Statistics show that more than 65 million people in the U.S. provide care for a family member or friend who is chronically ill, disabled or elderly. On average, they spend 20 hours per week providing this care. Taking care of a loved one is a noble, caring and sometimes necessary thing to do. It can bring great joy to give your time to someone who is rehabilitating after an accident, disabled, or suffering from a terminal illness or disease.  But, caring for a loved one can also be hard – trying to juggle caregiving while taking care of a spouse, children, even a job, can take a toll both physically and mentally.

Once an overlooked category, caregiver depression has now been deemed a crisis by the National Alliance for Caregiving.  The health of the caregiver has garnered widespread attention over the past decade due to the discovery that a family caregiver is more like likely to develop major depression than the rest of the population.

Many caregivers hold full-time jobs yet spend at least 20 hours a week caring for a loved one. Caregivers pay a financial due to missing work or out-of-pocket expenses relating to the care they give. Hence, caregivers find they have neither the time nor the money to seek adequate care for themselves. Many report not practicing healthy eating habits or exercising on a regular basis. Caregivers become isolated because they have no time or energy left over after caring for someone else. These factors can cause psychological distress, affecting the ability to provide proper care for another. When caregivers become depressed, they find it hard to perform duties such as cooking, cleaning and remembering to give medication on a timely basis.

Caregivers themselves are sometimes unaware they are clinically depressed. Feelings of sadness and stress are viewed as being natural in the course of watching someone you love suffer or deteriorate. Balancing caregiving with their own lives – raising families, working and maintaining their own households and expenses – compounds anxiety.  More often than not, caregivers place their needs last, increasing the chances of negatively affecting their health.

In the past, the greatest barrier caregivers faced in getting help was that their depression was often not diagnosed and equally undertreated. However, greater awareness over the years has caused doctors and health institutions to research causes, treatments, and most importantly – prevention – of depression in caregivers. Of special note in the area of prevention is the recommendation to seek respite care…having family or community members give caregivers breaks from caregiving responsibilities. In-home care companies, such as Comfort Keepers, provide respite services tailored to meet the needs of both the caregiver and the special person needing care. Comfort Keepers can be hired to do things such as laundry and light housekeeping, or as daily companions for those in need of constant care.

It is essential for caregivers to become well-educated and proactive in recognizing and fighting depression. Caregivers should follow nutritious diets, exercise regularly and make time for socializing. Learning to share feelings with family, friends and doctors is a big step towards maintaining a healthy balance in caregivers’ lives. Asking for and accepting help from others is crucial. Because, in order to give the gift of time, the most important thing caregivers can do is to take care of themselves first.

We were very excited to announce that for the second year in a row we achieved a listing as a Military Friendly Franchise®. This list represents the top 7 percent of the nation’s franchises that are doing the most to recruit military veterans.

It is determined by the G.I. Jobs Military Friendly Franchising team in conjunction with a Military Friendly Franchise Advisory Board, who help determine the survey questions and weightings. The survey focus areas include a franchise’s success in recruiting military and veterans, programs and policies that measure a franchise’s non-financial effort to recruit and retain military and veterans and financial commitment to recruit and retain military and veterans.

Here is what our VP of Franchise Development, Jim Brown had to say about our accomplishment: “Comfort Keepers’ systematic business model and approach to care, known as Interactive Caregiving®, are both good fits for long-term success of both the veteran and the franchise according to Jim Brown, Vice President of Franchise Development, CK Franchising, Inc. “Comfort Keepers is proud to work with the men and women of the U.S. Military who choose to continue to service their communities as a senior care franchise owner after their military commitments are honored.”

Demetrius Flenaugh, of Sugar Land, TX is just one of many Comfort Keepers franchisees with a former military career. Flenaugh is a 20 year U.S. Army Veteran. He and his wife Arecia, who is currently active duty deployed in Afghanistan, recently joined the Comfort Keepers franchise system. “We knew that we wanted our post military career to be in the senior care industry because we enjoy helping others,” said Demetrius. “We researched the industry for five years and decided that Comfort Keepers was the right fit for us because of its excellent reputation and the support and ongoing training opportunities available for franchisees.”

