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When Mom or Dad Needs Help

Contributed by: Seniors Inc on 1/17/2006

Many of us lead busy lives filled with kids, careers and other activities, so we don’t get to spend as much time as we’d like with our parents as they grow older.  As a result, we may not see the gradual changes taking place in their health and daily lives. 

But when families get together during the holidays, grown children are often surprised, or even shocked, to find that their parents need help with what used to be routine tasks.  Mom or dad may seem to have transformed from an active, independent senior to someone who needs help with basic activities such as maintaining their home, preparing meals and paying bills.

It can be hard to accept theses changes in your loved ones, and you may feel overwhelmed by the thought of trying to care for them, especially if you don’t live near them or if you are busy with your own family or career.  You may find that a necessary New Year’s resolution is to find some help for your mom and dad, so they can continue to live safely in their own home.

But how do you find quality home care?  There are no state licensing requirements for home care organizations and there are more than 140 home care listings in the yellow pages.  Seniors Incorporated, a respected non-profit organization that has been serving Colorado seniors and their families for 36 years, has this advice if you are one of the 400,000 Coloradoans who are responsible for an aging parent or other relative: 
    *Get home care agency recommendations from trusted friends or experts.    
    *Get a list of references from current clients and family members and contact them.    
    *Look for a home care organization that is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), which means the organization has been evaluated by a national team of health care professionals and has been found to provide the highest level of care.     
    *Take time to find a caregiver that fits your family’s needs.    
    Maintain regular contact with your loved one and his or her caregiver.
    *Promptly report any problems or concerns to the home care organization and work with them until the issue is resolved to your satisfaction.

Seniors Incorporated, which is JCAHO accredited, offers a variety of programs including Concepts In Home Care, which provides services that allow seniors to live in their own homes, instead of nursing homes or assisted living facilities.  Those services range from simple companionship, to help with transportation, housework and meal preparation, to round-the-clock care provided by professional caregivers who are trained, insured and dedicated. 

For more information, contact Concepts In Home Care at Seniors Incorporated, 303-300-6906, or visit www.seniorsinc.org.


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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Seniors Inc

Denver , CO

Seniors Inc has posted 106 stories and 0 comments since joining on 12/20/2005. Seniors Inc 's average story rating is 4.67.
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