Memories Lost and Found

I love the holidays!  Filled with memories, time with family and friends, great tastes and smells - it doesn't get any better!  But for families of those who are losing their memories, the holidays can be bittersweet.  It becomes more and more important to engage on a daily basis our loved ones suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's, and to reenforce the comfort of past events and traditions even more strongly than we normally would.

Consistency is a key element of slowing the progress of these illnesses, along with medications and repetitive therapies which show the same faces, words and situations over and over again.  It is also vital to reduce agitation and stressful incidents.  So don't make a big deal over who sits where at the dinner table, as long as your ailing loved one knows the faces and is comfortable with the arrangement.  Don't get all wound up about whether the gifts are opened one at a time while everyone watches and oohs and aahs.  Get more wound up about having the opportunity to present someone with a photo album or memory book of special people, vacations and holiday gatherings - things that will actually prompt a remembrance and a smile.

We know there is not presently a way to stop the progression of the illnesses, but there will always be ways to make our loved ones know how valued they are right now and right here.  Ask them to tell stories of holidays when they were growing up, record them, take pictures, have them identify people in old photos.  Embrace these times with all your might and store these memories for yourself.  By being a little selfish in our desire to learn more about our elders and keep those stories for our own children, we are also being selfless in our desire to bind these generations together. 

Memories are priceless, but even priceless things can be lost.  Take the time this holiday season to make sure your priceless memories are preserved and to make sure your priceless loved ones are honored.  The holidays are the perfect time!

Time Flies

It's an old saying, but oh so true - time flies!  And it flies whether we're having fun or not, so we might as well make the most of it.  Today I attended my niece's college softball signing ceremony, and darned if she wasn't actually a young woman standing up there instead of that baby girl with the Fischer Price ball machine and child's plastic bat.  What happened?

Our most precious commodity is not oil or gas or gold or silver.  The most precious gift we have is time, and it is the one commodity we tend to waste without a second thought.  We put off the time we could be spending with family, we create stress by making our to-do lists miles long when we could just as easily hire someone to do some of those things for us, and we fail to value the little moments that can leave lasting memories.

My daughter is a junior in high school now, and sometimes I could kick myself for wasting time arguing with her about what she's going to wear to school when I could be imparting all of my wisdom to her instead.  On second thought, I shouldn't kick myself because I'm trying to make a point - making a good impression involves many things, including looking neat and somewhat like you haven't slept in your clothes.  And if a few of my moments are spent making a point, I guess I'm good with that.

I do wonder how many minutes I have wasted, though, when we could have been making memories.  Timesavers is about allowing families to make their own memories, giving them the freedom to allow someone else to do the mundane things that take time away from loved ones, and encouraging the time families spend together to be special times rather than stressful times.

I'm a big believer in things happening for a reason, and I know grace is what led me to this business, to helping people and trying to make a difference in their lives, just like so many people have made a difference in my and my family's lives.  Because of the power of grace, I give thanks this week for all my blessings, including the blessing of time, and I renew my commitment to making the most of every minute of it.  Won't you join me?  Don't let time fly past you - grab it and hold on tight!

Boost Me Please

Organization is a difficult concept.  I do a great job of organizing other people, but need other people to organize me!  Because of my own challenges, I understand the need for someone whom we wouldn't ordinarily think of as in need of a personal assistant needing that very special person who can keep them on track, on schedule and involved.

A lovely lady asked me the other day if we provided an escort service.  After I giggled oh, so immaturely, I thought for a minute and told her that, although we didn't call it an escort service, it was exactly what we provided.  Because whether we call it a personal assistant, an escort, an organizer, a keeper of the schedule, or any other moniker, it all amounts to the same thing - we help someone be where they want to be when they want to be there and then make sure they get to the next place safely and on time, too!  All the while, we try to make sure our clients' homes run just as smoothly.

I appear to be my teenage daughter's personal assistant and keeper of the schedule, so I know it's a complex job requiring patience and a special skill set.  And we know that many of our clients who are transitioning in their lives need just a little boost when it comes to the energy that allows them to stay involved, engaged, and going strong.  So we try to match our specially skilled staff with our very special clients and voila - we've made the difference that matters!  Give us a try - we think you'll agree!

Lucky Girl

When my daughter was very young, she would roam from door to door in our neighborhood, ring the bell and ask "Do any kids live here?"  Now, I knew she was lonely sometimes being an only child, but really - door to door seeking of playmates seemed a bit much!  What she got in the process, though, was something so much more wonderful and longlasting than an afternoon of playing games.  My daughter's persistence ultimately gave her at least two sets of surrogate grandparents, two couples who have loved her, followed her growth, encouraged and counseled her, and treated her just like they do their own grandchildren. 

My daughter was very lucky to have three grandparents until just last year.  Since that time, she has lost two of them.  But she has always embraced with great gusto the grandchild/grandparent relationship, and has grown up knowing it doesn't have to be limited to blood relationships.

