home care

The need for care

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In this country, 10,000 people turn 65 every day. The need for care increases every single day. We are faced with a significant amount of need for care in our families’ futures.

In this country, 10,000 people turn 65 every day. The need for care increases every single day. We are faced with a significant amount of need for care in our families’ futures. I’ve been trying to wrap my head around how we will manage. As a member of the “sandwich” generation, I am looking towards a future where I will have to find the resources to not only care for my children but for my parents at the same time. Being a part of a “sandwich generation” doesn’t mean that this is the only generation that has had to care for both their elders and their children. For the last couple of decades, most families in the US have both parents working away from the home so there is no one to care for our elders at home. Thankfully, I am a nurse and the Director of the Home Care Services team at Mary’s Woods so I have a small chance of finding a way to make it work for my family. I am concerned about the other parents and children who will be blindsided by the fact that their parents will need care before they are done raising their kids. How will they pay for it? What if they too are caregivers in their occupations? Are they making the cost of living that would support this scenario? In most states and in most caregiver roles, the answers are bleak.

There is some hope. We are starting to see our future and the challenges ahead. Change is hopefully on the horizon thanks to advocates such as Ai-Jen Poo, author of The Age of Dignity and co-founder of Caring Across Generations https://caringacross.org/. Ai-Jen is finding new ways to help our elders and disabled age with dignity. She is featured in the ‘Care’ Documentary that was released earlier this year. This documentary reveals the care options for families, elders and caregivers in our current situation and what options we have as we approach a “care crisis”.

Other initiatives such as standardized caregiver training programs are also being developed and tested as I write. These types of programs help caregivers get the tools they need to provide excellent care and validate caregiving as an honorable and crucial profession. This last year in Oregon, many in-home care agencies partnered with Clackamas Community College to develop a comprehensive caregiver training program which piloted in July 2017 and is currently being offered through Clackamas Community College.

Educating and being engaged is the only way these challenges will be remedied. To get involved and make a difference here are some websites that you can visit:

https://caringacross.or/
http://www.leadingageoregon.org/
http://caredocumentary.com/
http://www.clackamas.edu/

Article Provided by: Megan Thompson
Mary’s Woods In- Home Care
503-697-6434
www.Homecare.MarysWoods.org

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What is a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC)?

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Within a few months of touring various communities, having endless discussions with family members, we decided a CCRC suited their wants and needs best.

Before I fell in love with the senior living industry, and decided to make it my career, I was simply a granddaughter trying to find the best community for my beloved grandparents. I had no knowledge about senior communities, as I had never needed to know about them. Then, dementia and medical issues plagued my grandparents, and my family was at a loss about how best we could help take care of them. Thus, began my search. I found everywhere I went there were various acronyms and terms. Month to Month communities, CCRC’s, IL, AL, SNF’s and Memory Care, what did it all mean? I became educated quite quickly, and within a few months of touring various communities, having endless discussions with members of my family and grandparents, we decided a CCRC suited their wants and needs best.

I found CCRC stands for Continuing Care Retirement Community. What they offer are various levels of care contained on one campus. The goal is to offer their residents the ability to what many of us refer to as “aging in place” in order to accommodate their changing needs. The types and levels of care at each CCRC will differ. While they will all offer Assisted Living, CCRC’s may also offer Independent Living, Memory Care, or a Skilled Nursing Facility.

CCRC’s will also have what are called Entrance Fees or a Buy-In Fees. This is a large lump sum that is determined by the community, based on the type of financial program they offer. There are 3 different options of Entrance/Buy-In Fees.

1. Life Care – This tends to be the most expensive, as you are normally guaranteed unlimited Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing care as long as you live within the community.

2. Modified – Your fee will cover all Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing care for a set period of time.

3. Fee-For-Service – You pay for Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing care as you need it.

Another difference between CCRC’s and their Entrance or Buy-In Fee programs, is the refund of that fee once you or your loved one are no longer living in that community. This can be a big factor in the decision making process. Some CCRC’s will refund 100% of the fee within a certain timeframe after moving out. Others will refund a portion, while some will refund none at all.

Researching the vast options available for senior living can seem incredibly daunting and overwhelming at times. However, after the tours have been done, and all of your questions have been answered; when you find that perfect community, it will all have been worth it.

Article Provided by:
Molly Cole,
Chateau Retirement Communities
425-488-2400
www.ChateauRetirement.com

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Oregon Eldercare Support Foundation

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Oregon Eldercare Support Foundation (OESF), formerly Oregon Health Care Foundation, is a nonprofit, charitable organization established in 2000.

Oregon Eldercare Support Foundation (OESF), formerly Oregon Health Care Foundation, is a nonprofit, charitable organization established in 2000. The mission of OESF is: to provide educational opportunities for current & future employees working in long term care communities; to offer programs that enrich the lives of seniors, and to enhance the public understanding and appreciation of the long term care profession.

Scholarship Program

OESF Scholarship Program is designed to help build careers & provide professional development opportunities for those who work or seek to work in the long term care profession. Scholarships are awarded twice annually in the Spring and Fall.

Each year OESF awards scholarships for general studies, in addition to scholarships for specialized study, these scholarships are often made possible through the named scholarship program.   Organizations donate large sums of money on an annual basis, typically at least $5000, and then award the scholarship based on criteria they have created. Generations, Pinnacle Quality Insight and Margaret Murphy Carley all have created named scholarship programs.

Generally, scholarship awards support professional development through certification, licensure, undergraduate or graduate degree study that will enhance a recipient’s career in long term care.

Learn more about the application process & criteria.

Senior Wish Program

The Senior Wish Program was created to help fulfill the personal life wishes of Oregon’s senior citizens residing in long term care communities, such as retirement, assisted living, residential care, & nursing/rehabilitation communities.

  • Employees & volunteers at long term care communities in Oregon work with local businesses, & community groups to make senior wishes a reality.
  • OESF provides hands on training sessions for long term care professionals on how to successfully implement the Senior Wish Program, distributes an informational How-To Guide about the program, chronicles & promotes Senior Wish initiatives conducted by long term care communities.

An example of a Senior Wish: Win’s Deep Sea Fishing Dreams Come True- Win, an Assisted Living resident had always had a wish to go deep sea fishing in hopes to catch a big fish. One of Win’s favorite hobbies is fishing and he has fished many a river, lake and stream but never in the big blue ocean. Win was joined by Marquis friends and family aboard the Tacklebuster, a 50 ft. charter boat from Tradewinds Charters in Depoe Bay. Win says, “Words can’t explain how great the fishing trip was, it was marvelous. The best day of my life”.

Read more about wishes that came true.

Help Support OESF Programs

OESF is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) charitable organization that accepts contributions to help fund the Senior Wish Program and scholarships statewide. They accept many forms of donations, including but not limited to; monetary donations, in-kind gifts, matching gifts, planned gifts, named scholarship opportunities, & many other options. The majority of donations go directly to the foundation, with little funds spent on administrative support. The OESF board of directors volunteers their time & dedication to support the mission.  Learn more about ways you can contribute.

Article provided by:
Oregon Eldercare Support Foundation
503-210-4053

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