$29.95 provides 8 meals for local seniors!

Give a Valentine-A-Gram to clients, coworkers, teachers or someone special and 100% of the proceeds will go towards providing hot nutritious meals to homebound seniors.

Volunteers will deliver Valentine-A-Grams on Valentine’s Day, Tuesday, February 14, 2012, throughout the greater Portland-Vancouver area.  (Free Delivery)

Each Valentine-A-Gram is just $29.95 and includes:

• Two Fresh Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Rolls
• A Jamba Juice Cold Drink Tumbler
• Sun Orchards Orange Juice
• Ready to Brew Seattle’s Best Coffee
• A Jar of Makara Cinnamon
• A Gift Certificate for a free slice of pie from Shari’s Restaurant
• A $5 Gift Certificate for Sharing Spree
• A Gift Certificate for Garlic Cheese Bread from Old Spaghetti Factory
• Special Message from You!

Proceeds will support Loaves & Fishes Centers – an organization working to ensure that no senior will go hungry or experience social isolation.

Find out more or order your Valentine-A-Gram now.

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Member, Senior Resource Alliance Northwest

On January 1, 2012, a new estate planning tool became available to Oregonians–the Transfer-on-Death Deed (TODD).  The new law allows property owners to transfer real property (i.e., real estate) to one or more beneficiaries using a TODD.   The Deed must be recorded while the transferor is still living, but is revocable and does not take effect until the transferor’s death.  This means that the property owner can sell the property at any time during his or her lifetime, automatically revoking the TODD.

Bank accounts, certificates of deposit, investment accounts, life insurance and almost all other assets have long allowed the owner to designate a beneficiary and, thus, avoid probate.  Real property, often the largest asset a person owns, did not allow such a designation.  The new TODD is intended to allow for real property to pass after death without probate.

When used in the right circumstances, a TODD could save the estate money.

As an estate planner, I have several concerns about the use of  TODDs without first obtaining competent legal advice.  Some of these are:

1.  Potential for fraud and elder abuse.  An untrustworthy individual could influence an elderly property owner to sign a TODD in his or her favor.  Such a transfer may defeat the transferor’s estate planning objectives.  The persons who would otherwise have inherited the property would have to bring a court action to defeat the TODD.

2.  18-month Cloud on Title.  When an estate is probated, there is a four-month creditor claim period, and the State of Oregon must be informed of the probate proceeding.  At the end of the claim period, clear title to the property may be transferred.  If a TODD is used, the property may not be transferred for 18 months.  One of the reasons for this longer period is to allow the state of Oregon to learn of the property owner’s death and assert a claim against the property for monies the State paid out for Medicaid care.

3.  Multiple grantors may lead to inconsistent results.  If there are joint grantors, a surviving grantor may revoke the deed after the other grantor’s death.  The revocation may be inconsistent with the deceased grantor’s wishes.

A TODD may or may not be the best tool for you to use to transfer real property at your death.  Consult an estate planning attorney to learn if this option is right for you. 

Stephanie Carter, Attorney at Law, Draneas & Huglin, P.C., 4004 Kruse Way Place, Suite 200,
Lake Oswego, OR, (503) 496-5509, stephanie@draneaslaw.com

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Member, Senior Resource Alliance Northwest

When I assist a personal representative in the probate of an estate, the question almost always arises:  Who gets the tax deduction when the decedent’s personal property is donated to a charity?

Most clients assume that the estate gets the tax deduction.  That is incorrect!  Instead, the receipt for the deduction should be passed on to the beneficiary.  So, look at the decedent’s will or trust to see who was gifted the decedent’s personal property.  If the decedent died with no estate planning in place, then you would look at the intestacy statute to see who inherits the estate.

It is also important to remember that a trustee or personal representative (“fiduciary”) should not dispose of personal property to anyone other than the designated beneficiary without authorization.  Sometimes this authorization is provided in the will or trust. 
For example, the estate planning document may give the fiduciary discretion to sell personal property and give the beneficiary the proceeds from sale.  In other cases, the beneficiaries may jointly agree that certain items may be donated (e.g., those items that do not sell at an estate sale).

