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Senior Care Spotlight: Transitions for Senior Living

Senior Care: Have you been stressed about the care and safety of an aging loved one?

 

 

Not sure you understand all the care levels available or what care is needed?

Did you know there is a free, unbiased service that can personally walk you through the process? Transitions For Senior Living has been working in the St. Louis area for 10 years, helping families in your same situation, we care and can give you the peace of mind that you are making the best decision possible.

MAKE THE CALL…(it’s easy!)
Phone us, we will respond as soon as possible, we know this was a tough call to make and we don’t want you to wait. If you want to find out more about Transitions Team, check out our website: TransitionsForSeniorLiving.com and fill out our inquiry form.

⦁ PHONE CONVERSATION
Our first conversation will help us understand your family’s physical, cognitive, and social care needs, answer your questions, and set up a time to meet in person. 

⦁ PERSONAL CONSULTATION
At our meeting, we’ll discuss various care options that might be the best fit for your loved one, taking into consideration physical and social care needs, geographic preference, and budget. If placement is not an immediate need, we’ll discuss other resources, connect you with trusted care partners to ensure the safety and comfort for your loved one.

⦁ YOUR PLAN
Together we will create a plan with a clear understanding of timeline and next steps. We will be with you through every step of the process. Our services are personalized because every situation is unique.

⦁ COMMUNITY OR CARE AT HOME OPTIONS
When we identify the top 3 to 5 communities, whether independent, assisted, memory care or skilled nursing, we’ll schedule tours, accompany you to each community, ask the questions that will give you the most comprehensive understand of the care each community will provide, be an advocate, answer questions, and help make a smooth transition.

⦁ ONGOING SUPPORT
Once care has been established, we will follow up to ensure that your expectations of the care, comfort, and safety needs of your loved one are being met. We can help with connecting you to trusted partners for elder attorneys, financial planners, real estate agents, day programs, move managers, and in-home care.

So, whether in crisis-mode or planning ahead we can help, we have comprehensive knowledge, experience and connections for all facets senior care and can help you. We want to give you the education and understanding to make the best choice for your loved ones the first time.  

Transitions For Senior Living is a free, unbiased, family service that has been helping families, over the past 10 years, to personally help families with all their care needs. We have a wide range of trusted partners from financial planners, elder care attorneys, in-home care services, medical alert systems, and veteran’s benefit planning. Give one of our Senior Care Advocates a call and we will personally meet with you and your family to understand your physical, cognitive, financial, and social care needs, pare down the options and tour appropriate communities with you, Completely free of Charge.  

Guest Article Contributed by Sharon Balleau, .  

Contact us:
Sharon Balleau –
314-606-8531

Carmen Worley – 314-960-0519

TransitionsForSeniorLiving.com

 

 

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering choosing Medical Alarms in St. Louis, MO, please contact the friendly staff at Around The Clock Medical Alarms.
Call Us: 877.449.5566

 

Medical Alarms in St. Louis MO: Stress

Stress: Four Big Ways for Your Senior to Reduce Her Stress

Stress is a major hazard for your elderly family member because it can lead to bigger health issues.

Stress can also cause your senior to make less healthy choices for herself. Reducing stress is something that you and your elderly family member can tackle together, but she needs to be willing to share with you what’s causing her the biggest issues. Some of these answers might be helpful for your conversation.

 

Medical Alarms in St. Louis MO: Stress

Medical Alarms in St. Louis MO: Stress

 

 

Reach out to Find Solutions for Big Stressors

The typical stressors of life, like a demanding career, may not be a concern for your senior anymore, but that doesn’t mean that she doesn’t experience stress. She may be worried about her health, about the people that she loves, and about how she’s going to meet her own goals like aging in place. Encourage her to talk to you about what she finds stressful and how you can help her.

 

Find Ways to Add More Fun to Every Day

Life doesn’t have to be staid and gloomy. Especially for your elderly family member, it’s important that there’s some fun in every aspect of her day. This might be a new idea for your senior to embrace, but it’s also an easy concept to put into practice. Try small things at first and add more every day.

