CAPECO
  • Home
    • FAQ
    • About
    • News
    • Community Needs Assessment
    • Donate
    • Employment
    • Volunteers
    • Photo Release
    • Projects
    • Disclaimer
    • Request For Proposal
  • Services
    • Independence >
      • Money Management
    • Senior Services/AAA
    • Food & Nutrition >
      • Food
      • Food Pantries
      • Senior Nutrition
      • Governor's State Employees Food Drive
    • Housing >
      • Shelter / Promise Inn
      • Eviction Prevention
      • Rent Well
      • Home 4 Hope
    • Homeownership >
      • Financial Literacy Workshop & Counseling
      • Homebuyer Education & Counseling
      • Post-Purchase Couseling
      • Foreclosure Prevention
    • Utilities >
      • Energy
      • Water
    • Weatherization
    • Youth
    • Emergency >
      • Helping Hand
  • Apply Online
    • Energy Assistance
    • Food Assistance
    • Rent Assistance
  • Locations
  • Translate
    • Español
    • Esperanto
    • Filipino
    • Russian
    • Tiếng Việt
    • Ukrainian
    • 中文
  • Contact

Caregivers

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels

Finding Caregivers for Aging Parents

5/31/2023

2 Comments

 
A man in white shirt standing beside an elderly man sitting on a chair.Photo by Kampus Production on Pexels.com
As our loved ones age, it can become necessary to find a caregiver to help them with daily tasks or medical needs. The process of choosing the right caregiver for an aging parent can be challenging, and it's important to carefully consider all the options before making a decision.

One option is to hire a professional caregiver or home health aide. These individuals are trained and experienced in providing care for seniors, and they can provide valuable assistance with tasks such as bathing, dressing, and medication management. Professional caregivers can work full-time or part-time, depending on your needs and budget.

Another option is to enlist the help of family members or friends. This can be a more cost-effective solution than hiring a professional caregiver, and it can provide your aging parent with the emotional support and companionship they need. However, it's important to ensure that family caregivers are compensated and have the necessary skills and abilities to provide safe and effective care.

You may also want to consider an adult daycare program. These programs provide a safe and social environment for seniors during the day, while allowing their family members to work or attend to other responsibilities. Adult daycare programs offer a range of activities and services, including meals, medication management, and counseling services.

Finally, you may want to consider assisted living facilities or nursing homes. These facilities provide 24-hour care and support for seniors who can no longer live independently. They offer a wide range of services and amenities, and can provide a safe and supportive environment for aging parents.

Choosing a caregiver for an aging parent can be a difficult decision, but there are many options to consider. These include hiring a professional caregiver, enlisting the help of family members or friends, considering an adult daycare program, or looking into assisted living facilities or nursing homes. It's important to carefully evaluate each option and choose the one that best meets the needs of your aging parent and your family.

Click the buttons below for resources and more information.
Personal Care Agreements
Medicaid Planning
Oregon Care Partners
Seven Steps to Take
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
Independent & Senior Services
2 Comments

Holding a Family Meeting

12/23/2022

0 Comments

 
Caregivers are often advised to seek help to lessen the caregiving workload. For many individuals, the natural place to turn for such help is family. Family Caregiver Alliance’s Holding a Family Meeting fact sheet provides information on how to approach the subject, advice on creating an agenda, lists key points to consider discussing, and explains potential conflicts that may arise.
fact sheet
0 Comments

Caregiving can turn your retirement plans upside down

12/22/2022

0 Comments

 
Here's a great article to read that gives eight tips on how to provide assistance — and help yourself, if you are experiencing caring for a loved one while retired or are anticipating this scenario in the near future.
This quick read, written by Richard Eisenberg, hits on some of those high points and gives a bit of healthy advice in the process.
Read article here
0 Comments

Residential Care - Five Types

12/21/2022

1 Comment

 
When the level of care needed by an ailing or elder person exceeds what can be provided at home, residential housing is often a next step. But how do you sort through the variety of options available and choose the correct level of care?

