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Caring for an Aging Family Member? You Need a Vacation Too.

Tremendous responsibilities fall on the shoulders of family caregivers. Caring for an elderly parent or family member can be emotionally and physically draining. And for primary caregivers, it is often a 24/7, 365-day-a-year job. Taking any kind of break – let alone a planned vacation – seems impossible. Then when you begin to think about all the planning and preparation that is involved, you wonder if it’s even worth doing. The thought of taking time off from your caregiving duties also brings much worry. What if Mom falls? What if she forgets to take her medication? What if she needs...

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Preventing Your Aging Parent from Becoming Lonely

Do you have a lonely parent who is struggling with feelings of isolation or depression? Are you having a hard time getting them to leave the house and enjoy social activities, especially during this festive season? With age comes an increased risk of loneliness and social isolation. This can be problematic for seniors because loneliness can often result in depression and ultimately additional health problems. There are several factors that may be keeping your parent secluded and feeling down: They are no longer able to drive, and they must rely on others to take them where they need or want...

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How to Recognize When Your Aging Parent Needs Help

How do you know when your elderly parent needs help? Most likely, your mom or dad won’t be the one to admit they need assistance. And sometimes they may even try to hide the fact that they need additional care. We’ve put together some helpful tips to help you recognize the signs that your aging parent needs help, as well as recommendations on what you can do next. So, as you’re visiting with loved ones this holiday season, keep the following in mind: Their once tidy home is now being neglected. Does your parent seem to be having difficulty doing...

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Effectively Communicate With a Person Who Has Dementia

Caring for a loved one with dementia in Olympia poses many challenges for families and caregivers. Dementia, caused from conditions such as Alzheimer’s and related diseases, is a progressive biological brain disorder that makes it more and more difficult for those suffering from it to remember things, think clearly, communicate with others, and take care of themselves. In addition, dementia can cause mood swings and even change a person’s personality and behavior, often making communication difficult for those caring for a person with dementia. We aren’t born knowing how to communicate with a person with dementia, but we can learn. Improving your communication...

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Learn About the VA Benefit that Covers Home Care Services

There are just under 3 million World War II and Korean War veterans remaining in the U.S., and they are aging quickly. Many members of the “Greatest Generation” who are dealing with the challenges of advancing age need care and assistance with activities of daily living. Home care can be an ideal solution to help older veterans living in Olympia receive exceptional care and maintain the quality of life they deserve. Home care services assist veterans in a variety of ways: professional companion care, such as conversation and company; household duties like cooking, cleaning and laundry; and non-medical personal care,...

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New Caregiver for Your Aging Parent? Here Are Six Tips

Maybe you've been thrust into the role of caregiver abruptly. Your aging loved one has suffered a sudden illness and he or she now obviously needs a lot of help. More likely it's been a gradual process with few clear dividing lines defining when you really become a caregiver.  What began as providing a little extra help has, over time, become a greater responsibility – both in time and caregiving activities.  So when is it time to start taking more control over your aging parents' life, and to start taking control away? And how will your new responsibilities caring for...

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The Benefits of Respite Care for Full-Time Caregivers

It can happen slowly or in a matter of moments.  Whether it’s for an aging parent or recovering sibling, your responsibilities in life can shift from those of a full-time employee to an unpaid caregiver. The National Alliance for Caregiving estimates 29 percent of Americans provide some sort of care to ill, disabled or aging family members or friends. Sometimes that means moving your loved one into your home. Sometimes it means daily trips to their home to provide care. Whichever it is, we also understand that you may not feel comfortable signing away complete caregiving responsibilities to a professional caretaker...

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A Guide to Having Uncomfortable Discussions with Aging Parents

Have you noticed lately that your aging parent may need more help? Perhaps you’ve seen expired food in their refrigerator? Or a mysterious new dent in the front of their car? Or perhaps they’ve started missing doses of their medication? Having difficult discussions with an aging parent can be tough, especially if your parent is having trouble accepting the fact that they may need assistance from an Olympia caregiver. You want to make sure they stay safe and healthy, but they may not see it that way. Having difficult discussions with an aging parent can be easier if you know...

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How Does Respite Care Help Family Caregivers?

As a family caregiver, you must take care of yourself too. Caring for a loved one can be very fulfilling. Family members often step in as caregivers to help an elderly parent or grandparent, chronically ill family member or loved one with a disability because they are loving and compassionate, and because they would do anything to ensure that person has the best quality of life possible. However, caregiving is often a full-time job that can impact the health and well-being, job performance and overall life balance of the caregiver. Suddenly, as the volunteer family caregiver, you find yourself putting...

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Washington Ranked #1 in US for Long-Term Services and Support

Washington state is top-ranked, but all states lag in caring for the aging and those living with disabilities Washington state ranks 1st in the nation when it comes to meeting the long-term care needs of older residents and people with disabilities, according to a scorecard recently released by AARP. However, the report, Picking Up The Pace of Change: A State Scorecard on Long-Term Services and Supports for Older Adults, People with Physical Disabilities, and Family Caregivers, shows that although most states have made some progress, the pace of change overall remains too slow and has not kept up with demographic...

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