Recently, Carebuzz  interviewed Mr. Tishkoff at Drew Shoe to find out the story behind the shoe manufacturer and how they have become the number one shoe that has set the standard for beautifully styled footwear that protects and pampers feet in need of special care. Drew Shoe provides fashionable solutions to health conditions that you would gladly wear even without specific foot problems. The shoes give support and comfort to healthy younger feet and help feet stay that way.

Carebuzz: How did the Drew Company get started.. what were the motivational factors to start making the comfortable shoes? Were health related issues a factor for it’s beginning, like it is today?

Marc Tishkoff: Drew Shoe originally started as an orthopedic shoe designer and manufacturer and eventually evolved into therapeutic shoes. As the company has evolved, we’ve refined and mastered the science of therapeutic comfort footwear. Our shoes are significant because they combine structure, function and style to keep feet healthy.

Carebuzz: Do you see baby boomers changing the style of Drew shoes? Most boomers will not accept “getting older”… (me being one) we are determined to stay young. Do you see the styles beginning to change due to the demand of boomers?

Marc Tishkoff: Absolutely, baby boomers don’t want to look like their mothers or grandmothers. We are in a consumer driven business so we have no choice but to evolve our designs to meet the needs of our customers. Drew’s number one priority has always been to design shoes that aid in alleviating foot issues and promoting lower body health, but the consumer still wants to look good. Our shoes address foot issues but they also have an aesthetically pleasing design and a color pallet that our customers want and are more apt to wear.

Carebuzz: What are the health benefits Drew shoes? The linings and removable insoles? Anything else you’d like to mention?

Marc Tishkoff: There are many major health benefits of Drew Shoes and one of the most important is the structure and support that our shoes provide to promote a proper gate. Over the last 135 years we have developed an advanced comfort protection system that has 20 performance features including added depth for extra toe room and adequate space for custom orthotics. Many of our shoes also have Drilex top cover removable insoles and Drilex linings which wicks away moisture from the foot to keep it healthy and dry.

We also offer the widest range of sizes and widths in the industry with fourteen different foot shapes to fit almost any type of foot. The right footwear in the right size actually improves the way your body responds to daily stresses.

Carebuzz: How do the Drew shoes benefit seniors living with diabetes?

Marc Tishkoff: Clinical studies have shown that footwear and doctor prescribed orthotics play an important part in diabetic foot care. By limiting potential ulcer complications, the chance of amputation is diminished. Drew Footwear is often prescribed for people with foot health problems. The shoes are designed with rounded toes and a wide shank area to accommodate the foot. Each shoe also incorporates a long and/or strong medical counter for rear foot stability, extra support and balance. These are necessities in normal maintenance of foot health.

Doctors often prescribe orthotics to reduce and redistribute pressure and pressure points. These specially designed inserts work exceptionally well with Drew Footwear – shoes designed with removable cushion inserts, and extra inside capacity to accommodate custom orthotics.

It’s also important to consult your physician for all questions about diabetes, your symptoms, and your concerns about foot health and maintenance.

Carebuzz: What other medical conditions do the Drew shoe collection address?

Marc Tishkoff: In addition to designing and manufacturing shoes for people with diabetes, Drew Shoes are designed for people with many other foot conditions. The other medical conditions our company addresses in their shoes are ankle valgus, ankle varus, bunions, hammertoes, metatarsalgia, pes cavus, pes planus, and plantar fasciitis plus the shoes are beneficial to people with arthritis. The unique and important thing to make note about Drew Shoe is that our shoes benefit people with all different foot conditions and our age range of customers varies.

A Raving Fan, Twila in California says:

“Thanks, Drew! Five years ago I could barely walk because of a low back issues. I had significant nerve damage, especially affecting my right leg and foot. With surgery, physical therapy, a dorsal spine stimulator, external KAFO hardware and time, I finally got to where I could walk some distance…but it took a Drew “Flash” for me to walk marathons. Thanks for making my athletic-style shoe that works with the KAFO and fits narrow feet. Yesterday was my second official marathon – 26.2 miles in 7 hours, 11 minutes.”

Drew Shoe is the premier manufacturer of medical shoes, specializing in orthopedic shoes, diabetic shoes, and other types of footwear designed to alleviate health problems. Drew Shoe has risen to the top of the medical shoes industry through a tireless commitment to innovation and choice, offering the latest technology in the widest variety of styles, sizes, and widths. These commitments have made Drew Shoe America’s number one choice for orthopedic shoes and diabetic shoes. No matter how big or small your feet, you will always find the medical shoes you need in the styles and sizes that you want.

Whether you’re searching for orthopedic shoes, diabetic shoes, or medical shoes, then you have come to the right place. Drew Shoe is the most trusted name in the medical shoe industry, so start browsing our catalog today and find shoes that satisfy both your foot conditions and fashion needs.

