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Persons Living In Assisted Living May Have Misdiagnosis
It’s been estimated that 9 percent of persons living in assisted living facilities may have an often misdiagnosed condition called normal pressure hydrocephalus. The unfortunate thing is this condition is treatable. We wonder how many persons in assisted living in Vancouver Washington have this treatable condition. Because the symptoms are similar, the misdiagnoses include Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, and even “just getting old.” What is normal pressure hydrocephalus or NPH? NPH is a condition which occurs when the fluid surrounding the brain no longer reabsorbs correctly. This failure to reabsorb slowly leads to problems with memory, disturbed gait, and even bladder control. The person with NPH can experience problems with speech, walking, a loss of train of thought, disorganization, blanking on names or what to do in routine activities of daily living. The diagnosis can be identified through comparison of MRI’s of the brain. The Hydrocephalus Association estimates that at least 350,000 Americans, and 5 percent of people with dementia, have […]
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More Good News On Senior Services In Vancouver, WA
The Southwest Washington Agency on Aging and Disabilities has been in the news again. The agency recently won the Washington State Council on Aging 2012 Excellence in Action Award. The award was earned in part for the agency’s role in countywide planning for the increase in the 65 and older population. When it comes to senior services and resources, including a wide variety of assisted living options, the Vancouver and Clark County area is fortunate. And other states have taken notice: Clark County’s preparations and planning for future needs has been a role model. Being dedicated to helping clients make good choices when it comes to senior housing options in the Vancouver and Clark County area like assisted living, adult family homes, retirement communities, nursing homes, or memory care, Alzheimer care, or Parkinson’s care units, we are thrilled with the progress this agency has made within the five southwest Washington counties it now serves.
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Senior Resources Through SWAAD
The Southwest Washington Agency on Aging and Disabilities (SWAAD) is at the forefront of senior resources, working to assist persons 60 years of age or older as well as adults with disabilities, their families and caregivers. Their goal is to help this population achieve well being through opportunities for community living and provide a network of in-home and community services that promote choice, independence and dignity. One of the SWAAD programs is their Family Caregiver Support Program. Saturday SWAAD held a “Living Well, Caring Well: SWAAD Family Caregiver Workshop” at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center. The main speaker was Roger Anunsen, co-founder of mindRAMP, creator of MemAerobics, and delegate to the White House Conference on Aging. Very interesting. You might not be familiar with SWAAD. It is a public service agency that is part of the national network of Area Agencies on Aging. They are dedicated to helping their target population access needed community services in Clark, Cowlitz, Wahkiakum, Klickitat and […]
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Gain a better understanding of the neurological diseases that may create a need for assisted living
Many of us have had our lives or the lives of our loved affected by neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. The impact of these diseases can be devastating, requiring placement in special Alzheimer or Parkinson’s units or other assisted living settings. It does help to know as much about the disease process as possible. For those in the Vancouver WA and Portland OR area, there is another educational opportunity for the community’s residents. A free community forum will address the three diseases from diagnosis to the latest treatments and research. After the three experts speak, there will be a question-and-answer session. The forum will be held at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in the Southern Auditorium on November 1, 2012 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The location is at 9205 SW Barnes Road in Portland. Register for the forum at http://www.providence.org/brain or call 503-216-1055. It is our hope that you […]
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Senior Services In Clark County, WA Are A High Priority
Senior services in Clark County, WA are important now and will become more important within the next ten years. It is understandable that Clark County and Southwest Washington continue to be concerned about the future of senior services in the Clark County, WA area. After all, by 2025 a quarter of Clark County’s population is projected to be 60 and older. Recently, a forum focused on senior services in Clark County was held in Vancouver, WA. The forum, organized by local agencies on aging and senior lobby groups, consisted of thirteen legislative candidates who answered questions posed by the moderator, a Washington State University – Vancouver assistant professor of political science. Those questions included topics such as the preservation of the state’s AARP ranking of its long term care program as “the second best at a low cost among 30 states.” Washington’s long term care program has been used as a model by other states developing their programs. According to […]
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Aging, Longevity And Long Term Care Knowledge
