Live In caregivers stay or live in a home with a client for one or more days. During this time, a live in assists a client with daily living skills such as light housekeeping, laundry, meals, transportation to appointments and shopping as well as bathing and grooming. A live in is expected to act at all times like a visitor in the home adhering to visitor like behaviors such as asking permission to use an item that belongs to a client, treating items at all times with respect and most of all always allowing the client to make decisions regarding the property and its upkeep. A live in should never have access to any financial information or monies that belong to a client. An account or receipt should be kept for any exchange of money or assistance with bill organization. Live ins or hourly caregivers should never sign checks or perform banking duties for a client.

Comfort Keepers, a provider of non-medical care in the home is looking for Live In caregivers to help client with light housekeeping, laundry, meals, shopping, bathing and grooming and other daily living skills in the Delaware County area.

Applicants must be able to meet I-9 paperwork, present a valid driver’s license, pass criminal, motor vehicle checks and other background checks, provide references both work and personal that can be verified and can Live In with a client for one, two or more days. Applicants must be a high school graduate or equivalent (GED). Applicants with a car and valid auto insurance that can transport clients will be considered first.

We offer competitive wages and employees receive checks every week. We offer other incentives to our employees and encourage you to call us and learn more about the position.

To apply for positions, click HERE.

Veterans and Widows of Vets age 65 and over are being assisted in applying for VA Veterans Administration’s Aid and Assistance or Housebound benefit by Scott Ferguson of U.S. Benefit Analysts. The VA benefit is financial help to pay for non-medical care in the home such as Comfort Keepers or other medical related needs.
U.S. Benefits Analysts is a national company dedicated to helping Veterans and Widows of Veterans with their Long Term Care Expenses by qualifying for the VA’s “Aid and Assistance Benefit“.

The benefit is substantial. For a Veteran and Spouse the pension benefit pays up to $1,949 per month … tax free!

While the benefit has been available since 1951, there are only approximately 143,000 veterans and widows receiving monthly checks. It has been stated there may be an additional 2 million who could qualify today.

Our mission is to find as many of those veterans and widows as possible and to work diligently on their behalf. We achieve this goal by having free informational workshops at retirement communities across the United States and through an extensive referral network.

There is ABSOLUTELY NO FEE associated with our assistance to the veteran, the widow of a veteran, their families or any community specializing in senior care.

To learn more about how Scott can help or the benefit, click HERE.

Life-long Delaware County resident and award-winning Realtor®, Maureen Ingelsby, CSP, ABR, CRS, GRI, SRES, PMN, has joined Keller Williams® Main Line Realty. Formerly with Century 21 Alliance, Ingelsby continues to serve the local market with her professional team that includes Janis Whittaker, Realtor®, Gina Cavallaro, Realtor®, along with IT administrator Sharon Davidson and assistant Joanne Little.

According to Michael Beer, owner, Keller Williams® Main Line Realty, “Maureen’s credibility, sincerity, enthusiasm, and positive attitude come across immediately. Her customers become clients and friends, for life!”

Maureen states, “Even though I have a different roof over my head, I am still working in the same market areas. I made the move to serve my clients better because of Keller Williams’ offerings. It’s a perfect fit with their attention to the latest technology and customer satisfaction. In fact, for the past two years, J. D. Power and Associates has named Keller Williams® highest in customer satisfaction.”

Ingelsby is an active member of the National Association of Realtors, PA Association of Realtors, Suburban West Realtors Association, Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, Upper Darby/ Lansdowne Rotary, Lansdowne Business & Professional Association and Archbishop Prendergast Alumni Association.

Previously a grade school teacher, Ingelsby instinctively knows how to break down complex tasks — purchasing and selling a home and obtaining a mortgage — into simpler terms to ease the process for buyers and sellers alike. Combined with her negotiation designation, she’s a valued, trusted realtor, especially in this economic climate.

Because her clients refer her to their friends and family, Maureen has been THE area’s top producer for almost 15 years. Despite the economic downturn, her remarkable record stands as a testament to her unrelenting passion and consummate professionalism.

Named Philadelphia Magazine’s “10 Realtors You Can Trust,” and the Women’s Yellow Pages “Woman of Accomplishment,” Ingelsby is recognized, recommended and respected. For more information about the real estate market, contact her by clicking HERE.

By Maureen Ingelsby, REALTOR®
CSP, ABR, CRS

• Use your extra towels and linens to protect breakables. When your supply of these things is exhausted, crumpled newspaper makes an excellent substitute. Write “fragile” on all appropriate boxes.

