Tai Chi offers a multitude of health benefits – and toe exercise.

Calm the mind. Reduce your blood pressure. Better your balance. Thanks to the Tai Chi class available at Longwood at Oakmont, residents are able to experience multiple health benefits that stem from the practice.

Tai Chi, originally developed for self-defense, has evolved into a graceful form of exercise that's used for stress reduction and a variety of other health conditions. Residents are encouraged to partake in Tai Chi not only due to the health benefits involved, but because of its emphasis on stretching and balance, which can help to prevent falls.

Doreen Boyce, longtime resident of Longwood at Oakmont, began taking the Tai Chi classes as soon as they were available in October 2017, and fell in love with the art. “I had read about Tai Chi and it sounded so intriguing. Dick Van Dyke even promoted it on television, crediting Tai Chi as the reason he can still tap dance in his 90s, and I thought, ‘Oh I want to be like that!’”

The class, offered three times a week at the Wellness Center, is taught by Phil Jannetta, who was trained in Tai Chi in Japan. According to Doreen, Phil devotes a segment of the class to what he calls “loosening” exercises, where participants gently stretch and exercise every joint in the body, including fingers and toes.

Doreen enjoys these exercises, saying, “You stretch your whole spine and you feel better for it. We older people may sit too much, so we need these loosening exercises to keep in shape!” After the loosening exercises, the class dives into the traditional portion of the Tai Chi session.

“It engages your mind and your body, and for Tai Chi, one’s mind and body must be in tune. That’s how one can reduce the risk of falling and stimulate the brain,” Doreen shared. She continues, “While doing the loosening exercises, you find that your feet and hands tingle because the blood gets into the joints, which is very important at my age. One of the reasons I think Tai Chi is good for not falling is because it exercises your toes, which, when strengthened, can really aid in preventing falls. Most people don’t think about that, because who exercises their toes?”

Doreen has never experienced a fall. “Can I attribute this to Tai Chi? I have no idea, but the fact that the exercises claims to prevent falls further reinforces my desire to continue.”

Last June, Doreen underwent surgery for a knee replacement, putting her Tai Chi on hold as she recovers. She still occasionally participates in the loosening exercises, but she can’t wait to get back to full-time Tai Chi. “Although I am a Tai Chi enthusiast, I must curb my enthusiasm and discipline myself so I don’t interrupt the healing process.”

FUN FACT: According to Masterpiece Living, poor balance and gait have shown to be significant contributors to falls. Their research suggests that participating in balance activities such as Tai Chi improve gait and physical balance. In fact, Tai Chi exercise helped to reduce multiple falls by 47.5%!

Tai Chi offers a multitude of health benefits – and toe exercise.

Calm the mind. Reduce your blood pressure. Better your balance. Thanks to the Tai Chi class available at Longwood at Oakmont, residents are able to experience multiple health benefits that stem from the practice.

Tai Chi, originally developed for self-defense, has evolved into a graceful form of exercise that's used for stress reduction and a variety of other health conditions. Residents are encouraged to partake in Tai Chi not only due to the health benefits involved, but because of its emphasis on stretching and balance, which can help to prevent falls.

Doreen Boyce, longtime resident of Longwood at Oakmont, began taking the Tai Chi classes as soon as they were available in October 2017, and fell in love with the art. “I had read about Tai Chi and it sounded so intriguing. Dick Van Dyke even promoted it on television, crediting Tai Chi as the reason he can still tap dance in his 90s, and I thought, ‘Oh I want to be like that!’”

The class, offered three times a week at the Wellness Center, is taught by Phil Jannetta, who was trained in Tai Chi in Japan. According to Doreen, Phil devotes a segment of the class to what he calls “loosening” exercises, where participants gently stretch and exercise every joint in the body, including fingers and toes.

Doreen enjoys these exercises, saying, “You stretch your whole spine and you feel better for it. We older people may sit too much, so we need these loosening exercises to keep in shape!” After the loosening exercises, the class dives into the traditional portion of the Tai Chi session.

“It engages your mind and your body, and for Tai Chi, one’s mind and body must be in tune. That’s how one can reduce the risk of falling and stimulate the brain,” Doreen shared. She continues, “While doing the loosening exercises, you find that your feet and hands tingle because the blood gets into the joints, which is very important at my age. One of the reasons I think Tai Chi is good for not falling is because it exercises your toes, which, when strengthened, can really aid in preventing falls. Most people don’t think about that, because who exercises their toes?”

Doreen has never experienced a fall. “Can I attribute this to Tai Chi? I have no idea, but the fact that the exercises claims to prevent falls further reinforces my desire to continue.”

Last June, Doreen underwent surgery for a knee replacement, putting her Tai Chi on hold as she recovers. She still occasionally participates in the loosening exercises, but she can’t wait to get back to full-time Tai Chi. “Although I am a Tai Chi enthusiast, I must curb my enthusiasm and discipline myself so I don’t interrupt the healing process.”

FUN FACT: According to Masterpiece Living, poor balance and gait have shown to be significant contributors to falls. Their research suggests that participating in balance activities such as Tai Chi improve gait and physical balance. In fact, Tai Chi exercise helped to reduce multiple falls by 47.5%!

You may or may not need long-term care. But an unexpected illness or injury can change your needs—sometimes suddenly. The best time to think about long-term care is before you need it.

Long-term care is a range of services and supports older adults may need to meet their personal care requirements. Most long-term care is not medical care but rather assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, eating and bathroom tasks and supportive services, such as taking medication, doing housework, shopping and preparing and cleaning up after meals. 

The best time to start planning for the possibility of long-term care is before you need it, and no time is better than the present. Consider this: According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, almost 10 million people currently need some form of long-term care in our country. Of this population, 63 percent are over the age of 65 and 37 percent are under 65. Although one-third of today’s 65-year-olds may never need long-term care, one-fifth of them will need it for longer than five years—and women, on average, need care longer than men.

But although most seniors will need long-term care, many have not yet thought about what they may need and fewer still have a good understanding of how they’ll pay for it.  Consumer surveys show misconceptions on what Medicare will pay for. Fully 25 percent of people said they’d let Medicare pay for their long-term care—a major problem since, in the vast majority of cases, Medicare does not pay for long-term care costs.

The website longtermcare.gov explains that Medicare only pays for long-term care if you need skilled nursing or rehabilitation in a nursing home, for a maximum of 100 days (although the average Medicare-covered stay is 22 days) or at home if you are also receiving skilled home health or other skilled in-home services, and usually only for a short period of time.

Medicare does not pay for non-skilled assistance with ADLs, which make up the majority of long-term care services; so if you do not have a private insurance program in addition to Medicare, you will have bear the expense of these services yourself.

