Amys Helping Hands

Amy’s Helping Hands Awarded 2012 “Leader in Excellence”

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:49:18 +0000

Windsor Ontario – Amy’s Helping Hands announced today that it received this year’s distinguished “Leader in Excellence” Award by Home Care Pulse, the leading firm in quality assurance for private duty home care. The “Leader in Excellence” Award was awarded to 16 out of over 400 private duty home care agencies across North America, who consistently ranked among the highest in 10 or more out of 12 quality metrics assessed by Home Care Pulse. As a “Leader in Excellence,” Amy’s Helping Hands achieved this metric in all 12 categories which represents a top performer in the home care industry.

This accomplishment also shows Amy’s Helping Hands long-term dedication to excellent care and quality improvement. To qualify for this award, 10% of Amy’s Helping Hands’ clients are polled each month by Home Care Pulse to rate the care they received through personal phone interviews. These client satisfaction ratings were factored into Amy’s Helping Hands overall ranking over a 12-month period. Using feedback from clients and employees, as well as quality benchmarks from Home Care Pulse, the Amy’s Helping Hands management team set goals to reach the highest level of excellence possible.

“We are honoured to receive this award said Amy Szewczuk, Owner We feel it is a testament to our employees dedication and commitment to helping others. We are a local family owned business and we view our services of helping seniors as “our family of caregivers helping your family.” Our services many times augment government funded services and allow many seniors to stay in the place that they call home for as long as possible with dignity and respect.

Amy’s Helping Hands also earned the “Best of Home Care” designation from Home Care Pulse in both 2011 and 2012, which acts as a guide to help consumers choose the best home care. “Leaders in Excellence” are the top-performing “Best of Home Care” agencies in North America. Performance is evaluated based on factors such as staff training, communication, caregiver performance, caregiver morale, response to problems, likeliness to recommend, and overall quality care.

“Our goal at Home Care Pulse is to help agencies reach their goals and deliver the best home care possible, and so it’s very rewarding to us to recognize Amy’s Helping Hands as a ‘Leader in Excellence.’ We’ve been impressed by their commitment to their clients and caregivers, as well as the quality of the overall care they provide. They really stand out in their market as a top home care provider,” commented Aaron Marcum, President of Home Care Pulse.

To find out more about Amy’s Helping Hands commitment to excellence, please visit www.amyshelpinghands.ca or call 519-915-4370

Amy’s Helping Hands provides home care services for seniors and delivers its services in client’s homes, in retirement and nursing homes and hospitals. Services include meal preparation & planning, companionship, home helper services, personal care, alzheimer’s and dementia care, foot care and medical monitoring services. All services are overseen by nurse managers ensuring quality of care. For more information about Amy’s Helping Hands please call us at 519-915-4370 or visit www.AmysHelpingHands.ca

Protecting Seniors From Falls

admin — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:56:00 +0000

One of the major causes of injuries for seniors is falling. While accidents happen, a number of falls could be avoided by taking a few extra precautions and planning ahead. Falls that may not be serious for someone who is young or middle aged could be serious for a senior. As we age, bones become brittle and even the slightest fall could cause serious injury.Recent statistics have shown that ¼ of seniors over the age of 75 that experience a fall will not survive past 1 year.

In order to avoid the inconvenience and pain of falling, take measures to avoid the danger. Sometimes, avoiding a fall can be as simple as relying on the assistance of a helper. Amy’s Helping Hands provides qualified helpers to help seniors in navigating their lives without accidents.

Fitness Helps

One of the best way to lessen your risk for falling is by staying in shape. Getting up and about keeps your body nimble and your coordination sharp. Instead of dealing with stiff joints and sore muscles, you will stay in shape and moving will be easy. It may require more motivation to get moving as you age, but it is even more important the older you get to take short walks each day, use stairs on a daily basis, and maintain a clutter-free home. Cleaning up on everyday not only gets you moving, it means there will be plenty of clutter-free walking space in your home.

