Helping Seniors and the Elderly in their Home, Tips for Caregivers

Rosemonde Israel named ‘Comfort Keeper’ of 2011 - Springfield Press - Delco News Network

2012-01-29T12:15:00.000-05:00

Rosemonde Israel named ‘Comfort Keeper’ of 2011 - Springfield Press - Delco News Network

Campus Courses: Elderlaw, Financial Plans, Dementia: Understanding Disease at Boscov Media

2012-01-24T08:20:00.003-05:00

Boscov's at Granite Run Mall is offering Campus Courses for the community. Most of the classes are free but a few have a cost. If you are interested in seeing the scheduled for classes or registering for Elderlaw, Finacial Planning or the Demetia: Understanding the Disease class, go to Boscov's site by clicking HERE.

Crozer Keystone Coping with Holidays Bereavement Support Group

2011-10-23T09:11:00.004-04:00

The first holiday season after loved one passes can be very difficult. Grief and loss can be an overwhelming experience during the holiday season. Crozer Hospice is offering support for those experiencing the grief process this holiday season.

Crozer Keystone Health System’s Homecare and Hospice Department’s Coping with the Holidays Bereavement Support Group will begin on November 9th and open to any adult who has lost someone significant in the last year.

The group will begin on Wednesday 11/9/2011 and will be weekly until January 4, 2012. The meeting place will be Taylor Hospital’s Cafe’ Conference Room on the 1st Floor of the hospital and the time is from 2:30pm to 4pm. For more information on the group and how to register, please see below.

Group: Coping with Holidays Bereavement Support

Who should attend? Any adult who has lost a significant someone in the last year.

Location: Cafe’ Conference Room – 1st Floor at Taylor Hospital, 175 E. Chester Pike, Ridley Park PA 19078.

Time: 2:30pm to 4pm

Dates: Starts Wednesday 11-9-2011 and runs through 1-4-2012

Cost: FREE – YOU MUST REGISTER

To register for group please call: 610-394-1016. Leave your name and phone number and number of people attending the group.

YOU MUST REGISTER TO ATTEND. Thank you.

For more information about Crozer Keystone Hospice, please click HERE.

COSA Educational Presenation at Veterans Museum October 13, 2011

2011-09-26T14:56:00.004-04:00

The PA Veteran’s Museum in Media is hosting a free educational session on COSA services on Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 10am. The Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA) is the Area Agency on Aging and is responsible for the planning and coordinating of programs and services for the older adults in Delaware County. COSA works with over seventy community agencies to provide services to seniors including senior centers, in-home services, adult day care, case management, transportation, legal assistance and much more.”, according to Marie Bonita, Civic Engagement & Community Education Coordinator. Marie A. Bonita is the coordinator of Community Education for the Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA). COSA is the Area Agency on Aging in Delaware County and provides services for Delaware County residents. Marie has held various positions within COSA starting in the Information and Referral Unit in 1991. She spent many years working in conjunction with county and state agencies to expand the agencies computer technology system. As the Community Education Coordinator Marie is responsible for educating the community and professional groups on aging services and programs. This is accomplished by participating in community health fairs, aging expos and meeting with community groups. Marie’s own personal experience as a caregiver as well as the professional relationships she has developed while working at COSA qualifies her with the personal and professional expertise to provide information about programs and services available to the senior citizens of Delaware County. Her presentation will cover such topics as access to transportation, home-delivered meals, employment and volunteer opportunities and in-home services.
The presentation and admission to the PA Veterans Museum is FREE. Light Refreshments will be served compliments of Comfort Keepers, Springfield, PA. The PA Veterans Museum is located in the Media Armory (below Trader Joe’s) 12 E. State Street, Media, PA 19063. To register for the event please call Melody McHugh at 610-324-7077 or email her at melodymchugh@comfortkeepers.com.

Boscov Granite Run Fall Campus Courses – Dealing with Dementia

2011-09-10T09:57:00.000-04:00

Boscov Granite Run Fall Campus Courses – Dealing with Dementia
Are you struggling with a loved one who is suffering from memory impairment? If so, attend the free campus course Dealing with Dementia’s Challenging Behaviors: Practical Solutions on Monday, September 19, 2011 from 6pm to 7pm or during the day on Tuesday September 20, 2011 from 10am to 11am and Wednesday October 12, 2011 also 10am to 11am.
Campus Courses are free and taught by members of the community. The Practical Solutions for Dealing with Dementia class will be taught by Melody McHugh, M.A. of Comfort Keepers. Other classes include Elderlaw: What is it and why do I need to know about it? And Medicare Changes and Veteran’s Benefit Open Enrollment.
To find out the dates and times of the above classes or register for any of these free classes, please contact Boscov’s Granite Run at 610-565-6009 ext 1278. Classes only run from Sunday September 18, 2011 through the end of October so don’t wait register today!!

Happy Birthday Lucille Ball gone but not forgotten

2011-08-06T13:20:00.003-04:00

If you watch Hallmark you know that today is a marathon of I Love Lucy shows in honor of Lucille Ball's 100th birthday. All day long they are playing black and white episodes of Lucy getting into some kind of trouble, usually with Ethel or another co-conspirator.

And there were the episodes when she was pregnant. Who can ever forget the episode when Ricky, Ethel and Fred are practicing for when Lucy is ready to go to hospital. The timing of the comedy routine is perfection. Goodness knows they must have practice it a million times and it paid off. That episode when they have to call the doctor, get a cab and so on is probably one of the funniest 30 minutes of television.

But then again all of her shows were funny. Thank you Lucy for giving us something we can treasure even in year 2011. Your children and grandchildren and probably great grandchildren should be proud of the work you and Desi did.

2011-08-05T05:44:00.001-04:00

Helpful Technology Solutions to Help Make Independent Living Safer for Aging Adults When Caregivers Can't be Present http://ping.fm/A486w

Always Ask For Identification

2011-06-26T17:59:00.003-04:00

This article was printed in Friday's Daily Times: couple in their 80’s was robbed in their home on Thomas Avenue earlier this week by a woman posing as a home health aide, police said.The incident took place on Monday around 11 p.m. when a woman, wearing red hospital scrub pants and a floral shirt knocked on the elderly couple’s door saying she was an employee of the Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging, according to authorities.The woman told the elderly man that she was there to check on his wife, who is confined to a bed because of medical issues, police said. The man let the woman inside and she spoke to his wife about her medical issues. After a few minutes, she left the home.A short time later, the woman returned telling the man that her car had broken down and asked to use the phone. The man allowed her inside again, but this time the woman ran into the wife’s bedroom, went immediately to a bedside table and took a number of items, including cash and a check book. She ran back out the front door before the man could stop her. The suspect’s car was heard driving away toward Washington Street, police said.

That article was in Friday's Daily Times. I encourage everyone to tell seniors and even younger people to always ask for identification. Any individual that works for the county especially COSA has identification and I know this because anytime I see a COSA employee the tag is pinned on the label, tie or shirt in visable spot. I have been in the WAWA and seen the county badge for someone who works at the courthouse or other county agencies. Please make sure you ask for identification. A home health aide should not just show up at your door. The visit should be scheduled and the agency should have contacted you to let you know the name of the aide coming for the shift, the time of arrival and answer any questions you have.

Most if not all home health agencies issue identification for their aides. Comfort Keeper aides have a photo identification.

Sometimes people feel shy or awkward about asking for identification but you should not. Most agencies have a policy in place that aides are to present identification when asked. If someone arrives at your home at 11pm and you were not notified by an agency or even if you were ask for identification. Any reputable agency would have informed you that a visit would be made especially that late at night. Use common sense and if things don't feel right do not let the person in your home. Any home health aide that has been issued out by an agency will report to the agency that you refused entry and the agency will call you. If you do not hear from anyone it was probably a fake and in that case I would call the police and report it.
To read the full story in the Daily Times, click HERE.

Senior Games: Register now for June events

2011-05-08T10:20:00.007-04:00

Sign Up for the Annual Senior Games

Let the games begin! It’s time to sign up for the 2011 Delaware County Senior Games. The games are being held June 14th through the 24th at various locations throughout the county. The Games highlight county residents, 50 + during a two week period and promote a healthy, social and active lifestyle.

Last year, over 500 athletes participated in the 2010 Senior Games! There is something for everybody. Activities include: Basketball, Nintendo Wii Bowling, Billiards, Swimming, Shuffleboard, Bowling, Golf, Table Tennis, Horseshoes, Miniature Golf, Tennis and Track and Field.

It’s easy to sign up for the games. The deadline for residents 50 and older to register is June 3 rd and the fee is only $10. Events, locations and the registration form are all available on the www.DelcoSeniorGames.org website.

Delaware County Council, the Department of Parks and Recreation and the County Office of Services for the Aging (COSA) sponsor the Delaware County Senior Games. For more information, call 610-891-4663 or check online www.DelcoSeniorGames.org.

Sign up and get ready to compete! This information taken from the COSA website, to read more, go to www.delcosa.org.

All About Seniors: Caregiving, Health and Wellness Tips, News and Events: What do you think of when you hear Easter?

2011-04-10T11:20:00.000-04:00

All About Seniors: Caregiving, Health and Wellness Tips, News and Events: What do you think of when you hear Easter?

Stop Senior Citizen Hunger program exhibits at 3rd Annual Hunger Conference

2011-03-03T17:31:00.003-05:00

Stop Senior Hunger, a campaign to collect canned goods and dry food for senior citizens in Delaware County exhibited at the 3rd Annual Hunger Conference held at Widener University on March 1, 2011. To view some of the Stop Senior Hunger collection sites, watch the movie below. Comfort Keepers staff was quoted in an article written by Kathleen Carey of the Daily Times at the Hunger conference. To read the article click HERE.

Stop Senior Hunger_0004.wmv

2011-03-03T17:18:00.000-05:00

Slowing the Process of Macular Degeneration

2011-02-27T14:22:00.001-05:00

As we age, the fact that we may end up wearing glasses to help us read does not surprise us. Irritating as that may be, the need for reading glasses can be a common result of the wear our eyes experience as they grow older. However, some eyesight changes can denote the onset of a serious condition called age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss in adults 50 years and older.1

What is age-related macular degeneration?
AMD is a painless disease that occurs within the macula, the part of your eye that enables sharp, central vision needed for reading, driving, and other tasks that require fine detail. There are two types of AMD and neither type shows symptoms until the disease is fairly progressed. Dry AMD affects eyesight over a period of time while wet AMD causes a rapid loss of central vision and is considered the most severe type of age-related macular degeneration.

Who is at risk?
The elderly, but AMD can occur in the middle-aged.
Those who have a family history of AMD.
Caucasians are in a higher risk bracket.
Females are affected more so than males.
Those who are obese and / or smoke are at a greater risk.
How can it affect you?
Vision loss not only affects the overall health of an individual, but it can also affect one’s well-being. Because of the lack of acute vision, seniors with AMD are at a higher risk of falls, depression, and mismanagement of medication. Seniors with AMD may also find it difficult to dress, bathe, and cook. With the help of a caregiver, such as a Comfort Keeper®, seniors with AMD can live a fulfilling life in the comfort of their home.

How can AMD be prevented?
There is no cure for AMD, and its onset is unpreventable. However, research shows that some things can be done to help slow the progression of AMD and foster the best eyesight possible for a longer period of time.

Eat a healthy diet of orange peppers and leafy, green vegetables, fruits, dairy, grain, and legumes. Consume fatty fish at least once per week. Limit caloric intake from added sugar, alcohol and fat.
Exercise regularly, within your capability.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Do not smoke, and if you do – quit today.
Have your eyes checked regularly. Early detection is essential in slowing vision loss.
Doctors are now prescribing vitamins and minerals rich in vitamins C and E, carotenoids, selenium and zinc, as a recent U.S. government clinical trial found that high doses of these antioxidants can slow the effects of AMD in its middle stages. Many of these antioxidants can be found in food one should eat every day to maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet. Another study showed obesity being a cause of AMD was actually a result of poor diets and lack of physical activity, which is common in the obese.2

The bottom line is this: The healthier we become today has a direct impact on the health we have tomorrow. Eating right, exercising daily and refraining from smoking are things we can begin doing today that can make a difference – and not just in our appearance – but in our overall good health and well-being for years to come.

1 National Institute of Health -http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/maculardegeneration.html
Also called: Age-related macular degeneration, AMD

2 American Health Assistance Foundation (2010). Women who eat healthy diets, exercise and don’t smoke have better vision. http://www.ahaf.org/macular/newsupdates/women-who-eat-healthy-diets.html

All About Seniors: Caregiving, Health and Wellness Tips, News and Events: Slippery When Wet: Be Careful Out There!

2011-02-02T09:31:00.000-05:00

All About Seniors: Caregiving, Health and Wellness Tips, News and Events: Slippery When Wet: Be Careful Out There!: "Yesterday when I read in the Daily Times about the 91 year old lady in Nether Providence that was found outside in the snow, it reminded of ..."

All About Seniors: Caregiving, Health and Wellness Tips, News and Events: Senior Centers: Great Place to Meet New Friends!!

