West End Home Grants Funds for Progress Inc. Senior Transportation

West End Home Foundation has granted Progress Inc. the monies to purchase two vehicles for Customized Companion Transportation. Pictured: WEHF Board Member Luanne Waltemath, Progress Executive Director Donna Goodaker and Progress Senior Care Manager Eric Metzler.

West End Home Foundation recently awarded Progress Inc. a grant toward the agency’s efforts to provide safe, reliable customized companion transportation to seniors throughout Middle Tennessee.

The West End Foundation’s generous donation to Progress Inc. will fund two passenger vehicles, which will be used to transport seniors to their medical appointments and the pharmacy.

The need for the funding was great considering the growing need for affordable, convenient and customized transportation options for seniors. Progress began the customized companion transportation program last year as a way to extend their services to seniors, which include in-home care and respite services. The service offers individual pick up from the senior’s home to various appointments, and, unlike other transit options, the Progress staff actually waits with the senior at each appointment. The cost of four hours of service is just $75.

“We’ve been able to allow people who don’t have family or family’s not available to have an alternative,” said Progress Director of Senior Services Crystal Martin. “It’s important for us to serve more seniors with this specialized service. We are thankful that West End Home Foundation has helped us do that and believes in our mission.”

Founded in 1891, The West End Home Foundation’s mission is to enhance the health and quality of life of elderly individuals in Middle Tennessee by providing support to non-profit organizations which offer housing, support or care to senior citizens. These agency grants have helped thousands of older citizens throughout Nashville and middle Tennessee.

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About Progress Inc.

Progress Inc., a non-profit organization in Nashville, Tenn., has helped Middle Tennesseans bridge the gap between limited independence and the realization of the best possible life since 1971. For more information about Progress’ developmental disabilities and senior care services, go to www.progress-inc.org or visit Progress Inc.’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/Progressinc2011.

Nashville Zoo welcomes seniors for FREE on Monday

Nashville Zoo welcomes seniors to enjoy the sights and creatures of nature on Monday.

The Nashville Zoo & Cigna-HealthSpring are giving seniors full (and free) access to tigers, elephants and other wildlife on Monday!

Nashville Zoo's Senior Day, sponsored by Cigna-HealthSpring will be held from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, May 19 for seniors 65 and older. In addition to free admission, Nashville Zoo will also grant the seniors who join the festivities a $5 voucher toward concessions.

The Cigna-Healthcare Silver Stars will perform at 12:30, and there will be an array of keeper talks and other exhibits for those who attend.

There will be a $5 parking fee.

To find out more, visit Ms. Cheap's blog or  www.nashvillezoo.com.

Are You Looking for Affordable Home Care for Your Elderly Loved One?

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Finding affordable, dependable care for older loved ones remains an ongoing issue for many families.

NewsChannel 5's Talk of the Town's Tuwanda Coleman recently interviewed Progress Inc. Executive Director Donna Goodaker and Director of Senior Services Crystal Martin about leading the pack in customized, caring services and programs for seniors and people with disabilities.

Tell us what you think about the Progress interview in the comment section below.

Click the image above to see the short clip of this morning's Talk of the Town Extra interview.

Our Mission

Progress provides staff supports to bridge the gap between limited independence and the realization of the best possible life. Since 1971, we have provided day program services that keep our clients with intellectual disabilities engaged in the community and gainfully employed. Progress also provides round-the-clock staff at the home of those individuals through our residential services. Since 2009, Progress has provided personal, respite, sitter and transportation services to seniors.

Seniors and Mental Health: Taking Care of Yourself & Your Mental Wellness

Talking with your loved ones and thinking positively can be keys to mental health. 

January marks National Mental Wellness Month, and Progress is honoring the month by offering tools and tips that can assist seniors in caring for their mental wellness. 

More than 6.5 million people over the age of 65 suffer from depression, according to the Geriatric Mental Health Foundation.

GMHF, a foundation dedicated to raising awareness about psychiatry and mental health disorders affecting the elderly, offers several resources on this matter, including an online toolkit.

For seniors, taking some steps to make healthy lifestyle choices can make a major difference in mental wellness.

Talking with those who have had similar experiences and feelings can be very helpful because they will understand how you feel.

Spend time with people you enjoy and avoid people who are not supportive.

Pace yourself—do not expect to do everything that you did before you had depression. Set a realistic schedule. Ask a friend or family member to take over some of the things that you need to do for a period of time.

