Local Senior Care Company Hosts Open House: Lunch Provided

The Walled Lake, MI office of Home Instead Senior Care® in Oakland County, Michigan, the world’s largest provider of non-medical home care and companionship for seniors, will celebrate the opening of its new office on Tuesday, October 30, 2006.  The company’s owner, Shannon Wygant, will host the event at the new location, 109 Legato Drive, in Walled Lake Michigan, 48390.  Interested parties can tour the office, learn more about Home Instead’s services and CAREgivers, and pick-up a free lunch at the “grab-n-go” type event.   The open house will begin at 11 a.m. and will run until 2 p.m.  Lunches will be provided for those who RSVP their attendance in advance by calling 248-624-1455.

The Walled Lake franchise of Home Instead Senior Care® was started in March of 2004.  Mr. Wygant opened his first franchise in Waterford during November of 2001.

The Home Instead model  was a perfect match for owner Shannon Wygant.  “During my mission work in Mexico from 1994 to 1998, I worked daily with families and found that I had a great affinity to help seniors; a simple dinner would turn into hours as I listened to them talk about their lives and their children.  Upon returning to Michigan and my home town of Bloomfield Hills, my search for a franchise that embodied the core values of respect and dignity led me to Home Instead. With Home Instead Senior Care, I found a new mission, keeping the dreams of seniors alive by keeping them at home.”

Home Instead Senior Care®, based out of Omaha, Nebraska, now boasts more than 750 franchises in North America, Europe, Australia, South Korea, and Japan.  Specializing in respite, companionship, Alzheimer, dementia, bathing, personal care, and incontinence care, Home Instead’s CAREgivers are the backbone of the company.  Certified, bonded, and insured, these employees usually go into a client’s home or assisted living facility and ensure they have everything they need; from light housekeeping to running errands, even playing cards or reminiscing, CAREgivers make it possible for seniors to stay at home and stay active, both physically and mentally.

Read Full Post »

Be A Santa To A Senior Program Begins in October: Community Ornament Parties Scheduled at Area Senior Centers

Local Senior Care Company, Area Agencies and Retailers Play Santa to Overlooked Seniors: Community help Needed

A local senior care company, along with area retailers and seniorcare agencies, are bringing Santa to the lives of seniors who may have been overlooked in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

Three area offices of Home Instead Senior Care® in Oakland County, Michigan, the world’s largest provider of non-medical home care and companionship for seniors, have teamed with dozens of regional senior care providers and all Oakland County National City Bank branches and ACO Hardware stores to provide presents to seniors who otherwise might not receive a gift this holiday season. 

Jeri Edwards, coordinator of customer service and operations assistant for ACO Hardware emphasized, “We are excited that we can now give back to seniors who have been our customers for all of these years.  We’ve been in business in Michigan for over sixty years, and many of those who will benefit from this program are, or were at one time, our customers.” 

“In addition to supplying gifts, Be a Santa to a Senior^® is also designed to help stimulate human contact and social interaction for seniors who are unlikely to have guests during the holidays,” said Bert Copple, Director of Community Relations for two of the Home Instead offices serving Oakland County.  “Since children are often the focus of holiday festivities, we’d like to help brighten the holidays for some area seniors as well.”

Here’s how the program, which runs from Nov. 1 through Dec. 7, works:  Prior to the holiday season, the participating local non-profit organizations identify financially challenged and lonely seniors in the community and provide those names to Home Instead Senior Care for this community service program.  Christmas trees and collection boxes, which will go up in all Oakland County National City banks and ACO Hardware stores on November 1, will feature ornaments with the first names of seniors and their respective gift requests.

Read Full Post »

Are You Prepared for an Emergency?

A recent article from the NewsMax.com website showed that a town in Alabama is beginning the process of reopening its fall-out shelter, a building once only used during the Cold War when a nuclear attack was greatly feared.  So why reopen the shelter fifteen years after the federal governemnt stopped funding such causes?

Fear, perhaps.  But in an unceratin world, where tensions remain high with countries like Syria and Iran, and an ever-fumbling Russia, the truth that our country could be attacked again is a real threat.  So the question I pose today is this:

“What would you do if your city was attacked by a nuclear or biological weapon?”

Would you know where to go?  Do you have a plan in place?  I fear that for most seniors, that answer would be a resounding NO.  Here is an excerpt from the article found at NewsMax.com:

Alabama City Reopening Fallout Shelters

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — In an age of al-Qaida, sleeper cells and the threat of nuclear terrorism, Huntsville is dusting off its Cold War manual to create the nation’s most ambitious fallout-shelter plan, featuring an abandoned mine big enough for 20,000 people to take cover underground.

