Veteran’s Aid and Attendance Benefit for seniors, elderly financial help, veterans and spouses, seminars free learn about it in PA, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Delaware county, Mainline

CLICK HERE to attend upcoming FREE presentation in Delaware County PA
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. To read about the VA Aid and Attendance or about in-home services near you, click HERE.
If you are a resident of PA, call: 1-888-850-1117 for more info, for Delaware County PA and area close by, call locally 610-543-6300.

Safety choice in-home personal monitoring, manage medication, call for help Delaware county, mainline, philadelphia and montgomery county, mainline PA, Pennsylvania

Everyone wants to live independently, safely, and in his or her own home, but as you age, that can be a challenge. Have you ever wondered how you would summon help in the event of an emergency in your home? Do you worry about the safety of a loved one when you or someone else is not with him or her? Are you beginning to question whether you are taking your medications appropriately? Then SafetyChoice™ by Comfort Keepers can be your solution. SafetyChoice means that help is always at hand whether there is an emergency or you simply need assistance to maintain a healthy environment at home.

SafetyChoice is a full-line of in-home safety technology that can provide you peace-of-mind knowing that help is just a push of a button away.

Personal Emergency Response System (PERS)
With the simple push of a button on a console, wristband, or pendant, the professionals at the central monitoring station will respond to a call for help through the two-way, tabletop console.

Click here for complete information on the PERS and the add-on products to enhance your at-home safety.
Medication Management Solutions
Medication management solutions can simplify the sometimes-complicated process of organizing and dispensing prescriptions. Through visual and voice cues, you can be reminded when to take your medications and which ones you should take.

Click here for complete information on medication management solutions to keep you safe at home.

Click here for information on how you or a loved one can live more safely and independently at home.

Falls, elderly, hospitalizations, how technology can help prevent injury and get help for aging loved one in PA, Pennsylvania, Delaware county, mainline, montgomery and philadelphia counties

More than one-third of
American adults 65 and older
fall each year, according to
the Centers for Disease
Control. Here are some
more facts about falls:
• 50 percent of those over 80
will fall each year.
• At least 60 percent of falls
happen at home.
• It is the leading cause of death
by injury for older Americans.
• It is one of the most common
causes of nonfatal injuries and
hospital trauma admissions.
• The incidence is higher for
persons with conditions
such as Parkinson’s,
Alzheimer’s, epilepsy,
multiple sclerosis, muscular
dystrophy, ALS and diabetes.
These statistics are probably
conservative as many falls
go unreported due to
embarrassment, fear of
losing independence and
accepting falls as a natural part
of aging.
Did you know that there is quite a bit of technology to assist the aging, sick and disabled to get help if they fall or are in need of assistance? Have you ever thought about a young person who is confined to a bed that might not be able to get to a phone? Or a middle aged person who is on bedrest, in hospice care or disabled from an accident and asks for independence and has desire to be alone? or maybe an aging parent or loved one who has alot of falls? If so, the new technology such as a pressure mat that sets off the machine to call for help if someone who is not suppose to leave an area or get up out of bed tries? Or the wander guards for windows and doors that are wireless and send a signal back to the alarm machine that calls for help in the event a person tries to leave the home alone? Maybe an aging person who needs some reminders to take medications at certain time? Record it in your own voice or your child’s and let grandma be reminded every morning by a little one to take her pills. These items are available and can help a person age in place. To learn more about these items, click here.

Delaware County Daily Times, Best of Delco 10th Annual Awards, vote for Comfort Keepers, Best in Senior Services

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.
Comfort Keepers would like to thank everyone who voted for them to be nominated for this honor.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. For more information about the awards and our community outreach, click HERE or go to our webpage at: http://www.comfortkeepers.com/caregivers/326/.

ntbf duck derby article on Channel 10 Philadelphia website. not to be forgotten may 16, 2009 delaware county fundraiser

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.
Article appears here on Channel 10 PHiladelphia:

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/around_town/the_scene/5-Bucks-for-a-Duck.html

Come out and join the fun tomorrow!

Fair Trade Town Committee of Media Invites People of All Ages To

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.

Duck race will benefit senior citizens – Delaware County Daily Times Article ntbf not-to-be forgotten

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2009/05/03/news/doc49fd07ca5705f826228526.txt

By KATHLEEN E. CAREY
kcarey@delcotimes.com

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 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 appeared in the Delaware County Daily Times on Sunday, May 2, 2009

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2009/05/03/news/doc49fd07ca5705f826228526.txt

Older Americans Month May senior and elderly honored

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!