• Calendar of Events
• Senior Approve Announcements
• Wanted!
• Congratulations and Welcome
• TRUCE!
• Raising Money
• What Does it Mean to be Senior Approved?
• Entrepreneurs
• Subscribe/Unsubscribe information

Calendar of Events

Senior Approve Announcements

We offer a message board to communicate safely with other seniors, caregivers and to ask questions. The message board is monitored, as this is a family friendly site. Healthcare professionals are welcome to post a topic of interest on the message board to help seniors and caregivers. See Message Board

Everyone is welcome to submit 'Words of Wisdom'. We have all come across a quote or an article that has touched our lives, some of you have authored essays with words of wisdom. We are especially interested in our elder population sharing their words of wisdom with each of us. See Words of Wisdom If you are an activity director and have been taught words of wisdom by a senior, you may also share those stories with us in this format.

Honoring seniors is what we are all about. A senior, or someone on his or her behalf, may complete a short form, which we then turn in to a free focus page. This is our way of honoring the life of a senior. This is a fun project for those of you teaching seniors computer skills. They will actually have their own web page! See Seniors

Many family members searching for services for their loved ones reach our web site after hours. They are in a hurry and want to 'self-select' a service. We are building (it's far from finished) a directory of Senior Approved Services for this purpose. The only services featured are 'Senior Approved' services. See Services This may become a valuable tool for discharge planners and the human resource departments of employers. The Ohio Department of Workers Compensation through this new feature has already contacted us. (Most of our Senior Approved services serve seniors and those with disabilities and those convalescing of any age)

Note: Those of you that are Senior Approved and have not yet submitted your information for your focus page are encouraged to do so. Refresh your knowledge of the features and benefits of your certification by visiting Benefits

Wanted

Handyman services, maid services, lawn care and snow removal services, heating and cooling services. If you know of a reputable business in these trades that you feel may be an excellent company to become a Senior Approved service, please let them know about us. Or, if you like, you may email or phone Quality Care Options with your recommendations. Email Barbara or phone toll free at 877-620-6448. You may also refer these businesses to Providers to read about our certification.

Congratulations and Welcome!

Life Quest serves both the healthcare professional and consumers at home. Their survey results were beyond excellent. We surveyed both the referral sources that typically refer to Life Quest during their discharge planning and family members that have ordered and used products, equipment and supplies directly from their Home Care division. Both surveys surpassed our minimum requirement of a 90% satisfaction rating. Learn more by visiting Life Quest

S.A.R.A.H. Adult Day Service survey results were far beyond our requirement of a 90% satisfaction rating. Adult day services are becoming more popular these days because of the broad range of services to both the senior in need and his or her family. Please check back to Service Directory in a few days, I'm sure S.A.R.A.H. Adult Day Service will have their information submitted for the focus page by then. I have to tell you, this survey was phenomenal. The comments made by family members were so personal and heart-warming.

Those of you in positions where you make referrals to your clients and/or patients owe it to yourself to learn more about Life Quest and S.A.R.A.H. Adult Day Services. Greg Smolik is the owner of Life Quest and can be reached at 216-731-1250 xt 214. Robert Phillips is the owner of S.A.R.A.H. Adult Day Services and can be reached at 440-846-1751. Both would welcome the opportunity to provide your staff with an in-service.

Note: Each of our Senior Approved services offer in-services and other educational formats. Please call Quality Care Options to learn more - toll free at 877-620-6448

TRUCE!

It's finally finished! Years of experience and expertise in the field of Elder Mediation has provided Patti Bertschler the material to write 'Truce! Using Elder Mediation to Resolve Conflict among Families, Seniors, and Organizations'. Patti, a published author and licensed counselor and mediator has seen the benefits of each discipline. She also has seen the effects of folks who refuse to communicate and who stubbornly persist in holding firm to their viewpoints.

Patti is co-owner of Northcoast Conflict Solutions located in Independence Ohio. Northcoast is a 'Senior Approved Service'. To place your book order, either email Patti requesting a book order form or you may also phone her at 440-262-3700. To read more about 'Truce' and how this valuable workbook may assist you and your family - or assist you in your professional work with seniors and family members see Tools

Raising Money

An innovative fund-raising program is now being offered through the famous American-made Vacuum dealer, Oreck. Oreck has locations throughout the Cleveland Ohio areas and offers a unique fund-raising program. It's a simple process, relatively easy to implement and your costs are next to zero to initiate. Call the Strongsville Oreck store at 440-268-9320 and ask to speak with the manager, Richard. He will fax you the complete details. Or, you may also email requesting information at Richard

Last month, The Strongsville Youth Commission received $1,504.00 from this simple fundraising event!

What is the Quality Care Options Survey and what does it mean to become Senior Approved?

Excellence is not defined by QCO. Excellence is certainly not defined by the opinion that a business may have of themselves. Rather, excellence is defined by the very seniors (and family) that are currently using or have used in the past.

Our survey process is simple and compliant with HIPAA. We are not a referral service; businesses do not pay for clients. We are not a mass listing of services, further confusing the consumer, with disclaimers. We are compliant with the Safe Harbor Act prohibiting services from paying for a referral.

Rather, we put our personal and business reputation on the line by personally linking and recommending services to seniors, matching his or her needs, desires, geographical location and budget. We provide up to three choices and allow the family to make their final selection.

Once a family has chosen a Senior Approved service, we continue to follow up ensuring the seniors' satisfaction. This service has proven itself valuable for both the business serving the senior and the senior themselves.

When a service becomes Senior Approved, they are part of an exclusive group of services that have proof of their commitment to excellent care.

Seniors that have a choice in ABC Company with multiple misunderstood designations or a service that says 'Senior Approved' results on file 877-620-6448 will naturally choose a Senior Approved service. Moreover, this tiny statement offers the consumer the ability to sift through the multiple choices available to them.

We are receiving far more calls from seniors and family caregivers then we can serve at the moment. We are adding new Senior Approved services daily, but we need more! Our goal is to be the ultimate 'One-Call-Solution' for our seniors and family members.

We have made a few enhancements to our benefits offered to businesses, making our certification process affordable for all sizes of businesses serving our seniors. We welcome you to check this valuable service out for yourself. Either contact Barbara Mascio, founder, at toll free 877-620-6448 or visit our web site. The web site is very comprehensive and offers an excellent FAQ section found at FAQ

Entrepreneurs

Enjoy these last days of summer! Our next issue is scheduled for release the first of October. Feel free to submit your articles. See for instructions.