Others would hunker down in college dorms, churches, libraries and research halls that planners hope will bring the community’s shelter capacity to 300,000, or space for every man, woman and child in Huntsville and the surrounding county.

Emergency planners in Huntsville _ an out-of-the-way city best known as the home of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center _ say the idea makes sense because radioactive fallout could be scattered for hundreds of miles if terrorists detonated a nuclear bomb.

“If Huntsville is in the blast zone, there’s not much we can do. But if it’s just fallout … shelters would absorb 90 percent of the radiation,” said longtime emergency management planner Kirk Paradise, whose Cold War expertise with fallout shelters led local leaders to renew Huntsville’s program.

Huntsville’s project, developed using $70,000 from a Homeland Security grant, goes against the grain because the United States essentially scrapped its national plan for fallout shelters after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Congress cut off funding and the government published its last list of approved shelters at the end of 1992.

Read Full Post »

Proposed Service Tax Will Hurt Michigan Seniors

I received this press release/letter to the editor today from the National Private Duty Association’s Michigan Chapter.  I thought you would appreciate seeing the honest truth about Michigan’s proposed service tax.  Though it will raise funds, it will hurt many for generations to come.

 

—–

Dear Editor:

 

The voice of Private Duty Home Care, The National Private Duty Association – Michigan Chapter, finds it appalling that our lawmakers are considering a service tax in an effort to overcome spending short-falls from years of poor fiscal responsibility.  Though raising taxes is a viable way to tackle the deficit, the strain of higher costs will be felt by a rapidly aging population.

 

The so-called “luxury tax” currently being debated holds its greatest flaw in that the majority of services to foot the bill are far from the category of luxurious.  For seniors, taxing needed services which help the elderly age in place begs the question, “If a service tax is implemented, how many seniors will no longer be able to afford basic care services they require to live in their homes?”

 

A recent survey, which had its results published in the New York Times in August, found that in America a full ninety-percent of seniors desire to live, and age, in their homes.  For many, this can only happen with the help of businesses who specialize in keeping seniors safely in their place of residence.  From basic home maintenance to in-home care, the cost of living at home continues to rise for seniors.

 

Over the next fifteen years, the number of seniors in Michigan will increase by 41%, bringing a full 500,000 adults above the age of 65 by the year 2020.  According to the Michigan Community for a Lifetime study completed by Michigan State, “…communities must make a commitment to ‘ease the way’ for this population group.”  The proposed service tax does not ease the way for seniors to continue living independent and productive lives in the State of Michigan.

Read Full Post »

Your Senior Advisor: Seniors with Celiac Disease Should Watch Diet, Seek Support

By Shannon Wygant, Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) and owner of the Waterford and Walled Lake, Michigan franchises of Home Instead Senior Care. 

1. After years of suffering from digestive problems, my 74-year-old mother was recently diagnosed with celiac disease.  What can you tell me about this condition, and how I can help?  She lives alone and needs a lot of support?

 According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (http://celiac.nih.gov/), celiac disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients.  People who have this disease cannot tolerate a protein called gluten—found in wheat, rye, barley, and oats.  When ingesting gluten, the immune systems of those with celiac disease respond by damaging the small intestine’s villi, fingerlike protrusions that allow food to be absorbed into the blood stream. October is National Celiac Disease Awareness Month, a good time to learn more about this disease, which impacts about 2 million people (1 in 133) in the U.S., according to the Clearinghouse.  The disease also is known as “celiac sprue,” “nontropical sprue” and “gluten-sensitive enteropathy.” According to the Clearinghouse, researchers are studying the reasons celiac disease affects people differently.  Some who have this disease may not have symptoms, while others may not know their symptoms are from this disease.  Some common symptoms of those with celiac disease can include gas; recurring abdominal bloating and pain; chronic diarrhea; weight loss or gain; fatigue; tingling or numbness in the legs; muscle cramps; and itchy skin.   The only treatment for celiac disease is to follow a gluten-free diet.  For most people, following this diet will stop the symptoms and heal existing intestinal damage and prevent further damage, according to the Clearinghouse.  Following are some resources to help provide more information:

• Celiac Disease Foundation, www.celiac.org
• Celiac Sprue Association/USA Inc., www.csaceliacs.org
• Gluten Intolerance Group of North America, www.gluten.net
• National Association for Celiac Awareness, www.celiaccentral.org

 Your mother’s doctor may have asked her to work with a dietician on a food plan that can help heal her body.  If your mom needs more support at home, consider encouraging her to hire a companion—such as a Home Instead CAREGiver—who could provide assistance with grocery shopping and meal preparation.  CAREGivers are screened, trained, bonded and insured, and offer other services to seniors such as medication reminders, light housekeeping and errands.  —Editor’s Note:  This is a continuation in a bi-weekly series which will be emailed every other Monday to regional press affiliates to help promote health, welfare, and advocacy for our senior population.  Bert Copple, Director of Community Relations, can be reached via email at dcrcommerce@inspireseniors.com, or via cell at 248-953-9916.

