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 HomePO Box 422, Jaffrey, NH603-371-0809www.monadnockathome.org Home Healthcare, Hospice & Community ServicesPO Box 564, 312 Marlboro St, Keene, NH 03431**800-541-4145www.hcsservices.org Autumn Passages Eldercare47 Mechanic Street, Keene, NH 03431**603-357-1111www.autumnpassages.com LSS In-Home CareRebecca Crosby Hutchinson 800-224-8119Lutheran Social Services / Concordwww.lssinhomecare.org Comfort Keepers (In-home care services)Keene 352-2227Milford 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 Center866-634-9412Statewide network of community based connections for elders, adults w/ disabilities and their familieswww.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