Thanks for inquiring about in-home care through Senior Helpers. Here's some background information on who we are, what we do and why we do it.

A few years ago, my wife and I needed help with her mother because we both worked. So we choose our caregivers as if we were hiring someone to come into our own home. It's the reason we got into this business. What we found was that the helpers made a huge difference in her life, giving her a sense of independence in that she got help she wanted when she needed it "“ but also giving my wife peace of mind. There was another benefit we hadn't anticipated: Because her mother's needs were being met, she could enjoy more of the time she had with her mother.

Our experiences when we needed help were not all good. While we had some very nice ladies who came to care for her mother, sometimes they were late. Sometimes they didn't show up at all. Sometimes a substitute showed up without any notification from the agency. Sometimes these substitutes knew nothing about Marian's mother's needs.

We make every effort to do better -- and it starts with hiring the right people, those who view this work as a calling and not just a job. After you hire us, we come personally with our caregiver to introduce her to your family "“ a caregiver chosen only after meeting with you to fully understand your family's needs. We prepare a care plan in advance and review it with her before she starts, as well as during that first meeting. If we must send a substitute (if, for example, the regular caregiver is sick), we make every effort to come with the substitute to introduce her, after explaining your family's needs.

If you're like most folks looking for help, you have concerns about having someone come into your home or that of a loved one to provide care. Our hiring process includes a national criminal history check, phone calls to families they've worked with in the past, an extensive orientation, verification of certified nursing assistant licenses and more. And, of course, we have a core group of ladies who have worked for us for a long time and whom we know well.

When we set up service, it's our intent to send the same caregiver for however long we provide service. Our caregivers are my employees, which means we supervise and monitor them closely, pay their FICA taxes, and they are carefully screened with extensive reference and background checks. And we're licensed by the state. I can provide documentation of all the insurance coverages ($1 million Workmen's Comp, $1 million general liability, $25,000 bond) and a copy of our license if you'd like.

In addition to bathing, dressing, toileting, ambulating, transferring and feeding "“ all considered personal, hands-on care, our caregivers can also provide:

• Caring Companionship & Conversation
• Light Housekeeping
• Alzheimer's & Dementia Care
• Monitoring bathing, dressing, toileting
• Meal Planning & Preparation
• Organize Closets & Pantries
• Medication Reminders
• Laundry
• Help with Bills/Mail
• Errands & Transportation

We look forward to speaking with you.

Dale and Marian Gardner

Caregiver Information

Caregiver Skills Include:

Ethics, Validation Therapy, Patient Transfers, Family Communication, Communicating with Dementia Patients

Caregivers employed, bonded and insured: Yes

RN on staff: Yes

Caregivers available 24 hours a day: Yes

Available to assisted living facility: Yes