Medicaid, the nation’s health program for the low-income and disabled, will pay for long-term care but it requires seniors to spend nearly all of their assets beforehand. These days, nearly half of all long-term care in the United States is paid for by Medicaid—a huge burden that is only going to grow as millions of baby boomers reach their 80s.

Clearly, thinking ahead about the type of long-term care you might need and putting a plan in place early on is important for both you and your family members. And people with Alzheimer’s disease or other cognitive impairment should begin their planning as soon as possible.

Planning for the possibility of long-term care gives you time to learn about the services available in your community and what they cost. And it helps you to consider all your options so you can make informed decisions on such things as housing, medical care, legal documentation and finances while you are still able.

One innovative long-term care planning option offered by Presbyterian SeniorCare is called Longwood at Home.™  Licensed by the PA Department of Insurance, Longwood at Home offers services for healthy older adults that help them stay in their own homes and age in place.   

Longwood at Home provides adults ages 60 and up the opportunity for a lifetime of continuing care without giving up the comfort of—or investment in—their homes. Members are offered care coordination, wellness programs, medical transportation, social events and asset protection, as well as the assurance that a total package of long-term care services—from private duty to nursing facility care—will be available to them if needed, at a fraction of the cost of paying for the services privately.

With Longwood at Home, seniors get the peace-of-mind of knowing that the services and care they may need will be there when they need it, while remaining at home for as long as possible.

For more information, visit www.longwoodathome.org.

You may or may not need long-term care. But an unexpected illness or injury can change your needs—sometimes suddenly. The best time to think about long-term care is before you need it.

Long-term care is a range of services and supports older adults may need to meet their personal care requirements. Most long-term care is not medical care but rather assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, eating and bathroom tasks and supportive services, such as taking medication, doing housework, shopping and preparing and cleaning up after meals. 

The best time to start planning for the possibility of long-term care is before you need it, and no time is better than the present. Consider this: According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, almost 10 million people currently need some form of long-term care in our country. Of this population, 63 percent are over the age of 65 and 37 percent are under 65. Although one-third of today’s 65-year-olds may never need long-term care, one-fifth of them will need it for longer than five years—and women, on average, need care longer than men.

But although most seniors will need long-term care, many have not yet thought about what they may need and fewer still have a good understanding of how they’ll pay for it.  Consumer surveys show misconceptions on what Medicare will pay for. Fully 25 percent of people said they’d let Medicare pay for their long-term care—a major problem since, in the vast majority of cases, Medicare does not pay for long-term care costs.

The website longtermcare.gov explains that Medicare only pays for long-term care if you need skilled nursing or rehabilitation in a nursing home, for a maximum of 100 days (although the average Medicare-covered stay is 22 days) or at home if you are also receiving skilled home health or other skilled in-home services, and usually only for a short period of time.

Medicare does not pay for non-skilled assistance with ADLs, which make up the majority of long-term care services; so if you do not have a private insurance program in addition to Medicare, you will have bear the expense of these services yourself.

Medicaid, the nation’s health program for the low-income and disabled, will pay for long-term care but it requires seniors to spend nearly all of their assets beforehand. These days, nearly half of all long-term care in the United States is paid for by Medicaid—a huge burden that is only going to grow as millions of baby boomers reach their 80s.

Clearly, thinking ahead about the type of long-term care you might need and putting a plan in place early on is important for both you and your family members. And people with Alzheimer’s disease or other cognitive impairment should begin their planning as soon as possible.

Planning for the possibility of long-term care gives you time to learn about the services available in your community and what they cost. And it helps you to consider all your options so you can make informed decisions on such things as housing, medical care, legal documentation and finances while you are still able.

One innovative long-term care planning option offered by Presbyterian SeniorCare is called Longwood at Home.™  Licensed by the PA Department of Insurance, Longwood at Home offers services for healthy older adults that help them stay in their own homes and age in place.   

Longwood at Home provides adults ages 60 and up the opportunity for a lifetime of continuing care without giving up the comfort of—or investment in—their homes. Members are offered care coordination, wellness programs, medical transportation, social events and asset protection, as well as the assurance that a total package of long-term care services—from private duty to nursing facility care—will be available to them if needed, at a fraction of the cost of paying for the services privately.

With Longwood at Home, seniors get the peace-of-mind of knowing that the services and care they may need will be there when they need it, while remaining at home for as long as possible.

For more information, visit www.longwoodathome.org.

In this 'Ask the Expert' column, a dietitian explains the possibilities
By The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR)

Before earning her doctorate in public health nutrition from Queen’s University Belfast in 2012 and embarking on a research career there, registered dietitian Claire McEvoy spent a decade working in clinical nutrition for the National Health Service in Northern Ireland.

That experience, “supporting people to make appropriate and evidence-based dietary choices has completely influenced the type of research I do,” she says. McEvoy studies how different types of dietary habits in people affect their health and “healthspan,” which means the number of years of good health humans can enjoy toward the end of life.

“The Mediterranean diet may have a beneficial impact on cognitive health because it improves our vascular health.”

As a 2015 recipient of the American Federation for Aging Research’s Paul B. Beeson Emerging Leaders Career Development Award in Aging, McEvoy has focused her fellowship research on the Mediterranean diet and other healthy dietary habits.

She says she wants “to increase our knowledge on how diet contributes to cognitive health during aging, and to understand how best we can support dietary behavior change at different life stages to improve health and well-being. Ultimately, my goal is to identify effective dietary strategies to prevent and treat cognitive disorders during aging.”

McEvoy and other AFAR-supported researchers are driving discoveries that move us closer to extending healthspan.

In addition to regular columns by AFAR’s Scientific Director Steven N. Austad, AFAR is excited to share insights from the field of aging research through this “Ask the Expert” interview (previous interviews have addressed age-related dementia research, cancer research and the effects of younger blood on aging).

AFAR recently talked with McEvoy about the link between nutrition and cognitive decline, and the implications of her research for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, and healthy aging.

AFAR: What should people know about the link between diet and brain health, especially as it relates to the Mediterranean diet and healthy aging?

Claire McEvoy: It’s generally believed that what’s good for the heart is good for the brain, and that is why most research into diet and brain health to date has focused on the traditional Mediterranean diet.

It’s proven to be effective for reducing both primary and secondary cardiovascular disease and has also shown clinically significant benefits for several cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as cholesterol profiles, high blood pressure, fasting glucose level and inflammatory biomarkers, which are also risk factors for cognitive decline.