Family Caregiver Alliance's infographic “5 Types of Residential Care” reveals the five types of outside-the-home care found in most urban and suburban communities, and what to expect from each. Learn which options are best suited for an individual’s wants or needs, including:
  • Smaller, more homey environments
  • Apartment-like residential communities
  • Facilities offering memory and dementia care
  • Facilities offering 24-hour nursing supervision
infographic
1 Comment

Pain and Older Adult

10/6/2022

0 Comments

 
Pain is a signal that something may be wrong in your body. You’ve probably been in pain at one time or another but found that it often goes away as the body heals or with treatment. However, many older people may have ongoing pain from health problems like arthritis, diabetes, shingles, or cancer. 
 
A few things you can do to help manage your pain and feel better are:
  • Keep a healthy weight. Being overweight can slow healing and make some pain worse. A healthy weight might help with pain in the knees, back, hips, or feet.
  •  Be physically active. Pain might make you inactive, which can lead to more pain and loss of function. Activity can help. 
  • Get enough sleep. It can reduce pain sensitivity, help healing, and improve your mood.
 
The National Institute for Aging has released an informative booklet discussing different aspects of pain experienced by older adults.  To view the booklet, click the button below.
View Booklet
0 Comments

Healthy Aging Tips for the Older Adults in Your Life

10/5/2022

1 Comment

 
If you have older family members or loved ones, you may worry about their health as they age. Aging increases the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, arthritis, cancer, and dementia. The good news is that adopting and maintaining a few key behaviors can help older adults live longer, healthier lives. As a family member, it’s important to encourage healthy lifestyle behaviors in your loved ones — it’s never too late to start!
 
For tips on healthy aging, click the button below.
Learn More
1 Comment

How Older Adults Can Get Started with Exercise

10/4/2022

0 Comments

 
Deciding to become physically active can be one of the best things you can do for your health. Exercise and physical activity are not only great for your mental and physical health, but they can help keep you independent as you age.  
 
To learn more, click the button below.
Learn more
0 Comments

Social Stress Contributes to Accelerated Aging of the Immune System, Study Finds

10/2/2022

0 Comments

 
Picture
Exposure to social stress was associated with accelerated aging of the immune system, according to an NIA-funded study recently published in PNAS. The body’s immune system changes as people age, and there’s large variability in these changes. The study, led by researchers at UCLA, investigated whether social stressors added to immune system decline.
 
To learn more, click the button below.

Learn More
0 Comments

Partnering with Your Healthcare Provider:A Resource for People Living with Memory Problems and Their Care Partners

9/29/2022

0 Comments

 
The University of Washington Dementia Palliative Education Network and the WA State Dementia Action Collaborative have created a new free toolkit for family/friend care partners of people living with dementia. 
 
The goal of this toolkit is to: 

  • Explain how to form a working partnership with healthcare providers
  • Show hot to organize, streamline tasks, and communicate about the care needs of the person living with dementia 
  • Reduce chances of avoidable care transitions 
 
The toolkit includes:

  • Easy-to-navigate narrated presentation
  • Video scenario demonstrations 
  • Care, medication, and appointment log sheets 
 
For more information about the toolkit, click here. To view the flyer, click the button below.
Flyer
0 Comments

How to start a conversation about changes in memory and function

9/28/2022

0 Comments

 
If you don’t see an aging parent or friend often, changes in their memory and function may seem dramatic. In contrast, a primary caregiver like a spouse might not notice such changes or realize that more help, medical treatment, or supervision is needed. Talk with your loved one and the primary caregiver about your concerns. Consider these conversation tips:
  • Avoid sounding critical. Instead, mention your particular worry, and explain why you are asking. For example, “It looks like you don’t have much food in the house — are you having trouble getting to the store?”
  • Discuss what you think could be done. Offer practical suggestions and give specific examples of what you can do. For example, “Would it be helpful if I schedule an appointment with the doctor to talk about changes in Dad’s memory?” or “Would you like me to arrange to have groceries delivered on a regular basis?”
Click the button below to find more conversation tips for discussing changes in memory and function from the National Institute on Aging.
Assessing Changes in Memory and Function
0 Comments

