Janice Sherman of East Portland Named Home Instead 2012 Regional CAREGiver of the Year

Blog Post by Preston and Aimee Roth, Owners of Home Instead Senior Care in East Portland and Clackamas County

Janice Sherman - 2012 Home Instead Pacific Region CAREGiver of the YearIt was in the early 1970’s that Janice and her husband came to Portland, OR to settle and raise their children. Harry S. owned a furniture store and after weeks of Janice and her husband searching for someone who would extend credit to a young couple, Harry was the one that finally said “yes.” Little did anyone know that thirty years later they would meet again but this time it would be Janice who would change Harry’s life.

I described what would be her very first assignment, with a tough, stubborn old codger that refused to stay home from the store he owned, refused to accept help, refused to change his habits but was physically failing to provide for his own personal needs. Her role was not an easy one, nor a common one. She would provide for his safety at the store, keep him clean, and keep him away from the customers. At the end of the day she would have to talk him into her car and get him home. She accepted the assignment and when I told her Harry’s name, she said she knew him!

She was amazing. She is always amazing. She has been called a “miracle worker” by the families of all of the “challenging” Clients that she has met during her almost ten-year tenure with us. But the story about Harry doesn’t end there.

Harry’s sons, except for one, had taken over the furniture store. Jonathan, the youngest, and Harry had had a serious falling-out and had not spoken in almost twenty years. Harry mentioned Jonathan to Janice one evening shortly after Harry was diagnosed with an inoperable cancerous tumor and was given just a few months to live. Janice didn’t pry too much but as the next few weeks passed, she asked a few questions and learned a little more. She started working her magic and gave Harry some ideas. She gave Harry some reasons to mend the wound, cross the bridge, take that first step. One day, she arrived at the store and Harry said, “Take me home. We are going to call Jonathan.”

Within a week, Jonathan was able to come to see his father. They were able to talk and close the cavernous void between them. They were both able to heal from the hurt and came to know each other as humans, as men and as father and son. Harry was suddenly and finally at peace, more so than he had been in over two decades and maybe more than he had been in his whole life.

Janice knew Harry’s time was at hand. I had the on-call phone that evening when she called to say that she would be calling me again in the middle of the night. Janice knew it. Janice always knows it. Harry’s family had been there that afternoon and Harry did not need them that night. He just needed Janice. She helped him through. She helped him pass away to the next realm, assuring him that he had done everything just perfectly and that everything would be alright. We know Harry was grateful for Janice.

Jonathon was grateful to Janice, too. He made sure she was included like a family member as the family celebrated Harry’s life. His passing was three days before Janice’s birthday. This story happened 9 years ago. Every Dec 8th, without fail, our office gets a call from Jonathan asking if he can have flowers delivered to the office for Janice’s birthday, and we say yes.

I could fill a novel with stories about the miracle that is Janice Sherman. I have worked with her since she walked in the door and I have never been more proud and blessed by such an incredible being in our midst. She has been a coach and mentor to newer or less-experienced CAREGivers. She has been a solid, supportive angel in a room full of family tears. She has celebrated 100th birthdays with a few and held the hand of the passing of many more. She is the perfect combination of kindness, compassion, experience, intuition, humor, sass and stubbornness. You really ought to see her in action. One word… “incredible.”

She is a true ambassador of Home Instead Senior Care every day, in all aspects of her work. She lives “It’s Personal” in her unique way, always being the first to say that she loves her job and that she loves Home Instead Senior Care. Janice is a walking advertisement and a living testimonial. Seriously, she could work anywhere and, believe me, plenty of people have tried to steal her. She is incredibly loyal to Home Instead and always says that she would never leave.

I have met many of the National CAREGiver’s of the Year. I know of what I speak, having been here over twelve years myself. Janice Sherman is a champion CAREGiver, one that we all look up to, admire, respect, cherish and love. She deserves this award and I am proud to nominate her.

Sincerely,
Preston and Aimee Roth

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No Comments by on May 5, 2013
filed in Communication and Relationships, Family Caregivers, The Lighter Side of Aging

Video Tribute to Home Instead CAREGivers – Tissues Required

Blog Post by Mike Brunt, Local Owner, Home Instead Senior Care

mike-brunt-home-instead-oregon-606Something I have learned, as a Home Instead Senior Care franchise owner for 8 years, is how amazing and special our CAREGivers are. This isn’t just a passing impression. It’s a clear fact that is confirmed for me almost every day in this business of caring. It makes me wonder if the caregivers at competing in-home care agencies are just as good. Maybe they are. I just feel blessed to employ and associate with scores of these amazing individuals…quiet heroes who go about their work with humility, devotion, patience, persistence, compassion, and great skill.

My staff and I view our CAREGivers as gifted professionals who fulfill their calling in life by caring for the sick and elderly among us. Home Instead recognized early on that our CAREGivers were and would be different than the rest, so they acquired a service mark on our special spelling of the word “CAREGiver.” So, if you ever see this word spelled this way, you know it’s a reference to a Home Instead CAREGiver.

At Home Instead’s recent annual convention in Omaha, NE, they released the following video as a tribute to our CAREGivers and to acknowledge all they do to enhance our clients’ lives. I can tell you, I was in a great hall of 1,200 people, and when this video had finished playing on the big screens, I didn’t see a dry eye in the house. It is truly inspiring. I hope you will enjoy the video and pass it along to friends who care about and care for seniors.

