Anyway, there is the backdrop… So the University of Kansas decided to hire people to keep tabs on their athletes; to make sure they weren’t cutting classes. They had tried using other students, but of course, that didn’t work. So instead, they hired grandparents!

Okay, not the actual grandparents. The University hired a retired elderly police officer and a band of additional senior citizens to watch over the shoulders of the student athletes. If they cut class, the will report them. So far, this arrangement seems to be working out great. The students would prefer a different system, of course, but they go with it. They know deep down that they need the accountability. And who better to give it than actual elderly folks?

This just goes to show you that a retired senior can still make a world of difference. And there are a host of volunteer opportunities as well as part time work available to those who are willing to work outside the box.

So kudos to Kansas! They made a smart move!

How do they do it? They have an army of volunteers designed to make tax time less painful. Seniors who have normal “straight forward” tax returns are welcome to bring their returns along with their 2010 financial statements and identification to an AARP Tax Aide volunteer site.

There is, of course, the chance that a senior’s taxes will be too complicated to be handled for free by a Tax Aide volunteer. Seniors generally know when they fall in to this category. Remember, these are volunteer tax preparers who are giving of their time for free. If you think your taxes could be too much for a volunteer to handle in a reasonable amount of time, it is better to contact a professional tax preparers office, like H & R Block.

The tax Aide service is a great tradition, put on by some great, big hearted folks. To find a location to get your taxes done if you are a low income senior (or a senior loved one, if you are not:), visit the AARP site here. If you need some other type of care for elders in your life, visit our homepage.

So how do they help? Do they fetch memories of yesteryear, when the senior they are visiting had a dog of their own? Maybe. But probably not. What they do is help the patient relax. People who experience pet therapy often get their stress levels reduced, along with their blood pressure. In general, they just feel better.

So what does this mean for you? It means you can take advantage. Do you care for your loved one at home? Maybe you should think about getting them a dog. A friendly one, like a well trained golden retriever. Or if you have your senior in an Oregon assisted living facility, consider having pet therapy visits by bringing a pet to them.

I know, I know… it doesn’t have to be a dog. It could be a cat. Or a hamster, or a parrot for that matter. But I’ve got my money on Fido.

But what can you possibly do in the winter?

Here are just a few ideas:

Things to do with Grandma in a Wet Winter Climate:

• Grab an umbrella and take a walk at the park.
• Go visit a nature reserve.
• Take the kids along to the zoo. The animals don’t take days off when it’s wet!

Things to do with Grandma in a Cold Winter Climate:

• Get to a coffee shop, grab some hot tea, and then go take in a local show
• Go to the mall. It’s not snowing there!
• Go pick her up and bring her over to your house. Have her make cookies with the kids.
• Grab a DVD, pick up some lunch, and surprise her at the elderly care facility. That way, she doesn’t even have to put on a coat to have some special family time.

I know, I know… these are pretty basic ideas. But the fact that I came up with a half dozen in a few minutes shows just what a no-brainer this is. So what if the weather is bad! There are lots of things you can do to have a good time, and to help your loved one remember that she is not forgotten!

Finding Senior Services in Central Oregon

The Central Oregon Council on Aging (COCOA) is an example of senior citizen service organizations networking together to care for the seniors of central Oregon. COCOA is a private nonprofit organization whose goal is to meet the immediate needs of central Oregon’s senior citizens while supporting their dignity, safety, and independence.

Seniors in LaPine, Madras, Sisters, Redmond, Prineville, and Bend, Oregon may benefit from transportation services including discounted bus fares and personal transportation to and from work, doctor’s appointments, shopping centers, and other recreational destinations offered through COCOA’s Dial-A-Ride service.

Another well known organization, Meals-on-Wheels, in conjunction with COCOA, provides hot weekday lunches and frozen weekend meals and nutritional information to central Oregon seniors who are house-bound.

COCOA has networked with senior centers in central Oregon to help seniors become aware of the elder care services and community activities offered through their local senior center. Providing opportunities for seniors to connect with each other and give back to their community by participating in projects are just twp of the many ways senior centers are enriching the lives of Central Oregon’s seniors.

In addition to the above services, COCOA has coordinated with SHIBA (Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance) to provide seniors with assistance in obtaining medical insurance, understanding insurance coverage, and resolving medical bill or insurance disputes.

To find out more about the elderly care services offered by the Central Oregon Council on Aging, call 1-877-704-4567.

But for others, this lifestyle quickly starts to feel empty. Maybe it is the lack of productivity. Or maybe it is the lack of personal contact–even if it just means they don’t see people at the office anymore. But whatever it is, it feels hollow. And they want more.

