Comfort Keepers of Springfield, PA names Deidre Whitton Caregiver of Year 2008

Deidre Whitton (center) pictured with Sallie and Clark Bongaardt, Owners, Comfort Keepers, Delaware County and Mainline serving Comfort Keepers.

Comfort Keepers is proud to announce Deidre Whitton of Springfield, PA was named Comfort Keeper of the Year for 2008. A prestigious award bestowed on a caregiver who has demonstrated and fulfilled the Comfort Keepers’ mission statement throughout the year to treat clients as if they are taking care of a member of their own family. Deirdre is a shining representation of all dedicated caregivers. She maintains the highest standards in care, she is a team player willing to pick up different assignments, she readily fills in for last minute call outs and works closely with other Comfort Keepers sharing clients and assignments. She is always on time, a hard worker who genuinely enjoys her clients and her clients love her back.
In her four plus years working as a Comfort Keeper, Deirdre has faced some tough clients. With a low-key demeanor, not only has she handled each challenging situation with competence, she is also able to find the special interest, hobby or activity her clients like to do. Her skill of providing interactive caregiving is unmatched and her creativity allows the client to participate at their individual level of functioning. Comfort Keepers has received multiple, unsolicited letters with glowing accolades from clients and their families who have been touched by Deirdre. Phrases such “{Deirdre} connected immediately with my Mom and they were able to establish the trust that was needed in order to complete the daily routine”, and “Deirdre is not only capable in her duties but she is a caring and compassionate companion to my mother”, and “We were truly blessed to have had Deirdre assigned to our case…we will always be grateful for her help and good care”, are a few of the common expressions of gratitude that we have received. An accomplished interactive caregiver engaging her clients in games, conversations, activities and exercise, Deirdre’s client files are documented with notations of the positive effects of Deirdre’s caregiving on clients having been recorded from ongoing visits by our registered nurse and our ambassadors performing home visits. Clients who were depressed have reported lifted spirits looking forward to Deirdre’s visits. Clients who were struggling to maintain quality in their lives have reported a renewed feeling of hope; and clients who were lonely reported finding a new friend. For Deirdre, being a Comfort Keeper is truly a vocation – a way to give back and make a difference. All of us at Comfort Keepers are grateful to Deirdre Whitton on our team and congratulate her on her award. To see more of our award winning caregivers, click here: http://www.comfortkeepers.com/caregivers/437/jobopportunites.html

Living with someone who suffers with dementia, you are not alone, many have the illness and caregivers who help are stressed

If you live with someone suffering from a memory impairment, know that you are not alone. As the disease progresses, the person suffering from the illness will eventually need full time care either from a family member who lives with him or her or a paid caregiver. The disease progresses at different rates and it is often hard to determine when to have the person move in with you or to have a live in caregiver move in. Often times, a crisis precipitates the decision such as the person’s wandering, forgetting to eat and losing alot of weight, mismanagement of the pill box and/or some combination of the decrease in daily living skills. Once a family decides to have a loved one move in with them or vice versa, the whole dynamic in the house can change. If you have a house where the kids are still growing up, the tasks of trying to be attentive to the kids needs, activities and tasks can be overwhelming and to add a loved one suffering from memory impairment can be like adding another child to the mix. The memory impaired person can begin to take away time and even become the focus of the family’s attention and activities to the point that life revolves around the memory impairment. I can’t go to my daughter’s dance recital because there is no one to stay with mom or if I go to the recital and someone stay, I worry while I am there and think about it alot.
Having a memory impaired person living with you after the kids are grown can also be very taxing and can even result in anger and resentment on you part. Maybe this is the time you planned to be free from all responsiblities, take trips, start a hobby and along comes this illness that keeps you from doing what you planned. Or maybe it is not you that feels that way but rather your spouse. A person who is always like your memory impaired person, been willing to help out but now feels he or she is robbed of the retirement time with you.
If you have experienced any of this, you are not alone. It is a common feeling among caregivers. There is no one answer for how to fix your situation. The best thing to do is sit down and identify where the stress is. Is the stress, you cannot get out of the house? If so, sit down with your calendar and plan out every tues you will go out from 9 to 12pm and then hire a company like Comfort Keepers to send a caregiver out to stay with you memory impaired person. It will do wonders for you.
If the issue is with your spouse, the feelings of anger and resentment, then plan date nights and maybe have your grown adult son or daughter stay with your memory impaired person. If you belong to a faith group like church or synagogue often these places with have senior ministries or volunteers who will come and stay with love one for couple hours. You need a break sometime and that is okay. You need to take care of yourself and your marriage or the memory impairment, not your loved one, will have a significant impact on the relationship and its future.
To see more info on Comfort Keepers and in-home companion services, go to www.comfortkeepers.com

