Nursing Homes: Doing Your Homework; Staying Informed
October 8, 2010 by admin
Filed under Advice, Nursing Homes, Our Philosophy
I know I’m not alone when I say that even the words “nursing home” evoke a vaguely drab sensation. The words make me sad, because in my experiences nursing homes are sad. But it’s more than that. Nursing homes have a pretty rough reputation. Is that because we have watched those under cover investigations on 20/20 or Dateline NBC? Is it because of the horror stories we have all heard about awful patient neglect and thoughtless nursing home staff who sit and flirt in the lobby while the patients suffer helplessly?
All of that plays into the negative connotations we get, but it is important to realize something: nursing homes no longer have to be this way. All of those investigations, all of those horror stories have made an impact in the industry. Now there are government task forces and state monitors to come in unannounced at any time to check on the living conditions of the patients and the general healthiness of the environment.
These reports are online, too. Anyone who is looking for a nursing home for their loved one can go and look them up at any time. And honestly, they have no reason NOT to do this. If someone else has made complaints against a given facility, you owe it to your loved one to find out about that. If a particular nursing home has a history of health violations, check it out, and see how serious those violations were. Are these violations a pattern? Check back into previous inspections.
Doing your homework can pay off big time when looking into nursing homes. And once you choose one, you can continue to be an investigator. Talk to your loved one. Talk to other patients. Talk to the nurses. Be forthright about what you expect from them. After all, you are paying THEM to work for your loved one. As such, if they are doing a poor job meeting expectations, you can fire them and hire a better nursing home.
It’s the digital age, and you can stay informed. Even better, you can use your information to help many other people make the best decision possible for their parents and grandparents. Everybody wins with information.
The Best Nursing Homes in Portland
October 21, 2009 by admin
Filed under Long-Term Care, Nursing Homes, Oregon Directories, Portland
The following Portland Nursing Homes were recognized for excellence by the reputable evaluation sources available. They received 5-STAR marks from both US News and World Report and from Medicare’s website. The facilities were evaluated on the basis of Quality of Staff as well as performance on quality and safety inspections.
For a complete list of nursing homes in Portland, click here. For a wider glimpse of elder care services in Portland including Assisted Living and Retirement Communities, click here.
Rose City Nursing Home ★★★★★
A 30 bed facility that accepts Medicaid.
34 NE 20th Avenue
Portland, OR 97232
(503) 231-0276
Cornerstone Care Option ★★★★★
A 40 bed facility that accepts Medicaid.
12640 Se Bush
Portland, OR 97236
Telephone: (503) 761-6621
Providence Child Center ★★★★★
A 58 bed facility that accepts Medicaid.
830 Ne 47Th Avenue
Portland, OR 97213
Telephone: (503) 215-2421
Lawrence Convalescent Ctr ★★★★★
A 41 bed facility that accepts Medicaid.
812 Se 48Th Avenue
Portland, OR 97215
Telephone: (503) 236-2624
Marquis Care At Autumn Hills ★★★★★
A 39 Bed facility accepting Medicaid.
6630 Sw Beaverton Hillsdale
Portland, OR 97225
Telephone: (503) 292-7874
Town Center Village ★★★★★
A 51 Bed facility accepting both Medicare and Medicaid.
8607 Se Causey Avenue
Portland, OR 97266
Telephone: (503) 654-4500
Fernhill Estates ★★★★★
A 63 Bed Facility accepting both Medicare and Medicaid.
5737 Ne 37Th Avenue
Portland, OR 97211
Telephone: (503) 288-5967
Willamette View Health Center ★★★★★
A 6 Bed Non-profit facility that accepts Medicare
13145 Se River Road
Milwaukie, OR 97222
Telephone: (503) 353-7000
Click on a marker or enter the facility name in the search bar to find a location.
Understanding Different Types of Elder Care
October 21, 2009 by admin
Filed under Adult Day Care, Assisted Living, Home Care, Memory Care, Nursing Homes, Respite Care, independent living
If you’re looking into Elder Care options for you or a loved one, chances are, you’ve already been confused by the terminology. You understand what a nursing home is, but there are so many other types of care and terms to describe them, it can be very confusing. There’s Assisted Living and Independent Living; Home Care and Care Homes, Respite Care and Adult Day Care, Continuing care and Memory Care. The list goes on and on.
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
Think of it as a half-way option for who adults who desire independence but need some assistance. When health and aging make it too hard for a senior to live alone, many people turn to Assisted Living Facilities, which allow a healthy degree of independence for their residents, while still maintaining a helpful, supportive community around them.Adult Day Care
A community respite care service offered at staffed facilities to care for seniors who are in need of care during daytime hours. Oftentimes, these Adult Day Care facilities focus primarily on patients with Alzheimer’s or other types of Dementia.ADL’s
“Activities for Daily Living.” These are daily activities that most adults do without thinking, but can be increasingly difficult for elders as their health begins to deteriorate. These include getting dressed, eating, taking showers, etc. Home Care Services and Assisted Living facilities will often use the term “ADL’s” when describing the types of activities their staff will help with.Respite Care
A service that is offered to full-time caregivers who need a little time off, whether that means regularly or occasionally. Respite Care workers can be in-home nurses or workers at a facility such as an Adult Day Care or Assisted Living community.Home Care
Care that is provided in the senior’s own living environment. Home Care providers can offer a wide array of services depending on the patient’s needs, from skilled registered nurses who can deal with most any medical situation to Home Care companions, who can simply offer a helping hand and a watchful eye.Care Homes
Residences that offer different degrees medical care and and living assistance to the seniors who live there.Independent Living
(Also called “Retirement Communities”) A living setting designed for seniors who do not need medical care and want to maximize their independent lifestyle in an active senior community. Many Independent Living communities still offer basic benefits like hospitality and meal services, and are connected with more intensive levels of Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing homes should the need arise.Memory Care
Specialized care for seniors who suffer from Alzheimer’s or other types of Dementia. Short-term memory care often comes in the form of Respite Care, where an adult day care or a home companion can keep an eye out for seniors with memory impairment. Long-term memory care usually comes in an Assisted Living facility, where special care is taken to ensure the security, safety, and mental stimulation of the patients.Continuing Care
It has been called a “one-stop-shop” for Elder Care. Continuing Care facilities are wide in scope, offering many degrees of care. Many residents will join a continuing care community while they are still healthy, living in an Independent Living segment of the community. As their daily and medical needs increase, their level of care will increase also so that they are able to easily graduate to Assisted Living and Nursing Home care if the need arises.For Oregon Residents
To find which Elder Care facilities offer these various services in Eugene, click here.
Sylvia & John’s Residential Care
October 21, 2009 by admin
Filed under Individual Facilities
Sylvia & John’s Residential Care
19909 SE Stark St
Portland, OR 97233
503-665-8195
Sylvia & John’s Residential Care is a skilled nursing facility in Portland.
Park Forest Care Center
October 21, 2009 by admin
Filed under Individual Facilities
Park Forest Care Center
8643 NE Beech St
Portland, OR 97220
503-256-2151
Park Forest Care Center is a skilled nursing facility in Portland, OR.