Tag Archives: 1 Assist Care Assisted Living

The Secret History of Your Name

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What secrets do your last name keep?

Ancestry.com has created an exciting new tool that allows you to find out the history of your last name and what it might reveal about your ancestors.

To check this tool out, go to Ancestry.com’s site here.

ps – A little bit of a hint, try entering other family names you may know in your family history.

1 Assist Care’s Caregivers not only help with things like cooking and cleaning, they can also help the seniors they care for do their family history, giving those receiving care with a sense of purpose and accomplishment.

Have You Seen: 7 Lessons That Can Lead to Family History Breakthroughs

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RootsTech 2016, the largest conference in the world focused on family history technology is all wrapped up.

FamilySearch, the conference’s organizer has published a set of 7 lessons you can use for “Family History Breakthroughs.”  Some are obvious, like “Family History is for Everyone.”  Some are not so obvious, like how to make your family tree public.

To read the entire list, check out the post here.

Did you know 1 Assist Care has helped our client’s do family history with them while providing care?  It has helped our clients feel a sense of purpose as they work towards a goal and service while in their homes.  Call us for more information! 208-557-4215

Get everyone involved in family history.

Proposed Changes to the VA’s Home Aid And Attendance Program

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The VA is proposing changes to the Aid and Attendance program. It is an attempt to streamline the system to award it faster while preventing those without economic or physical need from receiving it.

The VA is proposing changes to the Aid and Attendance program. It is an attempt to streamline the system to award it faster while preventing those without economic or physical need from receiving it.

In January of this year, the Department of Veteran Affairs made some suggested changes to programs that it offers to veterans in need, including the Aid and Attendance program.

You can find the proposed changes in their entirety here.  The changes come because of a 2012 report issued by the GAO.

Reasons for the change:

  • Pension Used By Those Not In Need Financially or Physically: The VA had concerns that veterans and others were attempting to hide assets in order to gain access to the programs that were meant for needs-based veterans and their surviving spouses.  Also, they felt that people were using the pension who did not really need it as they do not need care in the home.
  • Excessive Care Costs: The VA desired to put a cap on the amount per hour that care companies charge for home care standards to come more in line with industry standards.
  • Slow Response Time For Help: The VA realized that the speed at which they were able to award the pension was hindered by the complexity of the current application process, both to the VA and to those applying for the program.  They feel the new regulations will allow the VA to award the pension in a more timely manner.

Proposed Changes:

  • Establish a 3-year look-back for claimants to see if they are trying to hide assets through “gifts.”
  • Deny any expenses related to independent living facilities as care costs UNLESS the veteran and/or spouse requires assistance with two or more activities of daily living (eating, bathing, getting dressed, etc).
  • Impose penalties for up to 10 years for claimants who transfer assets before applying for pension to create the appearance of economic need where it does not exist
  • Create a bright-line net worth standard of $119,220, which includes annual income (not including their residence – the goal is to streamline the process so qualified veterans and their spouses can get the award faster)
  • Require veterans to sell their homestead property if the lot coverage exceeds 2 acres.
  • Create a maximum amount that care companies can charge per hour for services.

We at 1 Assist Care have seen veterans and their spouses struggle as they have had to wait for approval for a program.  Anything the VA can do to speed up the process, we are highly in favor of.

 

Dad losing interest in his hobbies? What might really be happening

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As your mother and father continue to age, are you finding that one of them is starting to lose interest in hobbies they always loved?

Grandpa losing interest in activities he once loved? Do not jump to conclusions - there might be more going on that you realize.

Grandpa losing interest in activities he once loved? Do not jump to conclusions – there might be more going on that you realize.

Apathy might not be the problem. And do not be so quick to blame the temperament of someone with old age.

A recent study out of in the journal Neurology suggests that something else might be afoot.

According to the study’s author, apathy in the elderly may actually be a sign of dementia. How so? The loss of interest may be a sign of shrinking amounts of grey and white matter in the brain.

Does that mean that all apathy in seniors is a sure sign of Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia? Definitely not. The key to look for? Ask yourself this one question. Does your loved one suffer from depression? According to research, seniors who experienced apathy WITHOUT depression is an indicator that the individual may be suffering from some sort of dementia.

