Kansas City Location Coming Soon!!

Comfort of Home Healthcare would like to proudly announce that we will soon have a second location in the Kansas City area.

We are looking for office space right now and we will announce the address when we have it locked in. All details will be ironed out in the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned!!!

As Comfort of Home Healthcare prides itself on providing quality care to seniors and people with disabilities we are searching for some Direct Care Aids to provide services to our clients we already provide services to in the Gladstone area.

This is where we need your help! Please let anyone you know who might be looking for a position in this field and in the Gladstone/NKC area that we are hiring.

If your not sure what a Direct Care Aid is, here is a video that gives you a little insight of what it is like.

Here is a link to our present job posts on Craigslist for the Gladstone/NKC area.

• Looking for Direct Care Aid to work in an ISL setting. Guardian requests that we staff home with male staff.

• We also need evenings and overnights for another client in an ISL. 

Effective Communication

Effective Communication
with the Elderly or Disabled

When a family member has to become the caregiver for an elderly parent or disabled family member the dynamics of a relationship will undoubtedly change. Effective communication needs to be a priority during this transition. Sometimes it is difficult to know how to best communicate with an elderly parent or disabled family member, because of all the changes that are taking place.

Communication needs to be beneficial for both the caregiver and the ill family member. Effective communication will keep relationships healthy and strong, and will help avoid problems that may come from miscommunication. The article below has some things you can keep in mind when trying to communicate with your family member. 

A communication breakdown during this time can be very harmful to everyone involved. So, this topic cannot be overlooked; it is essential to the caregiving process and to everyone's overall well-being. These simple tips can greatly improve your communication with the elderly or disabled. 

7 Communication Techniques for Talking to Elderly Parents

Caregiving results in major changes in a family: physical, emotional, social and financial issues can arise. It changes the roles, responsibilities and feelings within the family, which can lead to tension and fighting. Caregivers in the AgingCare.com community frequently support each other with "tricks of the trade" when it comes to effective communication with elderly parents.

We would like to share this knowledge, gained from caregiving day-in and day-out, with you. It doesn't always work, and it won't be easy, but we hope it helps you to cope and try to maintain or repair family relationships – and help you keep your sanity during your caregiving journey! 

Don't Give Advice Unless It's Asked For

Parents have advised their children their whole lives, so hearing advice from a child – albeit an adult child - might not go over so well. That parent-child role reversal is hard on the parent. Therefore, giving advice is best avoided unless you are sure it has been asked for. It is generally better to let an outside person be the advisor. You can encourage and provide support, without doling out advise. 

Listen to What Your Elderly Parent is Saying

Really listen. Listen to what the person is saying. Don't interrupt or try to fill in the silence. A period of silence could mean your family member is contemplating a response, thinking through the conversation and how to reply. Listening goes both ways, so try to determine that the person is hearing what you say.

Accept Differences of Opinions

No matter how close a family is, and despite the dynamics involved, everyone is not going to agree all of the time. There is sure to be differences of opinions. Respect the opinions of others; don't disregard them. Listen to all sides, and make a decision together when possible.

Speak Distinctly

Some older adults do not like to admit that they cannot hear or understand the conversation around them.  The higher pitch of women's voices may be a problem for older adults; consciously think to lower the voice pitch. Remain calm and talk in a gentle, matter-of-fact way, keep sentences short and simple, focusing on one idea at a time.

Don't Condescend

Make sure your attempt to "turn up the volume" and slow down your speaking patterns doesn't come across as condescending. Even if your parent suffers from dementia or extreme hearing loss, don't speak to them as you speak to a child. Patronizing is a sure way to start an argument.

Choose the Right Environment

Avoid competing noise or activities such as TV or radio. Face the person as you talk to them. When talking in a group, make sure that the elder is not on the end of the row.  It is better to place the senior in the middle so that the conversation is around them. Or perhaps a quiet walk works best for your elderly parent.

Consider What It Is Like To Be Old

Most seniors experience a series of losses during their later years and are trying desperately to stay in control of themselves and their environment. Letting others help feels to them like giving away control of things.

Pick Your Battles

Most elderly face multiple challenges as a result of growing older. The most common include mobility limitations, decreased stamina, living alone and memory problems. You will need to prioritize the issues you want to address and hope for small victories.

