Reverse Mortgages Winning New Support
Few personal finance writers as widely read as Jane Bryant Quinn. For 30 years, she published a biweekly column for Newsweek magazine, and for 27 years she published a twice-weekly column that was syndicated by The Washington Post Writers Group to more than 250 newspapers. Quinn has also written columns for Bloomberg.com and has appeared on nationally-aired TV shows such as “CBS Morning News,” “The Evening News with Dan Rather,” “Good Morning America,” among many other programs. In her current gigs, Quinn contributes a regular column to the AARP monthly Bulletin and blogs on her own website JaneBryantQuinn.com.
Over the course of her illustrious career, Quinn has established herself as one of the nation’s most reliable voices for people trying to manage their money well. But it wasn’t until recently that she shifted her perception of reverse mortgages and the role they can play in retirement planning today.
Now onto her sixth book on personal finance titled “How to Make Your Money Last” (Simon & Schuster), Quinn chatted with RMD to discuss her new book, the biggest challenges retirees face today and the factors contributing to her change of heart on reverse mortgages.
RMD: What spurred you to write “How to Make Your Money Last”?
JBQ: Making your money last is the biggest worry people have. When they are in their pre-retirement years or early retirement years, they say, “How can I be sure not to run out of money?” That’s the thing that has scared them the most.
We are all living to much later ages than we expected and we might not have saved as much as we intended, which is the problem the Baby Boomer generation is facing—partly because of the stock market in 2007-2008, or problems with the economy where they weren’t able to retire as soon as expected.
They [Boomers] are saying, “I have X amount of savings, so how do I invest and parcel out those savings so I can be reasonably sure they can last 30 years?”
What do you hope this new book will accomplish?
JBQ: First, I hope it will help alleviate worries, because if you really don’t know how to parcel out your money in a reasonable way, you’re always going to be afraid you will run out.
My hope with this book is you can figure out what a reasonable lifestyle is—I call that “right-sizing” your life, which is matching your expected income to your expected expenses and seeing how much of your savings you can withdraw every month or every year.
There are two things with this book. The first is the financial part, which is the bedrock on which a comfortable retirement is built. The other is the emotional part.
Let’s say you’re a teacher, lawyer or reporter and then suddenly you don’t have a paycheck anymore. So you not only have to figure out the financial part, but you also have to figure out the emotional part—going from a working person to an engaged private citizen retired. That is something I look ahead for myself. How do you make that transition?
You need a financial base to work from , but you also need to think about what you’re going to do for the rest of your life. “How to Make Your Money Last” also talks about the various ways of addressing that question, because that is a huge question.
Apart from those aspects, what are some other key areas of discussion included in the book? What can readers expect to learn?
JBQ: I cover the kinds of things that people need to know. There is something about the joy and challenge of life after work, and also how do you work out right-sizing your life. Doing these projections is more complicated when you’re retiring than when you are doing a normal working budget, because you have to look at the income you get from investments and savings.
I also cover when to claim Social Security, life insurance, health insurance and annuities. Then there’s retirement savings plans and what you should be doing especially if you’re part-time employed, a freelancer, or a member of the “gig economy.” There’s another section on retirement spending, retirement investing, and what are reasonable withdrawal rates from savings to have your money last 30 years.
I also talk about your home and reverse mortgages.
On the topic of reverse mortgages, how in-depth does “How to Make Your Money Last” cover these products?
JBQ: I am very positive about reverse mortgages, but I wasn’t always. I have taken a new view on them, partly as a result of the new regulations passed last year.
There was an issue with people who took lump sum reverse mortgages later in life; they went through the money, found they couldn’t pay taxes and insurance and faced the risk of losing their homes. By and large, there was an issue for people later in life when they didn’t really understand what they were getting [with a reverse mortgage].
These new regulations, however, which look at people’s income compared with what they will get with a reverse mortgage, are very valuable and they have erased my concerns that there are dangers here for people in their 70s and 80s.
Reverse mortgages have been a controversial topic in the past, with the product suffering from a negative perception. What made you change your mind, so much as to include reverse mortgages into your new book?
