personal and companion care

Leading In-Home Care Company Owner Awarded Division A First Place Columnist During the National Convention of the North American Mature Publishers Association.

BOSTON — Senior Helpers^®, one of the nation’s premier providers of in-home senior care, today announced the owner of its Boston & South Shore location, Mark Friedman, was awarded Winner of Excellence for his editorial series on senior issues from the North American Mature Publishers Association, Inc. (NAMPA). Friedman was bestowed the title of Division A First Place Columnist in Senior Issues as an acknowledgment of his vast impact as a resource to elderly in the Boston community through his informative articles in the South Shore Senior News. The coveted award demonstrates Mark’s knowledge of senior issues and commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.

Friedman was recently awarded this top honor during the NAMPA national convention in Memphis, TN. Fellow columnists from senior publications of sizes strive for top honors in an array of categories. Writers and publications are independently judged on the quality of their written content, editing, photography, web content and more by the prestigious Missouri School of Journalism. This is Friedman’s second award win in the industry, exemplifying his remarkable skills and passion to positively impact all seniors in his community.

“I am honored to receive this award from the gold standard of publishing excellence,” said Friedman, owner, Senior Helpers of Boston & South Shore. “The North American Mature Publishers Award exemplifies my commitment to educate, inform and offer practical advice to seniors in the local community by helping them continue to enjoy the comfort of their own home, despite age-related challenges. My team is proud to be a valuable resource for our community in helping to alleviate the stress associated with caregiving and ensure a better quality of life for families through personalized in-home senior care.”

According to the award, “Friedman offers his readers strong and practical information wrapped around personal experiences. His siblings’ game plan for helping their parents as needs arose could be a model for others to follow. His advice for avoiding escalating issues that lead to bigger problems is a storehouse of easy-to-implement steps, clearly and concisely written.”

NAMPA is an established non-profit association of senior and boomer publications that awards 176 winners, presented at its gala award banquet, in a wide variety of categories, including general excellence, writing/editing, design, content, concept, photography, and website excellence. At this national convention in Memphis, NAMPA celebrated its 25th anniversary of its founding. For additional details on the award, please visit the North American Mature Publishers Association website, maturepublishers.com.

Senior Helpers of Boston & South Shore has two offices 75 Washington Street #203, Norwell, MA 02061 and 245 Washington Street, Suite 202, Wellesley, MA. 02481. For more information, please www.seniorhelpersboston.com. For inquiries, please call (617) 500-6999.

Local In-Home Senior Care Company to Showcase State-of-the-Art Training Facility at New Space.

CHICAGO — Senior Helpers^®, one of the nation’s premier providers of personalized in-home senior care, today announced it will host an open house on Thursday, February 6, to celebrate a new office space and training facility in Des Plaines, IL, to be managed and operated by Nick Rubel, Area General Manager for Greater Chicagoland Corporate Stores. Senior Helpers of Chicagoland has served senior citizens and their families throughout greater Chicagoland, from the Wisconsin border south to Downers Grove, including portions of Cook, DuPage and Lake Counties, for over 10 years. The new facility, located at 1400 E Touhy Suite 305, in Des Plaines, IL, marks Senior Helpers second corporate location dedicated to the wellbeing of local area seniors. There, Senior Helpers’ professionally-trained caregivers will assist local seniors in continuing to enjoy the comfort of their own home despite age-related illnesses and mobility challenges.

“I joined the senior care industry because I wanted to make a difference in my community and was drawn to Senior Helpers’ unique personal approach to caretaking and the quality services it offers,” said Rubel. “Over the course of the last decade, our team has proudly helped hundreds of seniors throughout Chicago age gracefully and from the comfort of their own home. We are excited to share and commemorate our new office and state-of-the-art training facility with our community members at the upcoming open house.”

Founded in 2009, Senior Helpers of Greater Chicagoland operates with a vision to be the leading in-home care company for all the communities it serves. Its caregivers are fully trained and certified to offer the highest level of care possible, with specialized care programs for Alzheimer’s, dementia and Parkinson’s disease.