2011-01-30T13:56:00.000-05:00

All About Seniors: Caregiving, Health and Wellness Tips, News and Events: Senior Centers: Great Place to Meet New Friends!!: "If you are considering venturing out and meeting new people, the Senior Center is a great place to do it. Senior Centers are located in all ..."

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: The arts are music to dementia patients’ ears - delcotimes.com

2011-01-14T08:44:00.001-05:00

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: The arts are music to dementia patients’ ears - delcotimes.com

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Stop-Senior-Hunger-campaign-hits-2000-pound-mark.html?soid=1102126637692&aid=bA81sRNG0bc

2011-01-04T16:23:00.000-05:00

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Stop-Senior-Hunger-campaign-hits-2000-pound-mark.html?soid=1102126637692&aid=bA81sRNG0bc

2011-01-01T13:01:00.001-05:00

2011 The Year of The Caregiver!

No this is not an official name of the year or anything, I just coined the term now. It is my way of asking all caregivers out there to try and do one nice thing for him or herself once this year, once a month, once a week or if you can once a day. Too often caregivers get caught in the cycle always being available for their loved one, concentrating on what their loved one needs, being distracted by thoughts of whether the loved is okay or not and in general feeling tired and worn out. The caregiver’s needs get left to last and often there is no time or the caregiver feels he or she just doesn’t have the strength to do it. Caregivers, try to make a resolution for 2011 that you will do something nice for yourself at least one time this year if not more.

And for those of us who are not caregivers, maybe we could make a new year resolution to help a caregiver out. Offer to give him or her a break for an hour or more and stay with the loved one. If you are not comfortable with that due to an illness the person might have, maybe offer to go to grocery store for the caregiver or pick up prescriptions. Maybe make a meal and deliver it to the home or offer to help with something like shoveling snow or putting trash out. Trust me any little thing you do to help is a big help.

Also, last but not least don’t ask a caregiver what you can do to help because he or she is so overwhelmed that asking is just adding another thing he or she has to do. Watch and listen and you will see or hear what needs to be done and then you can offer. Join me in making this The Year of the Caregiver!

Comfort Keepers - How To Choose an Assisted Living or Nursing Home

2010-12-07T07:05:00.000-05:00

Comfort Keepers - How To Choose an Assisted Living or Nursing Home

PA Veterans Museum celebrates fifth anniversary on Veterans Day today - Media Town Talk - Delco News Network

2010-11-11T05:59:00.000-05:00

PA Veterans Museum celebrates fifth anniversary on Veterans Day today - Media Town Talk - Delco News Network

2010-10-20T09:25:00.001-04:00

Delaware County Chamber's Open House
October 22, 2010 EVENT DESCRIPTION:
Time: 8:30AM - 1:30PM
Location:
Media Office
602 E. Baltimore Pike
2nd Floor, Media.

8:30AM - 11:30AM
Breakfast and Coffee Connection Networking
Coffee Provided by:
Drexelbrook Catering & Corporate Events Center

10:30AM - 11:30AM
"Global Web Seminar" -- Must be registered to attend. Extremely Limited Seating(registration for this seminar is separate from Open House Registration)

11:30AM - 1:30PM
Lunch/Networking
Provided by: Panera Bread

1:30PM - 2:30PM
Member Orientation
(Reserved for New Members and Members who have not attended an orientation previously.)
Provided by: Delightful Detail
Comfort Keepers

BOTH MEMBERS AND FUTURE MEMBERS PLEASE REGISTER TO ATTEND!

Directions: Parking is limited please park in the available lot next door at PNC Bank. The path will be lined with balloons. CAR POOLING IS ALSO SUGGESTED!

Don't forget to bring non-perishable boxed dessert items for our Thanksgiving Food Drive! We'll be accepting gelatin, pudding and cake or brownie mixes! Help us reach our goal of 1600 boxes!

2010-09-24T08:35:00.001-04:00

Village Mart Laundromat and Comfort Keepers is having a Family Fun Day tomorrow at the Village Mart Shopping Center located at 580 Shoemaker Rd, King of Prussia, PA from noon to 3pm. Stop in to the laundromat and help support Alex's Lemonade Stand. There will be fun things for adults and kids. The staff of Comfort Keepers will be on hand to say "Hello" make sure you stop by our office located within the business and shopping center.

Delco News Network Talk of the Town 2010 Senior Services Comfort Keepers!

2010-08-12T05:54:00.004-04:00

Congratulations to Comfort Keepers, a licensed senior services provider in the state of PA for being named Talk of the Town by Delco News Network. The Delco News Network which includes the Town Talk papers, the County Presses in Springfield, Media and Garnet Valley are free to the public and can be found in Wawa's, local merchants and other places around the county such as libraries. The News Network held nominations for Talk of the Town and the public not only nominated Comfort Keepers but chose them as the winner of the 2010 Talk of the Town Senior Services business.
Comfort Keepers provides in-home seniorcare, homecare services to anyone over the age of 18 who is sick, disabled or elderly. Services include but are not limited to light housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation, incidental transportation to doctor, grocery store, errands, bathing, grooming and incontinence care. Employed, bonded, insured caregivers who must pass criminal background checks and random drug screening provide the services in the home, facility or wherever the client resides.

Services are provided throughout the Delaware Valley area. To reach the office servicing the Delaware County area and communities in Montgomery, Chester and Philadelphia county, call 610-543-6300 or email us at delawarecounty@comfortkeepers.com. To read more about services, click HERE.

Ambler Senior Center and Comfort Keepers team up to educate seniors on how the medical alert system works.

2010-08-09T19:24:00.002-04:00

Ambler Senior Center and Comfort Keepers team up to educate seniors on how the medical alert system works.

Have you ever seen that commercial where the lady falls in the living room and shouts
â€œHelp me I fallen!â€?

Ever wonder what happened to her? If so, you might want to come to an informative session on how Technology Solutions such as the Personal Emergency Response System or the â€œHelp me I fallenâ€ machine works.

Join us for an informative and casual discussion on:
Personal Emergency Response Systems
Medication Dispensing Technology
Door and Window Alarm Technology
Bedside Pressure Mat Alarms
And Other Safety Choice Items.

Donâ€™t miss a fun time!
When: Friday, August 27, 2010
Time: Noon to 1pm
Place: Ambler Senior Center45 Forest Ave
Ambler, PA 19002

This session is for information purposes only.
There will be no selling of product or future solicitation.To rsvp for this event call Comfort Keepers at 1-610-783-7878.

Annual Motorcycle Run to benefit PA Veteran's Museum, come one call all and celebrate our Heroes

2010-08-07T14:45:00.002-04:00

On October 10th of this year the Pennsylvania Veterans Museum (PVM) will hold its Second Annual Motorcycle Run in honor of veterans. The rain date is October 17th. We invite you to become an integral part of this event by being a Sponsor of this yearâ€™s Bike Run.

Highlights of this yearâ€™s event include:
â€¢ The MC Ride from Hannumâ€™s in Chadds Ford to the Coatesville Medical Center for a â€œdrive by saluteâ€ to the veterans of the Medical Center, then back to Hannumâ€™s.
â€¢ Reception at Hannumâ€™s immediately following the ride including refreshments and live entertainment.
â€¢ Raffle of the â€œWheelbarrow of Boozeâ€ (tickets available through the Museum) and door prizes.
In these times of economic hardships your generosity will not go unnoticed by our Board, Staff, Volunteers and all those who have the opportunity to visit the Museum. Pennsylvania Veterans Museum is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization,

The Museum is listed as an Educational Improvement Organization (EIO) under the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program.No goods or services were received in consideration of this donation.

If you would like additional information on this event, please contact the Veteran's Museum by clicking http://ping.fm/n5AQ6 or email the contact person for the event at: agostinelli4@comcast.net

Personal Care and Home Support Services can be provided by Comfort Keepers staff in Montgomery County PA

2010-08-06T14:03:00.002-04:00

Personal Care and Home Support Services can be provided by Comfort Keepers staff in Montgomery County PA if you select the company name Comfort Keepers off the list provided by the assessment staff of the office of Aging and Adult Services. The County offers many wonderful programs for those who are aging or adults in need of assistance with some daily living skills such as transportation, meals, adult daycare programs and other services for those who qualify. If you are interested in learning more about Montgomery County PA office of Aging and Adult Services, click http://ping.fm/o5S6H
to go to their website. To learn more about their programs and how Comfort Keepers can assist your loved one, call our office in King of Prussia, PA at 610-783-7878.

Senior Expo Abington Free Library join the fun!

2010-08-05T16:17:00.002-04:00

EAT, PLAY, LIVE!
LIVE!
Senior Scene Expo
Wednesday, September 22nd
10 am â€“ noon.
Abington Free Library
1030 Old York Road
Abington, PA 19001, US
215-885-5180

Join us for a fun and educational morning
created just for senior adults.
Â®
Discover local resources for maximizing your
quality of life through
â€¢ Health and wellness
â€¢ Home and lifestyle options
â€¢ Legal and financial insight

â€¢ A chance to reunite friendsâ€¦
and make new ones!

Sponsored by Comfort Keepers - http://ping.fm/0QtNi
and Long Foster Realtors.

For more information on Library, click below:
http://abg.mclinc.org/

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

2010-07-19T13:26:00.002-04:00

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

Veterans Service Fair Conhohocken PA Info on Aging Veterans Benefits

2010-07-17T10:10:00.002-04:00

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

2010-07-17T10:06:00.002-04:00

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.

Senior Community Services SCS starts Caregiver Consult Services partner with COSA

2010-07-16T15:35:00.002-04:00

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.

2010-07-11T14:03:00.001-04:00

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!!

Kathy Montijo Comfort Keeper wins 2010 COSA Advisory Council Award

2010-07-01T20:41:00.002-04:00

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.

Murphy AME Church collects canned and dry foods to Help Stop Senior Hunger Delaware County PA

2010-06-28T18:14:00.002-04:00

Murphy AME Church, located at 700 Yarnell Street in Chester, PA has offered to be a food collection site for the Stop Senior Hunger Program. The church will have a collection box inside of its entrance for anyone who wants to donate a can or boxed food to help low income senior citizens in Delaware County, PA.

Murphy AME Church is only a collection site, they do not distribute food or act as a food pantry. The staff of Comfort Keepers pick up the donations and take them to low income senior apartment and housing developments.

If you are interested in being a collection site, please contact Melody at Comfort Keepers, melodymchugh@comfortkeepers.com

Rocky Run YMCA Helps Stop Senior Hunger

2010-06-19T10:32:00.004-04:00

The Rocky Run YMCA located at 1299 W. Baltimore Pike in Media is serving as a can and dry food collection site from June 28, 2010 to July 19, 2010 to help Stop Senior Hunger. For directions to Rocky Run, click HERE.

Millions of Senior Citizens in America suffer from hunger and malnutrition every day. Rocky Run YMCA is joining the Delaware County Comfort Keepers office in collecting dry food and canned goods to feed our seniors locally and Help Stop Senior Hunger.

Large collection boxes will be placed inside of the Rocky Run YMCA for anyone who would like to contribute. If you think you "Can Spare A Can", drop it off to the Rocky Run YMCA anytime it is open between June 28 and July 19th. All donations will be picked up by Comfort Keepers staff and personally delivered to low income senior citizens private home or residential settings.

If you are interested in being a collection site in Delaware County it is very easy. The Stop Senior Hunger campaign runs all year round so you can pick the month you feel is best for your business and the length of time you want to collect food. Comfort Keepers staff can provide you with the flyers, the collection boxes and will personally pick up the food from your place of business and deliver it to seniors in Delaware County PA. To become a collection site, click HERE or contact Melody McHugh at melodymchugh@comfortkeepers.com

The Stop Senior Hunger Program is an initiative nationwide by Comfort Keepers. If you live or work in another county or state and are interested in hosting a drive, click HERE to find the contact information for the Stop Senior Hunger Comfort Keepers near you.

Best of Delco The Delaware County Daily Times Best of contest please vote Comfort Keepers Senior Services 2010 Best of Delco 2010

2010-05-24T15:36:00.003-04:00

Voting starts for the Best of Delco Senior Services, The Delaware County Daily Times today. The general public for the second year in a row has nominated Comfort Keepers serving Delaware County as Best of Delco Senior Services. Thank you to everyone who nominated Comfort Keepers and in advance thank you for voting for us. Voting time is short so don't wait, vote today by clicking HERE.

Jackie Albert wins National Comfort Keeper of Year 2006

2010-05-16T10:14:00.000-04:00

Comfort Keepers President Award 2010 given to Sallie and Clark Bongaardt - 6 years in row, outstanding in-home care for seniors

2010-04-29T19:17:00.002-04:00

LOCAL COMFORT KEEPERS® FRANCHISEE NAMED TO PRESIDENT’S CLUB

King of Prussia, PA – Clark and Sallie Bongaardt not only provide interactive non-medical. in-home care services to local families, but were recently honored by CK Franchising, Inc. for their performance as Comfort Keepers franchise owners. The Bongaardts were recognized during the Celebration Dinner and Awards Ceremony during the Comfort Keepers® Annual Conference held in Orlando, FL. The Bongaardts first received this award in 2005, making this 2010 award, six consecutive years they were honored by the Comfort Keepers Franchise.