Poor hygiene in elderly, seniors who will not bathe or shower

As individuals begin to age and their health starts to deteriorate family members may see a dramatic change in hygiene habits. Things like changing their clothes on a regular basis, bathing, combing or fixing their hair, lack of make up for the ladies who always fixed themselves up may start to show up in little ways. It starts with the notice that grandmom or mom didn’t put her lipstick on today or her hair is not fixed well. When you ask about it, the answer you may receive is oh I just didn’t feel like it today. If that answer seems odd to you, it should, there may be something going on that the person is not sharing.
Things like eye sight worsening, arthritis acting up, a physical pain in the body or possibly the beginning stages of memory impairment may be occurring. Often what happens is the person starts to rationaliz their behavior or lack there of by making excuses that are in general terms such as just didn’t feel like, didn’t have enough time, etc.
Like anyone who would say that to you, you want to give the person the benefit of the doubt but you should keep an eye to see if it happens again, the frequency of how often and if there is a pattern to it. Maybe it is only on rainy days when the person’s arthiritis is acting up and causing the person much pain. The person may not tell you how bad the pain is. The key to identifying if patterns of behavior are changing is to watch, listen and document. Keep a little note on your calendar at home or in your wallet, this date, saw mom and hair not done, said didn’t feel like it. This documentation may come in hand later to show a doctor the patterns or to determine how and when possible memory impairments began.
Reference is made to the start of memory impairments because often people who begin to suffer from dementia can lose the sequencing or patterning of how to do a certain behavior. He or she may not remember the steps of how to put lipsticks on, throw a possible eye sight problem on top of that and the person will just stop putting the lipstick on completely. It is much easier to just generalize and say oh I don’t feel like it than to verbalize they are scared that something is wrong and they can’t remember the steps of how to do it or see it.
Bathing is often a behavior that memory impaired individuals will not do. They resist the bathing or showering completely, often becoming angry or aggressive if you bring it up. This can be a combination of many reasons why. Again they can forget how to do it, be ashamed to let anyone see them without clothes, not be able to see the depth of the water in the tub, as a clear water against a white tub bottom and poor eye sight is a dangerous combo, if you can’t see how deep, you won’t get in, thinking you might drown, putting a color on the white bottom like dark blue mat sometimes helps if it is an eyesight problem, getting in and out of the tub physically can be a major problem for people so they stop doing it because it hurts too much and causes them pain. There are many reasons why people will not bathe. Sometimes we want people to bathe on our schedule in the morning when in fact they bathe all their life in the afternoon or evening and for memory impaired individuals who are actively reliving the past, they know they bathe in the evening. If you force them to do it at another time, they will resist. Sometimes sponge bathing is your best answer and showering with a shower chair, safety bars and a hand held shower piece can be done once a week.
Changing clothes often becomes an overwhelming experience for people as well. They will wear the same clothes for several days or wear only like 3 outfits when they have tons of clothes to choose from. We need to remember the goal is to keep people clean and healthy. If we can get a sponge bath and clean clothes whether it is one of the 3 outfits they always wear, they are bathed and clean. Keep your expectations low. They don’t have to wear all the clothes in their closet, they just need to be clean and healthy. Let them wear what they want as long as it is clean.
When you find yourself getting overwhelmed and frustrated, it may be time to bring in outside help. Often people respond to the aide who comes in to bathe them and they will do it for the aide because she is coming specifically to do it and leave. Sometimes the person sees the aide as an authority figure and will comply with the request of the aide to bathe. It is worth a try to see if it works. We need to be creative with our elderly folks not manipulative. Try different things to help them stay healthy and clean. Keep your goal and expectations for them low. They do not live their lives like younger people. Poor eyesight, aging, pain, physical disablity can make anyone feel like why bother putting the lipstick on. It is easy to rationalize it away. Aging is a process and we need to go through the process with them on their terms not ours. For more information, go to www.comfortkeepers.com