 

Try a Variety of Relaxation Techniques

There are a lot of different options available when it comes to relaxation techniques. Your senior might find that meditation works well for her or she might enjoy deep breathing more. Some people enjoy yoga, while others prefer walking meditations. The key is just for your elderly family member to find something that works well for her and that she enjoys. That means she’ll stick with it.

 

Stress: Consider Assistive Tools Like Medical Alarms

When your senior is stressed because of her health, that might cause her to avoid doing things that she loves to do. That robs her in a variety of different ways. Assistive devices like medical alarms offer her a chance to feel safer knowing that if something does happen, she can call for help right away. That alone can greatly reduce her stress.

Getting to the root of your senior’s stress as quickly as possible can help you to suggest different options for her that might be helpful. Working together with her medical team, you can likely find a combination of answers that meet her needs.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering choosing Medical Alarms in St. Louis MO, please contact the friendly staff at Around The Clock Medical Alarms.
Call Us: 877.449.5566

Fall Detection Device

Caregiver? Let me help you to help them!

April 13, 2021

Subject: Caregiver?
Let me help you to help them!

Hey, friends and family!

Medical Alarms in Cape Girardeau MO: Senior Safety

I hope you’re doing well! Many of you know this, but nine years ago, I started my own business in the Personal Emergency Response (PERS) industry. As crazy as it sounds, I LOVE WHAT I DO! I get excited to know that I can help our subscribers (AND their families) to have peace of mind that they can maintain their safety and independence! But I also know that the reality is that most people do not realize how beneficial these devices are. Many caregivers feel overwhelmed with the fear of an aging, or ill, loved one living alone or potentially falling. Additionally, most people get anxious about having to deal with this very overwhelming (but important!) part of their lives. That’s exactly why I started my business.

I love being able to do what I love (working with families) to help people with something they don’t love (navigating the aging process). If you, or anyone you know, needs help to get a medic alert system in place, I’d be thrilled to help! I can help to determine what equipment best suits their particular need, answer any questions, establish service, and get them protected, so you don’t have to worry about a thing. And you can relax knowing you’ll get the most reliable, dependable, and affordable PERS system possible.

 

You can learn more about my business at my website: AroundTheClockMedicalAlarms.com or feel free to call me at 573-334-7233 to answer any questions that you might have.

 

 

Our mission is to provide a medical alarm service to the elderly and ill that will enable them to remain independent in their own homes. Oftentimes, we can complete the order process in a few minutes. Once that order process is complete, the service to protect the ones whom you love and care for can be in place within a matter of hours or days.

Thank you for all your support and encouragement on this journey. I hope that you think of me when you hear of someone who is dealing with an aging, or ill, loved one or who might be seeking a medical alarm device.

I hope to hear from you soon! Please share my information with anyone that you feel might benefit from my service or that you may be concerned about. It’s a great Mother’s Day & Father’s Day Gift Idea!

With warm regards –

Linda Bass, owner

p.s. Send us your email to linda@334safe.com to receive your copy of our monthly newsletter!

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering choosing Medical Alarms in Cape Girardeau MO, please contact the friendly staff at Around The Clock Medical Alarms.
Call Us: 877.449.5566

 

 

Senior Care Spotlight: Home Sweet Home Senior Transitions

Home Sweet Home Senior Transitions takes the stress out of moving so our clients can relax and simply enjoy living in their new home.

For over 16 years, Home Sweet Home has assisted seniors, and their families, with the process of moving to a senior community, apartment, condo, or new house. Our experienced team carefully packs your belongings – right down to your toothbrush – and our movers load and transport them to your new home. By the end of the day, you are relaxing in your new home, and your toothbrush is by the sink!

 

 

Owner Kristen Lund and her crew not only pack, move and unpack all your belongings, but they also make sure your new home is safe from trip hazards, that lighting is adequate in each room and that your new space is organized to make daily living more carefree. “Our clients’ safety is our top priority. My team takes into account any challenges our clients have, like placing furniture for easy wheelchair access and setting up the kitchen and bathroom so everyday items are within reach,” Lund said. “We often work with the adult children of our clients, and I ask about any concerns they see happening with their parents so we can accommodate them.”