• Put your valuables (such as jewelry) and important documents (birth certificates, car titles, etc.) aside in some safe place where they won’t be misplaced.

• When the house is empty, go back for a thorough final inspection. Check closets, crawl spaces, basement, attic, out-of-the-way nooks and crannies of all kinds. Have a second person make the same inspection separately.

• Clean your new home thoroughly before moving in. It’s infinitely easier that way.

• Decide in advance where you want the heavy furniture. Changing your mind after the movers have departed is no fun – especially for your back!

• Locate all fuses, circuit breakers, and water/gas electrical valves. Record the meter readings and check the smoke detectors.

• List the phone numbers of the local police and fire stations, doctors, nearby hospitals, etc. Put a copy of your list near each phone.

Above all, plan, plan, plan and plan some more. Make a schedule you can live with, and then stick to it. Preparation and forethought will help you to keep everything under control and finish the move with your sanity and your nervous system intact.

Maureen is a realtor with Keller Williams- Main Line Realty, to read more on her or articles like this, click HERE

SANTA LETTERS”
OPERATION NORTH POLE
AT THE WAYNE SENIOR CENTER
Well, it’s that time of year again! Santa and his elves are working overtime trying to get all of their
hard work done before Christmas. As one can imagine, this is daunting task! Consequently, Santa
has asked that some elves work extra late night hours at The Wayne Senior Center answering special
Santa letters. Now, if you know of a good little boy or girl who is deserving of a personal letter from
Santa, please write to The Wayne Senior Center, 108 Station Road, Wayne, PA 19087. Please make
sure to include the child’s name, age, siblings, pet, accomplishment, and special Christmas wish along
with a $10.00 check made payable to The Wayne Senior Center. Deadline for letters to be received is
December 18th! DETAILS INCLUDED ON our website, to read more click HERE. Please fill out and send to The Wayne Senior Center, 108 Station Road, Wayne, PA 19087, Attention:
Donna Alexander along with a $10 check made payable to The Wayne Senior Center.

Taking Advantage of Holiday Gatherings to Prevent Senior Care Crisis
Subhead: Family visits are the perfect time for evaluating elderly care needs

King of Prussia, PA 11/9/09 – 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. Holiday gatherings are a perfect time to ‘check up’ on seniors living on their own.

It is not uncommon for the adult children of seniors to have some concerns about how their parents are doing. This holiday season while you are enjoying your visits, make good use of your time by reviewing your senior loved one’s living status.

One of the best ways to determine a senior’s current capabilities is to use your five senses. The following checklist can help you determine if your family members are in need of additional care of 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. Do they call you by name? Are they speaking normally?

Smell – Use your nose as an indicator to determine if the 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 look 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?

“If the family senses a problem, they should waste no time in taking the appropriate next steps,” said Clark Bongaardt, King of Prussia, PA. “Sometimes, setting a family meeting while the majority of the family is in town may be the easiest way to determine how caregiving is handled.”

Things to be discussed at the meeting could include the latest report from the physician, what are the seniors daily care needs, what are the financial concerns of caregiving and who will make future decisions?

Although family meetings can be powerful and effective ways to connect and work with family members, they cannot magically solve all the problems of caring for an aging family member. In many cases, an outside care provider or service is the best option.

“For many of our clients, we provide assistance with many of the activities of daily life including meal preparation, incidental transportation and in many cases personal care services. Primarily, we provide companionship and a peace of mind to the family members who can’t be there on a regular basis,” continued Clark Bongaardt.

Remember, the holiday season is a time for family, togetherness and establishing lifelong memories. By taking the time to address these issues before they reach the crisis stage, your family will have the much-needed sense of security allowing your loved ones to continue living in the comfort of their own homes. For more information call 610-520-5300 or email comfortkeeperpa@yahoo.com. Locally Comfort Keepers serves clients in Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia and Chester Counties including the Mainline. This article submitted to the Times Herald, the Ambler Gazette and several other Montgomery County newspapers.

I found this fascinating quote today:

Where did I put my keys? Or, where did I park my car? For most people, these questions probably sound more than vaguely familiar. That is because aging normally involves a certain degree of memory loss. Over the course of our lives—starting in our 20s—we lose brain cells, a few at a time, causing a normal decline in the brain’s ability to remember.comfortkeepers.com, Recent Posts, Nov 2009

You should read the whole article.