Holiday and everyday activities to do with seniors, the elderly bake, cook, help and assist

Holiday Activity Ideas
During the holidays, seniors often experience feelings of isolation and loneliness, so it is important to keep them active and involved. Try to include your loved ones in the family holiday preparations and activities.
Cook a favorite meal together. Prepare a dish the senior loved as a child or once prepared as a holiday tradition. Involving the senior in the process, instead of making it for them, allows the senior to feel helpful and needed.
Make a family cookbook. Either organize recipes the senior has stashed away or hunt down some of their favorites from family members. This can also help you prepare dishes they will enjoy and be comforted by.
Set up a Christmas tree or Menorah. Decorations add so much to the holiday season. Help your loved one feel at home during the holidays by setting up their Christmas tree or Menorah with them. Again, having them help you put ornaments on the tree or plugging in the lights can make the senior feel helpful and involved.
Drive to see the beautiful holiday lights. Taking a senior loved one - especially a senior who can no longer drive - on a drive through town can be a delightful experience.
Watch old family movies together.
Play a favorite board game. It is important to get seniors minds engaged by playing games or doing puzzles. Interaction is important for seniors, especially during the busy holidays.
Take a walk down memory lane. Holidays bring back memories, and seniors often find great joy in having someone show interest in them and their past. Whether it’s looking through photo albums or just sharing stories, you can help the senior in your life feel loved and involved with this stroll down memory lane.
Address holiday cards. Sending holiday cards is a wonderful way to keep in touch with family and friends. Holiday cards are a simple and thoughtful gesture that can help seniors to stay in contact with people they might not otherwise keep up with.
Sing carols with friends and neighbors. During the upcoming season, encourage the senior in your life to get together with friends, family or neighbors and sing holiday carols. Carols can be enjoyed anywhere, in your neighborhood, a downtown center, or even a living room gathering.
Bake holiday treats. The holidays are filled with wonderful traditions, especially traditions that can be tasted. Most seniors have holiday favorites from when they were kids or from family reunions. Find the seniors favorite recipe and help bring some holiday cheer to their home and heart.
If you live far away from your loved one and cannot be with them for the full holiday season, try encouraging them to join a senior group in their area. Long, cold winters and holiday seasons often bring depression and isolation, so it is important that seniors feel connected and active. For more information, go to: http://www.comfortkeepers.com/

Take time to socialize with elderly, suggestions on staying well

Personal care monitoring, life alert and alarms to keep senior safe in the home

We all know the famous commercial where the lady is laying on the ground yelling, “Help me I fallen and can’t get up!” The commercial is for the life line or life alert machine that calls for help for her. Interestingly enough the commercials have now evolved to a daughter and a mother who are sitting and the daughter explains to all of us how the machine kept her mother out of the facility.
The marketing strategy is to try and convince a senior that having that machine is the answer to being placed in a facility. Well, I have news for that poor senior…the machine is not the answer. The answer to staying out of a facility is safety not a machine that calls for help if you push it.
And that is the key, remembering to push it. Any person who is well of mind and able to push the button will probably not end up in a long term care facility. Most people who have a well brain and their memory are intact can manage with physical impairments with some help in the house. Once in a while there is an exception and a person does require so much assistance that long term care is recommended but for the most part a person who can push the button can call for help.
If the person has memory impairment, the machine is of no use. The person forgets they are wearing the pendant and forgets how the machine works and will often take off the pendant and leave it on the counter.
Now there are other mechanisms that the senior does not have to push or to operate to get it to call for help. There are things like fall detectors that client can wear - about the size of a cell phone that will go off automatically if the client falls. It registers the jarring of the body against something and it goes off on its own and calls for help. A good example of this is when you sit in a recliner chair and you hit the button and the chair throws you back into a reclining position. If you were wearing the detector it would probably go off. It thinks you fell from the quick jerk of your body.
Other mechanisms such as wall mounted video cameras and motion detectors are fairly sophisticated and can do things like keep track via the internet whether your senior has risen and moved around in the home. The mechanism works much like a motion detector but only opposite. The motion detector say on a building has a light go off if someone walks by it alerting that someone is there. The motion detectors for seniors are opposite. If the senior does not go by one of them for a period of time say a half hour - you program in the time you want, the detector goes off and sends an alert via the e-mail system, phone, fax however you set it up that your loved one is not moving around.
There is so much technology out there to help keep your senior safe and at home. Again the most important thing is their safety. You can have all the gadgets in the world but if they don’t work when you need them to or do the job of keeping your senior safe, they are worthless and waste of money. For more information on technology available go to our website: http://wwww.comfortkeepers.com