Many times, the toughest issue for our clients is leaving a home of 30, 40, or 50 years filled with memories – and belongings. Going through years of accumulation is challenging, especially for seniors. It can be physically demanding, but more so, it can be especially difficult to part with a lifetime of treasures. Lund and her team are experts at helping clients sort through it all prior to the move. “As soon as I begin working with a client, we sit down together with their new floor plan and talk through which pieces of furniture will fit into their new home. Then as we get closer to the move day, we help them sort through closets, kitchen drawers, basement storage, or wherever the need is, to help declutter and organize so everything will fit safely in the new space — and still feel like their home.

 

“I have found, over my 16 years in this business, that our service is important, not only to our clients but especially to their families. We’ve been told many times, how much relief we bring to the adult children, knowing that they don’t have to be the ones sorting through years of stuff,” Lund remarked, and added, “the adult kids know they probably won’t have the same success as a professional with experience in downsizing, especially when we’re talking about moving from a large 3- or 4-bedroom house into a much smaller senior community unit. Also, there’s the ‘parent-kid thing’ that can come into play.” Lund laughs.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Home Sweet Home has been in even more demand. Until recently, senior communities haven’t allowed family members in, in order to keep everyone safe. In most cases, Lund and her crew were the only ones allowed to move, unpack and set up their home. “I can’t begin to tell you how many adult kids were concerned, knowing they couldn’t help their parents on move day. When they found out we would handle the entire process, their stress level went way down.”

 

Kristen Lund owner of Home Sweet Home brings valuable experience to Home Sweet Home clients in space, design, and organization. Kristen stresses to our clients that a successful move begins with knowing what to take, what to share with family members, and deciding what can be left behind. Kristen custom tailors the downsizing process to meet each individual’s needs. In addition, she helps her clients create a beautiful, functional, and unique living space that can be enjoyed at the end of the move day.

 

 

 

 

For more information on Home Sweet Home Senior Transitions, contact Kristen Lund at (636) 675-3667 or go to HomeSweetHomeSTL.com.

 

 

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering choosing Medical Alarms in Cape Girardeau MO, please contact the friendly staff at Around The Clock Medical Alarms.
Call Us: 877.449.5566

 

Senior Care Spotlight: Reverse Mortgage

The Federal Savings Bank is a veteran-owned bank specializing in home lending.

The Bank is certified to lend in all fifty states. My current position as a Senior Vice President of the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage division brings together my interest in volunteer work with non-profit organizations such as The Kaufman Fund (a veteran-centric charity that among other activities raises money for other veteran charities) and Aging Ahead (which funds Meals on Wheels and 20 senior centers around the St. Louis area).

The reason I enjoy marketing Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (Reverse Mortgages) is my understanding that we are faced with a dilemma with our senior population today. Everything costs more than was expected, people are living longer than expected, employer-funded pensions are no longer available to the majority and few have fully funded 401ks or 403bs. In this environment, where homes are one of the largest assets for a large percentage of our population, why wouldn’t the equity one has in their home be considered in a holistic approach to financial planning?

 

When I meet with a financial advisor, I ask them if they had a client that invested in a 401k for thirty years, wouldn’t they recommend the client use these dollars for retirement? I then explain that I work with people that have invested in many cases for thirty years or more, that just do not realize they were investing but thought that they were paying off a mortgage.

 

The Home Equity Conversion Mortgage product allows the homeowner access to tax-free equity in their home without giving up ownership of their home.
The product allows the homeowner to decide each month whether to make mortgage payments, partial mortgage payments, or no mortgage payments at all. In addition to providing the most flexible payment approach to home equity loans available, it is also a fully insured loan that protects the heirs from losing money on the inherited home when the parent is no longer living in the home. The equity can be accessed as a lump sum, a tenured amount for life or a specific time period, a line of credit, or any combination of these methods.

 

The product has changed a great deal in the approximately thirty years since it was created. It is administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). One of the more recent modifications made to the program can be most useful to those looking to right-size their home.

  In years past when a homeowner with a three-story house decided that they no longer liked going up and down the stairs, they would sell their home and create a liquid pool of money to purchase a home more fitting to their needs (a villa, a ranch home, etc.). They found that they had two choices, either use the majority of their pool of money to purchase the new home outright or make a down payment and then have a mortgage payment.

Any rational financial advisor would not recommend that their senior client “bury” their liquid capital in their new home and few people age 62 or older want to have a mortgage payment.