“To be recognized in front of my peers at the Annual Conference was a great honor,” said Clark Bongaardt, Esq. “Ask any senior and they will say that they prefer to stay in their own home. I am thrilled to own a business that can make their wishes a reality.”

Comfort Keepers provides in-home care services on an hourly, daily or weekly basis with tailored packages customized to an individual’s needs. Packages include companionship, meal preparation, light housekeeping, grocery shopping, incidental transportation, laundry, recreational activities, and more. All Comfort Keepers caregivers are employees and have criminal, driving, and credit background checks that ensure dependability and reliability.

About Comfort Keepers®
Clark and Sallie Bongaardt, local owners serving Delaware County and communities in Montgomery and Philadelphia county area Comfort Keepers has been in business since 2002. Since opening, The Bongaardts have provided service to numerous private and County Office Service of Aging Clients in the Delaware Valley area.

Comfort Keeper of the Year 2009 Delaware County, PA Rose Ritz, retired RN

2010-03-25T16:52:00.004-04:00

Rose Ritz is a retired registered nurse who could have easily stayed home and enjoyed her retirement but Rose chooses every day to make a difference in the life of one our clients and his or her family. From learning her client’s interests and engaging them in their care to compassionately listening to family members who struggle to care for an aging loved one, Rose continually fulfills the mission of Comfort Keepers to treat every client as if he or she was a member of our own family. Every client Rose has helped has commented on her kindness and compassion. One family member wrote “Rose is the most generous and kind person I ever met. My mother looks forward to seeing her everyday. She gives 100% to her clients and for that I will always be grateful. I could never express how important she is in our lives. Rose is the best.” For continually being present with her clients, engaging them to participate in life and for her dedication and loyalty, Comfort Keepers is proud to announce, Rose Ritz, Comfort Keeper of the Year 2009.

Chris Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies Announcer, signs book in Newtown Square PA Dec 13, 2009

2009-12-06T10:51:00.001-05:00

Philadelphia Phillies Broadcaster, Chris Wheeler is coming to The BrynChester Luxury Condominiums!
Chris will be signing his new book View From The Booth, Four Decades With The Phillies
Sunday, December 13th from 1-3
What a great gift for that special Phillies fan! Only $20.00 Signed and personalized by Chris.
Reserve your book today. Call: 610-353-0100 or email: MegSheaRealtor@comcast.net
The BrynChester is located at 3503 Rhoads Avenue, Newtown Square PA
(corner of Bryn Mawr Avenue and West Chester Pike)

Dana M. Breslin: she lends a helping hand to Delco elderly

2009-08-07T16:26:00.006-04:00

A Delaware County attorney who finds senior citizens fascinating has been tapped by an advocate to provide vital legal advice for the elderly.Dana M. Breslin, of Wallingford, with a law office in Brookhaven, first met Carl Clauss, also of Wallingford, at a now defunct community service program about ten years ago.Clauss had launched a new program at Senior Community Services (SCS) a couple of years ago to assist the elderly with their financial, legal and medical assistance issues."Dana is my prime elder law attorney," Clauss said. "She handles most of the legal problems they are having. I'll talk to Dana or Linda (Anderson) and get some help with providing a source of information."We are very fortunate in Delaware County to have an elder law group who really are concerned about representing their constituency. If somebody is having problems with a home or taxes at their house, or I see they are having problems handling their own affairs, I call Dana."Questions on should someone have power of attorney can be answered. Living wills are easy, but seniors have to very careful,” Clauss said.Breslin, who co-chairs the Delaware County Bar Association Elder Law Committee with Anderson, received her bachelor's degree from Immaculata in 1972 and her law degree from Villanova University in 1975.1975 was a monumental year for Breslin who was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar and became actively involved in the Delaware County Bar Association (DCBA) where she continues to serve on a variety of committees.Since 1996 Breslin has been deemed a certified elder law attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation. She is a Fellow with American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, an active member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA), and a member of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Section of the PBA.She chaired the PBA Elder Law Committee in 1999, was the first chair of the Elder Law Section of PBA in 2000 and continues to serve on the council of the Elder Law Section. For the last ten years, Breslin has been an active member of the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys.According to Breslin, the DCBA has a variety of committees to address special concerns including Elder Law, Family Law and others."We started the Elder Law Committee eight to ten years ago so we could have training and discussions on issues concerning the elderly," Breslin said, naming Medicare Part D as an example. "It's a complicated government system. Attorneys can be more aware."Breslin is a frequent lecturer and current vice president for the Delaware County Estate Planning Council.A faculty member at the Estate Law Institute, Breslin also serves on the board of the Pennsylvania Health Law Project and Senior Community Services Inc."I like reaching out to seniors who need help," Breslin said. "Some senior citizens get caught up in an economic bind and it started before the economy went sour. Some people are using their credit cards for pharmacy bills."Carl will call me when he's at the center and needs an answer right away or he has a Social Security problem. I'm not the only one he calls. Carl is excellent in coordinating."Breslin cited other attorneys on the Delco Elder Law Committee who have assisted Clauss including co-chair Linda Anderson, Harris Resnick, Cyndi McNicholas, Jeff Lewin, Rob DeLong, Janet Lis, Dave Hennessey, Mike Defino, Ross Schmucki, Mike Friedman and Bob Gasparo, who have all helped.Clauss has partnered with SCS, Widener University School of Law, the Elder Law Committee of Delaware County Bar Association, Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania and COSA, the County Office of Services for the Aging, to offer assistance to older adults.Both Breslin and Clauss have a special place in their hearts for the elderly who are particularly vulnerable to the problems that arise due to the lack of income."I wanted to focus my work on an individual basis to help seniors," Clauss said, noting he established the program together with other resources to assist senior citizens with all their problems."The Widener Law Clinic and the Elder Law Committee of the Delaware County Bar Association have been very supportive of the program," Clauss said. "Recently Professor Nick Nichols of Widener obtained funding for two fellowships this summer for two law students that have completed their second year. We have arranged for them to work with the elder law attorneys and me at the senior centers to expand our counseling program for legal, medical and financial help."According to Clauss, Widener is presenting a program for seniors on avoiding debt collectors."I like working with the elderly," Breslin said. "When I was in law school there was not anything on elder law. Older people tend to take more time. I find them fascinating; they have more life experiences."Breslin sees the biggest issue facing senior citizens is how they will pay for long term care."Their fear is that the nursing home will take it all," Breslin said. "The most recent problem, financial abuse of the elderly, starts with marketers who sell products like annuities, certain types of annuities, or the living trust mills to family members who are taken advantage of due to economic times."Right now Breslin is concerned about House Bill 1351 introduced by Dwight Evans regarding estate recovery."When someone 55 and older needs help at home or a nursing home, the state seeks to reimburse," Breslin said. "HB 1351 expands to non-probate access. The bill is really detrimental especially to the surviving spouse when a house is held jointly by husband and wife. The state would have an invisible lien. There's been a state outcry."Breslin continues to be at the forefront in developing continuing legal education courses for attorneys in the estate and trust areas and is the course planner for the Pennsylvania Elder Law Institute that encompasses the whole spectrum of estate and financial planning for the elderly.It’s comforting for Clauss and Delco elderly residents to know they have someone on their side.Dana Breslin, Esq. To read more about Dana go to: http://pappanoandbreslin.com/

This article appears in the August 6th edition of The Town Talk newspapers at: http://www.delconewsnetwork.com/articles/2009/08/07/media_town_talk/news/doc4a7b32fae379b628343628.txt

2009-07-22T18:34:00.004-04:00

The Pennsylvania Veterans Museum Invites You…
Our special friends, neighbors and volunteers…
RIBBON CUTTING
Korean War Exhibits
and the New Entrance on State Street (Trader Joe's Side) WHEN: July 26, 2009 Sun, 12.00pm
LIVE OUTDOOR MUSIC FEATURING :
Theresa Agostinelli , Guitarist Vocalist @ 1 pm
WHERE: Pennsylvania Veterans Museum
12 East State Street
Media, PA 19063
610-566-5196-museum, 619-566-0788-office
***If you know any Korean War veterans who may have any memorabilia that they would like to share with the museum for that weekend, please contact the museum offices at 610-566-0788***

Refreshments will be served

Back to School: Are you a teacher who is taking care of your aging elderly senior loved one during the summer?

2009-07-19T13:24:00.004-04:00

Have you been making meals, driving to doctor's appointments, helping with bathing or reminding a loved one to take their medication this summer? If so, you might be concerned about how he or she will manage when you got back to school next month. Well, we might have the answer for you. Hire a Comfort Keeper!
At Comfort Keepers®, nothing is more important than helping people live full, independent and dignified lives within the comfort of their own homes. Comfort Keepers is dedicated to providing in-home care that enriches our clients' lives and helps them maintain the highest possible level of independent living.

Comfort Keepers provide you or a loved one in-home assistance that may include:
companionship,meal preparation,transportation to doctor appointments or other commitments
light housekeeping or in-home safety technology. From Interactive Caregiving where our employees deliver care that encompasses physical activity, mental stimulation, social engagement and emotional health that can genuinely change a person’s life to the Personal Emergency Response System (more commonly known as Help Me I Fallen machine), our Comfort Keepers in the Delaware County, PA area can help as little as 2 hour visits up to 24 hours a day. Our offices nationally can provide to your loved one in states other than PA as well.

All of our Comfort Keepers are employed, bonded and insured with workers' compensation. They have criminal background checks completed prior to our office providing them with hands on training. In Delaware County PA, our Registered Nurse trains all of our staff and assists families in coordinating care at home and with the doctor when family cannot be there.

Let us help take some of your stress away this fall. Call for more information about our services in Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia and Chester Counties, PA. FREE in-home consultations as well as FREE Installation on the (PERS)Personal Emergency Response System when you mention this blog. PERS have a monthly charge in Delaware County of $29.99 and the charge is month to month. No long term contracts. Once installed, our staff can remove the equipment at anytime with no penalty. Call today 610-543-6300 for more information or go to our website:
http://www.comfortkeepers.com/caregivers/326/. For an office outside the state of PA, go to http://www.comfortkeepers.com/ and click on Locations.

PA Veterans Museum in Media, PA celebrates new Korean War exhibit - Veterans and families invited FREE

2009-07-14T15:12:00.007-04:00

Invites
Korean War Veterans and their families
to the opening of our
Korean War Exhibits
and the New Entrance on State Street
Our unveiling is in observance of the 56th anniversary of the end of the Korean War. The new interactive kiosks present inspiring and educational information in the Museum’s traditional method of providing firsthand accounts by those who experienced service and sacrifice during wartime.
WHEN: July 25, 2009 Saturday, VIP reception from 4 PM - 7 PM
The museum will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony at
5:00 PM for the Korean War Exhibits.

WHERE: Pennsylvania Veterans Museum
12 East State Street
Media, PA 19063
610-566-5196

***If you have any memorabilia that you would like to share with the museum for that weekend, please contact the museum offices at 610-566-0788***
Refreshments will be served
The Exhibits will open to the public Sunday, July 26, 2009. The museum will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony to open the new entry on State Street located to the right of the armory’s classic iron gate. The museum will be open from Noon to 5 PM
Visit our website at http://www.paveteransmuseum.org/

Care Givers Anxiety? Are you providing care for aging, sick or disabled loved one in Glen Mills, PA, delaware county, chester county area

2009-06-26T15:38:00.003-04:00

Are You Experiencing Care Givers Anxiety?
Currently, studies show, three-quarters of those who remain in their homes depend solely on family and friends to meet their day-to-day needs with no professional support whatsoever. Sadly, family caregivers have little or no information or training about how to care for the physical and emotional needs for their ailing loved one. Rarely does anyone pay attention to the caregiver’s declining physical and emotional health, and many risk becoming patients themselves. For instance, When was the last time someone asked, “How are you doing?” Rarely does anyone really know about hands-on care, tube feedings, transferring bed-bound patients to wheelchairs or commodes, turning them to avoid bedsores, making judgments about which symptoms require immediate medical attention, and interacting with a cast of professionals often short on time, patience or shared information about the patient.
But at long last, this terrible disconnect can be avoided with professional support and advocacy. You may be looking for someone experienced in options for home health care or even care giver stress relief. You may feel stressed out, and overwhelmed with life. You may be noticing major conflict in the home with other family members.
What causes conflict?
Misperceptions. Role changes. Unresolved issues.
Misperceptions
It’s a common situation. A holiday or other event brings the family together, and there is a high expectation of joy and good times. That’s just the time when many families go into turmoil. Someone says something that is misinterpreted, and the battle begins.
These family squabbles often lead to years of heartbreak for all concerned.
Make sure before you get angry with the person you are caring for that you have your facts correct. Ask another family member for their impression of the argument -You may avoid unneccessary hurt.
Role Changes
Many of you, I’m sure, have stories of taking a loved one home from the hospital with no instructions on follow-up care and no one to call when you find yourself in trouble. What does it mean to be responsible for a sick, frail or disoriented loved one when you have no idea how to take care of them properly and nobody assigned to guide you? This can be confusing and sometimes caregivers wonder why the person they are caring for is not cooperative and caregiver stress can escalate. As caregivers you may need to make decisions that are challenging and unfamiliar to you. You find your self caring for a parent and it can be frightening for all those in your household.
You may experience resentment for input you have or decisions you are facing for the person or persons you now care for. This leaves you with responsibility, but lacking knowledge or resources needed for this new role in your life.
The persons you care for may view you as the enemy and may not understand you.
You will need to set reasonable limits before embarking on this role change, and learn to set boundaries and limits — for you , and your family as well as the person or persons you are caring for. Your mental health is very important at this time.
Unresolved Issues
Unfortunately, too many caregivers are not prepared emotionally, financially or physically for this new role. It is worse when the relationship was not good to begin with and both parties find themselves with little or no choice in the matter. Old feelings resurface and unresolved issues begin to nag you. You may now feel that you must do everything for the person you care for out of a sense of guilt, or an unwarranted sense of obligation. Angry feelings may surface and depression and anxiety can set in.
You, as a caregiver, may be feeling remorse, regret or frustration as you find yourself faced with caring for aging parents.
A skilled, experienced counselor can be of great help in this process. To learn more about counseling and how to get started, go to http://www.glenmillscounseling.org/

Seniors and Dehydration, Tips for preventing dehydration in our aging loved ones

2009-06-14T19:57:00.002-04:00

Seniors at Greater Risk of Dehydration
Dehydration is one of the leading causes of hospitalization among seniors. The federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reports that five to six times as many patients age 65 and over are admitted for the condition as those in the 45-64 age group. Dehydration tends to set in quickly and catch older Americans off guard, because as we age our sense of thirst dulls and the water content of our bodies decreases.

