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Senior Helpers
There's No Place Like Home…Personal And Companion Care For Seniors
By Donna Frances Madej
 | | Senior Helpers provides in-home care for you or your loved ones. Call 732-657-3600 to arrange for an assessment of your needs either at the officeor in your home. |
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Aging. It's a fact of life. As we and our loved ones grow older, we hope for the opportunity to do so with not only a sound mind and body, but to be able to greet the twilight years with dignity and independence. Often, unforeseen circumstances occur, our care becomes a burden and decisions need to be made that were not originally considered. A nursing home or assisted living facility may seem like the only solution and threatens to take the place of what we call "home." We're faced with not only giving up our independence, but realizing that nothing will ever be the same. Thankfully, there is an option.
Senior Helpers of Manchester will provide the superior care that you've been looking for, whether for yourself or a family member. The best part is that they provide companionship and/or personal care in your own home; the familiar environment where you want to live, the established residence that you've worked so hard for, feel most comfortable in and love.
 | | You'll findSenior Helpers in the Hudson City Plaza, 2130 Route 70 E in Manchester. The officeis one of approximately 500 nationwide. |
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The company is an 8-yearold nationwide franchise with approximately 500 officesthat was started by a gentleman who wasn't satisfied with the care that he was able to findfor his mother. Locally, you'll findan officein Manchester at 2130 Route 70 E in the Hudson City Bank Plaza. Established since January, Maria Porchia, who is an RN, brings 25 years of nursing, health care and geriatric expertise to the business. Along with Care Coordinator Amy Parenteau, who Maria says is "awesome," they work diligently, applying their skills to a homecare setting and finding the perfect match between client and caregiver. Maria is proud and confidentof the quality, motivated caregivers that she employs and they all strive to help abolish any fears or uncertainties that clients may experience. Caregivers are CPR trained and many are bilingual. Whether providing hourly or round-theclock care on a live-in basis, the aid that they provide is impeccable. Assistance includes but is not limited to: companionship and conversation, assistance with bathing, dressing and personal hygiene, medication reminders, walking assistance, meal preparation and cleanup, light housekeeping, errands and transportation, laundry and linen changing, grocery shopping, arranging and escorting to appointments, monitoring diet and eating, reading, letter writing and correspondence, supervising household/maintenance, picking up prescriptions, caring for houseplants and animals and helping to maintain social contacts.
"We really listen to what their needs are," Maria assures.
Another benefit of utilizing Senior Helpers is transportation. You'll no longer have to take a day off from work or rearrange your busy schedule to accommodate appointments.
"We drive our clients everywhere, even pick them up if they're at the hospital and we can come back if they're not ready," Maria notes. "It can cost $1,000 to get an ambulance to drive them home. We drive them home for $17. Our vehicles are insured; clients and caregivers are not at risk."
Call 732-657-3600 to schedule a convenient complimentary assessment of your needs held either at the officeor at your home. If necessary, a staff RN will conduct a full nursing assessment at a later date and will supervise care regularly. Employees at Senior Helpers are certified nursing assistants, certified home health aids, geriatric nursing assistants and companion caregivers. They are committed to excellence and continuously take advanced training courses. Many senior citizens are also employed and take great pleasure in caring for their peers. Once caregivers are placed with their client, it doesn't end there. A detailed care plan is followed, and caregivers are constantly monitored and expected to uphold only the highest standards.
"Our people are bonded, insured and submit to both a background and drivers license check," Maria explains. "We also make sure that they're healthy. We don't want to put a person with a compromising problem into a home. Most agencies don't do that or don't know where their people have been; they could have TB, hepatitis. You don't want to compromise your client because you don't do a proper background check."
The franchise has to adhere to stringent standards and is reviewed every three months by the corporate office.The business is a member of the Manchester, Point Pleasant, Brick and Southern Ocean Chamber of Commerce. Rates are very competitive and company credentials are available for review in addition to numerous letters of appreciation sent from satisfied clients. For additional information, log on to www. seniorhelpers.com.
Maria stresses that she and the staff are well versed on state programs that are available to clients in need of assistance.
"People aren't aware of a lot of services," Maria states. "Informing the public, that's what we do. If Senior Helpers can't help them, we'll get them someone who can. We're about making sure that they get care."
Senior Helpers of Manchester has approximately 100 employees with at least three care-givers for every client. This ensures coverage if someone gets sick, needs a day off or something else arises. The familiarity of a caregiver is important for all clients, especially those individuals suffering from Alzheimer's disease. It's not unusual for caregiver and client to develop a close bond, which in turn helps both individuals experience a genuine sense of value, dignity and self worth. Many become like family.
"Caregivers get very involved and call me about them (clients) even when they're not working," Maria exclaims. "You can't fake that."
One success story that Maria shares involves an 87 year old couple in different stages of Alzheimer's disease in a home that needed many repairs and major cleaning. After finally securing a home visit, she succeeded in helping the couple obtain medical care, clean up their home and improve their quality of life.
Officehours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and an answering service transfers calls to Maria all other times. Another officeis located in Mount Holly and one is planned for Manahawkin.
"I know I'm doing a good thing informing people, giving people care and the options they need," Maria confirms."We stress affordability, dignity and independence. We are committed," she says about the profession that she truly loves. "We're here to help."
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