October 2005 Ezine
Linking Seniors, Family Caregivers and Business Owners

You can read our ezine on line at Back Issues Feel free to forward our ezine to your friends!

• Katrina/Rita How to Help
  
• Working Seniors~Healthier Seniors
  
• Welcome - ASK the EXPERTS
  
• Welcome! New Certified Senior Approved Services!
  
• Support our Partners!
  
• Why is the Directory of Senior Approved Services Growing So Slowly?
  
• Calendar of Events
  
• Elder Care Co-Op
  
• Contests!
  
• Advertise

Katrina/Rita How to Help

It never ceases to amaze me how wonderful the human spirit truly is and I think it's worth remembering that no matter how strapped we are, financially and with our available time, people in general are still willing to step up to the plate and give.

We have come across the following organizations - we believe each can be trusted with accepting your gifts of money and your gift of volunteer time. As wonderful as we all are - it is still prudent to watch out for the few humans among us that will take a tragedy and attempt to profit by it through scams. So, please be cautious and check the organizations out yourself.

We found one site that actually publishes how much money is received and how much of this money goes out in to worthwhile projects. See Give.org

Those of you in the medical field that would like to volunteer time, see The Medical Reserve Corps

We have also been contacted directly by a nursing home in New Orleans that is searching for State Tested Nurses Aides for temporary assignments. If you live within an 8 hour drive of New Orleans, have current proof of your CNA or STNA and would like to help, please send me an email and I will put you in touch with this particular nursing home. Send your note of interest to my private email address, bmascio@wowway.com This nursing home is paying a very generous hourly rate and will include free room and board.

The American Red Cross and The United Way are both accepting donations and volunteer applications.

The Administration on Aging has received emergency funding and is actively involved in the three primary states affected by these hurricanes. Visit their site to learn more about this - especially if you are in the elder care field working in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

CD Publications, publisher of Housing Affairs Letter, the weekly report on public, private, and assisted housing since 1961, invites you to accept with their compliments this quick update on federal efforts to provide housing assistance for those affected by the recent hurricanes.

HUD & DHS UNVEIL TRANSITIONAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGAM

Washington, DC: The departments of Housing & Urban Development and Homeland Security unveil policies created to hasten federal assistance for those displaced by Hurricane Katrina. The program promises expedited housing assistance and flexibility of choice, with support available for up to 18 months.

Two programs - one operated by HUD and the other by the Federal Emergency Management Agency form this joint effort.

Evacuees Need To Register

It is important for all evacuees to register with FEMA and to update addresses and telephone numbers as they change. There are two ways to do this:

By calling 1-800-621-FEMA By visiting http://www.fema.gov FEMAs Accelerated Individuals & Households Program (IHP)

This program provides previous homeowners and renters with rental assistance. Payments of $2,358 for three months of housing will be provided in the form of check or electronic fund transfer. This will be provided for up to 18 months for qualifying evacuees, with payments beginning immediately when possible.

Reevaluation of qualifications may be necessary after the first three months.

HUD's Katrina Disaster Housing Assistance Program

This program provides housing vouchers for those previously in HUD-assisted housing programs, including Sec. 8, Sec. 202 and Sec. 811 properties, as well as those receiving housing choice vouchers. The program also serves those who've been rendered homeless by Katrina's effects, but otherwise are ineligible for FEMA assistance.

Evacuees have the flexibility to use their vouchers in the cities or towns of their choice.

Assistance will be provided for up to 18 months and will be administered by local public housing authorities (PHAs).

Those eligible should contact local housing authorities to participate in the program. Relocation specialists will be available to assist with locating housing, taking into account needs of the family or individual.

Funding

Funding for HUD's program will come from supplemental funds appropriated by Congress to FEMA, and not from existing HUD programs.

Housing Affairs and its companion newsletter, Community Development Digest, are providing readers with regular updates on the latest federal proposals for Hurricane Relief.

