Trusted Local Resources
The following is a list of individuals in Central Oregon that are willing to come into the home or care community of a senior and better their lives. From caregivers to carpenters, these are local people that I would trust to care for someone that I love. If you know of someone who should be included on this list, please let me know.
Central Oregon Council on Aging
Providing you with links to Meals on Wheels, links to accessing government programs, and contact information for Central Oregon care communities including Foster Care Homes.
https://www.councilonaging.org/
541-678-5483
Feet Retreat
A service that will come to your loved one (at home, facility, or senior center) and spend 30 min providing footcare. Fingernails are complimentary, and a full assessment of the foot is done. Feet are soaked, lotion applied, and your loved one receives direct attention. Charge is $40 (unless at home).
Contact Dawn Unze at (541) 788-4785
https://www.oregonfeetretreat.com/bend
Friendship Line
If you suspect isolation or withdrawal from your loved one, you can contact Friendship Line to schedule a weekly call in from a licensed therapist. This is a free service funded by the Institute on Aging. You can nominate anyone over the age of 65 that may be lonely, and Friendship Line will call them routinely.
https://www.ioaging.org/services/all-inclusive-health-care/friendship-line
800-971-0016
Nancy Green, MS, OTR/L, CAPS
Nancy has over 25 years of experience working with the aging population. She is an occupational therapist, certified aging in place specialist and active member of the Accessibility Committee for the City of Bend. Nancy provides home safety assessments, fall prevention strategies and recommendations for home modifications to allow elderly and disabled people to continue comfortably living in their own homes.
Contact Nancy Green at (541) 219-2106
Recommended Readings
These are the two books that helped me understand what matters most in the end.
“Being Mortal” Dr. Atul Gawande
"Being Mortal" discusses the physical needs such as calories, liquids, and footcare as important, and also explains how interventions can often lead to a lower quality of life in the end.
“Four Things that Matter Most: A Book about Living” Dr. Ira Byock
"Four things...” is a fascinating book that tells the stories of how the author, a palliative care MD, learned what matters most to everyone in the end. I hold these concepts dear to my heart when I am consulted on end-of-life choices, and I highly recommend them both equally.