Stephanie Carter, Attorney at Law, Draneas & Huglin, P.C., 4004 Kruse Way Place, Suite 200,
Lake Oswego, OR, (503) 496-5509, stephanie@draneaslaw.com

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Member, Senior Resource Alliance Northwest

A surprising number of famous people have died without any form of will or trust to direct distribution of their estate.  This has often led to conflicts over the right to control the estate assets, including intellectual property, public image, and other money-producing assets.

For example, Martin Luther King Jr. didn’t have a will when he was unfortunately assassinated.  His estate, which is run now through a corporation established by his children, often struggles to determine what King’s wishes would be.  Decades after the civil rights leader’s death, his children are still trying to sort out matters related to his estate.

Reggae singer Bob Marley left no will when he died in 1981.  Over the past 30 years, the estate has been involved in multiple lawsuits.  Handling Marley’s estate was complicated by the fact that, although Marley died in Florida, he maintained his Jamaican citizenship.  Since Jamaica’s laws of intestacy were not as generous as Florida’s, his advisors decided to prepare an estate plan AFTER HIS DEATH that Marley’s widow then signed.

The Jamaican court sorted out the issue of the falsified will and removed Marley’s widow as administrator of the estate.  The court then had to resolve the issue of who had the right to use the singer’s name, likeness and image in commerce.  About 10 years after Marley’s death, the Jamaican Supreme Court decided that Marley’s heirs possessed this exclusive right.  The heirs include the widow and Marley’s children.  Unfortunately, the list of heirs does not incude siblings.  The estate is now suing Marley’s half-brother for using his image to promote a Miami music festival and restaurant, as he has done for many years.

Swedish author Steig Larsson, known for his Millennium series that includes The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, also died without a will.  His estate passed to his heirs (brother and father with whom Larsson was not close) rather than his long-time partner, Eva Gabrielsson.  Gabrielsson has refused to release to the estate the partial fourth volume in the book series, has fought for her share of the apartment they shared, and control over Larsson’s literary estate, which she feels better prepared to administer than Larsson’s family  The dispute is still pending.

Although your estate may not be large, and you may not be famous, proper estate planning can help pass your estate to the next generation without the conflicts that occur when money and sentiment are involved.

Stephanie Carter, Attorney at Law, Draneas & Huglin, P.C., 4004 Kruse Way Place, Suite 200,
Lake Oswego, OR, (503) 496-5509, stephanie@draneaslaw.com

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Video Overview of Senior Volunteerism

The Home Instead Senior Care® locations serving seniors in Washington County have announced the Salute to Senior Service^SM program to honor senior volunteers for the tireless contributions they make to their local communities.

The program includes a search for the most outstanding senior volunteer in each state and culminates with the selection of a national Salute to Senior Service winner during Older Americans Month in May.

• Nominees must be 65 years of age or older and volunteer at least 15 hours a month.
• Nominations will be accepted at www.SalutetoSeniorService.com through March 15, 2012.
• Nomination forms also can be requested at ckoehler@homeinsteadinc.com.

State Senior Hero^SM winners will receive plaques, and their stories will be posted on the SalutetoSeniorService.com website. In addition, $5,000 will be donated to the national winner’s nonprofit charity of choice.

According to research conducted by the Home Instead Senior Care® network, 52 percent of seniors volunteer their time through unpaid community service. Nearly 20 percent (one in five) of seniors surveyed started volunteering when they reached the traditional age of retirement – 65 or older. Furthermore, 20 percent of seniors who volunteer say that their community service is the most important thing they do.

“Helping others defines life for many local retired seniors,” said Mike Brunt owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office in Washington County. “And what a difference we have observed in seniors’ health, attitude and outlook among those who choose to stay active as they age.”

Dr. Erwin Tan, director of the Senior Corps, a national organization that links more than 400,000 Americans 55 and older to service opportunities, agrees. “The one thing that I hear constantly from the seniors in our programs is that volunteering gives them a purpose in life – they say that it’s the reason they get up in the morning.

“In addition, it’s a great way for them to learn new things – whether a skill or just something about an issue in which they have an interest,” Tan said. “Volunteering is just a great way to expand their horizons and feel like they’re still a valuable part of their community.”

