Senior Services
Appendix Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Pseudomyxoma Peritonei, PMP Seniors
Whether you are a senior patient, spouse, relative or family friend, we hope these resources will help you in your quest to obtain the services you need!
Chuck is an active "Senior Pal!"
Chuck welcomes the Texas Blue Bonnets as a sign of spring!
Chuck has been a member of the PMP Pals' Network for more than a decade!
Although he relies on TPN for nutrition, he doesn't allow that to prevent him from traveling and enjoying life!
This photo was snapped by Chuck's wife, Carol, last week, during their weekend trip to see the spring wildflowers of TX!
Frequently Asked Questions
Jeanie serves as a Senior Pal Mentor!
Jeanie lives in Scotland and serves as a Pal Mentor to fellow patients around the world! Additionally, she has been a featured guest speaker at one of the PMP Pals' Network International Conferences!
Join the PMP Pals' Network and communicate with Jeanie today!
Share the Care
Share the Care website
Share the Care teaches families and friends how to coordinate their resources and talents to work together to assist a loved one affected by a medical need or aging.
Instead of saying "Call me if you need anything!" friends and family can learn how to provide meaningful assistance to the patient and to the primary family caregiver, who may be at risk for "burn out."
Caregiving for Seniors and Their Families
Family Leave and Medical Act (FMLA)
The Family Leave and Medical Act provides employees and family caregivers with up to twelve weeks of unpaid medical leave annually.
The Family Leave and Medical Act website provides specific eligibility requirements
Chemotherapy Reimbursement
Compassionate care programs to assist in payment for chemo and other medications
Medication assistance payment programs
Medication assistance payment programs
What happens when seniors can't afford chemo?
Kidney Cancer Patient
Seniors Face Medicare Cost Barrier for Cancer Meds
Source: Ricardo Alonso-Zalidivar Associated Press via ABC News 06.13.11
Senior Rights to Healthcare
Elder Depot Medical Supplies
Meet "Senior Couple" Phyllis and Stan!
Stan goes to the gym every day! He has been cancer free more than five years! Phyllis and Stan have been married 50 years!
Fight Depression!
Free Caregiving Booklets for Seniors & Their Families
"Caring for the Patient with Cancer"
Phone: 1.800.ACS.2345
Website: http://www.cancer.org
FREE issue of CURE Magazine online
FREE access to AARP online bulletin!
Glossary
Financial Resources
Senior Services in Australia
Veterans' Benefits
Guide to applying for VA benefits for the disabled
Source: VetsFirst.org
Financial aid for patients, veterans, US citizens in need of assistance
Home Safety
Nutrition
Surgeons and Specialists
Transportation for medical care
Meet "Senior" Caregiver Betsy!
Betsy is both an RN and a family caregiver too! She shares senior caregiving tips with other Pal families!
Join the PMP Pals' Network and communicate with Betsy via telephone, email or a personal visit!
Meet Caregiver Ginny!
Ginny has been a member of the PMP Pals' Network for a decade and has many helpful caregiving tips to share with other Senior Pals!
Join the PMP Pals' Network and communicate with Ginny via telephone, email or a personal visit!
Recuperate with encouragement from Ingrid!
Senior Pal, Ingrid in Sweden, sends personal "get well soon" cards to "Pals" around the world while they recuperate from surgery and chemotherapy!
Join the PMP Pals' Network and begin communicating with our "Swedish Ray of Sunshine", Ingrid!
Meet "Senior" Caregiver Linda!
Linda has more than a decade of experience in being a caregiver to her husband! They have been married 50 years! She shares senior caregiving suggestions with other Pals!
Join the PMP Pals' Network and communicate with Linda via phone, email or through a personal visit!
View Linda's video sharing caregiving tips!
Join the PMP Pals' Network and communicate with Linda via phone, email or through a personal visit!
View Linda's video sharing caregiving tips!
HIPEC for Seniors
Senior Pal Terry was 77 years young when she had HIPEC treatment for Pseudomyxoma Peritonei!
HIPEC Treatment Centers are listed here!
About Terry:Terry serves on a variety of boards and committees in her community and writes a column for her local newspaper. She stays fit by walking and attending exercise classes! For entertainment she attends movies, concerts and special events featuring visiting authors. She enjoys keeping in touch, by phone, with family, fellow Pals, and hercollege friends from sixty years ago! Terry was married for more than 50 years. After her husband passed, she learned how to use a computer, which has provider her with an additional tool for communicating, sharing photos, and writing her column!
HIPEC Treatment Centers are listed here!
About Terry:Terry serves on a variety of boards and committees in her community and writes a column for her local newspaper. She stays fit by walking and attending exercise classes! For entertainment she attends movies, concerts and special events featuring visiting authors. She enjoys keeping in touch, by phone, with family, fellow Pals, and hercollege friends from sixty years ago! Terry was married for more than 50 years. After her husband passed, she learned how to use a computer, which has provider her with an additional tool for communicating, sharing photos, and writing her column!
Dee introduces her new great grandson!
Dee welcomes her new great grandson into the family as she shares this happy photo with her Pals around the world!
Join the PMP Pals' Network and communicate with Dee today!
Senior Pal Brian is cancer free!
Appendix cancer survivor, Brian shares the "V for Victory" sign, celebrating more than ten years of being disease free!
Join the PMP Pals' Network and begin communicating with other "seniors" today!
Active "Seniors" on the go!
Bud in Ginny are world travelers who call USA "home" but have traveled to all corners of the globe!
In this photo they are enjoying the beautiful sights of Lebanon!
