One of the most difficult and emotionally trying decisions that adult children face today is how they're going to care for their aging parents once they're unable to care for themselves. The realization that parents need care is usually precipitated by some traumatic event that leaves the adult child very little time to a make some very important decisions. In most cases, the children are left to make these gut-wrenching, life-changing decisions on their own without much information available to them.
Considering the economic turmoil America is already facing these days, the aging of America is going to be one of the biggest economic and social concerns this country will face over the next 20 years. When the 78 million members of the "Baby Boomer" generation, the largest population group in the history of the United States, begin to retire in 2010, it is estimated that one in five Americans will be 65 years of age or older by 2020. How are we going to care for all these people? And how in the world are we going to pay for it? More and more families across America are dealing with these difficult decisions every day. How we prepare for this unprecedented change today will determine the quality we all enjoy tomorrow.
Researchers are now saying that each of us has a 90% chance of someday caring for our parents, grandparents or other loved ones. Of all the research I've read, I believe this statistic is the most revealing of all.
What are you going to do?
People are incredibly afraid of this subject. Most of this anxiety is created by the fear of the unknown. Knowing what to expect is half the battle. With the release of my new book "When Mom and Dad Need Help", which will be officially released on May 18, 2010, and the use of this blog, my hope is educate as many people as I can about how to plan and prepare for their parents' future long-term care needs.
Please stayed tuned as I will be posting at least twice a week to this blog with relevant content. Please feel free to comment and ask questions and I will try my best to get back to you with a response.
Very truly yours,
Mike Campbell
http://www.iffenwen.com/
As the senior population continues to grow, the need for both caregiver assistance and tools to increase one's independence becomes extremely important. There are numerous health issues that plague the senior population. With the cost of healthcare rising every day, maximizing care options at home has become a necessity for many of today's seniors. Some opt for a caregiver- often a relative or loved one, while others utilize facilities such as assisted living. But certainly, many attempt to remain as independent as possible for as long as they can.
ReplyDeleteAs we age, the body naturally loses mobility, and the inability to do daily tasks can become difficult or embarrassing for a grown adult to communicate. Needing help with truly "personal" needs can become very demeaning and challenging. Asking embarrassing, and no senior likes to admit when these sensitive issues have become a problem that affects their daily lives.
Many caregivers, doctors, and nurses are now beginning to discover a new product that helps with this issue. The spa toilet seat is quickly gaining popularity among seniors and their caregivers. By making it easier to use the bathroom for those with limited mobility, it helps alleviate the need for caregiver involvement and increases a senior's independence at home. Popular in Japan and Europe, the emergence of spa toilet seats into the American marketplace is only recent, and its applications and benefits to the senior living community have been somewhat of a hidden miracle.
Electronic units such as Spaloo offer advanced features in an easy to use unit. An electronic spa toilet seat like Spaloo simply replaces an existing toilet seat with minimal installation requirements. With the push of a button, a small wand extends and sprays a gentle stream of warm water to clean the user, resulting in a hands-free, sanitary toilet experience that requires little to no toilet paper. Spaloo's hands-free system offers relief to those who require additional assistance while using the bathroom, including surgery patients, those with mobility problems, and people with MS, Parkinson's or arthritis. In addition, using a bidet toilet seat such as Spaloo can help reduce or alleviate discomfort from incontinence, constipation, UTI, and hemorrhoids, ailments often associated with the elderly population.
The benefits that a spa toilet seat offers the senior community are extensive. No senior or caregiver should have to suffer with the embarrassment associated with personal hygiene or toileting issues when such a low cost solution exists.
For more information about the Spaloo spa toilet seat, please visit www.spaloo.com or email bruce@spaloo.com.