Planning ahead for future needs: education on what to look for, understanding finances and other aging needs, seniors and elderly care,long term care

Very few individuals want to think about their future needs for aging services and long-term care until it becomes a necessity, which can often lead to poor planning. Planning ahead for unexpected illness, injury, or simply the typical needs of the elderly, can eliminate quick decision making on a wide variety of aging service options.

Assisted living facilities, retirement communities and nursing homes frequently have a waiting list for admission. In-home care service providers, such as Comfort Keepers, typically do not have waiting lists and allow for the client to continue living independently in the comfort of their own home. These services generally include companionship, home cooking, light housekeeping, shopping, transportation, and errands, but may also include personal care services such as bathing, feeding, transferring or incontinence care.

The cost of long-term care services is something for which many Americans are not prepared, and costs are expected to continually rise in the future. Today in the United States, 6,000 people turn 65 every day, and one in five Americans will be older than age 65 by the year 2030 (American Association of Retired Persons, 2003). This increase of U.S. seniors translates into more people looking for assistance with daily living activities at a staggering rate.

“We have found that many of our clients are not prepared for the monumental decisions surrounding long-term care options,” shared Clark Bongaardt, owner of the Springfield and Wayne, PA, Comfort Keepers. “It is our job to help them through the process, to the best of our abilities ensuring that when the time comes the most appropriate care is delivered.”

In the planning stages, it is often beneficial to speak with a professional about how to begin this process. Lawyers, accountants, professional care coordinators or the County Office Service of Aging (COSA) can explain the options and which direction to head.

The following is a brief overview of some of the different payment options available for long-term care:

· Long-term care insurance will provide for the assistance needed for an extended period if you cannot perform the activities of daily living.
· Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is an option that falls under Medicare as well as Medicaid and offers medical and socials services to elderly individuals allowing them to continue living at home (may not be available in all states).
· Medicaid will pay for the majority of nursing home costs which covers nearly 65 percent of all residents. It is a joint state-federal program that aids individuals who fall under a certain poverty level determined by the state.
· Medicare is health insurance for people over the age of 65 as well as certain individuals who are disabled. It is an insurance program that is intended to cover the various services that focus on recovery of a medical problem.
· States may offer a variety of services to consumers under a Home and Community Based Services waiver program and the number of services that can be provided is not limited. These programs may provide a combination of both traditional medical services (i.e. dental services, skilled nursing services) as well as non-medical services (i.e. respite, homemaking, and personal care).

People often assume health insurance will cover long-term care and, unfortunately, that is often untrue. Understanding these programs will help to remove the financial burden upon you and your family.

It is easy to get confused when making a decision about home care, especially if it feels like a very distant issue. When you plan ahead for long term care, you are making decisions about your own life by choice, instead of other people making decisions for you in crisis. For many Comfort Keepers in-home care services are a care option that may be the long term solution for an individual’s care needs. However, in the event an individual’s needs go beyond what can be safely provided in the home, Comfort Keepers can be a resource and can offer research and information to help you in this process.

