Vision impairment often contributes to injuries and may lead to mortality in older people.  Timely intervention can delay the effects of age-related blinding conditions.

Seniors are most prone to four eye diseases – age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy.  AMD and glaucoma can begin without any symptoms and most seniors do not know they have it.  Cataracts can be removed and vision restored.  To help prevent eye diseases seniors should wear sunglasses with 98% UV protection during both the summer and winter.  Eye exams should be done on a yearly basis.    Being blind or partially sighted can lead to depression and isolation.  Seniors who are blind or partially sighted believe that they can no longer participate in life.  CNIB can show them that this is not true and that enjoyment can be added to their lives. CNIB makes various products accessible for partially sighted seniors and it provides programs that are free of charge to assist seniors to keep their independence.

CNIB offers four key services – Orientation and Mobility, Independent Living Skills, Counselling and Vision Assessment.  All of these services are free of charge.  An instructor will work with each senior individually to ensure the techniques used are what is required.

The Orientation and Mobility program teaches seniors how to move about the community on their own.  One of the techniques taught to accomplish this is caning.  Through the Independent Living Skills seniors will be taught how to accomplish the tasks required for daily living which includes getting dressed and cooking meals.  Counselling is offered on a one-to-one and group basis for the seniors and the families to give everyone the opportunity to address their fears, worries and frustrations.  Adjustment to Vision Loss Course is available to support seniors who are in the process of losing their sight.  Vision Assessment allows seniors to maximize their capabilities with their current level of vision such as adjusting the placement of a lamp to make reading easier.

These are the seniors who are living in their own homes, in supportive housing or with families but have a level of dementia that makes them no longer safe to live in their environments. Usually this is due to dementia.

It is only when families try to deal with parents with dementia that this group is noticed and still only by their families, not the public in general.

We read in the media about the serious lack of beds required for these seniors but it is one of those situations that people cannot truly comprehend until it is their parents in need of this care. These families experience a huge emotional and financial cost. Therefore, I believe that this is an invisible group of seniors with a serious need for housing. I feel for the homeless seniors who have dementia and no one who could help is aware of them.

The seniors do not require 24-hour nursing care but 24-hour supervision. They cause microwave fires, forget to eat even when food is prepared and available, put the wrong type of cream on their faces causing damage to the skin, obsess with shaving until their skin is raw, take hearing aid batteries thinking they are pills, and walk outside and are not able to find their way back.

I work with families who have parents who require 24-hour supervision. These families are doing the best that they can. However, they are frustrated, burned out and exhausted. They do not understand what is happening, what they can do about it or their options.

Families are concerned that their parents have to fall and break a hip or go outside and get lost before their parents can move into a safe facility. I provide the families with guidance, information and hope.

Even when the healthcare system puts in as many services as possible, the families still worry about their parents because rarely can families be available 24-hours to oversee their parents. Not everyone is meant to be a caregiver and this could lead to elder abuse. Families too need to live their lives or there will be illness, missed working days and divorce. These are costs to society that show up in other ways.

Families need to learn how to cope and take action to help their parents. They need to join together and become vocal. They have to realize that this is too huge a problem for only the government to solve.

Perhaps it is time that funder-raising begins to generate awareness and money for the seniors who currently need this care and for those who will need it in the future. As with other associations, donations need to come from people and groups who do not think that their parents or they will need this assistance in the future.

When travelling with prescription or over-the-counter medications and syringes:

• The name of the patient for the medication must be the same name as on the boarding pass.
• Leave all medicine in its original, labeled container
• Do not combine different medications into a single container
• Pack an extra supply of each medication in case you are away for longer than expected
• Carry a copy of the original prescription, and ensure that both the generic and trade names of the drug are included in case your medication is lost or stolen.
• The prescribing doctor’s name and pharmacy name must be on each container
• Having a doctor’s note describing why you are taking the medication is also recommended
• Prescription medication is exempt from the liquid carry-on restrictions but must be presented to the airport screening officer separately from your carry-on luggage.
• Pack all of your medications in your carry-on luggage.
• However, if you require syringes, hypodermic needles or biojectors for a medical condition, contact all the airlines you will be travelling with to verify if you can pack them in your carry-on luggage.  They may not be allowed in carry-on for security reasons.
• The needle guard must be in place and you must have the medication with you.
• Carry a supply of syringes to last your entire trip as well as a medical certificate that states they are for medical use.
• If the medication is less commonly known, check that it is legal and available in the country you are visiting

When travelling to the United States, in general personal importation of a 90-day supply of medication is allowed, but only if the drug is not available in the United States.  Personal medication is subject to the United States drug importation laws and regulations.  For Further information contact the US Food and Drug Administration.