 In answer to this, HUD modified the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage product so that it could be utilized to purchase the right-sized home without using the majority of the client’s liquid capital and not necessitating a monthly mortgage payment. The client brings their portion of the purchase price (based upon the age of the younger buyer) to Closing and the lender provides the rest. The new homeowner is in the position of not using the majority of their liquid capital and not having a mandatory monthly mortgage payment.

   
Guest article contributed by: Dennis Cooper, HECM Senior Vice President

Dennis Cooper, HECM Senior Vice President
The Federal Savings Bank | 1623 Forestview Ridge Lane, Ballwin, MO 63021
direct: (636) 334-0001
fax: (636) 334-0000
cell: (636) 675-1267
email: dcooper@thefederalsavingsbank.com
web: www.thefederalsavingsbank.com/denniscooper
NMLS# 525398
Member FDIC | Equal Housing Lender Apply Now: https://www.thefederalsavingsbank.com/hecm/application?BankerID=dcooper 
H4P Specialist

 

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering choosing Medical Alarms in St. Louis, MO, please contact the friendly staff at Around The Clock Medical Alarms.
Call Us: 877.449.5566

Company News :Family Caregiver

Being A Family Caregiver

Are you the family caregiver?

Do you know that it is the toughest job you’ll ever love?

Do you know that family caregiving has replaced child care as the number one reason that people miss work?  If you are like many of us, you are sandwiched in between taking care of your children and your elder loved ones. 

The following quick tips can help to make the job a little easier!  

10 tips to help you to maintain your own sanity and health to continue to provide the care necessary to your aging, or ill, loved ones:

1. You are NOT ALONE!  Seek support from other caregivers or support groups if you need help.  Use the resources you have available — they’re out there!

2. Take care of your own health!  This will enable you to be strong enough to take care of others.  You cannot be effective in caring for others, if you’re not at 100%.

3. Accept offers of help!  You can suggest specific things that people can do to help you.  Your friends, family, and neighbors can help to “lighten the load” by sharing the responsibilities of caregiving.

4. Communicate effectively with doctors, nurses, or other health care providers  — yours and theirs!  The medical community cannot help, if they do not know what assistance you need.  Be clear and conscience about the things that are going on for you and the ones for whom you provide caregiving.

5. Take frequent respite breaks! Caregiving is hard work.  You deserve breaks. Remember that you cannot function at your best if you do not get rest!

6. Watch for signs of depression!  Caregiving can take a toll on your mental state.  Do not delay seeking professional help if/when you need it.  

7. Take advantage of technologies that can help you to care for your loved one. There are numerous tools available that can make both of your lives easier.  (One example is a medical alert system that will allow your loved one to never be alone, as well as bring you peace of mind knowing that they are able to get help any time, simply by pushing a button.)

8. Organize medical information.  It should be up to date and easy to find.  As a caregiver, you’re the advocate for your loved one and should have information readily available for emergent situations.

9. Get legal documents in order.  Seek legal counsel to get all the necessary paperwork ready in advance.  Do not wait for a crisis situation to occur and realize that you do not have the appropriate documentation.

10. Give yourself credit!  Do the best you can.  Caregiving is one of the toughest jobs there is….

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering choosing a Medical Alarms in St. Louis, MO, please contact the friendly staff at Around The Clock Medical Alarms.
Call Us: 877.449.5566
 

Medical Alarms in St. Louis MO: Senior Falls

Falls Revisited in Community Living – By Les Tainter

 

Statistics: How the Numbers Add Up

  • Recent studies suggest that 29% of adults over the age of 65 will fall at least once annually.
  • 10% of these “falling seniors” will fall at least twice annually.
  • After a fall, 25% of older adults will restrict their activity for at least a day or seek medical attention.
  • More serious injuries such as fractures, joint dislocations, sprains or strains, and concussions occur in approximately 10% of falls.
  • Rhabdomyolysis, (a breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue) can develop in people who are unable to get up after a fall and remain “down” for a long period of time.
  • 47% of senior adults who fall must have help from another person to get up.
  • After the fall occurs, a fear of falling again develops in 21-39% who previously had no such fear. Senior adults who fear falling again may restrict their activity and therefore will have a reduced quality of life.

