Month: March 2020

COVID 19, Uncategorized

COVID 19 and Searching for Care Solutions

COVID 19, Coronavirus

First we want to commend our leaders by talking about the heart of the problem with regards to COVID 19 being protecting our seniors. I love that they said during a news conference we are protecting your Grandma. That is absolutely the truth. Let’s all be mindful that we are in fact protecting your and my grandma. We do not want to inadvertently expose or spread an illness to someone who is at risk.

In light of this we will be ensuring the safety of our community but assisting our seniors with our wonderful support and approach. You can search for care without exposing anyone through our customized experiences we have had in place for our ill seniors for years.

We can perform virtual and bedside tours. Implementation and screening and wonderful support away from the risk makes you succeed. We have been performing these support services for many years so you will be able to get what you need and protecting our seniors.

Complete our free online intake or call us and we will perform a telephone assessment, provide detailed instructions and tours as well as set up all the next steps.

Touring will currently be very complex and complicated in an already stressful and complicated process. We want to be your guide and support.

  1.  Call us to determine where to start.
  2.  We provide education to you allowing you to have reduced stress.
  3.  We screen the facilities protecting you.
  4.  We set up your virtual tour and introductions to the facilities that have availability.
  5.  Once you have a connection we help set up the evaluation and admission.
  6.  Our nurse will provide telephonic follow up.

Let’s do this together!

We know that finding the right care solution can feel like an overwhelming task. Fill out our quick online intake and we can help guide you!

 

Supportive COVID 19/Coronavirus Links:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Healthy Living, Legacy Living, local outings, Uncategorized

Age Friendly Places to Go in Puyallup checked out by a Nurse and Her Mom

My name is Lisa. I am a nurse, the founder of CayCare, wife, mom and in this article the first role I ever played, daughter. Join my mother as she enters her mid eighties with a smile. We have spent many a week end figuring out what a senior can do with family or friends around here. While not every place is perfectly fit for seniors we still made it fun to visit.

This month’s adventures include the following places. I will tell you that many of these may well fit in the blooper category but we left every single one of them with a smile. I learned that wheel chair ramps do not have to be as close to an entrance as you think. I learned that sometimes you have to act like you are parking a getaway car to pick up your over 80 year old parent in the wind and rain.

DISLCAIMER – The following information about local outing locations doesn’t negatively reflect their service or overall community rating. This information is to provide those of us who have seniors in our midst and/or those with senior impairments (hearing loss, vision loss, inability to move as quick as a non-senior) an idea of the potential challenges taking their loved one to these locations may pose.

Longston Regal Cinema – With reclining chairs, reserved seating and the ability to pay without standing in too long of a line (mostly because we all use Netflix now and don’t go to the theatre) made the cinema a great place to be.

  • Amount of Noise – 3 (turn the hearing aids down people or your ears will explode to the varying screen sounds.)
  • Lighting for safety in building- 4
  • Handicapped Parking – 4
  • Easy Reading – 4 (Times/Signs were pretty easy, rotating vending screens a bit of a challenge to follow)
  • Decision Making Time – 5 (You didn’t have to wait in line until you knew what you were going to get)
    Total Score Average – 4.0 Senior Friendliness

Forever Sushi – You feeling lonely and just needing other humans around, this is the place for you! They greet every guest who enters and give you that welcome to our family feel. I love places like this that can help a senior out who doesn’t have others. While I do not rate age friendly on prices this place would fit in the modest budget household as well. You can get a plate of food for under $5.00, although who can stop at one plate has my prize for the self control. This has become mom’s and my favorite quick hot spot for a meal. Did I mention my 9 and 10 year old love it here too. If you haven’t been introduced to interactive piggy banks and hi-chews this is the place for you

