Year: 2020

The Emotional & Physical Toll of Worry

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Worrying takes an emotional and physical toll and can lead to serious medical issues. Unfortunately, just telling ourselves to chill out doesn’t stop the worry. And, when a loved one is aging and needs more help than they’re willing to accept, there is a real cause for concern.

Fortunately, you can increase your peace of mind. First, there are ways to be reassured that your loved one is safe, even when you’re not with them. Are they willing to wear a medical alert device? If so, there are many to choose from, and some include fall detection that allows the medical alert company to be notified in the event of a fall, even if the wearer doesn’t push a Help button.

If your loved one is resistant to a medical alert device, perhaps they will allow a daily check-in phone call. LollyCall makes an automated check-in phone call one or more times a day. This requires only a telephone and your loved one doesn’t have to wear a pendant or bracelet.

Still a no go? Many older people have systems with their neighbors that involve raising window blinds. If the blinds are up, the neighbor knows your loved one is okay. You can ask the neighbor to notify you if the blinds are not up. Or, if your loved one has a computer or an iPad, you can play games such as Words With Friends. If they stop playing the game, then you know to check on them.

It’s also important for you to get help. There are many services that can help you, and the book you are holding in your hands (or the web site you are browsing) is an amazing compilation of resources. Some examples? Meals on Wheels will deliver nutritious food to your loved one and notify you if they notice anything is astray. Store to Door is a service in Multnomah County that calls homebound seniors to get their grocery orders and then delivers the groceries the following day. There are senior loneliness lines that your loved one can call if they want someone to talk to, and there is a new service in Washington County, run by peer volunteers, who will call your loved one once a week to chat.

Finally, consider the Serenity Prayer: grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. I wanted my aging parents to accept the things I thought they should do, have the courage to do what I told them, and the wisdom to know that I was right. But the more I fought the reality of who they were and how they were choosing to live their lives, the harder things were. Ultimately, peace of mind is a delicate balance between your loved ones accepting your help and you accept that they are who they are and nothing will ever be perfect.

Article Provided by:
LollyCall
503-334-3596
www.LollyCall.com

Recession and Dementia: Reasons to Plan

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Financial Insecurity

As of December 2019, market volatility is rocking the world and it appears that this may be the norm going into 2020 and many experts fear a recession is imminent. Whether a family member is already in long term care (LTC) or merely concerned LTC is on the horizon, a recession can severely impact financial resources and a family’s ability to pay for help. Planning for LTC now can protect families and their precious assets regardless of the financial weather.

Two Available Benefits

1. Military veterans may be entitled to Aid and Attendance which can provide over $2,000.00 a month of additional income to help pay for LTC.

2. For all others, Medicaid may be available to pay for LTC.

Medicaid Rumors

There are many rumors about Oregon Medicaid. While some are seeded in fact, they rarely tell the whole story. For example, while a Medicaid recipient may not have more than $2,000.00 in available resources, with proper planning their healthy spouse can keep significantly more. Also, did you know that even if you have more income than Medicaid’s maximum you may still be able to qualify? And, your home is an exempt asset if you or your spouse continue to live in the home.

Plan Now!

Whether you are in care now or care is still years down the road, the time to plan is now. Only an elder law attorney can assist families when planning for LTC. And whether a serious medical condition exists or not, those that seek help right away are significantly better off than those that do nothing.

Planning for LTC takes many forms. However, the goal is always the same, to receive the best care possible without jeopardizing our loved ones. Such plans will include documents you may think you already have like a power of attorney or a trust. However, these documents can be deceptive. Estate plans that are not prepared by an elder law attorney, are likely inadequate to protect a family. Unfortunately, many families that find themselves rocked by healthcare costs are unable to prevent impoverishment because their estate planning documents are insufficient.

Planning for the Unknown

Although market gyrations will continue, families that have a plan in place are less likely to be affected by a market downturn and will have greater peace of mind regardless of the financial weather.

