Seniors Helping Seniors

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Marketing / Community Liaison Job Opening

Seniors Helping Seniors Provides Non-Medical In-Home Services for Seniors by Seniors. We are seeking the right person to do outside marketing activities.

Hours: 20-25 hours per week; occasional work on weekends and/or evenings.
Qualifications: Excellent verbal and written communication skills a must. High school diploma required; Bachelor’s degree preferred in business administration or other related field, plus 3 years relevant experience preferred. Our ideal candidate will be a motivated self-starter.




o           Marketing, Promotions and Public Relations
§  Distribute brochures and other promotional materials throughout the community following a strategic plan
§  Be aware of promotional opportunities and promote SHS strategically
§  Develop an annual Marketing and Promotional Calendar
§  Assist with Senior Expos, Fairs and any other strategic marketing efforts
§  Schedule speaking engagements relative to SHS on a regular basis
§ Review and evaluate referral activities
§Generate a report on service provision, referral activities and results of promotional activities.
§  Create new customers
§  Maintain positive relationships with all employees, customers, families, providers, businesses, and organizations who have an impact on SHS.

Should be organized, able to multitask, and work in a fast-paced environment. Must be computer proficient with experience in Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, and publication software. Outreach and marketing experience a requirement. The successful candidate must enjoy working with the public, being part of a team, and must like animals. This job opening is in Grand Rapids. Please forward resume to davejr@homehealthcaregrandrapids.com

Seniors Helping Seniors Hiring Caregivers

Seniors Helping Seniors currently has openings across Kent County for loving, caring and compassionate seniors. Our providers work part time and have flexible hours. Experience is not required, but a great smile and big heart are.

If you are a senior who is looking for a rewarding job opportunity, or if you know someone who is, please have them contact our office at 616-234-0190.

Learn More - Watch Video

E-Mail your resume



·         Primary areas of responsibility for a Seniors Helping Seniors Provider
o           Provide the services as identified in the Receiver’s Service Plan
§  Be knowledgeable about all SHS services
§  Be knowledgeable about senior resources available in the community
§  Be knowledgeable about senior-related health issues
§  Follow established procedures when working with Receivers
§  Participate in relevant in-service presentations whenever possible
§  Meet or exceed customer service expectations
§  Maintain high standards of customer service and professionalism set by SHS
§  Maintain positive relationships and follow-up with customers
o           Help promote SHS
§  Be aware of promotional opportunities and promote SHS strategically
§  Help distribute promotional handouts
§  Participate in SHS promotional events
§  Participate in any SHS organizational activities
o           Provide quality services
§  For new Receivers, gather and maintain information to enhance the relationship
§  Contact new Receiver prior to starting service as a way of introduction
o           Reports, communication, documentation
§  Daily (or as service is provided)
Ø  Maintain documentation of services provided on Provider Service Record
Ø  Monitor Receiver’s satisfaction with service and communicate any scheduling or service issues to the Director of Client Relations
§  Weekly
Ø  Communicate any significant changes to the Director of Client Relations
Ø  Submit all Provider Service Record Sheets to SHS
Ø  Follow up with Receivers regarding satisfaction and communicate to Director of Client Relations any need for additional services
Ø  Maintain contact with Receiver, the Receiver’s family and Director of Client Relations
§  Monthly
Ø  Submit any requested days off or days unavailable for service (in advance).
Ø  Participation in in-service program(s) and/or Provider meetings is encouraged


Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Compassionate Friends Can Change A World

Compassionate Friends Can Change A World

What is your world? Is it your home, your condominium complex, your neighborhood?

For Nancy S., a Lombard senior citizen battling C.O.P.D. and breathing difficulty, her world was her small apartment with an inadequate bed, broken window blinds, and a growing list of housecleaning needs.
Seniors Helping Seniors caregiver Lea R. helps Lombard resident Nancy S. with assistance at home.

Looking to improve her situation, but not sure what her end result might be, Nancy reached out to her local senior care program, Seniors Helping Seniors®. After being matched with a fellow senior named Lea, Nancy’s world has gone from hazy to bright! Lea’s knowledge as a nurse, plus her past care experience helped Nancy to receive oxygen tanks and breathing equipment at no cost, immediately improving her respiration despite having only one lung.