Click here to learn more about Veterans Franchising Options with Comfort Keepers.

The full list of Military Friendly Franchises® will be published in the June issue of G.I. Jobs Magazine, and on http://www.MilitaryFranchising.com, a web tool that helps veterans decide which franchise to choose.

NPDA Board of Directors Elects Tim Purcey as President-Elect

Comfort Keepers is pleased to announce that Tim Purcey, COO of CK Franchising Inc., the franchisor of Comfort Keepers, has been elected as the NPDA president-elect.  In his role, he will help guide the NPDA and will assume the role as president following the 2012 NPDA Annual Meeting / Conference.

NPDA, National Private Duty Association, is the nation’s first association for providers of private duty home care, which includes non-medical home care services.  The NPDA is the recognized resource for information and definition of private duty home care practice, supported by a strong national membership of providers.

The NPDA currently represents more than 1,200 member organizations throughout the United States that provide private pay in-home care services for the elderly and disabled.

Tim has been active on several NPDA committees for the past eight years and has served on the Board of Directors for two and a half years.

Please join us in congratulating Tim on his new role in the NPDA!

Since the day we were born and possibly even before, our mothers sang to us. Catchy little tunes like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and You Are My Sunshine followed through our growing years by age-appropriate songs that we clapped, danced and sang along to with family and friends. As we grow older, hearing certain songs sparks nostalgic feelings as we are transported back in time to the exact moments those songs first meant something to us.

Music. A universal language that transcends culture, race and religion, and also, research shows, weaves its way through the seemingly insurmountable barriers of memory loss in those who suffer dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Those who have loved ones suffering from dementia know how hard it is to watch the mental deterioration that the disease causes. Dementia affects parts of the brain that allow one to perform and remember many basic aspects of life. However, studies show there is one area in the brain, the medial prefrontal cortex, not affected by dementia until perhaps its very late stages. It is this area of the brain that governs our emotions and other sensory abilities. This part of the brain recognizes music, remembers melodies and songs, and recalls feelings those songs caused…even if those feelings were invoked long ago. This finding was helpful in moving the use of music to the forefront of activities of those suffering dementia.

Studies have shown that, during participation in activities involving music, dementia patients remember words to songs of their pasts and sing along, when moments before they could not speak a complete sentence. Some break into broad smiles of remembrance and even move with the beat. Others remember and begin speaking of events that happened within the time period of that song. Caregivers notice that music soothes agitated patients and makes them more receptive to getting dressed, eating or brushing their teeth.

One of the most exciting roles music plays is the facilitation of interaction between caregivers and people suffering dementia. Listening to music provides an avenue of activity that interests the patient when before there was none. Respite care providers such as Comfort Keepers® find music a valuable tool in establishing relationships with the people they care for. Listening to music together is a great way for the Comfort Keeper to bond with patients, laying the foundation for trust that is vitally important. Music establishes common ground, providing a fun activity for both.

The fact that music increases the levels of socialization in dementia patients is profound.  This has a direct effect on the quality of life of the dementia sufferer, and also for family members and friends, as listening to music provides a unique way to communicate and spend quality time with loved ones. After all, the simple things in life often mean the most.

Comfort Keepers announced its top performing franchise owners recently.  These franchisees were recognized for outstanding business performance for their hard work and dedication to help care for adults in their communities.  Comfort Keepers is an in-home care company providing medical, non-medical, and companionship care to seniors and other adults with over 600 offices worldwide.

“Comfort Keepers is very fortunate to have these individuals as owners,” said Jim Booth, President and CEO of CK Franchising, Inc., the franchisor of Comfort Keepers.  “Their hard work, tenacity and commitment to clients truly deserve to be recognized and applauded.”