Tools of the Trade

If you have been advised by a doctor or physical therapist to use a walker, it is important to do so. Some seniors avoid these tools because they are embarrassed or become it is cumbersome. It may be difficult for them to accept they need walking assistance. However, your doctor has recommended these things for your benefit. If you avoid them, it could mean serious injury, which may disable you completely. Instead of needing a walker to get around, you may be restricted to a wheelchair. If you are uncomfortable using a walker to get around, remember the risk of potential injury and try to cope with the change.

Sometimes when a walker is recommended, or a senior has a tough time getting around, he will use the furniture in his home to assist him. If you get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, and through the night joints have stiffened, you may reach for nightstands, tables, and chairs to lean on. The problem is these items are not designed to assist movement and they may tip over. Even if you do not need the help of a walker throughout the day, you may need to leave one bedside for midnight drinks of water and early morning movement.

Safety equipment

Personal Emergency Response systems. These are devices that are used in case of a fall. With a press of the button you can alert emergency personnel to send help, or call a loved one or a neighbour. They are normally worn around your neck as a pendant, or on your wrist as a watch. Additionally, safety buttons can be placed throughout the house like in bathrooms and showers for added safety and protection. By calling Amy’s Helping Hands and for less than $40 per month get the added re-assurance that if something does happen you can get help.

Use Caution

Another way to avoid falls is to watch out for potential dangers. If you are outdoors, avoid icy and snowy sidewalks. Even when merchants make every effort to clean their parking lots and walkways, there can still be slick areas. Rely on the assistance of helpers to shop for you, or find someone who will escort you to the store and help you get around. The helpers at Amy’s Helping Hands assist seniors with errands as just being accompanied by someone may help you avoid outdoor falls. When inside, beware slippery showers. If bathing or showering is a problem, consider installing a handrail or a shower seat. Shower falls are fairly common among seniors since they are on a slick surface and unsupervised. Take special measures to make bath time safe.

Shoes, Shoes, Shoes

Even the most careful seniors find they are still occasionally clumsy. Choose comfortable, sensible footwear when you are trying to move safely. While heeled shoes may have been worth the sacrifice a few years ago, it may be better today to opt for sneakers or shoes designed for safe walking. Speak with your doctor about which shoes will offer the best support for your personal walking needs. Remember, sore feet do not perform as well as healthy, comfortable ones.

As a senior, you may get caught up in activities and events and forget to pay attention to your movements. The most important thing to remember is to relax and take your time. Now that you are retired and enjoying your golden years, there is no need to rush anywhere. Walk slowly, concentrate on your body and its movements, and use handrails and the help of others to get around safely. By following a few tips, you can move safely and avoid injury for years to come.

The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.

Excessive Clutter In A Senior’s Home Can Be An Accident Waiting To Happen

admin — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:53:21 +0000

Caregivers can help you or your loved one deal with the hazard of over-accumulation.Learn more about getting good care from a bonded, insured professional. Email us at www.amyshelpinghands.ca or call 519-915-4370.

After a lifetime of living in one location, things can accumulate, leaving the family home packed tight with items from the lives of many people. Seniors may find themselves overwhelmed with all the memories and souvenirs in their homes. This is especially true when the time comes for them to move. Perhaps they have chosen to move to an assisted living facility or they are moving in with another family member. Maybe they have not reached this point yet, but they want to make their personal surroundings more inviting. If they are now living in an “empty nest,” it may be time for them to let go of some things from the past and enjoy their homes as all their own.
If you are a senior and you need assistance sorting through a lifetime of household goods, you can call on the services of a companion aide, or caregiver, like those from Windsor Ontario’s Amy’s Helping Hands, to help you with this kind of home maintenance. Like many seniors, you might want to have your adult children do their part in sorting through the family home as well. Then you can move on to the task of organizing your belongings, and creating a safe, happy home.

The first step to an organized home is not allowing your home to act as a storage facility for the entire family. Just because your children grew up in the home you are now living in does not mean it is acceptable for them to leave clutter and store their childhood mementos forever. At some point, adult children are going to need to sort through those items and take responsibility for their belongings. If parents just let items build up over the years and fail to teach their children to sort and replace, they should accept some responsibility for the mountain of toys or boxes or school assignments that are filling the attic or basement. However, the sooner these things are examined and assigned new homes, the better the quality of life a senior can enjoy.