There is still more research to conduct, but if you find your loved one lacking emotion, it might be time to schedule some time to visit with their doctor.

Alzheimer’s: The Toll On Women

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Women More Likely Than Men To Get AlzheimersPink is a great color. We run marathons wearing it. College and professional athletes wear it. It serves to remind us well the toll that breast cancer impacts women.

Did you know there is a disease that inflicts twice as many women as breast cancer? According to the Alzheimer’s Association 2014 Facts and Figures report, women over 60 have a 1 in 6 chance of developing Alzheimer’s. Men have a 1 in 11 chance.

Maybe it is time to start wearing purple along with pink.

There are five million people in the United States afflicted with Alzheimer’s with half a million people dying each year due to the disease.

The impact on women puts them at the epicenter. Consider these facts:

  • Two-thirds of those living with the disease are women
  • Women are 2.5 times more likely than men to provide intensive “on-duty” care 24 hours a day for someone with Alzheimer’s
  • Over 60 percent of Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers are women
  • 20% of women (compared with 3% of men) switch from full-time to part-time work in order to assume responsibilities as caregivers
  • Women caregivers report feeling more isolated and depressed than men
  • Women are more likely to take a leave of absence from work or stop working altogether

Alzheimers Purple RibbonWhile there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, awareness of the disease is a great first step.

1 Assist Care of the Valley: Assisted Living at Home is partnering with the Alzheimer’s Association to bring Alzheimer’s support groups to Rexburg to serve caregivers and those in the early stages of the disease from Rigby to Driggs and everywhere in between. To stay informed about the support groups and to stay informed about Alzheimer’s Disease, fill out your information below.

And don’t forget to like us on Facebook, follow us on Pinterest, and subscribe to this blog (scroll to the top of the page and look to the right of the post)

For more information on Alzheimer’s in Idaho, click the link below.

Alzheimer’s Disease: Idaho Facts and Figures

Husband’s Health Crucial to Happy Marriages for Seniors

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Eldery Couples With Healthy Husbands Have Less FightsHealth, it does a marriage good.

Well, a husband’s health. And if the couple has been married for at least 39 years.

According to a study out in the Journal of Marriage and Family, researchers found that the healthier and more positive the husband was, the less likely there was to be marital contention. In the study, it was the wives who reported higher levels of conflict.

The report was not focused on violence or fighting, but rather the amount that one spouse criticizes the other, makes too many demands on the other, or gets on one another’s nerves in general.

On the other hand, the health of a wife does not impact an elderly couple’s relationship for good or for bad.

So what to do?

There are a number of things seniors can do to feel healthier. As discussed in a previous posts, that can be as simple as standing, attending peer discussion groups, or receiving home care. Those that did the latter two actually felt twice as healthy as those who did not after a period of two years.

1 Assist Care of the Valley: Assisted Living at Home will be offering support groups in Rexburg much like groups currently being offered in Idaho Falls. Additionally, 1 Assist Care of the Valley offers care at home to seniors so they do not need to go to nursing homes.

To find out more about assisted living care you can receive at home or about the monthly support meetings, fill out your information below. Or you can call us at 557-4215.

Cemeteries and Funeral Homes: Two Quick Phone Calls That Could Change The Game on Finding Information on an Ancestor

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Cemeteries Information On FamilyYesterday, the Scottish Genealogy group on Facebook posted a great nugget concerning two phone calls you can make to find out additional information concerning a deceased ancestor.

When you are looking for your ancestor, don’t stop at the obituary or the gravestone inscription. Call or write to the cemetery and ask:

  • Who purchased the plot
  • What address was given for the person who purchased the plot
  • Whether any other family members are buried in the same plot

The cemetery office may also tell you the names of any other people with the same surname who are buried at the cemetery.

While you are at it, contact the funeral home listed in the obituary. Funeral homes keep detailed records about the individuals that they care for. This can be a valuable resource.

The funeral home will have:

  • A copy of the program or the card given to those who attend the service,
  • A copy of the death record they issued for the family and information on the next of kin.

If an autopsy was performed, the funeral home may supply you with the information for the name and address of the coroner asCall funeral homes and ask for information on ancestors well, which will allow you to contact that resource for detailed information on the cause of death and the details surrounding the death.