The award recipients are as follows:

Rookie of the Year Winner: Patricia Urban, Guilford, CT

This award is given to a new franchisee that generated the highest revenue in their first 12 months of business after opening his or her first Comfort Keepers franchise compared to all other Comfort Keepers franchisees that completed their first 12 months of business ending in the same calendar year.

Top Performance – Single Unit Owner Award Winner:  Cindy Lewis, Rosewell, NM

This award is given to one Comfort Keepers franchisee that owns only a single Comfort Keepers franchise territory, and has generated the highest revenue for the calendar year for which they are being recognized.

Top Performance – Multi Unit Owner Award Winner: Kristina Clum, Springfield, OH

This awarded is given to one Comfort Keepers franchisee that owns only multiple Comfort Keepers franchise territories, and has generated the highest average per unit revenue for the previous calendar year.

The President’s Club Winners:

The following individuals were honored with The President’s Club Award.  This award is presented to the top twenty-five Comfort Keepers franchise owners around the United States for superior sales and service:

-          Kristina Clum, Springfield, OH

-          Michael and Charlotte Jones, Sarasota, FL

-          Neda McGuire and Aziz Selahi, Fredericksburg, VA

-          Michele Berman and Marc Reisman, Jenkintown, PA

-          Myles and Jane McNamara, Santa Clarita, CA

-          Cindy Lewis, Roswell, NM

-          Carole Sachs and Mathew Fink, San Diego, CA

-          Ken Gurin, Shelton, CT

-          Clark and Sallie Bongaardt, Springfield, PA

-          Jack, Donna, & Casey DeMoss and Anthony &Bianca Wardwell, Anchorage, AK

-          Clarissa Johnston, Tucson, AZ

-          David Coker, Florence, SC

-          Ian Webber, Syracuse, NY

-          Jennifer Ramos and Frances Perez, Coronado, CA

-          David and Joanie Yeomans, Marietta, OH

-          Lynn Domenech & Jocelyn Holt, Gainesville, FL

-          Robert and Raquel Mullaney, Hyannis, MA

-          William and Jean Shrieves, Easton, MD

-          Russell and Leslie Knopp, Traverse City, MI

-          Marc and Christine Jeffries, Flemington, NJ

-          Cary and Wendy Rotter, Memphis, TN

-          Bob and Terry Guberman, Fayetteville, PA

-          Tom and Kim Dean, Ft. Myers, FL

-          Gailen Spinka, Deborah Spinka, and Lindsey Arthur, Inverness, FL

-          Jerome Case, Max Gibson, and Ann Harrison, Terre Haute, IN

This year’s Comfort Keepers Annual Conference, “The Leader Within,” explored the power of positive leadership to help inspire employees and help better serve seniors in communities around the world.

Life is full of traditions, many handed down through the years, and some newly created between families and friends.  Either way, traditions are part of the colorful fabric that intertwine our lives and hold us together, transcending time and distance.  One common tradition many people have is to make New Year’s resolutions – promises of actions to make ourselves better, happier and healthier; and commitments to keep in touch, to quit bad habits, and to pursue the good things in life.  Making New Year’s resolutions is easy and can be quite fun.  The hard part is putting those resolutions into action and maintaining the momentum to keep those promises throughout the year.

This year, try something different. When making your list of resolutions, think of ways to involve family members and friends as support.  Whether you live near or far, deciding to join forces and make New Year’s resolutions together increases the odds that you stay true to your goals.  Providing accountability for each other presents not only valuable reinforcement, but also offers the opportunity of staying in touch on a regular basis throughout the year.  New Year’s resolutions made together can be especially important if you have a senior in your life. By helping each other, you each gain a greater sense of purpose, which can be very meaningful in the life of a loved one who is growing older.

Comfort Keepers® is known for enriching the lives of seniors through Interactive Caregiving™.  Research indicates that keeping seniors physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally engaged can help them retain better cognitive function, stay healthier and live independently longer.

