Senior Health in Omaha, NE

It’s been said that the greatest wealth is health. Here in Omaha, we are fortunate to be in a community with an abundance of knowledge and resources about how to stay healthy and happy throughout all periods of life. The senior years in particular can be one of the most enjoyable and fulfilling times of our lives. As health needs change with age, though, it’s increasingly important to be well informed and familiar with the resources and tools that are available in our community, so that we all can live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives.

Bodies naturally undergo changes due to the normal aging process. “We tend to view these changes in terms of physical abilities and general physical health, but to achieve overall health we must look beyond just the physical to the mental and emotional aspects as well,” says Rick Magill, owner of Comfort Keepers (omaha-315.comfortkeepers.com) in Omaha and Council Bluffs. Each of these three facets of health intertwines to affect one another in the process of healthy aging.

1. Physical changes may include loss of bone density, lowered heart rates, as well as thickening of the arteries and/or heart. Skin becomes dry, thinner and incurs wrinkles as it loses elasticity. Tooth enamel becomes weaker with age and may lead to decay. Gum disease is more common in older adults, as are changes in vision and hearing, lowered appetites and loss of muscle mass. Physical health can be maintained by exercising within your individual abilities, with your doctor’s consent. Daily exercise can be as simple as walking around the block or participating in a group exercise class at the local gym. Consuming a well-balanced diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, fiber, and protein provides the nutrients your body needs to function properly inside and out.

2. Mental health evolves with age and can lead to forgetfulness, memory loss and confusion in many seniors. By challenging yourself every day, you can keep your brain sharp and your senses focused. This can include participating in new activities or extending your knowledge in one subject. Learn a foreign language, play Scrabble, take tennis or golf lessons, or attend a painting or pottery making class.

3. Emotional health becomes endangered as seniors face the loss of a spouse and other loved ones. Isolation can become prevalent due to physical limitations or the lack of desire to socialize. Anxiety and depression can affect seniors who worry about money matters, have minimal contact with others, or for those who suffer serious medical conditions. When seniors join clubs, volunteer, or dine together, these daily activities give a sense of purpose, a feeling of value and create happier states of mind—which is important in potentially avoiding the effects of stress, anxiety and depression.

In terms of overall wellbeing, seniors need to continue to be active not only for their bodies but also their minds. As Jennifer Gibbons, Director of Nursing and owner of Elite Professionals Home Care Company (eliteprohomecare.com) recommends, “We encourage our senior clients to take measures that decrease health risks and motivate them in living healthy. Being able to continue to do the things you love not only improves your lifestyle; it can improve your health as well. Simple activities that seniors can do at home to continue strengthening their mind include: puzzles, card games, listening to music, reading, arts and crafts and spending time with grandchildren. Seniors should try and get regular physical activity daily with a mixture of aerobic and strengthening exercises, such as yoga, walking, gardening, dancing, or biking.

Local charities, such as MS Foundation, ALS Foundation, Alzheimer’s Foundation, and Omaha Area Office on Aging, organize various walks throughout the spring, summer and fall. Hy-Vee and other grocery stores in Omaha offer various cooking classes to include healthy living options and ideas. These are fun ways to meet new people, socialize with others, and stay healthy at the same time!

Also, many people are choosing to remain in their home when they can no longer care for themselves versus institutionalized living. Elite Professionals Home Care Company offers a special 24-hour caregiver program. This program offers one on one care with around-the-clock assistance. The patient gets to know only 3 to 4 caregivers total, thus the client sees only 3-4 caregivers each week rather than the typical 3-4 caregivers per day. This program allows for the patient to continue to do all the things that they love in the community as well as in their home, such as going to church, participating in craft groups, attending exercise programs, visiting with neighbors and going shopping. We also offer anything from one hour personal care or companion visits per day, up to 24 hours per day. And, when a senior has been hospitalized, Elite Professionals can setup post hospitalization care for seniors in their home to provide cares needed for a speedy recovery.”

Isolation is a major issue that can affect the health and wellbeing of seniors.  “Regardless of the causes of senior isolation, the consequences can be alarming and even harmful,” explains Karla Frese of Walnut Grove (www.rlcommunities.com).  “Seniors who feel lonely and isolated are more likely to report also having poor physical and/or mental health, as reported in a 2009 study using data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project.

At Walnut Grove we have found that the most effective programs for combating isolation have an educational or training component.  For instance, we offer classes on health-related topics, political and global discussions, computer training, and a variety of group and individual fitness programs.  These exercise classes are free to all of our Walnut Grove Residents and they can by modified to their individual lifestyles.  Fitness programs include dance, weight lifting, walking club, ‘sittercises,’ stretching, Wii Sports, yoga, tai chi, and walking club.