Think positively and try to avoid blaming yourself or expecting failure. Identify areas of your life that are positive.

Identify problems in your life and list problems that you think may have triggered the depression. Work out a strategy to deal with the problems. Discuss them with family, friends, and your health care provider. Develop a step-by-step action plan—but plan realistic steps.

Identify pleasant activities and routines that you enjoyed before you became depressed. Think about those activities as well as those you would like to do. Once identified, start to return to that routine. Choose one activity each week from the pleasant activity and routine list.

Avoid making major life decisions. If you do need to make a major decision that will impact your life, ask a friend or family member for assistance.

Get exercise and spend time outdoors. Exercise and natural light can be effective natural treatments for depression.

Eat a healthy diet and limit your intake of sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and salt.

Be patient—it will take time to get better.

For more information about Geriactric Mental Health, please visit http://www.gmhfonline.org/gmhf/default.asp.

Progress Asks: What do seniors think of Progress Inc. In-home Care?

Barbara Joyner first learned of Progress when her husband suffered from Alzhiemer's Disease last year. Since September, Ms. Joyner has seen the benefit of having a senior care attendant by her side for all the little things it's hard for her to do.

Progress Staff Honored at 2013 TNCO Awards of Excellence

Yaeden "Spud" Taylor won the title of Oustanding DSP of the year.

Progress Staff Honored at 2013 TNCO Awards of Excellence

Spud Taylor and Carolyn Huey win big at TNCO Awards on Aug. 14.

Spud Taylor and Carolyn Huey will be honored for their outstanding efforts to keep seniors and people with disabilities healthy, happy and safe. We here at Progress are honored that these two individuals can represent the dozens of other exceptional Progress employees.These two folks go above and beyond their roles as direct support professional and program manager, respectively. 

Spud's nomiantor said: 

Spud always arranges his ‘off time’ to accommodate appointments, picking his guys up early for whatever reason. He has also changed his schedule and adjusted his time off if there was another staff that needed the same time off. He arranged his studies to work around his guys to ensure their well-being and happiness instead of putting himself and his studies before the guys.

Carolyn's nominator said:

Carolyn never hesitates to pull in and work a home when needed, not just because she is without staff, but because she is very familiar with everyone on her caseload. She would rather work in the home herself than place someone in the home that’s not familiar with the service recipient’s needs.. The last couple of years Carolyn began managing homes through our senior program in Cheatham Co. She often also worked the homes, not just to get the home covered but at times the senior client would request Carolyn to work their home.

On Wednesday, the two will accept their awards at the TNCO Awards of Excellence Ceremony and Luncheon at Hotel Preston.
Please share your congratulations here in the comment section for Carolyn and Spud!

Progress Asks: Top 3 Things In-Home Care Provides

Progress Senior Care Manager Patrick Ridner has a personal connection to caring for seniors.

Progress Asks: What's the Top 3 Things In-Home Care Provides?

It's Tuesday, so once again Progress is giving you a peak into the world of senior care with our Progress Asks segment. Today, our guest blogger Progress Senior Care Manager Patrick Ridner will provide a list of some of the major aspects of in-home care through the services Progress Inc. provides.

 Patrick has a heart for the communities we serve. The Middle Tennessee native said his grandfather's passing more than a year ago, opened his eyes to the need for care at home.

"My grandfather passed away two days before I got the job here," Patrick said. "He had been in a nursing home, but if we would have known about something like Progress, he could have been cared for at home. It seems like people know they're there to die at a nursing home."

Working at Progress means he can give families an opportunity his family didn't have. He enjoys interacting with his employees that work in the homes and getting to know the people Progress supports. It's hard to know exactly when someone could utilize in-home care, but Patrick has one piece of advice

 "When a person loses a certain amount of independence, (like they need help with cooking or cleaning), our services are beneficial. That's when we can come in and make the difference."

With in-home care, caregivers can provide a personal touch and add much more to the lives of the people they support, Patrick said.

Here's the TOP 3 Thing Patrick suggests in-home care can provide:

COMPANIONSHIP: The interaction between our senior care attendants and the seniors is often the best benefit for them. We have one person that goes to her church with her senior care attendant. Another loves to go to yard sales with her caregiver. It's all about having someone there rather than being alone for the time their family can't be there.

TRANSPORTATION: Many of our folks need to make it to doctor's appointments, grocery stores and other places, but they don't drive anymore. We get them there and wait with them as long as they need us.

