Vaboomer -- Baby Boomer Views & News

More Aid for Women and Men Caregivers: Celebration #3 -- Online Chat Dec. 4 12pm EST

 I've written quite a bit about the increasing needs of caregivers. Recently notice is being given to men who are a larger and larger number of these caregivers Eldercare Tips

I am happy to see recognition being given to the heartfulness of men who are undertaking this compassionate role. My older brother was one such caregiver-tending to our elderly aunt and our mother and aunt's younger brother. Aunt Nelle was in her 90s and Uncle Jack in his late 80s, when my brother devoted nearly eight years to their care. So let's celebrate caregivers and celebrate those organizations who are recognizing that these wonderful people need help themselves.

To that end, let me share the following notice from the Rite Aid company, which is holding on-line chats for caregivers today and tomorrow. Family obligations prevented me from posting earlier today, but at least readers can access the chat tomorrow if they wish. My bet is that if these chats go well, Rite Aid will repeat them.

 

 LIVE, ONLINE CHATS FOR CAREGIVERS

DECEMBER 3 AND 4

hosted by  Rite-Aid

 

Expert Advice from Geriatric Experts
and a Rite Aid Pharmacist,

 

Submit your Questions in Advance  or during the event.

REGISTER 

Send email to:  expertadvice@riteaid.com

On December 3 and 4, Rite Aid will host two free, live online chats to help caregivers find solutions to everyday problems and answer common caregiver questions.

 Read more about the Event: 

Caregivers who are unable to participate in the event can view and print a transcript online after the event. Additional events will be available on the Web site as they are scheduled.

On Wednesday, December 3, from 12-1 p.m. EST, Attorney Vincent J. Russo, ESQ, will answer questions on elder law, special needs and estate planning. Elder Care Expert and Geriatric Care Manager Dr. Marion Somers, PhD, will discuss topics ranging from home safety to senior-friendly technology.

 

Thursday, December 4, from 12-1 p.m. EST

"How to Care for Loved Ones Without Sacrificing your Own Well-Being"

Susan Strecker Richard, editor-in-chief of Caring Today, will offer advice and answer general questions on this essential topic.

Rite Aid pharmacist Natalie Teaff, R.Ph, will answer questions on medications, therapies and medication interactions. 

The chats are part of Rite Aid’s “Giving Care for Parents” program that launched in September. The program includes a 20-page Caregivers Guide offering hints on financial planning and strategies for balancing careers and personal lives, especially when living with loved ones.  It also has information on support groups, programs and resources such as medical facilities and businesses catering to seniors and caregivers.

At www.riteaid.com, caregivers can click on “Giving Care for Parents” and find a collection of helpful articles written by industry experts, frequently asked questions, drug information counseling and educational videos showing actual caregivers and elders as they deal with real situations such as dementia, long term care and nutrition.

Rite Aid Corporation is one of the nation’s leading drugstore chains with more than 4,900 stores in 31 states and the District of Columbia with fiscal 2008 annual sales of more than $24.3 billion.

Women Take Equal Economic Hits? I Don't Think So--NOT When You Start From an Unequal Position

It really gripes me

(well if this were not the world wide web where my blankety blank *&*%$#@***++ words would be out there forever, I would really let fly and tell you how I really feel) about the double and triple discriminations women suffer economically. We are the majority of the poor overall. We are the majority of the elderly and elderly poor. We are the majority of the minority and the minority poor. We are the majority of the American population period, so our concerns and issues as the majority group should take precedence period!

Women still make 1/2 to 3/4 of what men make and with equal or better education. In general women make 77cents on the white man's dollar, Moms 73 cents and single moms 60 cents. African American women 63 cents on the dollar and Hispanic women 52 cents. And we are the caretakers of children and the elderly. Is it any wonder that women suffer health issues so badly!

Back in 1978, when I was director of NOW-NYC (National Organization for Women- New York City Chapter--and that is FOR women not OF women. IE., women and men working for women of all shades of tan) the numbers were worse. Then it was 69 cents on the white man's dollar. But Hispanic and African american women earned less.

Having worked on this issue for more than 30 years, it is clear to me that the old truism Money Is Power is true.

All the systemic legal, social , and cultural barriers that are in society and in our heads serve to help maintain a minority group economic dominance. Totally unfair. but now a recent NYTimes article says that women are taking equal economic hits...http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/22/business/22jobs.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=women%20take%20equal%20economic%20hits&st=cse&oref=slog.

Momsrising http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1768/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=25240 calls on you to take action. go to their website to see what legislation to support.

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, has put her finger on it in her new book, Know Your Power: A Message to America's Daughters, which is coming out tomorrow http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl/9780385525862.html.  In 2007 she said in her history-making Speaker of the House acceptance speech:

"Never losing faith, we waited through the many years of struggle to acheive our rights. But women weren't just waiting; women were working. Never losing faith, we worked to redeem the promise of America that all men and women are created equal. For our daughters and grandaughters today we have broken the marble ceiling. For our daughters and grandaughters now the sky is the limit."

Today the economy is in the toilet

and women of all ages feel it the most. Get on the backs of your senators and congresspeople and make them support legislation that benefits US.

 

Seniors and Cell Phones

A Necessary Safety Assistant And a Relief for Boomer Caretakers

CARETAKING ISSUES:

One of the issues for boomers is caretaking very elderly parents or kin.

It was really hard for me, as I've shared in earlier posts. It was made even harder since I lived far from my mom. She was a terrific, independent person who worried me since she would never tell me until after something had happened--like taking a tumble down the back steps--that it had happened.

I appreciated her spirit and supported it. BUT...

She did finally have portable phones, but this was before cell phones. I think she would have gotten a cell, but then again maybe not...she was very frugal, having lived through the Depression and coming from a make it do, make it over, make it last farm background. Her frugality, in addition to her fixed income might have be a disincentive to getting a high cost cell, no matter its excellent safety assistance quality.

On July 24, The Seniors Coalition (http://www.senior.org) and researcher Nicholas P. Sullivan will outline the three things every senior – or the child of an aging parent who may be reluctant to use new technology – should know when it comes to prepaid and other cell phones, including:

Cellphones - 3 Things Seniors Should Know:

* How to avoid the #1 most deadly mistake seniors make when it comes to a cell phone in a health crisis or crime situation;
 
* The special “ICE” numbers that every senior (or their children) should know

 * Options cost-sensitive seniors have to avoid high cell phone bills and   long-term plans.

 

I'll bring you a report later in the week.

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Yooper wisdom (from the UP -- Upper Peninsula Michigan):

Yooper wisdom from friend Keith, who is repairing my chimney..."You know how you are always saying I'll get to it someday? This is someday." He retired at 48 and took up mountain climbing and biking full time--supplemented with a little handy man activity.