Take dehydration seriously; it can be life-threatening. Warning signs vary but may include:
Lack of energy
Headache, nausea, and/or dizziness
Darkening or decrease in urine
Fever

To prevent dehydration:
Set up a drinking schedule and follow it. Drink six to eight glasses of water a day
Provide fluid from a variety of sources, such as fruits and vegetables, milk, broth, popsicles etc.
Avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks; they increase water loss
Increase fluids on hot days. And be aware that dehydration can be a threat to seniors in cold, dry winter months, too, when one is less likely to feel the need to quench thirst.
This article brought to you by Comfort Keepers, providing assisted living services in your home. For more information and to arrange FREE in-home visit, call 610-543-6300.

Aging Veterans Unaware Of VA Pension Benefit -Aid and Attendance

2009-06-05T11:20:00.001-04:00

Aging Veterans Unaware of VA Pension Benefits – Millions of veterans and widows lose out on billions of benefits
For aging veterans, one of their most important benefit programs is the Veterans Non-Service Connected Improved Pension Benefit Program. Established to assist qualified veterans, and/or their surviving spouses and family, the Veterans NSC Improved Pension Benefit Program provides financial support that enables veterans to live independently while receiving the quality of care they deserve. In particular, funds are available for aging veterans who need assistance with medical and non-medical care both in the home and in qualified facilities.
In many cases, veterans, along with their spouses and family, are unaware that this program exists. According to VA analysis, only 27 percent of veterans and 14 percent of widow(er)s who are likely eligible, actually receive any money from the program.
Types of Care EligibleThe availability of this program is something all veterans and their widow(er)s should know. Seniors in our country are now living longer. With higher living costs and the continued rise in healthcare expenditures, many seniors are at risk of quickly depleting their savings. Programs like the Veterans NSC Improved Pension Benefit Program can fund services like in-home care, assisted living facility expenses and other medical costs that many seniors face.
“We see many clients that are faced with the difficult task of covering their healthcare expenses,” said Clark Bongaardt of Springfield, PA Comfort Keepers. “If they qualify for these funds, it takes a huge burden off of veterans and their families. This money can be used to ensure they are given access to the care they need.”
QualificationsTo qualify for the Veterans NSC Improved Pension Benefit Programs, a veteran must have 90 days or more of active duty with at least one of those days served during a US-declared war. The benefits are designed for those who meet specific financial criteria and demonstrate a physical need for healthcare.
The Department of Veterans Affairs determines active duty as full-time service, other than active duty for training, as a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service, Environmental Science Services Administration or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or its predecessor, the Coast and Geodetic Survey.Other qualifications and considerations:• Discharge for any reason other than dishonorable conditions• Over the age of 65 or disabled• Total financial assets• Physical condition• Current marital status (if you are the surviving spouse of a veteran)• Total gross income versus medical deduction
Costly MisunderstandingThere are several reasons why veterans are unaware or misunderstand these benefits. First is the very name of the benefit itself – improved pension benefit. Pension benefits usually come after years of service, not after only 90 days of service.
In addition, many veterans often assume the available benefits are for those who have a service-related disability not just because they turned 65. As the name implies, this program is a non-service connected benefit.
Finally, it is uncommon for a benefit to be available in part just by virtue of age. However, the Veteran NSC Improved Pension Benefit does not require a qualified veteran to have any disability provided that they are over the age of 65.
Many of the Comfort Keepers can assist in accessing the information necessary to evaluate a person’s eligibility for the Veterans Improved Pension Benefit Program. To find which ones, locate your Comfort Keepers on the website and contact the office directly. To access the webiste click HERE Comfort Keepers can provide professional guidance while the applicant is completing the necessary paperwork and being assessed for eligibility for the Veterans Improved Pension Benefit Program. Once approved, Comfort Keepers can be the solution for quality in-home care.

Veterans' Aid and Attendance Benefit Seminars set for June Southeast PA FREE

2009-05-31T12:49:00.003-04:00

Ever heard of the Veterans Non-Service Connected Improved Pension?
The Veterans Non-Service Connected Improved PensionThis pension benefit program is federally funded for veterans and/or their surviving spouses age 65 or older. It's designed to fund in-home care for those who meet established criteria. It may be in addition to a VA Pension or a VA Compensation. If you or your spouse meets the criteria established by the VA, you might qualify to get an additional $1000 per month from the VA. Some of the basic criteria are:
Total Financial Assets – aid is based on financial need for assistance
Physical Condition – veteran or spouse must require assistance with daily living skills
Current Marital Status – veteran may be alive or passed but must married to spouse
Total Gross Income versus Medical Deduction – current income versus medical expenses
How Can Comfort Keepers® Help?We will provide you with professional guidance while you are completing the necessary paperwork and being assessed for eligibility for the Veterans Non-Service Connected Improved Pension. While your application is being processed, Comfort Keepers can be your solution for quality in-home care. Comfort Keepers provides services such as light housekeeping, transportation, laundry, meals, assistance with bathing and grooming and medication reminders in the home, hospital or facility. All of caregivers are our employees, bonded, insured with background checks.
What to know more? Think you might qualify? Answer the following questions and if you meet the basic requirements, Comfort Keepers will (with your consent) have a member of the Government Benefits Staff contact you to review the answers and assist with paperwork for FREE. Comfort Keepers uses third party to assist with paperwork because it involves disclosure of your income and assets and Comfort Keepers prohibits its staff from access or knowledge of your finances. Call Comfort Keepers – 610-543-6300 for more information. or to attend a FREE educational session on this benefit, rsvp at the above phone number. The dates for the upcoming sessions are: June 9, 2009 at 1pm at Rocky Run YWCA right past the Granite Run Mall south on route 1 in Media or on June 11, 2009 at 2pm at Rose Tree Place on Sandy Bank Road in Media, PA. If unable to attend please call for more information.

Seniors Safety Choice and Independence at Home, How technolgy can help

2009-05-30T11:17:00.004-04:00

A growing number of older Americans choose to continue living
in their homes as long as they can. The MetLife Mature Marketing
Institute reports that 91 percent of Americans who are approaching
retirement age — those 50 to 65 — say they want to remain in their own
homes after they retire.
Responding to this “aging in place” trend, a variety of organizations
have created solutions to assist seniors with living safely and
independently in their own homes. For example, the National
Association of Home Builders has created the Certified Aging-in-
Place Specialist program to help seniors adapt their homes for their
later years. The trend also will call for increased in-home caregiving
services. As the Centers for Disease Control reported in the 2007
“State of Aging and Health in America,” 88 percent of seniors have at
least one chronic health condition and 30 percent have three or more.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services adds that more
than two-thirds of older Americans who need daily assistance are now
living at home. This includes more than 70 percent of persons with
Alzheimer’s disease.
The Challenges Of Aging
Our nation’s elderly population is increasing at a far greater rate than
the overall population, a result of advances in medical science and
technology that have lengthened life expectancy. The 65 and older
population increased eleven-fold during the 20th century, compared
to three-fold for the entire population.
Now at nearly 40 million, the 65+ group will more than double by
2050. This growth will be fueled by 76 million baby boomers, the
first of whom will turn 65 in 2011. Consequently, current systems for
elderly care are being stretched. And as more and more seniors choose
“home sweet home” over institutional care, demand for in-home
caregivers — professional and family — will increase. To read more about safety at home and how technology can help, click on the webstite: http://www.comfortkeepers.com/content/view/274/284/

Local Comfort Keepers Owners win Presidents' Award at annual convention April 2009

2009-05-23T09:48:00.001-04:00

COMFORT KEEPERS OWNER WINS NATIONAL RECOGNITION

Mainline, Philadelphia, Montgomery and Delaware County Areas – Clark and Sallie Bongaardt not only provide non-medical in-home services to area families, but were recently honored by CK Franchising, Inc. for their performance as Comfort Keepers franchise owners. The Bongaardts were recognized at the Celebration Dinner and Awards Ceremony during the Comfort Keepers Annual National Convention held in Louisville, KY in April of 2009.

Clark and Sallie received one of the top honors of the evening when they were inducted into the President’s Club for the fifth year in a row. Owners are selected for this honor based on several criteria including hours of service, revenues, and the adherence to the ideals and standards of the Comfort Keepers’ system. At the Awards’ Ceremony, Lisa Ripley, of CK Franchising, Inc., presented the Bongaardts with a crystal award to commemorate their achievement.

“Being recognized as one of the top performers in the Comfort Keepers system was a great honor,” said Clark Bongaardt.

In addition to the President’s Club award, Comfort Keepers of the Mainline, Philadelphia, Montgomery and Delaware County areas was recognized for hitting weekly operational milestones for hours of service provided to clients. “Ask any senior and most will tell you that they prefer to stay in their own home as long as possible,” said Sallie Bongaardt. “I am thrilled to own a business that can make their wishes a reality.”

Comfort Keepers provides in-home services on an hourly, daily or weekly basis with tailored care plans customized to an individual’s needs. Services offered include companionship, personal care assistance, meal preparation, light housekeeping, grocery shopping, incidental transportation, laundry, recreational activities, and more. All caregivers are employees and have criminal, driving, and credit background checks as well as personal and business reference checks that ensure dependability and reliability.

About Comfort Keepers
Clark and Sallie Bongaardt opened their Comfort Keepers’ business on July 1, 2002. Their office is an approved agency providing Medicaid services through the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare and the Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging. They are members of the Greater Springfield Business Alliance, the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce and the National Private Duty Association. Clark and Sallie are lifelong residents of the Delaware County area and have both worked in the area in the legal profession for over 20 years. Clark is a retired attorney and has been a member of the Delaware County Bar Association for 25 years.
Since opening in July, 2002, the Bongaardts have provided service to numerous residents in the area.

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 http://www.comfortkeepers.com/. Each office is independently owned and operated.# # #

Best of Delco The Delaware County Daily Times 10th annual Best of contest please vote Comfort Keepers Senior Services 2009 Best of Delco

2009-05-17T16:14:00.001-04:00

The 10th Annual Best of Delco contest is currently running from May 16 to May 26, 2009. Comfort Keepers has been nominated by the public to run in the Services Category under Best of Senior Services. Providing in-home non-medical services to anyone over the age of 18, Comfort Keepers of Delaware County serves many many seniors in their private home, assisted living and other facilities. Our award winning caregiving staff has won the prestigious John H. Bauer Direct Caregiver of the Year Award from the County Office Services for the Aging (COSA) in 2006 and 2007. In 2008, COSA awarded the Barbara White Direct Caregiver of the Year Award to another one of our caregivers. Also the Delaware County office has the 2006 National Comfort Keeper of the Year Award which is given by the corporate Comfort Keepers after nominations are made from over 550 offices around the country. The winner 5 years running of the Presidents' Award, the Delaware County Comfort Keepers hopes to add the Best of Delco title to its already impressive set of awards. Please vote for Comfort Keepers in The Daily Times' Best of Delco contest. For more information about the awards and our community outreach, see our webpage at: http://www.comfortkeepers.com/caregivers/326/

Channel 10-nbc philadephia article on Duck Derby Race Sat May 16, 2009 ntbf not to be forgotten

2009-05-15T07:22:00.000-04:00

5 Bucks for a Duck
By KELLY BAYLISS

Adopt a ducky, help a senior, win a prize

The Not-to-be-Forgotten Foundation, a charity that helps seniors, wants you to adopt a duck to race against other ducks in the Pennsylvania Ducky Derby.
Why? Well, because this month is Older American Month and the adoptions will help seniors with bills, heating, needs and wishes.
Adopting one duck for $5 will help heat a senior home for more than eight hours. Six ducks will run you $25, but will heat a home for a day and half. If you're feeling really generous. Throw up $50 and that'll buy three days worth of warmth for a senior who simply needs the help.
The adopted yellow duckies will be tagged and dropped into the Delaware at Governor Printz Park in Essington. The winning ducks will win their "parents" prizes.
The big race takes place this Saturday, May 16 at 1 p.m. You don't have to be present to claim you're prize if your baby wins -- the Foundation will contact you.