JBQ: The fact that older people are now being protected from themselves, or aggressive sales people who might inappropriately tell them to take out a lump sum when they’re 80, only to find out they ran through the money and are now stuck—that should not happen any more with these rules.
There has also been a sort of discovery among financial advisers using the [reverse mortgage] line of credit. It’s a wonderful hedge against inflation to give yourself future borrowing power.
If you take a reverse mortgage credit line at age 62, you could probably increase the withdrawal rate from your savings [above the classic 4% rule] because now you have one more pool of money from which you can draw from. If the market is bad, you can draw money from the credit line. This can help you increase your income in retirement from your savings and investments.
But I caution, [reverse mortgages] are only for people who intend to stay in their homes for 15-20 years, because you have to amortize those upfront costs. If you are settled in your house, want to stay there and increase your annual income, you can do that with a reverse mortgage credit line.
In your opinion, what do you view are some of the biggest hurdles or challenges facing retirees today?
JBQ: Saving money. This is particularly true with people who don’t work for companies that have 401(k) or 403(b) plans. People who tend to retire with sufficient savings are those who have company plans where money automatically comes out of their paychecks. Those are the people most likely to acquire decent retirement savings.
The other half—and it is roughly half—are people who work for employers who don’t have retirement plans, or are freelancers working in the “gig economy.” They have much more trouble saving because it’s not automatic. There’s no easy way to have money slipped out of their paycheck and set aside for them every time it comes. They are living paycheck to paycheck, but they’re spending everything.
For the average person who’s working freelance, or working where there isn’t a 401(k) plan, they can start an IRA. However, to make it saving automatic, they need to have money taken out of their bank account every month. People who are living paycheck to paycheck might be afraid to do that.
It’s one of the great virtues of our Social Security system; that if you pay taxes, you’re automatically getting a retirement plan. The same is true for people signed up for 401(k)s. But people who don’t have those employers are stuck and it’s a disgrace that how much you can save depends on where you work and not who you are.
So how does home equity fit into the equation? Home equity has long-held this reputation of being a “sacred cow,” but will it become a vital component of retirement planning for more retirees today and in the future?
JBQ: Now that there’s been a big loss of home equity and it’s on the rise again, people might be taking a different view of it because they don’t expect home equity to rise rapidly. On the whole, I think people have just gotten over the idea that their home equity will go up by large amounts, so they’ll be more inclined to treat it more sacredly than they did in the past.
I’m in favor of paying off the house before you retire. I think it’s a very valuable thing. If you don’t have mortgage expenses when you retire, that is a huge plus going ahead.
Written by Jason Oliva
3 Questions to Ask Before You Use Your Emergency Fund
You know the drill—something breaks, wears out, or costs more than you can cash flow. So where does the extra money come from? If you’re following Dave Ramsey’s seven Baby Steps, you’ve got two options: dip into your emergency fund or start a sinking fund. 3 Questions to Ask Before You Use Your Emergency Fund
Your emergency fund is the money you’ve saved for those unexpected costs that would otherwise blow your budget, like a midnight trip to the emergency room. Your sinking fund is the money you’ve been socking away toward a future goal, like a cruise to the Bahamas.
But not every situation is as clear-cut as medical bills and island getaways. So what classifies as a true budgeting emergency? It all boils down to these three simple questions:
1. Is It Unexpected?
Life has a few surprises we could all live without. A job layoff is one of them. But your emergency fund should help by keeping your lights on and your belly full until you land that next dream job. And if a tornado or flood visits your neighborhood, it’s perfectly fine to use your rainy-day stash. Let it cover your insurance deductibles or other property damage your policy doesn’t cover—that’s what it’s there for.
Annually reoccurring expenses, however, are not an emergency. Christmas happens on December 25 every year. So there’s no excuse not to save up before the gift-giving season hits. Same goes for back-to-school shopping. It shouldn’t come as a shock that your kids need new binders, index cards and composition notebooks every August. By saving a little each month in a sinking fund, you can actually enjoy these big occasions instead of dread them.