Laugh When you Can

Laughter really is the best medicine. Even in a difficult and stressful caregiving situation, there are some humorous moments. A shared laugh can ease tension while building closeness. However, be sure to laugh with your family, not at their expense.

Were Hiring!!!

We still have several job opportunities with Comfort of Home Healthcare.

Please forward this link to anyone you know that might be interested in working for us.

Come on in and fill out an application and you can get an interview on the spot!!!!

We are located at 2207 S 36th Street, St. Joseph MO. (There is some road construction so look at the map below to see the detour on how to get here)

Comfort of Home Healthcare Open Positions: 
(Caregiver Tip: The more available you are on when you can work, the more hours we can give you)

NEW!!!! DAY SHIFTS IN WESTON MO!!!! (Posted 7/28/14)

Personal Care Attendant/Direct Care Aide (Caregiver)

Comfort of Home Healthcare has several of these positions open! We are in the need of part time and full time caregivers.
Comfort of Home Healthcare provides caregiving services in the home of seniors and people with disabilities.
If you are a person who feels compassion for others and is drawn to take care of people, this is the perfect match for you!
All shifts are available, but the majority of our open positions will be either evenings and/or overnights.

Personal Care Attendant/Direct Care Aide (Caregiver) Rosendale/Savannah

Comfort of Home Healthcare is looking for a couple outstanding Direct Care Aide's to work evenings and some weekends in the Rosendale/Savannah area. Will pay mileage to get you there and back.

House Manager

Comfort of Home Healthcare is looking for a outstanding person to fill a management position with our company. Any client of Comfort of Home Healthcare who receives more than 16 hours of service daily will have one person dedicated to manage that particular home.

This position is typically a 40 hour weekly position and works the day shift in that home, but must be available 24/7 to answer questions and take calls from staff in that home.

Link to Comfort of Home Healthcare Application
(for your convenience, just print it and bring it in!)

Map with Detour

Business Grows from Personal Experience

We are so excited to share with you that Comfort of Home Healthcare had an article written yesterday about its success!!!

Tad and I sat down with a reporter from the News Press and did our interview that we appreciate so much. Reporters have a difficult job in condensing a 30 min conversation into 150 words or less. With that being said, I wanted to give you a little lead-in to the story that our article did not have room for. 

I just wanted to be clear that Comfort of Home Healthcare was a shared vision between Tad and I. Also that we could not have excelled the way we have without the support from our loving families and supportive community that helped two guys start a business from nothing. We are also blessed with a number of wonderful employees that take care of our clients as if it were their own families. 

I also would like to mention that being a primary caregiver is one of the most difficult tasks one can be challenged with in this life. I have witnessed Tad though the years being the primary caregiver for is son and am in awe of how he manages it day in and day out and has done it for over a decade. It is inspiring to see and I feel privileged to have him as a business partner and our clients are blessed to have that kind of commitment and determination in giving their own families the care that they deserve. 

Lastly I wanted to clarify that with my In-laws, my wife was the primary caregiver and poured her heart and soul into giving her parents the best care anyone could wish for their own family. I wanted to clarify that because I want to give credit where credit is due and we see all to often that not all families come together in times of crisis. She is a little angel for our family and we would not be where we are today without her. 

Being a caregiver to anyone, being a parent or a child , is truly a family affair in every since of the word. 

Thank you to everyone who made this possible!! Tad and I are truly humbled and blessed by all our support over the years. 

Original article can be found HERE. 

Tad Ulmer and Jason Douglas share a lot of common ground.

They’re both fathers. Primary breadwinners for their family. Passionate about caring for people.

But perhaps the most notable thing they have in common is experiencing that moment of complete exasperation and loss — that “I’ve had it” moment that brought them together to create Comfort of Home Health Care.

When Mr. Ulmer and Mr. Douglas became caregivers for family members who needed 24-hour attention, they realized the difficulties involved with finding quality care. It was an uphill battle from there.

For Mr. Ulmer, it was with his son. Mr. Douglas, his in-laws.

Mr. Ulmer’s 15-year-old son Brandon was in a car accident that left him paralyzed on his left side and recovering from major brain damage. Brandon lived in a nursing home for five years before returning home. Mr. Ulmer shuffled 150 to 200 different caregivers in and out of his house trying to find quality service.