This article appeard on Channel 10 -nbc philadelphia's website http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/around_town/the_scene/5-Bucks-for-a-Duck.html

Fair Trade Town Committee of Media Invites Everyone to Prom Night:Party with a Purpose Fundraiser May 16, 2009 7pm Media, PA

2009-05-06T18:59:00.000-04:00

Tango Hop Demonstration & Lesson, Dancing, Silent Auction, Food are Highlights
Media, PA (May 1, 2009) – The community is invited to “Prom Night 2009: A Party with a Purpose,” a special fundraising event for all ages set for Saturday, May 16,
7 - 10 PM at Media Borough Community Center, Fourth & Jackson Streets in Media. Tickets, at $20, are on sale at Earth & State (23 W. State Street in Media), or by calling Barbara at 215-601-0038. Proceeds benefit Media’s Fair Trade Town Committee –
the group which organized last September’s highly-successful Fair Trade Live! and brought national and international attention to Media by becoming America’s First Fair Trade Town. Please visit www.visitmediapa.com/fairtrade for event details, our list of silent auction items, and for information about Media and Fair Trade.

Don’t miss this opportunity to get decked out (or come as you are), to dance the
night away to classic hits and current favorites, and to join in fun for attendees of all generations. There is no dress code: come in funky attire, go elegant or retro, or
pull out your worst or best bridesmaid dress! You may bring your best date or come solo, but be ready to dance the night away to classic and modern music. Highlights include: a chance to move to the hottest Latin rhythms as Media’s own Tango Hop gives demonstration and a mini-lesson from 7-8 PM; a Silent Auction, and food to munch on. Media performance artist The Great Quentini will make a special appearance (www.quentini.com). Also, fun door prizes will be awarded for the Most Outrageous, Most Elegant, and Most Retro attire, announced by Honorary MC
Tom Hibberd.
Silent Auction Items include: Certified, Signed Brian Dawkins Gameday Eagles jersey; A Will, Living Will and Power of Attorney (Gibley and McWilliams, P.C. Attorney Fred August Nehr); Three Sessions Leadership Coaching (Wisdom At Work); Gift Cards for The Media Theater, Brodeur’s, Salon Bella Gente, others; Public Relations or Corporate Resume Writing (Ayars Communications); Two Hours “Handyman” Services (The Handy Man); Home Goodie Basket & Expert Home Market Evaluation (Jill Goldman, Keller Williams); Special Meal in Paradise, PA (ride included); a Home-Cooked Meal; wonderful items from Ten Thousand Villages; Membership to Selene Co-op; Tango Hop beginner dance lessons, and many more.
What is Fair Trade? Fair Trade is a practice that guarantees family farmers and workers will receive fair wages for their harvests: a comprehensive social-economic tool strong enough to raise the standard of living for millions of people. Media, PA became America’s First Fair Trade Town in July 2006. Our town’s leadership has inspired nine more U.S. towns to
follow suit, with 20 or more towns close to making the Fair Trade Town declaration.Visit www.visitmediapa.com/fairtrade for event details and for information about Media and Fair Trade.

Testimonials From Past Clients - Comfort Keepers Mainline and Delaware County

2009-05-03T11:37:00.000-04:00

Testimonials from Past Clients - Comfort Keepers serving Mainline, Delaware, Center and South Philadelphia and parts of Chester County served:A Few of Our Testimonials I wish to commend the Comfort Keepers' care giver, Lisa. She is outstanding and has improved my mother's quality of life 100%. I have a tremendous comfort level knowing Lisa is with her. Lisa takes care of all her needs and they have a great relationship. In addition to taking care of her physical needs, Lisa takes her to the Senior Center where she gets interaction with all ages. I know this helps her psychological well being and she enjoys every minute. We truly appreciate all Lisa does for my mother and believe there could not have been a more perfect match. Thank you for caring. Wayne, PAWe are closing in on two years that Comfort Keepers has made it possible for my mom to stay in her home despite the continuing advance of her dementia. It is an understatement to say that we could not possibly have done it without you. For the last year or more, Glenn and Marie have been as dependable as clockwork and as caring as your brand name implies. When problems have arisen they have been responsive and concerned. And in the year before that, not once did the assigned personnel let me down. There were always there, 24/7 (and 365). Essentially, they have permitted me to sleep at night. I also do not want to overlook Liz's contribution to all of this. When I have had a problem, she has been there to respond - day and night. I cannot imagine what she must go through to coordinate vacations, sick days, my mom's hospitalizations and the myriad of other issues Liz must confront. What I do know is that when I call, I get a smile on the other end of the line and a prompt and friendly solution to my problem. She is a valuable employee and one of whom you should be proud. Those who know me know that I throw compliments around like manhole covers. I approached this whole thing two years ago full of trepidation. But it has been a pleasure working with all of you from the start .... Merion, PAMyself and Family want to send you our appreciation for helping give Mom wonderful care and support. It's hard to find someone with compassion and dedication and the wisdom to pitch in and help ... I have to share with you what a difference [Kathy] has made in our home. Always giving 100% making sure Mom is clean and comfortable and safe. Mom depends on Kathy like she's a member of our family and she sure has fit in like one. You know how difficult older people are to make them feel wanted and useful. Kathy has done that every day. As you know, my dad has been difficult ... Kath makes Dad feel good knowing Mom is well cared for. If you remember, she even talked him into going to the hospital when the ambulance drivers couldn't. She got Dad to the car and the four of us drove him to Delaware County where they found he was dehydrated. That's why he fell. ... Thank you all. Clifton Heights, PAPaul and I want to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to you for introducing Lisa into our lives. She is truly a warm, compassionate and loving person and always maintains a high level of professionalism. We felt at ease when leaving Lisa in charge of Dad's needs in our absence. Lisa is a very special caregiver -- reliable, dependable and caring. Frank became comfortable with her and they had a great relationship. She was the answer to our prayers and she responded well above and beyond the call of duty. Her strength and encouragemenet got us through a very difficult time. We will miss her as we always looked forward to her coming to our home -- always prompt and courteous. Thank you Comfort Keepers for sending an angel into our lives. God Bless everyone at Comfort Keepers. Drexel Hill, PA

Duck race will benefit senior citizens - Delaware County Daily Times article May 2, 2009

2009-05-03T10:10:00.000-04:00

On May 16, a flock of ducks will be dumped into the Delaware River and they will race to the finish line to help wishes come true for county seniors.This whole scenario is the brainchild of Springfield residents Sallie and Clark Bongaardt, who are using the event to fund the non-profit Not-To-Be-Forgotten Foundation.In 2002, Sallie Bongaardt formed Comfort Keepers, a provider of assisted living-style care for seniors and the disabled in their homes after both of her parents died two months apart in 1999.Through that service, her employees have seen the struggles many seniors face and Bongaardt wanted to give them hope so she formed the Not-To-Be-Forgotten Foundation in September.Last fall, the foundation helped the Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging provide 59 seniors with $300 of home fuel costs.“Two people were bed-bound with literally no heat,” Bongaardt said. “Another was a blind, partially deaf veteran of a foreign war.”They also hope to hold elder exploitation and medication educational programs.With the Pennsylvania Ducky Derby, featuring fowl of the rubber variety, Bongaardt wants to create a solid foundation to start providing wishes for seniors.“I’m hoping that the duck derby will raise sufficient funds to get the going on a big scale,” the foundation’s executive director said.She’s already had one request. A county lady was feeding her cats and dogs instead of herself and Bongaardt said she’s hoping her foundation can help fill that gap.She also has other ideas in mind.Bongaardt said some of the homes her staff enter need maintenance as residents are using buckets to catch the water coming through the holes on the roof.“It really tugs at your heart,” she said.Another senior, whose a huge baseball fan, has told them, “Before I die, I just want to see that new stadium.”To raise funds to fulfill these, the foundation is hosting the Pennsylvania Ducky Derby on May 16.Governor Printz Park opens at 1 p.m. that day for activities such as face painting and a moonbounce. Ducks can be adopted up to 3 p.m.“It’s going to be a fun, family day,” Bongaardt said.Depending on the tide, the ducks will be dropped into the river at 4 p.m. The grand prize winner wins a week stay at Sea Isle City, N.J. Second place takes an HDTV.Leading up to the race, a 12-feet inflatable duck is making its rounds throughout the county to encourage people to adopt the critters.Bongaardt just wants to honor those who came before her.“They are the (ones) who built our bridges, fought our wars, who made our country exactly what it is today,” she said.Remembering her call to help seniors, Bongaardt reiterated, “I’ve got to do this. I’ve got to do this now.”Ducks can be adopted for $5 each or six for $25 online at http://www.ntbff.org/ or by calling 888-521-4333. They can also be adopted at Comfort Keepers or Best Buy in Springfield, at any M&T Bank in the county or the Granite Run Mall. this article originally printed and shared from the Delaware County Daily Times on May 2, 2009, Kathleen Carey, writer kcarey@delcotimes.com
http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2009/05/03/news/doc49fd07ca5705f826228526.txt

Older Americans Month May 2009 Springfield Library PA Veterans Museum and ntbf

2009-05-01T19:22:00.000-04:00

May is Older Americans Month. A month that we could honor those who have served our country in previous times of war and peace especially our Older American Veterans who served during WWII, Korean and even Vietnam.
May is also a month that we could honor our Older Americans by doing an act of kindness for an elderly neighbor, relative or friend. Some things like bringing the trash cans to the curb or up from the curb to bigger things like cutting grass or painting for a senior could really make the difference in the life of an elderly person and honor him or her during the month of May.
To honor the month of May, Older Americans Month, Comfort Keepers and Baskets by Donna decorated the window at the local library in Springfield, PA with items from the PA Veteran’s Museum in Media, information on Not-To-Be-Forgotten Foundation ntbf and several antiques to remind our Older Americans of things they enjoyed when they were young. Take a look at the picture above of the window display and if you are in the Springfield PA area, stop in the library and see it in person. It is really terrific!

Have you seen this 12 foot Duck? ntbf and adopt a duck for 5 bucks help a senior in Delaware County

2009-04-21T18:49:00.000-04:00

Have you seen this duck? It is 12 foot tall and sits at the corner at Sproul Rd and Township Line in Springfield, PA. It is part of the fun of duckmania, the all duck fundraising event to help grant wishes and assist low income seniors with heating oil and other things they might need. The 12 foot duck is on display to encourage the passerbys to adopt a small yellow bathtub size duck for $5 to race in the Duck Derby to be held on May 16th at Governor Printz Park, Essington, Pa.

Why Adopt A Duck?Not-To-Be Forgotten Foundation wants you to adopt a duck to race in the ‘PA’Ducky Derby during Older American Month.1 duck for 5 bucks will help heat a Senior’s home for 8.33 hours.6 ducks for 25 bucks will help heat a Senior’s home for 1.5 days. 12 ducks for 50 bucks will help heat a Senior’s home for 3.5 days.Just look what a difference you can make just by adopting a duck!

Join in the fun and come over to Governor Printz Park for a community day and watch the race live! Adopt a duck and he or she might just cross the finish line first. To see more about the event or ntbf, go to website. www.ntbff.org

2nd Annual Our Lady Perpetual Help Morton PA Expo and networking

2009-04-20T19:37:00.000-04:00

2nd Annual OLPH Business Expo - The Ultimate Networking Opportunity
Morton, PA, April 2009 The Business Persons Network of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Morton is hosting its second annual Business Expo Thursday evening, April 23 from 7:00 9:00 in the parish hall, 2130 Franklin Ave. The Expo is free and open to the public. There will be refreshments and door prizes Parishioners, representing dozens of companies, trades, and fields, invite guests to enjoy an evening of networking, information, and prospecting. Exhibitors include but are not limited to: 1. ACN 2. Alayne Bell Design 3. Albert Cippoloni Jr. & Sons Inc. 4. All State Insurance Company 5. American Picture Framing 6. Arbonne International 7. C-21 Adele Shaw & Associates 8. Compliance Consultants Inc. 9. Delco Chamber of Commerce 10. EZ Living Concepts 11. Golf Ball Man 12. Keller Williams Real Estate 13. Knights of Columbus 14. McGuire Green Grass Service 15. Northwestern Mutual 16. Oliver Heating & Cooling 17. PRCoordinates 18. Respect Life Committee 19. Silpada Designer Jewelry 20. Sovereign Bank 21. Comfort Keepers

Lorraine Ranalli, author of Gravy Wars South Philly Foods, Feuds & Attytudes, will sign copies of her book and donate a portion of each sale to the parish. Please direct inquiries to PR Coordinates, 610-338-0229 or info@PRCoordinates.com. The OLPH Business Persons Network comprises a diverse group of Christian business people who hold strong moral values in business practice and a desire to improve the parish community by sharing ideas, networking, and supporting the parish in its daily mission.

