Read More]]> Caregiving is a demanding role.   It is easy to neglect your own health and well-being when you are deeply involved with addressing your loved one’s needs.  To relieve stress and prevent burnout, caregivers, whether full-time or only part-time, need periodic breaks to recharge and enjoy their own lives.  Although circumstances may make taking time off difficult, there are a number ways to take a much-needed break.

One of the best ways for a caregiver to obtain a needed rest is to arrange a short-term stay for his or her loved one in a safe, caring and nurturing environment. A number of senior living communities, including Aegis Living, offer short-term stays.   These brief stays, also called “respite” or “vacation stays” are also available to help seniors recently discharged from the hospital who temporarily need a little extra help.

Vacation stays provide individual attention and support, the comforts of home and the company of other residents in the community.  Vacation and respite stays can vary from a few days to up to a month.

At Aegis Living, short-term stay guests are treated to private furnished apartments, meals and snacks prepared by the resident chef and the opportunity to take part in a wide variety of recreational, social and cultural activities.  In addition, guests receive whatever assistance they require for daily functioning from a professional trained staff.

When evaluating a respite program, you should ensure that your loved one is getting the best quality care they deserve.  Here are a few questions to ask:

• Are families limited to a certain number of hours for services needed?
• Can I meet and interview the people who will be providing the respite care?
• Does the program provide transportation?
• Does the program keep an active file on medical conditions and other needs?  Is there a written care plan?
• How are the caregivers trained?  Do they receive extra training where appropriate to meet specific needs (for example, dementia or Alzheimer’s)?
• How far ahead of time do I need to call to arrange services?

By giving yourself a break, you can help ensure that you’ll keep giving the best of care to your loved one upon their return.

To inquire about a short term stay, contact a community.

Read More]]> Visiting a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s can sometimes be difficult.  It is normal for you to be at a loss for words or ideas of what to do, when they may be non-responsive or unfocused.  The good news is the staff at Aegis Living is always willing to help make your visit a benefit for you both.

Here are a few suggestions to help you plan your next visit with a loved one with dementia:

• Bring a specific project or small object to share or to do with the resident.  For example:
  • Bring an old photo album or picture book that your loved one enjoys.
  • Bring in old letters that you wrote to your loved one when you were young, while you were away at college or in the service. Read these aloud to your loved one to stimulate pleasant memories of the past.
  • Bring in tapes, an iPod or CDs with familiar tunes or hymns to sing along to.
  • Bring in short stories such as “Chicken Soup for the Soul” or bible verses to read aloud to them.
  • Bring in hand lotion in a favorite scent to give your loved one a soothing hand massage while reminiscing about the past.
  • Bring in a favorite snack to share together.
• Use your visit to walk around, hold their hand and explore the different areas of the community with your loved one.  The courtyard is a great place to sit and watch the birds or water the flowers together.
• End the visit not at the door, but with your loved one engaged in a project or with a staff member, so you can slip away quietly.
• Engage the staff for suggestions or ideas on how to make the most of your visits.    They are a helpful resource.

To learn  more about our services and amenities, find a community.

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Recently, Aegis Living hosted a launch party for our newest community Aegis Gardens of Newcastle due to open in Spring 2015.  This unique community will mirror our current Asian community, Aegis Gardens in Fremont, California.

Although we have yet to break ground, this party was an important introduction into the Asian community here in the greater Seattle area and an opportunity for Aegis to find key contacts to serve on our advisory board during the development of this unique community.

At Aegis Gardens, our focus on Chinese culture is reflected in everything we do.  Our community is designed to be warm and inviting with thoughtfully designed architecture and interiors that are based on feng-shui.  In addition, we offer an enticing activity program, delicious cuisine, and 24-hour care provided by our professional and compassionate Chinese and English-speaking staff. Our community provides an environment for residents to interact and socialize with individuals of the same cultural background and interests.

