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Shannon Mackie I Special to the Jewish News

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The Senior Helpers team

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ight years ago, Barbara Roden
opened her first Senior Helpers
office in Farmington Hills, after
seeing a need for a different approach
to elder care. Barbara's father was suf-
fering from Alzheimer's and she realized
that options for care were very limited.
"When my mom and I were research-
ing care for my father, we were amazed
that home care companies didn't offer
care for just a few hours per day once
a week," Barbara said. "That's all my
mom wanted initially, so she could go to
the grocery store or lunch with a friend
while someone stayed with my father."
Barbara has devoted her life to help-
ing both seniors and their families ever
since.
Barbara and her staff specialize in
caring for those with dementia, but they
also work with many types of clients,
including those with multiple sclerosis,
cancer, hospice patients or those who
have recently undergone a surgery.
Their services include personal care,
such as bathing or dressing assistance,
and household tasks such as laundry or
cleaning.
The company has since opened a
Grosse Pointe office and has become
Southeast Michigan's leading home
care organization, providing care across
Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties.
Senior Helpers provides companion-
ship and personal care for the elderly,
helping them to remain independent in
their homes as long as possible with the
highest quality of life.
Naturally, Senior Helpers meets the
needs of people like Barbara's mom,
offering assistance for as little as three
hours per week. However, Senior Help-
ers isn't limited to short-term assign-
ments. The company can also provide
care on a more frequent basis, up to 24
hours a day, seven days a week.
"I couldn't have imagined a better
way to serve my community and help
families," Barbara said. "It seemed as if
the stars were aligned perfectly when I
decided to start Senior Helpers."
Senior Helpers' approach to home
care sets it apart from other companies.
Word of mouth referrals are a major
reason its business has grown, along
with referrals from professionals who
know they can trust Senior Helpers.
Senior Helpers' services are more
affordable than many might expect.
For those that may be facing financial
hurdles, Barbara and her team are com-
mitted to helping them identify other
services and resources such as Veteran's
Aid and Attendance. The company aims
to be a resource provider in other ways
as well. The staff will work to connect
clients with the answers and referrals
they need to provide the best possible
care.
Senior Helpers is also unique in its se-

lection and training of staff. All employ-
ees have prior experience in caregiving,
either professionally or in their personal
lives. They undergo rigorous screenings
and background checks, and are bonded
and insured. Each employee must dem-
onstrate a compassionate personality.
"We are caring individuals," Barbara
said. "As the owner, I have a real com-
passion for both our clients and staff.
Everyone here has a caring heart. Our
clients stay with us because they know
we care."
As proof of its commitment to provid-
ing compassionate care, Senior Helpers
has identified a number of core values
including integrity, quality of life, open
communication, positive attitude,
continuous advancement and a respect
for life.
The company is also devoted to
training and equipping its staff. Employ-
ees participate in training two times
per year and complete four self-study
modules annually. Examples of training
topics include stages of Alzheimer's,
cross cultural communication, safely
transferring clients and working with
oxygen tanks.
Barbara herself has become a leader
in the field. She is a board member
of the Alzheimer's Association, is a
certified trainer for dementia care and
works hard to educate others about the
effects of aging. She has also formed a
partnership with Teepa Snow, one of the
country's leading dementia experts.
Teepa's Senior Gems program helps
caregivers focus on what is precious and
unique about those with Alzheimer's or
dementia. Caregivers trained by Teepa
learn to foster supportive communica-
tion, promote a positive environment
and provide meaningful activities.
Barbara hosts six Detroit-area training
sessions per year with Teepa, many of
which have been attended by more than
700 people.
Senior Helpers offers complimen-
tary assessments for families who are
considering care for their loved ones.
Simply contact the Farmington Hills
office at (248) 865-1000 or the Grosse
Pointe office at (313) 885-0600. A client
relations manager will come to a client's
home to meet with the family and will
create a recommended care plan based
on the client's needs. The company will
continue to follow up to ensure that
everyone is satisfied with the services
provided.
The company's motto is "care and
comfort at a moment's notice," and it's
clear that Barbara and her team have
provided exactly this to families and cli-
ents throughout Southeast Michigan. ❑

More information about Senior Helpers
is available at www.seniorhelpersmi.
corn.

September 25 • 2014

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