Lea really wanted to help Nancy rest properly, but because of her poor breathing, she would awake every hour or two, plus the only comfortable place to rest seemed to be her living room chair. Lea helped Nancy make a few calls and by that evening, Nancy had a brand new hospital bed in her apartment at no cost.

After not sleeping more than an hour or two for over five years, the first night in her new bed, Nancy found peace and slept a full seven hours! Since then she averages five to six hours each night and she credits Lea for her role in this. “Lea has been an absolute blessing and I could not be happier”, Nancy writes. “With these changes, I feel ten times better. I walk better, I have less pain in the morning, I’m less stiff and I no longer have to take pain medication in the middle of the night as I did before. Now everything is a little more enjoyable, including my crochet-work, which benefits mothers needing baby blankets. I do love Lea”, she says with tear.

Lea’s weekly two hour visits continue to help Nancy stay on top of household cleaning, laundry, and Lea has become a trusted, discreet friend to help with bath-time. Nancy will always battle with her respiration, but thanks to a loving fellow senior, her world is one where it’s a little easier to sleep and breath.

Friday, September 16, 2011

A reluctant senior accepts home care in Grand Rapids

 
Our Fall Season
Accepting the fact that you need some help to stay at home is not easy for many. Irene has been fighting her family about accepting help for over a year. We met with her several times; we met her family, and we had many phone calls and conversations with her and the family. Despite all our efforts, Irene was still very hesitant to let anyone come in to her house to assist her.
This summer, sadly, Irene fell and injured herself, lying outside for 8 hours before a neighbor came home and called 911. After her stay in the hospital, the family contacted us saying she REALLY needs some help. We made the first huge step by going to her home and doing an assessment. Luckily, for the entire 18 months she was resisting help, our wonderful provider, Char, was making bi-weekly contact with Irene and checking in over the phone. We did not charge the family for the phone check-ins; that is something that Char decided to do on her own after we took her to breakfast with us on one of our early meetings with the family.
It was because of the relationship that was built over the phone that Irene was finally willing to accept help from Char. We started small and with some hesitation, but Char is now providing service to Irene 3 days per week. Our initial plan was to help Irene around the house; do some housecleaning and help her get some things organized.
The service plan has really grown/changed and Char and Irene go out almost every day we provide service now. Irene says she is happier than she has ever been. It has improved her quality of life so much. Irene is now able to go to the grocery store and pick out her own groceries rather than relying on her kids to get them for her. Irene has 3 adult children that are all boys. She is so happy to have Char around that she claims it is like having the daughter she never had. One of her sons told us that his mom is actually eating for the first time in years and smiling more than he can remember.
Irene was a tough cookie to crack, but now that she has accepted help she has completely changed. Irene trusts Char very much and they have built a wonderful relationship. In fact, Char has very specific instructions (from Irene) to call Irene every time she gets home after leaving her house so that Irene can be sure she made it home safe and sound. Thank you Char for doing such a wonderful job and for being such an asset to Irene's life. I know that the two of them mean a lot to each other and they are the embodiment of what Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home services is all about!

Amanda Thrush, LPN
Client Relations Director

Fall Prevention
Every fall season we like to mention FALL PREVENTION. Here are four tips for seniors this fall season to prevent falls:
  1. Begin a regular exercise program.
  2. Have your vision checked.
  3. Have your doctor review your medicines.
  4. Make your home safer.

Seniors Helping Seniors will provide an in depth home safety checklist to help with fall prevention for any of our clients at no cost. This is just one of the services we offer. For non-clients a home safety assessment can be provided for a reasonable fee. Call our office if you or a loved one has any concerns about fall prevention.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

SHS on WZZM13 Wake Up West Michigan

WZZM13 showed up at our annual picnic in Grand Rapids on Wednesday August 17th. Our nearly 200 senior guests were excited for their cameo appearances.

Click Here to see the video

Thursday, August 18, 2011

In the News!!!!

Seniors Helping Seniors had our annual picnic at Millennium Park yesterday. We had a couple newspapers as well as one TV station visit us....oh yes, 200 senior citizens from the Grand Rapids Area were there too. Some of the seniors wanted to learn more about becoming one of our providers who help seniors with non-medical home care - things like: light housekeeping, companion care, respite, Alzheimer's Care, dementia, overnight care, handyman services and some of the other services that we provide.

