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Oregon Senior Referral Agency Association Raising Industry Standards since 2004

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Letter to the Editor: Recent Oregonian Story

May 9, 2017 By osraa Leave a Comment

Dear Editor of The Oregonian & Oregon Live,

Thank you for your recent series “Selling Senior Care: Kept in the Dark.” It’s true, when consumers search for senior care housing, it’s a daunting task. Finding information for making informed decisions is time-consuming and stressful. Consumers search the internet and weed through marketing hype.  It’s hoped they’re looking up facility complaint history.  But consumers don’t know what they don’t know.

The better alternative is calling a senior referral agency. Consumers seeking senior housing can rely on a senior referral agency as a “one stop” resource. There are several qualified agencies in Oregon. They specialize in helping seniors and families find exceptional care in their area.  

The best place for finding an expert referral agent is through the Oregon Senior Referral Agency Association (OSRAA). OSRAA is a member organization. The organization developed a Code of Ethics and Best Practice Standards. An older adult’s well-being depends on prudent decisions. OSRAA members arm them with the information they need.

Referral agents make referrals to senior housing based on a comprehensive intake. Agents determine care needs, social preferences, goals and budget. A list of communities matching a senior’s criteria is compiled. Personal help in touring communities is part of an agency’s service. As is a follow up call after a senior’s move.

OSRAA members pre-tour and pre-qualify any facilities they refer. Agencies maintain information on senior facilities. This includes data on:

  • licensing,
  • services,
  • care provided,
  • amenities,
  • pricing,
  • ownership history
  • and complaint background.

Families receive education on other resources like Veteran’s benefits and government programs.

Like you, OSRAA members support better access to public disclosure files.  But families often don’t take time to search it out.  Relying on a referral agent provides access to information. Families can make informed decisions. Working with a referral agent helps ensure safer transitions for our vulnerable seniors.

It’s critical that families get accurate information from a referral agency. That’s why OSRAA advocates for stronger regulation of referral agencies in Oregon. OSRAA and industry partners have teamed with state legislators sponsoring HB 2661. This bill would require certification, verification of training and background checks on all referral agents.  For more information about OSRAA and HB 2661, go to www.osraa.com.

Our seniors deserve quality service and care. Families need reassurance about the choices they’re making.  They need to know where to turn for help. Please consider running additional articles about senior referral agencies, OSRAA and HB 2661.

Sincerely,

Liz Fischer, President, OSRAA

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: referral and placement agencies

Benefits of Local Referral Agencies- Mary’s Story

April 14, 2017 By osraa Leave a Comment

Local referral agencies do business quite differently than online lead generators. Read one Portland woman’s story about her experience and the differences between help via the internet vs a local, caring and listening agency.

Mary called me as her husband needed help. Mary’s story was sad, her husband had Alzheimer’s and needed a lot of help. Her son had just passed and she just had surgery. Mary didn’t have time to grieve for her son or recover from her surgery because she was the main caregiver for her husband.

Getting trapped on the internet.

Mary contacted an internet lead generator that sent her a couple of names of memory care facilities in her community. The marketing people from those facilities immediately started calling Mary asking her to come for a tour, come for lunch, come soon as they only had one room available and others were interested—she should come right away or the room would be rented by somebody else. She was getting a lot of pressure to tour right away, so Mary, on her own, visited the places the internet lead generator sent her. She hated them both so decided to keep her husband at home putting her own recovery and grieving on hold.

Changing course with the help of a local business.

A friend of Mary’s let her know there are local referral agencies that can help too, so she contacted me. I met with Mary, listened to her talk about her husband and what care he needed and her need for time to grieve for the death of her son and recover from her surgery.

I asked about her finances and what they could afford long term to ensure they weren’t leaving her without money to live on. I introduced her to an elder law attorney so she could get a Power of Attorney for her husband as moving into a memory care community requires POAs. I asked what was important to her and to him. I listened.

Success- finding the right fit.

I took Mary to tour a memory care community less than a mile from her house. The community doesn’t contract with the internet lead generators so they didn’t tell her about that option. The community is tucked back into a neighborhood so she didn’t even know it existed. She loved the community, clicked with the staff and knew right away it was the right place for her husband. She was able to move him in as soon as the Power of Attorney was completed. She was then able to focus on her own care and become a wife again rather than a caregiver.

Local Referral Agencies = Hands-on.