Important Papers

Once a senior has the family storing area under control, he needs to conquer his own personal stash. Ensure all important documents are in order, stored together, and easy to find. As hard as it may be to admit, family members may need to find this information on short notice. The better and more sensibly organized it is, the less stressful the search will be during an already difficult time. If you have a desk or filing cabinet jammed with all sorts of loose papers, take an afternoon to sort through it. Let a family member know where things are once you have sorted and organized them.

Safety First

It is also important to get the general clutter in the home under control. As you age, it can be more difficult to navigate even the most familiar areas of your life. The last thing a senior wants is to trip and fall during a routine trip across the living room or bedroom. Make sure there are clear walkways throughout the home. Also examine shelves and closets to make sure boxes and objects are not stacked high enough to collapse. A simple head injury could have serious effects for a senior. There is no sense in inviting setbacks to your health when you have enough to worry about.

Organizing and cleaning your home should provide you with a sense of pride. Since a lot of your time will be spent in your home during your retirement and golden years, it is important this area be comfortable and inviting. This is especially true if you are choosing between your own home and an assisted living facility. If you and your loved ones are considering moving to another location, but you would rather remain in your own home, keeping it tidy and clean is a persuasive argument. Seniors who neglect their homes are more likely to prompt their loved ones to think they cannot handle the responsibilities of home ownership. This is not to say your home must be sparkling clean at all times. However, you should be able to keep up with daily chores with relative ease, or be willing to accept the assistance of an in-home caregiver.

A clean home is an important part of a physically and mentally healthy life. If you are challenged by the responsibility of keeping your home in good order, consider Amy’s Helping Hands to help you maintain a pleasant, organized home. Additionally, caregivers can help with meals, transportation, and help with household chores like laundry. Caregivers can assist you with organizing your life and your home.

Nursing Homes and Long Term Care – tips and questions

admin — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 14:20:47 +0000

Are you looking for a nursing home or other long-term care facility for a loved one? Follow these important tips before making a decision:

Don’t just sign up for an official tour. Walk around and see the place for yourself.
If you’re on the official tour ask to see other floors, otherwise you may only be shown the cleanest floor with the low maintenance patients.
Ask what the resident mix is.
Ask who your loved one may have for a roommate. Find out if it is possible that they could be placed with a resident with aggressive behaviour?
Hang out in the lobby and see what kind of people surface. A lot of the time the physically fit, younger people will hang out there because they don’t have anywhere else to go.
Visit the homes at meal time. This will allow you to see what the staffing ratio is and the resident mix for yourself.
Also see what it’s like after meal time. How are the residents returned back to their rooms? Is there enough staff to care for them?
If possible, go early in the morning to see if the residents are dressed for breakfast. If not, there likely isn’t enough staff to care for them all.
Talk to the staff and get a sense of whether they feel overworked. Ask them how they like working there. Are they really busy? Do they like their coworkers?

Amy’s Helping Hands frequently works with seniors in many long term care facilities and nursing homes to improve their quality of life. We strive to have a positive working relationship with the staff and administration and help to ensure the best care for seniors and their families.

Nursing Home / Long Term Care – Safety

admin — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 14:15:08 +0000

Attached is an excerpt and below a link to a CTV- W5 article and investigative news report regarding nursing homes/ long term care facilities and some serious safety concerns.

Canada’s long-term care facilities are no longer the exclusive domain of the elderly, becoming a dumping ground for a new wave of younger, potentially violent residents.

It’s always a tough decision to put a loved one in a nursing home. For Sandra Croteau it was made even more difficult by the fact that her mother had recently died and her 58-year old developmentally disabled brother, Keith, had taken a turn for the worst.

Click this link for questions you should ask and due diligence you should conduct prior to admitting a loved one into a long term care facility or nursing home.

Coping With Alzheimer’s Disease

admin — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 13:39:12 +0000

Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks.One of the hardest parts of dealing with Alzheimer’s disease is knowing that an elder will never get better. The disease causes cognitive deterioration, and while this process can be slowed, there is currently no way to cure it.

