California Senior Services

Pet Therapy

2010-11-20T03:56:00.000-08:00

A pet can have positive effects on its senior owner. Here are a few of the potential benefits.

* Lower blood pressure and reduce stress.
* Decrease feelings of loneliness, isolation and depression.
* Lead to more social contacts and open the door to making new friends.
* Create movement and increase exercise.
* Visit the Doctor less often and take less amounts of medications.
* Offer unconditional love and daily doses of affection.
* Offer a sense of security.
* Help to deal w/ the loss of a spouse and other loved ones.
* Provide an outward focus and decrease the emphasis on personal problems.

**Facts from Le Bleu Chateau in the 818 area code.

True Family

2010-11-16T16:17:00.000-08:00

I recently had the pleasure of helping the Micheli family place their husband and father Dennis into a Granada Hills board and care. Dennis is 53 years old and has mild cognitive impairment and/or beginning stages dementia. He has been a successful businessman his whole life, had his own home and a nice retirement savings to his name. Unfortunately, post divorce, his new wife who was 20 years his junior was a con artist. She was an employee of the adult entertainment industry and was probably on drugs. Long story short, she drained him for all his savings ($200k+), social security checks and took full advantage of his cognitive impairment. She is no longer able to be located.

Dennis' first wife Claudia took up the responsibility to make sure his social security was no longer going to the other wife and called me to help find him a home, since he was getting foreclosed on. She was so lost and didn't know what to do. Does she find him an apartment or some kind of board and care situation? The problem was that with his condition, he was forgetting to manage his meds and normal day to day activities such as everyday grooming upkeep was falling apart. The only thing she knew about "nursing homes" or "assisted living" was that he was far too young to be there and the typical negative conception that it is a depressing place to be.

I suggested to Claudia a board and care which is a single family residential home slightly modified and licensed. This type of setting feels much more like "home" and he has the flexibility to spend his days however he wishes. This particular home allows him to cook his own meals whenever he feels the urge, otherwise meals are prepared for him. His maintenace is rather easy so he was able to get the smallest room for a very reasonable rate that his social security and a little extra from family was able to cover. The owner and caretaker will responsibly order all his meds and make sure he takes them on time, do his laundry and keep his room clean. Locationwise, the home is located smack in the middle of Montrose and Valencia so that Claudia can easily swing by to and from work.

All in all, everything worked out and both Dennis and Claudia are thrilled to have tooken care of this situation. I am happy to have assisted another family to a successful placement.

Nutrition Tips for the Elderly

2010-08-31T12:24:00.000-07:00

Nutrition Tips for the Elderly part 2

*The elderly should consume foods high in omega-3 fatty acids. Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids help decrease the risk of heart disease, decrease inflammation and improve mood. Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids include tuna, salmon, sardines and nuts.

*Enough fiber should be consumed. Fiber is so helpful and eating foods high in fiber can help prevent constipation, a common complaint in elders and improve satiety. Foods high in fiber include whole grains, beans, fruits and vegetables.

*Zinc containing food should be eaten regularly by the elderly. In elders, zinc deficiency is common due to an inadequate intake of zine, decreased absorption of it, increased needs and more interactions w/ medications Deficiency can result in decreased appetite and decreased sense of taste in the elderly. Good sources of zinc include fish, poultry, enriched grains and beans.

ALL MEALTIMES SHOULD BE MADE ENJOYABLE. THIS ENCOURAGES EATING AND NUTRIENT INTAKE. LET US EAT WITH OUR ELDERLY RELATIVES TO ENCOURAGE THEIR APPETITES!

Nutrition Tips for the Elderly

2010-08-04T16:18:00.000-07:00

Nutrition Tips for the Elderly

Part 1

*Rather than 3 large meals, it is better to serve 5-6 small meals. This is appropriate because the elderly can only eat small amts. of food at a time. Serving more frequent meals helps make eating less overwhelming and can help provide the nutrition they need.

*The elderly should drink water more frequently. This is because as we age, we lose our sense of thirst. This makes dehydration a common problem in the elderly. Water should always be available and old people should drink water regularly even when they don't feel thirsty, especially in the summer.

*Older people should consume enough protein consumption. Though excessive intake is not advisable, it's been shown that many elders do no consume enough protein. This can lead to muscle weakness, edem, fatigue and a decreased ability to fight infection. Godd sources of protein include chicken, fish, beans, nuts and meat.