Women In Business Networking Event Delaware County Chamber of Commerce

2009-04-16T16:27:00.000-04:00

If you haven't been to the best networking event for women in Delaware County, you are missing out! The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce's Women in Business Network rocks! I attend this group and women from all types of different businesses meet once a month to exchange business cards, chat and nibble on yummy appetizers. The events are held at terrific places including the Arts Center in Wallingford. The close to 85 women who attended that event in early 2009, had a fun time talking, exchanging cards and looking at art. This month the group is having a fiesta on cinco de mayo, May 5th, 2009. The ladies will convene at the Staybridge Suites located on Evergreen Drive in Glen Mills, PA right behind the Brinton Lake Shopping Center on Route 1. The time of the event is 11:30 am to 1pm and it will pool side weathering permitting. I am definitely going and encourage all ladies to get together, enjoy the sunshine and exchange business cards. If you are a member of the Chamber, the event is FREE. If you are a non-member the cost is $15.00. To rsvp for the event go to http://www.delcochamber.org/. Being a member of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce is a very good investment for your business. I think the staff is wonderful and very helpful. I encourage everyone in Delaware County and the Delaware Valley to check it out. They have classes you can take, lots of networking and a supportive staff. If you are interested in attending a new member meeting as a guest to see what they have to offer, Contact Joanna Brune, the Director of Membership at 610-565-3677.

Prevent Falls: Tips for caregivers who afraid for elderly and senior family members, falling, tripping, accidents

2009-04-12T12:40:00.001-04:00

20 Tips for Fall Prevention for Comfort Keepers® Clients and their Families

According to the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
In the United States, one of every three people 65 years and older falls each year.
60 percent of seniors fall in their own homes
Older adults are hospitalized for fall-related injuries five times more often than they are for injuries from other causes.
Of those who fall, 20-30% suffer moderate to severe injuries that reduce mobility and independence, and increase the risk of premature death.

The client’s family can help our clients by remembering to follow these 10 fall prevention tips:
Make sure they have an annual medical check-up.
Make sure they have an eye examination at least once a year.
Have a pharmacist or physician review their medications to reduce interactions or side effects that might impede alertness and balance.
Install rails in appropriate places. (Towel racks may not be strong enough)
Replace the toilet with a higher toilet and/or install handrails.
Store eyeglasses within easy reach of the bed.
Arrange furniture so that outlets are available without the use of extension cords.
Wear proper footwear. Shoes, boots and slippers should provide good support and have good soles. Avoid loose slippers or stocking feet.
Add a strip along the edge of each step in a contrasting color to make it easier to see or use reflective anti-skid treads.
Keep often used items in cabinets you can reach easily without using a step stool.

Comfort Keepers® can help our clients by remembering to follow these 10 fall prevention tips:
Involve them in regular physical exercise to increase their lower body strength and improve their balance.
Eliminate tripping hazards in the home such as throw rugs and clutter.
Improve lighting in all rooms, including night-lights along walkways.
After a shower or bath, wipe up water immediately to prevent slipping. Suggest non-slip mats in the bathtub and on the shower floor.
Suggest a shower seat. It will allow the client to shower without getting tired.
Make sure the hand rails of all stairs are sturdy and encourage the client to use them.
Suggest a portable commode near the bed to eliminate nighttime trips to the bathroom.
Use walking aids and other safety devices for extra safety.
Keep a telephone near your bed.
Store heavy items in lower cupboards. http://www.comfortkeepers.com

There are many tools and materials available for teaching your clients and their families how to prevent a fall. Checkout the following websites for ideas:

- http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/fallsmaterial.htm
- http://www.nsc.org/issues/fallstop.htm
- http://www.gethealthyclarkcounty.org/injury_prev/senior.html

Tea Party Not To Be Forgotten Foundation ntbf

2009-04-09T17:04:00.000-04:00

Our Conscientious Acts of Kindness Campaign will kick off with a Tea Party in October 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 (60+ years of age) 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 or raking leaves. Bring your daughters, sons and your seniors to the Tea Party on October 24, 2009 at Villanova Conference Center, Villanova, PA. To read more about ntbf, go to http://www.ntbff.org/. To see more about Tea Party, go to website and click on events. Cost of Tea Party is $12 per person.

PA Veterans Museum in Media, PA

2009-04-08T16:03:00.000-04:00

If you haven't been to the PA Veterans' Museum in Media, PA you have to go. It is absolutely amazing. There is so much to see and to learn in this wonderful tribute to our Veterans of Delaware County. There are displays as seen in this picture that show the reality of what WWII was like as well as glass cases full of actual weapons and other items such as helmets, flags and gear worn or used by soldiers. There is one case that even has a flag and a hat from a soldier in the German army during WWII. So much history right there in Delaware County. It is truly an amazing and wonderful place. Recently they showcased the Women in the Military movie that was made and have on diplay currently Women's military items and story of how women served and helped out in the war effort. It truly is a great place to visit and the best part is....it is FREE. No charge to take your kids in and look around. To learn more about it, go to http://www.paveteransmuseum.org/home/

FREE Networking Event for Women, Team Women Delaware County/Mainline hosts May 12, 2009 Springfield, PA

2009-04-06T15:32:00.000-04:00

Springfield, PA – April 6, 2009 – The Mainline/ Delaware County Chapter of Team Women, a women only leads based networking group is hosting a FREE networking event on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 from 11:30 am to 1pm at Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union’s Brand New Springfield Branch located at 375 Baltimore Pike, Springfield, PA 19064 (next to Chuck E Cheese). Team Women (http://www.teamwomen.com/) is an international networking group that has local chapters limited to one woman per core profession. Each group is open to 30 women maximum and the Mainline/Delaware County Chapter is looking for women who want an opportunity to promote their business while ensuring the business has exclusivity for leads generated. To rsvp for this FREE informational session and networking event, call Melody at 610-996-6550 or send e-mail: melodymchugh@comcast.net.

Not To Be Forgotten Foundation's Duck Derby race showcased in kiosk at Granite Run Mall, Media, PA ntbff

2009-04-03T17:35:00.001-04:00

The Granite Run Mall in Media, PA is graciously providing a kiosk to the Not-To-Be Forgotten Foundation to exhibit its May 16th Duck Derby and Community Day at Governor Printz Park, 101 Taylor Ave, Essington, PA. The kiosk is located on the lower level of the mall and if you stop by you will hear all about the ntbf Keeping Our Seniors Warm Campaign and upcoming events as well as the Duck Derby and duck adoption. You can adopt a duck for $5 (bucks) or you can adopt several ducks like 6 for $25 (bucks). Stop on by and pick up your adoption papers today and get your duck in the race. If your duck crosses the line first and wins the race you will win a great prize so stop by the Mall and find out what it is or go to http://www.ntbff.org/ to check out the race and buy a duck or two. Join a team or swim alone but don't miss out on the fun!!

Technology Solutions Help Enhance Independence and Security For Seniors

2009-03-29T11:45:00.001-04:00

New in-home technologies are helping a growing number of aging adults live independently longer. SafetyChoice™ by Comfort Keepers® is a line of in-home safety technology solutions that assists seniors in aging independently at home; whether used with or without in-home care provided by a caregiver. The initial release of products under the Safety Choice™ banner which includes personal emergency response systems (PERS) and other monitoring devices has been developed through a partnership between Guardian Medical Monitoring and CK Franchising, Inc., the franchisor for the Comfort Keepers franchise system.

Clark Bongaardt, owner of the Comfort Keepers franchise in Southeastern PA, said that technology is helping to complement and extend the personal, human touch provided to senior citizens by professional caregivers and family members. “With the senior population growing at a much faster pace than that of working-age Americans, it’s becoming more challenging to provide around-the-clock care for seniors at home,” Clark said.

Clark added that demographic studies show that the ratio of seniors to working-age Americans is expected to continue growing—30 percent from 2010 to 2020, and another 29 percent in the following decade.

In the meantime, seniors and their loved ones are discovering that technology solutions—such as those offered through SafetyChoice by Comfort Keepers —can effectively bridge the times when a caregiver can’t be present or when a senior may not yet need a caregiver in the home. Such technologies are monitored by professionals at central stations and provide phone notifications to first responders whether a professional caregiver, family member, neighbor or emergency personnel.

“These systems provide family members the peace of mind that their loved one can get help, even when a caregiver can’t be physically present with them,” Bongaardt said.

Responding to the increasing needs for care among seniors, Comfort Keepers recently introduced the new SafetyChoice™ line of technology products, which extends personal caregiving. These products include PERS Units as well as other monitoring devices that can detect certain activities by persons with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related illnesses, and a portable PERS device with GPS technology.

“Technologies like these, in combination with personal caregiving, lead to improved health outcomes and quality of life for seniors,” Bongaardt said. “These technologies make it possible for them to continue living at home—where they most want to be—safely, confidently, and independently.”

PERS units help seniors summon help quickly with the push of a button—reducing wait times for emergency assistance in the event of a fall, illness or other emergency at home. “By greatly decreasing the time for emergency help to arrive,” Bongaardt said, “emergency response systems help reduce the complications that can result from a fall or other emergency. The shortened wait time usually results in quicker and fuller recovery and an improved chance of returning to independent living.”

Bongaardt added, “Falls are one of the greatest concerns of the elderly.” The Centers for Disease Control has reported that more than a third of American adults 65 and older fall each year—and falls are the leading cause of death by injury for seniors.

Technology can be a good prescription for caregivers’ health, too, Bongaardt said. According to testimony delivered by the Alzheimer’s Association to the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, one in eight caregivers providing care to those with Alzheimer’s becomes ill or injured as a result of caregiving. Technology can relieve some of the stress by giving family members the opportunity to take breaks from their caregiving responsibilities.

To learn more about the SafetyChoice™ by Comfort Keepers® in-home technology solutions in the Southeastern, PA area, call 610-543-6300

Comfort Keepers®
With over 550 independently owned and operated locations, Comfort Keepers is a leader in in-home senior care to promote independent living. Services include companionship, meal preparation, light housekeeping, grocery shopping, incidental transportation, laundry, recreational activities, personal care and technology products. For more information visit http://www.comfortkeepers.com/.

Not-To-Be Forgotten Duck Marches in St. Patrick's day Parade

2009-03-16T18:25:00.000-04:00

On Saturday, March 14, 2009, the Not-To-Be Forgotten Duck marched in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Springfield, PA. Accompanied by friends from Comfort Keepers, the duck strutted along the route giving out duck shaped lollipops to all the boys and girls along the route. The duck handed out invitations to the PA duck derby which will be held on May 16, 2009 in Essington, PA. The event is a Fundraiser for the Not-To-Be Forgotten Foundation (ntbf). ntbf is an organization in Delaware County, PA that assists senior citizens. Their last campaign included Keeping the Seniors Warm. A program whereby ntbf had a goal to give 100 seniors, 100 gallons of oil each. Along with assisting low income seniors ntbf also helps to grant wishes.

You can help a senior by adopting a duck for $5 to race in the PA duck derby on May 16th. All you have to do is go to the website http://www.ntbff.org/ and click on Adopt a duck for 5 bucks. Choose a team such as Melody and the quack pack or the Freckles. The winner of the race could receive one of the great prizes such as a week at the beach or flat screen tv. Don't wait, go to http://www.ntbff.org/ and adopt your duck for $5!