If you are moved to look into the possibility of becoming a Home Instead CAREGiver, here’s what to do:

East Portland and Clackamas County: Visit www.homeinstead.com/289 or call 503-335-0626.

West Portland and Washington County: Visit www.homeinstead.com/606, click on “Become a CAREGiver,” and take our “Professional Caregiving Survey.” This is the first step in our application process.

Click on image below for video tribute to Home Instead CAREGivers. Tip: keep tissue box close.

if-these-walls-could-talk-s

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No Comments by on May 5, 2013
filed in Alzheimer's and Dementia, Communication and Relationships, Community Service, Employment Opportunities, Family Caregivers, Practical Tips and Resources, The Lighter Side of Aging

Forest Grove Home Instead Client Still Swimming at 104

By Emily Fuggetta, The Oregonian on March 25, 2013

Still swimming at 104: Forest Grove woman credits health, happiness to active life


(Barbara Peck, 104, chats with a fellow swimmer during the water exercise class she takes every Tuesday at the Forest Grove Aquatic Center.
Michal Thompson/Forest Grove Leader)

 

So far, Barbara Peck hasn’t run into anything that can keep her out of a pool, and it’s already been a century.

At 104, Peck has suffered macular degeneration in her eyes, atrophied muscles in her right arm, loss of cartilage in her left knee and a broken hip, but she hasn’t let it get in the way of a lifelong commitment to activity.

Born in Iowa in 1909, Peck grew up playing more roughly than her mother liked.

“She tried very hard to make me more ladylike,” Peck said, but she wouldn’t give up climbing trees and playing in the park — even when she broke a wrist hanging from a seesaw.

When she graduated high school mid-1920s, Peck moved to Corvallis with an older sister to attend Oregon State University, then called the Oregon State Agricultural College. She studied home economics and physical education, took up swimming and joined a synchronized swim team.

“I tried other activities,” said Peck, then 5 feet tall, now 4-foot-10, “but with me being so short, sports like volleyball didn’t really work out.”

Peck was married in the fall of her senior year, and when she graduated, it was expected that she’d be a homemaker rather than working.

“Married women didn’t get jobs then,” she said, so while her husband, Norton, worked, Peck spent time volunteering and raising three children first in Portland then in West Slope, where she helped design the family’s home using architectural skills she learned studying home economics.

While her children were in school, Peck volunteered with the Parent Teacher Association at the state and local levels and led Cub Scout and Girl Scout troops.

“We did a lot of active things — camping, swimming, picking fruit,” said Peck’s daughter Susan Hall of the troop her mother led.

Peck later worked with committees to help preserve the Columbia Gorge and the Pittock Mansion, helped found what is now the Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District, spent time improving the lives of migrant workers, opened her home to exchange students and volunteered for nearly 60 years with the Red Cross.

“I figured if you’re a homemaker, you also take part in making the community a good place for your kids,” Peck said. “It was part of my commitment.”

In her free time, Peck swam, spent time outdoors with her children and picked and canned fruit from an orchard on the family’s property. In her 80s, Peck took up golfing.

Hall said she and her siblings followed their mother’s example of activity and community involvement.

“She definitely inspired us,” Hall said.

In the late 1980s, Peck and her husband founded the Norton and Barbara Peck Family Foundation. Beginning with a handful, the group has grown to more than 40 people who converge from around the globe for annual meetings. With money the family has donated, the foundation’s members decide to which charities within their communities they’ll donate.

“It’s the best thing we ever did,” Peck said.

Peck said her medical problems can be frustrating — “I know others have it much worse, though,” she said — but even when she broke a hip before a recent foundation meeting, Peck was determined to be there.

“It was hard, and it hurt,” Hall said, “but she made the goal. She called that meeting to order.”

Others in Peck’s life say her determination is catching.

“She’s just unstoppable,” said Kurt Neilson, Peck’s care coordinator at the Jennings McCall Center assisted living facility. “For most people, she’s a beacon, a light they look toward.”

Neilson said he catches other residents remarking on Peck’s fortitude.

 


(Home Instead CAREGiver, Bonnie Robbins, accompanies 104-year-old Barbara Peck to the dressing room after her weekly water exercise class at the Forest Grove Aquatic Center. Michal Thompson/Forest Grove Leader)

 

“The elevator will close behind her, and I’ll hear the other residents say, ‘What’s her secret?’” he said. “Determination is her thing. She’s just awesome.”

At the Forest Grove Aquatic Center, where Peck takes swim exercise classes on Tuesday mornings, her fellow swimmers also look up to her.

“Because of her age and spunkiness, other seniors are encouraged,” said Sherri Mead, who teaches the class. “They see what she’s capable of and want to keep going down that road.”

Before each class, Peck relaxes in a heat tub with jets to help soothe her arm and knee. Then in the pool she walks, stretches and twists, altering the exercises to accommodate her injuries.

“It isn’t swimming like I used to do it,” she said, “but I do what I can.”

To Mead, though, Peck does plenty.

“She calls it modified, but I think she does phenomenally,” Mead said. “I’m so inspired by her.”

Sometimes while using the walker she needs because of her hip, Peck will stop and say, “Barbara, stand up straight.”

Friends and family say Peck’s commitment to herself and her health has kept her strong and happy.

“She’s such a little star,” Mead said. “Not everyone can be a Barbara.”

