Assisted Living

Benefits of berries

After recently reading the third article on the benefits of eating berries as related to slowing the progression of cognitive decline in women, I felt I should pass this information along to our A Caring Heart blog readers.

A study published in the Annals of Neurology found women with a higher berry intake delayed cognitive aging by up to 2.5 years. Dr. Devore from the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston explains that the flavonoids found in plants are high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. In particular, blueberries and strawberries are a rich source of anthocyanidins, a type of flavonoid, “which are known to cross from the blood into the brain and locate in the parts involved in learning and memory.” Flavonoids are also thought to decrease the “effects of stress and inflammation that could contribute to cognitive decline.”

The study indicated that a simple dietary adjustment to include one half to one cup of blueberries or one cup or more of strawberries a week may over time help retain cognitive functioning that includes memory and learning.

The study controlled for other health factors, but also couldn’t “rule out the possibility that the preserved cognition in those who eat more berries also may be influenced by other lifestyle choices, such as exercising more.”

Simple changes in diet and activity certainly can’t hurt as we age. With a goal to live independently as long as possible, simple changes now might make all the difference. Assisted living and Memory Care units are necessary when the time comes, but being able to delay the need is nice, too.

A senior housing option may be needed, but in the meantime, learn about community resources

Just a reminder about the 50+ Connections Expo tomorrow. Geared toward people 50 and older, the Expo offers more than 120 exhibits with resources, services and activities.

Being informed as we age helps us maintain an active, healthy and independent lifestyle. The Columbian had a nice article about the Expo. They summed it up by saying that the exhibits are meant to provide information and interactive activities on travel, recreation, health, nutrition, senior housing, finances, and more.

Free of charge, with a suggested donation for the Human Services Council’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, this year’s Expo is sure to exceed the expectations of the previous Expos.

Health screenings include blood pressure, lower extremity circulation, lung function, glucose, and body mass index.

There will be live music and mini-presentations on personal enrichment activities such as our laughter yoga.

We are proud to be among the many exhibitors and seminar presenters as well as one of the 16 companies and non-profit organizations and government agencies to sponsor the event.

It is our goal to help make any transition to one of the many senior housing options in the Vancouver WA and Clark County easier, but we totally support any of the many worthy efforts to delay the need to transition from your own independent housing. That is one reason why we are a participant and sponsor of this 50+ Connections Expo. Stop by to say “hello.” We can help you determine whether you need assisted living or some other senior housing option.

Comforting news for long term care budget

There is good news for adult family homes and other long term care programs in Washington . . . and it could have been much worse for assisted living centers.

The Washington State budget passed this week with essentially good news for state-funded long term care. Some programs surprisingly received a little more money, one program was spared, and another program received a minimal rate cut. All in all, long term care providers and families who have loved ones in one of the long term care settings were relieved.

The Family Caregiver Support program received a slight increase in funding. With the increase, the program can continue to provide training, counseling and respite care for unpaid caregivers.

And, due to the passing of Initiative 1163, more funding was approved for the program to train long term care workers so they can receive the required additional training.

Assisted living centers received a 2 percent rate cut. The general opinion is that a 2 percent cut is tolerable and can be absorbed without having to implement the drastic changes they were anticipating.

Funding for nursing homes, adult family homes and in-home care did not change.

A Caring Heart and the other Professional Senior Advisors who help with long term care issues, including assisted living, are also relieved over the budget news. Even though A Caring Heart services are free to our clients, we know that having a variety of options is paramount and, with the budget passing as it did, well, those options remained essentially untouched – and even ensures our elderly loved ones who require long term care will receive even better services in the long run.

Saluting the recipient of the Compassion for Senior award who helped establish a supportive in-home program

Being so involved in the welfare of seniors, whether they are residing in an assisted living or other setting or still at home with supportive services, recognizing those persons in the Vancouver WA area who contribute to the senior community, is an honor.

The annual Clark County Loaves and Fishes charity luncheon on April 12, 2012 will recognize Larry Smith with its Compassion for Seniors award.

Councilman Smith helped implement SNAP, a senior nutrition program, and he played a key role in introducing Loaves and Fishes, a program that delivers food to homebound seniors in Clark County in 2006.

We encourage everyone to attend the luncheon at the Hilton Vancouver Washington at 301 W. Sixth Street. The event is free, but donations are welcome and registration is required. You can visit feedseniors.org to find out more about the event and to register.