2. Is It Absolutely Necessary?
Necessities are often confused with wants, but the two are oceans apart. If your car breaks down, that’s your transportation—you need to get it fixed so you can get to work! Or if you discover a forest of mold growing behind your bedroom walls, you need to have enough cash on hand to temporarily move out and pay for the cleanup. Those situations are emergencies!
But if you’re just tired of the bubblegum pink tile in your bathroom, or if you suddenly need a new convertible, think again. Your house and car may be ugly, but as long as they’re safe and reliable, cosmetic fixes are the domain of sinking funds. New stuff is great, but don’t steal from your needs to pay for your wants.
3. Is It Urgent?
When an immediate need arises, the last thing you should worry about is how you’re going to pay for it. So if your child catches a baseball with his face and needs stitches or your just-replaced furnace suddenly dies in the dead of winter, don’t stress. Focus on the task at hand and leave the rest up to your emergency fund.
Big sales, by the way, are not urgent. Just because your favorite appliance shop is having the closeout sale of the century doesn’t mean you deserve a new washer, dryer, oven and fridge. If you want to replace old but still-functioning appliances, flash all that cash you saved up in your sinking fund and see what kind of deals you can score.
If You Have to Use the Money, It’s Okay!
Your emergency fund may feel like a ton of money just sitting there doing nothing, but it’s actually doing a lot. It’s your insurance policy against the unpredictable.So don’t drain it just because you see something shiny and new.
On the other hand, give yourself permission to use your emergency fund if you have an immediate, unexpected expense. Just remember to replenish your savings as soon as you get back on your feet. You never know when you’ll need it next.
What unexpected, necessary and urgent expenses have required you to dip into your emergency fund?
By Dave Ramsey
www.daveramsey.com
Are Your Appliances Up To Scratch?
If your appliances are not in a good working order, they will be potential hazards, but not only that, even if you avoid a major disaster, they will certainly be costing you far more in energy. Ovens for instance could have the potential to leak gas whilst washing machines can carry many dangers from the potential for major electrical faults to simple things such as ruining your family’s clothes.
Checking them regularly is the first step to making sure they are not hazardous or simply just not doing the best possible job. Faulty washing machines for instance could lead you to have to wash clothes many more times than should be necessary and in turn waste money not just on energy bills but on washing powder and softener too.
Should your appliances be old or no longer working like they should, it is easy to just let things carry on as they are and get complacent, or be worried about how much new replacement ovens are going to be. However, if they are showing problems there is a potential for danger never mind the reduction in efficiency and getting them repaired or buying new alternatives is a must.
In the long run it is often easier to simply buy new appliances as by shopping for them online you will almost certainly find them at prices that make forking out for repairs seem utterly pointless. A new appliance will also come with a good warranty and you can be sure that it will do the job you need it for many years to come.
Everyone is guilty of holding on to things they should throw away. From those old T-shirts you’ve saved from college days to your box of cassette tapes, it’s easy to accumulate items from the past you’ll never use again. Tips for Clearing Clutter
Here are some common items you may consider throwing out:
- Junk Mail – The postal service person delivers it to you every day, and every day you throw it in a pile. Take 15 minutes out of each week to figure out what’s important and what is truly junk. Recycle when you can.
- Canned Food – Your local homeless shelter would love those cans of baked beans you bought and never ate. Put these non-perishable items in a bag and take to your local food drive.
- Books & Music – Old textbooks do not need to take up space on your bookshelf. Also, if the music requires a player you no longer own (i.e. cassette or 8-track player), it’s time to toss it out.
- Duplicates – You probably only use one spatula at a time, so why do you have four of them in your kitchen drawer? Give away duplicates of household items to a college student or to charity.
- Magazines – If you never got around to reading last May’s edition, chances are you won’t ever. Pull out the recycling bin and throw out those old magazines, or place in your work breakroom for someone else to enjoy.
Apply these simple steps to get rid of unused items and get your home back in order.