Check out the Drew Shoe website for senior citizens by clicking here. For proper fitting and to find a store nearest you, please use the Store Locator.

If you care for a senior citizen or you are a senior, you know that your behavior and your senior’s behavior comes into play daily, serving a huge role of keeping positive, happy and healthy. Recent studies and reports have come up with some ways to regulate behavior on your own. Here are just a few things seniors can do to regulate their behavior.

•    Believe in Unlimited Willpower—In a study of two groups, the group that believed in unlimited willpower believed more in their capabilities and were more accurate when answering difficult questions. Seniors can take on this mindset, believing in unlimited willpower. Think the sky is truly the limit.

•    Don’t Think Willpower in Limited—The other group in that study were much more pessimistic when it came to answering difficult questions. They believed less in themselves because they believed their willpower was limited. Seniors shouldn’t think their willpower is limited. Once again, think the sky is the limit.

•    Stay Positive—Part of being of that mindset that your willpower is unlimited comes with being positive. Seniors that say positive about their daily lives may fair better when it comes to health problems and daily struggles.

•    Set Goals—Doctors often comment that if they tell their patients to set a goal and believe in it, they can access it. Seniors should have goals they strive for just like anyone else. Setting goals and believing in them, opens up the window to positive thinking and achieving what you want.

Larry Moskat, CFP® Managing Member - RII Advisors - Scottsdale, AZ

Caring for your aging parents is something you hope you can handle when the time comes, but it’s the last thing you want to think about. Whether the time is now or somewhere down the road, there are steps that you can take to make your life (and theirs) a little easier. Some people live their entire lives with little or no assistance from family and friends, but today Americans are living longer than ever before. It’s always better to be prepared.

Mom? Dad? We need to talk

The first step you need to take is talking to your parents. Find out what their needs and wishes are. In some cases, however, they may be unwilling or unable to talk about their future. This can happen for a number of reasons, including:

• Incapacity
• Fear of becoming dependent
• Resentment toward you for interfering
• Reluctance to burden you with their problems

If such is the case with your parents, you may need to do as much planning as you can without them. If their safety or health is in danger, however, you may need to step in as caregiver. The bottom line is that you need to have a plan. If you’re nervous about talking to your parents, make a list of topics that you need to discuss. That way, you’ll be less likely to forget anything. Here are some things that you may need to talk about:

• Long-term care insurance: Do they have it? If not, should they buy it?
• Living arrangements: Can they still live alone, or is it time to explore other options?
• Medical care decisions: What are their wishes, and who will carry them out?
• Financial planning: How can you protect their assets?

“Prepare to Care for Aging Parents”  provided by RII Advisors, Retirement Income & Inheritance Advisors of Phoenix and Scottsdale.

Caring for a person with dementia can be one of life’s biggest challenges. It is hard to determine how fast the disease will progress. When a family member is diagnosed with the disease, loved ones may feel at a loss. Many people do not know what to do or where to look for help. Below are some tips that can help people adjust to life with someone who has dementia.

1.    Most patients with dementia are being cared for by a family caregiver. While this is a noble thing to do, it is an extremely stressful position to be in.

2.    Caregivers and family members must read up on the disease. They should learn about how the disease progresses so they can prepare for the stages that will come in the future.

3.    Always encourage the person with dementia to be as independent as possible. Allowing the individual to perform simple tasks can provide a huge relief for a caretaker.

4.    Ask about elder care services in your area. There are many organizations available to offer information and assistance to families dealing with dementia. Do not feel as though this is a battle you have to take on alone.

5.    There are many eldercare providers available that can help care for a patient with dementia. If the disease progresses to a stage that cannot be managed by family and friends, elder care providers can offer a lot of help.

Source: ElderCareABCblog.com

There are a number of challenges that come with caregiving. If you are considering being a primary caregiver, be aware of the following:

•    It is common that caregivers have to retire or change their employment situation.

•    Caregiving is costly.

•    It is very stressful, which can lead to health problems.

•    It can put a strain on your personal life.

Though caregiving is undoubtedly rewarding it is important to be prepared for the challenges that go along with it.

Statistics Pertaining to Caregiving in the United States

For a better idea of some of the challenges associated with elder care read the statistics below:

•    According to Sandra Timmerman, director of MetLife Mature Market Institute, caregivers spend more than $5500 per year on elder care expenses.

•    Long distance caregivers spend at least $8700 per year on transportation, food and supplies.

•    There 65.7 million caregivers in the United States, according to the National Alliance of Caregiving.

•    More than half of those surveyed by www.caring.com are worried about the financial impact caregiving will have on them.