 

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1 Comment by on May 2, 2013
filed in Community Service, Physical Activity and Conditioning, The Lighter Side of Aging

Live Training in May for Alzheimer’s Family Caregivers

NOTE: First session rescheduled. It’s not too late to sign up! Please call 503-530-1527 today.

Blog Post by Jean Blackburn, Referral Relationship Manager, Home Instead Senior Care in Washington Countyjean-head-shot

Last year’s sessions of this training for family caregivers were received so well that we’ve decided to offer more this year. As a reminder, this is the same training content we provide to our professional CAREGivers. However, the training is customized for the circumstances and needs of family caregivers taking care of loved ones with Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementias. For this upcoming training, we are being hosted by Gentog adult day care center. This creates a wonderful opportunity for you to bring the loved one you care for. They will enjoy a light dinner and be watched over with care while you receive the excellent training.

About the Trainer
For those of you who haven’t met me yet, my name is Jean Blackburn. I will be conducting the training again this year. Here’s a little bit more about my background as the trainer:

I am a Certified Senior Advisor and have earned a special certificate from PCC’s Gerontology Department  in “Advanced Behavioral and Cognitive Awareness.” I have been a High School Teacher, VP of operations in a training seminar company, and have worked for Home Instead Senior care for about 3 years. Most importantly, I was a family caregiver for 10 years for my aging mother who had Alzheimer’s disease. It was the personal experience I had with the care of my mother that inspired me to be of service to other seniors and work with like-minded people. I am a dedicated life-long learner who enjoys spending time with her family and friends, with emphasis on my 2-yr.-old Grandson, as well as hiking, exercising, reading, volunteering with “Meals on Wheels,” and trying new things.

To register call 503-530-1527

Click image below for printable PDF flyer

 

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1 Comment by on May 2, 2013
filed in Alzheimer's and Dementia, Community Service, Family Caregivers, Local Events, Practical Tips and Resources

Home Instead’s Brunt Accepts Award for Growing Services in 2012

Blog Post by Jean Blackburn, Referral Relationship Manager, Home Instead Senior Care

Mike and Lynnae receive awards from company founders, Paul and Lori Hogan(Sorry for the blurry iPhone photo. Better photo on the way!)

Each April, franchise owners and key players gather from all around the world to attend Home Instead Senior Care’s International Convention in Omaha, NE. This is an amazing opportunity to learn, associate, and celebrate successes. This year’s lineup of speakers even included the renowned author and business consultant, Jim Collins.

At the convention, Home Instead owner from Washington County, Oregon, Mike Brunt, accepted the Presidential I and Presidential II awards for outstanding service growth in 2012. With him on the big stage was general manager, Lynnae Rhoades. Mike and Lynnae accepted the awards directly from the company’s founders, Paul and Lori Hogan (authors of “Stages of Senior Care“).

“I almost can’t believe how far we have come since I started my Home Instead business in 2005,” said Mike. “It’s also very humbling, because while I do the basic work of developing my organization and offering leadership, Lynnae, the office team, and our wonderful CAREGivers get the real credit for providing such a quality service to our honored clients.”

Mike expresses his sincere gratitude to trusted referring partners in the community who have worked so well with Home Instead over the years. “If we hire and maintain the best CAREGivers and consistently do right by our clients, our reputation will precede us with referrers,” said Mike. “It’s an honor not only to be recognized for business excellence, but also to have the continued opportunity to provide employment to good people and then, together, to help our clients live in the warm glow of a sunset made more beautiful by our thoughtfulness and unfeigned love.”

 

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No Comments by on May 1, 2013
filed in Community Service

Mom Needs to be Evaluated for Dementia but Won’t Cooperate

Blog Post by Local Home Instead Owners: Mike Brunt, Preston and Aimee Roth

 

Question: My mother is showing beginning signs of dementia. The problem is my dad is being treated for cancer and neither my sister nor I live in the same town as my parents. My dad has asked us to try and get my mom in for evaluation with a new doctor but my mom refuses to cooperate. How do you approach an issue with a parent that is showing signs of mental decline?

Dr. Amy: This sounds like a stressful situation all around. I’m sure your dad’s brush with cancer has been upsetting. If your mom is his primary caregiver and is showing signs of cognitive impairment, that’s another emotional shock for everyone—and one that is going to require some planning and adjustments.

Are you or your sister able to go home for a long weekend? That way, you can see firsthand how your mom is doing—over a few days—and talk face to face. You could start by sharing what you have observed and asking what she thinks is going on.

Link to Dr. Amy’s Full Response

 

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1 Comment by on May 1, 2013
filed in Alzheimer's and Dementia, Communication and Relationships, Family Caregivers, Practical Tips and Resources

Sacred and Healing Native American Flute Music by Cleve Friedman

Blog Post by Jean Blackburn, Referral Relationship Manager at Home Instead Senior Care

Sacred Lightflutes

“The light, hidden within us all, is sacred.”

Cleve Friedman has been playing the Native American Flute most of his adult life.  He believes in the sacred nature of the flute, as an instrument of healing and revealing the sacred light within us all.  “If you are feeling low, sad, and lonely, the beautiful music of the native american flute quietly calls to your soul and bears you up and you soon feel its healing power.”

The gentle music of the Native American flute takes you on a spiritual journey where you soon pass deep forests, rivers and high mountains.  You soon feel yourself drifting among the clouds, rain, and sunshine.  You hear the deer elk, and beaver and watch the eagles soar.  This spiritual journey continues long after the music ends.  It lingers on in your memories to give you strength each day.