 

The “Why” of Falls

Most falls result from a combination of intrinsic risks (such as balance impairment) and extrinsic risks (such as a trip or slip). Deficits in gait and balance are the greatest intrinsic factors. Medications, (including over-the-counter drugs), Alcohol, Visual problems, and impairments of cognition and mood remain among the top causes of falls.

 

Evaluation

Annual screening is recommended for all seniors in community-based living. This is important because seniors do not volunteer information about a previous fall. Screening questions should include information about the number of falls during the past year, as well as whether or not a fear of falling has limited their daily activity.

The Mayo Clinic has developed a very simple fall risk evaluation. Place the test subject in a chair with a mark 10 feet in front of the chair. On command, the subject will rise, go to the mark, and return to a seated position. If the subject completes the task in less than 10 seconds they are considered “normal” for fall risk. 10-20 seconds places the subject in a “moderate risk” for falls and greater than 20 seconds places them in a “high risk” category for falls.

Exercise should be encouraged in all seniors if they can. Those seniors who participated in fall prevention exercises were found to reduce their risk of falling by 23% as compared to a control group that did not exercise. Other studies show that exercise may reduce the number of falls resulting in fractures by as much as 27%.

Tai chi has been proven to be effective in reducing fall rates by as much as 19% when participants used tai chi 1-3 times per week for at least 13 -48 weeks.

Surprisingly, walking is included in many exercise programs but on its own has not been shown to prevent falls.

Assessment

Assessment of gait, strength, and balance is an important early step in fall evaluation. A thorough medication review is also highly recommended. Medications which cause sedation, confusion, or orthostatic hypotension, (a sudden drop of blood pressure when standing) are leading causes. Eye exams are recommended every 1-2 years for adults over 65 years old. Evaluation of cognition and mood are needed to assess fall risk in seniors. Bone density studies are recommended especially for women over the age of 65. Osteoporosis is a major contributing factor to fall which results in hip or other fractures.

Overall, the senior adults in community-based living are at no more of a risk for falls than those that still live at home. They do have a support structure that, if evaluation, assessment, and preventative exercise are properly used can significantly reduce the risk or falling as well as breaking the cycle of fall-fear falling- fall again. This fear of falling cycle can greatly reduce the quality of life and can also make the risk of falling even greater than before. Proper exercise which focuses on increasing strength, balance, and range of motion can be a major force in reducing falls. It should be the focus of all senior living communities to keep seniors “upright” and enjoying these “Golden Years” of their life with as much smiling, love, and happiness as can be humanly possible.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering choosing Medical Alarms in St. Louis MO, please contact the friendly staff at Around The Clock Medical Alarms.
Call Us: 877.449.5566

Medical Alarms in St. Louis MO: Senior Care Spotlight

Senior Care Spotlight: 360 Quality Care + Transport Services

360 Quality Care + Transport Services is, as its name suggests, more than just a transport company.

Medical Alarms in St. Louis MO: Senior Care Spotlight

“We provide the ultimate in first-class specialty transportation services for those living with mobility challenges”, says Steve Newman, the company’s co-owner. Steve and his wife Debbie started 360 just over four years ago after researching the availability and service standards of senior care transport services in the St. Louis area. “We received feedback from home care agencies, hospital case managers, social workers, senior living admissions managers, and a host of local individuals and families”, Steve said “And all of them told us horror stories. At the time, my wife had been providing care and companionship services to seniors for almost twenty years and every one of her clients absolutely loved her. She had built a thriving business based entirely on referrals, and all because her of her amazing ability to care about, and for, others. Honestly, anyone who knows Debbie will tell you she is the most caring and giving person they’ve ever met”. Steve added, “So we decided to take the plunge into starting our own business with the goal of raising the bar on transport options for the mobility challenged”. Today, the company has a fleet of fourteen ADA-compliant vehicles and has completed over 27,000 transports. “The greatest testament to the work we’ve done over the last four years is the amount of testimonial phone calls and emails we receive each week. We certainly haven’t completed our mission, but it’s a great feeling to know and hear so frequently that we have succeeded in raising the bar for so many”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Passenger Service – the 360 “secret sauce”