It will not hurt to ask the funeral home if they will provide you with:

  • The name of the deceased’s family physician
  • The name of the insurance company
  • The name of the clergy that performed the service.
  • They might even be able to provide you with information about where to find a will for the deceased.

In Idaho Falls and Ammon, there are four funeral homes you can reach out to. Rexburg and Rigby each have one, while St. Anthony has two.

1 Assist Care of the Valley Senior Care: Assisted Living At Home is a home care company located in Rexburg, Idaho. We provide provide weekly family history tips on our blog to help others with their family history work and genealogy.

We also provide assisted living services in the home to seniors in Idaho Falls, Rexburg, Driggs, Ashton, and everywhere in between. For some of our elderly clients, that includes doing family history with them.

To find out more about how we can help keep your elderly loved one home and safe rather than putting them into a nursing home, call us at 208-557-4215.

Our Deals For March 2014

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This March, 1 Assist Care of the Valley: Assisted Living At Home is offering two deals for you to choose from.

1 Assist Care of the Valley will take you to The Eastern Idaho Family History Conference for freeThe Eastern Idaho Family History Conference

Going from 9 until almost 5, 1 Assist Care of the Valley will provide you or a loved one with a ticket, provide transportation to the conference in Rexburg, and accompany you or them to any class you or they would like.

Does not matter if you are in Ashton or Driggs, we will take care of you.

Be sure to mention the Family History offer when you call to start services. You will need to start services by March 12th to enjoy this offer.

The Three International Tenors In Idaho Falls

The Three International TenorsYour second option is to enjoy two tickets to see the Three International Tenors in concert on March 25th in Idaho Falls. 1 Assist Care of the Valley will provide you with two tickets to enjoy the evening.

You need to start services by March 20th to enjoy this offer.

Call us today at 557-4215.

And of course, you can always ask us how veterans or their spouses may qualify for free or discounted assisted living care at home services.

When Exercise Isn’t Enough – The One Thing That Will Increase Elderly Health By 50%

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<a href=”http://www.valleyhelpathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Sitting-Senior.jpg”><img class=”alignleft  wp-image-480″ alt=”Helping Seniors To Walk In East Idaho” src=”http://www.valleyhelpathome.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Sitting-Senior.jpg” width=”379″ height=”216″ /></a>So it turns out that exercise is just not enough.  Not that the solution is terribly difficult, but in this case, <strong>knowing is way more than half of the battle</strong>.

<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”><strong><a href=”http://www.news-medical.net/news/20140220/Sedentary-behavior-may-be-a-risk-factor-for-disability-once-we-reach-our-60s.aspx” target=”_blank”>A recent study</a></strong></span> published in <i>Journal of Physical Activity and Health </i>found that <span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>the more time a senior spent sitting</span>, even if they spent time exercising, <span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>the more likely the senior’s health would lead to disability</span>.

The likelihood is pretty dramatic – to the tune of <strong>50% more per extra hour sitting</strong>.

Take this example. If two 70 year old men had similar health and exercise profiles, but one sat for 12 hours a day while the other sat for 13, the second man is 50% more likely to be disabled.

Does that mean sitting is dangerous?  What it means is that it is important to get up and move around.  If you want to watch TV, work on the computer, or play games, try to doing so while spending more time standing.  It might seem silly, but it is the difference between health and disability.

Looking for someone to help get you moving in one of Idaho Falls parks?  Wanting to find someone to go walking with your mother around the block in Rexburg?  Hoping you could just get someone to walk with your father in his house in Driggs?  Worried your loved one might be sitting too much at their cabin in Island Park? Wanting to give your wife a little extra walking time in the Ashton Living Center?  <em>1 Assist Care of the Valley: Assisted Living in the Home’s </em>care team members are more than happy to walk with our elderly clients.  Focusing on the emotional, social, and physical well-being of our clients, 1 Assist Care of the Valley’s team members follow care plans generated to help with that well-being while receiving assisted living care in their home.  That could mean a few hours a day or a few hours a week.

Give us a call at <strong>208-557-4215</strong> or fill out the information below to learn more or to <strong>schedule a free home visit</strong>.  We will then work with you to create a care plan to get moving and to help with your other objectives for your well being, or the well being of your loved one.