Assigning Elder Care Responsibilities in Portland

Siblings who are not actively involved in their parent’s daily care can feel awkward when dealing with a parent and sibling who, in many cases, now share a home. Many families have found success by creating a division of duties: one sibling handles medical and financial matters, while the others act as a support network by helping out with care and common needs like rides to the doctor’s office.

An aging parent’s life and health is greatly improved by their children’s involvement in their care. When there are multiple siblings to provide that care, it is important that the children choose a primary caretaker. The other siblings should agree to abide by and support the decisions of that caretaker, regardless of what they may fell is best for the parent.

Guardian Angel Caregivers in Portland Oregon Provides home caregivers in Portland, Portland West Hills, East Portland, Clackamas, Gresham, Boring, Happy Valley, Oregon City, Downtown Portland – please call us 503-698-2020.

Caring for Aging Parents – Sibling Communications in Portland

In recent years, more and more households in the United States are faced with the challenge of caring for an aging parent. This can be a trying task for the children of these parents, and siblings who share the burden must work to communicate and establish boundaries.

It is common for siblings to have conflicting views regarding how best to care for an aging parent. Even siblings who feel close to one another can find their relationship strained by differing views on what is best for their parent. And this conflict between siblings can interfere with their offering the support a parent needs during their later years.

As the population ages, parents with multiple children rely on them for care and support. But research shows that the overwhelming burden of that care will fall on the shoulders of just one of the children. It is this one child who will make the most sacrifices and face the most stress when dealing with their parent’s care.

Guardian Angel Caregivers in Portland Oregon - Provides home caregivers for elder care & senior home care Portland, Portland West Hills, East Portland, Clackamas, Gresham, Boring, Happy Valley, Oregon City, Downtown Portland - please call us 503-698-2020.

Communicating with Doctors – Tips for Elder’s Health in Portland

Guardian Angel Caregivers in Portland Oregon - Provides home caregivers for elder care & senior home care Portland, Portland West Hills, East Portland, Clackamas, Gresham, Boring, Happy Valley, Oregon City, Downtown Portland - please call us 503-698-2020.

Understanding your doctor’s responses is essential to good communication. Here are a few more tips:

• If you don’t understand your doctor’s responses, ask questions until you do understand.
• Take notes, or get a friend or family member to take notes for you. Or, bring a tape-recorder to assist in your recollection of the discussion.
• Ask your doctor to write down his or her instructions to you.
• Ask your doctor for printed material about your condition.
• If you still have trouble understanding your doctor’s answers, ask where you can go for more information.
• Other members of your health care team, such as nurses and pharmacists, can be good sources of information. Talk to them, too.

Additional Tips for Family Caregivers from Doctors

• Write questions down so you won’t forget them.

• Be clear about what you want to say to the doctor. Try not to ramble.

• If you have lots of things to talk about, make a consultation appointment, so the doctor can allow enough time to meet with you in an unhurried way. Educate yourself about your loved one’s disease or disability. With all the information on the Internet it is easier than ever before.

Tips for Portland Elder’s Home Care – What to ask your doctor

When visiting your doctor and have an appointment with one – here are more questions that will help you during the visit.

About the Treatment…
• What is the treatment for the condition?
• When will the treatment start, and how long will it last?
• What are the benefits of this treatment, and how successful is it?
• What are the risks and side effects associated with this treatment?
• Are there foods, drugs, or activities the elder should avoid while on this treatment?
• If the treatment includes taking a medication, what should the elder do if they miss a dose?
• Are other treatments available?

About the Tests…

• What kinds of tests will the elder have?
• What do you expect to find out from these tests?
• When will we know the results?
• Do we have to do anything special to prepare for any of the tests?
• Do these tests have any side effects or risks?
• Will they need more tests later?

Guardian Angel Caregivers in Portland Oregon - providing caregivers to your elder’s & senior’s home in Portland, Portland West Hills, East Portland, Clackamas, Gresham, Boring, Happy Valley, Oregon City, Downtown Portland – please call us 503-698-2020.

Portland Elder Care Tips – Visiting your doctor – Respite Care

Guardian Angel Caregivers in Portland Oregon - providing home caregivers in Portland, Portland West Hills, East Portland, Clackamas, Gresham, Boring, Happy Valley, Oregon City, Downtown Portland – please call us 503-698-2020.

