• Senior Services

    Forty percent of U.S. adults over the age of 85 live alone, as do one third of those over age 65. There are an estimated 5 to 7 million long-distance caregivers in the country as well. Clearly, elder care is a big concern for many of us. As our parents and loved ones age, and need more care and monitoring, we are faced with difficult decisions about where they will live, and how we will ensure their well-being and safety. Fortunately, there is now an array of intriguing new technology that not only gives older people more confidence to live on their own, it also brings more peace of mind to their family members, who may be trying to monitor their senior loved ones from a distance. This results in smarter and more efficient caregiving, and more independence for seniors. Recent technological advances such as sensors, GPS, Bluetooth, voice activation, cellular connectivity, and smartphone monitoring apps all make it possible […]

    Continue reading
  • Conversations About Assisted Living

    As your parents age, and their body and mind changes, they may develop health problems or mental health issues. They may get depressed or feel upset about things that would not have bothered them before. There can be all kinds of challenges involved in this changing relationship between aging parent and adult child. You may need to learn new ways of communicating with them. Here are 5 things to keep in mind that will help open the lines of communication, enabling you to maintain a strong and healthy relationship with your loved one. These suggestions seem simple, but they are not always easy to do.   Show them respect. Even though you have to do more care for them, they still want to be seen as the parent, not a child. Show respect by sitting down with them and interacting with them as the parent. Ask their advice and opinions like you used to do. Don’t make decisions for them. […]

    Continue reading
  • Saving Money And The Environment

    Moving your household can have a big impact on the environment, with all the packing materials that are necessary, not to mention the gas and emissions from the moving trucks. There is usually lots of garbage generated, too. Minimizing your ecological footprint during this process will take some forethought and extra planning, but it will save you money and save some wear and tear on the planet. It is worth the extra effort. Some ideas to consider: Use recycled boxes and cartons. Find used boxes at various types of stores. Borrow them from friends, family, or neighbors. Check Craigslist for free or low cost boxes. Buy, borrow or rent reusable plastic containers. Use recycled paper for wrapping your things. Shredded paper makes a terrific insulator for almost any item you are packing. Get rid of items you no longer need or want, and those that won’t fit into your new home. Donate items to charities Sell items online or at […]

    Continue reading
  • Moving To Assisted Living

    As you go through the house you are leaving, here are some tips to help your senior loved one pack, sort and and get rid of things. The first thing to keep in mind is to start with rooms or areas that aren’t used as much, or that don’t contain many meaningful items. This could be storage areas, the basement, laundry room, spare room, etc. These are rooms with things in them that have less sentimental attachment, so it can be a less stressful place to begin your packing and sorting. Next you should decide where your things are going to go: family, friends, charity, consignment, recycle, etc. You’re going to sort things into piles according to where they are going. As you sort through things, here are some questions to ask yourself about each item: When was the last time it was used? How often do I use it? Do I own something else that can be used for […]

    Continue reading
  • Helping A Loved One Move

    When you’re working with a senior loved one on a move into an assisted living home, consider the following tips for making that move a little easier. First, you may want to take pictures of the home they are moving from, before you start rearranging things. This will give your senior a way to remember their home as it was. This can also help you recreate the feeling of the former home in the new home, which can be very helpful with the adjustment process. When preparing for the move, keep the layout of the new home in mind, you may even want to have pictures of the new space, too. Knowing how much space and how many rooms are in the new home will help you decide what to take, and what will not be moved. If at all possible, allow enough time to plan the move, so that your loved one doesn’t feel rushed. Remember that sorting through […]

    Continue reading
  • Visiting Assisted Living Homes, Part 2

    An important thing to keep in mind if you’re visiting assisted living facilities for a family member is that your likes and dislikes may be very different from those of your loved one. A good strategy is for you to tour all your best prospective homes, and then have your loved one tour one or two that you have chosen as the best ones. When you tour the apartments themselves, some things to look for: What kind of closet and storage space is available? In the bathroom, is there a walk-in shower or tub? Are there emergency cords and systems in place? Is the kitchenette suitable for preparing meals if the need occurs? Can the stove or burners be disabled if necessary? How and where are medications administered? If a pet is part of the family, are there doors to the outside available? Is pet care part of the assisted living services? Another thing to keep in mind is that […]

    Continue reading
  • Visiting Assisted Living Homes

    In your search for the right assisted living facility, of course you will be visiting your top prospects in person to get a feel for the whether the place will meet your needs or the needs of your loved one. To help you determine if a home is a good fit for your loved one who needs some assistance in order to maintain their level of independence, you will need to see the place, meet some of the people who live and work there, and ask some questions. To help you get started here are some suggestions to guide you through a visit. As you approach the assisted living home Is the entrance on a low-traffic street? How does the exterior appear, fresh paint, nicely kept landscaping, clean sidewalks, etc. Do the doors open and close easily? When you enter the lobby Does the lobby have an inviting atmosphere? Are there residents engaged in activity or sitting or sleeping in […]

    Continue reading
  • Free Help to Find Assisted Living in Vancouver WA

    When you or a loved one is moving into an assisted living facility, it is so important to do your homework ahead of time. Because there are so many choices, you must get familiar with all of the variables involved. You will need to understand your budget constraints, as well as the locations available, the levels of care offered, and the differences between large and small facilities. You also need to know the reasons assisted living placements sometimes don’t work out. Of course, sometimes a placement doesn’t work out.There are several reasons a resident may decide a home is not right for them. Here are some of the most common reasons people change facilities. Fees are unclear Health care needs change – Some facilities offer all levels of care, some do not Personality conflict with a caregiver or another resident Language barrier of some kind Type of food served – Even though the quality may be good, a resident may […]

    Continue reading
  • Meet New People With Senior Services Clark County WA

    We all know that making and keeping social connections is one of the essential components of maintaining your quality of life. There is also research that shows that certain kinds of relationships, such as friendships and family connections can increase longevity. A Caring Heart Senior Services Clark County, WA wants to highlight a terrific resource for meeting new people and opportunities to share your interests with other like-minded people. There is a website called Meetup.com. No, it’s not a dating website, it’s designed to help people make local connections with others who share the same interests. By using Meetup.com you will meet new people to share with, learn from and teach. You will find opportunities to become more involved in your community. And you will make new friends and enjoy yourself. The Meetup website provides information on thousands of groups that focus on one particular topic. You will be able to find a group that fits your interests! Each local […]

    Continue reading
  • Senior Services Vancouver, WA: Tips For Walking

    If you are like many people, you have a New Year’s Resolution to get more exercise in 2014. One of the best ways to accomplish this goal is to start a regular walking routine. We found some tips to help you keep this commitment to yourself and your health. The first thing to know is that research shows that seniors who track their progress have a much better chance of staying on course with their goal of becoming more fit. That, paired with the encouragement of a companion can work wonders to keep a senior on the road to increased good health. Walking is a great way for seniors to get the exercise they need to stay healthy. It has been shown to lower one’s body mass index, lower cholesterol counts, and decrease blood pressure. While everyone is familiar with the benefits of regular exercise, we have two tips for you that will make it more likely that you will […]

    Continue reading