SYNERGY HomeCare, the nations fastest growing home care franchise, an Entrepreneur 500 ranked enterprise and a Top 200 Franchise according to Franchise Business Review, today announced the launch of ConciergeCare, a new high-touch home care offering designed to ease the process of returning home post-discharge from a hospital, rehabilitation facility, skilled nursing facility, or specialty outpatient surgery center.Offering highly personalized levels of care, ConciergeCare can begin as early as pre-discharge. Packages range from a few days of post-discharge support to an entire month or more of care. All care packages can be extended as needed, and optional add-on services are available.  According to Rich Paul, Chief Partnership Officer for SYNERGY HomeCare, the ConciergeCare program is designed to make the clients home the most comfortable environment for recovery, while anticipating the myriad of personal needs clients may have as they progress through their healing journey.Home care plays a vital role within the care continuum and care circle, and that is especially true during the transition from hospital to home, said Paul. This is a critical juncture in the path to recovery, one that can support compliance with prescribed medications and interventions to reduce the likelihood of readmission to the hospital. Specially trained, compassionate SYNERGY HomeCare caregivers can enhance clients quality of life during healing and recovery, and ultimately ensure the best possible outcome for the long term.Services include:Companion careMedication remindersLight housekeepingMeal planning and preparationGrocery shoppingPrescription pick-upAccessible transportationMobility assistanceCare coordination and planningFamily outreach and video conferencingClients receive the comfort, familiarity and independence that comes with recovery at home while having an attentive and experienced SYNERGY HomeCare caregiver available to help with personal needs, including meal preparation, mobility around the house, bathing and dressing, and transportation to and from follow-up appointments. Caregivers provide companionship and support with aftercare plans. Client benefits include:Peace of mind that an experienced caregiver is providing five-star level care and attentiveness for their complex needsImproved satisfaction and quality of life throughout the healing and recovery journeyReduced social isolation and lonelinessCare coordination with family members and other care providersIn addition, family members get peace of mind knowing that their loved one is receiving the highest level of compassionate care in the comfort of their own home, designed to promote recovery, safety, and overall well-being. The SYNERGY HomeCare ConciergeCare program is built upon a Five-Star approach to care, which is based on quality indicators used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).Personalized CarePersonalized level of care with turnkey packages to fit any need and budget. Packages range from a few days of post-discharge support to an entire month or more of care. All care packages can be extended as needed, and optional add-on services are available. Compassionate CareHigh-touch, attentive, compassionate care throughout every step of the clients recovery at home. Safety FocusedProactive measures ensure the home is a safe environment for healing and recovery. Healing and RecoveryCare in the most comfortable and familiar place to heal and recoverthe clients home. Outcomes DrivenLevel of care supports efforts to reduce hospital readmission, emergency room visits, and prevent falls and injury. If you have any questions, please call Synergy HomeCare - Boulder 303-465-4663.

Ive spent the bulk of my career focused on building strategic partnerships that enhance service delivery in several health care sectors, including homecare. Im a self-professed nuts and bolts kind of guy where small tweaks can often make big changes.But Im focused on the big picture as well. And something came into my view recently that is sure to make a significant impact on our industry.That is, how we talk about aging.As a society, we often dont like to talk about aging and all the things that come along with it. That may be why we experience pervasive ageism and a negative connotation to growing older.A recent conference sponsored by the trade publication Advertising Week attracted members of creative industries such as marketing, technology and culture to bring key issues and ideas to the forefront. This four-day event with more than 800 speakers drew thousands in the advertising industry.I noticed that AARP was involved in two prominent sessions: The Rise of the 50+ Tech Consumer and Why Ageism Must Be Part of the DE&I  (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) Discussion. Martha Bourdreau, AARPs chief communications & marketing officer, was joined on the stage by Kristin Flanik, who is president and CEO of the advertising agency power BBDO NY.First of all, congratulations to AARP for bringing these topics to the forefront. It is fantastic that ageism is being addressed by the advertising industry, which tends to ignore older demographics because they are not considered target markets. As they wrote in their session description, those over 50 make up 47% of the U.S. population and drive more than $8.3 trillion in annual economic activity. Clearly, the aging demographic should not be ignored.But the aging population is hindered by stereotypes in advertising. It wasnt that long ago that E-Trade received negative reactions to its This Is Getting Old commercial during the 2018 Superbowl. The following year, Fast Company noted that ads geared toward older consumers tended to be condescending at best and offensive at worst. More recently, author Ken Dychtwald addressed the continuation of ageism in advertising in an AARP article, saying ads that show contempt for older people are still far too common.Thats why I appreciated a recent article in New York Magazines recurring column, The Strategist. Staffers put together a 57-question survey for Strategist readers 65 and older. Included were questions about their most beloved clothing brands, their most coveted electronics and the gifts they love to use.Guess what? They are busting stereotypes! They are interested in looking good and feeling good. Sixty-one percent shop online at least once a week. The stationary bike is a big post-retirement buy. Hoka and Nike are mentioned as prominent shoe brands. They debate the merits of Kindles