The traditional Mediterranean diet is plant-based, rich in fruit and vegetables, whole grains, legumes and moderate in fish and nuts. It also includes alcohol that tends to be consumed with meals. This diet is generally low in processed foods, sugary foods and red meat.

Observational evidence, while inconsistent, tends to support the Mediterranean diet for brain health as well as cardiovascular health.

However, the effects of this diet’s changes on cognitive function have been tested in few intervention studies. Preliminary results have shown improvement in cognitive function for people who are at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Some research has focused on single nutrients, like vitamin E, or B vitamins. Very often, however, the evidence is mixed, likely because of differences in the types of populations studied and the diverse nature of vitamin supplements tested.

Some people with nutrient deficiencies may experience cognitive benefit from vitamin supplements. However, most people in the general population will derive greater health benefits from improving the quality of their regular diet rather than relying on vitamin supplements.

In two recent studies, you looked at how different types of dietary habits, including the Mediterranean diet, affect cognitive function in older adults and people in midlife. What are the most important takeaways so far?

We investigated the Mediterranean diet in the well-known Health and Retirement Study and the Coronary Artery Risk Development In Young Adults (CARDIA) study and found that greater adherence to the this way of eating was associated with better cognitive health in both older and younger adults.

In the most recent study conducted with Dr. Kristine Yaffe and other CARDIA investigators, the most important take-home message is that maintaining healthy dietary practices that align with the Mediterranean diet during young adulthood can help to preserve cognitive function even at midlife.

That is an important point. Because diet is likely to provide subtle, but cumulative, protective effects on brain health throughout a person’s lifetime that help to reduce the risk of, or at least slow down, cognitive decline as we get older, and potentially help to delay dementia in late life.

What are some of the key points research is revealing about the science behind the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet?

In our dietary analyses, we’ve found that individual foods on their own tend to have weaker associations with health outcomes compared with overall dietary habits. Therefore, while single foods and nutrients may be important, the combination of foods and nutrients within a person’s diet can act together to have greater biological effects.

In addition, we’re beginning to understand more about the mechanisms of how a healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, affect brain health. These insights come from a range of studies in both animals and humans. The Mediterranean diet may have a beneficial impact on cognitive health because it improves our vascular health.

The Mediterranean diet and other high-quality diets also have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that could protect against cognitive decline and dementia.

Your current research would seem to have larger implications regarding nutrition and healthy aging. Where do you think this might lead?

I am very much a public health researcher, so I want to help inform dietary recommendations that will benefit brain health throughout a person’s life to prevent or delay Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The Mediterranean diet is clearly an important dietary pattern for overall healthy aging. But it should be emphasized that we don’t yet know the optimal combination of foods and nutrients for brain health.

One of the most interesting aspects of diet is that it has the potential to influence the development of several diseases, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some types of cancer.

Addressing poor-quality diets and diet-related disease in our population should be a major policy focus for healthy aging. While it is important to generate robust evidence of ‘what works,’ a key challenge going forward will be to find effective ways to promote and support healthy dietary habits in people for disease prevention and healthy aging.

By The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR)

The American Federation for Aging Research is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to support and advance healthy aging through biomedical research.@

In this 'Ask the Expert' column, a dietitian explains the possibilities
By The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR)

Before earning her doctorate in public health nutrition from Queen’s University Belfast in 2012 and embarking on a research career there, registered dietitian Claire McEvoy spent a decade working in clinical nutrition for the National Health Service in Northern Ireland.

That experience, “supporting people to make appropriate and evidence-based dietary choices has completely influenced the type of research I do,” she says. McEvoy studies how different types of dietary habits in people affect their health and “healthspan,” which means the number of years of good health humans can enjoy toward the end of life.

“The Mediterranean diet may have a beneficial impact on cognitive health because it improves our vascular health.”

As a 2015 recipient of the American Federation for Aging Research’s Paul B. Beeson Emerging Leaders Career Development Award in Aging, McEvoy has focused her fellowship research on the Mediterranean diet and other healthy dietary habits.

She says she wants “to increase our knowledge on how diet contributes to cognitive health during aging, and to understand how best we can support dietary behavior change at different life stages to improve health and well-being. Ultimately, my goal is to identify effective dietary strategies to prevent and treat cognitive disorders during aging.”

McEvoy and other AFAR-supported researchers are driving discoveries that move us closer to extending healthspan.

In addition to regular columns by AFAR’s Scientific Director Steven N. Austad, AFAR is excited to share insights from the field of aging research through this “Ask the Expert” interview (previous interviews have addressed age-related dementia research, cancer research and the effects of younger blood on aging).

AFAR recently talked with McEvoy about the link between nutrition and cognitive decline, and the implications of her research for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, and healthy aging.

AFAR: What should people know about the link between diet and brain health, especially as it relates to the Mediterranean diet and healthy aging?

Claire McEvoy: It’s generally believed that what’s good for the heart is good for the brain, and that is why most research into diet and brain health to date has focused on the traditional Mediterranean diet.

It’s proven to be effective for reducing both primary and secondary cardiovascular disease and has also shown clinically significant benefits for several cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as cholesterol profiles, high blood pressure, fasting glucose level and inflammatory biomarkers, which are also risk factors for cognitive decline.

The traditional Mediterranean diet is plant-based, rich in fruit and vegetables, whole grains, legumes and moderate in fish and nuts. It also includes alcohol that tends to be consumed with meals. This diet is generally low in processed foods, sugary foods and red meat.

Observational evidence, while inconsistent, tends to support the Mediterranean diet for brain health as well as cardiovascular health.

However, the effects of this diet’s changes on cognitive function have been tested in few intervention studies. Preliminary results have shown improvement in cognitive function for people who are at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Some research has focused on single nutrients, like vitamin E, or B vitamins. Very often, however, the evidence is mixed, likely because of differences in the types of populations studied and the diverse nature of vitamin supplements tested.

Some people with nutrient deficiencies may experience cognitive benefit from vitamin supplements. However, most people in the general population will derive greater health benefits from improving the quality of their regular diet rather than relying on vitamin supplements.

In two recent studies, you looked at how different types of dietary habits, including the Mediterranean diet, affect cognitive function in older adults and people in midlife. What are the most important takeaways so far?

We investigated the Mediterranean diet in the well-known Health and Retirement Study and the Coronary Artery Risk Development In Young Adults (CARDIA) study and found that greater adherence to the this way of eating was associated with better cognitive health in both older and younger adults.

In the most recent study conducted with Dr. Kristine Yaffe and other CARDIA investigators, the most important take-home message is that maintaining healthy dietary practices that align with the Mediterranean diet during young adulthood can help to preserve cognitive function even at midlife.