360 Care + Transport’s service includes door-thru-door or bedside to bedside wheelchair, ambulatory or stretcher transportation. “Most transport companies only focus on curb to curb service and they fit multiple people into their vehicles at one time,” said Steve. “That requires them to pick-up and drop-off using a pre-assigned route structure that might take an hour or more for patients to get to their medical appointments, then another hour or two to get back home. And in the heat of the summer or the cold of the winter, they might be waiting outside for a long time before their ride would even arrive. It’s just not a good system, especially for those who are already vulnerable or not feeling well. So we designed our service to be one patient at a time. We’ll go into the home, or up to the hospital room with our own wheelchair. We’ll assist the patient and family in transferring the patient to the wheelchair, then we’ll gently move them out of their room or home and secure them carefully into the back of our van using a four-cornered restraint system that also includes a lap belt and shoulder harness. Our drivers are all hired for their caring and compassionate backgrounds and once the patient is comfortable in our van, we get the opportunity to get to know them a little bit.” Seventy-five percent of 360’s patients are repeat customers so they get to know both the patients and their families. “Our patients often become an extension of our own families,” says Steve, “We’ve been transporting many of them for several years on a very regular basis and it’s wonderful to have conversations with them about their children, where they used to live, the cars they drove, and the work they did”.

 

Smooth riding, ADA compliant vehicles that are ripe for conversation

While conversation is important, another key component of 360’s success is the vehicles they use. “All of our vehicles were purchased new and are now no more than four years old. They are all clean, well maintained, and sanitized after every transport. But it’s not just the appearance of our vans, it’s the practicality and suitability of them to provide the difference we want to make that makes them such a good fit for us. We utilize a fleet of Dodge Grand Caravan’s or Toyota Sienna’s, so all our vehicles are all mini-vans. With a rear-entry, fold-down ramp, we mitigate problems with cranky or jumpy hydraulic lifts especially in the winter when snow and salt can wreak havoc with the lifts that some of our competitors use. Any of the wheelchair-accessible conversion firms will tell you that the most common equipment breakdown is the hydraulic lift, so we immediately eliminated that problem with our vans”. Once inside the 360 vans, patients are secured in what before the conversion, would have been the middle row seat. “Our passengers get to sit close to us, just like our own families do when they travel with us. And being mini-vans, they ride comfortably and they are quiet, so our drivers can hear our passengers and they can hear us.” Steve goes on to say, “When we first looked into buying wheelchair accessible vehicles, we looked at the big delivery trucks but aside from the hydraulic lift, we also didn’t like the fact that the patient would ride all the way in the back and was about ten feet away from the driver. We always wanted to have conversations with our passengers and we knew that as far back as they were in those vehicles, they wouldn’t be able to hear us. So we went the minivan route instead, and we’ve never regretted it”.

 

Caring and Compassionate drivers – the heartbeat behind every 360 ride

360’s drivers undergo a rigorous hiring process. Most are former caregivers or former service professionals with experience in customer service and/or compassionate care. Steve says, “Since Covid, we’ve taken a close look at other struggling industries to see where we might be able to offer some help. For example, the hospitality industry and the foodservice industry have been decimated by Covid. Thousands of quality individuals, who have been trained at high customer service levels, have lost their jobs and can be excellent driver candidates. In addition, while many of our drivers have previously worked in-home care or at skilled nursing facilities, we also provide a great fit for retired or semi-retired professionals who are bored sitting at home, love and miss the daily interaction of the workplace, enjoy the role of being a communicator and making a difference in people’s lives, and can use the additional income. It’s the perfect part-time or full-time role for people who have a history of being reliable, caring, and compassionate”. Steve’s wife, Debbie, goes a step further, “Our drivers are the heartbeat and the face of our company and we empower them to always ‘do the right thing’ for every passenger we transport. As a result, they are proven difference makers who have the authority to make real-time decisions to make and keep our passengers and their families happy”.