Being proactive by moving to an independent retirement community like Walnut Grove can help us prevent loneliness and have a huge impact on continued good health and overall wellness throughout the aging process of our loved ones.”

She continues, “One of the most important factors in aging well is social connectivity. Living alone in one’s home often limits opportunities for socialization, which leads to faster decline. Those who live alone in their own homes must also cope with grocery shopping, home maintenance, cleaning, daily responsibilities, etc. At Walnut Grove, these items are all provided for or handled by the community. Socialization, security and peace of mind are important benefits of Walnut Grove.

Socializing not only contributes to a longer, happier life, but it also improves cognitive performance. Of course, we all want to live longer while remaining healthy and alert. Adding a circle of new friends and a support group at Walnut Grove will help enrich your life and improve your health in innumerable ways.  Generally, the only regret our residents have is they wish they would have made the move sooner.”

As Michaela Williams of Care Consultants for the Aging (careconsultants.com) agrees, “Keeping active and engaged socially can help us age happier. If things change and help is needed, knowing what services are available will help line up the care that is needed. Our community offers many services for seniors and it is common for people to find themselves needing a mix of different government, non-profit and for profit options as they age. Knowing what is available and how things are paid for before needing them will help make better choices if a crisis happens.

Care Consultants produces the ElderCare Resource Handbook for the Omaha and Lincoln metro areas. The handbook provides a complete listing of senior services organized in an easy to use way. It is available in print and can be viewed on-line at www.careconsultants.com. The handbook is updated every two years to keep up to date with the continuing changes in services that are offered.”

Julie Laughlin of Home Nursing with Heart (homenursingwithheart.com) recommends, “Enjoy some type of exercise or activity regularly. Whether you go for walks to exercise your body or do crossword puzzles to exercise your mind, activities in general are beneficial for keeping you feeling vibrant.

Also, keep an open mind about the aging process. As we grow older our bodies go through changes. Coping well with these changes will make life better. Lastly, always try something new. When we try a new hobby, make new friends, or even volunteer, trying something new provides benefits like increased energy, mental clarity, and overall feelings of vitality.”

In addition to staying active, Laughlin says, “Reach out to a Medical Social Worker. At Home Nursing with Heart we have a medical social worker that has a deep knowledge base and understanding of all the programs, services, and resources available for seniors to benefit from.

Medical Social Workers help patients and families coordinate care with agencies for assistance with a variety of things including Medicaid program applications, home care, placement in facilities, mental health help, information on advanced directives, and assistance to getting the senior what they would benefit from in order to live safely in their home and maintain their independence.

Because of the new Affordable Care Act and how it affects hospital stays, we’re seeing a trend in patients being discharged from hospital systems a little sooner than they normally would be. This creates a challenging but manageable situation. At this point, home health (skilled nursing and therapy) is now a critical component of the senior’s care. Many seniors are unaware of the fact, and are happy to hear, that their Medicare and Medicaid benefits will pay for these home health visits at 100%.”

Numerous studies have shown that volunteering in your senior years provides significant and measurable health benefits. As Mark Kresl of Midwest Geriatrics, Inc. (MGI) and the Senior Health Foundation (empowerhomecare.com) explains, “There are countless options that would be a fit for each person. People tend to feel good about themselves when they are giving to others. Volunteering can reduce instances of depression because there is often a social component to volunteering. Isolation plays a large role in depression, especially in older adults. Volunteering can also be great for physical health because it helps keep the volunteer active. In fact, studies have shown lower mortality rates in older adults who volunteer. They’ve also shown that people who volunteer tend to be happier.”

In addition to volunteering, Kresl says, “There are many health benefits to be gained from remaining in your home as long as possible. There are services like Empower Home Care (www.empowerhomecare.com) that can offer assistance and compensate for simple tasks that a person has trouble completing. Things like housekeeping, grocery shopping, meal preparation, bathing, incontinence, and general errands and household tasks can be handled by these services at a reasonable price. They offer free evaluations to see what is needed and then customize care plans accordingly.”

Kresl also recommends, “Stay active throughout your post-40 years. Find something that you love to do and share it. There are many organizations that can help you find the right match for your talents and passions, such as Community 360, Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging.”

