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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Professional care a great help in dealing with dementia Ashland Photo Album Calendar: Monday, Sept. 29 Something old, something new and something at the last second Fire level down a notch, but most restrictions still in place Education SOU wants its students to love Ashland AHS drops homecoming king, queen A busy homecoming week for AHS students Sportsology returns to ScienceWorks Your child's best best bet for success? It's you Environment Annual tour shows how to live green Taking action here, now on global climate change Garden serves up a feast fit for monarchs Only voters can make a tree tops in town Getting away from — and back into — it all Business Pizzeria hopes for Mystic rebound Ski survey gets heavy response John Kalb, Ashland chiropractor The Coffee Window Oregon job report shows labor force growth Politics and elections Election officials fine Richardson for late reporting of rent-free home Sheriff a no-show at Ashland Chamber forum New script for film ordinance sent back to rewrite November elections right around the corner Matthew T. Mangino: Federal government complicit in militarization of police State News Nation - World Obituaries Death Notices Dorothy Irene Brown Death Notices Death Notices Susan Carol Loube Sports Latest Stories Something old, something new and something at the last second Ashland pulls out homecoming thriller No. 14 Southern Oregon pulls out rollercoaster win over No. 11 Eastern Oregon Revamped Raider Stadium ready for test drive Elizabeth Institute donates pink socks to AHS soccer High school Something old, something new and something at the last second Ashland pulls out homecoming thriller Elizabeth Institute donates pink socks to AHS soccer A Grizzly week of homecoming activity Ashland readies for another hot quarterback on homecoming night Southern Oregon University No. 14 Southern Oregon pulls out rollercoaster win over No. 11 Eastern Oregon Revamped Raider Stadium ready for test drive Oregon State's Mannion keeps adding new milestones Raiders bury Geoducks in Cascade Conference opener SOU wrestler headed to NAIA Hall Opinion Latest Stories Letters to the Editor, Sept. 29 Us versus them Jim Brock: It’s not about the minimum wage Homecoming changes with the times Matthew T. Mangino: Ambush of police officers is a growing problem Editorial Homecoming changes with the times Keep film ordinance simple Don’t ban smoking on the beach A perennial problem No time for complacency Letters Letters to the Editor, Sept. 29 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 26 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 25 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 22 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 20 Guest opinions Us versus them Remembering a very prominent local lady Remembering a simpler time in Ashland Fostering a culture of peace in Ashland Stuck on the sands of hesitation Revels Latest Stories Camelot Theatre presents 'Spotlight on Johnny Mercer' John Reischman and the Jaybirds Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas 4 things to do this weekend Community blog: Workshop explores travel and description Theater Camelot Theatre presents 'Spotlight on Johnny Mercer' Southern Oregon hosts its Lunacy Theatre Festival Friends of Jim Giancarlo remember Ashland theater icon Freud v. Lewis: Intellectual heavyweights spar over life's big issues 'Freud's Last Session" at Ashland Contemporary Theatre Music Muscian's career spins back through Ashland Sean Hayes at the Armory Q&A: Rachael Miles John Reischman and the Jaybirds Q&A: Acousta Noir Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas New script for film ordinance sent back to rewrite Still stifling laughter 40 years after 'Young Frankenstein' 'The Drop' hits all the marks Movie listings for Varsity Theatre, Ashland Street Cinemas Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Professional care a great help in dealing with dementia Kiwanis Club names new officers Community Blog: From Definiency to Contentment Choose to embrace moments of revelation Parsi cultural history served up on a plate Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs NEWS NOW Police reports ... CALENDAR ... SOU wants its students to love Ashland ... Police reports ... CALENDAR ... SOU wants its students to love Ashland ... AGING HAPPENS Beyond the home: Housing options, continued By Ellen Waldman For the Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Ellen Waldman For the Daily Tidings Posted Sep. 22, 2014 @ 12:01 am By Ellen Waldman For the Daily Tidings Posted Sep. 22, 2014 @ 12:01 am » RELATED CONTENT • Professional care a great help in dealing with dementia • Spectrum of housing options begins with a new home • Staying in your home requires planning • Getting your papers in order now can save trouble later • Here's what you need to know if you're getting older » Social News You might remember Doris from a few columns back. She moved into assisted living in Ashland after her husband passed away. She had mild dementia at that point, and needed more help and interactions with others than she could get at home. She was unusual in that she actually saw this as a new adventure in her life. I have to say that she had the best time of almost any person I know who made this transition. She did have an excellent support team that met her widely ranging needs, but mostly she had a perspective that life was full of surprises. It’s what she brought to her new circumstances that made it work so well. That’s one option we all have! When people become less able to live independently, it’s time to consider what’s next. Here’s the next range of housing options: • Assisted living facilities: If you need help with daily activities such as medication management and meal preparation, or have a physical or cognitive impairment, then assisted living could be your answer. In Ashland, we have two facilities: Emeritus at Mountain View (emeritus.com/oregon/ashland-retirement-community/emeritus-mountain-view; 541-482-3292) and Skylark Assisted Living (skylarkplace.com; 541-552-1713). Basic fees for assisted living range from $2,200-$3,300, per month, depending on the size of the apartment. However, most people need some additional level of care support and that will add $600-$2000 more per month. There are also fees for a second person. Meals are provided in a lovely dining room, as are basic housekeeping and laundry services. A van takes residents on fun outings and to some appointments. As your needs change and increase, assisted living is designed to continue to provide appropriate services. For most people, they can enjoy their lives in this environment for many years. • Adult foster care homes: Sometimes people have to move from assisted living to an adult care home to meet more intensive personal care needs. Some people also do better in smaller settings. Adult care homes are a wonderful choice for them. I am a firm supporter and a big fan of this setting for people with these needs. This home-like atmosphere can have up to five residents. For people with dementia, this makes them feel a lot more secure and comfortable. The homes are strictly inspected and licensed by the state. The people who own and manage them are highly trained and do a superb job in often challenging situations. You can locate an adult care home in Jackson and Josephine County at HomeCareChoices.org. It’s important to do a lot of research, reference and referral checking before choosing one. In Ashland, some excellent examples are Oxford Gardens (oxfordgardens.org; 541-941-9504) Ashwood Senior Home (541-482-9989) and Prospect House (ashlandhouse.info; 541-488-9966). The fees for service are around $4,000-$6,000, per month for round-the-clock-care. As one client once said after placing her dad in a great care home, “Foster care is not just for children. We should leave the 'foster' out of the title to avoid confusing anyone.” I’ve taken her advice. For people who have limited financial resources, some assisted living communities and adult care homes do accept Medicaid. There is also the possibility of Veterans Administration payments for veterans and their spouses. Applying for Medicaid (rvcog.org; 541-776-6222) and VA benefits (Veteran Services Office: 541-774-8214) is a long process. Looking into your eligibility and qualifications ahead of time is a great idea. The last options are memory care and skilled nursing facilities, which we will discuss later. Knowing what’s out there helps families understand their choices and make decisions. Adult children, living here or far away, are also the beneficiaries of this wise consideration ahead of time. Knowledge and planning empowers everyone. "Aging Happens" appears weekly in the Daily Tidings. Ellen Waldman is a certified geriatric care manager. Email questions about aging and Ashland-area aging resources and column suggestions to her via [email protected].         By Ellen Waldman For the Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By Ellen Waldman For the Daily Tidings Posted Sep. 22, 2014 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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