“We’re pleased to celebrate Nick and the Greater Chicagoland team for truly changing the lives of many and helping improve the senior care industry,” said Peter Ross, CEO, Senior Helpers. “He epitomizes Senior Helpers’ values, seen through his passion and dedication to maintaining the highest level of personalized service for families throughout the Greater Chicago region. Nick has played an instrumental role in our success here in Chicago and we know his efforts will continue to benefit local area residents and their families for years to come.”

The open house will be held on February 6, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at 1400 E Touhy Suite 305, in Des Plaines, IL. Attendees will have an opportunity to meet the local Senior Helpers staff and enjoy a preview of the new location, which features a unique state-of-the-art training apartment, where regional staff may learn best practices for client care among other specialized services. The event will include exhibits featuring Senior Helpers programs including Alzheimer’s, Senior Gems, Parkinson’s, VDT and additional advanced technologies. The event is free and open to the public, and light refreshments will be served.

For more information, please visit https://www.seniorhelpers.com/il/des-plaines. For inquiries, please contact Rosemary Gerstner at (630)-359-5775 or rgerstner@seniorhelpers.com. Senior Helpers of Greater Chicagoland is always hiring qualified and caring caregivers. For more information on career opportunities, contact Betsy Kopec at (630)-359-5775 or bkopec@seniorhelpers.com.

Leading In-Home Senior Care Provider Strengthens Operations and Performance with the Promotion of Key Executive

BALTIMORE — Senior Helpers®, the nation’s premier provider of in-home senior care services, today announced the promotion of Mari Baxter to Executive Vice President and Chief Performance Officer. A proven leader who has worked at Senior Helpers for over 10 years, Baxter has played a significant role in ensuring the success of franchise owners and staff nationwide. In her new role, she will lead Senior Helpers’ operations team at the franchise and corporate levels, help improve performance across all stores and spearhead new programs to address caregiver workforce challenges.

A testament to her many accomplishments and contributions with Senior Helpers, Baxter’s promotion will help Senior Helpers navigate the changing industry landscape including shifts in requirements from healthcare partners. In addition to leading operations and improving performance through analyzing key performance indicators, Baxter will implement new data and outcome tracking to ensure ongoing success.

“It gives me great pleasure to recognize Mari’s exceptional leadership and contributions to Senior Helpers with a well-deserved promotion,” said Peter Ross, CEO and Co-Founder of Senior Helpers. “I couldn’t think of a more deserving member of our executive team to lead Senior Helpers in its pursuit of exceptional operations and performance at every level. We are excited and know she will continue to play an important role in the company’s ongoing growth and success.”

Baxter originally joined Senior Helpers in 2008. Most recently, as the Senior Vice President of Operations, she has led all field operations. In this role her responsibilities included managing the team who works with owners on financial management, training, marketing, client and caregiver management. She also worked closely with the resales and sales management teams to recruit new franchisees.

“My career at Senior Helpers thus far has been truly rewarding, and I am honored and excited to take on this new role,” said Baxter. “I am passionate about advancing the company’s operational strategy and helping each and every team member feel empowered to be the best they can be for our clients. I appreciate Peter and the team’s ongoing support and look forward to implementing new tactics to ensure Senior Helpers continues to flourish.”

Baxter’s experience in leadership and business development spans two decades across various markets including food and beverage, childcare and senior care. Baxter received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Business from Central Michigan University.

For more information on Senior Helpers, visit www.seniorhelpers.com.

Leading In-Home Senior Care Company Sponsors Annual ALCA Conference in Sarasota, Florida Jan.9-11 Offering Aging Life Care Professionals Access to LIFE Profile

BALTIMORE — Senior Helpers^®, the nation’s premier provider of in-home senior care services, today announced its corporate partnership with the Aging Life Care Association (ALCA), a leading nonprofit organization representing 2,000 professionals in geriatric care management who offer guidance and ongoing support for families and seniors in areas such as healthcare, housing and legal assistance. Senior Helpers is ALCA’s only national in-home care partner. The two companies will continue to strive toward a shared mission to ensure all seniors receive personalized and compassionate care.