The progression can be difficult for families because even though they can enjoy the remaining time with their relative, there is no hope that they will recover. Understanding the disease makes it easier for families and sufferers to cope with the progression of the illness and help them make the most of the time remaining with their family member.A reputable In-Home Care agency can provide occasional respite care and additional support in the home when needed.

Symptoms

While short term memory loss is the most obvious sign of dementia, your loved one may deal with a variety of other consequences due to his Alzheimer’s disease. Patients may be fatigued and no longer have the ability to do many of the physical activities they used to enjoy. It can be difficult for Alzheimer’s patients to maintain their appearance, which leads to lower self-esteem. You may find your loved one is moody and depressed as a result of his suffering self-image.

They may withdraw from social activities, and it can be challenging to encourage them to maintain personal relationships. Those who are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s may understand something is changing within them and they may be embarrassed by their early bouts with the disease.

People who were previously capable and earning a living outside the home may find that their ability to work may be diminished as a result of the disease. The length of time someone suffering from early dementia can remain in their job may depend on their profession. However, their disorientation will eventually require them to modify their professional activities. If a family is depending on the salary of the Alzheimer’s patient, arrangements will need to be made to compensate for the eventual loss of income.

Family members may find they are frustrated and impatient with their loved ones suffering from dementia. It can take extra time for Alzheimer’s patients to complete trivial tasks that previously came easy. While relatives may have patience with the younger children in their life, they may not understand that senior relatives need the same courtesy. The disease can leave everyone in the family feeling frustrated, angry, and depressed. Your loved one is no longer able to provide what you need. Finding support and assistance can make a big difference in the life of a family dealing with Alzheimer’s. In the Windsor and Essex County area, Amy’s Helping Hands provides in-home caregivers that allow families to continue to care for their loved one, while getting occasional respite care and additional support in the home when needed.

Tips

Alzheimer’s disease cannot be cured. However, a family can take measures that make the transitions and changes easier to cope with. The most important thing to do if a loved has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s is to learn as much as possible about the disease. Knowing what to expect, and speaking with doctors about slowing the progression of the disease, can make the early stages much easier. Encourage your loved one to stay active and continue to do things he enjoys. Just because a diagnosis has been made does not mean life is over.

You and your loved one should speak with your family physician. Do not be afraid to ask questions and gather information. During the meeting, you may want to take notes. Beforehand, jot down anything you would like to ask. Review long- and short-term options, get an otherwise clean bill of health, and then make the most of the time you have together.

Most communities or hospitals and medical centers offer support services. Your loved one may appreciate being able to interact with others who are dealing with the disease. Even if he does not have a desire to seek the help of others, you may benefit. Managing the stress of the disease helps you stay healthy and be a more effective caregiver. If you allow stress to build up, you will feel worse. Knowing your time with your loved one is precious and limited, try not to spend it feeling angry and resentful. Organize a routine for them, support them in any way you can, and turn to others in similar situations when it all feels like it is too much.

Household Clutter and Poor Hygiene Could Be Signs that Your Loved One is Suffering from Depression

admin — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 14:51:18 +0000

Relying on a caregiver can greatly increase a senior’s quality of life and safety when they have trouble caring for themselves

Learn more about getting good care from a bonded, insured professional. Email us at care@amyshelpinghands.ca or call 519-915-4370.

Children of seniors may have a difficult time determining if their parent needs additional help. Their parents may be reluctant to share their daily struggles with their children because they are embarrassed or feel they may be a burden. In other cases, seniors may not even realize they are struggling. If you are concerned that your senior parents may be having issues, but you know they are not ready to move into a care facility, consider hiring an in-home caregiver. Windsor and Essex County Seniors can call on the services of Amy’s Helping Hands for help with day-to-day life in their home. If you are a child of senior parents and you suspect they could use some additional help, consider the following signs:

10. The next time you are visiting with your parents, observe the condition of their home. While casual clutter may be a sign of a perfectly happy home, dust and dirt may signal a bigger problem. Dusty areas may mean cleaning is a challenge. Are there other unclean areas of the home, like floors, stairways, and old spills? These factors may indicate that your parents need help around the house.