For 2011, Comfort Keepers introduces several unique New Year’s resolutions to make with your senior loved ones.  These resolutions promise to keep you connected, in touch, and in tune with each other the entire year long.

• Start a letter journal. Handwritten letters have nearly become a thing of the past, thanks to the Internet.  However, our seniors are from an era when writing letters by hand was an important and valued form of etiquette – a more personal way of keeping in touch.  Purchase a bound journal and write a letter inside, then give it to your loved one who will write a letter to you and return the journal.  The same can be done with individual letters written back and forth and pasted into the journal. The process repeats throughout the year, or until the journal is full. Sharing a letter journal with your loved one is a unique way to strengthen your connection, and for you to get to know each other better.  An added perk is the excitement of looking forward to receiving “real” mail.  You find yourselves thinking of each other more often…and contemplating what bit of news to share in the next letter!

• Plan to age gracefully. Growing old has advantages, as well as a few disadvantages, such as wrinkles, gray hair and changes our bodies undergo in the process.  It is never too late to decide to pursue a healthy lifestyle, which increases the odds of aging gracefully.  Plan to exercise often, eat nutritious foods and to encourage each other while doing so.  If you live near your beloved senior, take walks or participate in a group exercise class together.  Even if your senior lives far away, you can take walks during the same time of day and talk on the phone to plan healthy meals and other activities.

• Share your favorite recipes. Exchanging healthy recipes can help your elderly loved one eat more nutritious meals and gives you the opportunity to ensure they are eating well.  The bonus is receiving favorite family recipes from your loved one that have been passed down through the generations!

• Get tech savvy. Believe it or not, seniors are the fastest growing segment of computer users.   If Grandma and Grandpa do not already have a computer, now is the time to expand their horizons!  It might seem a bit intimidating at first, but once they are comfortable their prowess might surprise you.  Communication and trading pictures becomes a snap, and imagine being able to see each other over a web cam if you live apart!  The grandkids can relay their adventures, and you all get the pleasure of seeing each other laugh!  You also get the chance to observe the general appearance of the senior, and to check for signs of good or failing health.

• Talk about the hard stuff. This resolution may not be fun, but it is the most important of all.   While your senior is able, help set standards of care they desire should they become incapacitated later.  Form plans within your family as to who might become the caregiver or if an outside source, such as Comfort Keepers, will be hired.  Talking about estate planning and wills, along with other related issues helps prepare you all for the inevitable.  Discussing these things in advance ensures that your loved one’s wishes are recorded and understood by all.

Making New Year’s resolutions together creates just one more common bond within important relationships and allows you to get to know each other better.  Use the above ideas, or create commitments that are unique to your situation, to involve your loved one and help each other reach your goals.  Strengthen your relationships and show your love…all year long.

Most people look forward to the holidays with joyful anticipation.  Holidays often represent happy times spent with family and friends, honoring cherished traditions, attending parties and spreading holiday cheer.  Some of the warmest, most favored memories are born during this time of year.

For seniors, however, holidays may elevate feelings of nostalgia and melancholy that can lead to the holiday blues.  The holiday blues mimic signs of depression, but are more prevalent during the months of November, December and January. 

Seniors are especially prone to feeling isolated and depressed during these months for a variety of reasons – from health and money issues to the loss of a spouse or other loved one, or often, just a simple sense of growing old.  Traveling during the holidays may be difficult for seniors and they may be left alone while other family members gather to celebrate the season, increasing the feelings of loneliness and isolation.

The American Geriatrics Society offers a great list of activities to help cope with the holiday blues.  Seniors are encouraged to volunteer at a local charitable organization, attend parties and have family and friends visit throughout the season.  Limiting the use of alcohol is crucial, as alcohol tends to increase feelings of depression.  Talking to family, friends and health care providers about feelings can alleviate sadness and help determine if the symptoms of depression should be treated medically.

