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Moving To Assisted Living
As you go through the house you are leaving, here are some tips to help your senior loved one pack, sort and and get rid of things. The first thing to keep in mind is to start with rooms or areas that aren’t used as much, or that don’t contain many meaningful items. This could be storage areas, the basement, laundry room, spare room, etc. These are rooms with things in them that have less sentimental attachment, so it can be a less stressful place to begin your packing and sorting. Next you should decide where your things are going to go: family, friends, charity, consignment, recycle, etc. You’re going to sort things into piles according to where they are going. As you sort through things, here are some questions to ask yourself about each item: When was the last time it was used? How often do I use it? Do I own something else that can be used for the […]
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Helping A Loved One Move
When you’re working with a senior loved one on a move into an assisted living home, consider the following tips for making that move a little easier. First, you may want to take pictures of the home they are moving from, before you start rearranging things. This will give your senior a way to remember their home as it was. This can also help you recreate the feeling of the former home in the new home, which can be very helpful with the adjustment process. When preparing for the move, keep the layout of the new home in mind, you may even want to have pictures of the new space, too. Knowing how much space and how many rooms are in the new home will help you decide what to take, and what will not be moved. If at all possible, allow enough time to plan the move, so that your loved one doesn’t feel rushed. Remember that sorting through all […]
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Visiting Assisted Living Homes, Part 2
An important thing to keep in mind if you’re visiting assisted living facilities for a family member is that your likes and dislikes may be very different from those of your loved one. A good strategy is for you to tour all your best prospective homes, and then have your loved one tour one or two that you have chosen as the best ones. When you tour the apartments themselves, some things to look for: What kind of closet and storage space is available? In the bathroom, is there a walk-in shower or tub? Are there emergency cords and systems in place? Is the kitchenette suitable for preparing meals if the need occurs? Can the stove or burners be disabled if necessary? How and where are medications administered? If a pet is part of the family, are there doors to the outside available? Is pet care part of the assisted living services? Another thing to keep in mind is that […]
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Visiting Assisted Living Homes
In your search for the right assisted living facility, of course you will be visiting your top prospects in person to get a feel for the whether the place will meet your needs or the needs of your loved one. To help you determine if a home is a good fit for your loved one who needs some assistance in order to maintain their level of independence, you will need to see the place, meet some of the people who live and work there, and ask some questions. To help you get started here are some suggestions to guide you through a visit. As you approach the assisted living home Is the entrance on a low-traffic street? How does the exterior appear, fresh paint, nicely kept landscaping, clean sidewalks, etc. Do the doors open and close easily? When you enter the lobby Does the lobby have an inviting atmosphere? Are there residents engaged in activity or sitting or sleeping in […]
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Free Help to Find Assisted Living in Vancouver WA
When you or a loved one is moving into an assisted living facility, it is so important to do your homework ahead of time. Because there are so many choices, you must get familiar with all of the variables involved. You will need to understand your budget constraints, as well as the locations available, the levels of care offered, and the differences between large and small facilities. You also need to know the reasons assisted living placements sometimes don’t work out. Of course, sometimes a placement doesn’t work out.There are several reasons a resident may decide a home is not right for them. Here are some of the most common reasons people change facilities. Fees are unclear Health care needs change – Some facilities offer all levels of care, some do not Personality conflict with a caregiver or another resident Language barrier of some kind Type of food served – Even though the quality may be good, a resident may not be […]
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Meet New People With Senior Services Clark County WA
We all know that making and keeping social connections is one of the essential components of maintaining your quality of life. There is also research that shows that certain kinds of relationships, such as friendships and family connections can increase longevity. A Caring Heart Senior Services Clark County, WA wants to highlight a terrific resource for meeting new people and opportunities to share your interests with other like-minded people. There is a website called Meetup.com. No, it’s not a dating website, it’s designed to help people make local connections with others who share the same interests. By using Meetup.com you will meet new people to share with, learn from and teach. You will find opportunities to become more involved in your community. And you will make new friends and enjoy yourself. The Meetup website provides information on thousands of groups that focus on one particular topic. You will be able to find a group that fits your interests! Each local […]
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Senior Services Vancouver, WA: Tips For Walking
If you are like many people, you have a New Year’s Resolution to get more exercise in 2014. One of the best ways to accomplish this goal is to start a regular walking routine. We found some tips to help you keep this commitment to yourself and your health. The first thing to know is that research shows that seniors who track their progress have a much better chance of staying on course with their goal of becoming more fit. That, paired with the encouragement of a companion can work wonders to keep a senior on the road to increased good health. Walking is a great way for seniors to get the exercise they need to stay healthy. It has been shown to lower one’s body mass index, lower cholesterol counts, and decrease blood pressure. While everyone is familiar with the benefits of regular exercise, we have two tips for you that will make it more likely that you will […]
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Senior Services Clark Vancouver, WA and Community Involvement
Building your community, whether it is the community within your living facility or the wider community we are talking about, is a win-win situation. The community you support, supports you. Participating and contributing to your community will be rewarding, challenging and invigorating. Here are some suggestions about how you can help. Participate in your local government on whatever level you feel comfortable. Your experience and skills are needed in your community. Manage a food drive. You can help supply your local food pantry or provide food and supplies for distant communities in need. Either way you are providing a huge service to the many people around the world who experience hunger every day. Organize a community garden. It’s a great way to create a feeling of belonging and neighborhood connection. Planting, watering and nurturing a community garden is a sure way to foster community togetherness. Consider volunteering at a school, hospital, senior center or animal shelter. You can make a […]
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Senior Advisors Vancouver, WA Assist Families
When you are caring for an elderly parent there is often the complication of disagreement between family members about how things should be handled. It is very common for the adult children of older parents to hold differing opinions about how their care should be managed. These conflicts can be constructive if they lead to more effective communication between family members, or they lead to a more unified purpose, or increase the collaboration among family members. These things can come about if people can move from talking about what they want to why they want it. If everyone can begin to discuss what their motivation is, the conversation is more likely to move toward a satisfying solution. The first step to take in resolving a conflict is to clarify everyone’s position. This includes spelling out not only what they want, but also why they want it. Then you need to discuss everyone’s positions, opinions, and interests thoroughly. Do this with […]
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Senior Advisors Vancouver, WA Help With Assisted Living Selection
After you have made the big decision to move to assisted living, you will face the task of choosing which facility is the right one for you. A big consideration will be the location of the home. It’s so important that you select a location that you will be happy with over time. A Caring Heart Senior Advisors Vancouver, WA is here to help with this big decision. Think about what it’s most important to you to have nearby. You may want to live somewhere new and enjoy exciting new things to see and do. Perhaps there’s somewhere you’ve always wanted to go, a climate that seems more inviting. However, most seniors prefer to stay in the area where they currently live. The vast majority of seniors want to have family and friends close by, and to live in a familiar area. They want to stay as close to “home” as possible, and be able to keep going 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 […]