About Comfort Keepers
Founded in 1998 by a registered home health care nurse and her husband, the Comfort Keepers franchise system has grown to over 500 locations in 44 states, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland. Comfort Keepers has ranked as one of the top three franchises in senior care Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500 for the past four years. For more information about Comfort Keepers, visit www.comfortkeepers.com. Each office is independently owned and operate

Does your loved one need help in home? Things to look for, identify his or her needs

How Do I Know If A Loved One Needs Help?
We live in a very mobile society where families don’t always live in the same town or even the same state for that matter. Unlike the “old days”, entire families throughout America don’t have the opportunity to come together as often as they would like. That’s why the holiday season has become an important time to take stock of our loved one’s health and everyday living capabilities. Family gatherings with loved ones from out of town, or even the more frequent family phone calls from long distance relatives, are a perfect time to ‘check up’ on seniors living on their own.
It is not uncommon for the adult children of seniors, especially the Baby Boomer generation, to have some concerns about how their parents are doing. In fact, according to the Family Caregiver’s Alliance, families provide 80 percent of the long-term care in this country. This holiday season while you are enjoying your visits or on the phone with your aging loved ones, make good use of your time by reviewing their living status.
Using Your Five SensesMany holiday traditions tempt your five senses. These same senses can be put to use in evaluating the status of elderly family members. Below is a checklist using each of your five senses to determine if your family members are in need of additional care or assistance.
Sight – Looking at the senior’s appearance can be a sign that they are being limited either physically or mentally from completing otherwise normal daily tasks. Watch for things like clothes with stains, poor personal hygiene and a disorganized or dirty house.
Sound – Listening to what and how seniors speak can tell you a lot about their current mental status. You should not assume that “old age” is causing these problems. Do they call you by name? Are they speaking normally? Are they staying involved in outside activities?
Smell – Using your nose as an indicator to determine if your relative is bathing properly, cleaning their house or have spoiled food in their kitchen.
Taste – Tasting their food and sorting through their medications can help you determine if they are eating healthy or taking expired medications. Look at expiration dates and for fresh and stocked pantry items.
Touch – A simple hug can tell you if your family member is fragile or losing weight. Is their skin soft and the color normal? Do they have any bruising or tearing of the skin?
Review Status By PhoneDuring telephone conversations, gently probe for information about the person’s health and well-being. Below is a list of sample questions that are key indicators or warning signs to help determine if your family members are in need of additional care or assistance:
• What did you have for breakfast? If your loved one cannot remember what he/she ate for breakfast that morning, forgot to eat breakfast or the meal appears to lack nutritious value, a memory problem could be setting in.
• Did you go to the beauty salon to get your hair cut? Did you use the new shower gel I bought you? These are good ‘backdoor’ questions to finding out whether or not your loved one is remembering to take care of his/her hygiene.
• Did you make it to Bingo this week? An early sign of depression is withdrawal from social activities.
• Is your loved one speaking normally? Differences in speech patterns are warning signs for medical problems that should be looked into immediately.
Help is AvailableIf you sense a problem based on the above indictors, you and other family members should waste no time in taking the appropriate next steps. As difficult as the process might be, keep reminding yourself that by being proactive, as a result of your observations, you will not only provide safety for your family member, but will also keep them happy and healthy for years to come.
If you are concerned about a loved one and would like more information on how to help, call one of our offices for a FREE consultation.
Comfort Keepers – Delaware County -610-543-6300Comfort Keepers – Philadelphia - 1-866-436-7750.Comfort Keepers – Mainline Area – 610-520-5300Comfort Keepers Chester County – 610-358-1640Out of State? Click on our website: www.comfortkeepers.com and go to locations.
Comfort Keepers provides Assisted Living services in the privacy of the home, hospital or facility to anyone over the age of 18 who is sick, disabled or elderly.
Services include but are not limited to: assistance with bathing and grooming, light housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation, transportation (to doctor, grocery store, errands). to get a free full assessment guide, go to www.comfortkeepers.com