That is an important point. Because diet is likely to provide subtle, but cumulative, protective effects on brain health throughout a person’s lifetime that help to reduce the risk of, or at least slow down, cognitive decline as we get older, and potentially help to delay dementia in late life.

What are some of the key points research is revealing about the science behind the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet?

In our dietary analyses, we’ve found that individual foods on their own tend to have weaker associations with health outcomes compared with overall dietary habits. Therefore, while single foods and nutrients may be important, the combination of foods and nutrients within a person’s diet can act together to have greater biological effects.

In addition, we’re beginning to understand more about the mechanisms of how a healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, affect brain health. These insights come from a range of studies in both animals and humans. The Mediterranean diet may have a beneficial impact on cognitive health because it improves our vascular health.

The Mediterranean diet and other high-quality diets also have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that could protect against cognitive decline and dementia.

Your current research would seem to have larger implications regarding nutrition and healthy aging. Where do you think this might lead?

I am very much a public health researcher, so I want to help inform dietary recommendations that will benefit brain health throughout a person’s life to prevent or delay Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The Mediterranean diet is clearly an important dietary pattern for overall healthy aging. But it should be emphasized that we don’t yet know the optimal combination of foods and nutrients for brain health.

One of the most interesting aspects of diet is that it has the potential to influence the development of several diseases, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some types of cancer.

Addressing poor-quality diets and diet-related disease in our population should be a major policy focus for healthy aging. While it is important to generate robust evidence of ‘what works,’ a key challenge going forward will be to find effective ways to promote and support healthy dietary habits in people for disease prevention and healthy aging.

By The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR)

The American Federation for Aging Research is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to support and advance healthy aging through biomedical research.@

A new study says Skype and FaceTime provide more than just conversation
By Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

Anne Whitley lives 800 miles from her grandchildren’s home in Florida, but she still sees them daily. On her iPhone’s FaceTime app, Whitley catches up with her five-year old granddaughter, Cairo, who might show off a new toy, and her year-old grandson, Garvey, who enjoys practicing his latest words.

All it takes is just a few minutes each day to bridge those miles between them.

“I don’t want them to forget me in between visits,” said Whitley, 83, a retired teacher in Clayton, N.C., who sees her grandchildren in person a couple times a year. “That keeps us connected.”

Whitley’s main concern is staying in touch with her grandkids, but there’s another reason older adults may want to consider dialing up their loved ones by video chat platforms like FaceTime and Skype. to connect with A recent study from Oregon Health & Science University in Portland found that the use of video chat with friends and family also may be an effective way for older adults to dramatically reduce their risk for depression.

Fending Off Depression With a Video Chat

The study, published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, used data from the National Institute on Aging’s Health and Retirement Study, which surveys older Americans every two years. Researchers looked at Americans age 60 and up who used four kinds of communication technologies — video chat, email, social media networks like Facebook and instant messaging. Then, they examined their symptoms of depression two years later.

“It gives my dad and me a more immersive, more interactive experience.”

Researchers found that older adults who connected with their loved ones through email exchanges, Facebook posts or instant messaging sessions had about the same rate of depression compared to those who did not. By contrast, those who communicated through video chat cut their probability of depression by nearly half.

“We need to get beyond a discussion of technology being good or bad,” said lead author Alan Teo, an associate professor of psychiatry at Oregon Health & Science’s School of Medicine and a researcher at the VA Portland Health Care System. “The conversation we need to be having, and I hope that this study helps move forward, is what ways should we be using our technology and what particular types of platforms might be the most beneficial for our health and happiness.”

Not Just About Preventing the Blues

Studies show that depression and social isolation can be problems for older adults. While the majority are not depressed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rates can rise as high as about 12% for those who are hospitalized and 14% for those who need home health care. And as many as 32% of people older than 55 feel lonely, according to the National Institutes of Health. Both depression and loneliness can have consequences beyond feeling blue and include links to poorer physical health and a shortened lifespan.

“People literally die earlier when they are lonely,” Teo said.

Teo’s research didn’t examine why video chat might be the better technology, but he can make an educated guess after years of treating patients as a psychiatrist and researching ways to help them. When we’re able to see the emotions and expressions as we talk to our loved one, we have a more intimate exchange, said Teo, who now makes the effort to video chat more often with his father, 82.

“It gives my dad and me a more immersive, more interactive experience,” he said. “We can be tempted to just shoot off a quick text message … but this study is a reminder that we shouldn’t settle for that all the time.”

The findings ring true with Kim G. Johnson, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University, who was not involved in the research. She said she regularly hears from patients about their video chats with their grandchildren.

“It’s almost the next best thing to being there,” she said. The trick now, she said, is to make technologies like video chat more accessible to older adults.

4 Ways to Incorporate More Video Chats Into Your Life

Here are four tips on how to see your loved ones’ faces more often:

Get familiar with the technology. If you’re not sure how to use video chat, Teo said, figure out the barriers and get help. Some, like Whitley, get guidance from tech-smart children or grandchildren. Whitley’s daughter gave her an iPhone and showed her how to use FaceTime. “I won’t ever know how to use it as well as she does, but what I do know is good for me,” she said.

You also could sign up for a technology class at your local senior center or search online for tutorials. TechBoomers offers YouTube videos for how to use both Skype and FaceTime.

Switch it up. Daily or weekly video chats may need to be scheduled, but not every session has to be on the calendar, Teo said. If your granddaughter posts a prom picture on Instagram, instead of just posting a comment, contact her on Skype to ask her about the dance. Take the initiative to add more virtual face-to-face chats to your daily life. “Change up the mode of communication when you can,” Teo said.

Look in their eyes. During a video chat, make the effort to appear to be looking at the other person, Johnson said. That means you’ll need to look directly into the tiny video camera at the top of the screen from time to time instead of the screen where your family member’s face is. It’s an important way to help build rapport during your conversation, she said.

Still get together. Video chat and other forms of online communications should never replace your in-person get-togethers, where you can hug and hold and be present with the ones you love, Teo and Johnson said.

“But when you don’t have the option of being in person,” Teo said, “video chat is probably best.”

By Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall is a North Carolina-based journalist and freelance writer specializing in family, health, technology, small business and entrepreneurship topics.

A new study says Skype and FaceTime provide more than just conversation
By Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

Anne Whitley lives 800 miles from her grandchildren’s home in Florida, but she still sees them daily. On her iPhone’s FaceTime app, Whitley catches up with her five-year old granddaughter, Cairo, who might show off a new toy, and her year-old grandson, Garvey, who enjoys practicing his latest words.

All it takes is just a few minutes each day to bridge those miles between them.

“I don’t want them to forget me in between visits,” said Whitley, 83, a retired teacher in Clayton, N.C., who sees her grandchildren in person a couple times a year. “That keeps us connected.”