For more information about the Salute to Senior Service program or Home Instead Senior Care, please go to www.salutetoseniorservice.com or call 503-530-1527.

Oh the places you used to go,
All the people you used to know,
The stories that you loved to tell
About a life that you lived so well.
It’s fine, you can rest if you want to.
I will remember for you,
I will remember too.

Music is just a story with a melody. The song “I Will Remember for You” played in the video above tells the story of a couple touched by Alzheimer’s disease. It was written and performed by Home Instead Senior Care staff member Dave Mainelli, and is inspired by all the families who are keeping the memories alive for loved ones experiencing memory loss. Music powerfully communicates emotion and narrative, making it an excellent tool to evoke memories for those living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias.

More about the benefits of music for people with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias

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In my six and a half years of providing caregiving services to seniors at home, I have supported many families affected by Alzheimer’s disease as they struggle to understand and cope with the changes the disease brings to their senior loved ones. My desire is always to help the families know that while their journey will test their emotional and physical stamina, they are not alone and that help is available.

The families I have observed who were most centered in facing Alzheimer’s disease were the ones who had an understanding of the nature of the disease and who sought for and found emotional support through peer groups or professionals.

Because knowledge and understanding are so imperative for families coping with Alzheimer’s, I am pleased to refer you to an excellent online resource: http://www.helpforalzheimersfamilies.com.

The site answers questions such as -

• What is the difference between Alzheimer’s disease & dementia?
• What are the stages of Alzheimer’s and dementia?
• Is Alzheimer’s inherited?

But it also goes beyond the basics to provide practical advice on topics such as  -

• Capturing Memories for Someone with Alzheimer’s or Dementia
• Alzheimer’s Conversation Tips
• Creating a Memory Box

If you are a member of a family affected by Alzheimer’s disease, this site is for you. If you know a member of such a family, please do them a favor and point them to this thoughtful resource.

http://www.helpforalzheimersfamilies.com

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Eventually, most of us learn valuable lessons about how to conduct a successful and satisfying life. But for far too many people, the learning comes too late to help them avoid painful mistakes and decades of wasted time and effort.

Enter an invaluable source of help, if anyone is willing to listen while there is still time to take corrective action. It is a new book called “30 Lessons for Living” (Hudson Street Press) that offers practical advice from more than 1,000 older Americans from different economic, educational and occupational strata who were interviewed as part of the ongoing Cornell Legacy Project.

Its author, Karl Pillemer, a professor of human development at the College of Human Ecology at Cornell and a gerontologist at the Weill Cornell Medical College, calls his subjects “the experts,” and their advice is based on what they did right and wrong in their long lives. Many of the interviews can be viewed at legacyproject.human.cornell.edu.

Here is a summary of their most salient thoughts…

On Marriage

On Careers

On Parenting

On Aging

On Regrets

On Happiness

Link to Full Article

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Printable Flyer

Free Seminar Series for Seniors and Families

A free seminar series is being offered by Hearthstone at Murrayhill, a retirement community located at 10880 SW Davies Road in Beaverton.  The four-week series, titled “Making Life Choices,” is geared toward seniors and their families. Seminars will be held on four consecutive Saturdays, beginning January 14, from 10 a.m. to noon.

The January 14 session, titled “What You Don’t Know…CAN Hurt You,” will feature two local professionals: Lake Oswego Attorney Christopher Young from the Pixton Law Group and Diane Childs from the State of Oregon’s Department of Consumer & Business Services. Mr. Young will focus on common legal issues faced by seniors and their families. Ms. Childs will provide tips on how to protect your money from fraud and identify theft.

Subsequent Saturday sessions (January 21 and 28, and February 4) will feature other local professionals who are familiar with the needs of seniors and their families. They will address such topics as “Creating Family Peace in Times of Turmoil,” “Selling Your Home in a Down Economy,” and “Getting Organized.”

When her grandmother could no longer manage by herself, former marketing executive Denise Thomas found her passion: helping the elderly live at home for as long as possible.