Read Full Post »

Your Senior Advisor: Technology and Companionship Helping Seniors Stay Home Longer

By Shannon Wygant, Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) and owner of the Waterford and Walled Lake, Michigan franchises of Home Instead Senior Care. 

1. As an 80-year-old woman who lives at home alone, I am interested in doing whatever I can to stay here.  My grandson has told me that there is technology being developed that can help me do that by letting my family “monitor” me.  I’m a very independent person.  Would I have to give up some privacy if I accepted these new-fangled ideas? 

 Your grandson is right.  Here are some interesting innovations designed by Georgia Tech College of Computing (http://gtresearchnews.gatech.edu/newsrelease/privacy.htm):

• “Cook’s Collage,” which photographs people during meal preparation and displays the cook’s six most recent actions on a flat-panel display mounted over the countertop. The idea is to prevent distracted chefs from forgetting what actions they’ve already taken. To reduce “Big Brother” appearances, cameras are mounted out of sight and only show the chef’s hands.
• “Digital Family Portrait” helps out-of-town family members keep an eye on aging relatives. A display monitor hangs in the caregiver’s home and displays a static photo of the older relative. The photo is surrounded by a digital-image frame whose icons change daily to reflect information about the older adult’s life, such as general activity level.
• “FaceBot” is a communication device that interacts with other home technologies. It features two cameras for eyes, microphones as ears and a speaker as its mouth.  Instead of giving voice commands to an empty room, such as “turn up the temperature,” residents can talk directly to FaceBot.

Researchers at the school invited 44 adults ages 65 to 75 to tour the residential laboratory and view these new age-in-place technologies.  Overall the seniors who were surveyed said they didn’t mind giving up some privacy to be able to remain independent, researchers reported.   The results of their poll show how important it is for seniors to remain at home.  While technology is of value, there is no substitute for human contact.  A few hours a week with a Home Instead CAREGiver can keep older adults in their homes longer as well. CAREGivers are screened, trained, bonded and insured, and equipped to provide that human touch that technology can’t.  CAREGivers are even matched with seniors to share their same interests and hobbies.  Services are provided from a few hours a week up to 24 hours a day—including weekends and holidays. —Editor’s Note:  This is a continuation in a bi-weekly series which will be emailed every other Monday to regional press affiliates to help promote health, welfare, and advocacy for our senior population.  Bert Copple, Director of Community Relations, can be reached via email at dcrcommerce@inspireseniors.com, or via cell at 248-953-9916.

Read Full Post »

Living With Alzheimer’s: Daily Activity Options

I have always been amazed at the effect Alzheimer’s and dementia have on people.  Many are able to still function within the role of daily activities, but are lacking the context within which those activities exist.  I found this most interesting when I first visited a memory care unit of an assisted living facility in Bingham Farms, Michigan.  There was one section of the building’s courtyard where there sat a pile of unfolded clothes, a clothes basket, and a bench.  The sign sitting nearby on a table read PLEASE FOLD THESE CLOTHES.  Moments later a beautiful silver-haired women with advanced dementia strolled into the room, sat down, and began to hum to herself while she folded the clothes and placed them in the basket.  She took her time, making sure each item was folded nicely, and placed them gingerly into the basket.  When all the clothes were done, she rose to leave, greeted me with a smile, and continued her walk.

A few minutes later a facility employee came by, dumped the clothes back onto the bench, and tussled them with her hands.  She, too, left the room greeting me with a smile.  I, to be honest, was dumbfounded.  Why on earth wold she do that right after the nice old lady folded all of the clothes?

Well, I am smarter now, and understand that when dealing with dementia, repetitive activities can actually be a soothing and comforting way to keep one with dementia etertained and free from boredom.  Sure enough, just a few minutes later, the nice old lady with the silver hair returned and folded the clothes, as if it was something new and exciting for her to do.  In a way, I’m sure she felt important in the fact that she was able to accomplish something that day.  Even if it was the same thing, over and over, it was something new and exciting for her each and every time.

What other activities can we find for the with dementia to engage each day?

The following activities are suggested in the book, Practical Guide for Caregivers:

Art
Clay: Use modeling clay and make objects or animals.