Now you can hear this amazing instrument played live at your event.

Cleve’s performances have thrilled school children, teenagers, and adults.  He has performed his healing music in schools, assisted living centers, hospitals, churches, and cemeteries.

He is now available to perform for your clients, retreats, and meetings.

Besides presenting concerts, Cleve also teaches flute playing classes and workshops.  He has presented workshops to school children, teenagers, adults and assisted living centers.  Cleve would love to introduce your clients to the wonderful music of the Native American Flute.

*Enjoy Cleve’s music at an upcoming performance in Hillsboro at Rosewood Park Retirement and Assisted Living Residence. The event will be held on Friday, May 10 at 1 p.m. in celebration of Mother’s Day.

 


Cleve Friedman
971-645-6735
cjfriedmag@gmail.com

 

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No Comments by on May 1, 2013
filed in Local Events, Religious and Spiritual Resources, The Lighter Side of Aging

How to Live Healthier Than Previous Generations

Blog Post by Local Home Instead Owners: Mike Brunt, Preston and Aimee Roth

tennis-net

Let’s Live Healthier Than Previous Generations
Caring for seniors can be an an eye-opening experience. You get to see both the best and the worst of how old age and lifestyle choices can affect people. It can certainly make you re-think what you can do now to live a healthier lifestyle, so when you’re “old,” you can hopefully enjoy your final years, not just endure them.All of us in the Home Instead Senior Care® network care just as much about the health of family caregivers as we do your senior loved ones.Recently there was a study published by JAMA Internal Medicine that revealed a startling fact: the baby boomer generation (persons born between 1946 and 1964) is actually less healthy and active than previous generations. Despite the great strides in medicine that have been made over our lifetimes, many boomers are still burdened by chronic diseases and disabilities as a result of unhealthy living. According to the study,

  • Fifty percent of boomers say they get no regular physical activity versus 17 percent of their parents,
  • More boomers have high blood pressure and high cholesterol and are taking medicines to treat those conditions than previous generations,
  • Forty percent of boomers are obese, compared with 29 percent a generation ago, and
  • Fourteen percent of boomers have diabetes, compared to 12 percent in previous generations.

 

So what can we do to fight this trend and live healthier lives? Here are some resources that may help both you and your loved ones eat better, get more exercise, manage chronic conditions, and live an overall healthier lifestyle.

  • Respite Care Services so you can get away from your caregiving duties and work more exercise and rest into your routine.

 

Let us know if there are any additional ways we can help. Feel free to give us a call at 503-445-1182 to discuss how in-home care services for your loved one may help both of you enjoy a higher quality of life.

 

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No Comments by on May 1, 2013
filed in Baby Boomer Age Wave, Family Caregivers, Physical Activity and Conditioning, Practical Tips and Resources

Professional CEUs for April Webinar on Family Care for Alzheimer’s Patients

Blog Post by Mike Brunt and Aimee and Preston Roth, Local Owners, Home Instead Senior Care

The Home Instead Senior Care® network’s 2013 Family Caregiver Support Web Seminar Series features free monthly seminars for senior care professionals on a variety of topics that can help set them apart as experts in their field.

The Home Instead Senior Care network is offering free continuing education credits (CEUs) in conjunction with the web series, which addresses senior resistance to care and features relevant issues such as sibling communication, seniors and nutrition, navigating the senior care maze, and seniors and cognitive issues. The program has been adapted for CEU accreditation in cooperation with the American Society on Aging (ASA). CEUs are available for 60 days following the live event. The CEU courses, which began in 2010, are offered compliments of the Home Instead Senior Care network so there is no cost for the CEU.

Professionals will take a short survey online after the seminars and then will receive one hour of CEU credit through ASA within 30 days of completion of the application.

Recorded webinars will be available for viewing following the live sessions. It may take a few weeks following the session for the archived version to be posted. View the Pre-Recorded 2012 Webinars

Please pre-register for any Family Caregiver Webinar for Professionals by the deadline of 9 PM PST the day before! Email info@aging.org or call 415-974-9600 if you have questions about registering for or accessing a webinar. Get more information and pre-register for the following 2013 Senior Care Web Series:

 

APRIL 2013

Managing Family Care for Alzheimer’s Patients — Professional Caregiver Webinar
10 AM PST / 11 AM MST / 12 PM CST / 1 PM EST / 2 PM ADT

 

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No Comments by on March 27, 2013
filed in Alzheimer's and Dementia, Clinical Insights for Elder Care, Education for Senior Providers, Geriatric Psychiatry, Senior Care Reference Materials

Powerful Tools for Caregivers – Class Starts April 17 at Gentog

Blog Post by Mike Brunt, information forwarded from Marcie at Gentog

 

gentog_logo
Dear Mike,

Our next session of the wonderful Powerful Tools for Caregivers class at Gentog will begin April 17, 2013. We have 6 openings. Won’t you please pass this along to someone that might benefit from the class? Thanks!

Marcie
“Powerful Tools for Caregivers” Class

Offered at Gentog

Free Care for your loved one while you attend.
Mom and daughter
You love her. She took care of you all of your life. Now that she needs assistance, you’re the one to do it. But don’t forget to take care of YOU, too!

“Powerful Tools For Caregivers” is an educational program designed to help family caregivers (no professional caregivers, please). This program will help you take care of yourself while caring for a relative or friend. You will benefit from the class whether you are helping a parent, spouse, friend, someone who lives at home, in a nursing home, or across the country.