9. Peek in the refrigerator and check the condition of the food. Has anything spoiled? Is the home lacking in groceries? A neglected refrigerator may indicate a variety of problems. Your senior parents may have a tough time cleaning it out, they may be having difficulty getting to the grocery store or carrying groceries inside, or loss of short-term memory may be causing these issues.

8. Check the mail. Unpaid bills and a build up of junk mail may be a sign your senior parents are overwhelmed, or forgetting to take care of household administrative tasks. If your parents are suffering from dementia, it may mean they are forgetting to take care of important business. Caregivers can help organize and keep track of mail. If you are concerned about outsiders helping with personal finances, let the caregivers handle other tasks, allowing your parents to feel less overwhelmed. If someone else is handling grocery shopping and doctor’s appointments, your senior parents might remember to pay the electric bill.

7. Have a look under the sinks and in medicine cabinets. Ensuring your senior parents can read labels of household products and medications, and ensuring they are taking necessary medications is an important part of protecting their safety and keeping them healthy. If your senior parents are unable to handle health issues such as these, they probably need support on a daily basis.

6. Observe your parent’s appearance. Are they having a difficult time keeping up with personal hygiene? Do you often see them in the same outfit? This may mean doing laundry is a difficult task, or it may mean they are neglecting their personal appearance and hygiene. They may also be concerned about their safety while bathing or showering. Falling, or the fear of falling, often leads to loss of confidence, imposed isolation, and immobility. Speak to them about their concerns and determine the cause of the problem. This can help the two of you best solve the problem.

5. Speak with your parent’s neighbors and friends about their habits and daily routines. Find out if things seem to be in order or if they have noticed changes in schedules or long periods of time spent alone in their home. Seniors need companionship. If they are depressed, they may be spending more time at home, away from people.

4. If you suspect your senior parents may be suffering from dementia or memory loss, have a look at the bottoms of their pots and pans. If the bottoms are burned, it may indicate that tasks like heating things on the stove are going unsupervised during bouts of dementia. This can be dangerous and you should take action as soon as possible to get your parent the help they need.

3. Have your senior parents missed doctor’s appointments recently? This may indicate they do not have appropriate transportation, they may not be willing to face impending health problems, or they may be suffering from memory loss and have forgotten the appointments. One of the most common ways a caregiver helps seniors is ensuring that they get to their doctor’s appointments.

2. Have you received phone calls from your senior parents at unusual hours? This may indicate that they are confused or lonely. It may be a way for them to tell you there may be a problem like depression, even if they are unwilling to say it outright. A visit from a caregiver can help them with confusion and provide companionship, as can participating in activities at a senior center or scheduling additional visits with family members.

1. Are your senior parents showing signs of depression? As people age, they may feel lonely and isolated. Spouses, family members, and friends may suffer heath problems or drift away. These life changes remind seniors of their own mortality, which can lead to feelings of hopelessness and despair. Keeping your senior parents active can help ward off depression. Do not feel as if you have to handle this all on your own. Amy’s Helping Hands offers the in-home support your parent needs.

FREE Online Educational Courses for families caring for seniors

admin — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 13:05:28 +0000

Amy’s Helping Hands has taken a significant new step to help address some of the biggest concerns families have with caring for their aging parents: education, time and support.

Recent statistics indicate that 80% of caregiving duties are provided by family members. This takes the form of sons, daughters, grandchildren, nieces and nephews providing informal care for their aging relatives and loved ones. “Many times caring for seniors comes with increased stress and sacrificing personal time juggling family, work and caregiving responsibilities.“ says Amy Szewczuk,
Owner.

One resource Amy’s Helping Hands is excited to offer the public is FREE online courses for family caregivers to learn more about caring for their senior loved one and themselves.

“This resource is our way of giving back to Windsor and Essex County. We are honoured by the Windsor Chamber New Business of the Year Award along with the hundreds of families that
have selected us for senior care services. In speaking to many of them they want to attend the support groups that are available in the community and learn more about properly caring for their loved ones but the major barrier we always hear is – I don’t have the time.” says Szewczuk.