To Be Continued....

Information from http://www.caregiver.com/ and http://www.nutrition.com/

A Complex Experience

2010-07-26T09:10:00.000-07:00

You think something is funny, so you laugh. Simple. Not Really. When you look behind the scenes, the processing of and responding to humor takes place on a variety of level.s
*Mental- Cognitive thinking processes the information and helps you get the joke. Then the brain signals your response.
*Physical- Parts of the body are instructed to react to humor.
*Emotional- The brain stimulates feelings in response to humor.

It all starts in your head. Studies have verified that different lobes in the brain become active when a person is exposed to humor. Imaging technology has actually watched parts of the brain fire up while research subjects read jokes, listened to comedy recordings, and viewed cartooms from the New Yorker magazine and Gary Larson's The Far Side.

These active lobes, and their varied functions, work together in rapid succession to analyze the data, come to a "funny" conclusion, and create a physical and an emotional response.

Then the brain sends response messages to various parts of the body, including the lungs, muscles, vocal chords and tear ducts. You can end up laughing, cackling, crying and shaking. This comples process leads to an intangible, emotional response. Simply put, you feel good.

"You grow up the day you have your first real laugh--at yourself." -Ethel Barrymore

"Laughter is the closest distance between 2 people."-Victor Borge

"I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose." -Woody Allen

Funny Quotes:

"Don't you find it funny that all these tough-guy boxers are fighting over a purse? (George Carlin)

"I am a marvelous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man I keep his house." (Zsa Zsa Gabor)

Elder Care Event Alert

2010-02-02T15:17:00.000-08:00

Please join us for an Educational afternoon:
Latest Developments in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Vascular Disease

Speaker: Kelly Clark, NP, MSN, BSN

DATE: February 8th
TIME: 2pm
WHERE: BridgePoint at Beverly Hills
220 North Clark Drive
RSVP: 310-860-9234 &
ask for Ann Siegel

Kelly discusses causes, prevention and healthy habits of cardiovascular-related diseases. Please join us.

Elder Care Event Alert

2010-01-13T09:17:00.000-08:00

MediCal/Veteran's Benefits Seminar
Thursday, 21 January or Tuesday, 26 January 2010
Time: 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Location: (AIS Building) 21900 Burbank Blvd, Third Floor
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
RSVP: 866-452-9657 or GeislerPatterson@gmail.com

Elder Care Event Alert

2010-01-07T09:16:00.000-08:00

The Holidays are over……now what?
Please join us to hear Barbara Hament, LCSW, from the Center for Geriatric Health at Olympia Medical Center.

DATE: Tuesday, January 12th
TIME: 2:30 pm: “Post Holiday Blues”
WHERE: BridgePoint at Beverly Hills
220 North Clark Drive
RSVP: 310-860-9234
Ask for Ann Siegel

Barbara discusses what we can do after the holidays to continue feeling good and not get the “blues”.

Partnership

2009-12-14T16:37:00.001-08:00

I dedicate this blog to all my partners in the elder care industry. The work that all of you do is thankless, but yet much needed. The amount of care that goes into just one day with an elderly needing assistance can be overwhelming to those that have never experienced it. I want to especially thank those that keep our referral/placement services in the front of their minds and consistently refer me people that they themselves cannot help. These reasons include challenges in geography, level of care and finances.

One particular Assisted Living community gets many inquiries due to its long lasting history and presence in town. Unfortunately, they can not service all those that call or walk in. Most people in town know that this is a "senior home", but usually have no idea what the cost of this board and care is, nor do they know the level of care that this particular facility can provide. This leads to many families being rejected and dumbfounded because they don't know which way to turn afterwards. This is why I appreciate all the social service workers and community/in house liasons that understands the value of a 3rd party agent that works with many different types of "assisted livings, board and cares, and memory care" facilities in the surrounding areas. My service will help a family navigate their way through the many options and lead them to what is appropriate for their individual needs. Much appreciation goes out to my partners that have already been promoting California Senior Services, you know who you are....and I promise I'll work hard for all my other partners that have inquiries and clients whom they cannot accomodate.