 

 

What does the class cover?
This class will give YOU, the family caregiver, tools to:
  • Help you reduce stress
  • Communicate effectively with other family members, your doctor, and paid help
  • Take care of yourself
  • Reduce guilt, anger, depression
  • Help you relax
  • Make tough decisions
  • Set goals and problem-solve

The class offered at Gentog will be presented by our nurse Julie Holt with the assistance of Alberta Fry. This class does not focus on specific diseases or hands-on caregiving for the care receiver. The class was developed by Legacy Caregiver Services in Portland, OR and has been shown to reduce caregiver guilt, anger and depression; improve caregiver self-care and communication skills, and increase community service use.

 
Mark your calendar!

This six week series meets for 90 minutes each week on:

Dates: Wednesdays, April 17-May 22
Time: 9am-10:30pm
Presented by: Julie Holt, RN and Alberta Fry, RN

 

Location: Gentog – 11535 SW Durham Rd, Suite C5 – Tigard, OR 97224
(Located in the Willowbrook Center at Hwy 99W & Durham Rd)

 

Class size is limited, and registration is required. There is NO fee for the class. A donation of $25 to cover the cost of your book is appreciated. Please call Gentog at 503-639-2600 to reserve your space.
Free Care during Class
Don’t skip the class because you don’t want to leave your loved one home alone! Gentog will provide free care in our Senior Program while you enjoy the class. We’ll take good care of them while you learn to take good care of you! Simply let us know when you register that you will be bringing someone for care during the classes.

Offer Good only for “Powerful Tools for Caregivers” class offered at Gentog
No Comments by on March 27, 2013
filed in Communication and Relationships, Family Caregivers, Local Events

USA Today Publishes Supplement for Family Caregivers

Blog Post by Mike Brunt, CSA, Local Owner, Home Instead Senior Care

Last weekend’s edition of USA Today carried an amazing 18 page supplement on Family Caregiving, called “SupportingOur Caregivers.” The supplement was developed in partnership with Caregiver Action Network and produced by Media Planet. It reached 1.6 million readers of USA Today and through pass-alongs and social networking will reach many other people interested in the topic of family caregiving.

Don’t miss the full-page ad on page 3 for Home Instead Senior Care!

The following topics are covered in the supplement:

  • Family caregiving statistics
  • Caring for the caregivers
  • Medicare
  • Financial Planning
  • Hearing health and technology
  • Celebrity family caregivers
  • Home safety
  • Personal emergency response systems
  • Senior nutrition and health
  • Longevity / lifespan calculator
  • Reverse mortgages
  • Alzheimer’s and safety

Link to “Supporting Our Caregivers” USA Today weekend edition supplement (18 pages) – PDF is 7 MB

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No Comments by on March 20, 2013
filed in Alzheimer's and Dementia, Clinical Insights for Elder Care, Communication and Relationships, Family Caregivers, Financial Issues, Risks, Resources, Practical Tips and Resources, Senior Nutrition and Health, Technology, Equipment, and Devices

Certified Senior Advisor Course Coming to Portland in June – Save $500

Blog Post by Mike Brunt, CSA, Local Owner, Home Instead Senior Care

After three years, the live course for becoming a Certified Senior Advisor is finally coming back to Portland! Some of you may remember my blog post about becoming a CSA in June of 2010.

This is three full days of classes followed by a three hour test on the fourth day. Now you’re thinking, “this is supposed to be enticing?” Actually, yes it is, because the alternative is to do months of self-study without the structured support of the classroom environment.

To me, this is a professional designation worth having for anyone who works regularly with seniors. Plus, by using the code below, you will save $500 on the cost. Feel free to pass this along to anyone who wants to improve their knowledge and credibility as a senior service professional.

 

Flyer as Printable PDF

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No Comments by on March 20, 2013
filed in Baby Boomer Age Wave, Communication and Relationships, Education for Senior Providers, Elder Law, Financial Issues, Risks, Resources, Local Events, Physical Activity and Conditioning, Practical Tips and Resources, Senior Care Reference Materials, Senior Nutrition and Health, Technology, Equipment, and Devices

Home Safety and Fall Prevention for Seniors

Blog Post by Mike Brunt, Owner, Home Instead Senior Carehome-safety-for-seniors

This post is a follow up to a panel discussion held at Lake Grove Presbyterian Church on February 17, 2013. I was invited by Associate Pastor, Libby Boatwright, to be a member of the panel. Other speakers on the panel were Dan Dotlich, Physical Therapist at  Gentiva Home Health; Michele Nielsen, Parish Nurse at Lake Grove Presbyterian Church; and Brian Bartholomew, In Your Home, CAPS Contractor.

The links listed below provide further information and resources on the topics of Home Safety and Fall Prevention for seniors:

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No Comments by on February 17, 2013
filed in Aging In Place, Education for Senior Providers, Family Caregivers, Physical Activity and Conditioning, Practical Tips and Resources, Technology, Equipment, and Devices

Home Instead Change for West Portland and Lake Oswego

Blog Post by Local Home Instead Owners: Mike Brunt, Preston and Aimee Roth

Horizontal_Logo_Purple

Dear Friends,

We hope this letter finds you well and prospering in the New Year. We are writing to inform you of an important change for working with Home Instead Senior Care in the West Portland and Lake Oswego areas.