Many of our visitors were there to learn more about receiving our loving, caring and compassionate services. We talked to them about how we can help and how they may be able to get funding for our services if finances are a concern. We did have a short article about the picnic that was in the Grand Rapids Press today.

To view the article click here 
Article from the Press


Here are some pictures from the picnic.
Amanda Thrush Talks to a Provider

200 Senior Enjoying Burgers and Dogs

Good Food and Good People

Lining up for chow

There's always room for ice cream

Provider Ken Kole shares his grilling secrets

Provider Phil Sikkema and franchise partner Dale Furman

Provider Rita Chorley shares what she loves about being a provider - she was later awarded the Kiran Yocom Spirit Award

We were blessed with a beautiful day

Dave VanderLinde Sr. Shares our story

Get 'em while they're hot!

Friday, July 22, 2011

August Newsletter


Seniors Helping Seniors Annual Picnic is Less than a Month Away
This year's picnic will be at Millennium Park in Grand Rapids. Registration and a social hour will be from 11:30 - 12:30. There will be a free lunch for all our guests. Come and meet our providers and the owners of Seniors Helping Seniors In-Home Services and learn why our services are like getting a little help from your friends.

We are inviting other senior resources to join us at this event - so please RSVP and let us know if you are bringing a friend or family member who may be interested in Providing services or Receiving services. This event is also great for anyone who is a care giver for a family member as many resources will be available. See attached for more info.
New Resource Available for Grand Rapids Area Seniors and Their Families
Grand Rapids area seniors now have a new resource to help them age successfully. Dave VanderLinde Jr., CSA, with Seniors Helping Seniors, recently completed a comprehensive course through the Society of Certified Senior Advisors (SCSA) and earned the designation of Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®.  SCSA has trained more than 20,000 professionals to meet the changing needs of a growing senior population.
EXTREME HEAT
People over the age of 65 are more prone to heat related illnesses than others.

Some of these reasons:
  • Elderly people do not adjust as well as younger people to changes in temperature.
  • Higher likelihood that they have a chronic medical condition that alters body’s normal responses to heat.
  • More likely to be on medications that impair the body’s ability to regulate its own temperature or that inhibit perspiration.
  • An older body contains far less water (about 55% for those in their 80’s) than a younger one(about 80%).
  • Older brains do not recognize thirst as easily.
  • Older brains also do not sense temperature changes as well.
FACTS
  • Blistering summer heat claims as many as 1,000 lives per year.
  • 40% of heat-related deaths were people over the age of 65.
  • 90% of the elderly are aware of heat warnings, yet only 15% heed them.
  • Heat stroke, which can be deadly, can happen in a matter of hours if under the right conditions.
PREVENTION
  • Keep your living space cool-cover or open windows.  Fans should be used to blow air out if temp > 95°.
  • Wear light, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing.  Wear a hat and use sunscreen.
  • DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS, even if you do not feel thirsty.
  • Take a cool shower to cool your body down.
  • Limit outdoor physical activity.
  • Check on the elderly frequently in the heat to make sure they are okay and the house is cool.
  • Be aware of the signs/symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke and react quickly 
Heat exhaustion is when the body lacks enough water and salt to function, essentially, dehydration.  If left untreated, it can lead to Heat stroke which is the body’s inability to regulate its own temperature
Company Phone (616) 234-0190  | http://www.seniorshelpingseniors.com/

Thursday, July 21, 2011


PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release – July 21, 2011
Please Contact:
Dave VanderLinde Jr, CSA
616-234-0190
 .


New Resource Available for Grand Rapids Area Seniors and Their Families
 Grand Rapids area seniors now have a new resource to help them age successfully. Dave VanderLinde Jr., CSA, with Seniors Helping Seniors, recently completed a comprehensive course through the Society of Certified Senior Advisors (SCSA) and earned the designation of Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®.  SCSA is an international organization that has trained more than 20,000 professionals to meet the changing needs of a growing senior population. 

  “The health, financial and social needs of seniors are different and more complicated than those of any other age group.  SCSA keeps professionals from a wide variety of fields abreast of all these issues by providing education, training, support and communication resources to those of us dedicated to serving seniors,” Dave VanderLinde Jr. said.