2009-03-05T17:10:00.000-05:00

Testimonials from Past Clients - Comfort Keepers serving Mainline, Delaware, Center and South Philadelphia and parts of Chester County served:

A Few of Our Testimonials
I wish to commend the Comfort Keepers' care giver, Lisa. She is outstanding and has improved my mother's quality of life 100%. I have a tremendous comfort level knowing Lisa is with her. Lisa takes care of all her needs and they have a great relationship. In addition to taking care of her physical needs, Lisa takes her to the Senior Center where she gets interaction with all ages. I know this helps her psychological well being and she enjoys every minute. We truly appreciate all Lisa does for my mother and believe there could not have been a more perfect match. Thank you for caring. Wayne, PA

We are closing in on two years that Comfort Keepers has made it possible for my mom to stay in her home despite the continuing advance of her dementia. It is an understatement to say that we could not possibly have done it without you. For the last year or more, Glenn and Marie have been as dependable as clockwork and as caring as your brand name implies. When problems have arisen they have been responsive and concerned. And in the year before that, not once did the assigned personnel let me down. There were always there, 24/7 (and 365). Essentially, they have permitted me to sleep at night.
I also do not want to overlook Liz's contribution to all of this. When I have had a problem, she has been there to respond - day and night. I cannot imagine what she must go through to coordinate vacations, sick days, my mom's hospitalizations and the myriad of other issues Liz must confront. What I do know is that when I call, I get a smile on the other end of the line and a prompt and friendly solution to my problem. She is a valuable employee and one of whom you should be proud.
Those who know me know that I throw compliments around like manhole covers. I approached this whole thing two years ago full of trepidation. But it has been a pleasure working with all of you from the start .... Merion, PA

Myself and Family want to send you our appreciation for helping give Mom wonderful care and support. It's hard to find someone with compassion and dedication and the wisdom to pitch in and help ... I have to share with you what a difference [Kathy] has made in our home. Always giving 100% making sure Mom is clean and comfortable and safe. Mom depends on Kathy like she's a member of our family and she sure has fit in like one. You know how difficult older people are to make them feel wanted and useful. Kathy has done that every day. As you know, my dad has been difficult ... Kath makes Dad feel good knowing Mom is well cared for. If you remember, she even talked him into going to the hospital when the ambulance drivers couldn't. She got Dad to the car and the four of us drove him to Delaware County where they found he was dehydrated. That's why he fell. ... Thank you all. Clifton Heights, PA
Paul and I want to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to you for introducing Lisa into our lives. She is truly a warm, compassionate and loving person and always maintains a high level of professionalism. We felt at ease when leaving Lisa in charge of Dad's needs in our absence. Lisa is a very special caregiver -- reliable, dependable and caring. Frank became comfortable with her and they had a great relationship. She was the answer to our prayers and she responded well above and beyond the call of duty. Her strength and encouragemenet got us through a very difficult time. We will miss her as we always looked forward to her coming to our home -- always prompt and courteous. Thank you Comfort Keepers for sending an angel into our lives. God Bless everyone at Comfort Keepers. Drexel Hill, PA

Common Caregiving Myths

2009-02-28T10:25:00.001-05:00

Dispelling Caregiving Myths
Caregiving is an emotional subject which is likely the reason so many myths surround it. This article focuses on dispelling some of these caregiving myths. It’s a must-read for anyone currently involved in caregiving including those who are considering hiring or perhaps even becoming a caregiver. Below are some common myths related to caregiving:
Caregiving is a negative experience
For some, this is true. There are a number of reasons why a caregiver/care receiver relationship doesn’t work out. However for the majority of people, caregiving is a rewarding experience. Caring for another is a wonderful way to feel important and it’s a way to make a positive difference in another’s life. A sense of companionship, mutual respect, and self-worth are some of the benefits caregivers receive. For many, caring for others fills a void in their lives.
Adult children no longer provide care for aging parents at home
While stories of adult children abandoning their aging parents make for interesting reading, this is just not true. What is true is that families live further apart from one another than ever before and that situation sometimes presents caregiving challenges. But adult children are not abandoning their parents. Advances in communication make it easy for adult children and aging parents to stay in regular contact and improvements in transportation make it easy to be together whenever necessary. With services such as Comfort Keepers available, quality care is easily available to those who require someone "on location" that can help with care.
Stress and excessive demands increase instances of elder abuse
Unfortunately this is true. However, it’s also true that excessive stress caused by any type of work can trigger unforeseen outbursts towards objects or others. Interestingly, instances of elder abuse at the hands of a caregiver are higher in families where there is a history of abuse or alcoholism. Aging parents feel guilt for the pain they caused their children in the past. Because of this, they find themselves accepting abusive treatment from other family members who are now in charge of their care.
Most caregivers have a plan in place before the need arises
Not true. If you don’t yet have a caregiving plan, you’re definitely not alone. Most adult children do not tackle this issue until they are forced, meaning it doesn’t usually happen until a parent becomes ill, starts showing signs of the onset of age-related conditions such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, or until one aging parent dies and the other has trouble resuming life after the death of his or her spouse.
Caregiver resources are insufficient
This is not true. Caregiver resources are fragmented and sometimes difficult to comprehend and even access. But they’re out there. New legislation regarding caregiving and care receiving is constantly being introduced and approved. Finding caregiving resources to which you are entitled takes patience and determination, but they’re far from insufficient.
Different cultures don’t require different approaches to caregiving
Definitely false. Cultural beliefs and differences will vary the approach to caregiving and they should not be ignored. Today’s elderly place more importance on culture than do their children therefore those providing care must be sensitive to the fact that cultural differences do exist. For more information go to: http://www.comfortkeepers.com/

Co-dependency, guilt, shame, loss and other emotions that erupt when taking care of an elderly loved one

2009-02-21T11:40:00.000-05:00

The process of taking care of an elderly loved one usually starts out slow like any relationship. Even if its your mother and you have a relationship the beginning of the caretaking process is a new chapter in your lives that you are starting that you have not experienced before.
It usually starts out slow with you noticing mom struggling either physically or cognitively with daily things such as paying bills, missing meals, not cleaning the house, maybe an illness comes upon the person that slows him or her down and so on. At that time you usually start to collect your data about what is going on and you begin to address the needs as they come up. The needs are often minimal, do not require much of your time and frankly you like doing it because you want to help your loved one.
Then one day the caregiving begins to take on a life of its own. Usually the caregiver first notices it during the time of a crisis. The elderly loved one falls or goes into hospital for surgery, maybe has very bad flu or pneumonia at home and gets weak. The caregiver starts to go over the home more, be attentive to the person’s needs and finds that the caregiving becomes overwhelming at times trying to balance helping the elderly person and taking care of his or her own family.
The crisis time is overwhelming and it is the first realization of what full time caregiving is, but the caregiver knows that the crisis will end, the elderly person will go back to his or her level of functioning and everyone’s life goes back to normal.
But what is normal? Normal is that sense of reality that we live everyday. If I am single than normal to me is having a date, eating alone or going out with friend. Normal for married life is having dinner with spouse and life together. In other words normal is the reality in which we live. For caregivers, normal can be going over to mom’s one time a week to pay bills, get her groceries, etc. When a crisis hits, normal changes but when the crisis is over our expectation is we will go back to normal.
But what happens over time when normal starts to change? It happens to all of us. Again if I am single and normal is a date or dinner with a friend but then I get married normal then changes. If I start taking care of mom and I go one time of week and that is normal but a stroke happens and mom is now paralyzed on one side, my normal has now just permanently changed.
What caregivers don’t realize is that they never really adjust to normal after the crisis. When you are single and you get married, you end up adjusting to this new life where you are now partnered with someone and the expectation is you will do things together, help each other maybe raise kids together. We go into that with wonderful and hopeful expectations that our feelings will be positive. No one goes into caregiving for an elderly person with the expectation that we will do things together - as a result of the caregiving, no one goes into the caregiving relationship with the expectation that we will partnered, joined at the hip, enjoying this new found time we have together. Now please don’t hear this wrong. You may have a wonderful relationship with an elderly loved one and yes, you may feel that caregiving gives you that extra time to spend with that person that you might not have had. I am not talking about that.
I am talking about the relationaship between a caregiver who starts out with good intentions of helping and ending up in a very challenging dysfunctional marriage to their elderly loved one. See over time the relationship that started out as me feeling good cause I could come once a week to pay bills turns into mom calling me and asking why I can’t come over that day. The normal feelings that I have experience of going over when I planned or can turns into a dependency that gets ugly and stirs up alot of old feelings, resentments and other such history between us.
For example, a mother who had a rocky relationship with daughter can be at first thankful that the daughter helps out. But as soon as the aging process takes over, the brain starts changing, maybe a memory impairment starts, that same mother can turn hostile and demanding often exhibiting old behaviors of being demanding and controlling on her children that they rebelled against as kids. The children who are now the caregivers start reacting to her behavior, the same way they did as children. This starts a boatload of feelings in the caregiver that they sometimes cannot express because they realize it does no good. Mom is always right, she will just deny it, she always has. So a new caregiving relationship that started out one time a week with the caregiver feeling okay or good about hellping out now starts to turn to dysfunction. What was once normal is now a new normal. What was once feelings of okay, maybe positive during that weekly visit is now dread. Is she going to make me feel guilty or bad about something when I visit? Lately I cannot do enough for her, nothing is ever good enough.
If you find yourself saying these things, you need to get some support because you are probably reacting to her behavior. In similar we do the same thing with our teenagers. One day they are these cut wonderful kids and then somehow that normal day turns into a nightmare of odd behavior, unusual interests and talk and we now have a new normal day with the teenagers. Adjusting to the new normal is not easy and as caregivers we have to look at ourselves. Not that we are doing something wrong or bad to feel guilty about but rather, am I reacting to what my elderly loved is doing or sayiing? What history does that behavior hold for me? If she did that to me as a kid am I reacting as I did then?
If these reactions are occurring then you might be co-dependent with your elderly loved one. This means you have trouble identifying where you stop and the elderly person starts. You have lost boundaries. The ability to act on situations than react and the ability to know that it is okay to say no and that you don’t have to feel guilty about that. Comfort Keepers provides resources for caregivers feeling guilty and overwhelmed.

Long distance caregiving, the struggles, worries and concerns for your elderly loved one

2009-02-21T11:37:00.000-05:00

Any caregiver that is more than an hour from their elderly loved one could be considered a long distance caregiver.
The term long distance was applied many years ago to our phone system and was used for calls that were considered out of the area. It also implied that if you were making a long distance call, you could not quickly get to the person you were calling. Nowadays, a long distance caregiver is in the same situation, the caregiver cannot quickly get to the elderly person they are helping.
This makes for much stress and often worry in regards to the health and safety of the elderly loved one. Not being able to jump in the car to go and check on mom or being able to swing by on a regular basis can result in increase worry over eating habits, sleeping increase or decrease, memory impairment progression and other physical illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure or heart problems.
Long distance caregivers need to find someone close to the person such as family member, neighbor or even paid caregiver to go in and visit with the elderly loved one. During this visit, the person should take note of whether the person is eating, by looking casually around the kitchen, clues such as food decreasing in the refrig and cabinets probably means they are cooking it, containers in the trash show they ate something, the dirty dishes in sink may also clue you in if there is movement in the kitchen.
Keeping on an eye on such things as body odor, house odor - is there a smell of urine?, changing clothes, is laundry filling up? and other clues will help to know if the person is bathing or not. The visitor can be very casual when looking around taking notes in his or head about what they see and then reporting it back to you.
If your loved one has pills in bottle, the pills should be decreasing. One time I went to see a client who lived alone and said she was taking her pills as prescribed. I asked if I could see the name of the medication, she said sure. When I picked up the full bottle it was dated a month ago and the pills were to be taken 3 times a day. Clearly she had not taken any of them or was taking sporadically. Pill boxes can cause problems too as people with memory impairment can take the wrong days of the week, forget to take pills or mix things together.
If you have a person who is willing to check in on your loved one, ask him or her to look for signs for eating, sleeping, changing clothes, medications and even driving issues. Ask them to call you with concerns so that you can be aware of changes that are taking place. This will enable you to know that you need to pay a visit sooner than you thought or more frequently. To read more articles like this, Comfort Keepers provides various resources for caregivers.

Are you caregiver who feels guilty alot, if so, you are not alone

2009-02-16T16:48:00.000-05:00

Do you have an elderly mother who calls you and says can you come over and do X? and when you say, I can’t today, I have plans, she then says something that makes you feel really guilty for saying no? If so, then know you are not alone. This is a common experience among caregivers.
One reason it happens is caregivers sometimes lose boundaries with the person they are taking care of. Over time, the caregiver loses sight of where he or she stops and the elderly person begins so the relationship becomes one of dependency. The elderly person becomes dependent on the adult children and that is when the co-dependency starts. Caregivers constantly falling in the co-dependency trap of trying to meet all the persons needs and requests while giving up your own family’s needs to take care of the elderly person. One way to know if you are co-dependent with your loved one is: is the caregiving interfering with my own family life? Am I missing my husband’s birthday dinner to take mom to doctor?, Am I arguing with him more over mom and taking care of her? Are my children becoming more distant and resentful towards their grandmother?
Co-dependency can happen very easily and your elderly loved may never be satisfied so no matter how much you do or how often and it never seems to be enough. And that one moment when you can’t go over and help, the elderly person then takes the tactic of trying to make you feel guilty. If you feel guilty, you may be in a co-dependent relationship.
Like co-dependency in an addictive or abusive relationship, caregivers often become angry and resentful with their elderly loved one but not able to express it. Whenever the caregiver tries to speak up, the elderly person acts as if he or she did nothing wrong in asking for your help, acts irrationally and may even through more guilty on you by making statements such as well I was there for you when your husband lost his job 20 years ago!
If you find that you are in a co-dependent relationship with your elderly loved one, you need support. Make sure you talk to friends who have elderly parents as they will probably validate your experience and give you suggestions on how to handle it the next time it comes up. Co-dependency is a very unhealthy way to live and can cause you stress, physical and emotional problems.