As many of you may have heard, Suzanne Roberts, previously the west side Home Instead franchise owner, retired at the end of January and transitioned her business to the neighboring Home Instead Franchise owners, Mike Brunt and Aimee and Preston Roth. We have worked closely with all of her clients and CAREGivers alike to provide continued service and employment with Home Instead Senior Care.

Home Instead, Inc. in Omaha, Nebraska also sent a dedicated team to Portland to aid in the transition as we met with CAREGivers and clients to assure them that Home Instead Senior Care is well equipped and organized to ensure a smooth changeover. While the change happened very quickly we are pleased to report a smooth transition for both clients and CAREGivers.

The West Portland and Lake Oswego areas are now served by both of our operations: Mike Brunt, to the west (503-530-1527), and Preston and Aimee Roth, to the east (503-335-0626). Those of you who have worked with us know that we are personally invested in our Home Instead businesses, and lead quality organizations which provide excellent care for our honored seniors. Both owners hold Comprehensive Licenses from the state of Oregon so we can provide for all your In-Home care needs.

At some time in the near future, a dedicated Home Instead franchisee will take ownership of West Portland, and we will be back to three local owner/operators for the Portland metro area. We believe the recent change will actually result in an even stronger and more unified Home Instead presence in Portland than ever before.

Thank you for your trust in us and for your continued support and partnership. We look forward to re-kindling old relationships and forming new ones as we collaborate to provide families with the best senior services experience available in the Portland area. Please don’t hesitate to call us with referrals or if you would like to talk further about your current Home Instead coverage.

Sincerely,

Mike Brunt, Washington County, 503-530-1527, homeinstead.com/606
mike-brunt-home-instead-oregon-606

 

Preston and Aimee Roth, East Portland and Clackamas County, 503-335-0626, homeinstead.com/289
Preston-and-Aimee

 

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No Comments by on February 8, 2013
filed in Education for Senior Providers, Local Events

Oregonian: Salute to Senior Service – Nominate Senior Volunteer Heroes

Blog Post by local Home Instead Senior Care Owners:
Mike Brunt (Washington County), Preston and Aimee Roth (East Portland and Clackamas County)

salute-to-senior-service

 

Content: Oregonian News Story by Daniel Moran, January 31, 2013 (Printable PDF)

Salute to Senior Service, a program designed to honor outstanding senior volunteers throughout the U.S., will begin taking nominations for its second annual contest on Friday.

Seniors will need to have served at least 15 hours of volunteer service per month to qualify for a nomination. The nomination process will start on Friday, Feb. 1 and conclude on Sunday, March 31. Nominations can be submitted online at the Salute to Senior Service website or by printing and filling out the mail-in entry form on the site. Home Instead Senior Care, an international in-home care agency, will sponsor the contest.

“They’re unsung heroes in a way because they’re not often in the spotlight,” said Mike Brunt, a Home Instead Senior Care franchise owner in the Portland metropolitan area. “(Since) they don’t want to toot their own horns necessarily, we found this an opportunity to put a little bit of a spotlight on the fact that this is happening. It’s really quite a movement in our society.”

Last year’s Oregon winner was Anna Jones, who helped establish the Kendall Community Center in Southeast Portland in 1973 to serve and promote self-sufficiency for homeless and low-income individuals and families. Jones, now 88, has continued to volunteer at the nonprofit, now known as the Clackamas Service Center, for 40 years.

The award process gives the senior volunteers a chance to be in the spotlight according to Andy Catts, executive director of the Clackamas Service Center, who nominated Jones for the award.

“Anna needed to be recognized if there was any way possible,” Catts said. “She’s not one to go out and get recognition for herself. She’s just done so much here over the last 40 years.”

From April 15-30, state residents can vote for a winner at the Salute to Senior Service website. State winners will be announced by early June and Home Instead Senior Care will then donate $500 to each winner’s charity of choice.

A three-person panel of judges will determine the National Grand Prize winner from the 50 state winners on June 30. The national winner will then get to make an additional $5,000 donation to a charity of their choice.

Salute to Senior Service received over 1,500 nominations from all 50 states in 2012, the first year of the contest. The Grand Prize winner was Clark Paradise of Tom’s River, NJ, who will be one of the three-person panel in June.

– Daniel Moran
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No Comments by on February 4, 2013
filed in Baby Boomer Age Wave, Community Service, The Lighter Side of Aging

One Portland Family’s Experience with Home Instead Senior Care

Blog Post by Mike Brunt, Owner, Home Instead Senior Carerecommendation-letter-home-instead

I regularly have the thrill of reading notes of gratitude from clients or their family members. It’s so satisfying to hear about how much our CAREGivers meant to them or how much they appreciated the responsiveness, availability, and sensitivity of the office team. However, the letter I received last week from a client’s daughter just took the cake…had me smiling for days.

I don’t like to brag, BUT, I really want to share this letter as a tribute to my wonderful CAREGivers and office staff who were there for this family in so many ways. For those of you who make it all the way through the letter, thanks for indulging me.

____________________________________________________________________________

January 23, 2013

This is a letter for anyone who may be considering working with Home Instead Senior Care. I recommend this care agency wholeheartedly to anyone facing the need for caregivers! Here is our story:

My 86-year-old father was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. In the unfamiliar setting of the hospital, his normal, sweet behavior deteriorated dramatically – he was hallucinating and becoming agitated and aggressive. When we got him back to his own home, he was his normal cheerful and helpful self, with a gentle memory deficit.