CARING FOR HOME: Sometimes it's difficult for seniors to make meals, do laundry and clean their homes like they once did. Our senior care attendants provide light housekeeping, prepare meals, prepare grocery lists and handle other domestic duties for the people we support.

Let us know what you think about Patrick's blog in the comment section below:

Progress Asks: Is your Elderly Loved One Depressed?

Depression in the elderly community often goes unnoticed. - Courtesy of www.caregiverstress.com .

Progress Asks: Is your Elderly Loved One Depressed?

When caring for an elderly parent or sibling, ensuring their basic needs are met is quite challenging. However, along with caring for the practical needs - feeding, clothing and personal hygiene - the emotional needs of your loved one are also important. In today's Progress Asks' segment, we look at some of the warning signs that could greatly affect the emotional and mental health of your spouse, parent or other loved one.

 According to the NIH, some of the changes and life events you may notice are:

• Adapting to a move from home to an apartment or retirement facility
• Chronic pain
• Feelings of isolation or loneliness as children move away and their spouse and close friends die
• Loss of independence (problems getting around, caring for themselves, or driving)
• Multiple illnesses
• Struggles with memory loss and problems thinking clearly

Look for the signs that an older loved one may be depressed and need help:

• Being more confused or forgetful.
• Eating less. The refrigerator may be empty or contain spoiled food.
• Not bathing or shaving as often. Visitors may notice smells of urine or stool. Clothes may be dirty and wrinkled.
• Not taking care of the home.
• Stopping medicines or not taking them correctly.
• Withdrawing from others. Not talking as much, and not answering the phone or returning phone calls.

For more information on this topic, visit our website www.progress-inc.org/senior.html to find out some of the ways we can assist you in caring for your loved one.
Source:
http://www.caregiverstress.com/illnesses-conditions/senior-depression/signs-of-depression-checklist/

Spotlight on Seniors: Tennessee's Top 3 Scams Against the Elderly



Still photo from Channel 4 news report



WSMV reported Wednesday that a Nashville widow was scammed by a man claiming to be a home repairman. The video of the story shows how the distraught woman, who was not identified, fell into the trap of the scammer. The victim was hard of hearing and lived alone. Metro Police say scams of this sort with the elderly are quite common this time of year.  Living alone is tough for some older residents, so having the help of a trained caregiver can be a way to avoid such incidents. To prevent other elderly residents from experiencing scams, Progress Inc. has compiled a list of the top three scams affecting seniors and some other important information that can help prevent a scam from happening to you.

Telemarketing: Fraudulent telemarketers often prey on trusting seniors by using heartstring pleas, aggressiveness, and undue pressure to get them to purchase high-priced items they do not want or need. In some cases, the telemarketers lure consumers to reveal valuable, private information such as bank account, credit card, and Social Security numbers, which they later use to commit identity theft. Being prepared in advance with caller-ID and registering with state and local Do Not Call registries can help eliminate and/or curtail deceptive callers.

Charitable Solicitations: Many seniors have the financial resources to be generous supporters of charitable organizations. Unscrupulous individuals target seniors for “charitable contributions” both over the phone and door-to-door. Always ask for identification, and tell them to return after you have called the charity to confirm what they have told you. Never provide personal information or a contribution until you are certain about the legitimacy of the solicitor and the organization. Check with the Division of Charitable Solicitations and Gaming of the Secretary of State’s office where Tennessee charities are required to register.

Investment schemes: Some seniors have a lifetime of savings at their disposal. Scammers may go door-to door with fraudulent or risky investment “opportunities.” Others seniors may be approached by “new” friends and neighbors who claim to have already hit it big in an attractive investment scheme. Families with seniors choosing to stay at home may want to agree to have a trusted family member involved in any significant financial matters. If you have been a victim of one of these schemes, file a complaint with the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs.

More Information on Senior Care and Preventing Scams:

For more information about trusted senior caregivers, http://www.progress-inc.org/services.html .For local Do Not Call information call 1-877-TRA-7030 and for national information call

1-800-382-1222.

 Visit http://www.state.tn.us/sos/charity/index.htm to research charities before making a

donation.

 Victims of investment and other scams can file a complaint with the Division of

Consumer Affairs at www.tennessee.gov/consumer or call toll-free in Tennessee 1-800-342-8385.

Source: Tennessee Attorney General's Office and Progress Inc.