“They wanted to run my life,” Mr. Ulmer said. “They wanted to force caregivers on me that I knew were not good.”

He battled staff just to get Brandon a shower every day.

Mr. Douglas spent several years taking care of his dying father-in-law. After he passed away, he became the primary caregiver for his mother-in-law, who had Alzheimer’s disease. He was plagued by lackluster staff that didn’t fulfill their family’s needs, he said.

Mr. Douglas’ frustration brought him to the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, where he met Rebecca Evans of the Small Business & Technology Development Center. She knew Mr. Ulmer was facing similar difficulties and encouraged Mr. Douglas to give him a call.

That night, Mr. Douglas was at Mr. Ulmer’s house with a vision.

One month later, they had gotten their business license. A month after that, they had sold everything they owned and cashed in their 401(k) plans.

And a few days into 2011, they were moved into their office and were ready to take their first client.

Mr. Douglas said the clients’ needs always come first.

“It’s weird having other people come in your home,” he said. “It just is. There’s no way to sugarcoat that. And (other home health companies) say, ‘Hey, this is how we’re going to do it.’ Whereas we come in and say, ‘How do you want us to take care of your loved one?’”

And if that means it costs more money, so be it. For the first six or eight months of working the business, neither of them brought home a penny.

Mr. Douglas vividly remembers having to sell a car to pay his bills one month because they had nothing left. It was his last — and only — option.

“The first month we were able to take money out of here was the month after I had no idea how the hell I was going to pay the next month’s bills,” Mr. Douglas said. “God’s gonna help you out, but He’s gonna make you sweat it a bit first.”

After three years of operation, they’ve grown to 89 employees.

Comfort of Home recently started expanding into Kansas City, and they said they hope to continue to grow into other surrounding areas.

Only a year and a half into the business, they’d already surpassed their three-year projections. They hope to continue to grow while providing quality service.

“It can be tough,” Mr. Douglas said. “In this job, you can have basically the most rewarding day of your life one day and the toughest day of your life the very next day. You never know.”

Exercise: Improving the Lives of the Elderly

Exercise

Improving the Lives of the Elderly

Exercise is a vital part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle for any age group, but it is especially important for ageing adults and the elderly. Exercise needs to be a kept a priority because of its many physical and mental health benefits. There may be some hesitation at first because of the challenges that come with exercising while ageing, but exercise will drastically improve their quality of life. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that physical activity also has the ability to extend life expectancy. 

Three of the main physical health benefits include: (helpguide.org)

• Exercise helps older adults maintain or lose weight.
• Exercise reduces the impact of illness or chronic disease.
• Exercise enhances mobility, flexibility, and balance in older adults. 

Three of the main mental health benefits include: (helpguide.org)

• Exercise improves your sleep. 
• Exercise boosts mood and self-confidence.
• Exercise is good for the brain.

The challenges of life will inevitably get in the way of staying motivated and staying committed to a regular exercise routine, so it is important to have a plan ahead of time for when this occurs. When your regular exercise routine gets interrupted, always have a back up plan. The more consistent you are in your daily exercise, the more benefits you will acquire. 

There may be some concerns before starting a regular exercise routine for older adults. They may have an illness that significantly changes their ability to exercise, they may feel too weak, or they may have concerns about falling. All of these issues and more need to be addressed, and there is a safe way to go about starting a regular exercise routine. 

Some safety tips to consider include: (helpguide.org)

• Get medical clearance from the doctor. 
• Consider all health concerns. 
• Start slow.
• Commit to an exercise schedule. 
• Stay motivated by focusing on short-term goals. 
• Recognize problems. 

There are also specific types of exercise that are more appropriate for specific age groups or a specific individual's needs. Every person has a unique set of physical and mental health needs, and these can be met through various types of exercise techniques and programs. Here are some resources that will give you more information about what is best for you or your family member:

Exercise and Fitness Over 50

Why is Physical Exercise Important for the Elderly?

COHH is Pleased to Announce the Start of Another New Service! Snow Removal/Lawn Care!

