Care Service Options, Inc, serving seniors and their families since 1987 in the Portland metro area, has begun a friendly senior visitor program, a lower cost alternative to traditional home health.
How many seniors in our community live isolated lives depending upon neighbors, friends or family members to help out with many of the daily tasks we carry out each day? Today’s economic conditions continue to take their toll on seniors. They, or often their families, decide that there is no other alternative for them but to remain in their homes, regardless of the social and often physical advantages that a retirement or assisted living community may provide. Families of seniors at the same time struggle with juggling daily work and life demands. The need to check in on mom or dad is often problematic due to challenges of distance as well as time.
Since Care Service Options owners, Monika & Norm often spend time either screening and pre-viewing care faciliities, meeting with seniors and their famlies to assess care needs, or meeting with social workers to assist with after hospital care arrangments, it became obvious that they could assist both seniors and their families with the establishment of a comprehensive senior visitor program. The complaint often heard expressed is that home health costs are getting prohibitive and require a minimum of up to even 4 hours even if all that is needed is someone to check on mom or dad and make sure they have what they need for the rest of the week. Are they eating well? Is the heat on? Are safety measures in place? The senior also needs to be able depend on a famliar face each week without wondering who is checking on them now or knocking on their door. Often the responsible family members have relocated at quite a distance from mom or dad making them dependent t on what mom or dad want to tell them, or sporadic reports from doctors, social workers, or near by friends. Thanksgiving, Christmas or other family gatherings often result in real surprises for distant family members. So .. the solution?
Each week, or as pre-arranged, Monika or Norm’s visit will provide trusted eyes and ears for the senior and their family. Has there been a change in the senior’s general well-being since last week? Do medical or personal care appointments need to made? Is there enough food in the refrigerator and cupboards? Perhaps arrangements for Meals on Wheels need to be made. Utilizing their 30 plus years of working with seniors and their families, in ministerial and senior service roles, Norm and Monika then present a weekly written report to concerned family members and friends accompanied by copies of any and all grocery or home necessities receipts. Immediate contact for both the senior and their family is also always available. ”We are on emergency call for the senior and their family 7 days a week.” They stress that they are not an In-Home care company, care provider, or transport company. Their Senior Visitor service provides the necessary eyes, ears, and support that seniors and their families need. At the heart of the program is their dedication to continuing to provide a low cost, yet quality senior advocacy program. Complete details on this program can be found on the Care Service Options website or by clicking here.
Care Service Options