Certain foods may push back against cognitive decline. Adding whole plant foods, including fruits and vegetables, beans and whole grains, to your diet can help cut cholesterol. Eating for Your Brain as a Senior
Berries, Coleslaw and Your Brain
The MIND diet, introduced early last year and ranked for the first time in Best Diets 2016, was created specifically to reduce dementia risk in older adults. Researcher Martha Clare Morris, a nutritional epidemiologist at Rush University Medical Center, and colleagues combined features from the DASH dietand Mediterranean diet to create the MIND diet, which includes 10 brain-healthy food groups: green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, nuts, beans, whole grains, fish, poultry, olive oil, wine and berries, especially blueberries.
As early as 1999, researchers found that feeding blueberries to aging rats helped them navigate better through mazes they’d previously run, says Dr. Michael Greger, a physician and founder of NutritionFacts.org. But it wasn’t until around 2010 that studies began showing brain benefits in people who eat berries. Eating for Your Brain as a Senior
One was the long-running Nurses’ Health Study, which followed more than 16,000 women age 70 and older and found that those who ate more berries showed slower rates of mental decline. “The magnitude of the associations were pretty impressive,” Greger says. “Women with a higher intake of berries appeared to have delayed cognitive aging by 2.5 years. So it’s like your brain is 2.5 years younger if you’re eating berries.”
Brain scans with functional MRI imaging can show a difference in brain function as people eat blueberries. The reason: “We think it’s polyphenol phytonutrients,” Greger says. “These are special antioxidant pigments, like the natural blue and purple pigments in berries, that actually cross the blood-brain barrier.”
Foods, beverages and extracts with similar pigments – such as pomegranates and grape juice – are also being studied for potential brain benefits.
Not fond of berries? Brightly colored cabbage also has the same brain-healthy phytonutrients, Greger says. “The cheapest, more available and most convenient source of the compound is purple and red cabbage, such as in coleslaw,” he says. “It lasts for a week in the fridge. It makes a nice, delightful crunch, and with color as an addition to any meal.” Cabbage, he says, “has the most antioxidants per dollar, beating out things like acai berries and quote-unquote superfoods.”
Good for Your Heart/Good for Your Brain
The two most common types of dementia affecting older Americans – Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia – might be delayed by the same types of food and diets that help lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol and prevent or manage diabetes.
Vascular dementia is caused by a series of “micro-strokes” that people aren’t even aware of but that damage parts of the brain fed by tiny blood vessels, Greger explains. It’s been well-established that hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis, is a risk factor for these strokes.
Only recently has a similar connection been made to the other major type of dementia, however. “It turns out that the risk of Alzheimer’s is not only tied to these same risk factors; but if you treat them, you can actually make a difference,” Greger says. In recent findings, people with Alzheimer’s who were treated for high cholesterol or blood pressure did better. “It didn’t stop the disease; it didn’t reverse the disease,” he says. “But it slowed the progression.”
Brain-artery scans done on people with Alzheimer’s or earlier-stage cognitive decline show that patients with the least hardening of those arteries remain more stable over time, Greger says. “But those with more cholesterol buildup [and] the most blockage rapidly decline in their ability to think, their ability to carry on activities of daily living.”
Cholesterol-Flushing Fiber
When it comes to cutting cholesterol, Greger says, the more whole plant foods in your diet, the better. “They contain fiber, which pulls cholesterol out of the body and kind of flushes it away,” he says. “We’re not talking about processed plant foods or refined foods like white flour, pasta or bagels. We’re talking whole plant foods: fruits and vegetables, beans, whole grains, peas, lentils.”
Berries not only fight free radicals – they can also combat cholesterol. “Berries have a lot of soluble fiber,” Greger says. “That’s why they gel up when you’re making your Thanksgiving cranberry sauce, with the pectin. So berries can offer the best of both worlds.”
Fasting for Your Brain?
Challenge your brain cells with a short fast, suggests Mark Mattson, chief of the Laboratory of Neurosciences at the National Institute on Aging and a professor of neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Going 16 hours or so without food could benefit your brain in several ways, he says.