When starting an exercise program, seniors should seek an array of workouts. Just like a balanced diet from the basic food groups, exercise best promotes good health and independent living when it consists of a variety of activities. Here are some general exercise guidelines for seniors:

Consult a physician before beginning an exercise program.
Aerobic activities such as walking, bicycling, swimming, dancing and other low-impact aerobic activities are good options for seniors and can improve heart and lung health and help manage weight.
Seniors should try to work out up to 30 minutes a day most days of the week. For those with arthritis, low- to no-impact exercise such as water aerobics, swimming, elliptical trainer and stationary bicycle may be best.
Flexibility and agility exercises such as stretching, yoga and tai chi can increase range of motion and improve balance, which helps prevent falls.
Yoga classes also offer relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, improving overall cardiac fitness, blood pressure and the immune system.
For suggestions on adopting an exercise program, read the National Institute on Aging’s exercise guide. To read more, click HERE.

The Mayo Clinic (www.mayo.org) states that in addition to financial limitations, physical, social and psychological factors contribute to senior hunger or malnutrition, impeding seniors’ ability to maintain a diet that provides the necessary balance of nutrients for healthful living.

Below are 10 main contributing causes of senior malnutrition:

Debilitating conditions that limit seniors’ ability to get out to shop, prepare meals and feed themselves
Fixed incomes can prevent seniors from being able to purchase the groceries they need to stay nourished.
Difficulty chewing and swallowing as a result of diseases such as Parkinson’s, dry mouth caused by some medications, dental conditions and poorly fitting dentures
Frailty due to loss of muscle mass and fat, which can alter body chemistry, diminishing appetite, especially in seniors with serious illnesses
Medications, such as some antidepressants, blood pressure and osteoporosis drugs, that diminish appetite, alter the flavor of foods and interfere with absorption of nutrients
Reduced absorption of nutrients as a result of some physiological changes due to aging. For instance, in many seniors reduced production of digestive enzymes and acids interferes with breakdown of protein and absorption of essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin B-12, folate, calcium and iron. Some illnesses, such as gastrointestinal cancers, diarrhea and inflammatory bowel disease, can also cause this problem.
Diminished sense of taste or smell that often occurs with aging. Some medications and illnesses accelerate or intensify this loss, depriving seniors of some of the pleasure associated with eating. This can affect appetite. Bland, medically-prescribed diets can have the same effect. Natural flavor enhancers, like garlic, onions and spices, can help counteract this.
Dementia, which often prevents individuals from recognizing the need to eat. Some persons with dementia need to be reminded to swallow.
Depression, due to multiple causes such as grief, loneliness, retirement, poor health, and medications. Depression affects about 6 million American seniors.
Alcoholism, which is often a hidden problem in the senior population, decreases appetite, destroys nutrients and negatively affects seniors’ ability to care for themselves
To read more on nutrition and how it can affect your loved one, click HERE.

Hunger and malnutrition is a greater problem for America’s seniors than many may realize. According to a report by the Meals on Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) Foundation, more than five million American seniors—11.4 percent of those 65 and older—experienced some form of “food insecurity.” Of that number 2.5 million were at risk of hunger and about 750,000 experience hunger.

A variety of programs exists to help seniors get proper nutrition, such as Meals on Wheels, which delivers meals to seniors, on-site meal programs provided by community organizations and senior centers, food pantries, and the federal food stamp program.

According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), about 60 percent of low-income seniors who qualify for federal and state nutrition programs have not enrolled. NCOA offers a free Web-based service, BenefitsCheckUp® (www.benefitscheckup.org), to help people over 55 identify nutrition and other benefits for which they qualify.

Here are some other ways you can help ensure seniors get proper nutrition:

Find a grocery with home delivery service.

Look to churches and community organizations that have volunteers who shop and cook for seniors who live alone.

Check in regularly with seniors and share meals with them.

Join with other seniors who are alone, share in meal preparation and dine together.

Schedule an appointment with a registered dietitian.

Hire a professional caregiving provider, such as Comfort Keepers®, to assist with meal preparation, shopping, companionship during meals and other times, and provide other needed assistance around the home.

Talk with your doctor about screening for potential nutritional problems, switching to medications that don’t affect appetite and reconsidering diets that may be discouraging a senior from eating.

Help seniors get regular exercise. Exercise is an appetite booster, strengthens bones and muscles and helps control depression. To read more on this subject, go to the Comfort Keepers, Stop Senior Hunger website by clicking HERE.