To find out more read this article on BuffaloNews.com.

•    Develop a schedule. Plan how much time you are going to dedicate to a project each day.

•    Have realistic goals. Approach your tasks systematically.

•    Be in an environment that allows you to function at your best.

•    Ask for help if you are overwhelmed.

•    Establish priorities.

•    Take a break when you need one.

Time Wasting

There are a number of negative behaviors you may engage in that produce stress including:

•    Time juggling: This is when you take on too much at once and are unable to complete everything you have to do.

•    Workaholism: If you spend hours working you often ignore time-saving techniques and end up being counterproductive.

•    Perfectionism: Perfectionists want everything to be perfect and will spend hours polishing something. This often takes away from your sense of accomplishment since you never think anything is good enough.

•    Procrastination: By consistently putting off your work, you leave it all to the last minute. This often means a poor end result and an increase in stress.

•    Yesism: This is the inability to say no. Like time jugglers, you often overbook yourself but it is in fear of disappointing others.

Source: HealthwellnessPlans.org

Gerontologist and commentator Mark Lachs says one of the keys to a long, healthy old age is the ability to keep moving forward after life’s inevitable setbacks.

One question I get asked a lot is, “How old is your oldest patient?” Answer: 109.

The next question is usually something like: “What nursing home is he or she in?” Answer: She is living at home, with all her marbles, profoundly engaged in the world around her.

The last question: What is this lady’s fountain of youth? A thousand calories a day and an hour of yoga?

No, Helen Reichert likes chocolate truffles. Her favorite beverage is Budweiser. And she once announced to me that she was thinking about smoking again. When I protested, she reminded me that she has outlived several other physicians and told me to mind my own business. (You go girl, a comment from Carol @ Carebuzz)

So what’s going on here? Unusual longevity often has a genetic basis, and Reichert probably does have a gene that contributes to her unusual longevity. But she also exhibits a powerful trait geriatricians call adaptive competence.

I define it loosely as the ability to bounce back from stress. Many scientists view this solely as biological stress. But many of us who care for older patients see adaptive competence as psychologically critical as well.

You don’t get to be 109 without life hurling a few curve balls at you, and Reichert has had more than her share: bereavement, gender discrimination, medical issues. And after each, she dusts herself off and moves on.

A few years back, she had a modest stroke that affected her language abilities. I don’t think I’ve seen a patient of any age tackle rehabilitation and speech therapy the way she did.

During her last visit, she asked if I would consider taking on a new patient: Her 103-year-old brother, who goes to the office nearly every day. He is another adaptively competent centenarian.

We all know people like this of every age. And we all know the other guy: the pessimist for whom even small disruptions produce out-of-proportion suffering and, dare I say, whining.

Sociologists are studying these traits, and the theory holds up. My colleague Becca Levy, a professor of epidemiology and psychology at the Yale School of Public Health, has studied the longevity of people in their 50s as a function of their perceptions about aging.

She asked if they agreed with statements like, “Things keep getting worse as I get older,” and, “As you get older you are less useful.” Even after she controlled for their medical conditions, subjects who agreed with ideas like these died on average 7 1/2 years sooner than their glass-half-full counterparts.

So if you’re a boomer and you don’t think your outlook on aging has any impact on the rest of your life, you might want to brighten your attitude a bit.

The other striking thing about Reichert is her self-deprecating sense of humor. A few years ago, her Alma mater, Cornell University, wrote to her.

“You are our oldest living alum, and we’re delighted to offer you a lifetime subscription to our magazine,” the university said.

Helen scribbled five indignant words on their letter and mailed it back: “How incredibly generous of you!”

Dr. Mark Lachs is director of geriatrics for the New York Presbyterian Health Care System and professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. He is the author of Treat Me, Not My Age.

Source: NPR.org

There is a way to gain a calmer relationship with the aging process. The first step is to accept that “we will all get old”. Once accepted, we can now move our thoughts from dread to ease. Most of us know that if the negative perspective of an idea or act is changed, so can the emotions behind the thought. It’s usually our negative feelings that affect the outcome of a situation more than the action. A better perspective for someone to adopt would be “prevention and of planning”. When it comes to caregiving and elder care, it’s better to get ahead of the curve by using advanced planning techniques. That takes us a long way toward easing caregiver stress for the family caregiver. And, in the event of an emergency, all parties will be prepared to manage through what could be a difficult situation.

Here are practices that help family members get ahead with advance planning. The first step in planning is to allow your loved one to be involved in choosing how they want to be cared for. This gives them the feeling that they are in control. As we age, many of us will need the help of another because of an illness or disease. When this happens, it’s reassuring to know that we can choose how we want to be cared for.

The following questions will help adult children know what to look for when planning the best care for aging loved ones.