Planning for Your Retirement, and for a Child's Needs, All at Once

9/2/2022

0 Comments

 
Rachel Nagler, 39, has worked part time since she was 22, but she will never be financially independent, according to her father. She is legally blind with a seizure disorder and mild cognitive impairment, the result of birth trauma.
For her parents, Sam and Debra Nagler of Concord, Mass., planning for retirement required them to focus on Rachel's future as well as their own. 
Read More
0 Comments

How to Help a Parent Who Is the Primary Caregiver

8/28/2022

8 Comments

 
Caring for an older family member often requires teamwork. A primary caregiver — especially a parent — may be hesitant to ask for help or a break. A few ways you can help are:
  • Provide emotional and moral support. Acknowledge how important the caregiver has been and discuss the physical and emotional effects of caregiving. Just listening may not sound like much help, but often it is.
  • Offer to arrange for respite care. Respite care will give your parent a break from caregiving responsibilities and an opportunity to care for themselves.
  • Help coordinate a move to assisted living or a nursing home. In time, the person receiving care may have to move to a residential facility. If that happens, you can help your parent by selecting a facility that fits everybody’s needs.
Click the button below to learn more about supporting a parent with caregiving responsibilities.
Learn More
8 Comments

What is Parkinson’s Disease?

8/26/2022

0 Comments

 
Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination. Symptoms usually begin gradually and worsen over time. Common symptoms include:

  • Tremor in hands, arms, legs, jaw, or head
  • Muscle stiffness, where muscle remains contracted for a long time
  • Slowness of movement
  • Impaired balance and coordination, sometimes leading to falls
 
While the exact cause of the disease remains unknown, many researchers believe that Parkinson’s results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. There is no cure for Parkinson’s, but there are medicines, surgical treatments, and other therapies that can relieve some of the symptoms associated with the disease.
 
To learn more about Parkinson's disease, click the button below.
Learn Moe
0 Comments

How can strength training build healthier bodies as we age?

8/23/2022

1 Comment

 
Some people perform incredible feats of strength and endurance well into their retirement years. The great news is: You don’t have to bench press 300 pounds or run a marathon to benefit from strength training.

NIA-funded researchers have been studying the effects of strength training for more than 40 years and have identified multiple ways it can benefit older adults, including maintaining muscle mass, improving mobility, and increasing the healthy years of life.

Click below to learn more about the findings, along with tips for maintaining strength or becoming stronger as you age.
More Info
1 Comment

What I Learned When I Became My Parents' Caregiver

8/19/2022

0 Comments

 
I didn’t volunteer to become a caregiver to my elderly parents. Instead, I was slowly initiated into the role. It started by doing little things to help. Even though they were in their mid-eighties, they insisted on staying in Pensacola, Fla., their home of 50 years. Since I lived in Virginia, I called twice a week to check on them and shopped for them online. With each visit, I tried to notice things that would tell me if they were doing all right.
READ MORE
0 Comments

Healthy Aging Tips for the Older Adults in Your Life

8/16/2022

1 Comment

 
As a caregiver, you may worry about the health of older family members or other loved ones as they age. The good news is that adopting and maintaining a few key behaviors can help older adults live longer, healthier lives — and it’s never too late to start! Consider these tips to boost healthy habits:
  • Promote physical activity. Exercise can help reduce levels of stress and anxiety, improve balance and lower risk of falls, enhance sleep, and reduce feelings of depression.
  • Encourage healthy eating. Having a healthy diet can support muscles and strengthen bones, which can help with balance and independence.
  • Schedule regular check-ups with a doctor. Staying on top of doctor visits may help reduce risk factors for disease such as high blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Find more ways you can support healthy aging in older adults.
support healthy aging
1 Comment

What Is Respite Care?

