Angel News
July 2009
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Resources: Sandwich Generation
In This Issue
Boomer Town, USA
Across the Border, Still at Home
Quiz Time
What's Happening at Visiting Angels
Fat Facts



At this time, it is estimated that 17.5 percent of the older generation are clinically obese and 16 percent have a type of diabetes. In contrast, it is estimated that by 2030, one-third of the Baby Boomers will be obese and 25 percent will live with diabetes.

A heart that has to beat with 20 to 30 extra pounds of weight works much harder than a heart without that burden.

Read more here.
What Do People Who Need Care Want?



The Foundation for the Future of Aging reports that the major priorities for consumers who need care are to:
  • Receive care in the least restrictive setting possible
  • Maintain autonomy and independence
  • Direct their own care
Click here for more info.
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Greetings!

Times, they are a-changin. With the boomer generation consistently in the spotlight and analysts tripping over themselves in the race to forecast effects on everything from health care to retirement to housing, there is a plethora of interesting and noteworthy trends.

These trends are not merely affecting us here in the U.S., but across the world as well, with governments increasingly paying attention to the cry for more affordable health care and the lower costs and benefits that care in the home provides. Take a look at some of the recently researched reports and studies, and arm yourself with information to prepare for "tomorrow".

As always, we send this newsletter in a spirit of sharing and community. We hope you will find the included news informative and beneficial.
Thank you,

Visiting Angels of Central Burlington & Mercer Counties
Boomer Housing Trends May Surprise You

By 2010, homeowners and renters 55 and older will make up one-quarter of the U.S. population. MetLife Mature Market Institute has released findings from a survey of this group and found:

  • The top reason boomers move is to live close to family.
  • Many boomers are not downsizing, but want a higher quality, larger home.
  • Many want to stay in their jobs longer, so proximity to the office is still a big priority.
  • The number of people ages 55 and up who work at home is rising.
  • Most boomers are happy in their current homes and neighborhoods.
  • Active-adult communities are attracting buyers who are under 60 and still working.
  • Older homeowners are more likely to buy homes - especially new ones. They make up 30 percent of the custom home market.
Access the full report here.
Home Care Taking Over Canadian Health Care Market

The Canadian Healthcare Association recently released a paper that outlines the four main reasons in-home care services are growing in popularity so rapidly in Canada:
  1. Canada has a rapidly aging population. Statistics Canada reports that today about 13 percent of the population is 65 or older. That number is forecast to grow to 25 percent over the next 20 years.
  2. People prefer to get care in their own homes, and research shows people tend to heal more quickly when at home versus a hospital or healthcare setting.
  3. Technology now allows nurses and caregivers to accomplish more, like measuring vital signs remotely.
  4. All governments, as they try to contain their healthcare budgets, are beginning to realize that care in the home comes at a lower cost.
To read the full report or just an executive summary in PDF form, click here.

Click here for more information on the Canadian Healthcare Association and their work in home care.
5-minute Quiz Determines Alzheimer's

A new 5-minute test that can detect Alzheimer's disease at an early stage was created by researchers at the Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, England.  Called "Test Your Memory," or TYM, the test is comprised of ten simple tasks that test verbal fluency, recall, the ability to copy a sentence, naming, calculation, and semantic knowledge. According to a report in the British Medical Journal, TYM is more accurate than other traditional methods used to diagnose Alzheimer's. In a recent study, the TYM quiz was able to detect 93 percent of patients with Alzheimer's disease, while the standard method found only 52 percent of Alzheimer's cases. Experts say the test is a "powerful and valid" diagnostic tool.

Read more about the test here.

Take the TYM test here, and view the scoring sheet here.
What's Happening at Visiting Angels

Naming New Human Resources Manager

We are pleased to name Rita M. Haines as Human Resources Manager for Visiting Angels of Central Burlington and Mercer Counties. According to Director and Co-Owner Nora de Cardenas, Ms. Haines brings to the company more than 15 years of experience in the human resource field, including eight years as Human Resources Generalist and Nurse Recruiter responsible for all aspects of the recruitment process for several hospitals in Burlington County.

In her new capacity, Ms. Haines will be working closely with Nora de Cardenas, who said, "We are extraordinarily excited to get a person of Rita's caliber assisting us with our goal of developing the best caregiver workforce in the industry."

A resident of Southampton, NJ, Ms. Haines holds an Associates Degree in Business Administration from Burlington County College in Pemberton, NJ.


"The Visiting Angels Difference" Lunch & Learn at Capital Health Fuld Campus

Visiting Angels of Central Burlington & Mercer Counties successfully presented a "Lunch & Learn" entitled "The Visiting Angels Difference" in the Capital Health Fuld Campus facility. The "Angels Team" consisting of Nora de Cardenas and Rudy Tervooren, Co-Owners and Directors, Dave Sebra, Director of Sales and Operations, Rita Haines, Human Resources Manager and Mary Keller, RN Supervisor, discussed the many unique strengths of the company to a large group of Social Workers, Registered Nurses and Case Managers. The presentation was followed by a lively question and answer session which made it clear that our focus on top quality care was recognized and well appreciated by all attendants.


"Angel Award" to Scheduling Coordinator

We are pleased to congratulate our Scheduling Coordinator, Marianne McNeill, on receiving from the company the "Angel Award", a certificate redeemable into a gift of her choice. The Angel Award gets presented from time to time to those staff members and caregivers who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and commitment to the performing of their duties. We wish Marianne continued success in her career with Visiting Angels of Central Burlington and Mercer Counties and look forward to selecting our next Award recipient!
Visiting Angels of Central Burlington & Mercer Counties:
About Our Care

 Visiting Angels of Central Burlington & Mercer Counties is a New Jersey-licensed, non-medical home care company committed to going well beyond the "industry standard" to provide an exceptional level of security, comfort and peace of mind to our clients and their loved ones. Our "Angels", all certified home health professionals, are ready to provide compassionate and dependable assistance with the activities of everyday living to seniors, the disabled, those recovering from surgery and to those who are simply frail. Our services include such simple tasks as light housekeeping, meal preparation, errands and shopping to more personal tasks such as hygiene assistance, bathing, dressing and grooming.
 
Visiting Angels' in-home care helps make it possible for seniors and adults with special needs to continue to live at home and maintain the independence of their daily routines and familiar surroundings, for as long as they can do so safely. We truly understand how challenging and alien the entire home care selection process can be ... and we are experienced in working with families; with loved ones "resistant" to receiving care; and with third-parties payors (such as insurance companies and the US Dept. of Veterans Affairs) to help insure that the best interests of the family and their loved ones are met. Visiting Angels' services help families spend more mutually-rewarding and meaningful time with their loved ones and also helps provide comfort and peace of mind to those who face the challenge of long-distance caregiving.
 
For more information, please visit our website, www.VisitingAngels.com/Burling-Mercer; call us at 609-883-8188; or contact us by email at info.VisitingAngels@comcast.net.