On a sultry day in April 2011, Denise Thomas, the owner of Home Instead, a franchise business in Austin, Texas, drives to the home of an elderly client. Ninety-one-year-old Emily Lake moved into her comfortable single-story house five years ago and plans to stay there, thanks to Home Instead’s caregivers, who help her bathe, pay bills, shop, track medications and generally maintain her independence. For Thomas, visits to satisfied clients are the best part of her job.

Link to full article at More.com

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Earlier this year, I was in Omaha, Nebraska for Home Instead’s annual worldwide convention for franchise owners. It is always inspiring to meet and associate with fellow Home Insteaders from across North America and around the world.

This year, the keynote speaker was Dr. Ken Dychtwald, a renowned thought leader on the “Age Wave” and the societal implications of an aging population. I enjoyed his material so much, I came home and bought 5 of his books.

In his book called “With Purpose: Going from Success to Significance in Work and Life,” Dr. Dychtwald talks about the aging population’s need to leave a legacy and to define what life is about. Because we are typically living 20 years longer than people even 80 years ago, these extra years can be seen as a “longevity bonus.” The question becomes, what will tomorrow’s seniors do with this extra time? Just be old longer? No, they will re-invent themselves, pursue their passions, and make a meaningful contribution to society.

I loved these concepts so much, I created a presentation based on them. I am presenting this in the community, anywhere I can, to show baby boomers how they can use their longevity bonus to serve the elderly. For boomers who are shifting their focus from financial success to social significance, being a CAREGiver with Home Instead Senior Care would be a great way to serve humanity.

In 2012 I’m hoping to present this material to many churches, service organizations, and other places where baby boomers may congregate or search for meaningful, part-time employment. If you have ideas on where I may present this material, please email me at mike.brunt@homeinstead.com.

Preview Presentation: Finding Purpose Serving Seniors

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The poor economy has been difficult for many people, but low-income seniors and people with disabilities have been hit especially hard. Many struggle with rising energy costs and homes falling into disrepair, and the impacts on physical and emotional health have been evident to those of us who work with the elderly. Fortunately, in Portland, there are some great programs that have survived budget cuts and are still providing necessary services for these vulnerable populations.

Community Energy Project (CEP) provides free small-scale weatherization and safety repairs for low-income seniors and people with disabilities. They provide and install vinyl storm window kits, door weatherstripping, pipe foam, furnace filters, and more. They can also make small safety-related repairs to railing, stairs, wheelchair ramps, and install grab bars, hand-held shower heads, elevated toilet seats, and more. These simple measures are available to renters as well as homeowners, and those living in nearly every kind of home from trailers and mobile homes to houses and apartments at no cost.

At this time, CEP can serve people in the Lents Urban Renewal Area and the Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal Area only. To determine if you are in the service area, visit www.portlandmaps.com,enter your address, and then once it loads click on the “development” tab. Call CEP at 503.284.6827 for questions, or to sign up for services.

Web: Community Energy Project

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Blog Posted by: Preston & Aimee Roth

In 2006, Be a Santa to a Senior volunteers visited a local nursing facility and distributed gifts to a number of residents, including one 87-year-old woman whom we’ll call Mary. She was pleased to receive her gift and thanked us profusely, but it wasn’t until we returned to give Mary another gift in 2007 that we recognized the true value of Be a Santa to a Senior.

When we entered Mary’s room for our second visit, we noticed that the only card on her bulletin board was the Be a Santa to a Senior card from the previous year. As we spoke with her caregivers we found out that our Christmas card and gift were the only items she had received throughout the year. Mary re-read the card regularly to help keep that memory alive.

This years Be a Santa to a Senior program will be our 2nd annual for our Multnomah and Clackamas Oregon Home Instead Senior Care office’s. Last year we supplied 60 gifts for financially challenged or lonely seniors and our goal for 2011 is 150 gifts! We are committed to increasing the amount of seniors we can help and touch each year! Our seniors are our nations greatest resource and in fact John A Kitzhaber, Governor of the State of Oregon has Proclaimed December 2011 to be “BE A SANTA TO A SENIOR MONTH”

Each year the Home Instead Senior Care network  throughout North America spread holiday cheer through the Be a Santa to a Senior program. The program has attracted upwards of 60,000 volunteers over the past six years distributing gifts to deserving seniors.  Since introducing the Be a Santa to a Senior program, Home Instead Senior Care has helped provide 1.2 million gifts to more than 700,000 seniors.