8/13/2022

4 Comments

 
Respite care provides short-term relief for primary caregivers. It can be arranged for just an afternoon or for several days or weeks. Care can be provided at home, in a healthcare facility, or at an adult day center.
Read More
4 Comments

10 Myths About Aging

8/8/2022

1 Comment

 
It’s important to understand what is and isn’t a normal part of aging. Many people make assumptions about what it’s like to grow “old” and how older age will affect them. Research has shown that you can help preserve your health and mobility as you age by adopting or continuing healthy habits and lifestyle choices. A few common myths about aging are:
  • The older I get, the less sleep I need. Older adults need the same amount of sleep as all adults — seven to nine hours each night.
  • Only women need to worry about osteoporosis. Although osteoporosis is more common in women, this disease still affects many men and could be underdiagnosed.
  • It’s inevitable that older people will get dementia. Dementia isn’t a normal part of aging. Although the risk of dementia grows as people get older, it’s not inevitable, and many people live into their 90s and beyond without the significant declines in thinking and behavior that characterize dementia.
Read all 10 myths
1 Comment

Adult Day Programs Help Seniors Live at Home Longer

8/3/2022

3 Comments

 
Adult day programs improve quality of life for seniors and caregivers

When your older adult can’t safely be alone all day on their own or if they feel lonely or isolated, consider enrolling them in an adult day program.

Adult day programs can help an older adult remain at home longer – delaying the need to move to assisted living.
They also allow seniors to socialize while getting the care they need. 
Day programs are also a great way for caregivers to get much-needed breaks to reduce stress and prevent burnout so your own health doesn’t significantly decline while caregiving.

They can be especially helpful if you work full time outside of the home and your older adult needs affordable care during the day.
We explain what adult day programs are, how they help seniors live at home longer, who would do well in these programs, how they help caregivers, and how much they cost.

Read full article here
3 Comments

National Falls Prevention Awareness Week

8/3/2022

0 Comments

 
National Council on Aging Presents - National Falls Prevention Awareness Week
 
The National Council on Aging has sponsored National Falls Prevention Awareness week for the past 15 years. The goal of this campaign is to provide older adults with valuable information on how to reduce their risk of falling, and spread awareness about why this matters. NCOA's Falls Free CheckUp is an online screening tool that can serve as a first step for older adults to learn more about falls risk and steps to prevent falls and accidents.
 
National Falls Prevention Awareness Week will be held on September 18-24, 2022.
FALLS FREE CHECKUP
Resources
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Caregiver

    Whether in a medical professional setting or personal homes, Caregivers are caring and caring takes energy, wisdom and compassion.  This Caregiver Blog is here to give you insight, encouragement and tools, not just to give care but to survive and thrive while doing it.

    Archives

    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022

    Categories

    All
    Abuse
    Aging
    Alzheimers
    Behaviors
    Communication
    Dementia
    Depression
    Emergencies
    Exercise
    Falls
    Family
    Financial
    Grief
    Health
    Housing
    Legal
    Long Distance
    Meals
    Mealtime
    Medications
    Menopause
    Mental Health
    Nutrition
    Pain
    Parenting
    Parents
    Resources
    Respite
    Rest
    Retirement
    Safety
    Self Care
    Siblings
    Strength
    Study
    TIPS
    Veterans
    Work

    RSS Feed

Community Action Program of East Central Oregon

CAPECO-Works.org

Picture
ABOUT
DONATE
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
DISCLAIMER
STAFF LOGIN
Copyright 2025, CAPECO (Community Action Program of East Central Oregon)

  • Home
    • FAQ
    • About
    • News
    • Community Needs Assessment
    • Donate
    • Employment
    • Volunteers
    • Photo Release
    • Projects
    • Disclaimer
    • Request For Proposal
  • Services
    • Independence >
      • Money Management
    • Senior Services/AAA
    • Food & Nutrition >
      • Food
      • Food Pantries
      • Senior Nutrition
      • Governor's State Employees Food Drive
    • Housing >
      • Shelter / Promise Inn
      • Eviction Prevention
      • Rent Well
      • Home 4 Hope
    • Homeownership >
      • Financial Literacy Workshop & Counseling
      • Homebuyer Education & Counseling
      • Post-Purchase Couseling
      • Foreclosure Prevention
    • Utilities >
      • Energy
      • Water
    • Weatherization
    • Youth
    • Emergency >
      • Helping Hand
  • Apply Online
    • Energy Assistance
    • Food Assistance
    • Rent Assistance
  • Locations
  • Translate
    • Español
    • Esperanto
    • Filipino
    • Russian
    • Tiếng Việt
    • Ukrainian
    • 中文
  • Contact