Bud has been cancer free for more than a decade!
Join the PMP Pals' Network and communicate with other "seniors" today!
Jan and David visit St Paul's in London!
Jan and David from the UK are longtime members of the PMP Pals' Network!
They share this recent photo from London!
Pal Mentors, Chuck and Carol!
Chuck and Carol have served as Pal Mentors to other couples for more than ten years!
Terry is 80 Years Young!
Happy Birthday Terry!
Terry, fourth from the right and wearing blue, is celebrating her 80th birthday this summer! Her family surprised her with a lovely birthday visit!
Terry was 77 years young when she had surgery and HIPEC for the treatment of Pseudomyxoma Peritonei!
Stan celebrates good health!
Stan, far left, and three generations of his family, are shown here celebrating their granddaughter's Bat Mitzvah!
"Senior Pal" Benson is a Navy veteran!
Benson and Gloria traveled to Colorado recently to participate in a reunion of fellow Navy veterans!
Celebrating Grandson's Milestone!
Our Pal, Terry, was 77 years young when she had CRS and HIPEC! Here she is, the following year, celebrating her grandson's graduation!
Paul celebrates the summer with his grandchildren!
Paul and his family!
Here's Paul enjoying the 4th of July weekend with his wife, children and grandchildren!
Paul is a patient of Dr Steven Ahrendt
Pal Mentors, Evan and Anita
Evan has been cancer free for more than a decade! He and Anita are available to serve as Pal Mentors to you!
Pal Mentors, Bud and Ginny!
Bud and Ginny share more than a decade of caregiving experiences with other Pal Couples!
Our "Pal" Bud, has been cancer free for more than ten years!
Proud Grandpa!
Chuck beams with pride as he introduces his new grandchild!
Chuck has been cancer free for a decade and is a "veteran" of CRS and HIPEC.
He serves as a Pal Mentor to other Senior Pals!
Creature Comforts: helpful caregiving "tools" for seniors!
These resources may be helpful during the recuperation process following surgery and/or chemotherapy.
Elder Depot: Home Health Care Supplies and Accessories
Medic Alert Emergency Medical Information Service
Telephone Toll Free 1.888. 633.4298
Comfort Shield Personal Cleansing Products
Comfort Shield Personal Cleansing Products Disposable Washcloths and Wipes
Telephone, toll free 1 877 9 COMFORT
Post Operative Clothing:
Here's a list of what to wear comfortably, post op!
Jackson Pratt Drains:
Surgi Shorts provide a helpful unisex undergarment for JP drain wearers
Home Delivery Incontinence Supplies
Tempur Pedic Pillows
Healthcare Directive
Health Insurance
Hiring Home Health Care After Hospitalization
High Cost of Medical Care
Infection Prevention at Home and in the Hospital
Legal Assistance for Seniors
MediCare Benefits
Medicare
Help with payment of MediCare premiums Part A and B
Medicare benefits (of help to family caregivers)
Source: US Government
Nursing Home Safety
Ostomy Care
Pseudomyxoma Peritonei
Recommended Reading
Recuperating from Surgery
Social Security Disability Benefits
Tips on moving to assisted living
Transitioning Between Your Home and Assisted Living
Suggestions for adjusting to the "big move" between your home and assisted living
Source: New York Times, January 2011
Source: New York Times, January 2011
Urinary Tract Infections and Senior Care
Welcome new grandchildren!
Roger and Marilyn welcome their 4th grandbaby (and 1st grandson!) into their family!
Having fun with the grandkids!
Bud and Ginny take their grandchildren on vacation every year!
Articles of Interest for Senior Patients
Source: Am J Surg. 2008 Mar;195(3):344-8; discussion 348
Colorectal cancer surgery in the elderly: acceptable morbidity?
Ong ES, Alassas M, Dunn KB, Rajput A.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Because of the increase in the geriatric population, an increasing number of elderly patients are being treated for colorectal cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate perioperative morbidity and mortality in this population.
METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed for patients 80 years of age or older who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer (1993-2006).
RESULTS: Ninety patients were identified, with a median age of 84 years. More than 90% presented with symptoms; the remaining were diagnosed by screening colonoscopy. Emergent surgery was required in 10%. The morbidity rate was 21% and the overall 30-day mortality rate was 1.1%. Morbidity was higher in patients who required surgery emergently.
CONCLUSIONS: Despite advanced age, the majority of patients in this study did well. Postoperative morbidity was higher than in the general population, but we believe it was acceptably low in most patients. Colorectal surgery appears to be safe in most elderly patients.
Colorectal cancer surgery in the elderly: acceptable morbidity?
Ong ES, Alassas M, Dunn KB, Rajput A.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Because of the increase in the geriatric population, an increasing number of elderly patients are being treated for colorectal cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate perioperative morbidity and mortality in this population.
METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed for patients 80 years of age or older who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer (1993-2006).
RESULTS: Ninety patients were identified, with a median age of 84 years. More than 90% presented with symptoms; the remaining were diagnosed by screening colonoscopy. Emergent surgery was required in 10%. The morbidity rate was 21% and the overall 30-day mortality rate was 1.1%. Morbidity was higher in patients who required surgery emergently.
CONCLUSIONS: Despite advanced age, the majority of patients in this study did well. Postoperative morbidity was higher than in the general population, but we believe it was acceptably low in most patients. Colorectal surgery appears to be safe in most elderly patients.
Thanks to "Pal", Charlotte, one of the "Original Ten PMP Pals", sponsor of this page!
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Updated 04.25.12
