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Alzhemier’s research, assisted living and other senior resources still important to government leaders
The federal government was extremely active in 2012 in their efforts to improve senior care. There is good news and bad news. Many of the initiatives will carry over into the new year, but some key members of Congress will be retiring at the end of the session, so the political climate will be different in 2013. Come January 3, 2013, when the new Congress convenes, there will be a new chair and a new ranking member leading the Senate Special Committee on Aging. Let’s hope that they will continue to be as concerned about senior care – which includes Alzheimer’s research, assisted living and other senior resources. Recently the federal Department of Health and Human Services created the Administration for Community Living (ACL). Their goal is to increase “access to community supports and full participation, while focusing attention and resources on the unique needs of older Americans and people with disabilities.” The ACL includes the efforts and achievements of […]
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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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Interesting News About Alzheimer’s Prevention Studies
Being quite familiar with the heart ache and dilemmas faced by the many people we’ve helped find the best senior living option in a Memory Care Unit or Alzheimer’s Unit and the concerns of their family members, we’d like to do our part in spreading the word about the Alzheimer’s Prevention Initiative prevention studies coming up. The Initiative is an exciting collaborative of researchers launching a new era of Alzheimer’s prevention research. Some of their studies will seek people who carry rare genetic mutations that cause Alzheimer’s to strike early in life, other studies will need to screen thousands of people to find several hundred with the major risk factors for Alzheimer’s. These initial trials are meant to encourage other investigators throughout academia and industry in the U.S. and abroad to offer additional therapeutic trials to people who have Alzheimer’s but do not show any symptoms yet. And the goal is to inspire a wave of therapy research for this […]
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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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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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Elder Care In Vancouver, WA Highlighted During National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month
November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness/Family Caregiver Month. Here at A Caring Heart, we honor those who have been affected by this disease in some way. Having helped many families and caregivers find the type of residential elder care necessary to meet the needs of their loved one, we know how devastating this disease can be. There are local resources here in the Vancouver and Clark County Washington area for caregivers and families in need of support. Often elder care is managed by the family. It is important to remember that these care givers need a break sometimes. While it is important to research information before taking action, the internet is a great resource these days. One site, www.alz.org, reminds us that “there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ formula when it comes to Alzheimer’s care.” Indeed, needs do change at the various stages of this disease and “each family’s situation is unique.” Whatever your situation, or if you are planning ahead, remember […]
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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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More Good News On Senior Services In Vancouver, WA
The Southwest Washington Agency on Aging and Disabilities has been in the news again. The agency recently won the Washington State Council on Aging 2012 Excellence in Action Award. The award was earned in part for the agency’s role in countywide planning for the increase in the 65 and older population. When it comes to senior services and resources, including a wide variety of assisted living options, the Vancouver and Clark County area is fortunate. And other states have taken notice: Clark County’s preparations and planning for future needs has been a role model. Being dedicated to helping clients make good choices when it comes to senior housing options in the Vancouver and Clark County area like assisted living, adult family homes, retirement communities, nursing homes, or memory care, Alzheimer care, or Parkinson’s care units, we are thrilled with the progress this agency has made within the five southwest Washington counties it now serves.
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Senior Resources Through SWAAD
The Southwest Washington Agency on Aging and Disabilities (SWAAD) is at the forefront of senior resources, working to assist persons 60 years of age or older as well as adults with disabilities, their families and caregivers. Their goal is to help this population achieve well being through opportunities for community living and provide a network of in-home and community services that promote choice, independence and dignity. One of the SWAAD programs is their Family Caregiver Support Program. Saturday SWAAD held a “Living Well, Caring Well: SWAAD Family Caregiver Workshop” at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center. The main speaker was Roger Anunsen, co-founder of mindRAMP, creator of MemAerobics, and delegate to the White House Conference on Aging. Very interesting. You might not be familiar with SWAAD. It is a public service agency that is part of the national network of Area Agencies on Aging. They are dedicated to helping their target population access needed community services in Clark, Cowlitz, Wahkiakum, Klickitat and […]
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Gain a better understanding of the neurological diseases that may create a need for assisted living
Many of us have had our lives or the lives of our loved affected by neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. The impact of these diseases can be devastating, requiring placement in special Alzheimer or Parkinson’s units or other assisted living settings. It does help to know as much about the disease process as possible. For those in the Vancouver WA and Portland OR area, there is another educational opportunity for the community’s residents. A free community forum will address the three diseases from diagnosis to the latest treatments and research. After the three experts speak, there will be a question-and-answer session. The forum will be held at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in the Southern Auditorium on November 1, 2012 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The location is at 9205 SW Barnes Road in Portland. Register for the forum at http://www.providence.org/brain or call 503-216-1055. It is our hope that you find the community […]
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