Aging In The Willamette Valley

Memory, aging, and brain health - the mysteries of these are discussed & explained. We also discussed how to maintain and improve your cognitive abilities. In general, why do we forget? How can we improve our memory? Is multitasking a good thing? These questions and many more answered!

Mike shared his knowledge of the impact of exercise on Parkinson's Disease and how it can be "disease modifying". Physical therapists prescribe complete plans that are individualized to the subtype or (medical term) phenotype of PD - it is not a "one-size-fits-all." Community programs, such as boxing, cycling, and Tai Chi can be helpful due to the socialization, intensity, and sense that you are doing something that is healthy and beneficial for yourself. This can cause the release of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor, which can improve PD symptoms.

Downsizing4Seniors handles all aspects of a senior's move, from determining furniture placement, organizing and packing, arranging for movers, unpacking and set up, and more. We also discuss choosing a retirement community, or smaller home, and the process of preparing and finalizing their move.

We cover "what is hospice" and how it works in this episode. We also address a few myths about hospice. Harold briefly touches on services unique to Bristol Hospice.

We want to make people comfortable in their own homes. People should not be afraid to be alone or afraid to care for a loved one in their own home. Dale's Remodeling can assess your home to see what modifications need to be made so that you can stay in your home instead of moving.

Windsong at Eola Hills is the first ever Memory Care Community to become fully credentialed in the Montessori Lifestyles Approach. The Montessori-Inspired Lifestyle method of care is a person-centered approach that focuses on muscle memory and the five senses, building on existing skills, interests, and abilities. In our program, we provide familiar tasks that encourage the residents to be active in the memory care community.

During this show, we talked about what a senior move manager is and what assistance they can provide moving seniors. Apart from what you might guess they do, senior move managers also help with organizing and downsizing, either during the move or at a separate time.

Johnson Funeral Home is a FAMILY funeral home; 100% local and family owned and operated. Their passion is providing the highest level of care during a family’s darkest time with affordably priced services ranging from cremation to burial.When you walk in the doors of Johnson Funeral Home, you become a part of their family. You and your loved ones are treated like one of their own. They specialize in creating unique and personalized celebrations of life.

Home health care helps people remain safely at home while recovering from a surgery, suffering an injury or illness, or managing a serious or chronic diseases and diagnoses. Your doctor will order Home Health services and insurance will pay for it.

Parkinson's Resources of Oregon helps people find a balance between their hopes for the future and the need to focus on quality of life in their day-to-day activities. It has been said that Parkinson's disease is not a disease you die from, but one you learn to live with. Parkinson's Resources of Oregon has focused its mission and programs in assisting people with PD maximize their quality of life.

Stacy Nelson, Development & Communication Coordinator from the Alzheimer’s Network, discussed how music creates a positive impact on individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Other programs available through the Alzheimer's Network were also covered.

Nate's knowledge base is rooted in guardianship and conservatorship proceedings, more broadly described as protective proceedings. He enjoys talking about substituted decision making when a family member or friend is unable to no longer make decisions due to their Alzheimer’s or dementia, and the purpose of guardianships and conservatorships.

Physical therapy is rewarding and helps improve the patient's quality of life. Helping someone regain or maintain quality of life after a stroke, surgery, or with a degenerative condition – is rewarding for the therapist & the patient. Physical therapy aids with a person's physical condition and also helps benefit other conditions like Parkinson's Disease.

Amramp helps people "Age in Place" in their own homes by providing ramps, grab bars, stair lifts, vertical lifts, etc. The products from amramp maybe purchased or rented. Most ramps install without any modifications to your home and can normally be installed within a few days.

The Ombudsman's office advocates for residents living in nursing homes, adult foster homes, assisted living facilities and residential care facilities. The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program relies on volunteers to do the majority of facility visits and most of the work to resolve problems and advocate on behalf of residents.

Discussing the free audio and Braille book library that serves any Oregonian with a print-disability (visual, physical, or reading impairment). The Oregon Talking Book & Braille Library at the State Library of Oregon has a collection of over 85,000 audio books and magazines, and is 100% free to use. There are no membership fees, no postage fees, no late fees or replacement fees. They provide a free player to each user, or users can choose to play books on a mobile device like a smartphone or tablet using the library's BARD Mobile app.

Barbara spoke about the basics of reverse mortgages - how to qualify, how they work, how long can you stay in your home, and more! She also covered how reverse mortgages have changed over the years and dispelled some of the common myths and misconceptions about them.

Jerry gave an overview of the many benefits available to veterans and their spouses, such as burial expenses, pension, and Aid & Attendance. He covered the Aid & Attendance benefit in detail as it's designed to help veterans with long-term care assistance.

Monica spoke briefly about estate planning and what happens when you don't plan. She also touched on benefits available to veterans through various VA programs. She dispelled some of the myths about qualifying for Medicaid benefits and explained how she can help people with both Medicaid and VA programs. #Salem

Marilyn talked about programs and services of specific interest to those age 50 and older, as well as resources and services for family caregivers or children of aging parents. The second half of our lives (age 50 and over) is about self-discovery, maintaining a quality-filled life through a healthy and active lifestyle, and finding new ways to remain connected to our peers and our community.