Monday, July 19, 2010

Back to School: Teachers are you a caregiver to aging parents help is close by.

Yesterday I picked up the Sunday paper to see multiple back to school ads. Ads for younger children returning to elementary school boasting great deals on crayons and art supplies, while clothing was promoted for the older middle and high school age and of course all the terrific college dorm items that are on sale. Back to school and back to work for many teachers, assistants, bus drivers, cafeteria workers and other school related employees.

Many of these employees however worked through the summer. They were caregiving an elderly loved one. The summer allowed them to go over to the home of their aging loved one and check to make sure medications were being taken, meals were eaten, doctor appointments were made and in some cases, personal grooming such as showering was done. The act of caregiving is in itself often a full time job that never stops, no breaks, no rest, it is constant worry about someone who needs everything from a little guidance or reminders to alot of help.

What will all these summer caregivers do when they return to school next month? How will their aging loved one get the help they need? Well now is the time to start to look into an assessment of what the person needs and to set up the help now so that the loved one gets used to a stranger coming into the home when the caregiver goes back to school.

Most in-home services have minimal hour requirement per visit and often there is no requirement on frequency of those visits nor the length of time of care. This means a loved one who just needs a bath once or twice a week and maybe help to grocery store can be help with minimal services while a person with different needs could have help every day if necessary for meals, medication reminder, showering, help to grocery store or doctor and so on. In most states if not all, medicare does not cover these services. So what are your options?

One you could pay privately for the care but I suggest you are careful about who you have come into the home. Most in-home companies have employees who are bonded and insured with workers' compensation and background checks. They also have enough caregivers so that if your caregiver calls out they have a replacement. Second option is to go through the Area Agency on Aging in your county. Often they offer in-home services and they pay for it if your loved one qualifies. Third options is long term care insurance. If your loved one has policy such as John Hancock, Genworth, Metlife and so on, that policy may have benefit that covers in-home care. Last there is a veteran's benefit available for any veteran or spouse that is 65 or over and meets criteria set forth by the VA. To read more on this benefit , click HERE . http://ping.fm/Ud5we

To read more on how help is close by, click HERE
http://ping.fm/zbofu

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Veterans Service Fair Conhohocken PA Info on Aging Veterans Benefits

Veterans Service Fair and Luncheon Thursday July 22, 2010 Fellowship House 515 Harry St. Conshohocken, PA 19428. Comfort Keepers serving Montgomery County PA to be on hand to educate attendees on Aging Veterans Benefit known as Aid and Attendance for Veterans and/or spouses age 65 and older who qualify. For more information on the event, contact our King of Prussia office at 610-783-7878 or click HERE to read more on aging veterans benefits.

In-home care for Seniors to participate in annual health fair Ambler Senior Center PA

In-home care provider Comfort Keepers serving Montgomery County PA to participate in Annual Health Fair Sept. 30, 2010 at Ambler Senior Center, 45 Forest Ave, Amber, PA 19002.

This event is open to the public. To read more about it, go to their website: http://montcosaac.com/ or contact Comfort Keepers at 610-783-7878 or to read more about aging veterans benefits, in-home care services or medical alert systems, click HERE.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Senior Community Services SCS starts Caregiver Consult Services partner with COSA

COSA partner Senior Community Services recently started Caregiver Consultation Services in Delaware County, PA. Senior Community Services is a non-profit organization that promotes independent living for the senior citizens of Delaware County PA. Recently they started their first private pay program the Caregiver Consultation Service. The CCS is a three step process that includes hearing the concerns of the family during an assessment of a loved one, developing an individualized care plan to address the needs and the last step of following up with the client two weeks later. The three step consultation is $350. To learn more about the program, call SCS at 610-237-6222 or email them at caregiverhelp@scs-delco.org.Comfort Keepers is a proud provider of in-home services for COSA in Delaware County, PA. If you have a loved one you think might need services from the county, contact their office at 610-490-1300.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Rocky Run YMCA's Stop Senior Hunger Food drive continues until July 19, 2010. If you are in the area and would like to drop off canned or dry foods, Comfort Keepers will deliver it to low income senior apartment dwellings. Thank you very much to Rocky Run!!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Kathy Montijo Comfort Keeper wins 2010 COSA Advisory Council Award


On June 22, 2010 Kathy Montijo of Comfort Keepers was presented with a COSA Direct Caregiver of the Year Award, the COSA Advisory Council Award for outstanding caregiving and exemplary personal attributes displayed while providing care in the homes of many elderly clients in Delaware County.

Although Kathy herself suffered much personal loss since October of 2009, first losing her own 22 year old daughter and one month later the passing of her mother, Kathy continued to care for her clients as if they were members of her own family. Her compassion and patience earned her the Direct Caregiver of the Year Award presented by Bruce Wyman of the COSA Advisory Council and Louis Colbert, Director of COSA.

The awards took place at Drexelbrook Center in Drexel Hill, PA on June 22, 2010. This is the 4th COSA Direct Caregiver of the Year Award Comfort Keepers has earned. Rose Ritz won the John F. Bauer Award in 2006, Jackie Albert won the John F. Bauer Award in 2007 and Helen Nowell, the Barbara White Award in 2008. To read more about these wonderful award winning caregivers, click HERE.