Here’s what I’m referring to. The new chairwoman of theDemocratic National Committee Debbie Wasserman-Schultz said that Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget proposal would “literally be a death trap for seniors.”

This remdins me of a routine by comedian Brian Regan. He was talking about how politicians make the most outrageous claims against eachother. For example, Regan saw a local political ad where one candidate accused his opponent of wanting to taser seven year olds. Ridiculous. The accused candidate scoffed that he had signed a bill talking about disarming a person with a weapon by tasing them. That included a teenager or even a child who was about to do serious damage with a weapon. The commercial was completely insane.

And this is insane, too. Are we really to believe that Paul Ryan and his republican colleagues hate senior citizens and want to kill them? Ridiculous. But the scare tactics always seem to come up when the budget is being discussed. Fifteen years ago, it was widely reported that one party wanted to “starve children” at school. And Ed Asner came on strong shortly after that with the then current tactics to frighten senior citizens into voting for his man.

I know, I know. Both sides do it. Neither one should. Let’s face it: whether you agree with his plan or disagree, it is clear Rep. Ryan is attempting to do something that, at least in his mind and the minds of his colleagues, will save the financial future of this nation. Entitlement programs cost this nation trillions of dollars, and they need to be restructured. That includes Medicare and Medicaid. His proposal would allow states to accept block funds for the programs and use them at their own local discretion, essentially.

Now, the chairwoman apparently disagrees. Fine. You don’t like his budget proposal. But don’t call it a “literal death trap” for seniors. I’m sure Rep. Paul Ryan has parents and grandparents. I’m sure he likes elderly folks just fine. And I’m sure he would like to be one in twenty years. So, just to play it safe, I’m guessing he does not want to kill seniors any more than he wants to tase seven year olds.

I think we all need to grow up a little. Seriously. Ryan could easily counter that if the nation does not cut back on its spending, then Medicare and Medicaid will collapse in a few short years, and there will not be any money available for seniors in nursing homes. And that would be an even bigger “death trap.” Yes, everyone can play this game…

Anyway, I am just tired of it. I am tired of the political roller coaster. I’m tired of people pandering so much to groups. I’m tired of fear tactics. Medicare, Medicaid, and other elder care services have to be reformed somehow if they are going to stay afloat. Maybe Ryan’s budget goes about it all wrong. Maybe he’s cutting too much too fast. If that’s what you think, that’s what you should say.

But don’t try to scare seniors into action. It’s insulting to your opponent, and condescending to seniors who rely on those funds and want them to be there for their grandchildren.

It was one of the beginning ripples of the Age Discrimination battle that rolled through the first decade of the twenty-first century. It continued all the way through early 2010, when Hollywood writers over forty won a $70 Million class action lawsuit against the studios for age discrimination. This was ironic, especially considering Hollywood’s self-righteous attitude that it is too grown up for such problems. In reality, the film and television industry has perpetuated this problem for decades.

Age discrimination is not a new issue, and it is not over by any means. And it certainly is not confined to Hollywood. When a person becomes a senior citizen especially, they can often have a very hard time holding on to or finding a job. You might remember that airline flight attendants were accused of this years ago, and just about every field as well.

Thankfully, the storm against Hollywood over the past decade might have done its job. Today, people are aware of the issue, and there is a lot of sympathy that comes toward the aging workforce who is so often “easily” replaced by executives looking for a younger image.

One really bright example is Betty White, who, it has just been learned, will host her own prank show on NBC.

Betty White: Youthful Celebrity!

Since then, Betty has become a hero not only for senior citizens, but for young people who think she is “super cool.” Who would have guessed?

So it’s no surprise that NBC just announced the plans for its new show. White will host it, and it will be a sort of hidden camera practical joke kind of show, but it will feature and star senior citizens. Think of “Punk’d” with older folks. They might be doing all kinds of things, like acting senile to embarrass the younger crowd, etc. This concept has worked well in TV shows in Europe, and NBC is betting that with White’s star power, it can be a hit here as well. I guess we will have to wait and see…

So. Is Betty White’s latest rise a signal that we are beyond the age discrimination problem? Probably not. Just as with racism, sexism, and every other negative trend in our society, there will always be those who will look at a person’s age and attach all sorts of negative characteristics to them on that basis alone. But that is an issue for individual character. Perhaps the issue has been talked about so much that it is officially stigmatized. Or maybe it’s just that America’s population is aging rapidly now, and everybody wants to be sure that they can be included in society well into their later years.

Who knows.

But one thing is for sure: Doris Roberts must be proud.

