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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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Senior Housing Assistance – Resources Available
Browsing through the internet I came across several sites dedicated to assisting us with the knowledge of finding a suitable senior housing for our loved ones. Among them, the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Also, a very helpful site I discovered at A Caring Heart. They offer a Senior Housing Referral Service to help you make decisions concerning senior housing assistance in Vancouver WA. Kathy McLoughlin, owner of A Caring Heart, has the life experience of caring for her own family members and has helped many families make the best choices regarding Assisted Living, Adult Family Homes, Alzheimer’s Care, Retirement Living, Nursing Homes and Home Care for senior housing assistance in Vancouver, WA. It’s nice to know there is someone out there who cares and will help us to make informed decisions concerning senior housing assistance in Vancouver, WA. Placement options at A Caring Heart include: Assisted Living in Vancouver, WA Adult Family Homes in Vancouver, WA Memory Care […]
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Senior Housing Assistance In Vancouver, WA
Senior housing assistance in Vancouver, WA is available for free. Let us help you make some important decisions about senior housing options. Here are some things to consider when you’re wondering if it is time for you or a loved one to make the move to an assisted living facility. First, do you need more help with daily living activities than you can get from family members or friends? Are you unable to bridge the gap with help from family or with in-home care? Assisted living may be a solution. Are you feeling lonely or isolated on a regular basis? Having a social life is important to your health and well-being. Life in an assisted living home presents an array of opportunities for socialization and recreation. Are you or your family members concerned about your safety? If you live alone and your mobility is becoming limited, you may worry about falling, or making those transitions in and out bed, in […]
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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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Assisted Living in Vancouver, WA – A Story of Hope
Assisted living includes a pretty wide spectrum of senior living options from adult family homes to long term care facilities. Most often, we are helping people transition from fully independent living situations to environments where they get the help they need at the level they need it. Frequently a family will decide it’s time to move mom or dad to an assisted living environment because the parent has come to a point in life where they no longer care for themselves as well as they should. Often there is some resistance from Mom or Dad. Especially when they have lived in their home for many years, often raising their children and entertaining their grand children and great grand children there. Many families will first try in-home care. Having someone come in a few times a week to prepare meals and make sure that the elder person is keeping up with things like eating and taking their medications, helping with basic […]
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Senior Housing Options In Clark County, WA Fueled By Statistics
Here are some interesting facts for our area. By 2030 (not that far in the future), one out of every five people in Washington will be 65 years or older? Most people can expect to live 20 to 30 years beyond age 65. Vancouver Washington made the “most popular retirement cities in the USA” list. It’s no wonder we are expanding senior programs and senior housing options in Clark County, WA. Clark County is also part of a commission on aging that many counties and states are modeling. Many of the current senior programs here in Clark County are designed for the senior who remains independent and there are many senior resources in the area for those adults who require various levels of assistance. But, much more can be done for those seniors who are and will remain independent as well as for those who are or will become dependent in some fashion. So, now is the time that we […]
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Our Job Is To Reduce The Confusion About Senior Housing In Vancouver, WA
It seems that nearly every day we are reminded by our clients of how confusing it can be when looking for some sort of assisted living in the Vancouver or Clark County area. Oh, it’s true that there is a good selection of the various types assisted living, but knowing which setting would be best and all the other important things to consider is overwhelming when you aren’t familiar with all the senior housing options like we are. Just the definitions for each of the various types of assisted living can be a bit much, especially when you aren’t sure if a specific provider can provide the services you or your family member might need now and in the future. Then there are finances to consider. For instance, if you plan to use Medicaid, the senior housing option must be licensed by the state. One of the Washington assisted living options include the retirement community and independent living facilities. These […]
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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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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 […]