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According to the U.S. Surgeon General, empirical evidence suggests there are three essential elements to successful aging:

• Avoidance of disease and disability
• Ongoing cognitive and physical functioning
• Involvement in interpersonal relationships and productive activities

Actually, the good news for working seniors is getting even better. A recent study of more than 2,700 Americans suggests that having a job or engaging in volunteer work may be as effective as cardiopulmonary fitness activities in lowering the risk of death. In the study, reported in the British Medical Journal, researchers at the Harvard University School of Public Health found that seniors who are socially active and productive live longer than those who are not.

Why Seniors become entrepreneurs – or Senior~Preneurs

Robert Weiner, inventor of the Handee Soapsacks, out of personal necessity, joined the ranks of American entrepreneurs and inventors, designing the first prototype of what has become his gift to seniors across the nation. A longstanding arthritis sufferer, he created the HANDEE SOAPSACKS as a means to handle and manipulate a bar of soap throughout his showering routine.

Carol Bradley Bursack, a syndicated writer on elder care issues, a motivational speaker, and author, saw the need for a portable caregiver's support group. Encouraged by caregivers she met during her 20 years of caregiving for seven elders. At age 60, Carol wrote Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories.

Tom Begert-Clark launched ‘Even as We Speak’ as an alternative to retiring using his accumulated knowledge and wisdom to further contribute to society. He saw a need to bring usable information utilizing humor and laughter, into the arenas of communications, business and elder care fields. Using his accumulated life skills and his ability to make questionable and everyday stressful situations more palatable through humor, his students and audiences realize that their professional and personal lives can be more fulfilled, profitable and successful.

More seniors are remaining in the workforce well after retirement age, some need the money, others want to try something new, and still others are just bored with traditional retirement and want to stay busy. Whatever the reason, the number of seniors working past retirement is growing fast and shows no sign of slowing down.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there are more than 16 million Americans over age 55 who are either working or looking for jobs, and older workers are getting new jobs at an annual rate of 4.1 percent.

Senior Approved Services is proud of our new method to assist seniors in promoting their invention, service or book. See Senior~Preneurs

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Welcome - ASK the EXPERTS

Though we here at Senior Approved Services consider ourselves experts in helping seniors and family caregivers connect with safe, reliable services with a history of quality care, we are not the expert in all related elder care issues.

However, our network of exclusive Certified Senior Approved Services, are made up of businesses that are led and operated by such an expert.

So, it is with great pleasure that we welcome you to explore the following categories in which we have coordinated an elder care professional to provide seniors and family caregivers a forum to ask a question and then have it answered by someone who truly knows the best answer.

Please note - this is a new service and this section promises to grow quite a bit over the next few months.

Ask the Expert!

Please note: Only Certified Senior Approved Services are permitted on this page. If you are not yet certified and consider yourself an expert, please refer to Senior Approved Business Site

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Welcome! New Certified Senior Approved Services!

The Visiting Nurse Association (of Ohio) has just completed a large extensive survey encompassing the variety of services offered to the older adult, those with disabilities and those in need of home care services regardless of their age. The VNA of Ohio is our very first not-for-profit organization - we are thrilled to include this organization.

The VNA, both of Northeast Ohio and Mid-Ohio far surpassed our requirement of a 90% or higher Senior satisfaction rating. Senior Approved Services surveyed clients receiving services from the VNA Home Health, VNA Care Plus, VNA Home Visits by Physicians, VNA Hospice and Mid-Ohio VNA, five separate surveys in all. We are very excited to include the VNA, our first not for profit organization within our exclusive network of Certified Senior Approved Services.

The VNA plans to include a focus page within our directory of services, until such time, please visit The Visiting Nurse Association

The Legacy Communities for Independent Senior Living in the state of New York has also recently received the Senior Approved Certification for all three of their properties, an impressive designation, especially since this is the very first independent senior housing service to received Senior Approved status in New York.