Whitley’s main concern is staying in touch with her grandkids, but there’s another reason older adults may want to consider dialing up their loved ones by video chat platforms like FaceTime and Skype. to connect with A recent study from Oregon Health & Science University in Portland found that the use of video chat with friends and family also may be an effective way for older adults to dramatically reduce their risk for depression.

Fending Off Depression With a Video Chat

The study, published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, used data from the National Institute on Aging’s Health and Retirement Study, which surveys older Americans every two years. Researchers looked at Americans age 60 and up who used four kinds of communication technologies — video chat, email, social media networks like Facebook and instant messaging. Then, they examined their symptoms of depression two years later.

“It gives my dad and me a more immersive, more interactive experience.”

Researchers found that older adults who connected with their loved ones through email exchanges, Facebook posts or instant messaging sessions had about the same rate of depression compared to those who did not. By contrast, those who communicated through video chat cut their probability of depression by nearly half.

“We need to get beyond a discussion of technology being good or bad,” said lead author Alan Teo, an associate professor of psychiatry at Oregon Health & Science’s School of Medicine and a researcher at the VA Portland Health Care System. “The conversation we need to be having, and I hope that this study helps move forward, is what ways should we be using our technology and what particular types of platforms might be the most beneficial for our health and happiness.”

Not Just About Preventing the Blues

Studies show that depression and social isolation can be problems for older adults. While the majority are not depressed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rates can rise as high as about 12% for those who are hospitalized and 14% for those who need home health care. And as many as 32% of people older than 55 feel lonely, according to the National Institutes of Health. Both depression and loneliness can have consequences beyond feeling blue and include links to poorer physical health and a shortened lifespan.

“People literally die earlier when they are lonely,” Teo said.

Teo’s research didn’t examine why video chat might be the better technology, but he can make an educated guess after years of treating patients as a psychiatrist and researching ways to help them. When we’re able to see the emotions and expressions as we talk to our loved one, we have a more intimate exchange, said Teo, who now makes the effort to video chat more often with his father, 82.

“It gives my dad and me a more immersive, more interactive experience,” he said. “We can be tempted to just shoot off a quick text message … but this study is a reminder that we shouldn’t settle for that all the time.”

The findings ring true with Kim G. Johnson, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University, who was not involved in the research. She said she regularly hears from patients about their video chats with their grandchildren.

“It’s almost the next best thing to being there,” she said. The trick now, she said, is to make technologies like video chat more accessible to older adults.

4 Ways to Incorporate More Video Chats Into Your Life

Here are four tips on how to see your loved ones’ faces more often:

Get familiar with the technology. If you’re not sure how to use video chat, Teo said, figure out the barriers and get help. Some, like Whitley, get guidance from tech-smart children or grandchildren. Whitley’s daughter gave her an iPhone and showed her how to use FaceTime. “I won’t ever know how to use it as well as she does, but what I do know is good for me,” she said.

You also could sign up for a technology class at your local senior center or search online for tutorials. TechBoomers offers YouTube videos for how to use both Skype and FaceTime.

Switch it up. Daily or weekly video chats may need to be scheduled, but not every session has to be on the calendar, Teo said. If your granddaughter posts a prom picture on Instagram, instead of just posting a comment, contact her on Skype to ask her about the dance. Take the initiative to add more virtual face-to-face chats to your daily life. “Change up the mode of communication when you can,” Teo said.

Look in their eyes. During a video chat, make the effort to appear to be looking at the other person, Johnson said. That means you’ll need to look directly into the tiny video camera at the top of the screen from time to time instead of the screen where your family member’s face is. It’s an important way to help build rapport during your conversation, she said.

Still get together. Video chat and other forms of online communications should never replace your in-person get-togethers, where you can hug and hold and be present with the ones you love, Teo and Johnson said.

“But when you don’t have the option of being in person,” Teo said, “video chat is probably best.”

By Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall is a North Carolina-based journalist and freelance writer specializing in family, health, technology, small business and entrepreneurship topics.

While there is no way of stopping someone from getting Alzheimer’s disease, there are many ways to keep your brain healthy to slow down cognitive decline!

1. Get Active: Engage in regular exercise that elevates your heart rate and increases blood flow to the brain and body. Exercise helps to lower your blood pressure, reduces mental stress and helps to lower blood sugar, which can all help your brain!
   
   
2. Eat Healthy: Eat a balanced diet that is lower in fat and higher in fruits and vegetables. People that eat a Mediterranean style diet that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts and plant sources of proteins are less likely to develop cognitive impairment and dementia.
   
   
3. Get Enough Sleep: Not getting enough sleep due to conditions such as insomnia or sleep apnea may result in problems with memory and thinking.
   
   
4. Challenge Your Mind with Puzzles and Games: Challenge and activate your mind. Building furniture, doing art, completing puzzles and playing strategic games challenge your mind and have long-term benefits for your brain.
   
   
5. Pay Attention to Your Mental Health and Manage Your Emotions: Some studies show a link between histories of depression with an increase in cognitive decline. Seek medical treatment if you have any mental health concerns. Also, try to manage stress.

You can find all of these facts and tips on health.harvard.edu and alz.org.

While there is no way of stopping someone from getting Alzheimer’s disease, there are many ways to keep your brain healthy to slow down cognitive decline!

1. Get Active: Engage in regular exercise that elevates your heart rate and increases blood flow to the brain and body. Exercise helps to lower your blood pressure, reduces mental stress and helps to lower blood sugar, which can all help your brain!
   
   
2. Eat Healthy: Eat a balanced diet that is lower in fat and higher in fruits and vegetables. People that eat a Mediterranean style diet that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts and plant sources of proteins are less likely to develop cognitive impairment and dementia.
   
   
3. Get Enough Sleep: Not getting enough sleep due to conditions such as insomnia or sleep apnea may result in problems with memory and thinking.
   
   
4. Challenge Your Mind with Puzzles and Games: Challenge and activate your mind. Building furniture, doing art, completing puzzles and playing strategic games challenge your mind and have long-term benefits for your brain.
   
   
5. Pay Attention to Your Mental Health and Manage Your Emotions: Some studies show a link between histories of depression with an increase in cognitive decline. Seek medical treatment if you have any mental health concerns. Also, try to manage stress.

You can find all of these facts and tips on health.harvard.edu and alz.org.

Are you a full-time caregiver for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia? A little breather may be just what you need.

Alzheimer's disease is life-changing for both those who are diagnosed and those close to them. Having a helping hand when you need it is key to keeping yourself, and your loved one living with dementia, healthy and happy.