Thankfully, we live in a world where volunteering is understood to be a noble pursuit. And seniors all around the country, from Oregon Assisted Living facilities to Texas Elderly Care homes, to retirees in Florida, have found that volunteering can fulfill them even more than their career did.

What do seniors volunteer for? Virtually anything. The Retired Senior Volunteer Program, or RSVP, connects thousands of seniors with local services all around the country. Seniors can do what they know how to do, whether that means teaching an adult education class, knitting a blanket for a nursing home, painting a house, tutoring a child, or giving advice to local businessmen. The opportunities are as varied as the seniors who fill them.

When seniors plug into the community, they find a kind of fulfillment that only comes when one human being helps another. To find volunteer opportunities in Oregon, click here.

Many seniors never knew that trial stays were even an option. But in many Oregon Assisted Living facilities (and others around the country), seniors who are interested in joining the community but not ready to commit can come and stay for a short time to see if it is a good fit. They can stay in a private room for a day or two, or a week or to. Even a month! And all the while, they will be immersed in the assisted living lifestyle, and be treated just as if they are a resident. They will eat meals with the residents. They can be a part of all the social activities. And they can experience what it is like to be cared for by the staff.

Temporary assisted living is a wonderful solution for many seniors.

Some of these communities open up their doors to seniors who are visiting their town for a few days. So if grandma is coming to town to visit the kids, she doesn’t have to stay with the family if she doesn’t want to. Instead, she could stay at the assisted living facility, just as if it is a high end hotel. This lets her get a good taste for the lifestyle, just in case she wants to move in some day.

How do you know if an assisted living facility allows trial stays? Just give them a call. That’s it. Most are going to be very accommodating because they really want your business.

So before you sign the elder care papers, take a test drive. Take an assisted living trial stay.

1. Location: Where do you want to settle down? There are several considerations here, of course. First and foremost is the proximity between your loved one and the rest of the family. Are you close? If not, then this will not matter quite as much. But for family oriented senior citizens, there is simply no substitute for being close to the grandkids. And you, too:) So make sure the city you choose isn’t too much of a hike. But even beyond family concerns, ask yourself what type of climate and setting they like. Are they active, and do they enjoy getting out to shop, go to shows or restaurants? Then Portland or Salem is probably your best bet. Do they enjoy beautiful scenery? Bend, Medford Ashland are the place for mountain lovers, and ocean dwellers should look into Newport, Florence, or  Coos Bay, among others.




2. Type of Care: How physically intact is your loved one? Are they fighting with diseases that require them to have a nurse around them twenty four seven? If not, then you probably do not need a full time nursing home. There are many types of care that would help them still, like a traditional assisted living facility, where they could benefit from being around peers during the day, but still maintining some privacy and independence. They would have medical help when needed, but they could keep to themselves as much as they would like to. Assisted Living also provides great outlets for fellowship and fun. If that sounds like just… too many people and too much activity, consider the residential home care option. This is assisted living on a small scale, where a senior citizen lives in house with a family (often including a nurse), who will live right there with them as if it was their own home. Or maybe you can care for them some of the time, but you can’t during the week days. Maybe an adult day care center would be just the type of part time elder care you need!




3. Cost. Will medicare cover the type of housing they need? Most assisted living homes will not be covered, but most nursing homes will. Just be sure to check this right at the forefront. No sense getting half way into the process before realizing you will not be able to afford it.

So there you have it. Three easy preliminary steps to get you into the right frame of mind before choosing an Oregon Assisted Living facility. Now comes the fun part: looking into individual facilities, and checking out the amenities. You can start that right now, too, by using the “Find Senior Housing” box at the top of this page. Have fun!

Finding a doctor who is competent and has an excellent bedside manner is difficult, but possible, you just have to know where to look and who to ask.

Check with the local support group, particularly one specific to your illness. Many of these people have first hand experience with local practitioners and can tell you who to avoid, and who will potentially suit your needs. If your choices are limited, sometimes just being prepared for Dr. Textbook can really help (like bringing a list of questions).

Quality assurance checks are becoming more and more frequent in the field of medical care. Many doctors reports are free, others charge a small fee.

Online message board or chat groups are excellent sources of anecdotal feedback about caregivers.

Ultimately, you may not know if a doctor will suit your needs until you meet them, so be willing to keep searching. Medical insurance policies can make switching doctors difficult, but switching to a provider who will provide better care and communicate effectively with you could certainly be worth the hassle.

In order to know what type of care you’re looking for, you need to understand your terms. Here are some helpful definitions to some of the most common terms out there to get you one step further down the road.

Assisted Living

Adult Day Care

ADL’s

Respite Care

Home Care

Care Homes

Independent Living

Memory Care

Continuing Care

For Oregon Residents