Cedarville Magazine, Fall 2013

20 | Cedarville Magazine This scenario is becoming all too common. Currently, more than 45 million people in the United States are 65 years of age or older, and that number is expected to double by 2050. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of people over the age of 85 (the “oldest old”) is the fastest-growing segment of the population. With this increase in the number of older adults comes an increase in the incidence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart failure, and Alzheimer’s disease and, consequently, the need for more caregiving. Adult children are often the first line of care for their aging parents. A recent Huffington Post article reported that the number of adult children providing complete care for aging parents has tripled over the last 15 years, and 25 percent of Americans are now providing personal care or financial assistance to their elderly parents. Since people are living longer, adult children now wrestle with questions about whether (and when) they need to take a more active role in their parents’ health care, what right(s) they have to information on their parents’ health and medications, and whom they should ask for this information. Honoring Father and Mother As Christ-followers, it is important to biblically examine what our role should be in the care of our parents. In Exodus 20:12 and Ephesians 6:2, we are commanded to “Honor our fathers and mothers,” which we should do even into our adult years. Psalm 71:9 and Leviticus 19:32 direct us to honor the elderly and not to “cast them off.” Such behavior requires open communication between ourselves and our parents, allowing us to share our specific concerns with one another. Thismay require difficult conversations, such as “Dad, I don’t think that you should be driving anymore” or “You seem to be having trouble with your memory lately. Maybe we should get that checked out.” It is equally important for us to discuss with our parents what our roles in their care should be. With the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), our parents must now sign a release of information for us at each hospital, physician, or pharmacy they visit if they would like us to receive any information about their health. Because of this, our discussions with our parents should also include howmuch information we can obtain regarding their health — especially whether they will give us the right to information from their physician or pharmacist, and, perhaps, even whether or not they will allow us to visit their physician(s) or pharmacy(ies) with them. Finding the Support You Need It is often confusing to navigate the health care system, especiallywhena patient has multiple physicians. Unfortunately, there is often a lack of communication between providers, which can lead to inappropriate treatment or medical errors. If you or your parent(s) are over the age of 65 with three or more chronic conditions, or if you or your parent(s) are over the age of 80, the oversight of a board- certified geriatrician will often minimize inappropriate treatment and will allow one person to manage care from multiple providers. There are several websites where you can obtain lists of local geriatricians (see sidebar). Anot her excel lent sou rce of information and advice, especially related to medications, is a Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (CGP). These pharmacists specialize in the unique needs of geriatric patients and understand how medications What You Should Know When Caring for a Senior Parent by Phillip Thornton and Marty Eng George recently turned 83 years old, and he admits that he has “gone downhill” over the last couple of years. He has diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, arthritis, and prostate problems. Each day, he takes 12 pills and gives himself two insulin shots. George’s daughter, Sandy, is concerned about her father and wonders if his medical treatment is optimal. Recently, George has gotten lost a couple of times driving home from the grocery store. Sandy questions whether her father should still be driving and what role she should play in his health care.