Local referral agencies do more than send clients names of options. They listen to what their clients need. They ask about finances and offer ideas on how to pay for retirement living. They tour with their clients; they ask questions clients may not think to ask. They visit every community before touring so they’re familiar with the community’s strengths and weaknesses. They check county records to see if there are substantiated complaints or bad survey results that may be red flags. They hold their clients’ hand through the process and are advocates for the clients.

Local referral agencies know that the senior’s needs come first and do everything they can to ensure the ultimate decision is the right fit.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: referral and placement agencies

The Cats Meow- Therapy Cats for Older Adults

The Cats Meow- Therapy Cats for Older Adults

January 23, 2017 By osraa Leave a Comment

One of my close loved ones has always loved having cats. She has limited mobility and isn’t able to provide the care needed to have one nor is her husband who has his hands full taking care of her. Studies show pet therapy helps seniors better cope with health problems, such as heart disease, cancer and mental health disorders.  Not being able to provide the care needed for a pet has eliminated her ability of having a pet from which she would truly benefit and so dearly love.

Therapy Cats from Hasbro. Photo courtesy of Hasbro.

She was given a therapy cat, it’s a very lifelike ‘robot’ cat that has realistic fur. The cat purrs and meows, it rolls over so you can pet its stomach, and its eyes open and close. My loved one quickly learned if she pets the cat’s left cheek it will nuzzle its head in her hand, if she pets the cat’s back it will purr. The more she petted it the more relaxed the cat got then it goes to sleep.  The best news for her is the cat doesn’t need care (other than occasional fresh batteries) or feeding and there are no vet bills. It’s a perfect pet!

The benefits of pets are numerous. They making owners happier, they lessen depression, decrease loneliness and isolation by giving pet owners a companion. They also reduce boredom and lessen anxiety because of their calming effects. The Companion Pet meets the mark in providing just what my loved one needs without the care an unstuffed pet requires.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: pet therapy

Community Living Offers Safety Against Senior Scams

Community Living Offers Safety Against Senior Scams

April 14, 2016 By osraa 1 Comment

senior scamsAn unfortunate reality of our times is that dishonest people prey on the vulnerable. Senior’s are particularly vulnerable and trusting of others. Because of this, senior scams are all too common.

When I worked in a community, we saw various attempts to defraud our residents over the years. One in particular was tried several times. The crooks would call unsuspecting individuals and say “Grandma, I’m stuck in Mexico and I’ve been arrested”. Grandma might then say, “Bobby, is that you”? Now the crook has the grandson’s name. They would go on to say, “Yes, Grandma it’s Bobby. Please don’t tell mom and dad, they will be so angry. I trust you, that’s why I called you. I need $1,000 sent via Western Union right away. Can you do that for me”? Staff at the community was alerted by the in-house Banker when residents would try to withdraw money to help their grandson. Community staff then contacted family and found out that “Bobby” was home and just fine. We stopped this scam in its tracks at least twice. The community then sent out alerts to residents and families, preventing future attempts.

Working together to get the word out about senior scams

The good news is, The State of Oregon has rallied forces to help protect us from these scammers. The information below comes directly from the Oregon Department of Justice website.

“In partnership with the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon District Attorneys’ Association, Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association, Oregon Association of Police Chiefs, AARP and Elders in Action, the Oregon Department of Justice brings you the Oregon Scam Alert Network. This network coordinates the Department’s regular scam alerts with the media, elected leaders, consumer watchdogs, and advocates for the elderly and disabled across the state to get important consumer information out to you.”

Because of the alert staff at the bank and the senior housing community, the people in our story were protected. They did not send money to the crooks and the staff at the community were able to offer comfort and protection. Community living has many benefits including, safety, socialization, transportation, housekeeping, meals and activities.

NW Senior Resources helps seniors find housing when they no longer want to be alone or are not safe in their current setting. Our services are at no charge to the client. For more information on our services please go to www.nwseniorresources.com.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: senior scams

A Look at Aging China

February 9, 2016 By osraa Leave a Comment

Since the beginning of time, the Chinese culture has been deeply rooted in family. Grandparents take care of their grandchildren and children care for their aging parents. In recent years, this rich tradition has been forced to look at change.

In the late 1970’s the China population was about to reach the one-billion mark giving cause to the Chinese Communist Party to seriously look at regulating one child per household. By 1980 the central government sought to standardize the one child policy nationwide. Although there were some exceptions, the one child policy stayed strong until recent years when it became apparent that one consequence of the policy was the growing population of seniors.

