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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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Senior Services In Clark County, WA Are A High Priority
Senior services in Clark County, WA are important now and will become more important within the next ten years. It is understandable that Clark County and Southwest Washington continue to be concerned about the future of senior services in the Clark County, WA area. After all, by 2025 a quarter of Clark County’s population is projected to be 60 and older. Recently, a forum focused on senior services in Clark County was held in Vancouver, WA. The forum, organized by local agencies on aging and senior lobby groups, consisted of thirteen legislative candidates who answered questions posed by the moderator, a Washington State University – Vancouver assistant professor of political science. Those questions included topics such as the preservation of the state’s AARP ranking of its long term care program as “the second best at a low cost among 30 states.” Washington’s long term care program has been used as a model by other states developing their programs. According to […]
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Aging, Longevity And Long Term Care Knowledge
Learning about aging, longevity, and long term care may make all the difference in your life or the life of a loved one. Remaining as independent as possible, whether residing at home, in the home of family, or in an assisted living setting, is something we all want. There are various ways to help. This week there are two events in the Vancouver, WA/Portland, OR area. One is a conference that features a nationally recognized expert on aging and longevity, the other is training for persons who are interested in volunteering to help improve the quality of life and ensure the rights of the elderly and disabled living in long term care homes. Oregon Health and Science University is holding its second annual Healthy Aging Conference Wednesday, October 10, at the Portland Art Museum from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Dr. Walter Bortz II, a clinical professor of medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, will present the keynote address at […]
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Red Flags To Benefit Senior Adults
All too often we hear stories of how seniors are taken advantage of by people who prey on the vulnerable. Usually the stories end in financial devastation for the vulnerable senior, but sometimes a story ends in physical injury or death. And always the stories end in emotional devastation in one way or another. Of course, not all seniors are vulnerable, but, according to a 2010 survey by the Investment Protection Trust, more than 7 million older Americans have been victimized by a financial swindle. That was one out of every five people over the age of 65 years old. The survey found that the top three financial exploitations were theft or diversion of funds or property by family members, followed by caregivers, then followed by scams by strangers. The good news is that regulators, physicians, nurses, and law enforcement officials across the country are being trained to identify financial fraud and abuse. According to the article by Michelle Singletary, […]
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More Senior Housing Options Coming To The Vancouver, WA Area
We are fortunate to have a variety of senior housing options available in the Vancouver and Clark County Washington area. Those options include adult family homes, assisted living, independent living, retirement communities, memory care and Parkinson’s units, among others. Amenities and services at each differ. And many of these options have been combined for easy transitioning to a higher level of care if needed. But, currently these resources have a 90 percent occupancy rate. And, with Vancouver being a popular spot to retire and the population aging, it means we will soon need more senior housing which is just what is in the plans. There are over 187 units of assisted living, memory care and independent living apartments underway. Some will have pet-friendly parks and, just to name a few of the various amenities and services, others will have exercise rooms, gardening programs, and nursing services. There is recent news that on October 4, one of the senior living complex […]
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Help Prevent Elder Abuse In Assisted Living Or Any Other Setting
You, your loved one, or an acquaintance may be residing alone or in an assisted living setting, but the setting doesn’t matter. The risk for abuse may be present. That abuse may be physical, mental or financial. There are resources available to prevent elder abuse. The Clark County Vulnerable Adult Task Force, a non-profit group, has expanded to represent the counties of Clark, Klickitat, Cowlitz, Skamania, and Wahkiakum. Along with the expansion, their name has been changed to Southwest Washington Elder Abuse Prevention Coalition, or SWEAP. A board member stated, “The idea is to sweep out elder abuse.” The task force’s goal is to combat physical, mental and financial abuse of vulnerable adults. According to The Columbian article, the task force was instrumental in establishing the Clark County Elder Justice Center, “which identifies and prosecutes cases of elder abuse.” “It’s mission is focused on prevention, education, and support of abuse victims.” For those of you who are interested, the coalition […]
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Senior Living Options Include Assisted Living
Senior living options include assisted living in Vancouver WA and Clark County. The Columbian newspaper recently published a Special Edition insert filled with tips for the “Fifty Plus” population. One of the topics was assisted living senior living options. This section of the insert included tips for choosing a nursing home, a home health care agency, elder care alternatives, and a Clark County Senior Housing Guide with many ads for various senior living options and aging resources. All great resources and tips. But honestly, even when you have time to explore all the various options, it can be overwhelming. Options in assisted living in Vancouver WA and Clark County are plentiful. And, without expertise in the field, you have to be on your toes to be sure you are choosing the right services and setting for you or your loved one. We know. And that’s why we are here. Give us a call or contact us via email. We are […]
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Meditation And Assisted Living May Help Ease Loneliness In Seniors
There are numerous reasons why someone might feel assisted living in Vancouver WA would be the right choice. Sometimes the decision to choose assisted living or some other senior housing setting may be due to memory issues or health issues. Sometimes the decision may be due to loneliness. Or perhaps you just want to “downsize” and let the burdens of managing a home fall on someone else so you can take advantage of activities you still enjoy. If your reason for considering some sort of assisted living in Vancouver WA or assisted living in Clark County is due to loneliness, there may be a different solution to try first. Turns out learning to meditate might help ease feelings of loneliness among seniors according to University of California, Los Angeles and Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University researchers. The participants were mostly women between the ages of 55 and 85. They enrolled in an eight-week program of “mindfulness-based stress reduction.” Randomly selected, some […]
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Discover what your loved one in assisted living, memory care or caregiving maybe experiencing
Just to keep you up to date on local events, we’d like to mention an opportunity for you to see first hand what loved ones might be experiencing if they are suffering from dementia. The Highgate Senior Living in Hazel Dell’s Senior Helpers and Support & Caregivers Resources for Dementia are hosting a Virtual Dementia Tour on September 8th, 2012. Beginning at 2 p.m., the virtual tour will simulate the challenges people with dementia or Alzheimer’s face daily. The event will take place at the Vancouver Hilton (301 W. Sixth Street). To reserve a space, you will need to call the Highgate Senior Living at 360-571-7272 or email Vancouver@highgateseniorliving.com. Understanding what your loved ones may be experiencing in their daily struggles with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease allows you to better understand how to provide or arrange the best caregiving, or arranging alternate senior housing options like a memory care or Alzheimer’s care unit or other assisted living in Vancouver WA. […]
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Assisted Living Choices Appealing
As far as assisted living in Vancouver WA and Clark County, we are lucky to have such a variety of resources. Those resources also include senior housing options like adult family homes, retirement communities, and skilled nursing facilities. Retirement and assisted living communities can usually be found in quiet residential areas and have many amenities for those who enjoy assorted activities. It’s common to see state of the art safety and emergency communication systems, too. In fact, of the various communities and facilities, there are appealing aspects to each. Recently it was reported that one of our post acute rehabilitation facilities was awarded a five-star rating by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Fort Vancouver Convalescent Center earned the excellent rating based meeting specific criteria in the areas of staffing, health inspections and quality care. We offer a “congratulations” to them! It’s nice to know that Clark County has a lot to offer when it comes to the […]
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Caring For Aging Skin 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 bruises take longer to heal. The years of tanning or being out in the sun […]
Short Term Options 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 need a short term stay. At some senior communities they offer flexible, temporary and customized […]