Support during difficult times, hospice care, illness and grief

When a loved one is living outtheir last days at home, it canbe an especially difficult andemotional time. ComfortKeepers® is here to help.We provide families with thehelp they need to make themost of their days together,while helping them through those challengingmoments in life.
Comfort Keepers provides more than just in-home care services. We offer clients a level of comfort that helps preserve their dignity and provides a quality of life that can only be achieved at home. We are also there to give help for family and friends coping with the emotional challenges and additional time burden inevitably associated with this kind of sensitive situation. To read more go to: http://www.comfortkeepers.com/

Talking to a loved one about care, conversations starters

With families spread outacross the county, many of usmay not be able to be togetherwith our loved ones as oftenas we would like. But thatshould not keep you fromtaking the time to assessyour loved one’s care needs.In telephone conversations,gently probe for informationabout the person’s healthand well-being. Below is alist of sample questionsthat are key indicators or warning signs tohelp determine if your family members are in need of additionalcare or assistance.• What was eaten for breakfast? If your loved one cannot rememberwhat he/she ate for breakfast that morning, forgot to eatbreakfast or the meal appears to lack nutritious value, a problemDid you go to the beauty salon to get your hair cut? Did you usethe new shower gel I bought you? These are good “backdoor”questions to finding out whether or not your loved one isremembering to take care of his/her hygiene. A lack of personalhygiene is often an early sign that your loved one may need acaregiver to aid in these tasks.• Did you give any thought to the conversation we had last nightabout Debbie coming to visit you? If your loved one cannotremember the last conversation you had or is repeating stories,he/she may also be having difficulty when communicating withstrangers (i.e. telephone repair man, bank teller, etc…).• Did you make it to your weekly bridge club game with the girlslast week? An early sign of depression is withdrawal from socialactivities. A caregiver may provide the comfort that your loved onecraves or encourage involvement in activities outside the home.• Did you get the oil changed in your car? Seniors often do notrealize when their driving skills may be impaired. Finding out ifhe/she is keeping up with maintenance on the vehicle is a greatway to find out if he/she may need a caregiver to start runningerrands and personally drive the senior to his/her appointments.• Is your loved one speaking normally? Differences in speechpatterns are warning signs for medical problems that should belooked into immediately.These are just a sampling of the questions that could help youassess your loved one’s needs. To see more questions and download free assessment, go to www.comfortkeepers.com

