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The Benefits Of Art Therapy In Assisted Living
Activities programs are an important part of the services offered in assisted living facilities. One type of activity program is a therapeutic art class. This program will bring a skilled artist and all the necessary art supplies to the facility to make it possible for residents to express their inner artists. The artistic process for seniors can not only enhance their quality of life, but also gives them the opportunity to learn a new skill, which is especially beneficial for maintaining and even increasing cognitive functioning. The artistic process provides mental, physical, and spiritual stimulation for individuals through creative discovery and experimentation. There is research that documents the benefits of art programming in assisted living facilities. This research shows that any kind of new learning experiences promote brain development while enhancing information processing and memory storage capabilities in mid-life and older adults. One study was conducted with 300 seniors – half were participants in an art program once a week, […]
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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. […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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Senior Services Clark Vancouver, WA and Community Involvement
Building your community, whether it is the community within your living facility or the wider community we are talking about, is a win-win situation. The community you support, supports you. Participating and contributing to your community will be rewarding, challenging and invigorating. Here are some suggestions about how you can help. Participate in your local government on whatever level you feel comfortable. Your experience and skills are needed in your community. Manage a food drive. You can help supply your local food pantry or provide food and supplies for distant communities in need. Either way you are providing a huge service to the many people around the world who experience hunger every day. Organize a community garden. It’s a great way to create a feeling of belonging and neighborhood connection. Planting, watering and nurturing a community garden is a sure way to foster community togetherness. Consider volunteering at a school, hospital, senior center or animal shelter. You can make a […]
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Senior Advisors Vancouver, WA Help With Assisted Living Selection
After you have made the big decision to move to assisted living, you will face the task of choosing which facility is the right one for you. A big consideration will be the location of the home. It’s so important that you select a location that you will be happy with over time. A Caring Heart Senior Advisors Vancouver, WA is here to help with this big decision. Think about what it’s most important to you to have nearby. You may want to live somewhere new and enjoy exciting new things to see and do. Perhaps there’s somewhere you’ve always wanted to go, a climate that seems more inviting. However, most seniors prefer to stay in the area where they currently live. The vast majority of seniors want to have family and friends close by, and to live in a familiar area. They want to stay as close to “home” as possible, and be able to keep going to the […]
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Gift Ideas From Senior Advisors Vancouver, WA
As the holiday season is upon us once again, our thoughts turn to family. A Caring Heart Senior Advisers Vancouver WA offer some gift ideas for the seniors in your life. Often the best gift you can give them is your time and attention. Here we will explore some ideas for spending time with your loved ones and maybe even creating some new memories to be recalled in the future. When spending time with your older loved one, showing an interest in their past can spark forgotten memories that you may have never heard. You can start by helping them gather special mementos and pictures from times gone by. You can listen to the stories associated with these keepsakes, and then you may want to help them create a scrapbook or a journal. You can write down the story around the photo or the item. You will no doubt be amazed by the stories of where they have been and […]
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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 […]