1.       Ask how they want to live. Do they want to continue living at home? How do they want that to look? If you have siblings or other family members, get them involved in the conversation. Check out the local senior services that could assist them stay at home like; in-home care, adult daycare, senior centers, and other programs.

2.       Make note of how the senior functions on a daily basis. It is important to know whether they can care for themselves. Some may require assistance, such as with keeping up with laundry or getting to appointments.

3.       Are they eating properly? What about nutrition? Are they able to cook? When in the kitchen, check the refrigerator and pantry to make sure they are well stocked with nutritious food. This may be a good time to see if food in the refrigerator is spoiled.

4.       Are unpaid bills lying around? Aging seniors can become forgetful and neglect to pay bills on time.

5.       Is the aging person still driving? If so, you will want to assess their driving skills. They may have been driving twice as long as you have, but you must assess if it is still safe for them now.

6.       Watch for any balance issues. Is your loved one having difficulty with their balance? They may tell you when it occurs. By observing how they walk or go up and down stairs will tell you a lot.

7.       Do they easily misplace important items like wallet, keys, phone or important documents? Ask them about recent events to see what they recall.

8.       Are they taking their medications properly? Do they keep them organized? Or are you finding the medication bottles scattered over the house; on the bathroom counter, in kitchen drawers and cabinets, nightstands, etc.

9.       Have them tell you what precautions they plan to take in order to feel safe in their home.

10.   Make sure the shoes they wear fit properly. Do the shoes have a non-skid sole and do they support their weight? Consider replacing the shoes every three to four months. If you are not sure which type of shoe is appropriate for them, contact a podiatrist.

11.   Be aware that your aging relative may experience loneliness and depression. When depressed, a senior’s hygiene will begin to suffer. Check their closet to see if clothes are clean.

12.   Are they able to continue their spiritual beliefs? What about the social needs? They should not be isolated from the rest of the world.

13.   Are they active? What type of activities are they involved in?

14.   What type of daily exercise do that participate in?

This is a good start in preparing for the aging process. You will not be able to complete the list in one visit but being aware of what needs to be addressed will serve as a good solution.

Source: ElderCareABCblog.com

The top things to look for in tough economic times and if it is impacting your aging senior. Here are the warning signs when visiting elderly loved ones:

1. Is your senior’s home too warm in the summer and too cold in the winter?
2. Is the lawn not getting mowed nor is the sidewalk getting cleaned in inclement weather?
3. Is your loved one complaining about not being able to afford medications?
4. Are home repairs not getting made?
5. Is there a shortage of food in the house?
6. Is your senior skipping doctor’s appointments?
7. Is your older adult staying home more and becoming isolated?
8. Is your senior cutting out entertainment?
9. Does your loved one eat out less?
10. Did your senior cancel a vacation?

Contact your local Area Agency on Aging, if you’re an older adult experiencing difficulties because of the economy.

What warning signs do you look for when visiting an aging relative? You may look for warning signs other than financial or signs that show economic concern. For example, what signs do you look for that may signal your aging loved one is not taking medications properly? What about sleep deprivation.. what do you look for?

As a family member of an elderly loved one, it’s better to put practices in place that help your family get ahead of the aging curve with advance planning. Take the first step in planning that allows your aging relative and elderly loved one have a better experience living out their lives. If they are involved in choosing how they want to be cared for, it will give them the feeling that they are in control. As people age, many will need the help of another because of an illness. As we age, it gives us peace knowing we can choose how we want to be cared for.

Source: HomeInstead.com

1.    If the elderly family member is still driving, assess their skills. Even though they have been driving for many years, it may no longer be safe for them to do so. Ask if they have had any tickets or small accidents in the recent past. Look for dents on the car. If there is concern about their driving safety, schedule a driving test with the DMV.

2.    Make sure the senior is getting the proper nutrition. Check the cabinets and refrigerator to make sure they have food to make a meal with and not just a snack. If the senior cannot prepare their own meals any longer, arrange something with Meals on Wheels to help.

3.    Check on finances. See if there are unpaid bills lying around. Many seniors become forgetful and will neglect to pay bills on time.

4.    Watch for any balance problems. When seniors have issues with their balance, they will begin to experience many falls. Watch how they walk

and go up and down stairs. Older family members may benefit from a medical alert bracelet.

5.    While talking to the senior, make note of any changes in their memory. Try to talk about recent events to see what they recall. Also check to make sure they are not forgetting to take their medications.

6.    Some seniors will experience loneliness and depression. This can be noticed by changes in behavior. Often, when a senior is depressed, their hygiene will begin to suffer. Check to see that their clothes are clean and they are caring for their personal hygiene.

Source: ElderCareABCblog.com