Eating three meals a day plus snacks sends energy to your liver, where it’s stored as a form of glucose called glycogen, Mattson says. If you don’t eat for 10 to 12 hours, that depletes those energy stores in your liver, he explains. Instead, you mobilize fat from your fat cells, which are converted to compounds called ketones.
“Ketones are a really good thing for your brain,” Mattson says, pointing out that ketogenic diets are used for people with hard-to-treat epilepsy. “From an evolutionary standpoint, it makes sense that your brain should work well when you haven’t eaten for a long time,” he says. “Because if your brain isn’t working well, you’re not going to figure how to get food and compete with your competitors for available food sources.”
Even during short fasts, nerve cells are more active in the brain, researchers are finding. “Also, the cells in the brain respond adaptively to what may be considered the mild stress of not having food for an extended period of time,” Mattson says. Brain cells do this by increasing their ability to cope with stress, he says: “And, we think, to resist age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s.”
Intermittent fasting is a possible form of prevention, not treatment. “This is more risk reduction, [something] that people would be have to be doing for their adult life, from their midlife on,” Mattson says. “Similar to the exercise benefit in midlife as you get older. We find that fasting does similar things to brain cells as does exercise.”
When you’re not fasting, eating fruits and vegetables can help your brain, Mattson says – but that could be due to evolution, he adds. “Chemicals in fruits and vegetables are actually toxins from an evolutionary perspective, produced by plants to keep insects and other organisms, including humans, from eating them,” Mattson says. He suggests that plants containing chemicals with bitter or hot tastes – such as caffeine, or chemicals in vegetables like broccoli, or curcumin (in the curry spice turmeric) – may help build brain resilience. He explains the theory further in the July issue of Scientific American.
Diet Diversity
By eating a varied diet, you can draw from a cognitive portfolio of foods that may boost different parts of the brain, according to NutritionFacts.org. To improve executive function, speed of perception, overall cognition and fact-based memory, total vegetable intake seems most important. For autobiographical memory and visual-spatial skills, however, total fruit intake is the key, according to the website. Carrots may benefit one brain domain, Greger says, while mushrooms could help in another.
Overall, a diverse, healthy diet is likely your best bet. “We can’t eat a standard American diet [and just] throw some berries onto our bacon,” Greger says. “It may not be so much a magic bullet, but this arsenal of foods we eat for better brain health.” Eating for Your Brain as a Senior
Eating for Your Brain as a Senior
Selection and Assembly of a Rollator
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lMv7hzXmVY
Selection & Assembly of Rollator Walkers
(Also called: 4 Wheel or 4WW)
Rollators (also called 4 wheel walkers) are just that – walkers for elderly with four wheels, brakes, a seat and a basket/bag. They work well both indoors and outdoors – especially models with large wheels that easily roll over uneven ground and carpet. Selection & Assembly of a Rollator
Who Should Use a Rollator?
Elderly who need a walker for balance but do not need to put much weight onto it. It is also beneficial for seniors who need a seat to rest, want to carry items and want the security of having something to hold onto when walking. Most versions are also foldable and can fit in the trunk of a car. The styles with larger wheels are recommended as they roll easier on uneven ground and are usually more stable.
Who Should NOT Use A Rollator?
Elderly who have a sore foot/leg/hip and the doctor does not want them to place weight onto it (ex. post hip surgery). This is usually temporary and the senior can progress to a rollator at a later date.
Elderly with significant balance, strength and endurance issues. They may be safer using a two wheel walker or wheelchair – depending on what is causing their difficulty walking.
How to Use a Rollator
- Adjust to proper height – see below for how to fit a walker
- Lock brakes – I recommend locking the brakes anytime elderly are sitting down on the walker’s seat or getting up/down from a chair/bed/couch with the walker in front of them. On most rollator walkers with seats, the senior can lock the brakes by pressing the brake levers down till they lock in place. This ensures the walker will not roll away from the user.
- Get in position – Place both hands on the handles.
- Stand upright – This will likely place the users toes/midfoot in line with the rear wheels
- Walk normally – Try to stay in a normal upright walking position and not to hunch over or get the walker to far ahead.
- Small steps – Take small steps especially while turning around – for example to turn around to get into a chair.
