fret, worry, and agonize.

Simple solution: Adult diapers (and other incontinence products) can be purchased on-line and shipped to your parents in a plain package. Now this may sound old-hat to us (relatively speaking) younger folk, who are comfy with the internet (though perhaps less so than our kids). But your parents may not realize they have this option.

You can order diapers for your parents. Of if they’re somewhat computer savvy, they may prefer doing it themselves, but need pointers...  Read more

A heartbreak in Texas offers lessons that can protect elders everywhere. Retired airplane technician and avid gardener Frank Dusek died in the middle of the night when his house caught on fire in early April. Frank lived alone in Euless, outside of Ft.Worth.

Yes, he had a smoke detector. It was found lying on a chair in the charred house -- with no batteries. The tragedy was covered by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Something positive happened after Frank’s death. Fire investigators and volunteers walked his neighborhood, home to many seniors, passing out and installing smoke detectors.

The elderly are at much greater risk of dying from fire than younger people. (Check out this Fact Sheet from the U.S. Fire Administration.) Why? Because they're more likely to have hearing, vision, memory, or mobility problems that affect their ability to detect smoke, properly use a smoke detector, and escape fire.

Prevention really can help, but many seniors need assistance -- reminders, nudging, and double-checking. (Here's good, detailed fire prevention information from The Senior Corner, a resource of the Traverse City, Michigan public library.)

A few things you can do right now to help your parents:

• Install smoke detectors, and regularly check and change their batteries.
• Develop and practice a home fire escape plan.
• Talk about not cooking in loose, baggy clothing and not smoking in bed or when drowsy.
• Remove home and yard clutter, especially if it’s close to a heaters or stove.
• Install fire extinguishers and consider a home sprinkler system.

One more thought: You can spread the word about fire safety, as the Texas folks did after Frank's death.

Image by Flickr user mdg26 used under the Creative Commons attribution license.

Another terrific idea for helping our elders exercise has crossed my desk, or computer screen. (Last month it was the Wii video game.)

Senior playgrounds -- honest-to-goodness, equipment-filled, outdoor play areas -- are popular in many countries, except for the United States. It's interesting to think about the political or cultural explanations for this (a different topic), but these playgrounds do attract seniors.

I can see why. They’re marvelously designed for safe, healthy geriatric activity. Check for yourself by clicking the Good Morning America link on changingaging, the blog of geriatric physician, Bill Thomas. Then click the video "Playgrounds for the Elderly." It's worth it. (This blog post, by the way, stresses how middle agers could benefit from a romp in senior playgrounds, along with their parents.)

There are senior playgrounds in England, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, and Canada. I couldn’t find any in the U.S., nor could Gwen Mergian, a nurse who writes The Cholesterol Blog for the Times Union newspaper in Albany, New York. If you know of any senior playgrounds, let me know. Bottom line: They do look like they're fun.

Meanwhile, there are other good ways for our parents to get healthy outdoor exercise:

• Walking, one of the best forms of exercise on earth. Tips from The American Podiatric Medical Association.
• Bike riding. Tips from The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center.
• And how about a round of catch with the grandkids.

I'd welcome senior playgrounds to the list above. How about starting a movement to get some closer to home?

Image by Flickr user Ashengrove used under the Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivus License.

Adult diapers hardly seem like a hot media topic. But they’ve been just this in Canada lately, thanks to the Ontario Health Minister saying he’ll wear a diaper to judge their comfort. This in response to claims that the Canadian government doesn’t spend enough money on staffing in state-run nursing homes, leaving residents in soiled diapers. (In spite of his threat, George Smitherman, the health minister, apologetically backed down from his diaper test drive, as reported by lots of news sources, including the Toronto Star.)

Check out blogger Rositta’s (a self-described cynical "middle-aged broad") take on the issue.

Wherever your parents happen to live, if they're in a nursing home, staffing is critical, especially when it comes down to how best to care for our elders in diapers. Talk about being vulnerable. They are -- especially when we can't check on them as often as we'd like.

Being a strong advocate can help. Here are some tips:

• Ask your parents’ nursing staff how often they change diapers. Some do this on a regular schedule, regardless of use. Others change as needed. Ask to see charts documenting changes.
• Talk to your parents about their diaper comfort. Not an easy topic, I know, but they may be relieved to confide in someone. Are they feeling OK, or can something be done differently.
• Check your parents’ bodies for rashes or redness in the private areas. If you see anything unusual, immediately tell and show the nursing staff.
• Talk to staff about any concerns. Thenwork with them on changes.

If you aren’t feeling reassured, consult with your parents’ long-term care ombudsman, a federally funded service that helps nursing home residents address care concerns. To find your parents’ ombudsman, use this handy state-by-state tool from the National Citizen’s Coalition for Nursing Home Reform.

Image by Flickr user jcortel under the Creative Commons attribution license.

Every day, it seems, there’s a new study saying how great exercise is for the elderly. Good to know, but piles of research don't necessarily get our older loved ones active.

A video game may. The Nintendo Wii is all the craze in retirement communities and nursing homes, as reported in numerous local papers like Connecticut’s Republican American. The Wii is known for its sports games where players swing around a remote control to bowl, box, or play tennis on the screen. You can play sitting or standing, and yes, you really can work up a sweat.

Medical experts are taking note. University of Maryland geriatric physician Bill Thomas posted a fun Wii video on his blog Changingaging. And Wiis are showing up increasingly alongside weight benches and treadmills at senior rehabilitation programs, as highlighted in the Grand Rapids Press.

All you need is a TV and about $300 for a Wii (sold in any consumer electronic store, including on-line). Chances are your kids can teach your parents. Maybe your parents are already Wii'ing? What sports do they like?

Image by Flickr user Mitmap78 used under the Creative Commons attribution license.

At first glance, your local cop doesn't seem like a first choice for providing eldercare. But it turns out police around the country do just this as a regular part of their job. Keeping an eye on seniors, especially those living alone, is a routine service of many police departments. Some call. Some visit. Others ask seniors to call and when they don't, go to their home to see what's up.

I just did a web search and was amazed by the choice. There are programs in Marshall County, Iowa; Baker County, Florida; and the town of Morton Grove, Illinois. The list goes on. Some are run by police departments alone, or cops teamed up with social service agencies. Most are free to residents.

They're easy to find. Do an internet search using terms like "police" or "sheriff" and “senior check-in” or “senior check,” always with the name of your parent’s town or county...  Read more