 The explosion in growth of the senior population is one of the most important demographic developments of the 21st century.  Two-thirds of the people who have lived past the age of 65 are alive today.  In the United States alone, seniors (age 65 and older) number 35 million and will continue to increase (with women being the largest segment), leading an unprecedented shift in the age of the population.  By 2030, the U.S. Bureau of Census predicts there will be about 70 million people who are 65 and older – one in five Americans will be seniors.

 This demographic shift requires an educated response in how professionals work with seniors and the challenges and opportunities they face. Dave said, “With more people living longer, we are already beginning to see changes in how seniors function in our society, from retirees who choose to start a second or third career, to various forms of alternative senior housing and new approaches to diet, exercise and overall health care for seniors”.

 As a CSA, Dave VanderLinde Jr. will participate in continuing education that emphasizes ethical selling and business practices and volunteer service specific to seniors.

 About SCSA
The Society of Certified Senior Advisors (SCSA) is a national organization that educates professionals to work more effectively with their senior clients. Founded in 1997, SCSA teaches an integrated approach to the health, financial, and social aspects of aging. Professionals who obtain the designation as Certified Senior Advisors (CSA's) are able to integrate this knowledge into their professional practices. They've learned how incredibly gratifying it is to help seniors achieve their goals, and the seniors they've worked with have learned how important it is to work with someone who truly understands their age-related circumstances.

About Seniors Helping Seniors® In-Home Services
Started in 1998 as one woman’s dream, Seniors Helping Seniors® franchises are now located in 36 states with over 165 franchises across the country. The company is unique in the industry because it concentrates not only on those seniors who need care, but also on providing meaningful work for loving, caring and compassionate seniors who want to supplement their retirement income. To learn more about the franchise opportunities with Seniors Helping Seniors email info@shsmichigan.com

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

July 2011 Newsletter

Seniors Helping Seniors® July 2011 Newsletter
 
PROVIDER OF THE MONTH
 Elaine has been working with Eleanor as a Seniors Helping Seniors Provider for just over a year now.  It was wonderful to have the opportunity to visit with Eleanor and Elaine while taking this picture. Eleanor has some aches and pains but still is able to share her beautiful smile. It is so heartwarming to hear her talk about Elaine. Eleanor says that she does not know what she would do without Elaine and that she is like a second daughter. Thank you Elaine for the wonderful care and companionship that you provide to Eleanor.
 
Elaine and Eleanor.



SENIORS HELPING SENIORS TURNS 100!!!!

Well, this title may be a little misleading…but Seniors Helping Seniors wants to wish a very happy birthday to one of our Receivers, Marjorie T., who will be turning 100 on July 3rd.  You all know that we are a faith based organization who feels passionately about what we do and also that there is a bigger reason our family is involved with Seniors Helping Seniors.

We see signs all the time that reinforce our belief in what we are doing. One of those little signs is that Amanda Thrush who runs our franchise actually shares a birthday with Marjorie! Marjorie is blessed to be living with her grandchildren and one of our providers, Rita C., has been able to provide some respite for the family and spend some wonderful time with Marjorie. We hope you have a spectacular birthday Marjorie!


Centenarian Facts

Current estimates put the figure of total centenarians worldwide at about 450,000.

In total numbers the US has the most centenarians with current estimates as high as 72,000 (up to 100,000 in some articles). 

 If the population of centenarians continues to increase at its current rate of expansion there could be close to 1 million people of 100 years of age or more by 2050 residing in the US.

What is the single fastest growing segment of the United States population: people over a hundred years old.

One in four 16-year-olds predicted to become centenarians.

 
Seniors Helping Seniors 2nd anniversary celebration

We do not have all the details worked out yet, but look for more information about a big summer celebration.  We will celebrate our 2nd anniversary as well as thank all of our providers for the work they do and our receivers for believing in what we do and allowing us to serve them. Save the date Wednesday August 17th.

We hope to have all of our providers and receivers attend this wonderful event.  We are in the early stages of planning but wanted to make everyone aware that it is coming!  We hope to see you all there!

If you know anyone who wants to learn more about becoming an SHS provider or receiver invite them to attend.