This includes exploration of care delivery informed by Senior Helpers LIFE Profile, a revolutionary data-driven process for evaluating ongoing care requirements and risks associated with social determinants of health that can lead to hospitalization and lower quality of life. Used in combination with Senior Helpers’ best in class caregivers, LIFE Profile has demonstrated that care plans that are personalized and prioritized towards risk reduction can significantly improve client care and reduce overall system costs. According to the 2018 Profile of Older Americans, the 85 and over population is projected to more than double from 6.5 million in 2017 to 14.4 million in 2040, a 123 percent increase. Additionally, more than one in every seven, or nearly 16 percent of the U.S. population is an older American—someone aged 65 and up. As the population grows older, the need for aging life care managers grows. Moreover, today, approximately 21 percent of seniors who are released from a skilled nursing facility are admitted to a hospital emergency room within 30 days.

“We are honored to partner with ALCA, the nation’s premier organization for aging science and life care management,” said Mike Hughes, Vice President of Strategic Development, Senior Helpers. “We look forward to working with the ALCA and its highly respected membership to elevate the quality of senior care nationwide. Together we are taking important steps forward in improving quality of life for the nation’s seniors despite age-related illnesses and mobility challenges.”

Senior Helpers, along with its owners across Florida, will sponsor the ALCA Florida Chapter 2020 Annual Conference taking place at the Hyatt Regency in Sarasota from Jan. 9-11. The ALCA Florida Chapter is dedicated to promoting the professional field of care management by training, assisting, regulating, educating, and supporting qualified senior care managers who provide a full range of services to aging individuals, their families, and caregivers. For more information on the ALCA Florida Chapter Annual Conference, please visit here.

Senior Helpers operates with a vision to be the leading home care company in each community it serves throughout the nation. Its caregivers are fully trained and certified to offer the highest level of care possible based on the company’s Senior Gems® Alzheimer’s and dementia care program. As the gold standard for excellence in personalized in-home senior care, the program was developed in conjunction with nationally recognized dementia care expert Teepa Snow, Positive Approach, LLC. The company also offers a Parkinson’s Care Program, a specialized training program for their caregivers created in conjunction with leading experts from the Parkinson’s Foundation’s Centers of Excellence network.

For more information about how Senior Helpers is working to personalize senior in-home care, visit seniorhelpers.com. Learn more about Senior Helpers LIFE Profile assessment on the Senior Helpers website here. For more information on ALCA, visit aginglifecare.org.

Nationally Renowned Dementia and Alzheimer’s Expert Teepa Snow Partners with Leading In-Home Senior Care Providers to Deliver Valuable Caregiving Insights

TAMPA, Fla. — Senior Helpers^®, the nation’s premier provider of personalized in-home senior care, today announced it will host an educational session on caregiving techniques for dementia patients on January 9, 2019 at Kings Point Veterans Theater (1900 Club House Drive, Sun City Center, Florida). The seminar was created in conjunction with, and will be led by, nationally renowned dementia care expert Teepa Snow of Positive Approach, LLC, who co-created Senior Helpers’ award winning Senior Gems® Alzheimer’s and dementia care program.

The interactive session will explore the unique challenges associated with dementia and the proper caregiving practices that lead to positive interactions. In addition to Alzheimer’s and dementia-related awareness and knowledge, participants will learn effective communication techniques, strategies to connect with people in a meaningful way and methods of providing the proper resources at the right time. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are also welcomed to enjoy a complimentary, light breakfast and warm lunch at the event.

“At Senior Helpers, we know firsthand how difficult a Dementia or Alzheimer’s diagnosis can be, which is why we’re passionately committed to educating our caregivers, office staff, families, healthcare professionals and the public on successful caregiving strategies that we know through our Senior Gems® Alzheimer’s and dementia care program. The seminar is one of the ways we give back to our community,” said Scott Fox, owner of the Senior Helpers of Hillsborough and Sun City Center locations. “Teepa is at the forefront of today’s conversation on Alzheimer’s and dementia care and is able to provide invaluable knowledge to seminar attendees. She will not only cover the many brain, behavioral, and functional changes associated with Alzheimer’s and dementia, but how to deliver exceptional care tailored to a patient’s specific needs.”

