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Helping Seniors Downsize
Many seniors have a plan to pay for assisted living expenses with the sale of their home. This process brings with it the challenges of moving and downsizing their household. Overwhelming and intense emotions, lots of difficult decisions and plenty of physical work makes many seniors put off something that must be done. While it is an inevitable part of moving to a new home, downsizing can be especially tough for seniors. Things they’ve accumulated over a lifetime, things with sentimental value that remind them of loved ones who are no longer here, are so hard to let go of. Our past is a big part of who we are, and often physical items hold the essence of our past. If these issues aren’t confronted, they may just become a barrier to moving. Fortunately for family members, there are some strategies you can try to ease the process, and unblock the resistance. Enlisting the help of trusted friends or family […]
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Adult Family Homes Vancouver, WA: The Gatekeeper Program
The Gatekeeper Program is a community outreach program whose purpose is to identify, refer and treat older adults who are in need of mental health, health and/or social services. Often the first person to recognize that a senior’s health is failing or they are in some kind of danger, is not a family member, but a community member, what is called a non-traditional referral source. It’s someone who comes into contact with seniors during their everyday work activities. It could be anyone- mail carriers, meter readers, bank tellers, apartment managers, store clerks, restaurant employees, and many others. Gatekeepers help improve the lives of seniors throughout our community, including in assisted living settings and adult family homes Vancouver, WA. The Gatekeeper model was created in 1978 in Spokane, WA. There are now Gatekeeper programs in communities all across the country. The goal is for people in each community to become aware of the early signs or changes in the behavior of […]
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Adult Family Homes Vancouver, WA: Challenge Your Brain
Experts say if you want to keep your brain sharp, you need to use it. Here are some easy ways to keep your brain nimble in Adult Family Homes of Vancouver, WA. Some of these ideas are simple, some will take more planning, but all are worth the effort. Take a walk, by yourself, with a friend, or your dog. Walking for just 20 minutes a day can lower blood sugar. Play video games. Wii and Nintendo DS offer many games and brain teasers that can help build new neural connections, increase reaction time and boost memory skills. Try something that is a stretch for you. Learn a skill in an area that you don’t think of as a strength for you. If you are more comfortable with numbers, learn to draw. If language is your strength, try some logic puzzles. When you’re listening to someone telling a story, really pay attention to the details. Get a mental picture of […]
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Maintain A Healthy Brain In Adult Family Homes Vancouver, WA
The foods you eat can play a big role in how your brain ages through the years. Here are some easy and healthy suggestions for improving your odds of maintaining healthy brain function into your later years. Before you reach for that candy bar, consider eating some almonds and blueberries instead. They can lower blood sugar and provide omega-3s and antioxidants to keep your brain healthy. Another good nut to eat is walnuts. You can put them on your salad, or use walnut oil in your salad dressing. Walnuts are also rich in omega-3s, which can decrease brain inflammation, a precursor to many cognitive problems. It also keeps oxygen-rich blood flowing to your brain. There are some types of tea that are recommended for maintaining brain function. Gotu Kola tea, made from an ayurvedic herb, and used for centuries in India, helps regulate dopamine, the brain chemical that increases pleasurable feelings and has been shown to improve memory and focus. […]
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Avoid Abuse In An Adult Family Home In Vancouver, WA
As a representative of seniors in the Vancouver, WA area, it is part of my job to insure they are not abused. It is hard to imagine that someone you are paying thousands of dollars to each month would even consider taking advantage of your loved one, but it happens. Of course, as a senior care advocate, I take the time to know what is happening in Washington state and to insure that the recommendations I make to clients give them the confidence to know their vulnerable loved one is not placed in an adult family home in Vancouver, WA that has any history of abusing or neglecting their residents. In addition to keeping track of complaints and legal issues surrounding the facilities we represent, we work with other agencies to insure that newcomers to the adult family home business are monitored and meet the standards of care that we would all like to think our seniors are getting. Tragically, […]
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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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Assisted Living Center Term Clarified
There is recent news from the state about senior living facilities. Effective June 7, 2012, House Bill 2056 redefines the legal definition of an assisted living center. After June 7, 2012, adult family homes will no longer be included in the term “assisted living center” and the term “assisted living center” will be used for boarding homes. According to the government affairs director at the Washington Health Care Association, boarding homes are facilities with seven or more congregate senior apartments where residents receive care and services. Those services include housekeeping, meals, snacks, laundry, organized activities, health support and intermittent nursing. Adult family homes are residences licensed to serve up to seven residents, usually in a residential setting, so there is no licensure requirement for such things as two-hour burn doors or indoor sprinkler systems. Services vary within the adult family home. The House Bill is meant to clarify terms for the public at large. So, of the 542 licensed facilities […]
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Adult Family Homes vs. Boarding Homes
We are often asked the differences between Adult Family Homes and Boarding homes. One difference lies in the number of people that care services can be provided for. An adult family home is licensed to provide care services for up to six adults in a regular house located in a residential neighborhood. A boarding home is licensed to provide housing and care services to seven or more people in a home or facility located in a residential neighborhood. Adult family homes may be run by a family, single person or business partners. The adult family home may also hire other employees. Some adult family homes allow pets and in some homes, multiple languages are spoken. All adult family homes and boarding homes both provide housing and meals (room and board) and assume general responsibility for the safety and care of the resident. What additional services are offered will be different from home to home but may include: Varying levels […]
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Adult Family Homes In Vancouver WA Make Longevity More Joyous
Often our clients contact us because their loved one is having some challenges living alone. When we introduce them to adult family homes in Vancouver WA and the surrounding towns of Clark County, WA, we help families make choices that bring more joy to their loved ones as well as meet their basic needs. It is our experience that, though our body may put some restrictions on us, getting older does not mean we can’t still have some fun! The right adult family homes in Vancouver WA provide the kind of support that helps each person live their life to full potential. Adult family homes should offer more than just meeting the basic needs of food and medical care. A good adult family home will provide a sense of family and community to each person that shares the living environment. This kind of community enhances our lives and helps keep the joy in our life!
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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 […]