When you need a break, consider adult day services.Not only is it good for you, but it’s good for your loved one. Adult Day Services offer people living with Alzheimer's and other dementias the opportunity to be social and to participate in activities in a safe environment.

Adult Day Services may be for you if:

• You are a full-time caregiver: Adult Day Services can provide a much needed break. While your loved one is at adult day, you'll have time to rest, run errands or finish other tasks.
• You work during the day: Adult Day Services can help you to balance a job with caregiving duties.
• You want a safe, caring environment for your loved one:  Adult Day Service is a chance for your loved one to share time with their peers. It provides a chance for them to be social and to participate in engaging activities such as music and exercise programs, as well as fun outings. 

Did you know that Woodside Place of Presbyterian SeniorCare Network offers Adult Day Services at its campuses in Oakmont (412-828-5600) and Manchester Commons (814-838-9191)? We are here to help!

Are you a full-time caregiver for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia? A little breather may be just what you need.

Alzheimer's disease is life-changing for both those who are diagnosed and those close to them. Having a helping hand when you need it is key to keeping yourself, and your loved one living with dementia, healthy and happy.

When you need a break, consider adult day services.Not only is it good for you, but it’s good for your loved one. Adult Day Services offer people living with Alzheimer's and other dementias the opportunity to be social and to participate in activities in a safe environment.

Adult Day Services may be for you if:

• You are a full-time caregiver: Adult Day Services can provide a much needed break. While your loved one is at adult day, you'll have time to rest, run errands or finish other tasks.
• You work during the day: Adult Day Services can help you to balance a job with caregiving duties.
• You want a safe, caring environment for your loved one:  Adult Day Service is a chance for your loved one to share time with their peers. It provides a chance for them to be social and to participate in engaging activities such as music and exercise programs, as well as fun outings. 

Did you know that Woodside Place of Presbyterian SeniorCare Network offers Adult Day Services at its campuses in Oakmont (412-828-5600) and Manchester Commons (814-838-9191)? We are here to help!

Did you know that June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month?

Here are 4 ways you can raise awareness for Alzheimer’s disease in the month of June.

1. Wear Purple
   1. Purple is recognized as the official color of the Alzheimer’s movement.
   2. You can get some of your co-workers together and decorate the office in purple or gather group of your friends and wear purple to raise awareness and support people living with Alzheimer’s disease.
2. Participate in “The Longest Day”
   1. What is “The Longest Day”? On June 21, which is summer solstice, people are encouraged to partake in an activity of their choice, whether it is painting or running a 5k and raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and support the Alzheimer’s Association.
3. Start a Conversation
   1. Help to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s disease and the Alzheimer’s association by having a conversation with your friends, family and co-workers.
   2. Share with your friends and followers on social media about why you are going purple this month and make sure to use the hashtag, #endalz.
   3. The more people informed about Alzheimer’s disease, the better!
4. Get Educated
   1. Reading about Alzheimer’s disease and learning new information will help you not only understand the disease, but it will be easier for you to communicate with others about it!
   2. There are many great resources available about Alzheimer’s disease and there is never too much information to be learned.

These facts were modeled off of “Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month: How to Get Involved” on www.alzheimers.net.

Did you know that June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month?

Here are 4 ways you can raise awareness for Alzheimer’s disease in the month of June.

1. Wear Purple
   1. Purple is recognized as the official color of the Alzheimer’s movement.
   2. You can get some of your co-workers together and decorate the office in purple or gather group of your friends and wear purple to raise awareness and support people living with Alzheimer’s disease.
2. Participate in “The Longest Day”
   1. What is “The Longest Day”? On June 21, which is summer solstice, people are encouraged to partake in an activity of their choice, whether it is painting or running a 5k and raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and support the Alzheimer’s Association.
3. Start a Conversation
   1. Help to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s disease and the Alzheimer’s association by having a conversation with your friends, family and co-workers.
   2. Share with your friends and followers on social media about why you are going purple this month and make sure to use the hashtag, #endalz.
   3. The more people informed about Alzheimer’s disease, the better!
4. Get Educated
   1. Reading about Alzheimer’s disease and learning new information will help you not only understand the disease, but it will be easier for you to communicate with others about it!
   2. There are many great resources available about Alzheimer’s disease and there is never too much information to be learned.

These facts were modeled off of “Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month: How to Get Involved” on www.alzheimers.net.

Midge watches cows being milked on a dairy farm.

Donna paints watercolor masterpieces with just one touch.

Frank belts out tunes on the karaoke machine.

All call the Woodside Neighborhood, a dementia-specific personal care community at the Presbyterian SeniorCare Network Washington campus, home. Each has a different interest that sparks special moments in their lives – many of these moments they do not recall on a daily basis.

With the help of It’s Never Too Late (iN2L), an interactive computer system that engages residents regardless of their cognitive level, the Woodside team is able to rekindle passions like painting, and bring back lost memories of the days on the farm.

Photo Caption: Donna, a resident in the Woodside Neighborhood, enjoys “painting” on the iN2L

“iN2L doesn’t just impact one of our residents, it impacts all of them,” says Susan Lawrence, lifestyle engagement coordinator at Presbyterian SeniorCare Network. She reminisces, “I remember one of our residents who was a ‘War Bride’ from England. She moved to the U.S. and never got to go back home. We received this information from her family and pulled up the Earth view of the town on iN2L. She couldn’t remember the name of her hometown, but when she saw the local Post Office, she leaned in to get closer to the screen. We watched her eyes light up in a moment of recognition and she began sharing stories about her father and her time ‘at home.’ Talk about an impactful moment of remembrance – and all because of the iN2L.”

iN2L provides an element of engagement that you can’t get from anywhere else.

“We have fun with the iN2L. But what’s most important is that we engage. They remember; even if it is just for one moment,” says Susan.

Midge watches cows being milked on a dairy farm.

Donna paints watercolor masterpieces with just one touch.

Frank belts out tunes on the karaoke machine.

All call the Woodside Neighborhood, a dementia-specific personal care community at the Presbyterian SeniorCare Network Washington campus, home. Each has a different interest that sparks special moments in their lives – many of these moments they do not recall on a daily basis.

With the help of It’s Never Too Late (iN2L), an interactive computer system that engages residents regardless of their cognitive level, the Woodside team is able to rekindle passions like painting, and bring back lost memories of the days on the farm.

