April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month
Posted on Thursday, April 26th, 2012 at 11:24 am and filed under Uncategorized
1. Tremors and shaking.
2. Small handwriting.
3. Loss of the sense of smell.
4. Trouble sleeping.
5. Trouble moving or walking.
6. Constipation.
7. Soft or low voice.
8. Masked face.
9. Dizziness or fainting.
10. Stooping or hunching over.
April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month – Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects nearly one million people in the Us. Although promising research is being conducted, there is currently no cure for Parkinson’s.
Comfort Keepers 123 Caregiver of the Year for 2011 Announced
Posted on Tuesday, February 7th, 2012 at 10:41 am and filed under Caregiving, Uncategorized
Comfort Keepers 123 announced their Caregiver of the Year for 2011. Comfort Keeper Nancy Heslop was awarded the 2011 Caregiver of the Year on January 31, 2012 at a luncheon given for all of the monthly honored “Caregivers of the Month” in 2011.
Nancy Heslop, Comfort Keepers 123 Caregiver of the Year for 2011
Nancy has faithfully served one of our total care clients since August 2007. Nancy applies the knowledge of her Registered Nurses’ training along with her 7+ years of past nursing experience at hospitals in Dayton & Fairfield, OH to skillfully care for the non-medical needs of her Comfort Keepers’ clients. Nancy’s humble approach to sometimes challenging client care is obvious to all who witness her as she masterfully exceeds all expectations.
Nancy not only provides excellent care to her clients but she has also been instrumental in training her fellow Comfort Keepers in the areas of mobility and transferring when our office has conducted in-service training for all our caregivers. Nancy is always willing to step up and be a mentor to a new caregiver who is eager to learn all that they can to make sure their clients are getting the best care.
Nancy says she joined Comfort Keepers 8 years ago so she would have the opportunity to provide more one-on-one care to her clients. “I enjoy being able to give one person all my time and attention for the hours I’m with them. It is the most rewarding job I’ve ever had”.
Nancy with Comfort Keepers 123 staff
Comfort Keepers’ 10 Year Employee – Robert Hampton
Posted on Tuesday, January 10th, 2012 at 9:56 am and filed under Uncategorized
Comfort Keepers is celebrating our 10th year of business in Cincinnati. As part of our 10 year celebration we continue sharing with you insights from a few of our 10 year Comfort Keepers’ employees.
Comfort Keepers’ Caregiver – Robert Hampton
How did you come to apply for a position at Comfort Keepers?
After retiring from a factory job with 35 years of service I wanted a part-time job with the ability to be off work anytime I wanted.
What interested you in being a caregiver?
I thought it would be interesting to meet new people.
You obviously enjoy your job because you’ve been with Comfort Keepers 10 years. What factors have contributed to the longevity of your employment?
It is a great place to work and as expected of those that work as caregivers the office staff are caring people and a pleasure to work with.
What would you say is the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part of the job is helping clients to be able to stay in their own homes and reduce the burden of care for the other family members.
Comfort Keepers’ 10 Year Employee – Gail Voska
Posted on Tuesday, December 6th, 2011 at 11:19 am and filed under Uncategorized
Comfort Keepers is celebrating our 10th year of business in Cincinnati. As part of our 10 year celebration we continue sharing with you insights from a few of our 10 year Comfort Keepers’ employees.
Comfort Keepers’ Caregiver – Gail Voska
How did you come to apply for a position at Comfort Keepers?
In March of 2001 I read an article in the Enquirer showing a Comfort Keepers’ caregiver and a gentleman shopping together. I read about Comfort Keeper’s caring style and thought I’d like to help people improve their lives with tasks I could provide for them. I’ve always been a volunteer & thought this would be like that with the addition of pay!
You obviously enjoy your job because you’ve been with Comfort Keepers 10 years. What factors have contributed to the longevity of your employment?
I love that I can make someone’s life better. My goal is to do all that I can for my clients to improve their lives and help them remain in their homes. When I go to work, it’s not like work, but more like visiting my friend who appreciates my sense of humor, the time I spend with them in conversation or listening, my organizational skills, common sense and take charge style. The other factor that has made me stay is the office staff, especially Linda. She works with me in coordinating my busy work schedule with my busy personal schedule. All the office staff are easy to work with and friendly. There is great flexibility & no pressure to come into the office so it has been a great fit for me.
What would you say is the most rewarding part of your job?
Going to work for each & every client! I look forward to seeing & helping them any way that I can. I look for things that may help them. The reward is seeing them happy to see me and to know what I’ve done for them physically & emotionally.
