September 2005 Ezine
Linking Seniors, Family Caregivers and Business Owners

You can read our ezine on line at Back Issues Feel free to forward our ezine to your friends!

Partnering ~ Enhancing Services For Seniors

• The Caregiver's Resource Helpline
• The Coalition for Senior Safety Network
• The Positive Aging Network & Mature Resources
• Caring for Elderly Family Members Online Support Group
• Free Workers Compensation Audit

Partnering

The Caregiver's Resource Helpline

Thanks to technology, the Caregivers Resource Helpline is also formatted so that when you call, you are able to request additional information on any particular subject.

The Helpline is made possible, in part by corporate sponsorship. If you would like to sponsor this worthwhile community service (great exposure!) Conact Mr. John Webb directly by phoning 770-516-7244.

The Caregivers' Resource Helpline is dedicated to empowering seniors and their families through education (knowledge is power!) and also by recommending specific services in the community. However - only Certified Senior Approved Services are permitted to advertise to this caller. Mr. Webb made this decision based on the assurances that all Certified Senior Approved Services are safe, reliable services with a proven history of quality care. To learn more see Caregivers Resource Helpline

The Coalition for Senior Safety Network

She had definite restrictions on what companies could be represented in this group for the obvious reason that a senior would assume any company under this umbrella ought to be 'safe' to use.

She came across our program and made the decision that ONLY Certified Senior Approved Services would be permitted within her Senior Safety programs.

Since our beginning conversations, our partnering has evolved. Barbara and I are using her successful template and creating a 'How to Organize a Coalition for Senior Safety in Your Local Community' handbook. This 'how to manual' is scheduled for release by fall and is designed to provide step-by-step instructions for those that would like to form a local Senior Safety Coalition in your neighborhood (you, your group, church, senior center, your local business, etc.)

You will be notified when the manual is ready by completing the form on Coalition for Senior Safety

The Positive Aging Network

The Positive Aging Network is designed, primarily, to assist long distant and busy family members who are trying to locate an appropriate service for their parents, grandparents or any loved one.

For a small flat fee, your family may contract with the Positive Aging Network for full case management. The Positive Aging Network will always select and recommend a Certified Senior Approved Service as the number one FIRST choice for the families they are helping.

More details are on the way as this organization is completing the final touches on this valuable program. Meanwhile, you may want to subscribe to their free monthly newsletter by visiting Mature Resources

Caring for Eldery Family Members

Senior Approved Services has created a program with this group where we donate money that is earmarked to help pay or offset the cost of respite care for the members. You are included in this program when you join the group.

Free Workers Compensation Audit

If you (and/or your company) pays in to workers compensation then you will want to check this out. History proves that 8 out of every 10 businesses have over paid in to workers compensation. This happens for a variety of reasons...Human error, wrong experiential codes, and lack of understanding of the complexities of the various rules.

You pay nothing for this service which will do an independent audit on your behalf, going back three years. If you are due a refund, then you would pay by sharing the refund (you keep half, WCA keeps the other half) and you then keep all future savings with a lowered premium. If you have not over paid, and are not due a refund, you pay nothing. Either way, you at least find out if your premiums are correct or not.

To request additional information, see WCA - Workers Compensation Refund

This is not an insurance company. The only thing WCA specializes in are these independent audits. No risk - no refund - no charge.

Collaborative Partnering is a new venture for Senior Approved Services. If you would like to be considered, see Collaborative Partnering

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Welcome! New Certified Senior Approved Services!

When a business contracts with us for this consumer-driven survey/certification process - they understand that they are paying for the survey - not a membership fee, referral fee or advertising fee. If the business's senior clients will not endorse them, we certainly will not recommend the business to other seniors.

Since we do not report negative findings in the elder care industry (we'd rather keep this positive and simply point you towards the 'best of the best') it is better that we not announce the names of companies in our survey process.