Help protect seniors during cold weather season

When winter temperatures drop significantly below normal,staying warm and safe can become a challenge, especially forelderly. There are several factors that can put the elderly atrisk during winter storms and lengthy sub-zero periods suchas unexpected power or heating system failure.Exposure to cold temperatures, whether indoors or outdoors,can cause serious or life-threatening health problems. TheU.S. Department of Health and Human Services andComfort Keepers have provided these tips for seniors toremain safe during the cold weather season. Other dangers toconsider are icy sidewalks and cold and flu viruses.Through the proper precautions, winter doesn’t have toconfine seniors to their house. They can enjoy these monthssafely by taking additional care and caution. Follow these tipsto protect against illness, body heat loss, and other potentialwinter-related problems.• Be cautious with space heaters – Do not place a space heaterwithin three feet of anything that may catch on fire, such asdrapes, furniture, or bedding, and never cover your spaceheater. In addition to being a fire hazard, space heaters mayalso increase the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.• Consistently check the temperature – Older adults oftenmake less body heat because of a slower metabolism andless physical activity. When over 65 years of age, it isimportant to check home temperatures often especiallyduring severely cold weather. The thermostat should beset to 65 degrees to prevent hypothermia. This will alsoprevent freezing pipes. Often times, seniors will turn theheat down to save money on their monthly bill. Caulkingor plastic sheets can be used to protect windows and keepthe warm air inside the house and bring peace of mind toseniors worried about their energy bills.• Check smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors –CO can be a very dangerous gas emitted by fuel-burningheaters and appliances. Seniors’ bodies can’t dispose ofcarbon monoxide as quickly as younger adults. Check tomake sure all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors workwithin the home.• Eat nutritiously – Eating well-balanced meals will helpseniors stay warmer. Also, alcoholic or caffeinated beveragescan cause body temperatures to drop more rapidly(regardless of age). Even though the heat may be gone, it isstill important to drink at least six to eight glasses of watera day. This can help prevent dry skin problems as well asdehydration. A senior’s body isn’t as tough as it once was.It is more important for a 70-year-old to stay hydrated thana 30-year-old. continued on page Safety precautions – If a cane is used to assist in walking, besure to replace the rubber tip to prevent falls. When drivingin the winter be sure to get the car tuned up, keep the gastank near full and check to make sure the car has good tires.• Dress appropriately – Be sure the outer layer of clothing istightly woven, preferably wind resistant, to reduce body-heatloss caused by wind. Using wool, silk or polypropylene asthe inner layers of clothing will hold more body heat thancotton. Mittens are warmer than gloves because your fingersproduce heat when they are touching. Wear a hat to protectagainst heat loss through the head.• Take breaks during outdoor winter tasks – Many forgethow much energy it takes to shovel snow in the driveway orwalkway. The cold weather during the winter months can putadded strain on the heart. It is important to warm up thebody prior to these chores and take frequent breaks toprevent any problems or injuries.• Keep a water supply – Have an extra supply of water storedin clean containers, or purchase bottled water (up to fivegallons per person) in case water pipes freeze and rupture.By preparing a senior’s home for the winter months and takingthe necessary safety precautions, you can reduce the risk ofweather-related health problems. If you know elderly personswho are unable, for any reason, to prepare for extremecold-weather conditions, they should stay with family members or go to available shelter.Drink plenty of replenishing fluids – Alcoholic beveragesand caffeine should be avoided since they can causedehydration. Water is a great option, but does not effectivelyreplace the potassium and sodium (electrolytes) that are lostduring perspiration. Popular sports drinks such as Gatoradeand Powerade are great choices for rehydrating the body.Always be on guard for symptoms of heat exhaustion, whichinclude pale, cold or clammy skin, extreme thirst, lightheadedness,fainting, mild nausea, vomiting, and excessivesweating. Signs of heat stroke include hot, dry skin, a fast,strong pulse, confusion, and a body temperature of 104 degreesor higher. If a person exhibits signs of heat stroke, this is aserious medical emergency and 911 or your local emergencymedical team should be contacted.The good news is heat-related illnesses and injuries arepreventable. If seniors understand the signs and are aware ofthe symptoms, they can beat the heat this summer season. To read more, go to www.comfortkeepers.com

Resoures getting help for Seniors, Elderly

Getting Access to Senior Services

Countless organizations have been set up to serve the many needs of senior citizens. There are so many, in fact, that one of the biggest challenges is figuring out where to turn when assistance is needed. To help others overcome this challenge, the US government has created an invaluable website called First Gov for Seniors. It can be reached by clicking on this link, www.firstgov.gov/Topics/Seniors.shtml.
This web site acts as a portal to many of the services seniors need. Navigating this site is simple thanks to the easy-to-understand categorization. Once on this web site’s home page, simply choose from 8 different categories of service including:
Consumer Protection
Education, Jobs and Volunteerism
Federal and State Agencies
Health and Housing
Laws and Regulation
Retirement and Money
Taxes
Travel and Leisure.
Within each category is a collection of links that will take the visitor to more detailed information on a particular sub-category. This additional information might be in the form of an actual web site, or it might be a relevant article, or it might provide contact information for a particular agency. Getting your parents access to senior services really can be as simple as clicking on the appropriate link.
In addition to the links found within the 8 basic categories, there is an entire section devoted to Featured Sites. The links found here are relevant to the topics currently making the headlines. Right now this section includes information on the Flu season, links to Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage sites, and other newsworthy subjects.
As well-intentioned as this site is, the information that is available can be a bit overwhelming, and finding the exact answers you are looking for still might be a challenge. The key here is to be patient. Visitors should also be willing to click around; you never know what you might stumble upon. You will definitely find resources that you do not need right now so be sure to bookmark this web site so it’s easy to find later on.
First Gov for Seniors is a valuable starting point when you are the person in charge of getting your aging parents access to senior services. If your parents have access to the Internet and are comfortable working on a computer, pass this link on to them so they can visit the site when it is convenient. Another resource that you may wish to consider is the US Health & Human Services website - they have many resources that you might find helpful.
Another approach that can lead to an invaluable source of information on senior services, especially those that are local, is to ask around for references. There are also a great many sites that act as a network for resources - the Aging Parents and Elder Care Site provides home health medical supplies for seniors, arthritis products, gifts for elderly, handicap aids and accessories. Friends, co-workers and other family members with aging parents probably have many of the same questions and issues as you and your parents do. If they’ve already “been there, done that” they’ll be more than happy to share what they’ve learned including the resources that have been more useful than others.
Individuals working in medical offices are another good source for getting your aging parents access to senior services. Those who work there often know how to cut through the “red tape” so listen closely to their advice.