Click this link to see a touching video about the Be a Santa to a Senior Program

How Be a Santa to a Senior Works

Our Home Instead Senior Care office has partnered with local non-profit and community organizations to identify seniors who might not otherwise receive gifts this holiday season. We then work with local businesses and retail stores to help facilitate the purchase and distribution of gifts by placing trees and ornaments within their various locations. Each senior’s gift requests are written on a Be a Santa to a Senior tree ornament.

Here’s how to help an under served senior:

1. Find the nearest Be a Santa to a Senior tree location. Our current locations in Multnomah County Are:

• Home Instead Senior Care – 4538 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland OR 97213
• Hollywood Senior Center – 1820 NE 40th Ave, Portland OR 97213
• Lloyd Athletic Club – 815 NE Halsey St, Portland OR 97232
• Sterling Savings Bank – 4728 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland Oregon 97213
• Wholesome Blends Coffee – 4615 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland OR 97213

Our current locations in Clackamas County Are:

• Bullseye Coffee – 1980 Willamette Falls Dr, West Linn OR 97086
• Sterling Savings Bank – 25529 SW Gwen Drive, Wilsonville, OR 97070
• The Art Spot – 510 1st Street, Lake Oswego, OR 97034

2. Remove an ornament

3. Purchase the gift

4. Bring ornament and gift back to participating store and give to
store employee.

It’s that easy.

Local volunteers collect, wrap, and deliver the gifts to the seniors.

We will be collecting all gifts at the tree sites by Dec 16th with all gifts delivered by Loaves and Fishes before Christmas.

Gift Wrapping Party

We will be wrapping and packing all gifts at the Hollywood Senior Center - 1820 NE 40th Ave Portland OR 97213 on December 17th from 2-4pm. We will have hot cocoa, Christmas cookies and Christmas music to get us all in the mood. We would love for anyone who is interested to come and help. Its an amazing, and touching event to say the very least.

Find a Tree today and brighten the life of a senior.

If there is not a Be a Santa to a Senior tree in your community, we encourage you to contact an organization in your community dedicated to helping seniors during the holidays.

Last week at the Washington County Family Caregiver Conference, I had the pleasure of sitting next to one of my wonderful CAREGivers, Linda. Over lunch, she told me the tragic story below. I asked her to write it down, so I could share it here.

This story simply and openly sheds light on a grim chapter of Linda’s life. But, I hope that through its sharing, other family caregivers will gain perspective and courage to do what is being required of them (specifically as it relates to getting enough support when dealing with angry care recipients who should not be driving).

__________________________________________________________________________________________

by Linda – “At Least One Prayer Was Answered”

In September 1996 my husband was informed on a Monday that his last day of work would be Friday because he would begin kidney dialysis.  So, for the next 7 years, I was his caregiver and took care of everything.  I had a full time job with a lot of pressure and responsibility.  I had to continue my job so we could have health insurance.  Just the medical bills for my husband were over ten thousand dollars a month.

Things were going along okay. Then, in January 2004, we had an ice storm and I asked my husband to either call and postpone his session at the dialysis clinic or let me drive him there.  But no, he insisted that he could drive there himself.  So, he took off for the clinic.  He pulled into the clinic’s ice-covered parking lot and attempted to get out of the car and go in.  He fell to the ground and couldn’t get up. He had broken his leg and didn’t know it.  He crawled from the parking lot to the front door and got the staff’s attention, and then they helped him in with a wheelchair.

He insisted he’d be fine and, “let’s just do the dialysis.”  So that’s what they did. After the session he was helped back to his car and drove home.  I had shoveled out our drive way while he was gone, so he could get out of his car and into the house without any trouble.  After he got into the driveway, he called me from his cell phone to say he’d fallen, and could I come out and help him in. As I was looking at his leg I told him we needed to go to the hospital.

At the hospital, the doctor explained that because of his medical conditions, they could set his leg and put him in a cast, but the chances of it healing were very slim. He insisted they cast him and that’s what they did.  He was prescribed some very strong pain pills, and before we left, the doctor told him he would not be able to drive until he was finished with his pain medications.