Is there anything else you would like to share regarding your employment with Comfort Keepers?
I wish more people knew about us versus the other agencies. I feel we are the best and I advertise this to everyone I meet. I’m happy to still be employed at Comfort Keepers after 10 years. I hope I will continue to work for Comfort Keepers for the next 10 years.
Comfort Keepers’ 10 Year Employee – Linda Spitzer
Posted on Monday, November 14th, 2011 at 12:49 pm and filed under Uncategorized
Comfort Keepers is celebrating our 10th year of business in Cincinnati. As part of our 10 year celebration we continue sharing with you insights from a few of our 10 year Comfort Keepers’ employees.
Comfort Keeper Linda Spitzer – Scheduling Supervisor & former caregiver
How did you come to apply for a position at Comfort Keepers?
I learned about Comfort Keepers through my neighbor Paula Eisele. Our kids went to school together and we lived on the same street. After she applied at Comfort Keepers she told me all about it.
What interested you in being a caregiver?
I enjoy doing good things for other people & helping to make a difference in thier lives. I like meeting new people and learning & listening to their life stories.
You obviously enjoy your job because you’ve been with Comfort keepers 10 years. What factors have contributed to the longevity of your employment?
I have the best boss. He is caring, understanding, & compassionate. He made it easy for me to get back into the workforce after being out for over 4 years. I also wanted to slowly ease back into office work & ease into working more hours & he made it possible for me to do that. He is flexible and understanding.
What would you say is the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part would be that even though I only do the scheduling now I know that I help find the right caregiver for each client. Knowing that this caregiver becomes a companion & good friend to the client is a joy to me.
Is there anything else you would like to share regarding your employment with Comfort Keepers?
I love this office & all the people I work with. I could not come to work everyday and be here 8-9 hours a day if I did not work with such great people.
Comfort Keepers Celebrates 10 Years of Business in Cincinnati
Posted on Friday, October 21st, 2011 at 1:48 pm and filed under Uncategorized
Comfort Keepers is celebrating our 10th year of business in Cincinnati. Thanks goes out to all our wonderful clients and employees. As part of our celebration, we have interviewed a few of our 10 year employees and will post these interviews in the coming weeks.
Comfort Keeper Paula Eisele
How did you come to apply for a position at Comfort Keepers?
I had been a stay at home Mom for years and knew that when my kids started school I wanted to go back to work while they were in school. My mom called one afternoon and told me about the caregiver position she had seen advertised in the paper. Growing up next to my grandparents gave me an appreciation for the kind of help seniors might need. Caring for them seemed a natural thing for me, so I applied.
What interested you in being a caregiver?
Certainly the flexibility in the schedule appealed to me because of having small children, but also the interacting one-on-one with seniors and the variety of activities that would be performed appealed to my personality. Going from home to home and working with the many different clients I have had has made me grow as an individual; I am more outgoing & compassionate. I have also learned to see the many different needs of seniors. Some seniors just need a listening ear & others need total care. They need compassionate, caring individuals tending to their needs. Meeting the needs of others made me feel good. It gave me a sense of accomplishment.
You obviously enjoy your job because you’ve been with Comfort Keepers 10 years. What factors have contributed to the longevity of your employment?
First, I would say the intent and faith of the company’s heart. Comfort Keepers truly wants to make life better for the clients they serve and they want to do it with integrity. Second, there has always been an open door policy and I have been able to sit down & talk with the owner, whether to share a joy or ask for prayer. I truly feel listened to & feel part of the Comfort Keepers’ “family”. I feel valued not only as a caregiver, but as an individual who has responsibilities as a wife, a mother, and a daughter.
What would you say is the most rewarding part of your job?
As a caregiver, walking out of a client’s home and knowing that I made a difference in their day was very rewarding. I may have “only cleaned their home”, but that made their environment sparkle and shine and it made their home a place of comfort. As Office Supervisor, I am the first face people see when they visit the office. I’m interacting with individuals who may need a smile and a kind word. I’m also a planner & organizer by nature & I truly enjoy the projects, tasks and duties I now perform. I also get to work with an amazing staff as well!
Is there anything else you would like to share regarding your employment with Comfort Keepers?