Learning about aging, longevity, and long term care may make all the difference in your life or the life of a loved one. Remaining as independent as possible, whether residing at home, in the home of family, or in an assisted living setting, is something we all want. There are various ways to help. This week there are two events in the Vancouver, WA/Portland, OR area. One is a conference that features a nationally recognized expert on aging and longevity, the other is training for persons who are interested in volunteering to help improve the quality of life and ensure the rights of the elderly and disabled living in long term care homes. Oregon Health and Science University is holding its second annual Healthy Aging Conference Wednesday, October 10, at the Portland Art Museum from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Dr. Walter Bortz II, a clinical professor of medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, will present the keynote address […]
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Red Flags To Benefit Senior Adults
All too often we hear stories of how seniors are taken advantage of by people who prey on the vulnerable. Usually the stories end in financial devastation for the vulnerable senior, but sometimes a story ends in physical injury or death. And always the stories end in emotional devastation in one way or another. Of course, not all seniors are vulnerable, but, according to a 2010 survey by the Investment Protection Trust, more than 7 million older Americans have been victimized by a financial swindle. That was one out of every five people over the age of 65 years old. The survey found that the top three financial exploitations were theft or diversion of funds or property by family members, followed by caregivers, then followed by scams by strangers. The good news is that regulators, physicians, nurses, and law enforcement officials across the country are being trained to identify financial fraud and abuse. According to the article by Michelle […]
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More Senior Housing Options Coming To The Vancouver, WA Area
We are fortunate to have a variety of senior housing options available in the Vancouver and Clark County Washington area. Those options include adult family homes, assisted living, independent living, retirement communities, memory care and Parkinson’s units, among others. Amenities and services at each differ. And many of these options have been combined for easy transitioning to a higher level of care if needed. But, currently these resources have a 90 percent occupancy rate. And, with Vancouver being a popular spot to retire and the population aging, it means we will soon need more senior housing which is just what is in the plans. There are over 187 units of assisted living, memory care and independent living apartments underway. Some will have pet-friendly parks and, just to name a few of the various amenities and services, others will have exercise rooms, gardening programs, and nursing services. There is recent news that on October 4, one of the senior living […]
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Help Prevent Elder Abuse In Assisted Living Or Any Other Setting
You, your loved one, or an acquaintance may be residing alone or in an assisted living setting, but the setting doesn’t matter. The risk for abuse may be present. That abuse may be physical, mental or financial. There are resources available to prevent elder abuse. The Clark County Vulnerable Adult Task Force, a non-profit group, has expanded to represent the counties of Clark, Klickitat, Cowlitz, Skamania, and Wahkiakum. Along with the expansion, their name has been changed to Southwest Washington Elder Abuse Prevention Coalition, or SWEAP. A board member stated, “The idea is to sweep out elder abuse.” The task force’s goal is to combat physical, mental and financial abuse of vulnerable adults. According to The Columbian article, the task force was instrumental in establishing the Clark County Elder Justice Center, “which identifies and prosecutes cases of elder abuse.” “It’s mission is focused on prevention, education, and support of abuse victims.” For those of you who are interested, the coalition […]
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Senior Living Options Include Assisted Living
Senior living options include assisted living in Vancouver WA and Clark County. The Columbian newspaper recently published a Special Edition insert filled with tips for the “Fifty Plus” population. One of the topics was assisted living senior living options. This section of the insert included tips for choosing a nursing home, a home health care agency, elder care alternatives, and a Clark County Senior Housing Guide with many ads for various senior living options and aging resources. All great resources and tips. But honestly, even when you have time to explore all the various options, it can be overwhelming. Options in assisted living in Vancouver WA and Clark County are plentiful. And, without expertise in the field, you have to be on your toes to be sure you are choosing the right services and setting for you or your loved one. We know. And that’s why we are here. Give us a call or contact us via email. We are […]
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Caring For Aging Skin25 Feb 2016
You may notice the following changes as your skin ages. It becomes thinner and loses fat, looking less smooth than it used to. Veins and bones become more prominent through the skin. Scratches, cuts and […]
Short Term Options2 Feb 2016
Many seniors who are looking for senior housing don’t know about short term stay options that are available at many senior living communities. There are a few different reasons you or your loved one might […]