AlzNC 2015 JOCO Walk - Clayton Square

We were at the AlzNC 2015 Johnston County walk in downtown Clayton today. Dawn Rozzo, our Client Liaison answered questions at the Always Best Care table, and explained what we do, and most important why.

What a fantastic turnout; Gabriel Manor and the Brian Center did most of the heavy lifting to make it happen, along with contributions from multiple others. Pete Perrino and Sarah Middendorf were the chairs of the committee for the walk. Sarah has been doing a fantastic job keeping everyone's energy up, and also did an awesome job running the event today!!!

Here are a few highlights:

ROTC flag bearers

Selma Mayor speaking at the event, highlighted hope and the continued commitment to research to fight this terrible disease afflicting millions...

The Zumba Lady was so much fun; she really did get us moving to the beat, and easily...

Memorial Day Celebration at Cambridge Village of Apex

It was an honor to hear WW-II veteran Jack M share his uplifting experience on Omaha Beach. What an emotional and humbling experience to see and hear from a WW-II veteran first hand.

Cats; possibly the best senior choice

One of my many unapologetic pleasures is lying in a rope hammock in my backyard. Strung between the cherry tree that doesn't bear fruit and a large Leland cypress, I am hidden from the neighbors but still have perfect view of cobalt blue and billow-white clouds.  A twenty minute break in its gentle sway never fails to alter the attitude positively.

Lately my black tiger-stripe, Cosmo has decided to join me. He stretches his front paws onto the rope's edge and I lean to the side to give him a better vantage. He then jumps up and comically stumbles onto my lap. Sometimes he hangs his head over the edge and stares at flying insects, sometimes he stretches out tummy to my tummy side and gently head-butts my hand. Pet me please. His presence gilds an already near-perfect past time.

For two years, I brought an exceptionally social cat for pet visits once a month at a long term care facility where I worked. While dog visits are common people rarely bring in a cat, because cats are rarely as accommodating. But Kazoo would lie quiet next to bed-ridden residents or patiently sit on a table and let people pet and admire. Even cat-averse staff marveled at how he placated some residents.

Much has been studied and written about the health and healing advantages of having a pet, especially a dog. But the American Humane society recommends considering a cat for older owners. Many seniors simply can’t keep up with a dog’s needs, which makes adopting a cat a much better choice. Here are some of their pointers:

• Unlike dogs, cats are happy staying indoors all the time. 
• Most adult cats require only 20 to 30 minutes of playtime per day, and interactive play does not require the owner to be mobile. A kitty fishing pole or laser toy lets senior cat owners engage their cat in play while sitting in their favorite chair. 
• Cats are also very content to spend most of their time sleeping on their owner’s lap or bed. 
• If you are adopting a cat, consider an older one which is less likely to disturb the household.

Of course, cats are not care-free. They must be fed and kitty-litter box emptied. If these tasks are too burdensome for your elderly loved one, perhaps family members could consider a cat-share arrangement, where a pet cat stays with the senior during the day and comes home to another residence in the evening. If you are visiting daily, or even every third day, filling up the food dispenser and checking the litter box are small tasks compared to the companionship afforded by a purring cat.

If you are a cat-lover you know how much your cat entertains, amuses and comforts.
If you are not a cat-lover, but know a senior in your life who could use some mood-lifting affection, consider adopting a feline friend.  

Always Best Care Senior Services; a family of giving care

ABC Raleigh's President and Operations Supervisor, Sanjay Das started Always Best Care to provide the kind of loving, compassionate care that his own Mother provides for his grandmother. The agency opened its doors in February 2014. He and his wife moved to the Triangle in 2011 from the Boston area and love this area. In this article he explains what motivates his approach to providing superior care to senior adults.

Sanjay, can you talk about how your family's caregiving influenced you to start Always Best Care?



This business is a tribute to my maternal Grandmother who raised me; my second Mom. She brought together a community of women in India and helped them learn and train each other in the art of hand-crafted articles & clothes. She began this enterprise in her forties, and continued until she was in her 70s. I experienced it all first hand but didn't realize the tremendous impact she had on our community until I was an adult. As she grew older, I hired someone to run errands for her and others since we live so far away and they needed help. Their needs progressed over the past 10 years; now my Mother cares for my Grand-mom who has 24x7 care. My Father-in-law had live-in care, and my Father lived in a family care home towards the end of his life. Providing senior care is my way to continue my Grand-mom's legacy, and do something meaningful.

What aspects of being an IT professional help you in your current work?
I enjoy solving problems; finding the best solution for each senior and family. Each situation has unique needs; matching that up with each of our caregiver's strengths is what I enjoy.