So, for the next 6 months, that’s when the really tough times happened.  Because he could no longer drive, I arranged my schedule to take him to his doctor appointments. I scheduled with mass transit to take him to and from his dialysis sessions 3 times a week.  The doctors didn’t tell me that this already angry, angry man was going to get angrier on this pain medicine.  He turned into the devil, and was always yelling, calling me names, trying to hit me, etc.

When I came home from the grocery store one day in June, he and his car were both gone.  I had hidden his keys to keep him from driving, and he must have found them.  I said my prayers, “please Lord, don’t let anyone else get hurt.”  The police called me at about noon.  He was heading out Highway 26 and crossed three lanes of traffic heading the opposite direction.  He crashed into a traffic pole and died.  I asked if anyone else was hurt and was told, “no.”  So, at least one prayer was answered.

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Come join in on the holiday fun with Summerfield Retirement Estates’ “Winter Wonderland Festival of Trees” open house on Saturday, December 10th from 6-9 p.m. As an entry “fee” we are asking for a donation of a non-perishable food item for St. Anthony’s Food Pantry in Tigard.

Local businesses who would like to be a part of the event may bring and decorate a tree (artificial only please). Tree sponsors may include signage and information related to their businesses to make a great impression with all the event’s attendees on December 10th. Tree setups will begin on Monday, November 28th. For more information about becoming a tree sponsor, please call me, Shellee Baidenmann, at 503-620-8162.

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Anyone who has worked with seniors, in any way, will be able to relate with me on this. It seems that the most special, and heart-touching moments are born out of common daily experiences.

This is a note I received last week from a new client, Dorothy. It made me feel so happy and so glad I do what I do. It’s amazing how small acts of kindness and gratitude can spark such strong feelings of joy and bonds of fellowship. I’m keeping this note in my back pocket for those who can’t understand why I get so excited about serving seniors.

“Thank you Mr. Brunt for the gorgeous plant of phalaenopsis orchids. Their beautiful shades are just breathtaking. I am so sorry that it took me so long to acknowledge your thoughtfulness. Do stop in to see the orchids in their full glory. Thanks again. You must see the flowers. Your graciousness extended to me was a treasure to behold and receive. Sincerely, Dorothy.”

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Veteran’s Day is coming up on Friday, November 11. If you are looking for a way to commemorate the day and honor those who have served our country, please come to the Veteran’s Day Celebration at Rosewood Park Retirement and Assisted Living in Hillsboro.

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I’m in my 7th year of providing employment opportunities to good people in Washington County, Oregon. Something I have learned over that time is that caregiving is more than a job. Good caregivers treat their work more like a higher calling. . . something they are passionate about, because they know serving seniors is what they are “supposed” to be doing at this time in their lives.

Good caregivers come from all walks of life, but what they often have in common is they have shifted their focus from success to significance. This is a concept described by Dr. Ken Dychtwald in his book, “With Purpose: Going from Success to Significance in Work and Life.” I will be presenting on this topic at a wonderful upcoming event you are invited to attend.

Please RSVP to Claire Tronvig at 503-956-8734 or ctronvig@impactnw.org

Senior Service Opportunity Fair – Volunteer and Paid Positions Available

When: Tuesday, November 15, 4-7 p.m.

Where: Home Instead offices in Tigard (12194 SW Scholls Ferry Rd., Tigard, 97223)

For Whom: People who love seniors and who are looking for fulfilling volunteer work and part-time paid positions

What:

• Learn about opportunities Home Instead, Senior GAP Impact NW, and Hospice of Washington County
• Hear a motivational presentation about staying active, sustaining meaning, and fulfilling life through serving the elderly
• Enjoy quality refreshments and have a chance to win gifts from New Seasons, Olive Garden, and Amazon.com
• Mingle with like-minded people who are seeking significance in work and life.

Click Here to Enlarge Flyer – PDF

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Mary Alexander from Home Instead Senior Care, discusses helpful tips for enjoying holiday gatherings with our senior loved ones. During these busy family gatherings, it’s important for everyone to be aware and considerate of elderly family members’ needs. Talk to family and friends before they arrive.

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