When talking with Omaha’s experts about how to be the happiest and healthiest in our later years, a reoccurring theme is preparation. As Kalli Amend of Elk Ridge Village (www.elkridgeseniorliving.com) says, “Seniors and their families need to be proactive and do their research about senior living and their aging process. We see several people visit our community and say that they’re not ready yet and continue to live in their home or apartment, but then experience a life changing event—such as a fall or health event. Then in a panic they no longer have the choice to move on their own terms and have to make the move abruptly. It is advisable that once people start looking into a retirement community setting to make the decision on their terms, when they are feeling good and can adapt to the change and enjoy all the activities and amenities a retirement community has to offer instead of waiting until their health or an event forces them into a move.

A geriatric evaluation is also recommended. These doctors specialize in senior health and health conditions usually seen later in life. With the proper diagnosis seniors can feel more healthy or comfortable in their daily routines.

At Elk Ridge Village we have a wide array of activities, events and special services offered to the residents to utilize for their health and wellness. When seniors are actively engaged with other people and especially people their age on a daily basis, we see people get that spark back in their smile. We have tons of great things going on during the year, such as theme parties and family picnics. In addition, we offer ways for seniors to stay active with exercise. Specifically we have Range of Motion, Tai Chi, Yoga and much more! We also offer onsite religious offerings for their spiritual well being, and activities to choose from such as jewelry making, gardening, sing-a-longs, exercise class, crafts and bus trips around town. There is something for everyone.”

Also in terms of being prepared, Lisa Arp of SilverRidge Assisted Living and Memory Support (silverridge-gretna.com) recommends being financially prepared. Arp says, “Seniors need to be aware of their finances, their Medicare plans and if they have Long Term Care Insurance. All of these will come into play in the future as to where they are going to live and how they are going to be taken care of. Financially, have a plan in place. As far as Medicare is concerned, have a good relationship with your insurance representative so you can keep up on changes in legislation or changes needed in your plan. Considering Long Term Care Insurance, if you have it, be aware if there is a grace period, what the plan covers and the dollar amount it pays per day.

There are many helpful resources in the Omaha community. The Medicare hotline (1-800-Medicare or Medicare.gov), the Social Security office and website, and the Alzheimer’s Association are all great sources for help. I also have a radio show on 660 AM KCRO every Thursday from 4-5 p.m. called ‘Aging Matters with Lisa’ which focuses on all matters of aging.

Seniors today need to educate themselves or have family members research for them the options they have for their future. Also, have a Power of Attorney in case of an event that doesn’t allow them to make decisions on their own. It is definitely beneficial to have a plan in place, so they are a part of the decision and know ahead of time where they will live, how they will live and have a good quality of life. A lot of guilt is placed on other family members making these decisions because their loved one is unable to be involved in the process. Seniors need to be aware that they most likely will not live in their home for the rest of their life. Being prepared and doing research is the answer.”

When it does come time to making changes in living arrangements, or moving to a different home, families may need to utilize a storage facility for the transition or for a temporary home for belongings. Strong Box Storage (strongboxstorage.com) is a locally owned and operated facility that offers plenty of options for storage and moving supplies to get you relocated smoothly. The storage facility offers many security features, 24-hour access and a helpful, friendly, onsite staff, so that families can be assured their belongings and treasured possessions are safe and can be reached whenever needed. The property is fully fenced, with gates and keypad entry, and heavy duty gates that are computer controlled. Each renter is assigned their own entry code to help keep their belongings secured. Strong Box Storage also offers different sizes and types of storage, and climate controlled units for antiques, record storage, or just added convenience. The locally owned storage facility is also a great facility to utilize as we make life changes, because they offer customers drive up units, and provide dumpsters and free pallets as a courtesy to use while you’re renting with them.

Moving and transitioning homes can also be overwhelming because of the work and detail involved in physically moving from one place to another. In addition to utilizing a storage facility, Omaha community members are fortunate to have Two Men and a Truck (twomenandatruck.com) in town. The full service moving company prides itself in doing as much or as little as the customer would like them to do, and tailors each move to every customer’s specific needs. From supplying moving boxes and packing supplies and helping Senior family members move entirely from one home to another, or doing something as simple as helping customers move furniture around their house, Two Men and a Truck strives to be a role model in the industry, and this is reflected in everything they do. Proper storage of our treasured possessions, and ensuring a smooth, easy process to get your belongings from one play to another helps families and our senior loved ones to focus on things they enjoy rather than adding unnecessary stress.

From eating right, to staying active and social, to taking the appropriate preventative and preparation steps, there are many things to consider and prepare for as we age. As it’s been said, the greatest wealth is health, and we are fortunate to be in a community with an abundance of resources and programs to help us maintain good health throughout all of life’s years, so that we can all live longer, happier, and more fulfilling lives!