Photo Caption: Donna, a resident in the Woodside Neighborhood, enjoys “painting” on the iN2L

“iN2L doesn’t just impact one of our residents, it impacts all of them,” says Susan Lawrence, lifestyle engagement coordinator at Presbyterian SeniorCare Network. She reminisces, “I remember one of our residents who was a ‘War Bride’ from England. She moved to the U.S. and never got to go back home. We received this information from her family and pulled up the Earth view of the town on iN2L. She couldn’t remember the name of her hometown, but when she saw the local Post Office, she leaned in to get closer to the screen. We watched her eyes light up in a moment of recognition and she began sharing stories about her father and her time ‘at home.’ Talk about an impactful moment of remembrance – and all because of the iN2L.”

iN2L provides an element of engagement that you can’t get from anywhere else.

“We have fun with the iN2L. But what’s most important is that we engage. They remember; even if it is just for one moment,” says Susan.

Meeting with a physical therapist and educating yourself before you have joint replacement surgery can help you to have a quicker, less stressful recovery.

Patients who meet one-on-one with a physical therapist (PT) and educate themselves prior to knee or hip replacement surgery feel better prepared to leave the hospital and report less pain and joint stiffness during recovery compared to those who did not, according to a study by Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS). The study evaluated the effect of a face-to-face counseling session coupled with web-based education on patient satisfaction and functional outcomes.

The goal of the education session was to manage patient expectations of the surgery and recovery before undergoing the surgery—rather than after the surgery, when they might be dealing with fatigue, pain or anxiety—so they were able to better absorb and retain the information. Researchers followed 126 patients who underwent knee or hip replacement for osteoarthritis.

All patients attended a group education class before surgery—the standard of care for those scheduled for joint replacement at HSS. They were then randomized into two separate groups. In group one, 63 patients attended the one-on-one education session with a physical therapist in addition to the group class and were granted access to an informational web portal featuring videos. The control group of 63 patients attended the standard group class and received a booklet about what to expect after joint replacement—with no further education.

Using patient satisfaction and patient-reported scores to measure pain, joint stiffness and function both before and after surgery, researchers determined that the patients who attended the extra one-on-one PT counseling session indicated they were better prepared to leave the hospital after surgery and were overall more satisfied with the preoperative education they received. Almost 97 percent of these patients accessed the informational web portal, and all of them said they would recommend it for patients undergoing the same procedure.

Almost 70 percent of patients from the group that did not receive the supplemental educational session or web portal access believed they could have benefited from additional education before surgery. Patients who received one-on-one counseling also needed fewer physical therapy sessions in the hospital before discharge and met PT discharge measures sooner, including being able to get out of bed, walk with or without an assistive device and go up and down stairs independently.

The upshot of this research is that, if you are considering joint replacement surgery, ask to meet one-on-one with a physical therapist BEFORE your surgery if that is not your doctor’s standard approach. And take advantage of any and all learning materials your doctor may give you—specifically online videos and information.

The more you know, the better your recovery may be.

Meeting with a physical therapist and educating yourself before you have joint replacement surgery can help you to have a quicker, less stressful recovery.

Patients who meet one-on-one with a physical therapist (PT) and educate themselves prior to knee or hip replacement surgery feel better prepared to leave the hospital and report less pain and joint stiffness during recovery compared to those who did not, according to a study by Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS). The study evaluated the effect of a face-to-face counseling session coupled with web-based education on patient satisfaction and functional outcomes.

The goal of the education session was to manage patient expectations of the surgery and recovery before undergoing the surgery—rather than after the surgery, when they might be dealing with fatigue, pain or anxiety—so they were able to better absorb and retain the information. Researchers followed 126 patients who underwent knee or hip replacement for osteoarthritis.

All patients attended a group education class before surgery—the standard of care for those scheduled for joint replacement at HSS. They were then randomized into two separate groups. In group one, 63 patients attended the one-on-one education session with a physical therapist in addition to the group class and were granted access to an informational web portal featuring videos. The control group of 63 patients attended the standard group class and received a booklet about what to expect after joint replacement—with no further education.

Using patient satisfaction and patient-reported scores to measure pain, joint stiffness and function both before and after surgery, researchers determined that the patients who attended the extra one-on-one PT counseling session indicated they were better prepared to leave the hospital after surgery and were overall more satisfied with the preoperative education they received. Almost 97 percent of these patients accessed the informational web portal, and all of them said they would recommend it for patients undergoing the same procedure.

Almost 70 percent of patients from the group that did not receive the supplemental educational session or web portal access believed they could have benefited from additional education before surgery. Patients who received one-on-one counseling also needed fewer physical therapy sessions in the hospital before discharge and met PT discharge measures sooner, including being able to get out of bed, walk with or without an assistive device and go up and down stairs independently.

The upshot of this research is that, if you are considering joint replacement surgery, ask to meet one-on-one with a physical therapist BEFORE your surgery if that is not your doctor’s standard approach. And take advantage of any and all learning materials your doctor may give you—specifically online videos and information.

The more you know, the better your recovery may be.

These documents could save money, but can lay estate planning traps
By Marguerite C. Lorenz

As a professional trustee and executor, I have seen hundreds of estate-planning documents, including some from do-it-yourself online services. I appreciate that using a DIY site to draft a will can save money and time. But I’m also concerned that sometimes doing it this way could lead to expensive and unpleasant estate planning mistakes.

I recently saw one DIY estate-planning service that had typos on its site and its estate-planning “packages” had the same document labeled with three different names. Worse, the packages I looked at were missing a key estate planning document which very few users would know to ask about.

This service, like many other DIY estate-planning sites, has attorneys on staff, but access to specific help for your personal documents is rarely available. If personal advice is offered, it then appears to cost a great deal more to receive.

But what if you don’t know which questions to ask?

Online DIY Wills Vs. Hiring a Professional

For some people with complicated personal and financial lives, today’s complexities may not be fully addressed with a do-it-yourself service for wills and trusts. While many of us would prefer to fill in the blanks in silence than have to talk to anyone about our doubts or concerns, sometimes it helps — a lot — to get professional advice.

If you prepare your taxes yourself and they end up incorrect, you and the Internal Revenue Service may end up working things out. If you decide to do your estate planning by yourself,” however, you may never know the results of your work, but your loved ones will.  

There are lots of DIY options for completing your own estate plan, and they have been available almost as long as we have had the internet. (Longer, if you count all the software packages you could buy off the shelf.) With the ease and availability of these programs, and their low price, you might think more of us would have an up-to-date estate plan.

Yet according to the AARP article, Haven’t Done a Will Yet?, “only 4 in 10 American adults have a will or living trust.”

What Good Estate Planning Is All About

Our power to express our preferences is what good estate planning (or life planning), is all about. In my work as a trustee and executor, I’ve learned that the documents which provide me with detailed instructions are critical to avoid court involvement, to reduce administrative confusion and to know when our job is done.

