More impressively, recent studies now claim that massage therapy can be a tremendous help with Alzheimer’s patients. These seniors have proven to be less agitated and more calm. Their heart rate stays steadier, and they don’t have as many outbreaks. Why? Probably because there is real, tangible (yet untangle) power in human touch. Not only is it a great benefit to have an actual therapist massaging your sore muscles, but it helps to have a human make some kind of physical contact. This is most obvious in cases where orphans have been denied human touch, and their development is significantly stunted. Similarly, when an Alzheimer’s patient is calmed by the touch of another human, something just… happens.

And in regular cases with people whose mind and memory are intact, massage therapy has still shown tremendous benefits, namely energy boosts and stress reduction.

But even if you don’t buy into the intangible benefits of personal contact, you simply cannot deny the help a therapist can give to an arthritis patient, or someone losing muscle coordination. When you add it all up, massage therapy is a valid medical option that more people need to consider, especially for the seniors in their lives.

No matter what, aging will be difficult, and aches and pains will increase. That will never change. But if we could dull that some; if we could squeeze out the stress and loneliness and infuse a little bit of happy health, wouldn’t that be worth it?

I believe my grandmother’s advice still rings true. Here are a few things senior citizens should know about FDIC insurance.
FDIC insured banks give their customers a guaranteed peace of mind that their hard-earned dollars will be safe in case of economic crisis that would cause the bank to fail. The FDIC has temporarily raised its maximum insured amount per depositor from $100,000 to $250,000 until January 1, 2014 when all account categories except IRAs and certain other retirement accounts will return to the previous maximum of $100,000.

This means that if you and your family has less than the maximum in all of your deposit accounts at the same FDIC insured bank, your money is fully insured. And if you have accounts in different insured banks, each bank insures those accounts up to the maximum. Meaning? Make sure your funds don’t exceed that maximum in any one bank. Divide your money into separately chartered banks, because each bank is separately insured. Your funds are fully insured by each bank up to the maximum even if the banks are affiliated (belong to the same parent company).

It’s possible that you may qualify for more than the maximum coverage (currently $250,000) at one insured bank if you have deposit accounts in different ownership categories. The most common consumer account categories are single ownership accounts, joint ownership accounts, self-directed retirement accounts (IRAs and Keogh accounts for which you choose how and where the money is deposited), and revocable trust accounts (the funds in this account pass to one or more named beneficiaries when the account owner dies). Deposits in different ownership categories are also separately insured. So rather than dividing funds among different banks, you could simply separate funds into different accounts that have separate ownership categories. So your single ownership account that exceeds the maximum coverage could be split off into another account or trust in the same bank that falls under a different ownership category. For example, you could funnel some of your funds into an IRA (Individual Retirement Account) or open a joint account with your spouse or another family member.

Bank failures are fortunately fairly rare in this day and age, largely due to the strict financial strength and stability requirements for banking institutions to qualify as an FDIC insured institution. But in the rare instances of FDIC insured bank failure, no depositor has lost even a penny of FDIC-insured funds. If your bank did happen to go under, FDIC insurance would cover your deposit accounts completely including principal and accrued interest up to the maximum covered. If you did have deposits exceeding the maximum covered, you still might be able to recover some, or rarely, all of your uninsured funds. But this is usually a risk not worth taking.

In the unlikely event your bank does fail, the FDIC would issue payment promptly to you, the depositor, usually within a few days, and often by the next business day after your bank closes. Some competing insurance agencies have spread rumors that the FDIC doesn’t have adequate reserves to make payouts or that it takes years to make payments to insured depositors. This simply isn’t true. Recently the FDIC has increased its premiums for insured banks to ensure adequate reserves if there should be wide-spread bank failures.

Ultimately it is up to you to know what accounts and funds are insured by your bank, so ask! In economically unstable times, your best defense is to be aware and to make sure your hard-earned savings are protected.

Home Modifications

• Do you need assistance getting into or out of bed?
• Are you able to navigate getting to the bathroom during the night?
• Do you feel comfortable getting up and down from the toilet?
• Are faucets easy to turn on and off?
• Do you feel comfortable in getting in and out of the shower or bathtub?
• Do you have visual limitations or depth perception difficulties?
• Are all areas of the home appropriately lighted?
• Do you have difficulties with self-feeding?
• Are things you need arranged within your reach?
• Are windows, doors, cabinets easy for you to open and shut?
• Are light switches within easy reach?
• Are all rooms easily accessible?
• Is the phone in easy reach and at an appropriate volume?
• Are stairs easy and safe to navigate?
• Are all entrances easy to navigate?
• Is the furniture arranged to provide clear pathways and support as needed?
• Are outside pathways smooth and easy to navigate?

1. a.  Check for adequate lighting in all rooms, outdoor walkways, and hallways. Note any extra lighting needed: night light, noise-response lighting (the Clapper), brighter bulb, new lighting installation, or motion sensor lights
2. b.  Make note of any changes needed to provide clear pathways, safe and easy access, and balance supports especially for outdoor walkways, entrances, hallways, and stairways: rearrange furniture, remove obstructions or loose rugs, provide additional seating, install non-slip surface, mark level changes with colored or reflective tape, add handrails, install ramp or stair lift
3. c. Evaluate each room for functionality, potential hazards, or physical obstacles. Consider appropriate solutions.