Congratulations to Councilman Smith. And, just a reminder, if your senior can no longer manage at home, even with the various supportive services in place, it may be time to consider assisted living or another type of housing option.

Alzheimer’s Disease News

We know that assisted living is necessary for a variety of reasons, any of which result in loss of independence. One of the reasons someone might benefit from assisted living is because they are suffering from a dementia, which includes Alzheimer’s disease. When the dementia is advanced, there may be a time when a memory care unit is the assisted living housing option best suited to meet the significant needs.

Alzheimer’s disease, which accounts for about 75 percent of the cases of dementia, is on the national news. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, “about 200,000 Americans younger than 65 are among the 5.4 million Americans with the disease” and they estimate about the same statistics for those with other types of dementia. This means about one half million Americans, some as young as in their 20s, have early-onset or younger-onset dementia.

Every 72 seconds, a new case of Alzheimer’s is diagnosed in the United States. That number is high because there are so many aging baby boomers. There is no evidence of an increasing rate of diagnoses in those persons younger than 65. While younger adults are interested in whether those memory lapses might be due to an early-onset dementia and are getting tested in an effort to start treatment early, statistics are showing that their concern is usually unfounded.

By early identification of those at most risk, it is the goal of researchers to learn which lifestyle changes or medications can slow down or even reverse the progression of the disease.

Statistics show that after age 65, the risk of developing Alzheimer’s doubles every five years. By age 85 or over, up to 40 percent of Americans may be suffering from some stage of Alzheimer’s. Researchers are making advances in their knowledge of the disease and are making strides toward better diagnosing, treatment and prevention.

Memory lapses are a normal part of aging. But, if you notice that a family member has “lost the ability to recall or even learn new things, then it’s worth discussing the problem” with their physician. They can help determine whether these changes are “a part of normal aging, another medical condition,” medication management, stress or grieving, or possibility the first signs of mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s.

If you have a family member who is having difficulty maintaining their normal daily routines in caring for themselves, whether it is due to dementia or some other diagnosis, there are options that can be of benefit. Being able to distinguish the level of need and the county resources available is an important part of what we do here at A Caring Heart. One of those options may very well be a memory care unit or assisted living.

Assisted living as your housing option can be a positive experience regardless of your age

There is proof that choosing assisted living as your housing option can be a positive experience. Just consider a recent article about a woman who was living in an assisted living facility. She will be 100 years old this year — just like the Girl Scouts organization. Obvious by the interview, her assisted living experience hasn’t slowed her down a bit. She remains independent with a “can-do” attitude. It appears she attributed her independence from her 87 years of scouting; saying, “You learn how to be independent, work well with others, and later on in life it will be with you.” Among the reasons why she has thrived in assisted living and retained so many long time friends are those attributes and her great sense of humor.

Assisted living in Vancouver WA knows we can thrive just like the oldest Girl Scout does in her assisted living facility According to the article, she started her Girl Scout experience in 1925 as a Brownie. The Girl Scouts organization had been in existence for thirteen years. After working her way through brownies, cadets, seniors and mariner’s, she became a troop leader and camp director, then joined the Order of the Evergreen – for Girl Scouts older than 40 years old.

The aim of the Girl Scouts is that girls will develop to their full potential by pursuing goals that include relating to others which increases understanding, skill and respect; establishing a meaningful set of core values to guide their actions and provide for sound decision making; and contributing to the improvement of society.

According to the article, early goals were similar to the Boy Scouts including “remaining active, adventurous, and possessing the survival skills of a soldier.” Those core values and philosophy of life have continued to serve this 99 year old Girl Scout well — even in her assisted living facility where she continues to thrive, giving to others and her new community.

Assisted Living Center term clarified

Assisted living center law change 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 in Washington previously called boarding homes, that term will soon become obsolete.

Even though the terminology has been clarified, finding the right match in services, staffing, and fellow residents as well as finding an available assisted living in Vancouver WA and Clark County or another senior housing option can be quite the undertaking. And that’s where we come in.

When assisted living equals enhanced living

Assisted living decisions are not only about getting physical needs managed but, perhaps more importantly, about insuring our quality of life continues to meet our personal preferences. When an assisted living facility is being considered, it’s important to get to know the “personality” of each facility on your list of choices.

If the potential resident has always been extremely social then it makes sense to choose an assisted living facility that makes it easy for newcomers to integrate into the social structure of the facility.