Comfort Keepers has put me on the most amazing journey. I have met clients who have touched my life with so much joy. These clients will never be forgotten; they have been such a part of my 10 years at Comfort Keepers. I’ve heard their stories, enjoyed their lives for a time and helped some of them during thier last days be more comfortable and joyous. I could never do a job that would be more important than helping others. I would have never dreamed that a job could give me such satisfaction and fulfillment. I have a dream job! My goal is to make a positive difference in the lives of all I come in contact with here at Comfort Keepers and in my personal life. I hope and pray I can serve Comfort Keepers for many more years to come.
Comfort Keepers Sponsors Local Prime Club Party
Posted on Thursday, July 28th, 2011 at 10:35 am and filed under Uncategorized
Members of Partners in Prime West Chester Activity Center brought the food, the club supplied the drinks and venue, and Comfort Keepers Northeast Cincinnati office sponsored the entertainment, The Ivory Doghouse Band. The result was a very successful pot-luck activity party at the center on Cox Road, located in the old West Chester library, from 4 – 8 p.m. on Friday, July 22, 2011.
“This has been such a wonderful evening,” claimed club member Dee Ensinger as she and her friends were leaving at the end of the night. “We need to do these more often,” she added. Everyone seemed to agree.
“I am grateful to our sponsors, Comfort Keepers, and to the many members who participated,” said Linda Manzo, club coordinator.
Members and their guest enjoyed choosing from an array of salads, side dishes, entrees and desserts to create their own dinner. As music played, there were numerous activities to choose from including: dancing, card-playing, billiards, ping pong, volleyball, puzzles and spending time meeting new friends and renewing acquaintances.
For more information about club membership, call (513) 779-7360. If you would like to learn more about the in-home-non-medical services available from your local Comfort Keepers office, call (513) 755-3710.
May is National Stroke Awareness Month
Posted on Thursday, May 12th, 2011 at 1:48 pm and filed under Uncategorized
May is National Stroke Awareness Month sponsored by the National Stroke Association.
Think and Act “F.A.S.T.”
FACE: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
ARMS: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
SPEECH: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
TIME: If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.
A Furry Friend For Loneliness
Posted on Tuesday, May 10th, 2011 at 2:50 pm and filed under Uncategorized
Many seniors have discovered that pets are an antidote to isolation and loneliness. And numerous studies show cats, dogs, and other creatures are a prescription for improved health in the elderly.
Kelly Connolly of the Humane Society of the United States says on HSUS’s Web site (www.hsus.org), “Emotionally, pets can bring new meaning and purpose to the life of a senior who is living far away from friends or family…. Being responsible for another life often gives new meaning to the lives of those who are living alone or far from loved ones. Caring for and providing a loving home to a companion animal also helps elderly people remain active and stay healthy.”
As they keep seniors’ feelings of isolation at bay, pets help lower blood pressure, decrease stress, reduce bone loss, lower cholesterol, and improve blood circulation.
Getting out and walking a dog also can lead to human interaction, which further promotes better emotional and physical health. Lack of social interaction takes a toll on seniors, their longevity, and quality of life.
Adopting A Brighter Outlook On Life
Pet Adoption Assistance
The Humane Society of the United States recommends that seniors adopt an adult dog or cat. Mature pets tend to be calmer, housebroken, and more easily managed—a better lifestyle fit.
To help connect senior citizens with pets, hundreds of animal shelters across the nation participate in Purina® Pets for Seniors. The program offers adoption assistance‚ in many cases at no charge‚ to qualified individuals age 60 and over.
Visit www.purinapetsforseniors.com for details and a list of participating shelters. And if there’s not a participating shelter near you, visit Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation site (www.arf.net). ARF offers qualified seniors a $50 reimbursement on adoption fees.
Comfort Keepers Participates in Patch Adams “Joy of Caring” Event
Posted on Friday, April 8th, 2011 at 2:49 pm and filed under Uncategorized
Kay and Tracy, Care Coordinators from our Northeast & East offices, participated in the Patch Adams “Joy of Caring” Event on March 5, 2011. This event was presented by Episcopal Retirement Homes and given for medical professionals and those who are providing care for their loved ones. Patch Adams, M.D. gave an inspirational lecture on the importance of caring and the thrill of helping others. Patch Adams believes that true caring and happiness are integral to healing and well-being for patients, caregivers and medical professionals themselves.
Kay decorated the Comfort Keepers’ booth in Patch Adams style. Kay’s creativity attracted many people to the Comfort Keepers’ booth enabling both Kay and Tracy to share their own joy as well as the many ways that Comfort Keepers can assist in the care of their loved ones or patients.
Our goal at Comfort Keepers is to help seniors maintain the best quality of life achievable.