That is why this idea makes me so happy. Recently, the Marquis Home Health company began something called the “New Chapters Program.” It seems to be rooted in this value system. Seniors should not simply be taken care of, they should be listened to. They still have hopes and dreams. They have things they are passionate about. And far too often, they believe that all of these are out of reach. The New Chapter Program sets this notion straight.

This program is initiated by the employees of Marquis Home Health. Employees listen to their patients, trying to understand what makes them tick. And when they are able, they try to step in and help them “turn a page” in their life. To start a new chapter in their life.

For instance, there was one man who used to love skiing. It was a major part of of his growing up. But today, he lives in an Oregon assisted living community, and he has multiple sclerosis. So obvkously, skiing is out of the question, right?

Wrong.

The good folks at Marquis Home Health helped him take to the slopes again, even in his condition. Here is a picture:

This particular story can be found here at an Oregon news site.

Another woman wanted to turn a page in her life by getting into the digital age. Marquis bought her a laptop. She was overjoyed!

Don’t mistake this program for a version of the “Make a Wish” program. These residents aren’t dying. They simply want to begin a new phase of life. And the program validates their wishes. And by doing this, they show how much they value these seniors.

We think that’s awesome.

But when my grandpa got into his 80′s, he was no longer able to deal with the constant upkeep of the lot, so he decided it was time to sell it. This was understandable.

Fast forward to today. My grandparents are now living in an assisted living facility–a nice place–and no longer own the home. But they are far, far less off than they would have been had my grandpa asked one of his kids for help. The deal that was offered was pathetic. The house is now gone, and his yard is crowded with multiple houses. The buyer probably got the lot for half of what it was worth.

My uncles to this day are furious. But what could they do? It wasn’t illegal. It was just a matter of a young, slick business man taking advantage of a senior citizen who was in over his head.

How can we help our parents and grandparents avoid this kind of thing? How can we keep them from making bad deals, or from sending money to a dubious organization? How can we protect them from getting scammed? Because 20 percent of scams are inflicted on seniors, and those are just the ones that they REALIZE were scams. The numbers are much worse than they look.

Here’s a start: Keep them on speed dial. Stay in contact with them. Daily. Encourage them to NEVER give money to a group, or to make any type of financial deal without talking with you first. It might sound patronizing at first, but surely you can help them see that the world is changing. Fast. And you can help make sure they don’t get scammed in the process.

Because we care for elders. They are family. And they are worth it.

Caregivers should know, first of all, whether they can claim their aging loved one as a dependent on their return. This would require that their loved one is unable to care for himself, and that he lives in their house and is under their 24 hour care. There are other stipulations obviously, but they are worth looking into for any caregiver. Why? Because the potential tax return could be worth it. Caregivers incur a lot of expenses that normal people do not. Oftentimes, many of those expenses can be claimed on their return. Caregivers really ought to look into this possibility.

Second, the article advises seniors who plan to file independently to seek out help from a tax aide volunteer. Many volunteers help out with the AARP Tax Aide program. This begins at the start of February, and it is free of charge, since most senior returns are relatively straight forward. More complex filers might have to hire out professional tax counselors instead.

Anyway, the over all point is this: taxes are not fun, but there is relief out there. Relief for the filer and for the family!

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But what can you possibly do in the winter?

Here are just a few ideas:

Things to do with Grandma in a Wet Winter Climate:

• Grab an umbrella and take a walk at the park.
• Go visit a nature reserve.
• Take the kids along to the zoo. The animals don’t take days off when it’s wet!

Things to do with Grandma in a Cold Winter Climate:

• Get to a coffee shop, grab some hot tea, and then go take in a local show
• Go to the mall. It’s not snowing there!
• Go pick her up and bring her over to your house. Have her make cookies with the kids.
• Grab a DVD, pick up some lunch, and surprise her at the elderly care facility. That way, she doesn’t even have to put on a coat to have some special family time.

I know, I know… these are pretty basic ideas. But the fact that I came up with a half dozen in a few minutes shows just what a no-brainer this is. So what if the weather is bad! There are lots of things you can do to have a good time, and to help your loved one remember that she is not forgotten!

With that in mind, I want to mention a couple of features on cars that are helpful to senior drivers who are still physically able to drive safely. These come directly from AAA’s website.

Adjustable Petals – this can let shorter drivers reach the accelerator and brake, and allow senior drivers to be a safer distance from the air bag, especially if they drive in a more hunched over position.

Anti-Lock Brakes – This is getting to be a pretty standard feature which improves the safety of all drivers, but especially senior drivers who might have trouble “tapping” the break repeatedly to keep them from locking. This is especially an important feature for seniors living in colder, icier climates.