The four basic estate planning documents: a will, a trust, power of attorney for financial matters and an advance health care directive. If you plan to use any or all of them through a DIY site, expect to be offered a fill-in-the-blank approach. Keep in mind that each state has its own probate code (the body of law governing estate planning and implementation). The software package you use may have different names for the same documents I have listed above.

Some of the DIY sites I visited have all of these documents for you, but only if you purchase their higher-end packages. Some offer limited attorney consultation; on one site, it was really a drop-down of questions with pre-written responses, not an actual conversation with an attorney.

Pros and Cons of DIY Estate Planning

The advantage of using a DIY service is that you will have a plan, as quickly and cheaply as possible, and that may be better than having no plan at all. This is especially true regarding getting a will, power of attorney and advance health care directive. Those handle most emergencies for people who don’t own real estate or much else.

The range of DIY services also has a range of prices — like $69 for just a will, to several hundreds of dollars for what may be described as a “complete plan.” Some sites have more information than others about their options.

Most presume that you already know what you want. But the reality is that many people have no idea what they want or need. Once you get into the complexities of family dynamics and perhaps trust language specific to your state and situation, DIY estate planning can cause more challenges than working with a team of professionals.

My Caution About DIY Online Wills

Here is my caution, based on my experience: You don’t know what you don’t know. You know some things about how you want to dispose of your assets after you die. What you may not know is all the case law and legislation that have evolved into your state’s probate code.

If you do decide to look for an attorney who specializes in estate planning, I recommend interviewing two or more. This way, you will get a feel for how each handles client relationships, payment, follow-up and his or her own succession. You may already have other trusted professionals (a cpa, a financial planner) who can refer you to estate planners in your area.

However you choose to get your plan completed, DIY or with the help of an experienced attorney, please get your estate plan done, and soon. You never know what surprises life will bring that will invoke your estate plan.

By Marguerite C. Lorenz

Marguerite C. Lorenz is a partner in Lorenz Fiduciary Services, Inc. (LFS), and has served as a professional trustee and executor on over 100 cases. Ethics for Trustees, written by Jane and Marguerite Lorenz, gives further understanding to the work of a fiduciary, and its ethical considerations. Lorenz created the EstatePlanning101.org program in San Diego and is a member of PFAC,  president of the Estate Planning Group Network and vice chair of the board for the Independent Trustee Alliance. Follow her on Twitter @SanDiegoTrustee

These documents could save money, but can lay estate planning traps
By Marguerite C. Lorenz

As a professional trustee and executor, I have seen hundreds of estate-planning documents, including some from do-it-yourself online services. I appreciate that using a DIY site to draft a will can save money and time. But I’m also concerned that sometimes doing it this way could lead to expensive and unpleasant estate planning mistakes.

I recently saw one DIY estate-planning service that had typos on its site and its estate-planning “packages” had the same document labeled with three different names. Worse, the packages I looked at were missing a key estate planning document which very few users would know to ask about.

This service, like many other DIY estate-planning sites, has attorneys on staff, but access to specific help for your personal documents is rarely available. If personal advice is offered, it then appears to cost a great deal more to receive.

But what if you don’t know which questions to ask?

Online DIY Wills Vs. Hiring a Professional

For some people with complicated personal and financial lives, today’s complexities may not be fully addressed with a do-it-yourself service for wills and trusts. While many of us would prefer to fill in the blanks in silence than have to talk to anyone about our doubts or concerns, sometimes it helps — a lot — to get professional advice.

If you prepare your taxes yourself and they end up incorrect, you and the Internal Revenue Service may end up working things out. If you decide to do your estate planning by yourself,” however, you may never know the results of your work, but your loved ones will.  

There are lots of DIY options for completing your own estate plan, and they have been available almost as long as we have had the internet. (Longer, if you count all the software packages you could buy off the shelf.) With the ease and availability of these programs, and their low price, you might think more of us would have an up-to-date estate plan.

Yet according to the AARP article, Haven’t Done a Will Yet?, “only 4 in 10 American adults have a will or living trust.”

What Good Estate Planning Is All About

Our power to express our preferences is what good estate planning (or life planning), is all about. In my work as a trustee and executor, I’ve learned that the documents which provide me with detailed instructions are critical to avoid court involvement, to reduce administrative confusion and to know when our job is done.

The four basic estate planning documents: a will, a trust, power of attorney for financial matters and an advance health care directive. If you plan to use any or all of them through a DIY site, expect to be offered a fill-in-the-blank approach. Keep in mind that each state has its own probate code (the body of law governing estate planning and implementation). The software package you use may have different names for the same documents I have listed above.

Some of the DIY sites I visited have all of these documents for you, but only if you purchase their higher-end packages. Some offer limited attorney consultation; on one site, it was really a drop-down of questions with pre-written responses, not an actual conversation with an attorney.

Pros and Cons of DIY Estate Planning

The advantage of using a DIY service is that you will have a plan, as quickly and cheaply as possible, and that may be better than having no plan at all. This is especially true regarding getting a will, power of attorney and advance health care directive. Those handle most emergencies for people who don’t own real estate or much else.

The range of DIY services also has a range of prices — like $69 for just a will, to several hundreds of dollars for what may be described as a “complete plan.” Some sites have more information than others about their options.

Most presume that you already know what you want. But the reality is that many people have no idea what they want or need. Once you get into the complexities of family dynamics and perhaps trust language specific to your state and situation, DIY estate planning can cause more challenges than working with a team of professionals.

My Caution About DIY Online Wills

Here is my caution, based on my experience: You don’t know what you don’t know. You know some things about how you want to dispose of your assets after you die. What you may not know is all the case law and legislation that have evolved into your state’s probate code.

If you do decide to look for an attorney who specializes in estate planning, I recommend interviewing two or more. This way, you will get a feel for how each handles client relationships, payment, follow-up and his or her own succession. You may already have other trusted professionals (a cpa, a financial planner) who can refer you to estate planners in your area.

However you choose to get your plan completed, DIY or with the help of an experienced attorney, please get your estate plan done, and soon. You never know what surprises life will bring that will invoke your estate plan.

By Marguerite C. Lorenz

Marguerite C. Lorenz is a partner in Lorenz Fiduciary Services, Inc. (LFS), and has served as a professional trustee and executor on over 100 cases. Ethics for Trustees, written by Jane and Marguerite Lorenz, gives further understanding to the work of a fiduciary, and its ethical considerations. Lorenz created the EstatePlanning101.org program in San Diego and is a member of PFAC,  president of the Estate Planning Group Network and vice chair of the board for the Independent Trustee Alliance. Follow her on Twitter @SanDiegoTrustee