 

The million-dollar difference – Employees, automation, and “Live” real-time dispatching

While quality service is paramount, so too is 360’s commitment to technology. Whereas many wheelchair transport services operate using just a “pen and a sheet of paper”, 360 drivers utilize a state-of-the-art driving app that, in addition to assigning their next transport, also scores their driving performance. Drivers earn bonuses for safe driving habits and overall driving performance, as well as for testimonials the company receives. In addition, the dispatching application shows 360’s dispatchers exactly where each vehicle is throughout the region in real-time. This allows them to dispatch “on the fly” and adjust schedules promptly to accommodate doctor’s appointments that might be running late, or hospital discharges that need immediate transport home or to rehab. Steve adds, “The fact that our drivers are employees is also very important. Unlike independent contractors who are paid by each transport leg, 360 drivers are paid by the hour. So when a driver is sitting in a lot waiting for a patient to finish their appointment, our drivers are still getting paid, and because they are being paid, we can re-assign them “on the fly” to another pick-up point quickly in order to keep our schedule on track. Contractors who are paid by the transport leg don’t want to give up a transport, so if one leg is delayed, then every ride thereafter also gets delayed, and further delays continue to add up throughout the day. It’s kind of like an airplane – when one plane is delayed early in the day, then everything after is impacted. With our system, we can adjust on the fly, in order to keep the rest of our schedule on-time.” As a result, almost 99% of 360 Care + Transport’s pick-up times operate within 15 minutes of their scheduled pick-up time – including return trips from doctor appointments.

360 Care + Transport has truly raised the bar by bringing to market a unique blend of healthcare and good old-fashioned Midwestern hospitality. For yours, or your family’s next wheelchair, ambulatory assisted, or stretcher transport, contact 360 Care + Transport at 636-735-3860 or visit their website at www.360careandtransport.com

Guest Article contributed by:  Steve Newman, Owner

If you are no longer mobile and are seeking service providers to assist with your transport needs, it may be time to consider a medic alert, as well. These systems can provide peace of mind to you, and/or your family, that you are never alone and can get help for any reason — even if you cannot speak! Regardless of your age, or medical condition, a PERS (Personal Emergency Response System) can enable you to maintain your independence and home safety at the push of a button!

You are NEVER Alone and can get HELP any day, time, or reason — Around the Clock!

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering choosing Medical Alarms in St. Louis MO, please contact the friendly staff at Around The Clock Medical Alarms.
Call Us: 877.449.5566

Medical Alarms in St. Louis MO: Aging In Place

What’s Your “Hot Button?”

  • Do you “LIVE ALONE?”
  • Do you have “HEALTH CONDITIONS” that could require immediate medical attention?
  • Is it important to you to continue to “LIVE INDEPENDENTLY?”
  • Are you a “FALL RISK?”
  • Do you, or your family, worry about your “SAFETY?”

If you are like most people, you want to remain in your own home for as long as possible.  This is especially true if you become widowed, have health concerns, or are prone to fall. The fear of not being able to get help in an emergent situation is real.

Living Alone Can Be Scary.  If you cannot get to a phone to call for help, or are inside your home with all the doors and windows closed, you may not be able to get the help you need in an emergency.

Having a Health Condition, such as heart disease, epilepsy, diabetes, etc. can mean that you need immediate medical attention IF/WHEN an emergency happens.  The ability to do so can be the difference in life and death!

It Is Human Nature to Want to Be Independent.  However, if you live alone or have health issues, you may fear that you cannot continue to do so.

Falling or the “Fear of Falling” is Real!  We have all heard stories of someone falling and laying there for hours or days.  Unfortunately, when this event happens, many are not able to stay home, because their health is compromised, or their families say “that won’t happen again….”  Many times the person finds themselves in a hospital/rehab setting for quite some time following the event and are placed in Assisted Living or Skilled Nursing Facilities following this situation.  Although a medic alert device will not prevent a fall, or other emergent health event, it will allow the subscriber to get help if/when it happens to them.  This prevents them from becoming the statistic we have just described above.

Our Home Safety is Paramount.  Not only is it the human desire to remain independent, but to do so SAFELY is just as important.  

As we age, we become less agile.  Additionally, our health may deteriorate and we pray for the best, but fear the worst.  

If any of these “problems” are a concern to you, or your family, a medical alarm system might be the “peace of mind” that you are looking to find. Although a Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) CANNOT PREVENT AN EMERGENCY,  IT CAN GET HELP — Even IF you cannot speak!