Water colors or crayons: Free-style water-color/crayons

Read Full Post »

Email Alert: Travel Vaccinations Available from VNA

I received this in my email box a few days ago and realized it was good infomration to post on the blog.  Take advantge of this if needed…

VNA Offers Vaccinations and Consultations for  Your Travels Abroad 

Visiting Nurse Association of Southeast Michigan is excited to introduce a brand new service to help you stay healthy while traveling abroad! VNA Travel Wise is your one-stop shop for pre-travel consultations and vaccinations.

VNA is also a certified provider of Yellow Fever vaccine. Services include:– Comprehensive pre-travel consultation includes review of vaccines needed for destinations, listings of known nearby medical facilities, health concerns summary, information on Yellow Fever and malaria (as appropriate) and other travel-related information.

– Travel and preventative vaccinations

Onsite or at Our Office.  Depending on your need, we offer individual appointments at our Oak Park office, or we will arrange for a nurse to arrive at your worksite, home or organization.Call VNA Today! (800) 882-5720, ext. 8755 

Visiting Nurse Association of Southeast Michigan, 25900 Greenfield Road, Ste. 600, Oak Park, MI 48237, www.vna.org

Read Full Post »

September Veteran’s Roundtables: South Lyon, Milford, and Wixom – Michigan

In South Lyon…The South Lyon Senior Center Veteran’s Roundtable, sponsored by Home Instead Senior Care, will be held on Thursday, September 20, 2007 starting at 12:30 p.m.  Garth Wooten, the Veteran’s Benefit Coordinator Supervisor from the Oakland County Veteran’s Affairs office in Walled Lake will be the guest speaker, offering insight on how veterans can better access medical and prescription drug benefits.  U.S. Army veteran Bert Copple will moderate the discussion and begin to develop a school campaign to make veterans available for classroom discussions on the past and present wars of the United States.  Lunch is provided for those who RSVP by calling 248-573-8175.

In Milford…Last month the attendees of the Veteran’s Roundatble of Milford were asked to bring in pictures of themselves during their enlistment.  This month, through their partnership with Home Instead Senior Care, these veteran’s will have personalized stationary with their photos on it.  “They’ll be asked to write a letter to two to a soldier currently deployed to Iraq serving with the 3^rd Squadron, 7^th U.S. Cavalry out of Fort Stewart, Georgia,” says U.S. Army Veteran Bert Copple, the moderator for the Oakland County Veteran’s Roundtable, and the Director of Community Relations for Home Instead Senior Care.

Read Full Post »

Top Ten Things to Know if You’re Interested in a Reverse Mortgage

Suppose you were an elderly woman living at home, but you were running out of cash to pay for things like taxes or even utility bills.  You had some trouble going up and down your steps to access the washer and dryer in the basement, and retreiving food from the lower level food pantry has become difficult.  Your children have mentioned that you should look into some form of community senior home, but you really wnat to stay put.  You’ve lived in your house for decades and can’t fathom leaving the house where you raised your children.  What can you do?

A reverse mortage may begin to make sense.  If you could access the equity in your home’s value to pay for your taxes and utilty bills, and even some in-home care to hlp you do your laundry and prepare some meals, wouldn’t it make sense?

The Department of Housing and Urban Developemnt has addressed some of the issues surrounding reverse mortages on thwir website, http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hecm/hecmhome.cfm.  The following is an excerpt from one of their pages that answers the biggest questions about reverse mortgages.

Reverse Mortgages are becoming popular in America. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) created one of the first. HUD’s Reverse Mortgage is a federally-insured private loan, and it’s a safe plan that can give older Americans greater financial security. Many seniors use it to supplement social security, meet unexpected medical expenses, make home improvements, and more. You can receive free information about reverse mortgages by calling AARP at: 1-800-209-8085, toll-free. Since your home is probably your largest single investment, it’s smart to know more about reverse mortgages, and decide if one is right for you!

1. What is a reverse mortgage?

A reverse mortgage is a special type of home loan that lets a homeowner convert a portion of the equity in his or her home into cash. The equity built up over years of home mortgage payments can be paid to you. But unlike a traditional home equity loan or second mortgage, no repayment is required until the borrower(s) no longer use the home as their principal residence. HUD’s reverse mortgage provides these benefits, and it is federally-insured as well.

2. Can I qualify for a HUD reverse mortgage?

To be eligible for a HUD reverse mortgage, HUD’s Federal Housing Administration (FHA) requires that the borrower is a homeowner, 62 years of age or older; own your home outright, or have a low mortgage balance that can be paid off at the closing with proceeds from the reverse loan; and must live in the home. You are further required to receive consumer information from HUD-approved counseling sources prior to obtaining the loan. You can contact the Housing Counseling Clearinghouse on 1-800-569-4287 to obtain the name and telephone number of a HUD-approved counseling agency and a list of FHA approved lenders within your area.

Read Full Post »