Legacy will feature three separate focus pages highlighting the services available within their independent senior housing communities in the Senior Approved Directory. Until then, please visit Legacy

We are growing! We are in the process of surveying a Realtor Relocation Specialist in GA, and three more Home Care Services in FL, AZ and SC.

These excellent companies are now part of a very exclusive group of businesses that have proven their commitment to serving our elderly with consistent quality of care. Services such as; Visiting Angels Home Care, FL, Dayna's Homecare Company, Complete Organizational Services, The Caregiver's Resource Kit, Northcoast Conflict Solutions, Cleveland Financial, Birch Financial, Raymond James Financial, Sunrise Assisted Living of Rocky River, Hamilton Home Care, My Home Care, Inc., Occasional Help for Seniors, Do It Now, The SCOOTER Store, Life Quest Home Medical Equipment, Seniors Sharing a Home, Stellar Living Assistance, Park Creek Retirement Center, Adeline's Home Sweet Home, Life Care Home Health Services, DocuPrep, Advanced Laser Solutions, S.A.R.A.H. Adult Day Services, Seniors Home Advantage and Attorney Mary Ann Thomas.

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Collaborative Partners

Businesses serving the elder population, employers with thoughts of adding elder care as an employee benefit, Hospitals, Senior Centers (and so forth) have excellent opportunities to sponsor the helpline. Call toll free at 888-791-7301 and follow the appropriate prompts. You may also contact the owner, Mr. John Webb through The Caregiver's Resource Request Certified Senior Approved Services qualify for an immediate discount!

A few of Mr. Schafers’ clients: GE, Exxon Shipping, Exxon Chemicals, and State of MD, Pacific Holding, Mobile Mini as well as hundreds of smaller companies. His largest premium savings was 2 million.

No refund, no charge! See Workers Comp Refund

You may apply for consideration in becoming one of our collaborative partners, see Collaborative Partners

Kathy Kilpatrick, president of Communication Connection, is a geriatric communication consultant with over 30 years of experience as a speech and language pathologist working with older adults. She focuses on enhancing the quality of life of the older adult with hearing, vision, speech and memory limitations and supporting their families, friends and caregivers.

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Why is the Directory of Senior Approved Services Growing So Slowly?

This is a frequent question - that comes mostly from the 20 -30 inquiry calls received here each day from family members in search of a service that Senior Approved can in good faith endorse.

Sometimes the question comes from a 'suspicious' company that just isn't sure if they want to subject themselves to this kind of scrutiny. Afterall, there is no one forcing them to do this.

So, to begin with. I'd like you to focus on the number of services that we do have in our network. The fact that each of these businesses paid for a survey with no guarantee that they would reach the high standard we've placed, says an awful lot about the company in general.

This is a question with a lengthy answer because there are several reasons ....

• We are not a membership or agency that you can 'join'. You can't pay your way in. Each business in our network has gone through our consumer-driven survey process - each has achieved a 90 percent or higher rating.

It has been suggested that we lower the 90% requirement - I am absolutely against this idea. We do not want 'pretty good' companies for our seniors to trust - we want only the best of the best.

• We have had several businesses go through our process - and not reach the required 90 percent satisfaction rating. So, until these businesses implement the suggestions made by their existing client base, and re-issue another survey, we cannot include them in our network. The Senior Approved network of services is exclusive - only the very best of the best make it.

Each business that wants to be part of this very exclusive network of services, contracts with us to conduct the survey. Each business receives a very comprehensive report - a compilation of the feedback received from their clients. This report is extremely valuable. It actually allows your clients to 'teach' you, to guide you towards improving your service.

• Many businesses do not qualify for our survey because they have current state violations pending, or a civil law suit pending. This must be addressed prior to the survey process. Senior Approved Services puts our image and reputation on the line each and every time we recommend and endorse a business. We must take great care in who eventually is included.