Kitchen 

Living Room

• ramps
• lifts
• smooth pathways
• wide doorways
• wide hallways 
• electric door opener
• table, counters, sinks, adjusted to appropriate height

• reach extender
• walker
• cane
• walking stick

What level of service does my loved one need?
How many hours per day do I need a Respite Care service?
How much will the service cost?


If you prefer your loved one to be cared for at home, you need to
decide whether you need a Nurse, a Home Health Aid or a Companion.

Nurses are, of course, trained and ready to help your loved one deal
with all of the issues that arise from living with illnesses. In
addition to helping with bathing and dressing issues, they can
administer medication and act in precisely the same ways Nurses in a
health facility could. They generally cost upwards of $25 per hour.

Home Health Aids are often Certified Nursing Assistants, trained to
provide many of the same services offered at nursing facilities. They
can help your loved one dress, walk around the house, bathe, take
medication, etc. Home Health Aids are ideal for seniors who are
currently battling illnesses and need basic health care assistance.
You can expect to pay between $20 and $25 per hour for their services.

Companions, on the other hand, are better for seniors who need
supervision but are not sick or too feeble. They are not trained to
give basic aid in activities like bathing or dressing. Companions, who
are sometimes called Homemakers, are ideal for Alzheimer’s patients
who need conversation and supervision, as well as a hand in making
lunch and taking walks. You can expect to pay them between $15 and $25 per hour.


The costs for home respite care can add up quickly. The out-of-pocket
costs could easily reach $200 per day for even basic services. If you
just need a break for a few hours, this is a fine option. Otherwise,
you would be wise to consider an Adult Day Service.

Adult Day Services (often called “Adult Day Care”) are generally far
less expensive, costing around $65 per day on average. These services
are generally open all day Monday through Friday, offering care for
many different patients in a community-rich environment. These
facilities are common for Alzheimer’s patients, and seniors who are
sick but not immobilized. The staff will almost always include
Registered Nurses and all kinds of aids who together are well equipped
to handle bathing, dressing, and all kinds of medical needs. And best
of all, the staff and patients should provide plenty of companionship.
There are around 4000 Adult Day Care facilities in the United States.

Despite the benefits, most people prefer Home Care. This is probably
because Medicare usually covers at least part of the cost of home
health care but usually does not cover adult day care. The type of
care, of course, is the determining factor. Before making any
decisions be sure to visit Medicare’s website or talk to an advisor.

Houston Elder Care Directory

Moving is a dramatic change for an elderly person, especially one with Alzheimer’s disease. A move from home to a nursing home may be the best option but look into getting care at home. Moving can confuse and depress an elderly person. If your mother or father is able to, let him or her be a part of the decision.

When an elderly person is familiar with a facility or the staff at one assisted living or nursing home it’s usually best to keep him there. An elderly person is more likely to willingly receive care and feel comfortable with care attendants and nurses that he or she knows as opposed to a stranger. Also when elderly people are familiar with a facility, such as knowing where the dining room, medicine, activities, and their apartment is, they are usually emotionally stable longer than if they are moved from facility to facility and getting disoriented and confused.

However, when you see your loved one needing more care than what the facility gives, you need to act quickly. There are nurses that come to where your parent is and give care to him. Some facilities have care packages that start at minimal care (such as reminders to come to meals and take medicine) and maximum care packages (such as bathing, transferring from bed to wheelchair and feeding). If the facility that your loved one is does not offer more care and getting a nurse to come and care for him or her is not an option you should not leave him or her there, moving would be a must in that situation.


If your parents are at a facility and you are not happy with the care that they are receiving, talk to the management about your complaints. They may not be aware that your parent is being neglected. Also talk with the care staff and let them know that you care about your parents and want the best care for them. Politely tell the care staff your complaints (i.e. moms hair needs to be brushed, I noticed dad lost his dentures). Visit your parents often. Keep the care staff accountable by making visits at different times of the day or maybe spend a night there if possible. If the quality of care still does not improve make a complaint to DADS (Department of Aging and Disabilities Services) and move your parents to a more quality facility.

Most importantly make sure your parent is taken good care of and is happy.

This morning the sunrise looked like sunshine was gently stroked with a paintbrush onto the pale blue and pink sky. There’s something therapeutic about sunshine. I believe that it helps calm and uplift a person to a degree. When a baby is born the doctor tells the mother to sun bathe the baby by bringing the infant in direct sunlight for a few minutes to half an hour. Everyone, not just babies, could use some sunlight. The elderly however aren’t able to get out much and maybe don’t have a good view out the window. Not getting sunlight may be a factor of depression. Statistics have shown that there are more suicides in places that don’t get much sunlight such as Alaska’s winters. So if your loved one is battling depressing from alzheimer’s or has been cooped up for too long take them out for a walk and a picnic. Your loved one will enjoy your company as well as the fresh air and sunshine.