What complex problem have you solved recently?
One client we helped recently had very specific cognitive, but not physical needs. Even though we started with independent living, we realized switching to a good assisted living community would be a better solution. We needed to find a community appropriate for someone with unique mental but not physical limitations. This challenge required me to expand my search criteria to look for an assisted living community that has safe, excellent independent resources and services around the community (not just within the community itself).We achieved the results we needed working hand in hand with the family and the facility community. It's a wonderful gift when that happens.

What new skills do you have to learn/practice?
I've had to learn many new things! I work with clients and caregivers, (who are the core of our agency), manage financials, sales, marketing. I am most motivated to build relationships that matter, and am continually learning how to improve quality of life for our clients.

You say you are "passionate about nature". What activities do you do to be outside or to embrace Nature?    I'm a hiker at heart, and enjoy running, gardening; anything outdoors really.

Working in the health-care industry requires a mindful attention to your own health. What are some of your own healthy habits?
I follow an amazingly powerful book: The 3 Season Diet, by John Douillard. I've applied John's approach to a seasonal diet and healthy living (based on an ancient Asian way of life called Ayurveda), enhanced with raw foods, no sugar, and jogging. That combined with deep breathing and meditation keeps me going, without any coffee.

Tell me about one aspect of running Always Best Care that gives you joy.

Nearly everything around running this agency is a lot of fun (even if tons of hard work). I thoroughly enjoy my interactions with people, whether they are our team members, clients, referral sources or partners.

Help Finding a Senior Community

A loved one has been in your care for several weeks, months or years but something has changed. Perhaps he has become more ill, you have acquired more responsibilities outside the home, or there has been multiple falls and increased disorientation.

Whatever the reason, you begin to know that you need to look into different living arrangements. There are over 100 communities which serve Senior adults in the extended Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill triangle area. Which are the best communities for your loved one? The "best" community is one that meets your loved one’s unique requirements which include amount of care needed, health status, proximity to family members, and financial resources.

Let’s take a look at what kind senior living options are available.

Independent Living

People who can function independently and but desire to reduce/eliminate home maintenance activities and chores look into independent living options. These include
deeded homes, senior living apartments or independent living communities. They may or may not include amenities such as transportation assistance and planned activities.

Assisted Living
If you need help with activities of daily living, you will be looking into assisted living facilities. These will provide help with meals, bathing, dressing, housekeeping. Shared or private rooms are available. Cost will depend on type of room and level of care. Most also provide planned activities for their residents. Optional services often available are hair salon, therapy, massage or one-on-one care.

Alzheimer's & Dementia Care
For those suffering from Alzheimer's or other types of dementia or memory loss, an
assisted living arrangement will be needed; but the shared or private room is in a "secured" or memory unit community. These units provide higher level of care and security with meals, bathing, dressing, and mentally stimulating activities. Cost depends on type of room and potential level of care.

Residential Care Homes
Similar to assisted living, except you live in a private house (typically in a sub division) converted for shared use. Homes vary in services provided and typically house three to eight residents. There are approximately 25 residential care homes in Raleigh alone.

Skilled Nursing Care
Long term nursing homes provide assistance in activities of daily living and access to 24/7 nursing care. Facilities are structured like a hospital as opposed to a home with on-site physicians and physical therapy. Additional services may be available like hair salon and various types of activities.

Continuing Care Retirement Community
A senior community for those who wish to remain in the same community as their health care needs change with age. These places provide housing transitions from independent living all the way to skilled nursing, if required. All housing is typically in same community, so seniors remain in familiar surroundings with access to multiple services. Requires long term contract or "buy-in" to locate within the community.

Respite Care
Facility care given to a resident to provide short term relief (or during vacation) for primary caregivers. Shared or private room in assisted living or memory care, or nursing home communities. Your stay can be for a couple of days, a week, a month or more.
Cost depends on type of room and level of care.

Does reading all these options overwhelm? How do you find these facilities and know if they are a good fit for your loved one? You can always research using the internet, yellow pages and/or word of mouth. All that requires time, patience and navigating unfamiliar information which may be conflicting. You can also use a paid finder service, which charges you or your loved one for their information.

Always Best Care provides FREE to-you personalized finder services. ABC Care Coordinators meet with you in person to gain understanding of your needs in detail. We utilize information from our private database and knowledge of local resources to set up tours of facilities. We accompany you on your tours to help you ask questions and best decide what meets your loved ones' needs. Always Best Care welcomes your calls to help your family in the challenge of caring for an elder loved one. (919) 724-4297