- Using seat – Find level ground, lock brakes, turn around and sit down. Do not sit down to hard as brakes are built for light hold only.
Recommended Features
- Large wheels – Larger wheels roll over uneven ground easier which makes it more enjoyable to use outside and also safer.
- Lightweight – Some walkers are too heavy for smaller seniors as they cannot push them around easily – putting them at risk of falling.
- Easy to use brakes – Some brakes are too stiff for elderly so be sure to have the senior try the brakes – both squeezing them as well as locking them.
- Padded seat – Elderly will use the seat if it is comfortable.
- Basket/Bag – I prefer models that allow easy access to the basket/bag while in the normal walking position. Baskets that are only accessible by reaching over top or around the walker are not safe and inconvenient.
Accessories
- Standard options – Most walkers come with several standard features such as a basket/bag and padded seat.
- Oxygen tank holders – Some walkers have enough room in the basket/bag for an oxygen tank or small portable concentrator. Others will benefit from an oxygen tank holder. Make sure it keeps the weight low to the ground or it makes the walker top heavy and prone to tipping over – Especially on uneven ground outside (such as a curb cutout at a crosswalk).
- Cane holder – To hold their cane securely.
How Much Does a Rollator Walker Cost?
Rollator walkers for elderly (four wheel walkers) will cost $100-600+ depending on the quality and features.
Source: Medline
Applying Adult Briefs in the Lying Down Position
Instructional video & list of steps for caregivers applying adult briefs to a patient in the lying down position.
Application Demonstration: How to apply an adult brief in the lying down position.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRuNupusIPc
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Proper cleaning techniques will maintain skin integrity and prevent infections, just as prompt and proper disposal of soiled diapers will keep patient environment clean and odor free.
List of Necessary Items
- Sturdy Plastic Basin/Bowl/Bucket to be filled with warm water
- Toilet Paper
- Soft Wash Cloths/Disposable Wipes (See washcloths and wipes.)
- Soft Towel for drying
- Mild Soap/Hypoallergenic Body Wash
- Protective Cream
- Powder/ talc or cornstarch
- Incontinent Disposable briefs/pull-ups (See adult diapers and briefs.)
- Portable container for ready access to supplies
- Lined Trash Can
- Plastic Disposable Gloves
Steps for Changing a Bed Bound Patient
- Assemble supplies in a portable container
- Discuss the process with recipient before and during care
- Fill the Basin/Bowl/Bucket with warm water
- Bring a Lined Trash Can next to bed for easy access for disposal of soiled paper products
- Put on Gloves
- If incontinent briefs are being used, remove soiled brief, careful not to drop and contents.
- Initially wipe away as much stool or urine as possible with toilet paper or facial tissue and discard into lined trash can.
- Wet and wring wash cloth, and apply minimal amount of body wash to first cloth. Be careful not to splash water, especially after it is used.
- Wash front genital area first-discard disposable wipe into plastic bag or trash can, (wash cloths should be placed into separate bag or can). This single use method will keep the basin water clean and prevent contamination/infection.
- Wet and wring additional wash cloths or disposable cloths- remembering to wipe from front to back until all visible incontinence has been removed and area is clean.
- Rinse thoroughly.
- Dry area with soft towels.
- Apply protective cream to buttocks and groin folds.
- Apply powder to dry clean cloth and dust area around waist or between skin folds.
- Remove gloves.
- Apply incontinent brief/pullup.
- Remove liner from trash can and dispose of it.
- Follow washing instructions for washcloths and towels.
Reminder
Helpful Tips
*If a hospital bed is in use, raise the bed to the caregiver’s waist height to avoid back strain.
*To prevent leakage from incontinent briefs and prevent frequent full linen changes, ensure that a bed pad or disposable paper pad is positioned from under the waist to the mid thigh area
For individuals who change themselves, follow these steps.
Steps for Changing Oneself in the Lying Down Position
- Gather all of your supplies. (See list above.)
- Lie flat on a bed or in another comfortable area making sure all clothing and other fabric is out of the way.