Now there are more seniors than there are children to care for them. Consequently, elder neglect has become an ugly side effect of the nation’s once well intended plan for protecting the rapidly growing nation. In 2013, The Chinese Government went as far as to pass a controversial law, Protection of the Rights and Interests of Elderly People, where the obligation of the young offspring was very clearly spelled out.

So the tug of war is in place for the children who need to work and yet care for their aging parents. While speaking with families during a recent visit I took to Shanghai the assisted living home model as we know it here in the United States has not yet been able to take off in China. Even though there are private investors willing to fund the brick and mortar of a building, the issue of creating a safe and healthy infrastructure has not yet been a sustainable part of the equation. There are not administrators, RN’s, social workers etc., with the soft skill set required to put the necessary programs in place for the ADL’s, activity of daily living, care model.

To say there is big pendulum swing in both generations is true, but how will this play out? Only time will tell. Chinese government continues to make changes necessary to care for their aging population, but for a culture so deep in caring for their own, it will take time to prove that housing for the aging is a successful, viable and affordable solution.

Respectfully submitted by Pam Rinehart
Right Fit Senior Living
503.568.1640

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: aging

Help is Available Near You

October 27, 2015 By osraa Leave a Comment

As we age we start having questions about resources available for seniors, support and education. It’s hard to know where to begin looking for answers and support. Did you know each county has an aging services department that offers all that and more? Washington County Department of Aging and Veteran Services (DAVS) is a good example of an incredible group of people and services who can help seniors in many ways.
Advisory Newsletter is published every other month. In it are articles about services they provide and seminars/conferences/health and wellness expos happening in the area. You can subscribe to the newsletter to keep up to date on a lot of issues affecting seniors.
Did you know that approximately 60% of seniors, veterans and persons with disabilities are not receiving the benefits they are entitled to? Many don’t know they can receive these benefits, or find it difficult to make it to the various offices to fill out the paperwork. Washington County’s Benefits Enrollment Center is a one-stop-benefits-shop that can help. Programs screen for such benefits as food stamps, Medicaid, energy assistance, property tax relief, prescription help and Medicare savings programs. A trained volunteer will come to your home or meet you at a senior center or another convenient place in the community.
Oregon Project Independence (OPI) provides limited in-home assistance which can include bathing, grooming, dressing, mobility and light housekeeping to individuals over the age of 60, or under the age of 60 if they have a diagnosis of an Alzheimer’s type dementia. The primary goal of OPI is to keep clients safe and independent in their homes for as long as possible. Fees are assessed on a sliding scale basis according to income.
The county provides a tremendous amount of family Caregiver support! You can call them for information and referrals, short-term case management, paid respite (a relief break from caregiving), paid medical equipment and adaptive aids, free support groups, free individual counseling services, Family Caregiver Training Course, Powerful Tools for Caregivers Classes, Annual Family Caregiver Conference and an Annual Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Presentation Series.
If you suspect elder abuse is happening it can be reported to the county at 971-673-5200. Elder Safe helps victims ages 65 and older after a crime is reported to the police and continues to help them through the criminal justice system. The Gatekeeper Program is designed to assist vulnerable people who need help, but may be unable to get it for themselves. A single phone call may help a person with a disability or an older person become aware of community services that are available and make it possible for them to receive assistance.
While each county offers different services they’re all there to help you. Take advantage of the resources provided by your tax dollars to get the information and support you need.
***
Contact information for each county:
Washington County Department of Aging and Veteran Services: (503) 846-3060
Clackamas County Senior Services: (503) 655-8640
Multnomah County Aging, Disability and Veteran Services: 503-823-4000

Filed Under: Resources

Virtual Tour Gives Family Insight About Dementia

April 13, 2015 By osraa Leave a Comment

This powerful, heart wrenching video gives an excellent insight into the daily life of a son taking care of his mother who has Alzheimer’s Disease.  In moments that are so real and emotionally raw, it is easy to see the toll that caring for his mother in his home is taking on him and his wife.   It also becomes clear that they have very little understanding of what they are dealing with as she continues to slip deeper into the diseases’ hold.  At one point, he admits that he has no idea what his mom is experiencing or what it may be like for her to struggle everyday with Alzheimer’s.  He agrees to participate in an Alzhiemer’s simulation project that proves to be an eye opening experience.  Watch the video below for their story.

 


ABC Breaking US News | US News Videos

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Alzheimer's

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