Friends and family can help seniors beat the holiday blues by dropping by for a visit over a cup of coffee and inviting seniors to participate in other activities to keep them busy and provide a sense of purpose.  Comfort Keepers®, experts in providing in-home care for seniors, offers suggestions to help families and caregivers make the holidays happy and memorable for the seniors in their lives.

• Playing a favorite game together or spending time cooking a special meal can chase the blues away.
• Offering to lend a hand addressing holiday cards to friends and family is a great way to help the senior feel connected to those who live far away.
• Going caroling, attending a holiday musical, or simply listening to holiday tunes helps to lift spirits.
• Baking holiday treats together can be as much fun as eating them afterward.
• Driving through the neighborhood after dark to see the lights is always entertaining and a great way to promote holiday cheer.
• Sharing past memories helps seniors feel loved, and shows that you have an interest in who they are.
• Strolling around the neighborhood is a good way to keep the blues away if seniors are able and weather permits.

It is important to note that the holiday blues usually fade after a short period of time.  Depression, on the other hand, lasts longer and is more serious.  Families and friends who are able to gather with senior loved ones over the holidays should watch closely for behaviors that suggest something more serious may be happening.

Signs of depression include sadness that does not go away, crying often, loss of interest in things that were once pleasurable, restlessness or feeling fatigued, feelings of worthlessness, helplessness or guilt, and thoughts of death or suicide.     If true depression seems to be present, take the time to talk about it honestly with your loved one.  Depression is treatable, but it is important to discuss all options with one’s health care provider.

Although the holiday season can cause the holiday blues, it also provides many opportunities to battle the blues as well.  Try participating in a few of the mentioned holiday activities with your senior loved one in order to keep these feelings at a minimum.   Special time spent together is a gift in itself that will enhance the holiday spirit, and inspire feelings of peace and happiness for all.

It is not uncommon for the adult children of seniors, especially the Baby Boomer generation, to have some concerns about how their parents are doing. In fact, according to the Family Caregiver’s Alliance, families provide 80 percent of the long-term care in this country.

This holiday season while you are enjoying your visits or on the phone with your aging loved ones, make good use of your time by reviewing their living status.

Using Your Five Senses

Many holiday traditions tempt your five senses. These same senses can be put to use in evaluating the status of senior family members. Below is a checklist using each of your five senses to determine if your family members are in need of additional care or assistance:

Sight – Looking at the senior’s appearance can be a sign that they are being limited either physically or mentally from completing otherwise normal daily tasks. Watch for things like clothes with stains, poor personal hygiene and a disorganized or dirty house.

Sound – Listening to what and how seniors speak can tell you a lot about their current mental status. You should not assume that “old age” is causing these problems. Do they call you by name? Are they speaking normally? Are they staying involved in outside activities?

Smell – Using your nose as an indicator to determine if your loved one is bathing properly, cleaning their house or have spoiled food in their kitchen.

Taste – Tasting their food and sorting through their medications can help you determine if they are eating healthy or taking expired medications. Look at expiration dates and for fresh and stocked pantry items.

Touch – A simple hug can tell you if your loved one is fragile or losing weight. Is their skin soft and the color normal? Do they have any bruising or tearing of the skin?

Review Status By Phone

During telephone conversations, gently probe for information about the senior’s health and wellbeing.

Below is a list of sample questions that are key indicators or warning signs to help determine if your senior loved ones are in need of additional care or assistance:

• What did you have for breakfast? If your loved one cannot remember what he/she ate for breakfast that morning, forgot to eat breakfast or the meal appears to lack nutritious value, a memory problem could be setting in.

• Did you go to the beauty salon to get your hair cut? Did you use the new shower gel I bought you? These are good ‘backdoor’ questions to finding out whether or not your loved one is remembering to take care of his/her hygiene.

• Did you make it to Bingo this week? An early sign of depression is withdrawal from social activities.

• Is your loved one speaking normally? Differences in speech patterns are warning signs for medical problems that should be looked into immediately.