Does the facility have regular formal gatherings?
Does the facilty offer group activities that leave room for newcomers?

By the same token, if the person moving into an assisted living facility has always been more to themselves, you want to make sure the assisted living facilities being considered do not “push” social interaction beyond what the newcomer will be comfortable with.

Does the facility offer quiet areas for alone time?
Does the facility offer support for personal interests such as gardening or crafts?

Needless to say, when it comes to assisted living facilities there are as many “personalities” as you will find in a room full of strangers. What matters is that we take the time to know ourselves and then make sure the assisted living facility we are considering is a good match.

A Caring Heart will help match your personality to the assisted living facilities in the Vancouver WA area at no charge.

Assisted living in Vancouver WA positive response

Great news for those who may be seeking assisted living in Vancouver WA. We have had a positive response to our new listings of adult family homes on our site. For those persons who are thinking about relocating to an adult family home or other setting in assisted living in Vancouver WA, being able to actually see photographs and read about the residences and facilities makes a difference.

Of course, assisted living in Vancouver WA is so vast, with many different levels of care, we can’t list them all – at least not right now, but be assured, we are quite familiar with the senior housing options and services in Vancouver and Clark County.

Once we help you determine what your needs are, knowing the vacancies in the area, what services are provided, and other important details makes it easy for us to point you in the right direction. It is our privilege to set up any tours you might want and be there with you each step of the way to be sure all questions are asked and answered so you can make an informed decision, ultimately being satisfied with your choice.

Having worked in the senior field and experienced the difficult decisions first hand, we know important it is to choose the right assisted living in Vancouver WA or some other senior housing option. With you and your loved one in mind, we will continue to add to our website on your behalf.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HANUKKAH

Written by Regina Brett

90 years old Regina, is of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio . This is a reprint of her article on 45 lessons of life.

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I’ve ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good..
When in doubt, just take the next small step.
Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
Pay off your credit cards every month.
You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what
their journey is all about.
If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.
Take a deep breath It calms the mind.
Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
Over prepare, then go with the flow.
Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
The most important sex organ is the brain.
No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
Frame every so-called disaster with these words : ‘In five years, will this matter?’
Always choose life..
Forgive everyone everything.
What other people think of you is none of your business.
Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
Believe in miracles.
God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.
Your children get only one childhood.
All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
The best is yet to come…
No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
Yield.
Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.

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 of assistance with personal care.

Intermittent nursing care (a licensed nurse available on a part-time basis).

Assistance with or administering of medications.

Some homes also provide specialized care to people living with developmental disabilities, dementia, or mental illness.

We have provided several resources throughout our website to help you decide the best environment for your situation.

Protecting those in assisted living environments – Initiative 1163 will NOT help!

Our reason for this business is to bring support to those that need it most. Anyone requiring assistance in their living environment is vulnerable. We investigate the assisted living and adult family home facilities in the Vancouver WA area so that we can help people make educated decisions and insure the best care for themselves and/or their loved ones.

I-1163 is presented as something that will protect the elderly and others that require assistance in their living situation. We have reviewed this initiative and feel it is important to educate our readers on what we have found.

We feel the Columbian has made a good case to vote NO on I-1163 and invite you to read the article they posted about this critical issue here: http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/oct/14/no-on-i-1163/.

We are also happy to share the information sent to us via email by PATTI GRAY, RN, CHCE:

INITIATIVE 1163 – THE SON OF 1029

SEIU 775 does not give up easily. Even after WSRCC’s political team successfully worked with state legislators to stop the pointless expense and onerous provisions of I-1029, putting the mandatory caregiver training measure on-hold until 2014, SEIU wrote a slew of different initiatives. They finally settled on I-1163, which may as well be called “Son of 1029″.

In pushing I-1163, they’re just recycling the same misleading messages

- and outright lies – used to pass Initiative 1029.

There are very few differences between I-1029 and I-1163. The real political motives behind these initiative efforts are complicated and not easy to explain in just a few words to someone who hasn’t studied SEIU’s agenda (for starters, they want to unionize all caregivers in the State of Washington). When you are asked about I-1163, or have to the chance to talk with friends, neighbors and your clients’ families, here are some of the points you can make:

1. I-1163 is a power grab no different than I-1029. If it were to pass, it would require redundant, expensive and pointless training – paid by taxpayers for SEIU members, but by long-term-care providers who have no input into the training curriculum that directly impacts their workers.