Aegis of Newcastle will be located on a beautiful, serene property on Lake Boren close to shopping, health care, dining and entertainment, including Newcastle Golf Club.  We are excited to share this assisted living and memory care community here in Washington.

Northwest Asian Weekly reported on the launch party which brought together the Aegis Gardens senior staff and leaders of the Chinese community in the Seattle area.

Photo by George Liu / NWAW

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Aegis Living is so proud to be part of the fundraising efforts in opening the new food program for homeless and low-income residents of Seattle at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, just steps from the Space Needle.  The food program first began operations more than 30 years ago until this past November when it closed due to financial strain.  A major community fundraising effort has raised over $100,000 to reopen the Food Bank and provide for two years of funding.

Over 30 volunteers will serve up to 150 sack lunches daily and meet the needs of over 50 lower income Queen Anne families with 20 pounds of groceries per week. “Aegis Living will be opening a new assisted living community in Queen Anne in 2014 and are proud to be able to participate in a meaningful way with a contribution to this neighborhood of Seattle.  As company that cares for seniors at the time of their lives when they are most vulnerable, we understand that while most people would prefer to help themselves, sometimes they simply do need assistance from others, “says Judy Meleliat, CMO of Aegis Living.

“We made a commitment to Sacred Heart to fund this food program at $2,500 monthly for three years. Perhaps this support, when added to all the other very generous contributions, will enable the food bank to satisfy its mission while at the same time build a sustainable operating model for the future.”

The Seattle Times covered the closing of the food program as well as the reopening ribbon cutting ceremony.

Read More]]> If you are a wartime Veteran or spouse, you may be eligible to receive benefits to help pay for your healthcare costs. Learn about the little-known “Aid and Attendance Special Benefit” for Wartime Veterans and/or their surviving spouses and how to qualify for up to $2019 per month, tax free. This benefit is reserved for qualified veterans and their spouses.

There is great amount of information that needs to be gathered and prepared when applying for the Aid & Attendance Special Pension, including:

• Discharge/Separation Papers (DD-214). If you need to request military records, you can fill out a Standard Form 180 or visit www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/standard-form-180.html
• Copy of current Social Security Award Letter
• Net Worth information, including bank accounts, CDs, Trusts, Stocks, Bonds, Annuities, etc.
• Proof of all income from pensions, retirement, interest income from investments, annuities, etc.
• Banking information for Direct Deposit of A&A monthly payments (including a voided check).
• Employment history only if you are under 65.
• Proof of insurance premium, medications, medical bills or any other medical expenses that are not reimbursed by insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid.
• List of all doctors and hospitals visited in the last year.
• Physician statement that includes current diagnosis, medical status, prognosis, name and address, ability to care for self, ability to travel unattended.
• Copy of Marriage Certificate (surviving spouses only).
• Copy of Death Certificate (surviving spouses only).

Once you have all of this information gathered, you will need to obtain and complete VA Form 21-526 or VA Form 21-534. You can find these forms at your local VA office, download here or inquire at your nearest Aegis Living community.

Read More]]> There are many concepts and terms that you will encounter when researching senior living options for you or a loved one.

What is Home Health Care?

Home health care includes skilled nursing care, as well as, other skilled care services such as physical, occupational, speech and language therapy services. Services may also include medical social services and assistance from a home health aide.

A variety of health care professionals will perform these services in your home. The home health staff provides and helps coordinate the care and therapy ordered by your doctor. In support of your doctor’s orders, home health staff will develop a personal care plan. The home health staff keeps your doctor up-to-date on how you are doing and updates your care plan as needed.

What are the different types of living options for seniors?

Aegis Living offers three different types of living communities:  Independent Living for active seniors looking for amenities, social events and a wide variety of floorplans; Assisted Living for those wanting help with health concerns or other issues impacting their daily life; and Memory Care for people living with Alzheimer’s or other dementia. See our Care Options for more details.

What is Assisted Living?