  • Amount of Noise – 4 (You can hear yourself think but there is a TV going and interaction.)
  • Lighting in the building – 4.5
  • Handicapped Parking – 3 (While this location has handicapped right in front, it is a busy area. I haven’t had luck about 50% of the time finding parking. This is the place we treat my mom like she is the queen of England and pull right up with lights flashing on an “off” day to drop her off. Otherwise this one you need to have a senior who can walk.)
  • Easy Reading – 4.5 (I mean technically you don’t need to read to go here. The plates are color coordinated. The senior may need instructions to get going but then dive right in or grab the plate.)
  • Decision Making Time – 4.5 (This one could be debated. If you don’t make a decision as the choice comes around you have to wait until it completes the full circle. My mother and I went back and forth on this but ultimately decided that the time it took to go full circle not only allowed the time but sometimes the proper digestion.)
    Total Score Average – 4.1 Senior Friendliness

Charlie’s Restaurant– My mother and I checked this place out a while back. This is a known place for seniors. I love the salad bar and that it is a locally owned business. Lisa’s mom goes by Jane if you meet her on the street.

  • Amount of Noise – 4.5
  • Lighting in the building – 4.5
  • Handicapped Parking – 3.5 (Parking is a bit of a challenge but there is some to navigate)
  • Easy Reading – 4.5 (Menu was easy to read.)
  • Decision Making Time – 4.5 (They were super patient as we took our time looking at the menu.
    Total Score Average – 4.3 Senior Friendliness

Jane, AKA my mom has let her daughter rope her in to this adventure and we are sharing our story with you. Please let us know of a location to check out and rate for senior friendly/aging friendly adventures.

Coming up next, Exploring the Cities around Western Washington. If you would like to subscribe to upcoming blog posts be sure to sign up for our newsletter or email us at contact@caycare.com

Care Management, Goal Setting, Legacy Living, Placement

Let’s Make Our Own Luck in Long Term Care

Let’s Make Our Own Luck

Have you ever wondered what you would do if you woke up and your world was turned upside down by a loved one needing care? No, you didn’t because that would be a nightmare, right? I live in a world where people never anticipate needing care and yet they need it every single day. They think it is the end of living. I am here to guide you to the truth.

When I was a young adult I had the privilege of being an actor. I don’t have many movies behind my belt but the few I do have lingered. My children asked to see one of them for the first time today. It got me to thinking about life, memories and what it all means. Everyone wants to make their own destiny, don’t they? No one wants their future job or spouse picked by someone else. We don’t want to be told where to live or to what we enjoy.

Yet every single day I see people who have procrastinated the choice that will make or break their family. Why do we do it? Why do we leave these burdens for others to pick up? Like a hoarder who gets overwhelmed by their piles of stuff, we are left frozen, debilitated.

So, let’s start this month by stop hoping the end will be as good as the beginning. Stop hoping it all turns out and wishes and unicorns will fill the final years of our lives with greatness. Let’s start making our luck. Let’s plan where we go, how we are cared for and how it will all be paid for. Let’s start this month as the month by having a real plan about how the final years start. We spend much effort on how they begin.

How do you make your luck concerning the “after retirement stage” of your life?

  • Investments – See a financial advisor and get your money planned for fun and care.
  • Long-Term Care -Care Plan – Register for an upcoming Long-Term Care – Care Plan Creation Session
  • Attend a Pre-Planner’s Seminar – Go to our website to sign up for the next one. (If you are our of the area watch for webinars.) CayCare.com/preplanner
  • Pay for long-term care insurance to pay for care and save money
  • Get your legal documents in order – See an elder law attorney to write up your will and other legal documents.
  • Talk to your family – Do not leave them in the dark! When you were deciding what college to go to or profession to take up you went to those you trusted and discussed. Do this with your loved ones. Do NOT leave them in the dark.

Lisa Doyle is a registered nurse, educator, and geriatric care manager who has worked for over 15 years in helping seniors find long term care solutions. She takes empowerment and education to the next level and ensures her whole team does the same. A CayCare advisor can help you make your best care solution and plan today. Before Lisa worked in geriatrics she was a home health and hospice nurse and worked with traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injuries. She is the mother of 3 beautiful and active children.

(C) Copywritten Material Created by Lisa Doyle. Lisa is the author and no portion of this article can be copied without express written permission from the creator.