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Senior Services Suggestions by Phil Runyon

6/30/2014

 

Senior Services Suggestions

During a recent visit with Mom in my old hometown, we were faced with how to replace a caregiver who's been helping her out with the basics of life for the past 15 years.  Needless to say, that's a traumatic undertaking for someone so highly dependent on home care to keep her from having to resort to institutional resources - you know, a nursing home. 
 
Now don't get me wrong; there are fine, capable and caring people who work very hard to make their nursing facilities an important alternative for seniors who would otherwise be languishing in private residences where they can no longer safely function.  Still, if you can work it out to stay there with the necessary services, there's no place like home.
 
The problem often is knowing where to turn for home care services when the time comes for ourselves or our vulnerable family members.  Until recent years I wouldn't have had much more to say here.  Happily, though, quite a number of options have sprouted in this area, so we're not wandering in the dark nearly as much these days.
 
And while there may be many others, here are just a few of the resources you might try to tap, if and when the need arises:
 
Monadnock at Home
PO Box 422, Jaffrey, NH
603-371-0809
www.monadnockathome.org
 
Home Healthcare, Hospice & Community Services
PO Box 564, 312 Marlboro St, Keene, NH 03431
800-541-4145
www.hcsservices.org
 
Autumn Passages Eldercare
47 Mechanic Street, Keene, NH 03431
603-357-1111
www.autumnpassages.com
 
LSS In-Home Care
Rebecca Crosby Hutchinson 800-224-8119
Lutheran Social Services / Concord
www.lssinhomecare.org
 
Comfort Keepers (In-home care services)
Keene 352-2227
Milford 673-3336
Concord 228-6200
 
If none of those leads pan out, then go right up to Concord for some state-wide suggestions:
 
Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services 
www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcbcs/beas
 
Service Link Resource Center
866-634-9412
Statewide network of community based connections for elders, adults w/ disabilities and their families
www.nh.gov/servicelink
 

NH Department of Health & Humans Services
www.nhservicesandsupport.org
 
By the way, we found Mom a good new caregiver who came with verifiable references from a trusted friend.  That may not always be possible, but it's probably the most reliable way to ensure a good fit. 


Misc. Posted 06/30/2014

Be Charitable But Be Careful by Phil Runyon

6/30/2014

 

Be Charitable But Be Careful

A couple of weeks ago I was visiting Mom.  During our chats around the kitchen table, I couldn't help noticing how many calls she got from charitable organizations trying to talk her out of her Social Security right there over the phone - all they needed was a credit card number. Then there were all the solicitations by mail - probably a half dozen a day.

At least as far as the calls are concerned, I've finally convinced Mom to tell the phone trolls that they'll have to send their solicitations to her in writing - so she can consider them more carefully.  Of course, that's not the way those folks work, so there's soon a click at the other end and she never hears from them again.  That's not a bad tactic for all of us either, because it weeds out the ones who are just looking for the quick - sometimes bogus - hit, and if they actually do send us something, we have time to check it out more thoroughly before divulging our precious card digits.

Speaking of checking, the way to do that is through one of the non-profit watchdog services like GiveWell.  With just a few clicks there, you can access more information than you'd probably want about many US and international charities and non-profits.  You can also try GuideStar, where you can look at the federal Form 990s that most all US non-profits have to file with the IRS - even our local favorites.  You'll be able to see where their funds are coming from, where they're being spent, what percentage of their revenues are being eaten up with administrative costs, whether their expenses exceed revenues, and whether they've got any endowment resources to fall back on.  You know, generally snoop around in their closets for information many of them would just as soon not disclose.  Plus, if you really are considering a gift, it might make a difference to you that the organization's just feathering its own nest, and thus that it won't have much of your benevolence left to carry out the admirable mission it's proclaimed for itself.  

When you come right down to it, though, most of us seem to support our local organizations first, and we generally know the people who help those places make such valuable contributions to our communities.  It's when we branch out that it can get dicey, and that's where some extra help can make the difference between doing good and doing nothing but wasting our money.



Posted on 06/30/2014

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