Regional Expertise in Elder Care

2009-11-02T11:09:00.001-08:00

I recently had the pleasure of guiding a Lompoc family to a placement here in the San Fernando Valley. I received a phone call from a discharge planner at the Lompoc Valley Hospital, asking me if I can help one of her patients that needs to be discharged ASAP. The patient who we will call "Hugh", had fallen and broken both his arms. He is a younger gentleman at 49 years old, but with health issues plaguing him, he is someone that is in need of an assisted living facility. The problem was that there wasn't a single facility in his neck of the woods that would care for him at his SSI budget. The greater Los Angeles area has more options when it comes to the range of facilities, and therefore, the family had no choice but to relocate Hugh in the Southland. Hugh's father and niece drove the 2.5 hours down to tour some facilities that I had lined up for them. It is important that your elder care consultant really knows their area and the different services and cost that each facility operates under. There was no way the Lompoc Valley Hospital discharge planner would have known which out of the 100s of facilities to contact, especially with the time contrainst they had. But with one phone call to a local placement agency, the family was able to locate the appropriate care home on one trip down. This is why it is important to work with a professional and have them guide you to what is right for your loved one. We have spent the hours and done the research. I am hoping Hugh finds the care that he needs and deserves in his new home.

Aid & Attendance Benefits for Veterans

2009-09-21T12:59:00.000-07:00

California Senior Services & Orange Grove Home Care was proud to organize the event "Aid & Attendance Pension Benefits" for "War Time Veterans". This event was a huge success at the La Canada YMCA on September 15th. Much thanks to Nancy Turney at the YMCA responsible for "Senior Services" in the community. And a special thank you to Mr. Tony Ruggieri from Ruggieri Financial to thoroughly explain and advocate for this pension that our Veterans deserve! Pizza, chips, cupcakes were served for lunch and it was a full house for this special event. Here is a brief monetary break down for what is entitled to those that qualify.

New 2009 Amounts: Maximum Pension Awards for Assisted Living Communities:

2 Married Veterans - $2,581
Married Veteran - $1,949
Single Veteran - $1,632
Surviving Spouse - $1,055

For more info, please contact Marvin Lee @ info@caseniorservices.net or 818) 631-4019

Causes of Depression in the Elderly

2009-08-14T13:54:00.000-07:00

Many older adults face significant life changes and stressors that put them at risk for depression. Those at the highest risk include older adults with a personal or family history of depression, failing health, substance abuse problems, or inadequate social support.

Causes & risk factors that contribute to depression in the elderly include:

*Loneliness and isolation-Living alone; a dwindling social circhle due to deaths or relocation; decreased mobility due to illness or loss of driving privileges.
*Reduced sense of purpose-Feelings of purposelessness or loss of identity due to retirement or physical limitations on activities.
*Health problems-Illness and disability; chronic or severe pain; cognitive decline; damage to body image due to surgery or disease.
*Medications-Many prescription medications can trigger or exacerbate depression.
*Fears-Fear of death or dying; anxiety over financial problems or health issues
*Recent bereavement-The death of friends, family members, and pets; the loss of a spouse or partner.

Recognizing depression in the elderly starts with knowing the signs and symptoms. Depression red flags include:

*Sadness
*Fatigue
*Abandoning orlosing interest in hobbies or other pleasurable pastimes.
*Social withdrawal and isolation
*Weight loss; loss of appetite
*Sleep disturbances
*Loss of self-worth (worries about being a burden, feelings of worthlessness, self loathing)
*Increased use of alcohol or other drugs
*Fixation on death; suicidal thoughts or attempts.

Information is taken from HelpGuide.org

For more information on depression and the older adult please visit:
www.nami.org
www.healthyplace.com
or visit you local Area Agency on Aging website

Elder Care Facilities For Sale

2009-07-27T10:34:00.000-07:00

I am proud to introduce an added service from California Senior Services. This service is in the realm of real estate. What does real estate have to do with elder care? It actually has a lot to do with elder care both from the senior citizens perspective and the facility owners'.

1. Assisted Living and Board and Care Owners
As your Realtor, I know a bit more about the assisted living and board and care product than most other agents. My years of experience in managing and operating a 14 bed facility added to the fact that I've toured countless amounts of facilities both big and small gives me the inside knowledge on the small yet important details in such a property. Allow me to be your source in finding a care home if you are looking to break in to the business or expand on your current status. Furthermore, if the time has come for you to get out and sell your care home, I will work hard to sell your listing, exposing it to the many avenues I associate with both in the elder care and real estate industry.