As the owners of Comfort of Home Healthcare we pride ourselves in going above and beyond for our clients. After all, we have been where they are; we have and still do take care of our own loved ones in the comfort of their home.

While we were out picking up caregivers and taking them to our clients homes to work during inclement weather, it occurred to us that most of our clients probably need additional help in removing the snow from their drives, sidewalks, lawns, etc.

In order to be more helpful to our clients and their families, Comfort of Home Healthcare is extremely happy to announce that we are now offering snow removal services in the winter and lawn care during the summer. With these services, we can allow you to focus more of your time and energy on the more important things in life. Let us take care of the details for you during this time. 

If you or any of your family/friends are interested, please give us a call or if it’s easier, shoot us an email. We can always be reached at 816-671-0298 or info@comfortofhomehealthcare.com. Just ask for Jason or Tad.

All homes and driveways/lawns are different and will have to be bid individually. Also, note that all direct Comfort of Home Healthcare clients will receive a significantly discounted rate!!

Wow, the green grass sure looks good right about now!!

COHH is Pleased to Announce ~ Shared Life, Live-in Companion

Comfort of Home Healthcare is happy to announce that it’s looking for some caring individuals to make a huge difference in the life of another person. We normally provide more “traditional” in-home care services to seniors and people with disabilities.

Comfort of Home Healthcare was founded from a passion and drive to make a difference in people’s life’s, fueled by our own personal experiences.  Providing the best care possible to people who need help to remain independent is our sole goal and focus each and every day. With this commitment in mind, we cannot be more excited to begin a new journey in providing a non-traditional model of care for people with developmental disabilities in shared life, or live in companion.

The live in companion model, utilizes a shared home/ shared life approach to provide supports to people with developmental disabilities. This means that a person with a disability lives with and shares a home with a paid caregiver.

Shared Living is based on the importance of enduring and permanent relationships as the foundation for learning life skills, developing self-esteem and learning to exist in interdependence with others. 

The essential future of the Shared Living experience provides an opportunity for each individual with a developmental disability to grow and develop to his or her greatest potential and to participate in everyday community life. 

Shared living also provides individualized attention based on the needs of the individual with developmental disabilities. Shared living gives individuals opportunities to be completely immersed in their community and take an active role in their life.

Some of the many reasons Comfort of Home Healthcare is excited to be starting this type of service because the Shared Living model are: (taken from Division of Developmental Disabilities)

·        Inclusion in the community has been and continues to be a major focus of supports for people with disabilities. The Shared Living model has proven to be as good means for providing true inclusion in a person’s community, if the individual is matched and well supported by the Shared Living Provider.

·        Shared Living can provide both a stable support system and a higher quality of life for the person receiving services. The issue of staff people “revolving” in and out of the person’s life is minimized.

·        Shared Living can also provide a stable, flexible, higher quality of life for the individual.

·        This model provides the training and services quality review needed to assure the person served and the system of the highest possible quality and cost-effectiveness of the services.

Companions (paid caregiver) typically work Monday-Friday and begin each day when the consumer awakes. They assist the consumer with their morning routines, daily care, medications, meal preparation, etc.

Most consumers attend a day program, have a job or attend school and the companion is off work during these times. If the consumer is not gone during the day, then the companion is with the individual to assist them throughout the day. The companion also assists the consumer in the afternoon and evening time with their evening/night routines and then typically goes to bed after consumer has done so

_____________________________________________________________________________

Companions are salaried positions and are tied to weekdays. Companions are live in, this means that their rent and utilities are paid for, in addition to their salary.  

Each companion has the option of taking weekends off. During this time Comfort of Home Healthcare provides relief staff. ____________________________________________________________

Comfort of Home Healthcare, right now is actively seeking Companions and Relief staff for a woman with a developmental disability. As far as we know, we will be the first one in our area under this model, it will be exiting to start with us and be the first. 

Please help us spread the word to someone who you think this would be perfect for. It is absolutely paramount that we find the right person for this model and will keep interviewing until we find it.

If you have any questions about this, please do not hesitate to contact us. 816-671-0298, Ask for Jason. 

Tips for Seniors Though the Winter Months

Well, winter is here. Monday morning I had to wake up 20 minutes earlier than normal to start my car before work. And since entrance of the digital age, I no longer even have a CD case to scrape off my windshield! Rough times, this winter.