We have three new companies this month that have successfully completed our survey process, with a 90% or higher rating from their clients. Please take a moment to welcome and congratulate:

Dayna's Homecare Company located in Westpark Ohio. Dayna's Homecare offers in home care services for the older adult, those with disabilities and the new mom. Dayna's offers a customized care plan that includes both medical and non-medical services in Cuyahoga, Lake, Erie, Geauga, Summit, Lorain, and Medina counties.

Dayna's Homecare Company is certified to accept Level One Waiver optional Medicaid for the MRDD population. They will soon be able to accept Passport as well.

Complete Organizational Services located in Glendale Arizona. Complete Organizational Services provides a variety of professional organizing services for business, home office and residence.

They specialize in providing information, products and assistance to help you get organized. Complete Organizational Services provides a very comprehensive moving/relocation service for older adults faced with down-sizing from the family home to smaller independent senior housing and assisted living. The personalized approach includes helping the senior (or any one of any age for that matter) make a transition like this as easily as possible. As one senior offered during the survey process, "Brenda did more than just organize and move my tangibles ... she helped me come to terms and move on an emotional level as well."

The Caregiver's Resource KitThe Caregivers Resource Kit is designed as a self-help program to help you better manage the role and responsibility of caring for an aging family member or disabled spouse. Included are a Double CD Audio Set, Caregiver’s

Companion Guide, Record Keeper and Caregiver’s Journal to be used separately or in tandem.

Double CD Audio Set presents 32 Topics of Interest dealing with the most common concerns of caregiving in an easy-to-listen format.

These excellent companies are now part of a very exclusive group of businesses that have proven their commitment to serving our elderly with consistent quality of care. Services such as; Northcoast Conflict Solutions, Cleveland Financial, Birch Financial, Raymond James Financial, Sunrise Assisted Living of Rocky River, Hamilton Home Care, My Home Care, Inc., Occasional Help for Seniors, Do It Now, The SCOOTER Store, Life Quest Home Medical Equipment, Seniors Sharing a Home, Stellar Living Assistance, Park Creek Retirement Center, Adeline's Home Sweet Home, Life Care Home Health Services, DocuPrep, Advanced Laser Solutions, S.A.R.A.H. Adult Day Services, Seniors Home Advantage and Attorney Mary Ann Thomas.

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Need Your Input

Take a moment and send us your honest,frank comments. We need to hear from you. Thanks! See Comments and complete the email form at the bottom of the page. This will help us perfect our services - so that we may continue to evolve as the number one choice to locate safe, reliable services with a proven history of quality care.

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Experts Needed

Rather than research these questions ourselves - we would much rather reach out to you and call upon your expertise. If you (or someone you know) can help us with the following concerns - please contact us! Our preference is to hear back from a Certified Senior Approved Service - however -we will consider others as well.

Please note - If you are not a Certified Senior Approved Service - we can not recommend your service directly to our seniors. Helping us help seniors with information and education will be your only reward. I trust you understand - we must hold true to our promise that we've made to our seniors.

• The complexities of Medicare and the new changes
• The complexities of Medicaid and the new changes
• Help all of us understand the confusing prescription plans
• Can someone please explain how to qualify for and receive VA Benefits (specifically to help pay for skilled nursing, assisted living and home health)
• Could someone please put an end to the confusion surrounding Reverse Mortgages?
• Family caregivers are desperately searching for ways to help compensate for jobs and income they are sacrificing in order to stay with their parents and provide full time care. Is anyone aware of legislation pending that these caregivers can get behind and support to help in this area? Note: We are not looking for work at home opportunities for this situation. We are looking for the means to compensate for the care family members provide, which saves taxpayers millions of dollars.

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Calendar of Events

Park Creek Retirement Center (a Certified Senior Approved Service) is celebrating it's 20th year anniversary. Please see details listed on September 17.

Northcoast Conflict Solutions (a Certified Senior Approved Service) is offering a 2 day (12 CEU's) Healthcare Mediation Training. Please see details on September 15 & 16.

Check out the offer to receive $50 (restrictions apply) for family caregivers to complete an online survey. The study ends on September 30 2005.

There are two events that are mentioned in September that occur in October, but you (businesses serving the senior) will need to make plans now in order to reserve your table space and to take advantage of excellent Sponsorship opportunities.