2. Prospective Client or Resident Needing Care
Care and Housing is not cheap! Especially for our elders that need a lot of it. When you consider the daily routine in properly assisting and caring for those that are not self sufficient, it will amaze you how grateful we should be as independent citizens. Something as simple as eating a meal becomes a task. Dressing, grooming, showers, exercise, meal preparation and medication maintenance are all things to do as well. Therefore, this care plus housing adds up and often one must sell their home to finance this part of their life.

It is my job and duty to make sure that this process goes as smoothly as possible for anyone involved!!

Facts about Mental Health & Aging

2009-07-01T12:27:00.000-07:00

*Mental health problems aren't a normal part of aging.
Deep sadness that lingers may signal clinical depression. An anxiety disorder is different from normal worries
*Mental health is as important as physcial health.
Untreated mental disorders in older adults can lead to diminished functioning, substance abuse, poor quality of life, and increased mortality. Research shows mental ilnessses can slow healing from physical illnesses.
*Healthy older adults can continue to thrive, grow and enjoy life!
Reading, walking and socializing are just a few of the activities that many individuals enjoy at any age. Exercising your mind and body and maintaining social connections are good for your mental health too.
*Mental health problems are a risk for older adults, regardless of history.
While some adults go through life managing a chronic mental illness, mental health problems can also appear late in life. Older adults w/o a history of substance abuse may abuse medications, alcohol or drugs.
*Suicide is a risk among older adults.
Older adults have the highest suicide rate in the country.
*Older adults can be helped with the same success as younger people.
80% of older adults recovered from depression after receiving treatment that included both psychotherapy and anti-depressant medication.
*Older adults have specific mental health care needs.
Changing bodies and chemistry, changes in family and friendships, and changes in living situations can all impact mental health.

OWL-The voice for Women Midlife and Older: www.mentalhealthweek.org
Philadelphia Mental Health and Aging Resource Guide, 2006: www.mhaging.org/guide/
National Association for Social Workers: www.naswdc.org/practice/aging/050407.asp

Stepping Stones Verdugo Hills Hospital

Elder Care Event Alert

2009-06-16T19:22:00.000-07:00

85th Anniversary Fundraising Gala
to Save Our Shelter and support the building of a future New Adoption Center and Kennels
"The San Gabriel Valley Humane Socitey"

Please join us for an evening fo Music and Dancing, Fine Wines & Spirits, Hors d'Oeuvres and
A fabulous array of Silent Auction items!!

Where: The California Mission Inn-8417 Mission Dr., Rosemead, CA 91770
When: Saturday, June 27, 2009; 7 PM until 10 PM
Cost: $50 per Person
Dress: Business or Casual Elegant
RSVP: 626) 286-1159

Elder Care & Culture

2009-06-08T21:10:00.001-07:00

I had the wonderful opportunity to spend time with a client this past week assisting him in the search for the appropriate care home for his mother. Robert flew in from Sacramento to take care of this matter, and during the process, we were able to bond over excellent cuisines from both his Lebanese background and my Korean roots.
Paula, Robert's mom, has been living in her home in Pacific Palisades with 24 hour "in home" care that was costing them a pretty penny! Unfortunately, Paula has full blown dementia and is no longer capable of doing any of her own "ADLs or activities of daily living". She has to be fed, changed, washed, etc. Furthermore, she is not able to appreciate being in her "own" home not knowing exactly where she is, due to her dementia. Which is why Robert thought it was now time to move her in to a facility and in return save a good chunk of change. The facility will provide all the same care that her personal care givers were already providing, but at a lower cost.
I met Robert at Sunnis on Westwood and Santa Monica for some delicious Lebanese food. We discussed Paula's condition over stuffed grape leaves, lamb over pine nut and pistachio rice, garlic sauce, yogurt, grilled chicken, falafel, etc. I also learned that Lebanese ladies are called "Em" Tony or "Em" Robert, "Em" for "mother of". So he told me to meet him at "EmTonys" on the corner of Westwood and Santa Monica, and I couldn't find it anywhere. The restaurant was called Sunnis, but apparently Tony's mother runs the place and everyone just calls the place "EmTonys". We learn something new every day.
Lunch was followed up by visiting a care home in Westwood and one in Palisades. The one in Palisades was owned by a fellow Lebanese man. They were able to discuss a little bit about their respective backgrounds and family history. Based on the assessment, I knew that these 2 homes were all that he needed to see. We agreed to meet in a couple days to discuss which way to go. I already had a feeling he was leaning towards the home in Palisades.
The following Monday we met over Korean BBQ to finalize our talks. It was my turn to return the hospitality and show appreciation for his business. I shared some Korean eating and drinking habits with him over kimchi, rice, garlic, bean paste soup, etc. We both learned a little bit more about each other and our personal history.
God works in mysterious ways, and through a 91 year old/fully demented lady, 2 people from different walks of life and culture came together to share and discuss what life is about.

