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Coping With Guilt Over A Move To Assisted Living
The process of managing our aging parents’ lives and futures can evoke all kinds of feelings, from denial and fear, to guilt and inadequacy, to confusion and ambivalence. As adult children we suddenly find ourselves in the role of caregiver for our elderly parents, who have been the ones to care for us. This reversal of roles brings up many different emotions for both parent and child. When the decision to move to assisted living has been made, it will be very challenging for an elderly parent to adjust to a new life, to make new acquaintances, to learn to trust new caregivers, to adapt to a new schedule and a new living space. While they are adjusting to those things, we, as adult children, are shifting our identity to that of decision-maker, while at the same time perhaps struggling with the guilt that comes from admitting that we can’t take care of our parents ourselves. While moving anyone into […]
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Eating Healthy Meals At Elder Care Facilities Vancouver, WA
Proper nutrition is so important for our senior family members for maintaining their health, and enabling their medications to work effectively. But sometimes our elders don’t eat nutritious food or eat enough food to support good health. According to the National Institute on Aging, there are some  reasons why they don’t eat properly. One of the most common reasons for a lessening of appetite is that as we age our senses of smell and taste are often reduced. This affects the experience of eating by making food smell and taste less appealing. Similarly, a reduction in vision can also affect the appetite, because much of food’s appeal is in its appearance. Some medications have side effects that can cause a loss of appetite, cause food to taste bad or to have no flavor. If this is the case, talk to your doctor about possibly substituting a different medication or prescribing another medication to counteract the side effects. Some older […]
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Many Elder Care Facilities In Vancouver, WA Welcome Pets
As seniors prepare to move from their homes into various types of elder care facilities Vancouver, WA, one of the big questions that comes up is “Are pets allowed?” In many homes pets are an important member of the family, and this becomes a huge part of the decision when choosing a new living situation. The good news is that more and more senior living communities now allow pets. Pets are important to the mental and physical health of seniors according to the National Institute of Health. Pets provide companionship, unconditional love, encourage physical activity and provide routine for seniors. After determining if your potential senior living community allows pets, there are more questions to ask: are there restrictions on the breed, or about size? Are there behavioral rules? Are there additional costs associated with having a pet? Some of the common expectations you will find at elder care facilities include that dogs need to be walked regularly and cats […]
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Elder Care Facilities Vancouver, WA
The benefits of volunteering can be seen at elder care facilities Vancouver, WA. One of the big benefits to seniors is the sense of purpose volunteering can provide. Having a meaningful purpose supports a healthy lifestyle that involves increased physical, mental and social activity. There is a real feeling of well-being that comes from volunteering. There are many opportunities to be physically active,  mentally active and socially active. With that comes significant health benefits. One feels more connected with the wider community, and is less likely to feel lonely or isolated. Studies show that volunteer activities can have especially great advantages for seniors with chronic health condition such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Volunteering has also been shown to help overcome depression. Seniors themselves have reported seeing many benefits from volunteering. Some of these observed benefits besides  improved physical health include: building a stronger emotional foundation; having a mission in life: seniors want […]
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Making New Friends In Elder Care Facilities In Vancouver, WA
After making the move to a new home, it will be important to establish some new social connections. There are many studies showing that having a strong social network is correlated to psychological well-being, brain health and longevity. Although it may feel awkward during those first few weeks, it is well worth the effort to step out of your comfort zone and meet new people. In high quality elder care facilities in Vancouver, WA, building those relationships can be fun and rewarding. One effective way to meet people and begin developing friendships is to participate in activities that interest you. Following your passion is great way to find others with whom you have something in common. When you see the same people over and over, you start building the bonds that can lead to friendship. Experts say it takes six to eight interactions between two people before they start to think of themselves as friends. Because friendship takes some time […]
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The Questions To Ask When Searching For Elder Care Facilities In Vancouver, WA
When you are starting your search for elder care facilities in Vancouver, WA, you will want to begin with a list of questions. This will help you get clear about what you know already, and what you need to learn about the process. The first key questions are: What do I know about the different types of  senior living options? What do I need to know? Where can I get the most reliable and objective information about the options? Which of these options can I afford, now and in the future? How do I weigh price vs. value? How would I define my personal successful outcomes after one year in the new home? When talking with staff of a prospective facility, you and your family should also ask these questions: On average, about how much time per day does a resident in my situation receive direct, hands-on assistance? How is the facility staffed 24/7 to provide the services […]
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Elder Care Providers Are A Critical Resource In Our Community
For those who are managing the care of their relatives who can no longer adequately care for themselves and who are not yet ready or able to transition into an assisted living, long term care setting, we’d like to end November with a little more about National Caregiver’s Month. There are approximately 65 million family elder care providers (caregivers) and because they give so much of their time and money to care for elder relatives in need, the National Family Caregivers Association began promoting the celebration of family caregivers in 1994. The association’s chief executive calls these devoted senior caregivers “a national treasure”…according to a recent article in The Columbian, caregivers frequently risk their jobs by taking time off to care for their relative, they use their limited resources, and often neglect their own health and well being. They are a silent population who needs to know they are not alone in their struggles. One in five family caregivers moved […]
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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 […]