When returning to Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada allows an individual to import a 90-day supply of prescription medication for the individual’s personal use or for an immediate family member.  The individual must personally bring the medication over the border in hospital or pharmacy dispensed packaging.

An individual may return to Canada with a 90-day supply of over-the-counter medication for the individual’s personal use or for an immediate family member.

For further information visit the

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada website at www.voyage.gc.ca/drugs

Canadian Air Transport Security Authority www.catsa.gc.ca

However, when they are in the hospital, most likely they will be attended to by a Hospitalist. This is a medical doctor who specializes in hospital care and may be the attending physician in place of a family doctor.

There will also be Registered Nurses (RN) who coordinate health care, provide nursing care, treatments, education and support to patients in situations of health, illness, injury and disability in all stages of life.

A Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) provides nursing care, treatments, education and support to patients in situations of health, illness, injury and disability. They do not have the education or scope of knowledge of an RN.

A Health Care Aide is a health professional who works under the direction of a RN, LPN, or doctor. They are also referred to as resident care aides (RCA), nursing assistants, nurses’ aides or hospital assistants.

When seniors are ready to leave the hospital, a Discharge Planner will develop a discharge plan to make sure that they leave the hospital safely and smoothly and get the right care after that.

It is important for families to be involved with the discharge plan. They need to tell the discharge planner what the seniors are capable of doing to care for themselves and who is available to assist them.

With the discharge plan, families should understand why the seniors are going home or to another health care setting and why the care is changing. They need to know the medications and medical follow-up required. Any medical equipment to be used should be put in place and people trained on how to properly use it. Families should be in agreement with the discharge plan. If not, they should continue to work with the discharge planner until there is mutual agreement. This is not a one-way dialogue.

When seniors leave the hospital it must be to a safe environment, which may mean that they cannot return to their own homes, especially if they are living alone.

The families and seniors might determine that now is the time for the seniors to move to supportive housing where their meals and housework will be done for them. Also, they will have other seniors around them who might have gone through the same medical situation. Supportive housing is also called Independent Living.

When seniors are living in the community, a Case Manager co-ordinators help for them to obtain home and community care services. They determine the nature; intensity and duration of services that would best meet seniors’ needs and arrange their services. They stay in touch with the seniors to arrange care services and make any adjustments necessary in the event their care needs change.

Case Management may be provided in the senior’s home, in an assisted living residence, at a residential care facility or in hospital.

For more definitions see the Interior Health 2012 Health Services Guide. www.interiorhealth.ca

HealthLink BC Telephone: 604-215-8110

On Saturday 10, 2011, Kelowna Community Resources will present the 14th Annual Okanagan Volunteer Opportunities Fair. It will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Parkinson Recreations Centre.

Canada has the second largest voluntary sector in the world. In 2007, the voluntary sector was more important in our national economy than the entire retail trade. In British Columbia, about half of us volunteer. We give at least 3 hours every week for a total average of 172 hours.

At the Fair organizations will set up displays and have information on hand. Hear their pitch. Does what they have to offer match what you are looking for?

The Fair is similar to speed dating only it is Volunteer Speed Matching. The event will have all the characteristics of speed dating with score sheets, a stopwatch, “daters” moving from table to table, and the bell sounding every four minutes. The score sheet will help you keep track of which organizations you want to get to know better. You will squeeze six “first dates” with different organizations into 30 minutes.

The timer is set for four minutes per organization. An emcee will keep the pace moving. Learn enough from each organization to decide whether you share interests and passion for a cause. Do they need the skills you have to offer?

Kelowna Community Resources will meet with everyone participating in the Volunteer Speed Matching to explain how it works. Questions will be answered and score sheets will be given out. You will then be escorted to your first display.

The emcee will open the event and start the timer running. Every four minutes you will receive instructions to move to the next display. The bell will ring in 30 minutes and the emcee will officially end the event. Score sheets will be collected and you will be encouraged to complete a feedback form.

After the event your score sheet will be reviewed. The organizations you scored as a “yes” or “maybe” will be given your contact information. They will contact you and “second dates” are up to you.

Contact Kelowna Community Resources to register for either the morning or the afternoon event. The morning session runs from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and you need to arrive at Parkinson Recreation Centre by 10:40 a.m. The afternoon session runs from 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and you need to arrive by at 1:40 p.m.