This online tool available anytime from your PC, contains courses to help educate on senior care topics and issues. Some of the 40 courses available include: Dealing with Stress, Becoming a Caregiver, Common Chronic Diseases, Alzheimer’s Disease – Signs, Symptoms & Diagnosis and Preventing Weight Loss.

This FREE resource is specifically designed for family members who provide any type of direct care or support. These courses can be accessed via the internet and do not require attending classes.

To access the courses, visit the company website at www.amyshelpinghands.ca and click on the Family Caregiver Support Services link or call 519-915-4370. There is a short form to fill out and your unique user ID and password will be emailed back to you.

“We are excited to be able to help the community. We view our company as families helping families and we always want to partner with community resources to help out any way we
can.” says Amy Szewczuk.

Amy’s Helping Hands provides home care services for seniors in Windsor and Essex County in the form of companionship, homemaking, personal care, transportation, foot care, medical monitoring systems and much more. Services can be provided in the home, retirement & nursing homes and hospitals

Amy’s Helping Hands Holding Open House

admin — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:56:24 +0000

Amy’s Helping Hands is pleased to announce their open house on Saturday September 10, 2011 between 10am and 3pm at their new location, 1610 Sylvestre Dr. Tecumseh Ontario. There will be other vendors present catering to senior service needs along with refreshments and a charity BBQ. If you have needs now or in the future it is worth while to take the 15 minutes to check out what we have to offer to help keep your senior loved one safe and happy at home for as long as possible. The event is open to the general public along with clients and staff. Additionally, we are offering free online courses for the family caregiver which you can obtain information about at the open house. If you would like additional information please call 519-915-4370.

Amy’s Helping Hands Awarded “Best in Homecare 2011″

admin — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 03:16:15 +0000

Amy’s Helping Hands today announced that it has been recognized with Home Care Pulse’s “Best of Home Care” distinction. Awarded to the top 25% of agencies in client and employee satisfaction scores from Home Care Pulse, Amy’s Helping Hands is now ranked among a select few of the best agencies in North America.

Amy’s Helping Hands achieved the designation in all 13 categories which has only been achieved by 2% of home care companies that are part of the continuous quality initiative which includes over 300 companies across North America. The selection process for the “Best of Home Care” includes the evaluation of client and employee satisfaction in areas such as agency training, communication, overall quality of care, caregiver performance, caregiver morale, response to problems and recommendation of services to name a few.

“We know that sometimes it is difficult to make care decisions when you don’t have specific experience with an agency. It was our goal to provide families with the ability to make an informed decision, have tangible ways to measure quality and help them find a comfort level when choosing an agency to work with,” commented Aaron Marcum, founder of Home Care Pulse.

Home Care Pulse, a company which measures client and employee satisfaction, created the award to identify those agencies in the private duty home care space that demonstrated a passion for client and employee satisfaction. Home Care Pulse believes that honoring such companies can both educate and help families to make better care decisions for their aging loved ones.

We are honoured to receive this award said Amy Szewczuk,Owner We feel it is a testament to our employees dedication and commitment to helping others. We view our services of helping seniors as “our family of caregivers helping your family.” Our services many times augment government funded services and allow many seniors to stay in their homes for as long as possible.

“We want to congratulate Amy’s Helping Hands for winning the “Best of Home Care” award and commend their commitment to placing high priority on client and employee satisfaction,” concluded Marcum.

The 13 categories that Amy’s Helping Hands acheived the distinction of being in the top quartile in terms of customer satisfaction surveys include the following:

Overall Quality of Service
Caregiver’s Work Ethic
Caregiver’s Timeliness
Caregiver’s Training & Knowledge
Caregiver’s Compassion
Caregiver’s Appropriate Appearance
Confidence Level in Agency Management
Effective Communication from Agency
Agency’s Response to Problems
Receiving the Service as Promised
Recommend Agency to Others
Coordination of Caregiver’s Schedule
Overall Combined Average

To find out more about the “Best of Home Care” award or Home Care Pulse, please visit www.bestofhomecare.com.