Help is Available

If you sense a problem based on the above indicators, you and other family members should waste no time in taking the appropriate next steps. As difficult as the process might be, keep reminding yourself that by being proactive, as a result of your observations, you will not only provide safety for your loved one, but will also keep them happy and healthy for years to come.

1. Discuss the situation with the individual - Don’t be afraid to ask or talk to your aging loved one. Often seniors will not tell you if they are having trouble unless you ask. It is important to reassure seniors about your questions. They do not want to lose their independence and are afraid of being moved out of their home into a strange environment.
2. Make a doctor’s appointment for the individual – Be sure and make the appointment when you, another family member or someone else can relay the concerns directly to the doctor. If you are not able to be there in person, schedule a time to call the doctor.
3. Determine what services are available in their community – Talk with local social service agencies or community organizations such as a local Area on Aging office or church group.
4. Make minor adjustments in their lifestyle – It may be necessary to bring in outside help to provide companionship and to assist with daily activities such as meal preparation, light housekeeping, trips to their doctor’s appointments, and companionship. Here are some questions to consider when selecting a care provider:
   • Is the care provider a home care agency, employment agency, registry/broker, or an independent contractor?
   • How long has the agency been providing home care?
   • How does the agency screen and select caregivers prior to an assignment? Do they hire independent contractors or are they employees of the agency?
   • Are references and criminal backgrounds checked on all employees?
   • How are emergencies handled after normal business hours?
5. Use this time to plan ahead for unforeseen events –Take this time to establish advanced directives including establishing a power of attorney, will, living will, etc. There is no such thing as being too prepared.

Remember, the holiday season is a time for family, togetherness and establishing lifelong memories. By taking the time to address these issues before they reach the crisis stage, your family will have the much-needed sense of security, comfort and hopefully the ability to create new memories with your aging loved ones for many years to come!

Visit www.comfortkeepers.com to download the full Comfort Keepers Holiday In-Home Senior Care Assessment Guide.

For additional helpful holiday tips visit: www.comfortkeepers.com/holidays

A healthy diet can slow the onset of many diseases and help seniors manage the symptoms and impact of disease on lifestyle and longevity.

Good nutrition plays an important role in overall health and can be especially important for seniors. As part of the Comfort Keepers’ STOP Senior Hunger initiative in the month of September, we want to help you play an important role in helping seniors understand how a healthy diet benefits the management of:

• High blood pressure and high cholesterol. Low sodium and low-fat food choices can help manage these conditions.

• Diabetes which is present in more than 22 percent of people 65 and older, according to the National Diabetes Education Program. To manage diabetes, seniors should control weight, drink plenty of water and eat whole grains, multi-colored fruits and vegetables, small amounts of healthy fats, lean poultry and low-fat dairy. It is also important for diabetic seniors to follow up with their physician regularly for proper medical management, as diabetes can also lead to other health concerns.

• Vision loss which is the second greatest fear, next to death, among the elderly, according to research from the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University. One in three seniors over the age of 75 will develop age-related macular degeneration(AMD) – which has no cure and can lead to blindness – and many will face cataracts. High levels of antioxidants, vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc and copper may significantly reduce the risk of advanced macular degeneration and associated vision loss.

Seniors who eat complex carbohydrates instead of simple sugars (whole grains versus processed white flours and refined sugars), have a lower risk of developing cataracts and AMD. Dietary choices to help prevent AMD may also help prevent heart disease and cancer. Diets high in omega-3 fatty acids also have vision benefits.

• Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. These diseases may be lessened by consumption of fish containing omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, according to a SeniorJournal.com study of almost 15,000 senior citizens in seven countries. The spice turmeric and cruciferous (broccoli, cauliflower and related vegetables) or green, leafy vegetables also show promise in the fight against Alzheimer’s Disease. Note: Seniors, their family members and other caregivers should speak with their doctors about managing their tnutrition.