Elder Care Options (Prime Home Care)

2009-05-30T18:15:00.000-07:00

May 28th was the 6th year anniversary of my good friends at Prime Home Care running their wonderful elder care agency. Prime Home Care is an "in home" care agency that specializes in custodial care in the resident's personal home. This type of service is for the elderly that chooses to stay at home as opposed to living in a retirement community or an assisted living facility. These seniors can use some help around the house with things such as house keeping, preparations of meals, medication maintenace and even bathing, dressing and grooming. It is another option to those that can use assitance, but aren't ready for a placement in a community. A lot of times it is the first step towards "accepting" the fact that "help" can actually ease their circumstances for our elderly.
The celebration started off with a Mass and ended with some delicious catered food consisting of lasagna, spaghetti, eggplant parmesana, salad and plenty of desserts!! It was also another opportunity for me to catch up with old colleagues and meet new ones. Rebecca's testimonial about her trials and tribulations to get to this point was truly motivational and something to be proud of. She started with one client, doing all the marketing and management, and being the one and only caregiver. Now it is a full fledged agency with many caregivers and assistants!
Congratulations Prime Home Care!! If you have questions in regards to "in home" care, please
contact us at info@CaSeniorServices.net

Elder Care Event Alerts

2009-05-05T18:15:00.000-07:00

1. "Cross Train Your Brain" - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. @
Covel Commons, UCLA Campus, 330 De Neve Dr., LA 90095. This event is free, parking is $9.
Speakers will be Dr. Gary Small and Dr. Kevin O'Neil.

"The field of brain health and brain fitness is exploding these days. New research findings regarding the brain's ability to continue growing and changing over time has lead to the promotion of brain health strategies"

2. "Ask an Expert" - Saturday, May 16th, 2009 - 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. @
Santa Clarita Adult Day Health Care Center, 22903 Soledad Canyon Rd., Santa Clarita, CA.
This event is free. Speaker will be Brenda Avadian-Author of 8 books on Care Giving.

Do you have questions about memory loss, Alzheimer’s or dementia?
Are you getting the benefits you deserve?
Are you looking for in home help and respite?
Are you parenting a grandchild?
Are you in need of emotional support?

California Senior Services-New Website Pics

2009-05-01T19:29:00.000-07:00

Excited about my new "Photo Gallery" page on the website. For those that don't know...
http://www.caseniorservices.net/ Please check it out. The pictures on the site are only a fraction of
the facilities that we work with. Gives you a better idea of some care homes, especially the "board and cares" , note how these are NOT convalescent hospitals or nursing homes.

La Crescenta, CA-CV Fair 09

2009-04-25T22:35:00.000-07:00

B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L was the weather today at the 4th Annual Crescenta Valley Town & Country Fair. I was there representing California Senior Services, informing the public about what we do. This was my second year having a booth, and again I thoroughly enjoyed myself. How can you not appreciate a day filled with a car show, food, carnival, vendors and live music. Our community is very fortunate to have such a nice park like CV Park, with greenery all over!
Vendors were out in full throttle selling their products and pitching their services. This year we had a mini dog show and parade, as well as an appearance by "Bailey" the official LA Kings mascot. Another new aspect this year was the "beer garden" for a much needed thirst quenching break from the day's activities. But best of all, Wallgreen's and AARP had a wellness
center that was giving free health screenings to the public worth over $100. It is great to get together with your local community to meet and see who actually are your neighbors. It was an exciting day of family fun and I can't wait for next year's event. If you missed out this year, please come join us in 2010!

California Senior Services-Elder Care Referrals 1st Blog

2009-04-24T15:08:00.000-07:00

My name is Marvin Lee and I am attempting my first blog. My goal in blogging is to help whoever it is that's interested, get a better understanding of LTC-Long Term Care. All the intricate and confusing aspects of elder care is the world I live in. I don't have the answers to it all, I learn new things every day. This is the path I've chosen, and this is my journey.