Brake Assiste – A newer feature that helps the driver by generating enough force to break in an emergency. Seniors sometimes have trouble pushing the break all the way down in an emergency situation. This will help.

Stability Control – This feature makes small adjustments to help a driver keep control of a car, particularly on roads that are slick.

The AAA website lists many more features, but most of them are convenience features to help seniors, such as power mirrors that can be easily adjusted. But I want to add one more way to care for elders behind the wheel, although it is not a feature.

DriveSharp Computer Software

There is a new computer software available that has been scientifically designed and proven to help senior drivers improve their awareness, reaction time, and safety while driving. It is a unique system that incorporates fun, game-like exercises that train the user’s eyes to keep track of multiple moving objects, etc. But the long and short of it is this: adults who use it report excellent improvements in their awareness and reaction time. You can read more about the system here.

The Kindle: A Great Gift for Seniors

I helped him download the Kindle App for his laptop, set up an Amazon account for him, and showed him how he could instantly load up on all the Zane Grey books he wanted. And for the first time in a while, he found himself absorbed into novels for days. What changed? Besides the easy access to the books he loved, there was this: he could increase the font size and adjust the brightness as much as he wanted to. For a sixty-one year old, this is a priceless perk.

After a couple of days, I was busy, so I let him read a Grey novel on my Kindle itself. The new Kindle’s have a button that will let you increase the font and contrast with one click. He, of course, popped the size up to giant print. It would drive me crazy to have to turn pages so often, but this was the perfect arrangement for him. The long and short of it is this: he read at least 3 novels in the week he was with us. He found a passion that he had forgotten about. Print size had prohibited him, but with the Kindle, it is no longer an issue.

Great for Seniors in Assisted Living

Senior book worms in an assisted living facility will undoubtedly love the Kindle for that reason, but for this as well: the Kindle can hold thousands of books, and Assisted Living apartments typically have very little space for things like bookshelves.

The books are cheap. The print is as big as they want it. And the storage space is non-existant. Yes, the Kindle might just be the perfect Christmas gift for seniors!

To find assisted living and other elderly care services in your area, use the box at the top of the sidebar.

Clearing walkways inside the home is also a good idea. Avoid placing short decor on the floor where they could easily be overlooked and tripped over. Keep a sturdy arm chair handy for grandpa to plop down in for activities.

2. Prepare a feast that includes everyone on the guest list.
Many seniors are on restritcted diets for health reasons, and must stick to them even on special occasions. Check with your elderly guests beforehand to make sure you will have something everyone can eat. Allowing guests to add their own salt or making a sugar free pie may be in order if your guests are on a low-sodium diet or are diabetic. Finding out before the feast may save you some last minute preparation or embarrassment!

3. Plan memorable family activities
For many elderly guests, the highlights of holidays are spending time with family, and remembering past traditions. Ask Aunt Betsy to help the kids with a holiday craft or direct cookie decorating. Ask Grandpa to direct a family treasure hunt with mixed-aged teams, and clues, and prizes for everyone. Grandma may be thrilled to wind up the fun with a family traditional story, song, or reading. Providing the opportunities for healthy, fun, bonding interactions is the first step in creating precious memories for everyone and honoring your elderly loved ones in the process.

These three steps are an incredible way to get you thinking. Are there any special needs to consider that will health the holiday celebration go smoother and be safer for your elderly guests? What family activities would work for your family? How can you include beloved traditions your elderly loved ones have cherished or create new traditions that pull everyone closer together? Time spent answering these questions will be worth every smile and precious memory created at your house during these upcoming holidays.

However, this recent report suggests that people in their 50′s and 60′s who smoke more than 2 packs per day are drastically more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease or vascular dementia. How much more likely? 157% more likely for Alzheimer’s, and 172% for Dementia.

The study was done over a twenty year period, and the results may come as a surprise to many who have thought that smoking can cause problems in lungs but not many other places. The link here seems to be the vascular system. Alzheimer’s is very linked to the vascular system, and smoking can affect that as well.

The report also suggests there might be a link between smoking and Parkinson’s disease.

Whether or not this report proves to be accurate over the long haul is anyone’s guess. There has been such a massive backlash against smoking in recent years–including in the elderly care world– that it sometimes seems that scientists are stretching further than is reasonable to prove their point. But is it really worth it to take that type or risk? Alzheimer’s disease can be catastrophic to seniors and their families. Not only is it physically ruinous, but it can be emotionally devastating. For my part, I think we would all be wise to avoid smoking, especially if we are in our 50′s or 60′s. And if we care for elders in our life, we should encourage them against it as well.