• Some elder care services are convinced that they will not meet our high standards and so do not want to try. This is unfortunate because if they believe there are problems, at least our survey results would provide this business with a clear plan of action.

• This is a new concept - truly a challenge to the existing 'old way of doing things'. Many business owners would prefer to pay us an advertising fee, a listing fee, pay for a client or a lead or even a referral. Why? Because that's the way it's always been done. We are not a referral service. We are not an Internet Based Company. We are here, not to serve the business community per se. We exist for one reason.

We want to help seniors (and their family members) avoid less than desirable companies - pointing them towards a business that we know is safe, reliable and one with a proven history of quality care.

• Many business owners tell us 'how great this idea is' but then choke on paying for the survey. It is their opinion that our revenues ought to come from the senior.

We do not believe a senior should have to pay for the right to learn which company in their area will serve them with the utmost care and service.

Would you like to help us reach more businesses? Meeting with business owners in your local community will greatly increase our network of services. In order to help seniors, we need more businesses.

If you would like to be considered for this position, see Employment

You can also apply to help us as an Advocate for Seniors

In time, our network will include services in every state representing the very best of all possible choices for our seniors and their family caregivers. I personally welcome that time so that we can better serve those families calling here now in search of a verified, safe reliable service.

Our inquiry calls are up by 25% - we are in great need of additional services - most of our inquiry calls are from the adult daughter searching for; handyman services, lawn and snow removal, moving/relocation, home care, assisted living, independent senior housing, group homes, security systems, rehab, skilled nursing, alternative healing (massotherapy, reiki, nutrition), transportation, financial planners, memorial services, adult day, and assistive technology (grab bars, ramps, kitchen & bath rehabs)

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Calendar of Events

Northcoast Conflict Solutions (a Certified Senior Approved Service) is offering Coffee Talk: Coping with Stress & Anxiety For adults age 60+. Struggling with stress and anxiety? If the answer is "yes," breathe a sigh of relief; you have lots of company. See October 18 for details.

See Boomers ~ Zoomers ~ And Beyond! The 6th annual ASNE Healthy Expo and The 5th Annual Selling to Seniors Conference Senior Approved Services is one of the sponsors for this annual event held in Illinois.

See Wednesdays for Chair Yoga Classes - great for all ages ! instructed by Angela Nicolosi, RYT

To see what's happening in your area, go to Calendar of Events To submit your events, follow the instructions found on Calendar Instructions & Submission Form

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Elder Care Co-Op

The financial burden of paying for care often times prevents reaching out for help. Coming together, equally taking and receiving, just might work. If you are a family caregiver and would like to take a break by exchanging time - for time off - then please complete the following form at Elder Care Co-Op

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Contests!

Win a FREE package (2 each) of the HANDEE SOAPSACKS! Offer valid for the FIRST SIX RESPONSES only!!! There are only 6 possible winners.

Visit Handee Soapsacks and count how many times you see the word 'arthritis'. Send an email to bmascio@wowway.com and include the following in your email message:

1. How many times is the word arthritis written on this page?
2. Your full name
3. Your full mailing address
4. Your preferred email address
5. Your full phone number

Recipe Contest -

Enter our recipe contest! Winners receive a free copy of the recipe book (scheduled for release right around Mother's Day 2006) What is your favorite 'recipe' for a happy marriage? raising kids? settling conflicts? Oh, and yes, your food recipes are also welcomed! See Recipe Contest

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Advertising

If you want to reach the senior (and/or the family members of the senior) through us you must first be Certified. See Request Certification

I was walking to my car after shopping at the Parma Towne Mall and this young man came up to me, put a gun in my face and ordered, 'Give me all your money!'

I said, 'I don't have any money' He insisted, this time louder, still waving that gun in my face, 'Gimme all your money!' I said, 'I don't have any money.'

Holding the gun to my face with one hand, he began to touch me all over, frisking me, all over my body. I said, 'Young man, if you keep that up .... I'll write you a check!'

Blessings!