One thing I try to do with Timesavers is carry over the feeling of family that is so precious to me.  Our whole team tries to make sure all of our older clients know they are valuable to us and that we appreciate everything they have brought and will continue to bring to the world. 

Now I don't go around knocking on doors randomly looking for someone to play with, but I hope my philosophy about the older people in the world reflects the fact that I enjoy their company and think they have a great story to tell and a great contribution to make to young people like my daughter.  I know my daughter has been given a great gift by her surrogate grandparents and all of those people who have been kind enough to allow her into their lives.  I hope we can all be so lucky.

Autumnal Advice

Autumn might be my favorite time of year.  The perfect temperatures, the beautiful colors, the upcoming holidays - all combine for a nice, warm feeling inside.  But it can also mean extra yard work, lengthy honey-do lists, and multiple trips to the garden or home store.

Balancing what should be enjoyed with what has to be done is a difficult task that can create far more stress than it's worth.  So think of your time this way - if you spend 5 hours cleaning gutters, raking and bagging leaves, and trimming shrubs, then spend an hour in a warm shower and a rubdown with muscle balm, then are too exhausted and sore to go to the evening's dinner with friends, bonfire or football game - well, what have you gained?  You've saved a few dollars, but you've lost something much more valuable.

Time is a treasured commodity, and the time we are able to spend with family and friends has a value beyond any dollar amount.  Timesavers wants your time to be spent in a way that is most fulfilling for you and your family, and we are here to help! 

When you look at your yard, look at the rake, look at the ladder, and look at the clock, just turn around and pick up the phone.  The dollars you spend on Timesavers services will be insignificant compared to the time and freedom you will gain to spend making memories and enjoying those people you might not see often or who might be getting on in years. 

It's all a balancing act, so make sure your beautiful autumnal season is filled with just the right balance.  You won't regret it.

Making Smiles From Sandwiches

When I heard about the sandwich generation for the first time, I assumed I was part of it.  I, being the fourth of five children, had parents a little older than most of my friends' parents, and I, being a late starter having children, am the parent of a teenager.  So I am sandwiched between  having the privilege of helping my mom out when I can and running my daughter hither and yon.

When I allowed myself to delve a little deeper, though, I realized that every generation is a sandwich generation - my generation just thinks of it through more of a me-centered prism.  I never gave it a second thought when my grandmothers lived with us while I was growing up.  Multiple generations living together used to be a way of life, and it was a way of life that benefited everyone.

More families with two breadwinners have definitely made it more difficult for everyone to live together, but there is still no shortage of families caring for children and assisting with the needs of aging parents at the same time.  I think we just look at it much more now from the perspective of the stress it places on the caregivers, and rightly so.  Faster paced lives, more activities, the need to be everywhere at once - it can all seem just too much.

While caregiving is a great responsibility, it is also such a gift!  I wouldn't trade my days of playing cards with my mother's mother or sitting next to her at church stroking the fox fur around her neck while she slipped me cherry lifesavers; nor would I give up my memories of sitting at my father's mother's vanity playing with the bright red lipstick and stark white powder while she cooked cornbread and beans for dinner.  

Timesavers came to be from a very specific philosophy - when we are able to help families who are stretched too thin from a time standpoint, and when we find the right caregivers to build a trust relationship with our clients, we are enhancing the lives of both our clients and our caregivers.  We are a service based in finding the ways to make a family's time spent with loved ones the very best of times, the times from which their memories will bring smiles for years and generations to come.  We are a service intended to make the difference that matters.

Life's Chauffeur

When you think of a chauffeur, you probably think of movie stars, political big shots, or Donald Trump.  But everyone's life could use a chauffeur!  Because all it really means is you get a little help getting from one place to another.  Whether you need to shuttle to the airport or go to the grocery store, having some company along the way is never a bad thing.

We were so very fortunate this week to receive a call from a sweet older gentleman trying to figure out how to get from Bowling Green to Pensacola to see his brother who was hospitalized.  In our world, getting older means classifying someone as "older" is relative - this particular gentleman is 91 years old.  After many phone calls, Facebook posts and questions and lots of offers of financial help from great friends, conversations with the Pensacola hospital, several airlines, and then the gentleman's son, we got it figured out!  Chauffeuring to the airport was never so useful or so enriching for our driver!

Now, this is not to say that a special night out isn't a good reason to have a chauffeur.  What could be more relaxing than sitting in the back seat of a luxury sedan with your sweetie while being driven to a great restaurant, play or concert?

And then there's the matter of getting to the big box store, parking a mile away and having to bag, box and load all of those items alone.  Why not have a driver and helper along? 

You see, we don't think "help" is a bad word - it isn't a sign of weakness or dependency.  "Help" is a gift we are all able to provide in one way or another.  And in our case, part of the help we provide is with a chauffeur service - it's part of the difference that matters.  So whether going to the airport, the hairdresser, or out for a night on the town, let us help!  You deserve it!