Assisted Living is an alternative for seniors combining the best elements of independent living and personal care. Residents of Assisted Living can enjoy private apartments, restaurant style dinning, and an array of activities tailored to their interests and abilities, while getting the extra help they need and making new friends. Find a Community

What is the difference between a nursing home and assisted living?

There is a significant difference between assisted living and a nursing home. A nursing home is a medical facility with a high-level of nursing care for the chronically ill of all ages Whereas an independent or assisted living residence are individual apartments that offers healthcare services, communal areas and social activities in a home environment for seniors.

What are the benefits of Assisted Living?

When thinking of moving a loved one into an assisted living community, sometimes the guilt or discomfort can cloud the many benefits to your family member’s health and well-being, perhaps more than you can give them on your own.

Some of the top benefits for moving your loved one to assisted living include:

• Safety: If your loved one is frail, unsteady or visually impaired, living in a community with assistance can help them not only maintain a sense of independence but also serve as a safety net if they were to have an emergency.

• Social: Assisted living provides a constant source of friendship and brings quality to the lives of our residents through conversation, social activities and celebrating special occasions with others.

• Nutrition: We offer a variety of meal times and menu choices to make sure our resident are getting their proper caloric intake, vitamins and hydration. We know that as people age, buying groceries and preparing meals becomes more difficult and those suffering from dementia can forget to eat altogether.

• Healthcare: Our nurse staff oversees the healthcare needs of each of our residents. And the partnership between our caregivers, the resident and their physician is crucial for the best care and an enormous benefit to family members.

• Housekeeping: Many older adults can no longer maintain their homes and keep up with daily household tasks due to disability, lack of energy or ill health. Spoiled food, a broken step or faulty plumbing could lead to disaster. Housekeeping provides a safer and easier life for seniors.

• Transportation: We can provide safe transportation to doctor appointments, shopping, recreation and visiting other friends. Your loved one does not need to feel trapped in their home or isolated when transportation is readily available.

What type of health care can I expect at an assisted living community?

In our Assisted Living communities, care managers are available 24 hours a day to respond to residents needs. Employees are trained to understand the challenges that occur with age, and to report changes in a resident’s overall health and condition. A licensed nurse performs the initial care assessment, designs the initial service plan, and provides the routine re-assessment/service plan changes. The nurse also oversees the accuracy and effectiveness of the medication program.

What types of amenities do these communities offer me?

Each community is unique and offers different amenities. Most of our communities include a formal dining room, a private dining room, computer and business center, spa and salon, fitness center, movie theater, card room, activities room, library and garden areas with courtyard. Read more about our Amenities.

Does Aegis Living have a preferred pharmacy provider?

At Aegis Living, we offer a preferred pharmacy provider as a convenience to all of our residents. Our pharmacy provider offers competitive pricing and free delivery of all medications for the residents who utilize this service. They can even make same day deliveries for new orders or medication orders that have changed. Residents have the option to use any pharmacy they choose, but this added benefit provides a convenience to our residents and their families. All medicines are professionally packaged in compliance with the physician’s orders for efficiency and accuracy of prescribed medications. If you are interested in this program, please contact the Health Services Director at your community.

What is a Nursing Assessment?

A Nursing Assessment is a written tool used by our health care professionals to outline the medical history and note the current health care needs of an individual. According to state regulations, a Nursing Assessment must be conducted prior to admission to an assisted living or memory care community.

Components of a Nursing Assessment may include the following*:

Preferences and choices in daily life:

• Family and friends

• Involvement patterns, interactions with other people

• Social and cultural preferences; Faith and beliefs

• Usual sleep patterns

Recent medical history and significant symptoms:

• Vision, hearing and communication

• Bowel and bladder management

• Pain management

• Alcohol and tobacco use

Activities of daily living:

• Ambulation and mobility

• Dressing, bathing and toileting

• Eating and drinking

Treatments, therapies, and medicines

• Therapies or treatments being received

• Medication, medication monitoring

* These are just examples of what may be included in an assessment and do not represent a complete list of Aegis Living or any other assisted living community’s Nursing Assessment