Our Mission is to provide our clients with the highest level of quality of life that is achievable. To read more articles on senior care, go to http://www.comfortkeepers.com/

Not To Be Forgotten NTBF Tea Party Fundraiser

Comfort Keepers supports this organization and we hope you will too!

Not-To-Be Forgotten Foundation (ntbf) is a newly-formed nonprofit organization* which was created to acknowledge the struggles that older adults face in maintaining quality of life in their twilight years. Ntbf will strive to address those struggles one senior at a time by way of public awareness, education, fulfilling needs and granting wishes. Some needs may be simple – finding a local resource for delivery of meals – and some may be more complicated – repairing a roof that is financially out of the realm of the individual. Wishes may run the gamut as well from easy to complicated. Ntbf intends to work closely with community organizations, government agencies and businesses utilizing all resources available to meet its requests.

See their upcoming events! If you are interested in sponsorship contact: Amy Fenzel at amy@ntbff.org.

http://www.ntbff.org/

May 2, 2009

1st Annual NTBF Tea Party

Where: Villa Nova Conference CenterTime: 10:30am - 12:30pm

Why: What can I do today to help a Senior?Speaker: TBDTickets: $10Our Conscientious Acts of Kindness Campaign will kick off with a Tea Party during Older American’s Month on May 2, 2009. Our special guests will be members of the senior population in Delaware County who are invited to bring family members and friends. All groups in attendance must have a senior citizen as a member of their party. The Tea Party will act as an outreach program focused on connecting the generations, bringing awareness to senior issues and challenging the younger generations and the community at large to take a daily interest in those seniors whose lives cross paths with their own by making conscientious choices to assist seniors in their neighborhoods, in their communities and in their families with purposeful acts of kindness. For instance, bringing trash cans up from the curb on trash day, assisting in unloading a grocery cart at the grocery store, making sure their walkways are safe by shoveling their snow and/or raking their leaves

May 16, 2009'

PA'Ducky Derby

Where: Delaware Canal River - Philadelphia, PATime: TBD

Why: To raise funds for The Not-To-Be Forgotten FoundationIn the planning stages, ntbf is organizing a Duck Derby on May 16, 2009 as part of Delaware County Older American’s Month celebration. The Duck Derby and its related functions (a kick-off silent auction, duck adoptions, etc.) will act as ntbf’s primary fundraising activity for 2009. Individuals, organizations, companies and groups will be able to “adopt” a bright yellow rubber duck for $5 each. All adopted ducks will be tagged and dropped into the Delaware River at Governor Printz Park in Essington. Each derby duck will then race towards the finish line with a winning number attached to it. As a specified number of “adopted” ducks cross the finish line, they will be cross-referenced on a master list to their lucky “parents.” Prizes will be awarded to the winning ducks. In addition to the Duck Derby, ntbf will coordinate a day of family activities in Governor Printz Park on the day of the derby! For more info, go to http://www.ntbff.org/ or contact amy@ntbff.org

For more information on Comfort Keepers, go to our website at: http://www.comfortkeepers.com/ or call us at 610-543-6300. To see our award winning caregivers, click here: http://www.comfortkeepers.com/caregivers/437/jobopportunites.html