It was not that long ago when I had more to worry about than where the ice scraper was. My wife and I had moved her elderly mother into our home. Every winter now it reminds me of all our loved ones who have mobility issues and how difficult winter can be.

If you yourself need a little extra help now and then, if you are caring for a loved one, or even if you’re loved one just recently needs a little bit of extra help. Here are some tips that you’re going to need to keep yourself or your loved ones safe for the next couple of months.

·       If you are not able to do everything for your own. Ask for help silly!!!

The most important tip to keep in mind is to ask for help. If you need help to clear the drive, sidewalks, etc. don’t hesitate to ask a family member, neighbor, social service agency or hire a professional. Really, don’t be afraid to reach out for help.

·       If you’re worried about your loved one.

o   Check in on them regularly, if you live out of town, arrange for neighbors/family to check in.

o   Arrange for someone to keep sidewalks shoveled and de-iced.

o   Make sure your loved one has emergency supplies.

o   Arrange transportation if need be, have groceries delivered, etc.

o   Hire a professional in home care agency such as Comfort of Home Healthcare to come in and help take good care of your loved one during these months.

·       Prepare, Prepare, Prepare!!! There are a handful of likely scenarios that are going to happen during the winter season, prepare for them.

o   Power Outages - At some point, a winter storm is going to lead to a power outage. Make sure there is easy access to flashlights and a battery powered radio. Stockpile warm blankets. Keep some non perishable food and water stored away. Here is a winter weather checklist you might find useful.

§  Oxygen – if you or your loved one is on oxygen you/they most likely have a generator supplying it. If your power goes out you will need backup tanks. Have a supply of both large tanks and smaller portable tanks readily available.

o   Home Heating Safety

§  Service the furnace every fall to make sure it’s in working order.

§  Have all chimneys and flues inspected yearly and cleaned as needed.

§  Install and upkeep on smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

·       Using a fireplace, gas heater or lanterns can lead to carbon monoxide poising. Be SURE to pay special attention to the carbon monoxide detectors and get an updated one if needed.

§  Keep a fire extinguisher handy, replace as needed and know how to use it.

§  Place space heaters at least three feet from any curtains, betting, etc.

·    

   Stay Inside – This is an easy one. If you don’t have to get out, don’t. Seniors are more susceptible to hypothermia. Conditions such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, severe arthritis and even some medications can limit the body’s response to cold.

o   IF you have to go out – Dress appropriate, even for a “walk out to the mailbox”. One slip and a fall could mean that your outside for longer than you anticipated.

·       Fight Wintertime Depression – Not being with others and spending more time indoors can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation.

o   Call family members and check in daily. Get as much contact with others as possible.

o   If you are the family member, call your loved one as often as possible. Even a short daily phone call can make a big difference. If you can visit, even better!

These are just some simple tips and are not intended to be all encompassing. Be sure to get with your family and create a plan as everyone is different and will have different needs.

We hope you find this helpful and hope that you and your loved ones stay safe this winter season. Like always; Comfort of Home Healthcare is here to help, call us if you need anything!

Caregivers Wanted!!!

Comfort of Home Healthcare is on the lookout for great people to join our team of compassionate caregivers.

We have multiple positions open at the moment. First and foremost, you have to have the desire to help other people. If your just looking for a job, this company is not for you and best of luck in your job search.

However, if your one of those people who want more than just a job, get on down here and fill out a job application ASAP!!!

We have full time positions for people interested in helping people with developmental disabilities in an Individualized Supported Living (ISL) environment. JOB POST

We are also in the lookout for people in the Gower area to help with come of our clients. We serve some wonderful families who have loved ones with disabilities out in that area. We need caregivers who either live out that direction, or would be willing to drive. We have full time and part time positions available for people who are interested. JOB POST

Lastly we are also in the need for caring individuals to work with seniors. We need a compassionate people to work with some families part time and full time. We have a couple different evening and overnights positions available. JOB POST

Positions will fill fast, so don't hesitate. Come on down as see us, if were available we could possibly interview you on the spot. 

Were downtown on the corner of 7th & Edmond streets. 624 Edmond, St. Joseph MO 64501.