Educational Post for 6/22/19
by Patricia Feager
With time, everything ages. Neighborhoods, houses, commercial properties, community parks, medical facilities, schools, streets, and infrastructure. Maintenance should not become a taxpayer's burden, but it happens.
Homes were built and designed with wear and tear in mind. Home appliances, heating, air conditioning, roofs, foundation, windows, floors, walls, soffits, eaves, gutters, fences, water heaters, plumbing, and electrical aren't built to last. Oh, there may be transferable warranties and people may think a lifetime guarantee is their protection; however, read the fine print. Home maintenance is essential and becomes a financial concern over time.
PEOPLE ARE MORE VALUABLE
People also age. Sickness and disease can expedite the aging process causing things that a person could do on their own previously, suddenly seem like a heavy and impossible chore. People on fixed incomes are vulnerable. Buyers beware of scammers and people who make false promises.
Families with children can suddenly find themselves taking care of aging parents. Financial needs, health, safety, and adapting are a fact of life. While driving in my car, I heard an interview with Louise Aronson talking about "Redefining Aging, Transforming Medicine, Reimaging Life." Dr. Louise Aronson's new book, "Elderhood," got my attention. What brought Dr. Aronson down to her knees to re-evaluate the aging process was medical issues she was experiencing. It was then, she realized, "people in our health care system are indicative of how current medical care is broken for all of us." I bought a copy and recommend anyone and everyone, regardless of age to read the book.
FROM THE MOMENT WE ARE BORN WE ARE AGING
For the most part, individuals know when they need medical attention. Doctors spend a few minutes with their patients and prescribe drugs, a specialist, procedures, x-rays, or something else. How much do we know about their training and expertise? The answers will surprise you. This book isn't just about older people, specifically those in need of geriatrics, it is on life in general and what you need to know, the whole spectrum of infancy, toddler, child, tween, teen, young adult, adult, middle age, senior, old, elderly, aged, and stories about dying.
I have read a lot of stories here on ActiveRain about Generational Homes, members who lost a family member or members of ActiveRain as a result of death, and those who cared for their parents with dementia and Alzheimer. This book goes into depth on the little training involved by doctors for the elderly. Who doesn't know that Pediatricians is where infants begin until around 17 years old, depending on circumstances. Just about every community has doctors that specialize in Sports Medicine. Women go to Gynecologists and Obstetricians for well-woman and pregnancy. A lot of research has been done on men with prostate cancer and heart disease. But what about elderhood? This is an area that is lacking. Did you know the word Alzheimer's showed up on the Center for Disease Control as recent as 1994, which was 20 years after the first Millennials were born? I highly recommend the book.
ELDERHOOD IS A FACT OF LIFE
Seniors are near and dear to my heart. That is why I invested my time in further education to achieve my designation in SRES (Senior Real Estate Specialist). Stairs are a common problem for seniors. Moving may become a necessity. Family members should be involved in helping their aging family members cope with the many challenges they face without being taken advantage of by someone who rings their bell or calls on the phone and offers to pay cash for their home. Selling senior homes is serious business. Only a qualified real estate age should be given serious consideration to assist with the move for their loved ones.
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