Category Archives: Caring for Aging Parents

Best Retirement Community: 5 Questions You Should Ask When Looking at a Senior Community

Posted on November 21, 2012 by Katharine

1. What are the living options within the retirement community?

So often our members talk about the peace of mind that comes from living at The Cedars because we offer a full continuum of senior health services.  In addition to fully independent living we have concierge services, assisted living, short term rehabilitation and skilled care on our campus.  And because The Cedars has been providing health care to seniors for so long, we have a strong reputation in the Portland area for providing excellent care. So when looking at senior living communities not only ask about whether they have the full array of senior services but inquire into the quality of their care. Whether for the short or long term, immediate access to … Read more here.

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Best Retirement Community: Five Ways to Improve Your Bones

Posted on October 16, 2012 by Diane

Caring for Aging Parents: Five Ways to Improve Your Bones

By Diane Vigue, RN, Resident Wellness Manager, The Osher Inn at The Cedars Retirement Community

Although health bones and joints are important to people of all ages, they are a key focus in senior citizen health, and Osteoporosis a major concern for all seniors .

Osteoporosis is the most prevalent bone condition among Americans with nearly half of all women and one-quarter of men likely to suffer from its’ effects.  Each year, approximately one and a half million Americans suffer a bone fracture related to osteoporosis.  Fifty years ago, physicians believed that weak bones were a natural part of aging, but today … Read more here.

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Best Retirement Community: The Healing Effects of Pet Therapy

Posted on October 11, 2012 by Kimberly

Pet therapist with resident of The CedarsThe Healing Effects of Pet Therapy

By Janine Fifield, Life Enrichment Assistant and Volunteer Coordinator at The Cedars Retirement Community

 “Love is the most important medicine and pets are one of nature’s best sources of affection.” – Anonymous

Most of us are already aware of the wonderful benefits of being in the presence of our beloved pets. And here at The Cedars, we are honored to be a training community for local therapy dogs. On any given day, we have from one to five furry friends engaging with our residents and offering not only their unconditional love, but also their profound and medically proven … Read more here.

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Best Retirement Community: Coping with Change

Posted on October 5, 2012 by Diane

Older couple on a bench outside The CedarsBy Diane Vigue, RN, Resident Wellness Manager, The Osher Inn at The Cedars

“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” — John F. Kennedy

Change is a regular part of life. It is all around: in the seasons, in our social environment, and in our own bodies. Beginning with the first few moments of life, a person learns to meet change by being adaptive: your very first breath depends on your ability to adapt from one environment to another. And, just as the seasons change, our health and or … Read more here.

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Help with Aging Parents: Reminiscence Therapy

Posted on September 7, 2012 by Kimberly

By Kimberly Doyon, Manager of Life Enrichment at The Cedars Retirement Community

National Grandparents’ Day, proclaimed a holiday in 1978 by Jimmy Carter, is celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day.  This year it’s being celebrated on September 9.  Be sure to get in touch with the grandparents in your life – and Reminiscence Therapy is a meaningful and fun way to spend some time.

Reminiscence Therapy is a wonderful way to enhance quality of life through laughter, sharing and feelings of acceptance.  This can be a great thing to do while visiting a loved one at a skilled nursing facility. Even someone with moderate dementia may remember … Read more here.

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Getting a Good Night Sleep

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Diane

woman yawningHelp with Aging Parents: Three Tips for Getting a Good Night’s Sleep By Diane Vigue, RN, Resident Wellness Manager, The Osher Inn

Public health professionals know that a good night’s sleep an essential aspect of health promotion and chronic disease prevention, especially for the elderly.

Insufficient sleep is associated with a number of chronic diseases and conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression, all of which threaten our health. Notably, insufficient sleep is associated with the onset of these diseases and also poses important implications for their management and outcome. It is  also responsible for motor vehicle and machinery-related accidents, causing substantial injury and disability each year. 

More … Read more here.

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Help with Aging Parents: Healthy and Easy Labor Day Recipe

Posted on August 31, 2012 by Paige

By Beth Sheppard, Director of Development at The Cedars

Meals at The Cedars are always a treat, but a recent dinner served to our board and members was especially good – and healthful. It included grilled swordfish, a variety of salads and grilled vegetables, and terrific turkey skewers done on the grill.

I’d never heard of grilling turkey! When I asked our director of dining services, David Kessler, about it, he told me that turkey is low in fat, full of protein (both great for aging bodies!), and easy to grill. The trick is to use turkey tenders, which you can find in the grocery store, and to marinate them before grilling.

Dave skewered bite-sized pieces of marinated turkey tender … Read more here.

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Health and Wellness: The Truth About Cataracts

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Diane

Mother and daughter visitingHelp With Aging Parents: The Truth About Cataracts By Diane Vigue, RN, Resident Wellness Manager at The Osher Inn, assisted living at The Cedars

Did you know that 20.5 million older Americans have cataracts, one of the most curable causes of vision loss?

A cataract is clouding of the eye’s normally clear lens, blocking the passage of light needed for vision. Cataracts form slowly and cause no pain. Some stay small and hardly affect vision, but if one does grow and begin to affect your vision, it can usually be removed with surgery.

According to The American Academy of Opthamology, new techniques developed over the past decade … Read more here.

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Best Retirement Community: Visits at Skilled Care, Part III

Posted on July 3, 2012 by Melanie

Mother and daughter visiting

Help with Aging Parents: Four More Ways to Make the Most of Visits – Part III

By Melanie Desjardins, Manager of Care Coordination at The Cedars

The third part of our series on making the most of a visit with a loved on at The Cedars, senior living community. For more help, contact our Care Coordination department.

1.   Have grandchildren bring or send along artwork, papers  or projects from camp or school.  The delight that many residents get from seeing the works of children is wonderful – and the children benefit as well, receiving input and kudos from older adults.

2.  Plant and take care of an indoor/outdoor garden … Read more here.

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Best Senior Living: Options for Living Well With Dementia

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Katharine

By Lisa Clark, MS, OTR/L, Program Coordinator for Living Well with Dementia

At The Sam L. Cohen Rehabilitation Center at The Cedars, we are focused on helping people to continue living at home as long as possible. Occupational Therapists are particularly helpful in offering suggestions for positive “aging in place” for seniors who want to stay at home for as long as safely possible.  These professionals understand how changes to the older adult’s living environment can make a significant difference in how well and happily they are able to participate in the activities that are important to them.

The New York Times recently published an article in the … Read more here.

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