There are currently 5.8 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s, and that number is projected to reach 14 million by 2050. Many of these individuals will need specialized care to combat the disorder, and it’s more important now than ever to equip caregivers with the necessary tools and knowledge to adequately assist those with memory loss.
Details on the event may be found below:

• Seminar Theme: “Trying to provide Best Quality Care Throughout the Journey of Dementia” – Teepa will delve into and provide an in-depth look into the consultant role and share ways to better support clients.
  • Date: Thursday, January 9, 2020
  • Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET
  • Visit seniorhelpershillsborough.regfox.com/caregiver-teepa-snow-event for more information and to RSVP

For questions about the event and to reserve a spot, please call (813) 677-1400 or email admin1208@seniorhelpers.com. Seating will be limited.

These seminars are made possible thanks to the support from the community by local sponsors as well as Senior Helpers’ premier sponsors including Kings Point, Sun Towers, Sun Terrace and Twin Creeks.

Founded in 2001, Senior Helpers operates with a vision to be the leading home care company in each community it serves. Its caregivers are trained to offer the highest level of care possible based on the company’s Senior Gems® Alzheimer’s and Dementia care program. For more information about the Senior Helpers Sun City Center and Hillsborough locations, please visit www.seniorhelpers.com/fl/sun-city and https://www.seniorhelpers.com/fl/riverview.

Leading In-Home Senior Care Provider to Hire 500 Trusted Caregivers Throughout the U.S. to Bolster Resources for Aging Population

BALTIMORE — Senior Helpers^®, the nation’s premier provider of in-home senior care services, today announced it will host its second annual company-wide National Recruitment Day event on Wednesday, November 20. This event is being held to encourage people to consider a rewarding career in caregiving, and Senior Helpers is hoping to hire more than 500 new caregivers across 300 locations nationwide. As the first and only national in-home care company to be ranked by the Great Place to Work® Institute as a Great Place to Work and recognized by Fortune Magazine as one of the Best Places to Work in the country in the Aging Services category, Senior Helpers’ rapidly growing business is focused on helping people age with dignity.

For the first time in U.S. history, older adults (people 65 years and older) are projected to outnumber children (under the age of 18) by 2034. As the U.S. population ages, it is creating a large and remarkable employment opportunity for those who are searching for a job where they are valued and appreciated. Senior Helpers’ National Caregiver Recruiting event underscores the company’s commitment to build a strong nationwide network of trusted, loyal caregivers to provide compassionate care for our nation’s seniors and their families.

“With more than 15 million adults in the U.S. requiring some degree of personal care, the demand for caregivers has never been greater, and we are leading the charge in strengthening the home care workforce and improving access to the quality in-home care that our elderly population needs,” said Peter Ross, CEO and co-founder of Senior Helpers. “Our caregivers feel a sense of pride and meaning in their work. During National Caregiver Recruitment Day we open our doors to a host of new, caring and compassionate candidates.”

For many Americans, the availability of highly-trained and reliable caregivers represents the best, and perhaps only, option for the elderly to age safely and gracefully at home.  According to AARP, aging in place at home versus a facility is the goal of approximately 90 percent of elderly Americans. Senior Helpers delivers unparalleled personalized care to tens of thousands of seniors nationally, by continually developing its network of caregivers through robust continuing education and training programs, ongoing evaluations and rigorous background checks.

Senior Helpers’ National Caregiver Recruitment Day exists to empower caring and compassionate individuals to consider a rewarding career in caregiving with one of the nation’s leading in-home care companies. This one-day event allows candidates to easily apply and interview in the same day.

Founded in 2001, Senior Helpers operates with a vision to be the leading home care company in each community it serves. Its caregivers are trained and certified to offer the highest level of care possible based on the company’s Senior Gems® Alzheimer’s and Dementia care program. As the gold standard for excellence in personalized in-home senior care, the program was developed in conjunction with nationally recognized dementia care expert Teepa Snow, Positive Approach, LLC. The company also offers a Parkinson’s Care Program, a specialized training program for its caregivers, created in conjunction with leading experts from the Parkinson’s Foundation’s Centers of Excellence network.

