West Newsmagazine 4-5-17

50 I MATURE FOCUS I
April 5, 2017
WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
A FREE SERVICE FOR SENIORS AND FAMILIES
®
Finding the Right P lace Just Got Easier!
Oasis understands that changing homes – at any stage in life – is difficult. For
seniors, this process is further complicated by the never-ending choices and costs
associated with assisted living options. We can help.
Your personal advisor will:
• Meet with you, face-to-face, to
carefully assess your specific needs.
• Create your unique profile in our
proprietary OasisIQsoftware.
• Present to you a refined list of senior
assisted living communities.
• Schedule tours and accompany
you on visits.
Our specialties:
• Assisted Living Communities
• Alzheimer’s Care
• Retirement Communities
• Skilled Nursing Homes
• Residential Care Homes
• Respite Services
• Dementia Care
Contact your Local Senior Living Advisor Today!
Call 314.602.9998
EILEEN LAMBERT, CSA
Chesterfield.OasisSeniorAdvisors.com
ELambert@YourOasisAdvisor.com
MATURE FOCUS, from page 48
benefits against other risks – such as those
for cancer and blood clots – when deciding
whether to use the therapy.
@WESTNEWSMAG
WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM
Multiple medication risks
The many chronic health conditions
people face as they age often means they are
prescribed multiple medications. When older
adults take five or more medicines, which
is called “polypharmacy” by health experts,
the risk for harmful side effects increases. A
recent analysis of a large German study of
older adults found that polypharmacy was
linked to increased frailty – characterized
by weakness, decreased endurance and
decreased ability to function. Frailty can,
in turn, increase the risk for falls, disability
and even death.
The researchers examined information
from nearly 2,000 older adults in Germany
who participated in the ESTHER study,
which began in 2000. People in the study
were between 50 and 75 years old when
it began, and follow-ups occurred after
two, five, eight and 11 years. At the eightyear
mark, doctors visited the participants
at their homes for a geriatric assessment,
which included a look at all the medications
participants were taking – both prescription
and over the counter. Based on those assessments,
they placed participants into three
groups:
• People who took from zero to four medicines
[non-polypharmacy]
• People who took five to nine medicines
[polypharmacy]
• People who took 10 or more medicines
[hyper-polypharmacy]
After adjusting for differences in patients’
histories, including illnesses, and excluding
medicines and supplements not known to
cause side effects, the research team found
that seniors at risk for frailty, as well as those
who were already frail, were more likely to be
in the polypharmacy or hyper-polypharmacy
groups. Those who took between five and
nine medicines were 1.5 times more likely
to become frail within three years compared
with people who took fewer than five. People
taking more than 10 medicines had twice the
risk of near-term frailty compared to the nonpolypharmacy
group.
The researchers concluded that when
possible, reducing multiple prescriptions
for older adults is a promising approach
to lessen the risks for frailty. “In a perfect
world, your physician would talk about your
medications with a pharmacist and a geriatrician.
This might help to reduce avoidable
multiple drug prescriptions and possibly
also lessen medication-induced risks for
See MATURE FOCUS, page 52
Gardens
Victorian
Resort Style Living • Spacious Luxury Apartments • Nutritious Chef Prepared Meals
Health and Wellness Programs • Staff Led Exercises and Water Aerobics
Fun Filled Activities • Complimentary Transportation
Call today
to schedule
a tour!
April 27
2017
11:00
am
Chef prepared meal to be
served after seminar
Independent Senior Living
Downsizing 101
Learn key principles of organization, decluttering or just
beautifying you current living space.
Presented by move management experts, Goldilocks Solutions, LLC.
RSVP by April 24th • 636-587-3737
www.victorian-gardens.com
Be thankful for your life, spend time in nature, breathe deeply, let go of your worries, forgive
yourself and others, and build your life around what you love.
15 Hilltop Village Center Dr. • Eureka MO 63025 • 636-587-3737
ARE YOU
RETIRING SOON?
We specialize in
Total Retirement Planning:
• Replacing your paycheck
• Social Security planning
• Pension planning
• Investments with Income strategies
• Reducing taxes
• Estate planning
Tune in every Saturday at 2pm
“Retire Worry Free” Radio show
on 550 KTRS
Contact us for a FREE appointment!
636-530-9977 • RetireSTL.com
Stephen Leicht CIMA® • Steve@retireSTL.com
Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA / SIPC