[10] January 27, 2012
In honor of National Children’s Dental Health Month, Lake Washington’s Dental Hygienists’ Society is offering a free preventive dental program for children ages 6-13, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4. During the event, stateregistered dental hygienists
Friends of FSH annual gala Friends of FSH Research in Kirkland is proud to have provided funding,
which helped to support in recent groundbreaking research. Dr. Tapscott’s lab at the Fred Hutchinson Research Center in Seattle recently published their research findings in the journal of Developmental Cell entitled “DUX4 Activates Germline Genes, Retroelements and Immune Mediators: Implication for Facioscapulohumeral Dystrophy.” Their groundbreaking discoveries are changing the outlook for those impacted by FSH Muscular Dystrophy, the
most common form of the dystrophies. Friends of FSH Research, founded in 2004 by a Kirkland family, is a grassroots, all-volunteer run 501(c) (3) charity. Friends of FSH Research relies upon private donations and the funds generated from its annual charity gala. The 8th “FiSHing for a Cure” gala of the Friends will be held at the Bellevue Hyatt on Jan. 28. For more information visit www. fshfriends.org or contact 425-827-8954.
...young at heart To move or not to move a parent with dementia
Personalizing assisted living Discover true warmth and vitality in assisted living. Madison House is a distinctive, family-owned community offering expert care services, including: • Full-time RN and LPN, available round-the-clock • Custom respite and short-term stay care • Convenient location next to Evergreen Hospital Madison House Retirement & Assisted Living Come see us or visit online at www.mhretirement.com.
Your family and ours.
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Madison House Madison House Retirement & Assisted Living 12215 NE 128th St., Kirkland, WA 98034 425-821-8210
Space is limited. To reserve a place in LWIT’s Dental Sealant Day, please call the LWIT dental clinic at 425739-8130. LWIT’s Dental Clinic offers low-cost dental treatments to the general public. To see a list of procedures and costs, please visit the website at www.lwtech.edu/ dentalclinic.
Many families often question themselves about when is the right time to move a parent suffering from dementia (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Lewy Body, Frontal Lobe or other). There are many factors to take into consideration: Reason No 1: I will wait until mom gets worse to make a move. Many families hope their parents will never get worse, or wait from a directive from their primary care physician or the hospital (if a crisis happened before). Here is a reason why waiting is not always the best scenario: Yes, a move may affect
mom’s memory but it will allow her to enjoy the benefits of assisted living (companionship, activities, brain stimulation, good nutrition, nursing supervision) while she still can. It will also make her transition better if in the future she needs to move to the community’s memory care because: • Mom may now know the staff and be less reluctant to receive care. • Mom will have a structured routine that will minimize her fears. She will also have more of a feeling of companionship rather than abandonment.
• Mom will have by then some familiar faces and friends who will be transitioning with her. • Most secured memory cares have a wait list and allow the community’s own residents placement before a new resident. Reason No. 2: Mom wants to stay home. If financially, your family is able to provide in-home care, this may be an option. However, six out of 10 people suffering from dementia will wander out of their homes. What will happen if mom leaves the home in the middle of the night? Providing yourself with peace of mind is as important as providing mom with the
best care. Home care can become expensive (on average if you are paying for seven hours or more of in-home care, you could have mom in an assisted living with all the care provided and supervision 24/7), and it doesn’t provide the interaction and stimulation a retirement community could provide. Short term stays are a great way for seniors to “try” a community and realize that in today’s era, a senior community is more like a cruise ship rather than the old style nursing homes. Reason No. 3: Mom can’t afford it. There are several ways to pay for assisted living and memory care communities: was your parent in the military and may she/he qualify for a VA Aid and Attendance Benefit of up to $1,600 per month? Does she/he have a Long Term Care Insurance? A few communities may also offer to convert to Medicaid, but be careful when this promise is made. Recently I heard a family was promised to convert to Medicaid if their mom did a private pay stay at their community for a minimum of two years. The senior has been there over a year and now the community was sold to a different ownership group who has no intention to convert to Medicaid. Not only should this type of promise be in writing, but you must also investigate the stability of the group you are choosing to provide care for your loved one.
Sandra Cook is the marketing director for Aegis Lodge in Kirkland. Contact her at 425-814-2841. 573287
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Free kids dental sealant day
white coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of molars to protect teeth from cavities. The painless process can protect children’s teeth for 6-8 years, and is typically done in less than an hour. “We’re thrilled to have this opportunity to provide dental care to children in need,” said Danette Lindeman, RDH, BS and event chair at LWIT. “Everyone involved in this event is volunteering their time – the dental professionals, students and even LWIT staff – so we can help up to 150 kids get this valuable service.”
Sandra Cook
BRIEFS
and Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWIT) dental hygiene students will place dental sealants. Exams (provided by licensed dentists), bitewing x-rays, and fluoride varnish (a value of more than $300) will also be provided to children who would otherwise not receive this cavity-prevention treatment due to a lack of insurance. Children whose teeth cannot be sealed due to decay may have their cavities filled at a later date at the LWIT Dental Clinic at no charge. Sealants are non-toxic
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