For more information on Senior Helpers National Caregiver Recruitment Day and to request an interview from a Senior Helpers location near you, visit seniorhelpers.com/jobs.

Accreditation Reaffirms In-Home Care Company as an Industry Leader Providing Compassionate and Quality Care

RIVERVIEW, Fla. — Senior Helpers^®, one of the nation’s premier providers of in-home senior care, today announced its Hillsborough location earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Health Care Staffing Services Certification as a result of demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The coveted Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects Senior Helpers’ commitment to providing safe and quality patient care and further validates the company’s accreditation from Joint Commission, which it has held since 2010.

Senior Helpers of Hillsborough, FL underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite review on July 3, 2019. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with related certification standards, including Senior Helpers’ abilities to deliver and facilitate quality patient care. This is Senior Helpers of Hillsborough’s fourth time receiving this accreditation, further demonstrating its commitment to the highest standard of care for its patients and their families as well as maintaining premier performance and dedication amongst its staff.

“The Joint Commission is a private accreditor dedicated to protecting the public. Through our surveys of health care organizations, we identify deficiencies in care and work together with these organizations to resolve any shortcomings as quickly and sustainably as possible,” says Mark Pelletier, RN, MS, chief operating officer, Accreditation and Certification Operations, and chief nursing executive, The Joint Commission. “We commend Senior Helpers for its continuous quality improvement efforts in patient safety and quality of care.”

“Seniors Helpers of Hillsborough is honored to receive the Gold Seal from one of the nation’s premier quality improvement and accrediting programs,” adds Scott Fox, owner, Senior Helpers of Hillsborough. “The Joint Commission’s accreditation demonstrates our commitment to serve senior citizens, and their families, by offering quality and compassionate care, helping them continue to enjoy the comfort of their own home despite age-related illnesses and mobility challenges. Our team is proud to be a valuable resource for our community by helping to alleviate the stress associated with caregiving and ensure a better quality of life for families through personalized in-home senior care.”

The Joint Commission’s standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. They are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help health care organizations measure, assess and improve performance. The surveyors also conducted onsite observations and interviews. For additional details on the accreditation, please visit The Joint Commission website, www.jointcommission.org.

Senior Helpers of Hillsborough is located at 6152 Delancey Station Street Suite 206. For more information, please visit www.seniorhelpers.com/fl/riverview. For inquiries, please call (813) 336-3799.

New Approach Improves Care & Reduces Cost for Seniors

NEW YORK — Today, Senior Helpers^®, the nation’s premier provider of in-home senior care, announced that it has begun deploying the industry’s first data-driven client assessment process based on the concept of “Micro” Social Determinants of Health (MSDOH).

Called LIFE Profile (for Life Independence Function Evaluation), the new assessment for senior care uses a framework to measure a client’s ability across five key categories which include daily living activities, home safety, medical condition management, caregiver stress and quality of life. This new process for evaluating the ongoing care requirements delivers improved client care, reduces overall system costs and provides the basis for a shift in the historic approach to ongoing care management.

To develop LIFE Profile, Senior Helpers partnered with Performance Based Healthcare Solutions, LLC in Houston, TX whose 18-years of research provided the structure for the new approach. LIFE Profile was validated by Senior Helpers in national pilot tests during 2018 and 2019. The tests demonstrated that LIFE Profile and the related care plan do a significantly better job of helping clients successfully age at home.

“Beyond providing improved care for our clients, LIFE Profile and the related care planning process has the potential to significantly change the approach to caring for seniors in the US, while simultaneously lowering health care costs,” said Peter Ross, CEO of Senior Helpers. “The dramatic reduction in readmission rates achieved with the LIFE Profile assessment demonstrates that Senior Helpers’ new framework, and the use of Micro Social Determinants of Health, offers the promise of both better care for seniors and lower costs for society.”

