Helpful Hands On WDBJ-7

I am so excited to be a part of WDBJ-7′s Weekend Diner this Sunday, in honor of Older Americans Month.  Tune in on Sunday between 8am  and 9am to watch the Sunday morning newscast.

Weekend Diner is a brief segment featuring a simple recipe each week.  On this week’s segment, I will be preparing a healthy, yet tasty,  summer salad that will work great as a Memorial Day side-dish. I will also be announcing the winner of Helpful Hands “Recipe for Healthy Living” Contest.

As a aspiring cook and Food Network star, I am super-excited to be a part of this show.  So tune in to show some love and get that fresh new recipe to use at your family cookout during the upcoming holiday weekend. Oh, and by the way, make sure you do something kind to honor our older Americans before the month is out!

Downtown Roanoke Rotary

I am pleased to announce that I have been given the incredible opportunity to join the Downtown Rotary of Roanoke; part of Rotary International. As someone who does marketing for a local Home Care Service, supporting the disabled and senior populations, it is a perfect fit.  My job is a blessing in itself, because I get to connect families with services that help them meet the needs of their aging or disabled  loved ones.  And Rotary gives me the ability to connect with other professionals who feel passionate about serving their community.

Rotary’s motto is “service above self.”  So simple, yet so rare.  When is the last time you used that as your personal motto? I would venture a guess that the majority of us would say, “uh,  I can’t remember.”  In a nation, that encourages us to “take ‘me’ time”,  “indulge our senses”  and “do what feels good,” we put ourselves first, more often than not.  I’m certainly not judging, as this was often the place I defaulted to, as well.  But thanks to a number of life-altering (and often unfortunate) events that my family and I have gone through in the past few years, my perspective on the way I live my life has changed a great deal.  I like to think that the changes are for the better.

So I’ve said all of this to tell encourage you to take a look at your life, and the impact you are having in your community.  Three years ago I would have read the statement above and thought, ” I take care of my kids and my family,  what more can anyone expect?”  Unfortunately, in this time where there are SO MANY NEEDS in our community, we no longer have the luxury of only taking care of what’s ours.  I hope you will take a look at your calendar and find one hour in your month, that you can cut out lunch with a friend, or that Sunday afternoon nap, and use that time to make a difference to someone else.  It may seem trite, but it is so true.  I guarantee once you find a place that you feel passionate about serving, finding that one hour per month will be a breeze.

Do You Know About MedCottage?

If you haven’t already stopped by the quaint cottage located opposite the Hampton  Inn at  Lewis-Gale in Salem, VA, you should.  This small structure offers some giant technology.

In an age where an average of 10,000 baby-boomers per day are celebrating their 65th birthday, these little cottages are going to be more and more important to the aging American population.

Created as a backyard home for our older loved ones, MedCottage allows us to bring Mom or Dad home, while allowing them to continue to live in their own space.  The home  is designed with both safety and comfort in mind.  Some of the many “senior friendly”  features include:

*shock absorbing flooring (created by Boeing, no less)

*floor level rope lighting that cuts on anytime the resident gets up at night

*electroinc medication dispenser

*intercom connected to the main house

*the ability to monitor your loved one from anywhere by computer or “smart” device.

Definitely worth a look if you or someone you know can no longer remain completely independent, or manage the upkeep of their own larger home.  It is a comparable alternative to assisted living communities, as there are both lease and purchase options.

The MedCottage is a great partner for us in the home care business.  We can be the extra set of hands to stop by and check on Mom or Dad, when the rest of the family is away at work or other activities. Mom or Dad lives in their own place, but that place is right outside the back door.

Helpful Hands Has a Blog!

Thanks to my not-so-tech-savvy skill set, I have set up a blog for our company. just in case you miss us on Twitter, FaceBook, or the general web, you can keep up with the latest here!

This space will allow you to see what is new in our  little home care world, and share your own thoughts. Please tell us if you or someone you know has used our services.

Be sure to check back next week to view some of the entries in our “Recipe for Healthy Living” contest.  The winners from Both Elm Park Estates and The Park-Oak Grove will be announced.

Also, check back to find out how you can help the local charity of your choice win $250!