- Undo the tapes of the diaper.
- (Keep the dirty diaper beneath you should have an accident.)
- Bend your knees putting your feet flat on the surface.
- Raise your bottom in the air off the surface on which you are lying.
- Begin wiping from front to back. (Put the dirty wipes in trash bag next to you.)
- Wipe until clean.
- Roll up the dirty diaper and throw it away.
- Unfold the clean diaper and put it beneath you with the tabs in the back.
- Apply any cream or powder you need.
- Pull the front of the diaper up between your legs and fasten the tabs.
- You’re done.
Steps for Changing Oneself in the Standing Position
- Make sure all clothing is out of the way. (Pull your pants down to your ankles or tuck your dress under your chin.)
- Undo the tapes of your diaper and fold it up. (Place in plastic bag.)
- Clean yourself carefully over the toilet to catch accidents.
- Apply any necessary cream.
- Open the clean diaper.
- Put tabbed part around your waist in the back and pull the other end through your legs.
- Fasten the tabs on one side and then do the same on the other.
- Squeeze small amounts of powder down the front and back of the diaper.
- Fasten your clothes.
- You are done.
Selecting a Walker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfDkmIv1aTk
Selecting a Front Wheel Walker (Also called: Two Wheel or 2WW)
Front wheel or two wheel walkers for elderly are much like standard walkers but with wheels on the front and often have skids/skis on the rear legs. This allows it to more easily slide on the ground.
Similar to a folding walker, they can usually fold in half to store in the trunk of a car, etc.
Who Should Use a Front Wheel Walker?
Elderly who need to place some weight onto the walker (but not all). It is also light weight, easy to transport and slides across the floor. Some people who have rollator walkers for elderly also have front wheel walkers to take with them when they travel as they are foldable, lightweight and can more easily fit in the trunk of a car.
Who Should NOT Use a Front Wheel Walker?
Elderly who need to place most of their weight on the walker – for example, if the doctor does not want them to place any weight on an injured foot/leg or post hip surgery. Although they are lighter than rollator walkers for elderly, they do not work well outside.
How to Use a Front Wheel Walker
- Adjust to proper height – See below for how to fit walker.
- Get in position – Place both hands on the handles.
- Stand upright – This will likely place the users toes/midfoot in line with the rear legs.
- Advance walker – Push the walker in front of you so that you are walking within the walker.
- Walk into the walker – If the senior has a sore leg/foot or a leg that the doctor does not want them to put full weight through, then advance this leg first followed quickly by the other.
- Small steps – Take small steps especially while turning around – for example to get into a chair.
- No lifting needed – The advantage of these types of walkers for elderly over standard walkers is that the senior does not need to pick it up to walk.
Recommended Features
- Large fixed – Larger wheels roll better over uneven ground. Some front wheel walkers for elderly have swivelling wheels (like a shopping cart) but they are not as stable as the fixed wheels.
- Lightweight – Light enough so the user can easily manoeuvre it as well as pick it up to place in car trunk, etc. That being said, if the user is a rather large individual, they will need to make sure it is strong enough to carry their weight.
- Sturdy – Make sure the walker legs are sturdy and even. Some poorly made walkers have legs that are not exactly even so that it rocks. This makes it difficult to use and is a safety risk.
- Foldable – Make sure it can fold in half so that it is easy to take in the trunk of a car, etc.
Accessories
- Skis/Skids/Tennis Balls – These allow the rear legs to slide more easily on the ground than the regular rubber tips.
- Oxygen tank holders – This can be difficult to manage as it increases the weight of the walker making it more difficult to move.
- Trays/Bags – The bags are more useful than the trays as items can easily fall off the tray and are more likely to stay in the bag. These can be excellent additions to a folding walker as both hands are in use while using the walker (ie. no free hand to carry items around house).
- Foam handles – They make walkers for elderly more comfortable – especially for those with arthritis – as the user will be placing a fair amount of weight onto the handles while using it.
