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!