Concierge Me!

            And today I begin blogging in earnest!  Things are certainly exciting at Timesavers – we are offering more and new services, have an office space that is inhabited by real live human beings part-time, and have hired some new employees to add to our roster of outstanding and caring individuals whose only goal is to make the difference that matters for you and your family.

            Timesavers is a concierge service, but that seems awfully high-falutin’.  “Concierge” is just a fancy word for doing all those little things you don’t have time to finish or that just plain make you crazy!  You know, the post office, the dry cleaners, the pet store, the grocery, having the oil changed in the car … on and on it goes!

            Typically, a day in the life of one of our great staff might include picking up fresh produce from the farmers’ market, picking up the dry cleaning, standing in line to get license plates renewed at the clerk’s office, then going to a client’s home to do laundry, change the beds, and fix a light supper.  And if you look at this list, it might just hit you that if you do all of those things in a day yourself, you don’t have time to go to your own job or time to enjoy your family, or time to be at peace.

            Timesavers has a philosophy – we are locally owned and believe our community is the best around and we want our clients to be able to breathe in the Bowling Green air and experience all it has to offer without the mind clutter that can make days so long and stress so overwhelming.  We want to make that effort that allows you to say “wow, my weekend was fantastic because someone I trust helped me do all of my errands and little jobs during the week.”  We want to be your someone to trust!  Visit us beginning Monday, September 10, 2012, on Monday and Wednesday afternoons inside First Choice Home Medical in Thoroughbred Square beside Rafferty’s.  We look forward to being the difference that matters in your life!     

And We're Off!

Wow - the past six weeks have flown by, and Timesavers has been holding on tight! We love the exhilarating feeling of flying along, and we love the changes and improvements happening for us everyday! The next few posts will focus on what a day in the life is like of someone providing the services we provide. We'll sketch for you a portrait of what makes us different from other services, of what makes us unique. As time passes, we tend to realize more and more how important it is to do something each day that makes a difference in the world. Whether someone recognizes how they are meant to leave their mark at a young age or in the last years of their lives,it's never too late to find the path down which we were meant to travel. If Timesavers can help you navigate that path, we want to be there, either providing assistance or standing on the sidelines with encouragement, compassion, and a big dose of belief. Time does seem to fly, so why not grab on with both hands and see where the flight will take you - there's really nothing to lose!

Welcome

It looks like I’ll be writing a blog every couple of weeks for our re-vamped website, and I hope you will find it both informative and entertaining!  We do a lot of things at Timesavers, and one of the services of which we’re very proud is our caregiving.  What we do is non-medical, but what we try to achieve for our clients is the equivalent of the very best remedy around – contentment, independence, socialization, engagement with the community, and outstanding quality of life.

When I was growing up, my family always had an older or unwell family member either living or staying with us.  Grandmothers, uncles, cousins – it was just part of our life.  I never thought a thing about the fact that my grandmother had her own little apartment at our house, or that my uncle stayed with us for months while he recovered from a heart attack.  It just seemed right.

Well, that was a long time ago, and things have changed for families now.  Family members are scattered across the country, if not the world; most husbands and wives both work outside the home; children’s schedules are hectic and time-consuming; and it’s just not always feasible to move a family member into the downstairs bedroom for six months.  The population of those needing some kind of help grows daily, and family can’t always meet the need.

If the alternative is people not receiving the help they need to remain in their homes or as independent as possible in an independent living or assisted living community, I just don’t accept that.  I experienced first-hand what it takes to make someone’s quality of life as high as possible for as long as possible, and I know that, even if there isn’t a family member around to help, there are other ways.

Churches, social organizations, veterans’ groups, and state and federal resources are all a great help to those who need a little boost every now and then.  And there are those services that offer the alternative of providing the same kind of help a family member would – compassionate, trustworthy, interested, and dedicated to one person at a time.  At Timesavers, we like to think we are that kind of service – our goal is to make our clients feel like family.

We work very hard to make certain we do the grocery shopping the way our clients want; we are available when needed for transportation out to eat, to the doctor, or just out for a ride; we prepare meals and do the housekeeping the way our clients would do it for themselves; and we treat our clients with respect when tending to their personal needs.  I could go on and on about the many things we do for our clients, but I have to save something for the next installment!

If I looked at caregiving needs from a numbers only perspective, I would tell you all about various studies and statistics.  But I look at those needs through the window of my own experiences.  You know, as do I, that those we love remain more engaged and happy when they are around people, activity, and things they love.  It doesn’t take a scientific study of the brain to realize it.  So call someone you love, or go visit them and just see how they’re doing.  Or let Timesavers help you help them.  You might be surprised at the lift you give their day, and you might even feel a little lift yourself!  Make a difference!