Senior Q & A_March 2016

Senior Q & A:
Answers to Common Questions about Senior Living

 

Alternatives for Seniors provides answers to common questions about seniors and senior living. This month's addition includes topics such as What is Andropause, the affect of alcohol on older adults, living trusts and probate court and where to find help locating senior housing and services.

Q.  What is Andropause?
A.  Andropause, also colloquially known as male menopause, is said to be the result of a gradual drop in testosterone, which is an androgen, in men as they pass through middle age.

The medical community is currently debating whether or not men really do go through a well-defined menopause. The condition “andropause” is currently not recognized by the World Health Organization. When andropause occurs, it’s considered to be a deficiency state in which the hormone testosterone goes below the normal range for an aging male.

Testosterone assists the male body in building protein and it is crucial for normal sexual drive and stamina. Testosterone also contributes to several metabolic functions including bone formation, and liver function. A steady decline in testosterone levels with age (in both men and women) is well documented.

 

Q.  Does alcohol affect older people differently?
A.  Alcohol’s effects do vary with age.

Slower reaction times, problems with hearing and seeing, and a lower tolerance to alcohol’s effects put older people at higher risk for falls, car crashes, and other types of injuries that may result from drinking. Older people also tend to take more medicines than younger people. Mixing alcohol with over-the-counter or prescription medications can be very dangerous, even fatal. In addition, alcohol can make many of the medical conditions common in older people, including high blood pressure and ulcers, more serious. Physical changes associated with aging can make older people feel “high” even after drinking only small amounts of alcohol. So even if there is no medical reason to avoid alcohol, older men and women should limit themselves to one drink per day.

 

Q.  Do I need a living trust? Can my estate avoid probate if I have one?
A.  YES and YES.  A “revocable living trust” is a trust that takes effect while you’re alive.

It’s a legal entity that holds your assets and distributes them to your heirs according to your wishes. You can change the terms of the trust until you die or become incompetent. The benefit is that the assets you put into this type of trust will pass directly to your heirs without having to go through probate — the legal process through which courts distribute assets. You might find one beneficial if you live in a state where probate is long and expensive and if you have assets that must go through probate. California is one state where these trusts can provide a great benefit. The same is true in states with drawn-out, old-fashioned probate laws (including many states in the Northeast and South). Keep in mind, though, that many kinds of assets don’t go through probate anyway, making a living trust unnecessary for them. Examples: Retirement accounts, jointly held property, life insurance proceeds and annuities. If your net worth is largely in such assets, you probably don’t need a living trust. Be sure to contact an elder law attorney for complete information.

 

Q.  How do I choose home care for my elderly parents?
A.  If you’re in the process of evaluating senior living residences for yourself or a loved one, alternativesforseniors.com provides a number of helpful tools.

Use the Independent Living Checklist to help determine if an independent living situation is the right choice. Use the Assisted Living Checklist to help with information gathering when visiting various senior living residences. Use the Nursing/Rehab Checklist to heighten your awareness of what to look for as you assess different nursing or rehabilitation homes.

You can also call WE-ASSIST (888-932-7747) for free consultation.

 

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BLOG Date: Thursday, March 24, 2016
Writer: Ryan Allen