 

  1. Live Alone?  KEEP CALM AND PUSH BUTTON!
  2. Have Health Condition(s)?  KEEP CALM AND PUSH BUTTON!
  3. Is Living Independently Important to you?  KEEP CALM AND PUSH BUTTON!
  4. Falling or “Fear of Falling?”  KEEP CALM AND PUSH BUTTON!
  5. Concerned for Your Home Safety?  KEEP CALM AND PUSH BUTTON!

Around the Clock Medical Alarms will allow you to get HELP — at the push of a button. Our EMD Certified Response Center is available Any Day, Any Time, for Any Reason. Have peace of mind that you can be Safe AND Independent — Around the Clock.

 

If you or an aging loved-one are considering choosing Medical Alarms in St. Louis MO, please contact the friendly staff at Around The Clock Medical Alarms.
Call Us: 877.449.5566

Senior Care Spotlight: Care Management, Advocacy, and Support

Care Choice Care Management

“Our commitment is that everyone we serve experiences concierge-level care and attention.”

 

About Us:

Our team of experienced professionals can assist you in answering all of your questions and be your advocate as you navigate the healthcare, mental health, or legal maze for yourself or a loved one. Our team consists of Social Workers, Gerontologists, Nurses and professionals who each have 20+ years of experience. Care Choice Care Management provides care coordination through Care Management.

 

What is Care Management:

Care Choice helps families through challenging times, negotiates conflict, coordinates benefits, recommends services, advocates for those in the hospital and long-term care communities, and provides ongoing or short-term support for those we help. We will customize a plan that meets your needs. Care Choice provides a FREE information visit or call for anyone about our services and what makes us different and unique.

 

Here are some questions to ask yourself, and if you are struggling you may benefit from hiring a Care Manager:

● Are you overwhelmed with the responsibility of caring for your spouse or parents?
● Do you or someone you know need an advocate in navigating the health care, mental health, and/or legal system?
● Is your family in conflict and need an objective professional to facilitate communication amongst family members while providing 24-hour care for your loved one?
● Have you been assigned as Trustee, Legal Guardian, Conservator, and/or Durable Power of Attorney for someone, but have no idea how to meet their day-to-day needs — such as getting them to take their medications, attend medical appointments, take care of personal hygiene needs, pay bills, grocery shopping, housekeeping/laundry, and prepare meals?
● Are you worried you’re taking too much time off work and need someone to attend your loved one’s medical appointments to ask questions, advocate, provide transportation, drop off/pick up any prescriptions, schedule any tests/appointments with specialists, and/or provide a summary of the visit?
● Would you like to have an experienced professional provide a thorough assessment followed by a detailed written Care Plan of you and/or loved one and then have them be available on an ongoing or PRN basis to assist with any needs that arise while aging in place at home or in a community?

 

Why We Started Care Choice:

There is a void in society and in health care of quality customer service. Our goal is to provide that level of care and support that all deserve. Health care is often fast-paced and so often things are missed, fall through the cracks, or are just forgotten. We strive to not allow those things to happen to you or your loved one. Care Choice was founded on these principles by Maria and Steve Miskovic. Both have been social workers for over 25 years and worked in various capacities at hospitals, rehab facilities, non-profits, dementia care, and case management. We have grown our team over the last 9 years to be able to support anyone at any point in their life journey, whether 18 or 108! We recognize that growing older (or living with an illness) is not easy, but it does not have to be done alone. Our commitment is that everyone we serve experiences concierge-level care and attention.

 

Please find us online at www.carechoicestl.com, call at 636-288-1764, or email us at info@carechoicestl.com


  Guest Article contributed by

Steve Miskovic, MSW, LCSW, CMC

 

 

 

As you try to navigate the overwhelming choices of services available for yourself, or an aging loved one, a care manager can assist to determine and establish the service(s) you need. Their expertise and knowledge can make life a lot easier!

At the point that you are trying to manage care (and find service providers to help), please consider a medic alert system as well.


You are NEVER Alone and can get HELP any day, time, or reason — Around the Clock!

 

  If you or an aging loved-one are considering choosing Medical Alarms in St. Louis MO, please contact the friendly staff at Around The Clock Medical Alarms.
Call Us: 877.449.5566