See Boomers ~ Zoomers ~ And Beyond! The 6th annual ASNE Healthy Expo and The 5th Annual Selling to Seniors Conference

If your group or organization is in need of an interesting topic - look no further!

See Speakers/Workshops The latest addition to this page is Tom Begert-Clark, BA, MDiv, LPC, formerly of S.A.R.A.H. Adult Day Services (a Certified Senior Approved Service)

To see what's happening in your area, go to Calendar of Events To submit your events, follow the instructions found on Calendar Instructions & Submission Form

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Free Market Research

About 33% of our inquiry calls are from established businesses that want us to share the results of our market research and focus group studies. In part, because they question why we are so authoritative on the quality of elder care (we definitely know how the senior and family caregivers perceive 'quality') and in part because they want to benefit from our investment - without supporting our mission.

We are always open with these callers, spending valuable time with each while generously sharing what we have learned. In fact, most of the time these calls come in our toll free number and so not only are we providing sound business direction at no fee, we're actually paying a rather large phone bill to do so.

From a business (corporate mind-set) you would have to say, "You're crazy!" So why have we done this?

The only reason Senior Approved Services was started - is to help seniors and their families avoid harm, (physically, mentally and emotionally), avoid fraud and we wanted a viable method in which we could stand up and advocate for the RIGHT of ALL seniors to receive excellent care.

We've always taken the stance that if we can help a business learn how to deliver a safe, reliable, quality service to the senior community - then - even if that business is not savvy enough to apply for the Senior Approved Certification - we felt we were still helping seniors in the long run.

Remember - our only source of revenue comes from the business community who pay Senior Approved Services to conduct the consumer-driven survey process. No one pays for clients, leads or referrals. Our service is 100% free to everyone in search of an excellent service, product and or resource.

However. The number of inquiries coming in directly from family caregivers, seniors and key referral sources - has increased by 25%. In light of this, we simply cannot continue to spend the amount of time we've 'donated' to start-up companies as well as the established companies - in the same manner as we have up to this point.

So. I am very proud to announce a solution to this problem. If you would like to benefit from the research we've conducted (and documented) from the years 2000 to present (including the focus group studies conducted across the US) we will give you this research in a FREE Report.

What's the catch? One - we control the time. Two - you pay for the call.

Beginning the week of September the 5th - you will have the opportunity to register for the 'Selling to Seniors Seminar' There is a limited number of spots per call and so registering ahead of time is a must! You will listen to a brief overview of what we've learned the consumer is searching for PRIOR to contracting with a service such as yours.

You will hear industry experts attest to our findings. You will have ample time to ask all of your questions. After the call is complete - we will email you (in PDF format) a FREE Marketing Report specific to your industry.

From now on, as much as we would like to help you one-on-one, all business related questions will be referred to these free seminars.

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Question Regarding Our Ezine

Consequently, we have a very unique audience made up of business professionals, health care professionals, seniors, and family caregivers. We have people subscribed to the ezine that live in other countries as well. (Canada, Japan, India, Australia, and England represent the highest number of subscribers outside of the United States)

Here's my question: Should we offer two ezines? One specifically for the end-user of elder care services tailoring the content appropriately. And then another one exclusively for the providers of elder care services, (products and resources) allowing us to offer more 'business related' and market news, tools, products and resources for the business owner?

Help me out with this please. Use my personal email address (bmascio@wowway.com) and in your subject line place one of the two choices: Leave the Ezine As Is or Yes - Offer Two Different Ezines

I've always viewed our ezine as 'your' ezine. So I will leave it up to you.

Naturally, no matter how this ends up, you will have the option to subscribe to one, or the other, or both.

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Advertising

If you want to reach the senior (and/or the family members of the senior) through us you must first be Certified. See Request Certification

You are free to forward this ezine to a friend. To recommend our ezine, simply send the link to our ezine page: http://www.qualityeldercare.com/newsletter.html Both of our sites share the same ezine and the same calendar of events.