Article Provided by:
Michael J. Rose, Attorney Rose Elder Law, LLC
971-865-3171
www.RoseElderLaw.org

Providence Health and Services Offers SPEAK OUT!® & The LOUD Crowd® for Parkinson’s Disease

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Is Parkinson’s Disease affecting you or your loved one’s ability to speak clearly? Providence Health and Services is pleased to offer a two-part speech therapy program to help individuals with Parkinson’s regain and maintain effective communication: SPEAK OUT!® followed by The LOUD Crowd®.

This program is offered at various Providence locations throughout the Portland metro region as well as at Providence Medford in the southern part of the state. SPEAK OUT!® places emphasis on speaking with intent and converting speech from an automatic function to an intentional act. Together, patients and their speech-language pathologists work through a series of speech, voice, and cognitive exercises outlined in a SPEAK OUT!® Workbook.

Upon completion of SPEAK OUT!®, patients transition to The LOUD Crowd®. This maintenance program consists of weekly group sessions led by a speech-language pathologist. The SPEAK OUT!®exercises are performed, and group members provide support, encouragement, and accountability to one another.

Participation in The LOUD Crowd®, along with the daily home practice, has been shown to help patients maintain their communication skills throughout the progression of Parkinson’s. For more information about SPEAK OUT!® and The LOUD Crowd® contact Karen Smith, Speech- Language Pathologist at 503-215-1576. To schedule a speech evaluation, please speak with your physician to obtain a referral.

Article Provided by:
Providence NE Rehab
503-215-1576
Oregon.Providence.org

Imagine the Right Caregiver

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For most Seniors, remaining independent in their own home on their terms is at the top of the list. However, the crippling effects of aging rob seniors of their desire to complete their life’s story with dignity and quality of life. The good news is that seniors can live their best life possible to the very end at home.

At some point, it will be necessary to acquire assistance from a caregiver. Bringing a caregiver into your home can be a big transition. That is why it is imperative to consider the following when choosing the right caregiver for your unique needs.

To start, we highly recommend utilizing an In-Home Care Agency when selecting your personal caregiver. In-Home Care Agencies are required to be licensed and accountable to the state. Agency Caregivers are employees, not independent contractors.

An Agency’s Responsibilities Include:

–Hiring/Firing/Training

–Paying Social Security Tax

– Paying Medicare Tax

– Raying Pay Roll Tax

– Workers compensation

– Liability Insurance

– Background Checks

– Reference Checks

– Shift Scheduling

– Vacation Schedules

– Scheduling Shift Call-Offs

Caregiver Qualities Matter

Caregiving is the most intimate job in the world, so insist on making sure your caregiver is a match to your specific needs. A caregiver’s training and skills are only half the equation. The other half are the qualities of that caregiver.

These baseline qualities of an agency caregiver include:

– Relationship oriented and flexible to your needs.

– An agency caregiver should respect all boundaries and be socially sensitive to you and your family.

– Finally, a good caregiver is compassionate and motivated to adapt to your daily routines and always curious about you and your life story.

Choose an agency whose company culture promotes placing a caregiver in your home that is a match to your care and personal needs.

Imagine how it will feel with the RIGHT caregiver!

Article Provided by:
ComForCare Home Care
503-636-0417
www.ComForCare.com/OR/WestLinn

Spreading Light

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“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” – Edith Wharton

I have been fortunate to receive praise at times simply for the proximity of excellence. I did not always directly accomplish myself but was part of a group. I try very hard to surround myself with people that are focused, motivated, and kind. It is much easier to be a mirror for that behavior. Of all the things that are in my “job description,” I feel the most important is being the mirror to my team, so they shine.

Happiness

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“If you want to find happiness, find gratitude.”
– Steve Maraboli

We will never ever be happy if we focus on what we want and do not have. We can always find something to be grateful for. This does not mean we are not hurt when someone goes on hospice or fights disease. However, we can choose to be grateful for the opportunity to tell them how much we love and appreciate them before it is too late. Not everyone gets that chance, and we can learn how much more we can manage beyond what we previously believed.