The LIFE Profile assessment was used to develop care plans for seniors who were recently discharged from a skilled nursing facility (SNF) to their home. Those who were evaluated with LIFE Profile and followed the recommended care plan had a 30-day readmission rate of just three percent. This compares to the national average readmission rate of more than 21% for those who do not use LIFE Profile. Importantly, the clients who were assessed using LIFE Profile continued to do well and did not have an increased readmission rate at 60-days or 90-days after discharge.

Senior Helpers has begun to deploy its new LIFE Profile assessment across the country. Eventually, LIFE Profile is expected to be available through more than 300 offices nationwide.

Researchers have long known that Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), which considers the conditions where people live, learn, work and play significantly influence health outcomes. However, incorporating the SDOH elements into care planning for seniors has proven to be very difficult. Working with industry specialists, Senior Helpers developed a new approach that incorporates what they call ‘Micro’ Social Determinants of Health (MSDOH). The MSDOH information is used to recognize those tasks that clients can do for themselves versus those that require additional support. Over the past year, the company piloted the LIFE Profile approach nationally and were able verify a significant improvement in client outcomes.

“It is estimated that nearly two-thirds of patients with multiple chronic conditions and functional limitation lack adequate help for their activities of daily living, and more than half lack satisfactory help with their care coordination,” said Dr. Alan Abrams, a geriatric clinical advisor, member of the Senior Helpers Board of Directors and the former Chief Medical Officer of the Beth Israel Deaconess Care Organization. “The health care costs associated with functional limitation, such as difficulty performing activities of daily living, are expected to grow to $182 billion per year by 2020. We feel that LIFE Profile offers the potential to significantly reduce these costs.”

Information about Senior Helpers new LIFE Profile assessment can be found on the Senior Helpers website here. Details from the pilot test are available in a whitepaper published by Senior Helpers, available here.

NEW YORK — Today, Fortune Magazine named Senior Helpers^®, the nation’s premier provider of in-home senior care, one of the Best Places to Work in the country in the Aging Services category. Out of 50 companies featured on the Aging Services list, Senior Helpers ranked second among at-home care providers. Senior Helpers is the highest ranked national company in our category.

This is the third accolade Senior Helpers has received in 2019. In May, Senior Helpers was named the first and only national in-home senior care provider to achieve Great Place to Work^® certification. Last month, the company was recognized as one of the Best Workplaces in the state of New York by FORTUNE magazine. A primary driver of these awards has been the positive Senior Helpers culture. With over 300 locations nationwide, Senior Helpers is a mission-driven company that is laser-focused on providing compassionate care and improving the quality of life for seniors and their families.

The Best Places to Work in Aging Services recognition is based on an evaluation of more than 60 elements of the team member experience, using feedback from anonymous surveys sent to more than 223,183 employees in Senior Housing & Care and At-Home Care in the Aging Services industry in the United States. Eighty-five percent of the evaluation is based on employees’ experiences of trust and reaching their full human potential as part of their organization, no matter who they are or what they do. The remaining 15 percent of the rank is based on an assessment of all employees’ daily experiences of innovation, the company’s values and the effectiveness of their leaders to ensure they’re consistently experienced.

“We are truly honored to be recognized by our team members across the nation, for creating one of the best places to work in the industry. Senior Helpers is keenly aware that prospective employees have choices, and we have implemented many workplace practices designed to attract and retain the best employees,” said Peter Ross, CEO and co-founder of Senior Helpers. “Every Senior Helpers team member understands that the work we do is vitally important. We care deeply about our clients and appreciate what our team members do every day.”

“We applaud Senior Helpers for seeking certification and releasing its employees’ feedback,” said Dr. Jacquelyn Kung, of Great Place to Work’s senior care affiliate Activated Insights. “These high ratings measure Senior Helpers’ capacity to earn its employees’ trust and create a great workplace for high performance.”

The Great Place to Work Trust Index^TM methodology is taken by millions of employees across thousands of companies annually. It represents the gold standard in measuring culture and employee engagement.