2. The cost of increased training hours for your caregivers will not improve the quality of care you provide your residents – but it will come out of your pocket.

3. Once again, I-1163 is an unfunded mandate expected to cost taxpayers more than $50 million in the next two years, but offers voters no way to pay for it.

4. I-1163 requires mandatory background checks for caregivers. However, mandatory background checks are already required. This initiative duplicates and increases the expense to taxpayers.

5. WSRCC demands training conducted by qualified educators and medical professionals, preferably in accredited institutions such as community colleges, trade schools, medical and long-term-care facilities. SEIU’s training program is conducted by inexperienced, unqualified union activists in union conference rooms.

SEIU is paying signature gatherers, who are attempting to get initiative signatures by claiming that I-1163 will improve the quality of care for adult family home residents. This is a lie, pure and simple.

The object of I-1163, just as it was with I-1029, is simply to swell the membership rolls (and therefore the coffers) of SEIU 775, at the expense of taxpayers who have no idea what they’re really doing when they sign an initiative signature sheet.

WSRCC’s political and public affairs team is going to continue to fight against SEIU’s initiatives, and educate the voting public to NOT sign I-1163. We want taxpayer dollars spent on direct services to vulnerable adults and to long term care. We do not want precious tax resources wasted on union-building activities masquerading as something it is not.

Join with us to educate your friends, families and colleagues: do NOT sign I-1163.

Assisted living in Vancouver WA could actually increase your independence

People often associate the move to assisted living in Vancouver WA with giving up independence. Our relationships with seniors have taught us time and again that this is absolutely not the case. Choosing the right Vancouver WA assisted living facility means understanding your needs and analyzing the opportunities each assisted living facility may offer.

Assisted living often increases independence because the facility offers transportation as part of their services. For many people giving up their drivers license is equal to losing their independence. When we help families investigate assisted living options we talk with you about these very subtle needs in addition to the more obvious needs that may come up in the future.

Many of our clients are very independent, even still driving, but want the security of knowing assistance is nearby if they do need it.

Another benefit of joining an assisted living community is the chance to connect with peers. Increasing social interaction helps to maintain a sense of independence because we realize others have similar challenges and have found answers that they are willing to share.

In our last blog post we provided some of the basic points one might consider when looking into the possibility of moving into assisted living in Vancouver WA. However, each client we work with brings their own questions and considerations to the relationship. If you have questions about assisted living that we don’t answer on our website or in our blog please contact us! It is through our clients and their friends and families that we learn how to best serve the seniors in our community!

Assisted living in Vancouver WA – how to start your search

The nature of support we offer to families looking for assisted living in Vancouver WA has, by it’s nature, made it so that people in our community know they can turn to us for senior housing and related resources. Assisted living in Vancouver WA is a phrase often used to search for other types of solutions such as Memory Care, Senior Housing and Adult Family Homes. We feel it is important to remind our visitors that “assisted living in Vancouver WA” is a phrase that may not actually bring the right resources to the forefront.

Often this search is made during a highly emotional time. We would encourage you to start your assisted living search by leveraging a free service like we offer here at A Caring Heart. We can help you process your needs and determine the correct assisted living in Vancouver WA solution base on your unique needs. It is possible that an assisted living facility, in it’s truest definition, is not going to meet the needs of your loved one.

Some points you will want to consider in your assisted living search are:

What assistance with daily activities does your loved one need?
What assistance is needed with walking?
Is incontinence a concern?
How are they mentally?
What is their body size?
What is their financial situation?

Our online questionaire may help with your analysis.

Assisted living providers may want to consider chocolate on the menu!

A popular website for people involved in assisted living and care giving is called Care 2 Make a Difference (http://care2.com) where you can find some great information. In their “Green Living” section we ran across a great article titled “Chocoate Good for the Heart?”.

Researchers from the UK and Colombia say their meta-analysis of seven studies focused on chocolate and a reduction in heart disease shows eating small amounts of chocolate could reduce the risk of heart disease by 37%, and the risk of stroke by 29%. “Although overconsumption can have harmful effects, the existing studies generally agree on a potential beneficial association of chocolate consumption with a lower risk of cardiometabolic disorders. Our findings confirm this, and we found that higher levels of chocolate consumption might be associated with a one-third reduction in the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.”

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/chocolate-good-for-heart.html#ixzz1XUo7r5vx