Seniors who won't change their clothes, elderly who wear clothes several days in row

2009-02-16T16:46:00.000-05:00

Do you have a senior that won’t change his or her clothes? If so, you are not alone. Normally these behaviors occur in people who start to have memory impairment or some nutritional deficiencies that are affecting the brain the the thinking.
For example, people who have memory impairment begin to lose track of time and are not able to identify when a day begins and when it ends. Consequently the person tends to stay in the same clothes as there is no break in the day. Others are able to identify it is night and change into bed clothes but then when they arise they go right back into the same clothes they had on for last three days. Caregivers become frustrated saying, mom has 20 outfits right in her closet but she won’t put them on, she wants to wear the same thing all the time.
If you have a person with memory impairment, 20 choices is too much and overwhelms them. They get frustrated trying to pick out which top goes with what pants, colors are difficult to see if they have vision problem and the complexities of having to put something together is unmanageable to them. People with memory impairments often need cueing which is when you tell them, put your arm in this hole, then bring the shirt around your back and then your other arm in this hole. You have to direct them how to do it. These are simple steps to a person with well brain but for someone suffering with memory impairment and even the disease of dementia, it is an overwhelming task. When confronted with an overwhelming task, all humans either just don’t do it or they try to do what is most comfortable, i.e. wear the same thing.
One thing you could do is cut down on choices. Give your loved one maybe 3 choices a week or 2 depending on their memory impairment and if they live alone. Giving limited choice often helps them and saying, mom this is your outfit for tomorrow we are going to doctor can help. Put a note on the garment and hang in on the door they always look at like the bathroom or closet. Take it out of the mix of several outfits and set it by itself. If you have a caregiver who comes in or its you, have that person take the outfit out of the closet and say this is so pretty, I bet you would look handsome in it, how about if we sponge bath or shower and change into this outfit?
Dealing with changing clothes is a tricky business. Be careful about making up stories or lying to your loved one because if he or she is having a lucid moment and catches you in the lie, it can backfire on you. Be upfront and just tell you loved one that clothes can only be worn for two days and if they are in agreement keep track via a calendar and say it’s so I know when the wash needs to be done. My schedule is busy and keeping track of your laundry will help me to know when I need to stay a little longer for washer to run. Be creative and think of ways to get them to change clothes. Life is an art not a science. There is no easy fix for this refusing to change clothes behavior.

Stay in your home with help, assistance and live life at home

2009-02-11T15:04:00.000-05:00

Lubbock resident Catherine Baldwin Benge has experienced the benefits of Comfort Keepers two ways - first as a family member of a client, then as a client herself.
Catherine first worked with Comfort Keepers in 2005 when she turned to the company to supplement her mother's care. Catherine's mother, Pearl Cox, was a resident at Grand Court and enjoyed visits from Comfort Keepers' caregivers for about a year or so before she passed away.
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"Comfort Keepers always did well with her, so I called them when I was looking ahead for assistance with my needs," Catherine says. "I felt like they were easy to communicate with and the people they sent were always efficient. They have a way about them which makes adjusting to care easier."
Catherine, who was a teacher for 21 years, was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig's Disease, about two and a half years ago. Until a few months ago, she managed quite well on her own, but last autumn her symptoms progressed to the point where extra assistance with daily tasks was necessary. That's when Catherine again turned to Comfort Keepers, this time for her own care.
Today Catherine is visited by a Comfort Keepers' caregiver four times a week for two hours in the morning. In addition to cooking breakfast, changing linens and helping with laundry, the caregiver assists Catherine with bathing, curling her hair, and getting dressed. Catherine says they will soon be adding stretching exercises to the morning routine.
"They are easy to deal with," says Catherine, who is particularly complimentary of her caregiver Cindy. "Anything I want to do, she's able to do."
Catherine says she especially appreciates the flexibility of Comfort Keepers' services. For example, Cindy will arrive very early in the morning to help Catherine get ready for an early morning flight out of Lubbock. On Sunday mornings, Cindy comes early so Catherine is ready for church on time.
Comfort Keepers, located at 8207 Hudson Ave. in Lubbock, provides an array of in-home, non-medical care services that includes companionship, meal preparation, personal care, incidental transportation, light housekeeping, grocery shopping, and more. As with Catherine, many clients simply require assistance with the activities of daily living. Comfort Keepers can help where needed so clients maintain their independence in the comfort of their own homes. Comfort Keepers provides services in the home, assisted living facility, hospital or retirement community.
For Catherine, who lives with her husband, Charles, and son, Tim Baldwin, Comfort Keepers is an excellent supplement to the medical care she receives, as well as a help to her family. The extra level of non-medical assistance Comfort Keepers can provide ensures that all Catherine's needs are met, and that in turn allows her to remain at home.
"My goal is to stay at home, and choosing Comfort Keepers allows me to stay here where I'm comfortable," says Catherine. "They're very dependable and trustworthy, and they've adapted as my needs wonderfully."
For additional information about Comfort Keepers, visit http://www.comfortkeepers.com/ To see the complete article on this story, click here:http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/020209/bus_383901810.shtml

Want to celebrate that special 90th birthday for an elderly loved one? Tips for planning events and parties for seniors.

2009-02-01T13:22:00.000-05:00

If you are looking to host an event for an elderly person there are certain things you need to keep in mind. First you should look at the needs of the person you are having the event for. If the person has some impairments such as vision or hearing you need to tailor the event to that person’s ability. So say for example you want to have party for your 85 year old aunt who is visually impaired, showing pictures in their regular size may not work. You might need to increase the size of the item, the details of the item need to be pointed out to the person as small things in pictures such as your grandfather’s hat may be difficult for the person to find.
If you have a hearing impaired person, too many sounds at once is difficult for the person to decipher who is talking, what is being said over the other sounds in the room and your guests need to be told to speak slower and take their time.
If you have a person or person attending the event you need to look a the location of the event. If you plan on having a party at a local hall or restaurant and you are inviting the person’s friends or other relatives who are elderly, please remember that they might not be able to climb steps or walk far distance. Granted many places today have handicap entrances but you need to look at distance from parking lot to the party itself. Elderly individuals can tire easily if they need to walk a far distance. You might have someone on guest list who requires the use of oxygen or some special medical equipment, again location, parking and distance are important to keep in mind.
Activities should be simple, not complicated or lengthy. Elderly people really do not want to sit through an hour of opening presents. It can be overwhelming for them and tiring. If you want to have an activity put the emphasis on something that you do rather than what the elderly person has to do. For example, tell the guests that instead of presents they can make a donation to the person’s charity of choice or charity of their choice and then just write in a card we made donation to x charity. The elderly love greeting cards and old fashion types of communication. Later after the party, you can have 2 or 3 visits with the person reading all the cards to him or her.
Try not to put to much stress on the elderly person. Sometimes we get caught up in the I want this to be the most special party for him or her and we end up rummaging through their pictures or attic and it can cause the elderly person much stress. Elderly people do not like their things moved and some of that is a result of their eyesight being poor. They are fearful they may not find it again. There can also be much suspicion that you took a picture they were saving to a certain family member they wanted to give it to and that can cause arguments and alot of unnecessary stress.
The bottom line is before you plan a party for elderly person, put yourself in his or her shoes. What is their daily life like? If it is slow, quiet and routine then you need to keep the party a similar slow, quiet and routine. I am not saying be dull, have no music and go at a snail’s pace. What I am saying is planning a party for an elderly person is much different than planning for yourself. YOu need to know who you are planning for and what they can tolerate not what you want. Tolerate is the key. If you want your elderly person to have a nice time then what can she or he tolerate? If she can only stand for few minutes than we don’t want someone to do a special dance with her. If he can only communicate a few words (impaired from a stroke) than everyone trying to ask the person questions, how do you like the party is not going to work. Planning is a part of interactive caregiving. When a Comfort Keeper engages in interactive caregiving, he or she is taking the time to get the client, what the client's capabilities are and then when a Comfort Keepers performs an action with the client, the Comfort Keepers knows what the client can tolerate or what the client can do in the interaction. For example, folding laundry is an activity that many older ladies like to do. At Comfort Keepers, we provide that service to our clients but before we are active, we learn about our client (inter -personal) and then when it comes time to be active, we can be interactive when we provide assistance (caregiving) to the person. Learning about the client allows the Comfort Keeper to know that the person is capable of folding 2 or 3 towels and the person loves to fold them. We can then have the client participate in that activity thus fulfilling the mission of being and interactive caregiver.

To learn more about Interactive Caregiving and how it works, contact your local Comfort Keepers. http://www.comfortkeepers.com/

Comfort Keepers featured in Newsweek's Showcase this week

2009-02-01T12:08:00.000-05:00

Article that appeared in Newsweek..

http://www.newsweekshowcase.com/franchises/comfort-keepers.php

Comfort Keepers Franchise

Comfort Keepers Senior Care Franchise Information:
Success through CaringAsk any Comfort Keepers franchise owner and they will tell you it is one of the most rewarding ways they have ever earned a living. Today, there are 36 million aging adults in America. By 2030, the number will exceed 70 million creating a rapidly growing industry offering tremendous opportunity.
Why Comfort Keepers?
We are ranked as one of the Top 3 Franchise Systems in Senior Care by Entrepreneur magazine and have become one of the fastest-growing new franchises in America, as recognized by INC., Wall Street Journal, Successful Franchises, Entrepreneur, HGTV, and over 100 major newspapers.
There are personally rewarding opportunities and financially rewarding opportunities, but it is not every day you can be in a business that is both!
Our client satisfaction ratings surpass 95 percent. We continually survey the quality of our services-No other company can match our client satisfaction levels.
In 2006 Comfort Keepers was recognized as a Top 50 Franchisor by Franchise Business Review, based on a survey of franchise owners.
Non-Medical In-Home Care Facts
Seniors spend approximately $5,600 per month for care in a private room in a nursing home. MetLife Mature Market Institute 2003
Estimated annual expenditures on home care exceeded $41 billion in 2001. National Association of Home Care
By 2005, 37% of all U.S. Workers will face more concern in caring for a parent than caring for a child. Aragon Consulting
More than 12 million Americans require some long-term care. As many as 6 out of every 10 Americans have family members or friends requiring long-term care services. 8 out of every 10 would prefer to have care provided at their family member's home. U.S. General Accounting Office
Seniors prefer to remain in the privacy and comfort of their own home versus moving to a nursing home or assisted living center. Ask Any Senior
Franchise Facts
Total Investment: $32,500 Franchise Fee. The Franchise fee, total start-up costs and working capital requirements may bring your total investment to approximately $56,500 - $88,800.
Exclusive Territory: Exclusive and Protected Territories of 175,000. Together we design a territory based on general population, senior populations over 65, and average household income demographics.
Affordable Royalty: A declining royalty structure rewards franchisees for business growth. Royalties go down from 5% to as low as 3%.
Scheduling Software: New Comfort Keepers franchises include the first-year use of proprietary software for invoicing, scheduling and telephonic tracking of services.
Multiple Services: We offer Homemaking and Companionship services along with the opportunity for Personal Care services. (Note: Provision of Personal Care services may require state licensing or accreditation, but we help you explore the added service opportunity and state requirements.)
Field Support: We offer a team of Franchise Business Consultants who work in the field and provide operational support and guidance.
Training Programs: Intensive 8-Day Training for new owners and GMs and on-going offerings available.
For USA Call Toll-Free (800) 387-2415For International Call (+1) 937-665-1322or mailto:admin@comfortkeepers.com?subject=Inquiry or go to website for more information: http://www.comfortkeepers.com/

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

2009-01-31T12:29:00.000-05:00

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

2009-01-29T12:56:00.000-05:00

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

2009-01-29T12:55:00.000-05:00

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

2009-01-27T19:16:00.000-05:00

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

2009-01-27T19:14:00.001-05:00

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

2009-01-27T19:10:00.000-05:00

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

2009-01-27T19:08:00.000-05:00

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

2009-01-26T17:00:00.000-05:00

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

2009-01-26T16:59:00.001-05:00

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

2009-01-26T16:58:00.000-05:00

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

2009-01-26T16:57:00.000-05:00

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

2009-01-25T10:20:00.000-05:00

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

2009-01-24T12:08:00.000-05:00

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

Interactive Caregiving: Seniors deserve the best

2008-09-08T06:35:00.001-04:00

Any individual who refers to him or herself as a caregiver is hopefully interacting with the senior they are looking after. From the greeting one should try to be upbeat and positive leaving our own burdens at home. Seniors who are greeted by caregivers might live alone, be very lonely, have no visitors and the last thing they need is for someone to enter the home and completely ignore them, be a grump or a dump - meaning the person there to give care wants to dump his or her problems all over the senior.
The care given should be interactive. Inter often refers to the experience between two people such as the word interpersonal. Active obviously refers to the motions or doings of the body. So when we put the word interactive together what we really mean is the experience between the caregiver and the senior occurs while they are doing an activity together. If we add caregiving or the assistance or support during an activity we have interactive caregiving or the experience that happens between two people while doing an activing whereby one is assisting the other.
In practical terms what does this mean? It means that individuals offering caregiving services should try at every turn to engage their senior in the activity he or she is doing at whatever level of functioning the senior can participate. This can be small things like when doing the laundry you let a senior fold a towel or towels and you fold along with the person. If the person becomes tired, you can offer to take over.
Many times our seniors have an activity they loved to do. For women it could have been cooking or laundry (like folding the towels) and they can no longer do the entire activity but they can do parts. For men it could have been fixing the small things around the house like a look doorknob or cabinet hinge. If caregivers slow down and learn these things about the senior they are going to help, the caregiving experience can be much more enjoyable to both the senior and the caregiver.
Interactive caregiving stimuates the mind and body and may be the best way to help the senior maintain their independence and dignity. For more information on interactive caregiving or find a caregiver, go to http://www.comfortkeepers.com/. Comfort Keepers is an international provider of assisted living type services in the private home, hospital and facility to anyone over the age of 18. With over 550 offices across the U.S. there is probably a location near you and your family.