vs. iPads.This doesnt sound like the end of the road for an aging population. And thats great, since we know that by 2035 there will be more people 65 and older than those 18 and younger for the first time ever.Those of us working on the front lines with an older population should pay attention to these trends and share them broadly. We are the ambassadors of the aging process, which is why were in a great position to influence how we talk about aging. Here are some ways to do it.1. Change the language. Take a look at Words Up: A Guide to Inclusive Language, a report from an advertising agency that tackled numerous aspects of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), including ageism. After addressing stereotypical ads, they came up with a series of words that should be welcomed and those to avoid:Adopt these words: older, an elder, mature, wise, seasoned, experiencedAvoid these words: old person, golden years, elderlyPersonally, Im on a mission to eliminate the use of term elderly. Getting older is part of life. Elderly connotes an affliction, not a life stage.2. Focus on later semesters. Our SYNERGY HomeCare gerontologist Dr. Macie Smith refers to aging as another semester in life. Think about high school and college. Werent our last semesters so much better than the early ones? Aging is part of lifes education. Our clients are still learning, doing, growing, caring and loving. Lets work to always share these examples. And we should always be trying to learn from them, and then share their wisdom, as we all work to show these later semesters should be welcomed, not feared.3. Embrace positivity. Unfortunately, many of us are dealing with older people who have physical and cognitive concerns. But that shouldnt stop us from saying wonderful things about our clients and what they have achievedand are achievingin life. Lets emphasize the joys we bring our clients, the joys they bring us, the pleasures in their days and the things theyve done and learned. During our SYNERGY Effect ad campaign, we focused on how we propel lives forward. We all do that every day. Lets make sure we share it.4. Say something. I was on a video conference recently and one of the participants on the call said, I was in a store and this old cashier lady I stopped the call and politely said, Why did you say old cashier lady? Isnt it great that shes able to live her life and still work? Sure, its not easy to correct someone, but we should all do it.Ive concluded that even though Im not a marketer, I am in marketing. The interactions we have every day provide us with great insight in the positives of aging. Lets commit to showcasing them.If you have any questions, please call Synergy HomeCare - Boulder 303-465-4663.

April is Parkinsons Awareness Month. The second most common neuro-degenerative disease in the country behind Alzheimers, Parkinsons disease affects millions of Americans. While there is no cure, it is possible to live a full life with the disease.Commonly known for its movement or motor-related symptoms, such as tremors, abnormally slow movements, shaking, lack of facial expression, involuntary movements or freezing, Parkinsons disease also has non-motor symptoms like apathy, depression, sleep behavior disorders, loss of sense of smell and cognitive impairment.One of the most difficult aspects of dealing with Parkinsons is that everyones disease progresses differently. Symptoms can develop slowly over years and the order in which they appear can vary from person to person. That often makes it hard to diagnose, which can be very frustrating. Symptoms to be aware of include slowness of movement and rigidity; difficulty with balance, swallowing, chewing, and speaking; cognitive impairment and dementia; and mood disorders.The good news is that there are ways to slow the progression of Parkinsons and preserve a high quality of life. As a gerontologist someone who specializes in aging and owner of a non-medical homecare company, Ive made it a point to help spread awareness of Parkinsons and share ways to help people with Parkinsons. SYNERGY Homecare has an educational partnership with the Parkinsons Foundation and we are fortunate to have access to tremendous information and resources.One of the most important things to know is that exercise and activity are key. According to the Parkinsons Outcomes Project, the largest clinical study of Parkinsons disease through the foundations Centers of Excellence network, increasing physical activity to at least 2.5 hours a week can help slow decline in quality of life.People living with Parkinsons disease should also keep up with their therapy regiments. Caregivers can help them stick to prescribed physical therapy exercises, occupational therapy, recommended daily living modifications and speech exercises. This can include gait and balance training, resistance training and regular exercise.Having a physical as well as emotional support system can make a huge difference for people with Parkinsons. In the early stages of Parkinsons, people typically require emotional support more than anything else as they get a handle on having a progressive disease.In order to preserve a high quality of life, its important to let someone with Parkinsons disease maintain their independence for as long as possible. As the disease progresses, some activities of daily living, such as dressing, eating and bathing, may require workarounds and there are multiple ideas and suggestions for adaptations on the Parkinsons Foundations website such as:Movement Tremors can make walking difficult Take care of the home, clear things off the floors, arrange furniture in a way that promotes easy access and safety Encourage doctor recommended exercises as well as facial exercises Activities like singing, dancing, or reading aloudBasic grooming Daily hygiene is greatly affected by hand tremors Opt for an electric toothbrush over a manual one Opt for an electric razor over a manual one If balance is off, try sitting down while brushing or shaving.Bathing Stand-in showers are much easier to access than tubs Shower stools also help, especially when unsteadyDressing Opt for clothes that are easier to put on Elastic waistbands Velcro Dress the side most affected first Avoid button-ups and lacesEnsuring a high quality of life with Parkinsons is possible thanks to a complementary approach that includes medications, regular activity and modifications for activities of daily living. If you have any questions, please call Synergy HomeCare - Boulder at 303-465-4663.