Selecting a Rollator Walker (Also called: 4 Wheel or 4WW)
Rollators (also called 4 wheel walkers) are just that – walkers for elderly with four wheels, brakes, a seat and a basket/bag. They work well both indoors and outdoors – especially models with large wheels that easily roll over uneven ground and carpet.
Who Should Use a Rollator?
Elderly who need a walker for balance but do not need to put much weight onto it. It is also beneficial for seniors who need a seat to rest, want to carry items and want the security of having something to hold onto when walking. Most versions are also foldable and can fit in the trunk of a car. The styles with larger wheels are recommended as they roll easier on uneven ground and are usually more stable.
Who Should NOT Use A Rollator?
Elderly who have a sore foot/leg/hip and the doctor does not want them to place weight onto it (ex. post hip surgery). This is usually temporary and the senior can progress to a rollator at a later date.
Elderly with significant balance, strength and endurance issues. They may be safer using a two wheel walker or wheelchair – depending on what is causing their difficulty walking.
How to Use a Rollator
- Adjust to proper height – see below for how to fit a walker
- Lock brakes – I recommend locking the brakes anytime elderly are sitting down on the walker’s seat or getting up/down from a chair/bed/couch with the walker in front of them. On most rollator walkers with seats, the senior can lock the brakes by pressing the brake levers down till they lock in place. This ensures the walker will not roll away from the user.
- Get in position – Place both hands on the handles.
- Stand upright – This will likely place the users toes/midfoot in line with the rear wheels
- Walk normally – Try to stay in a normal upright walking position and not to hunch over or get the walker to far ahead.
- Small steps – Take small steps especially while turning around – for example to turn around to get into a chair.
- Using seat – Find level ground, lock brakes, turn around and sit down. Do not sit down to hard as brakes are built for light hold only.
Recommended Features
- Large wheels – Larger wheels roll over uneven ground easier which makes it more enjoyable to use outside and also safer.
- Lightweight – Some walkers are too heavy for smaller seniors as they cannot push them around easily – putting them at risk of falling.
- Easy to use brakes – Some brakes are too stiff for elderly so be sure to have the senior try the brakes – both squeezing them as well as locking them.
- Padded seat – Elderly will use the seat if it is comfortable.
- Basket/Bag – I prefer models that allow easy access to the basket/bag while in the normal walking position. Baskets that are only accessible by reaching over top or around the walker are not safe and inconvenient.
Accessories
- Standard options – Most walkers come with several standard features such as a basket/bag and padded seat.
- Oxygen tank holders – Some walkers have enough room in the basket/bag for an oxygen tank or small portable concentrator. Others will benefit from an oxygen tank holder. Make sure it keeps the weight low to the ground or it makes the walker top heavy and prone to tipping over – Especially on uneven ground outside (such as a curb cutout at a crosswalk).
- Cane holder – To hold their cane securely.
How to Approach Volatile Markets
When managing your wealth, it is important to have a prepared approach for volatile markets. By definition, volatility is a statistical measure of the dispersion of returns for a given security or market index. Volatility can be measured by the variance between returns from that same security or market index. The more volatile the security or index the riskier it usually is. How to Approach Volatile Markets
Last year, 2015 was a year of volatility for most market indices (S&P 500, DOW and Emerging and Developed International Markets.) The S&P 500 ended the year up +1.38% and the DOW up +0.21%, although we had a -12% decline midyear.
Most investors ask the proverbial question, “How do I prepare and protect my portfolio from volatile markets?”
Here are some simple guidelines:
- Follow your investment plan. Don’t veer from the plan based on fear
- Look at your financial goals: income need/capital preservation/growth, risk tolerance and time horizon at least annually.
- Markets go up and down, some years worse than others. Don’t panic. Volatility can be your friend. Don’t try and time the markets
- Asset Allocation and Diversification are key. Don’t make any one big bet. Quality and consistency of investments make a difference.
- Don’t listen to all the noise on the news and take emotion out of investing.
- Don’t look at your portfolio daily as fluctuations will occur.
Volatile markets usually end up being insignificant in the long run. They can be painful to watch, but are the best time to invest. Corrections will occur. (2015 S&P 500 Chart)
Source: Apriem.com