Aging is difficult for everyone. And as people get into their senior years, aging often brings more important issues than wrinkles and gray hair.
Independence that was once cherished is taken away. The switching of roles and changes in life's patterns are often difficult for senior citizens, said Todd Manwaring, a clinical social worker at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City.
Manwaring and Dr. Edwin Genebach, a physician and director of the Intermountain Health Care Senior Clinic at St. Joseph's Villa in Salt Lake City, will be featured on Saturday's IHC/Deseret News Health Hotline. From 10 a.m. until noon they'll take phone calls and answer questions about medical, emotional and physical care for senior citizens.
"We see pretty typically in the Salt Lake Valley area many seniors trying to maintain their independence," Manwaring said. Often children of elderly parents are involved in helping their parents maintain that independence.
The "sandwich generation" find themselves involved in the care of their own children and the care of their parents, thus sandwiched in between two roles, Manwaring said.
The key to caring for an older parent is good communication, he said. Both the parent and the adult child must be willing to discuss what they're able to do for each other.
There are several options for living arrangements for senior citizens. If they choose to live in their own homes, they must take certain precautions and make changes to their homes, especially if they're living alone, Manwaring said.
Realizing that certain chores around the house and yard work should not be done without help from others is a step many seniors don't want to take, but they can prevent injury by doing so, he said.
Manwaring, who works in the orthopedic department of LDS Hospital, sees many senior citizens who have fallen while trying to change an overhead light bulb or the battery in a smoke alarm. Broken hips are often due to carrying heavy items or hassling with the large outdoor trash cans.
Adult children and neighbors of senior citizens can offer assistance with the little things like routine maintenance in a home and taking out the trash.
"Accidents happen and people blame themselves for being too clumsy, but it's no one's fault," he said. Simple things like asking someone to help bring the groceries in and putting dishes in lower cupboards will help cut down on accidents.
Some other things that can help senior citizens is having a list of their medications, the doses and times they are taken. Manwaring said posting the list on the refrigerator will help in case of an emergency.
As far as knowing when a senior citizen may need additional help, either in his or her own home or an assisted living facility, Manwaring said if a person is falling more often, experiencing dementia, mismanaging medications or having problems with mobility, alternative living arrangements or care should be considered.
After injuring themselves, "you'd be amazed at how many patients say, 'Oh, I can go back home,' " Manwaring said. He and other staff members at the hospital offer counseling for senior citizens and their families to discuss what living arrangements and care would suit them best.
Manwaring said he understands that change is difficult. He doesn't think a nursing home or assisted living facility is for everyone, especially because they can be expensive. But for those who are interested in assisted living facilities, there is a growing list to choose from in the area. Some provide more care than others depending on the need of the resident.
Although many seniors are afraid to make a move to a new environment, "most people when they're placed in a senior living situation make friends and really enjoy themselves. They can still have their own living space and there are people there who have an interest in them," he said.
E-MAIL: jcheney@desnews.com