Additional Tips for elders and senior on doctor appointments from MedlinePlus – Talking With Your Doctor

Visiting a doctor’s office can make you nervous, impatient, or even scared. You may have only a few minutes with your health care provider. Later, you might remember something you forgot to ask. Or you may forget what the doctor or nurse said. Being prepared can help you get the information you need.

Here are more things you can bring to make the most of your visit:

• Lists of your concerns, any allergies and all the medicines, herbs or vitamins you take

• A description of symptoms – when they started, what makes them better

• A notepad or tape recorder

• A trusted friend or relative

• Make sure you understand your diagnosis and any treatments. Ask your health care provider to write down his or her instructions to you. If you still have trouble understanding, ask where you can go for more information.

About My Elder’s Disease or Disorder…
• What is the diagnosis?
• What caused the condition?
• Can the condition be treated?
• How will this condition affect my elder’s vision now and in the future?
• Should we watch for any particular symptoms and notify you if they occur?
• Should they make any lifestyle changes?

Home health care agency Oregon

Sibling Cohesion and Family Dynamics When Seeking home health care in Portland

In the United States, an increasing number of people are facing a new family dynamic; as parents age, children step in to protect and care for them. When meeting this challenge, it is important to establish cooperation among siblings.

Disagreements about the future of an aging parent can divide even the most closely knit siblings. These disputes are made even more damaging by the importance of household harmony in the lives of aging parents. It has been shown that most parents relying on their children for care are most often, in fact, relying on just one child.

This son or daughter faces the greatest challenge, and generally is most affected by changes in the health or lifestyle of the parent. This relationship may also change how the siblings are able to interact; the less involved sons and daughters may not know how to approach the often cohabitating parent-child group. One helpful method is for one adult child to be in charge of monetary decisions and other day to day work, and for another to help in the event of unforeseen circumstances and serve as support.

The more aging parents’ sons and daughters are involved in their lives, the healthier and happier they will be. It is important, though, to select one sibling to have the final say in all matter and settle disagreements.

Guardian Angel Caregivers in Portland Oregon - providing caregivers at your elder’s & senior’s home in Portland, Portland West Hills, East Portland, Clackamas, Gresham, Boring, Happy Valley, Oregon City, Downtown Portland – please call us 503-698-2020.

Portland Home Caregivers for Seniors & Elder Home Care in Portland

Guardian Angel Caregivers in Portland Oregon - providing caregivers at your elder’s & senior’s home in Portland, Portland West Hills, East Portland, Clackamas, Gresham, Boring, Happy Valley, Oregon City, Downtown Portland – please call us 503-698-2020.

Guardian Angel Caregiver in Portland is there when family members “Reach out for Help”

The word “support” is thrown around a lot in the Portland, Oregon area family caregiver circles and rightfully so: caregivers routinely seek supportive relationships with others in similar situations.

Despite satisfying many emotional needs, support does not change the circumstances under which we are living, however; it does not relieve us from our very serious responsibilities. That’s the work of a different word: help.

Providing help is something family caregivers do every day and, as a result, often times we feel like the more we do the more we help. Constant activity becomes analogous to strength while passivity appears to be a sign of weakness, two illusions that all too often hide the truth. We need to learn how to define the help we need and then ask for help.

If life seems to drag on as a constant struggle, the universe may be trying to tell us something. We must understand we have both the right and the obligation to ourselves to seek help.

Portland Senior Home Care – Portland Senior & Elder Help & Sleep Tips

Take Back What’s Yours: A Good Night’s Sleep

If you’re getting older in Portland and the Sandman seems to have gone the way of the Tooth Fairy, don’t worry; there are some great solutions to taking back that sleep that’s rightfully yours. You’re not alone either; over 50% of all seniors experience some kind of sleep deprivation, from falling asleep to staying asleep.

Though some research tells us that this may be a natural bi-product of aging, dealing with melatonin, the sleep hormone, not everyone is convinced. While some who complain about sleep deprivation have lower levels of melatonin than their sound asleep counterparts, doctors still aren’t positive about the medical treatments available for those lacking in melatonin.

However, before that’s all figured out, there are three simple steps seniors can take to help bring them closer to that much deserved nighttime vacation.