We decided to keep him at home with Mom and hospice support. As he started to fail, it was clear that we needed more support than just the visiting nurse and bath aide from hospice. He wasn’t remembering that his body couldn’t do what he expected it to, and Mom wasn’t strong enough to catch him if he started to stumble and fall. He needed someone through the night to help him to the bathroom and to manage transfers from chair to walker and wheelchair to bed.

Although Mom adamantly did NOT want a stranger in their home, she was exhausted physically and emotionally from being awake all night and caring for him all day. I was exhausted from lying awake wondering when the next desperate phone call would come, and having to be there constantly trying to keep Daddy from getting up and falling. He would eventually need 24-hour care as he became bedridden.

I interviewed 4 agencies. One agency displayed trophies in the waiting room extolling their first palce in PROFITS for the year(!). Another agency owner was especially proud of the book she had published. A third one hired only Spanish speakers. Karen, from Home Instead, came to my home and LISTENED carefully to my long list of requirement and hopes for a kind, quiet person who would fit unobtrusively into my parents’ lives. She was so understanding and sweet. I even expressed a desire for a certain personality and political viewpoint. Soon after, Karen brought that perfect person to meet my parents, and my mom was measurably reassured.

Julie fit into our family perfectly. We started with a few hours of her service, then increased them quickly. Julie had a calm, reassuring effect on us all – the transfers went smoothly with her expert technique, and her matter-of-fact, kind manner of speaking kept my dad from bolting away.

When we started with overnight care, Judith arrived with lots of confidence and experience, cleaning everything in sight. In the middle of the night, Mom could hear her dealing with my dad when he woke up to go to the bathroom. Because he was being cared for so kindly and competently, she was able to go back to sleep. That meant that I got a full night’s sleep as well! It was a huge weight off my shoulders.

Another or our night caregivers, Beth (a self-professed “night owl”) spent many wee-morning hours listening and supporting my mother as she adjusted to the reality of her husband’s imminent death. Beth’s assertion that Mom was “stronger than she thought” helped her cope. On the day that we actually moved Mom, Beth helped us through that trauma as well.

In order to cover our sudden need for 24-hour care, Home Instead had to schedule several caregivers. I am still amazed at the number of kind and competent people that came to help us! Of course, there were a few that were not a good match. I emailed Tina, the Home Instead staff coordinator, with my concerns, and she IMMEDIATELY replaced them. She learned quickly what qualities were important to us and sent people that were compatible.

We were never made to feel that our concerns were too picky. The phone was always answered right away by a friendly, helpful person. Every Home Instead staff member seemed to “get” that this time of life is super stressful. I always felt reassured and supported at every contact with Home Instead. We requested as few different people as possible, and they accomplished this quickly with only two 12-hour shifts per day.

Because our caregivers were doing most of the housekeeping and physical care (changing Depends and bedding mostly!), our family had the energy to have quality time with my dad – every day we sang together, sat in the sun, ate meals together, and visited with some of his old students. It was a poignant and treasured time for us.

Our dear Julie was with us when my dad died. As she had all along, she know just the right balance of giving hugs and leaving us alone.

We continued to use two of our caregivers to help us with Mom’s transition to assisted living. Beth helped with some of the lonely overnights after the family left town and I needed a good night’s sleep in my own bed. Julie came to Mom’s new home a couple of mornings a week. By then, she was a special friend who had known my dad and who was a comforting presence for my mom in a new place.

Our family is very grateful for Home Instead!

Sincerely,

Lori S.
Portland

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No Comments by on February 3, 2013
filed in Alzheimer's and Dementia, Communication and Relationships, End-of-Life Care, Family Caregivers, The Lighter Side of Aging

Video Series from The Arthritis Foundation and Home Instead Debunks Arthritis Myths

Blog Post by Local Home Instead Owners:arthritis-videos
Mike Brunt (Washington County),
Preston and Aimee Roth (East Portland and Clackamas County)

If you’ve ever shopped for a “birthday humor” greeting card, you understand how commonly people associate bodily aches and ailments with aging. Yet having arthritis, a condition responsible for pain in almost half of all Americans over 65 according to the Arthritis Foundation, is not a foregone conclusion as you age. If you or someone you know suffers from arthritis, the following myths and facts from the Arthritis Foundation® and care tips from the Home Instead Senior Care® network may help shed light on the reality of the condition and how to best manage it.

 

Myth #1: Arthritis is just minor aches and pains associated with getting older.

Fact: Arthritis is actually a complex family of musculoskeletal disorders consisting of more than 100 different diseases or conditions that can affect people of all ages, races and genders.

How Home Instead Can Help: Adopting certain lifestyle changes as recommended by the Arthritis Foundation can benefit the way you or your loved one live with arthritis. In-home care support from a Home Instead CAREGiverSM can help make those lifestyle changes possible. For example, assistance with household chores, dressing or errands can help to reduce stress, fatigue, overexertion and other factors that worsen the pain. Learn more about the arthritis care services our CAREGivers provide and our partnership with the Arthritis Foundation.

 

Myth #2: Arthritis is not a serious health problem.

Fact: Arthritis places a growing burden on the health care and economic systems in this country. Each year, people with arthritis account for 44 million outpatient visits and 992,100 hospitalizations.

