Tuesday, February 09, 2010

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4/23/2009 - West Side Leader
     

By Maria Lindsay

Lawrence Mason

BATH — As senior citizens approach their 65th birthday, they and family members may begin to wonder more about their future and how to cope with increasingly difficult tasks.

Not too long ago, one of those concerned family members was Lawrence Mason, a former president of the Consumer Tires North America, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., and a former division president of The Chinet Co.

After 25 years in the corporate world and seeing an increasing need to assist aging parents firsthand, Mason started Senior Helpers of Northeast Ohio, located in Bath, in January.

Mason explained Senior Helpers is focused on providing the nonmedical type of care required by clients typically age 65 and older.

“We serve the seniors and their family and provide sustainable and manageable care,” he said. “We help seniors maintain their independence at home and help their family members with the stress and burnout that may happen when they are trying to help an aging parent while working and caring for their own family.”

Mason explained Senior Helpers provides assistance in the form of everything from companionship to nursing-related care, all of which begins with an in-home assessment. Services are available during the day, at night, on weekends and holidays, on a daily or weekly basis, and for short- or long-term durations.

“We offer two types of caregivers — those with a heart for and experience with seniors, and certified state-tested nursing assistants, as well as certified nursing assistants,” said Mason. “A registered nurse stops at personal care and coordinates services with a home health agency to deliver medication and other care needed after a hospital stay.”

Senior Helpers offers services such as companion care, Alzheimer’s and dementia care, nurse visits, sitters and veterans services for qualified seniors.

Companion care may include duties such as conversation, help with meal planning, grocery shopping, food preparation and nutrition monitoring, light housekeeping, laundry, errands, and transportation to and from events and appointments.

Nurses may help with tasks such as walking assistance, bathing and dressing, hygiene care, eating and diet monitoring, medication reminders and Alzheimer’s and dementia care.

Sitter services are available for home, hospital and nursing home visits.

Service costs range from $16 to $19 per hour and are available to seniors in Medina, Summit, Stark and Cuyahoga counties.

According to Mason, company caregivers are employed by Senior Helpers and are not subcontractors. All caregivers undergo criminal background checks, are bonded and insured and are licensed, where applicable. The company also performs random drug testing on its employees and checks for clean driving records.

Caregivers may receive continual training on more than a dozen senior-related topic modules through the company’s Senior Helper University to earn company certification to promote skills in caring for seniors.

The company currently employs about 100 caregivers and is looking to hire more.

“Senior Helpers provides a part-time income to caregivers, some independence for seniors and some relief for the family member caring for aging parents,” said Mason.

For details about the company, located at 525 N. Cleveland-Massillon Road, Suite 201, visit www.seniorhelpers.com or call (330) 835-9671.

     

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