1. Keep up the Hard Work – Exercise, daily or at least routine, will help signal to the body to regulate better sleep patterns. The sunlight sure doesn’t hurt either.

2. Keep the Chemicals Out – Drinks with caffeine or alcohol might be inhibiting your ability to get a good night’s rest. And though alcohol may help you fall asleep, it certainly won’t help you stay asleep.

3. Slow Down, Take a Nap – Quick and light cat naps of less than 30 minutes during they aren’t bad for you, so go ahead and rest a bit.

Any other problems that these tips don’t solve and you should talk to the doctor. You’re getting older, but good sleep is still a vital part of enjoying the day. Don’t let that time pass you by. Talk to your doctor.

Guardian Angel Caregivers in Portland Oregon - Portland, Portland West Hills, East Portland, Clackamas, Gresham, Boring, Happy Valley, Oregon City, Downtown Portland – please call us 503-698-2020.

Home Health Care in Portland – Keeping Elders Healthy at Home

Guardian Angel Caregivers in Portland Oregon - Helping Seniors and Elders living in Portland live healthier lives at home. We specialize in Live-in Home Health Care in Portland West Hills, East Portland, Clackamas, Gresham, Boring, Happy Valley, Oregon City, Downtown Portland – please call us 503-698-2020.

Continuing our post from August 14 – Building healthier senior bodies in Portland OR.

Now, if you’ve answered yes to any of these questions in our post August 14th, you’ve taken an honest look at yourself. This means you’re prepared to take the adequate steps necessary to help end the cycle of heart disease in your own life as well as sharing these lessons with your adult children.

The symptoms may be complex, but the treatment is simple. Just follow these five easy steps and you’ll have a heart healthy in no time!

1. Put Down the Pall Malls. By quitting smoking you cut your risk down by leaps and bounds. It’s the first thing to do in order to slice those symptoms.

2. Put Down the Ruffles. By staying away from saturated fats filled with bad cholesterol, you’ve brought yourself down by the next largest step in heart-risk.

3. Pick Up Some Veggies. Diversifying your diet with fruits, vegetables, grains and low-fat meats and dairy you give your body the good foundation it needs to combat heart disease. Another simple step for a scary problem.

4. Pick Up Some Weight. Hitting the gym and exercising regularly will lower those pesky triglyceride levels. Your blood sugar will drop and you’ll lose some weight. Pick up the pounds to put off the pounds and you’ll be keeping that bad cholesterol in check.

5. Pick Up the Phone. And call your doctor every now and then. He or she will talk to you about your body’s specific and unique needs when it comes to heart disease. He or she will tell you when to exercise more or when to take the right medication to help you with your heart.

Those scary symptoms and risk charts are out there, but by facing them head on and taking what are relatively simple steps, you’ll ensure a longer, healthier life.

Portland Senior Care – Assessing Senior Citizens Hearts

Five Steps to a Heart-Healthy You, a Senior in Portland OR!

You’ve probably heard the news: heart disease is the number one killer of American women. It’s true and oftentimes it can be a scary thought. But where’s the good advice? How much are you at risk? It runs in your family but you’re not quite sure how to turn the tide.

Well, first let’s breathe deep and take a look at the symptoms. Being aware is the best thing. Let’s ask ourselves if we showed some of these signs and then we’ll see what the possible outcomes may be.

…Were You?  Is so, then you:

• Overweight as a child? Have developed thicker heart muscles. You may have a larger risk of heart attacks as you grow older.
• 10 to 20 pounds overweight as an adult? Have a 25% increased risk of a heart attack from the time you hit 40 until you’re 70.
• 18-24 pounds overweight as an adult? Have a 65% increased risk of a heart attack from the time you hit 40 until you’re 70.
• 24 pounds overweight when you were 18? Have a 100% increased risk of a heart attack than the average person.
• Diagnosed with high triglyceride levels in your blood? May be producing high amounts of plaque in your blood vessels. This can harden your heart and eventually lead to a heart attack.

More in our next posting.. visit soon.

Guardian Angel Caregivers in Portland Oregon - Specializing in Live-in Home Health Care in Portland West Hills, East Portland, Clackamas, Gresham, Boring, Happy Valley, Oregon City, Downtown Portland – please call us 503-698-2020.