Security Advisor
SECURITY.ADVISOR.com: The Advisor Guide to security, safety and privacy for you, your family, your home, your business, and your travel.
Get Help Monitoring Dad
Q: My dad has been in a nursing home for about 8 months and, in that time, he has lost about 15 pounds -- weight he could hardly afford to lose. I suspect his nutritional needs aren't being met, but I'm not sure what to do. He's picky, and it takes a lot of patience to get him to eat. I've spoken to the staff, and they insist he's eating. Do you think I should file a complaint?
Help Emergency Services Help You
Many of us carry a mobile phone with the phone numbers of our loved ones stored in a list of contacts, so if we were to get in an accident, the paramedics would have that information at their fingertips, right?
Long-Term Care Insurance: Are You Covered? Really?
Long-term care insurance -- whether you have it, how much it covers, and for how long -- determines how well you'll be taken care of when you can't take care of yourself.
Prevent Falls in Nursing Homes
Q: My mom recently took a nasty spill in the nursing home where she's living. A friend of mine, who is a nurse, told me that this is fairly common in nursing homes. I thought my mom would be fairly safe there, so why do falls occur more often in nursing homes?
Richard Rider Rant: San Diego Firestorm 2007
Submitted by Richard Rider on 26 October, 2007 - 13:39.This is devoted entirely to fire fighting in general, and the San Diego County fire disaster in particular. The good news is that -- at TREMENDOUS expense and tragic loss of life -- we had an opportunity to learn from the 2003 massive Cedar fire, with four years to implement needed improvements and reforms. The bad news is that, in some critical matters, our politicians and bureaucrats didn't seem to learn a damn thing.
Advisor's Experience in San Diego Firestorm 2007
Submitted by John L. Hawkins on 24 October, 2007 - 16:38.Boomer Advisor is published by Advisor Media from our home office in the heart of San Diego. For the past three day we've been living the nightmare known as Firestorm 2007. So far, so good. Our office hasn't been threatened (unlike the Cedar Fire of 2003, which burned just a block from us). None of our San Diego-area staff was harmed and their homes all survived.
But I must add, "so far", because fires still rage in various areas of the county, and if new fires start, there's still plenty left to burn.
Help Paramedics Help You
In an emergency, time is crucial. The Vial of Life is a simple yet effective way to quickly get vital medical information into the hands of emergency responders, such as firefighters, paramedics, and police.
A Vial of Life kit contains a medical information form and two stickers. You fill out the medical form, which contains information about any medical issues, allergies, medications, and contact information for your doctors; place the form in a baggie and tape it to your refrigerator door, then place one sticker on the baggie and another on your front door.
Fight Against Financial Abuse
We've seen this all too often: Joey wanted to cash a large check from his grandmother's account. A bank employee called his grandmother, Joyce, who said her husband had recently died and that her grandson was helping out. Further review of Joyce's account revealed expenses for electronics, auto accessories, and adult entertainment. Joey was not using the money for his grandmother's benefit.
Getting Seniors Out from Behind the Wheel -- Voluntarily
Over the last six years, crashes involving drivers age 70 and older have jumped by 30 percent in Tokyo. Because it can be tough for family members to take the keys away from their older relatives, it's better for seniors to voluntarily give up driving.
Remodeling for Safety: The Bathroom
As Boomers age, we're helping our parents deal with livability issues. All too soon, we'll be dealing with these issues for ourselves and our spouses. Some of us — the "early aged," who have some sort of injury or debilitating condition — are already dealing with these challenges.
Richard Rider Rant: Tales from San Diego Firestorm 2007
Submitted by Richard Rider on 29 October, 2007 - 23:00.Eight items, all related to the San Diego area fires. Interesting tales from folks affected by the blazes.
Beware of Scams Following Fires
San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie M. Dumanis is warning residents about scams and price gouging in the wake of Firestorm 2007. "Unfortunately, some individuals use this time of crisis to take advantage of others," says DA Dumanis. "We want people to know the consumer rights and legal protections that are in place as they begin to rebuild their lives."
Driving Safety for Seniors
When you see an older person behind the wheel, what is your reaction? Are you happy they can still get around? Or concerned for them and everyone else on the road? It’s a big question. For example, there are more than 5.5 million drivers over the age of 55 in California, and more than 2.5 million are 70 or older.
Know If You're Covered In a Medical Emergency
ADVISOR ANSWERS
Q: My mom is insured through a Medicare HMO; however, the hospital closest to her home is not in her HMO's network. What do we do if there's an emergency? I don't know if we would instruct the ambulance to go to a different hospital -- is that even possible or advisable? She doesn't want to get hit with a big hospital bill because she isn't covered.
-- Willa M., Rainbow, California
Telephone Fraud Against the Elderly
Consumers lose more than US$40 billion a year to telemarketing fraud. Scam artists often target older people because they tend to be trusting and polite toward strangers, and are likely to be home and have time to talk with callers. You can empower your parents and others by discussing rip-off tip-offs, explaining their rights, and suggesting ways to protect themselves.
Do you have thoughts on an ADVISOR site, publication, or article? Please click here to share your views with the Editors. You'll be helping us give you the information and advice you need. And, you might see your thoughts in an upcoming print issue. Separately, you can discuss a topic with other readers by using the article's Comment form.
Advisorama
Any new venture goes through these stages: enthusiasm, complication, disillusionment, search for the guilty, punishment of the innocent, and glory to those who did nothing.