It’s the most wonderful time of the year…or is it? I guess it depends on whether or not the Holiday Season brings on feelings of depression. According to Depression-Guide.com, “Seniors can have an especially hard time with the holidays. Lots of reasons can contribute to this. The loss of an important person in the last year, or the anniversary of a loss or traumatic event can make memories come back that can dampen spirits. Nearly two-thirds of survey respondents said they have suffered from depression during the holidays, often to such an extent that they do not take part in the season’s activities.” We have compiled some ways to help your senior friends and loved ones combat depression this year.
Many seniors feel disconnected from family and friends due to health-issues that limit their mobility or they are separated from people geographically. You can help seniors by finding music that is pleasing to them—perhaps holiday carols or maybe a different genre that works for them. Call, write, Skype, facebook or e-mail them – you know which method will work best for them. If you live far from the senior, mail them photos of you and your family to keep them informed about news and events that happened this year, or send a newsletter telling them about upcoming events that you are looking forward to.
Try to find a special gift that will mean something to them. “I remember my grandmother used to tell me a story about how her and her best friend Shirley would always meet at Marshall Fields downtown to have breakfast at the Walnut Room, so one year I sent her an ornament of the famous Marshall Fields clock to remind her of how her story of friendship had stayed with me even as an adult, “said Maribeth Hearn, Executive Marketing Director at Shay Health Care Services. Terry Lallky, R.N.,BSN, and Administrator at Shay Health Care Services recommended “Contact the local church or synagogue and see if they have any peer groups for those that are mobile or for those that are not ask if the organization can mail the bulletin or arrange for visits from volunteers.” Another suggestion is to load a photo frame with photos and update it regularly for the senior. Keeping in contact is essential, Lallky added “Set up a regular telephone call with your elderly relatives like Tuesday evenings or Saturday mornings and be consistent.”
If you are the primary caregiver for a senior and you need a break, please contact Shay Health Care Services at 708-535-4300 we are available for packages from 2 hours of service to 24 hour live in care. Our phones are answered 24 hours per day including weekends and holidays. Take care of yourself and your loved ones. Happy Holiday’s from Shay Health Care Services.
Disclaimer: The article provided is to help provide resources not medical advice.
Shay Health Care Services, Inc. Named to 2011 HomeCare Elite
Oak Forest, IL 10-25-11 — Shay Health Care Services, Inc. today announced that it has been named to the 2011 HomeCare Elite™, a compilation of the top-performing home health agencies in the United States. Now in its sixth year, the HomeCare Elite identifies the top 25 percent of agencies and further highlights the top 100 and top 500 agencies overall. Winners are ranked by an analysis of performance measures in quality outcomes, process measure implementation, and financial performance.
“It is increasingly challenging to manage the cost/quality equation. The 2011 HomeCare Elite winners demonstrate a commitment to providing patients with the best possible care while managing their business efficiently and effectively,” said Amanda Twiss, CEO of OCS and My InnerView. “This year, we updated our methodology to reflect industry focus and, based on this rigorous analysis, we congratulate Shay Health Care Services on being one of the top home care agencies in the country.”
Maribeth Hearn, Executive Marketing Director at Shay Health Care credits the family-owned company’s 30 year history of offering exceptional nursing and non-medical caregiving services to the Chicagoland area as a reason why they have been named as one of the HomeCare Elite. She said, “We are known for Keeping Our Promises. SHAY hires competent, kind and compassionate people that improve the quality of life for our clients.”“The HomeCare Elite designation continues to gain significance given the regulatory changes and challenges that agencies face. Agencies that have earned recognition among the HomeCare Elite demonstrated that they not only can adapt to an evolving marketplace but continue to excel in both clinical and financial outcomes,” said Marci Heydt, product manager for the post-acute care business group, DecisionHealth.
The 2011 HomeCare Elite is the only performance recognition of its kind in the home health industry. The 2011 HomeCare Elite is brought to the industry by OCS HomeCare, the leading provider of homecare information, and DecisionHealth, publisher of the industry’s most respected independent newsletter Home Health Line and the Complete Home Health ICD-9-CM Diagnosis Coding Manual. The data used for this analysis were compiled from publicly available information. The entire list of the 2011 HomeCare Elite agencies can be viewed by visiting the OCS HomeCare website at www.ocshomecare.com.
About Shay Health Care Services, Inc.
Since 1981, Shay Health Care has touched the lives of over half a million people by providing exceptional in-home health care and non-medical assistance in the 9 counties it serves. Patricia Hayes, Founder and Executive Director, created an agency that is committed to quality care-giving and nursing services. She hires the best and retains them. In fact, the average tenure of a Shay Nurse is over 15 years. When you search for consistent, competent and professional care, choose Shay–a company which promises to deliver a better quality of life to its clients. No other local, independent agency can match Shay’s distinguished reputation as a direct result of operating under the precedent —“We Keep Our Promises.”
About OCS and My InnerView
As a combined business unit of National Research Corporation, OCS and My InnerView empower clients and partners throughout the entire post-acute continuum of care, including home health, hospice, skilled nursing, assisted living, and more. The company offers market-leading survey solutions, predictive tools, data analytics, quality and outcomes reporting, financial insights, and the nation’s largest comparative databases. OCS and My InnerView partner with more than 12,000 post-acute providers. For more information, please visit the OCS and My InnerView websites or call 888.325.3396 and 800.601.3884.
About DecisionHealth®
For 25 years, DecisionHealth has served as the industry’s leading source for news, coding tools and resources and training materials found in reputable products such as Home Health Line, Diagnosis Coding Pro for Home Health and the Complete Home Health ICD-9-CM Diagnosis Coding Manual. Our unique blend of award-winning staff journalists and unmatched access to health care executives and industry experts enables us to provide solutions, tools and guidance that are relied on by nearly 100,000 home health care and specialty physician practice professionals. For more information, please visit www.decisionhealth.com or call 877.602.3835.