How Home Instead Can Help: Our Returning Home Program provides care services designed to minimize a senior’s risk of hospital admission or readmission, especially for seniors living with chronic conditions such as arthritis. Services such as warning sign monitoring, assistance attending doctor appointments, daily routine assistance, medication reminders and more can help ensure you or your loved one follows arthritis management best practices as prescribed by a doctor.

 

Myth #3: People with arthritis should avoid exercising.

Fact: Exercise is a valuable tool in the fight against arthritis.

How Home Instead Can Help: Our CAREGivers help facilitate opportunities for low-impact exercise as recommended by the Arthritis Foundation, such as a walk in the park or attending a fitness class at a senior center, to minimize the symptoms of arthritis. Visit the Arthritis Care section on HomeInstead.com to learn more about how our services can help.

 

Did you know?

A protein produced in rheumatoid arthritis may help protect against the development of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study conducted by the University of South Florida’s Byrd Alzheimer’s Centre and Research Institute and Saitama Medical University, Japan. Researchers believe that the protein, called GM-CSF, may trigger the immune system to destroy the protein plaques found in Alzheimer’s disease.
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No Comments by on January 31, 2013
filed in Clinical Insights for Elder Care, Education for Senior Providers, Physical Activity and Conditioning, Senior Nutrition and Health

Mom Keeps Asking to Go Home

Blog Post by Mike Brunt, Local Owner, Dr-Amy
Home Instead Senior Care
Content from “Ask Dr. Amy”

Question: My mom asks to go home but she is home with me. What do I tell her?

Dr. Amy: It is very common for people who are suffering from dementia to ask to go home, even when they are in the house they have lived in for many years. When this happens, it’s best not to argue or try to correct your mom. Logic does not apply, since her brain does not work the way it used to. Correcting her may lead to further confusion and argument.

I encourage you to try to redirect your mom. Ask her a question about her home. Share memories of favorite rooms, the features of certain rooms, special events that took place at home, meals cooked, funny events and so on. This type of conversation will be calming and familiar to your mother. You can also redirect by asking if you can play her a piece of music first. Some people find listening to music calming. The point is to shift the conversation or activity to something she has enjoyed in the past.

I am sure you must find it stressful when your mother asks to go home. Take a few deep breaths when this happens. Turn to her and smile reassuringly. Then gently shift the conversation. The moment will pass and you will both feel better. Good luck.

More Advice from Dr. Amy

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No Comments by on January 31, 2013
filed in Alzheimer's and Dementia, Communication and Relationships, Family Caregivers, Practical Tips and Resources

NPR Highlights Alzheimer’s CARE Training Program by Home Instead

Blog Post by Local Home Instead Owners,
Mike Brunt (Washington County),
Preston and Aimee Roth (East Portland and Clackamas County)

npr-storyStory from National Public Radio’s All Things Considered. This segment aired on January 8, 2013 about the Home Instead Senior Care network’s Alzheimer’s CARE training program.

All Things Considered is the fourth largest radio show in America with more than 11 million weekly listeners.

Story excerpts:

There are more than 5 million people with Alzheimer’s in the U.S., and most are cared for at home. Now, one company has begun offering training to family caregivers to help them deal with the special challenges of caring for an Alzheimer’s patient.

The company, Home Instead Senior Care, is the nation’s largest provider of nonmedical home care for seniors. The workshops are free and available to anyone, whether they’re clients of the company or not.

The training was developed by Home Instead, but it’s based on ideas accepted by many Alzheimer’s experts — for example, making use of long-term memories and recognizing what triggers anxiety. The company has spent about $3 million over the past three years on developing and presenting workshops for family caregivers. Home Instead says it wants to be a community resource for families grappling with Alzheimer’s.

Link to Full Story and 5-Minute Audio Clip

 

If you are interested in attending the Alzheimer’s Family Caregiver Training in the Portland area, please call 503-530-1527.
Curriculum overview for the Alzheimer’s Family Caregiver Training

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No Comments by on January 31, 2013
filed in Alzheimer's and Dementia, Clinical Insights for Elder Care, Communication and Relationships, Community Service, Education for Senior Providers, Family Caregivers, Geriatric Psychiatry, Practical Tips and Resources

Portland’s First Choir for Singers with Early Memory Loss – Feb. 8 Info Session

Blog Post by Deborah Letourneau, MSW
Program Coordinator, Washington County Disability, Aging & Veteran Services

 

Informational Meeting at the Alzheimer’s Café about

“SING HERE NOW”
Portland’s First Choir for People with Early-Stage Memory Loss

(a partnership between the Alzheimer’s Association – Oregon Chapter & Earthtones Music Therapy Services

memory-loss-choir

When: Friday, February 8, 6:30-8:00 pm

Where: The Alzheimer’s Café, Southminster Presbyterian Church,

12250 SW Denney Road, Beaverton OR 97008

For more information, contact Chris Nelson at the Alzheimer’s Association
(503) 416-0207 / chris.nelson@alz.org

 

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No Comments by on January 30, 2013
filed in Alzheimer's and Dementia, Communication and Relationships, Community Service, Family Caregivers, Local Events, The Lighter Side of Aging
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At Home Instead Senior Care, we provide non-medical services to senior citizens in their own homes or apartments. Our services include companionship, light housekeeping, meal preparation, medication reminders, escorting to appointments, personal care, and dementia care. We help seniors maintain their independence and help them stay safe, healthy, and happy at home, wherever home may be.

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