The Sponsors of the event are Beyond 50 Magazine; Central Okanagan Foundation; City of Kelowna; ez ROCK 101.5; Investors Group; Kelowna Community Resources; and United Way.

To Register PHONE: 250.763.8008 ext 24 E-MAIL: dawn@kcr.ca

One incident involved a plea for money because of a vehicle breakdown and a promise to pay the money back. The victim did not fall for it.

A previous incident saw the suspect telling the victim that he was the victim’s neighbor’s son-in-law and that he (the suspect) had paid the neighbor’s alarm repair bill but still owed the alarm company more money. The suspect asked the victim for money, stating the “in-laws” (victim’s neighbours) weren’t around, and promised to pay the money back. Once again, the victim saw through the ruse and refused.

Both of these scams were directed at seniors. In both cases, a black early 90’s Pathfinder was involved and police are following up this lead. A suspect description was given of a male in his early to mid 30s with short brown hair and wearing a t-shirt and shorts.

Do not fall victim to persons who give you any kind of hard luck or convoluted story that ends up with them wanting your money. There are ample resources available for those who really need help.

Call the RCMP at 250-762-3300, if you are approached for money in a similar scenario. Scammers will continue to sell their deceit as long as people are willing to buy it.

Cst. Steve Holmes, Cst. Ann Donnelly, Cst. Carl Stene from the Kelowna RCMP Detachment and Seniors Consulting have partnered to speak with groups who want to learn more about fraud aimed at seniors. These presentations will assist people living in gated seniors’ communities, supportive housing residences, families of seniors and service organizations.

The presentation will include an overview of various fraud schemes, how to identify them, what to do about it and how to notify the police. For the public’s safety people have to be familiar with how fraud works. Any group that is interested in hearing the presentation needs to contact me and I will book a date for it.

Any individual wanting to hear this valuable information can attend one of the following one-hour scheduled presentations.

• Wednesday August 31st at 10:30 a.m. at Missionwood Supportive Housing
• Wednesday August 31st at 1:30 p.m. at Village at Smith Creek Supportive Housing Residence
• Thursday September 1st at 10:30 a.m. at Mission Villas Supportive Housing Residence
• Thursday September 1st at 1:30 p.m. at Village at Mill Creek Supportive Housing Residence

Remember the acronym SCAM

S: Safe. If you give in to one of these frauds, would you be worse off for having done it?

C: Credible. Does the person who is trying to convince you have any credibility that can be verified?

A: Aggressive. Is the scammer using an aggressive tactic, or language, that requires an immediate or imperative response?

M: Motive. Is their motive to deprive you of money or assets (banking information), with a promise of reward?

One of the most important and easiest things seniors should do regardless of whether they are travelling or are walking down their street is to have a list of at least two emergency contact names and telephone numbers. This information should be placed in at least two locations so that if the seniors are in a pose that they cannot be safely moved, the police have the opportunity to check two accessible locations to find identification information. My Mother had the information on a piece of paper taped on to the inside of her purse, which was immediately seen when her purse was opened. Seniors who drive motorized scooters should also have identification on at least two easily reached locations on the scooter.

If seniors have Alzheimer or any level of dementia and cannot give information, then they can wear an identification bracelet obtained through the Safely Home Alzheimer Wandering Registry run by the Alzheimer Society of Canada. This bracelet will give the RCMP information to properly identify the seniors.

All seniors should carry a current list of the medications that they are taking including the frequency and dosage. List all chronic conditions and any recent surgeries with details. If a Do Not Resuscitate is in place then a copy of that should also be carried.

If they are going for a short trip and do not want to take a large supply of pills with them then they should put the different pills in tiny sealable plastic bags. Put each type of medication in a separate bag. Include a piece of paper with the name of the pill, the dosage and frequency the medication is to be taken plus the reason that the medication is being taken. Some medications are used for conditions other than the one for which the medication is primarily associated.

The seniors should have a list of the names of their doctors and telephone numbers. Also, have the name and telephone number of the drugstore where their prescriptions are on file. A branch store should be able to obtain a refill of a prescription if required.

Some seniors should have a current set of their x-rays with them. Check with your doctor to see if this is advisable.

If families are travelling with seniors who have Alzheimer or dementia and may wander then the families should notify the hotel management of this condition. A manager who really cares about seniors will make sure that all of the employees will watch out for the seniors who may be lost or start to leave the building unaccompanied.