The Need for Homecare for Seniors Is Growing

One of the impacts of the COVID19 pandemic is that we have seen many of our healthcare and long-term care systems have been overwhelmed and under-staffed. Across the U.S., healthcare systems had only a limited supply of ventilators, pulse oximeters and intensive care units. Personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare and other essential workers was in short supply. The importance and value of care in the home, especially for older adults who are at risk due to declining physical health and social isolation, have come into focus.

Homecare, often referred to as personal care, helps older adults maintain healthy, active lifestyles for as long as possible in the comfort of their own homes. Today, homecare is seen to be a valuable solution to fill gaps created by traditional care models, including hospitals, nursing homes, and home health care. Homecare workers – also known as professional caregivers, personal care aides or direct care workers – who work for agencies receive professional training to enable them to assist with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, meal preparation, eating, transportation, running errands, and light housework. Most importantly, these caregivers provide vital companionship and mental stimulation by engaging their clients in conversation and other activities. Homecare workers serve as an additional set of “eyes and ears” for families, helping to ensure older adults’ safety by recognizing and alerting family members and health care professionals to potential signs of declining health.

Someone turning 65 today has nearly a 70 percent chance of needing long-term care and support, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. One out of five will need care for more than five years. The need for care increases with age. America’s new age dynamics show a surging need among older adults for the highest-quality care. If most get their preference, that care will happen primarily in their own homes. With aging comes an increase in chronic conditions, but with proper treatment, prevention and care, these conditions need not be inevitable as one grows old. Roughly six in 10 Americans aged 65 and up have at least one chronic condition, such as obesity, diabetes, or hypertension. About 40 percent have two or more. There is also a growing wave of people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Already, more than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. Absent a medical breakthrough, that could hit 14 million by 2050. According to the

Homecare Association of America (HCAOA), three quarters of people living with Alzheimer’s require assistance to handle the tasks of daily living.

Most older Americans want to age at home for as long as possible. However, just 59 percent believe they will be able to stay local either at home (46 percent) or elsewhere in their community (13 percent). Traditionally, older adults have relied on family members for help in dealing with the challenges of aging. This requires a safety net of a family caregiver living nearby. Most seniors don’t have that safety net. Many family caregivers are under severe stress –especially those in the “sandwich generation” who must balance the demands of raising children and caring for aging loved ones. The COVID-19 pandemic has only deepened that stress. By 2040, nearly 81 million people in the U.S. will be 65 years older, compared with 77 million under the age of 18. America will soon consist of more old citizens than young citizens. Should you be interested in learning more about the subject of elder care or need assistance for your loved one, email Always Best Care at jmancuso@abc-seniors. com or call us at 205-874-9730. We are available for you and your loved ones 24 hours a day!

Always Best Care For Seniors News

Always Best Care for Seniors in Mountain Brook is pleased to welcome Connie Gortney to our staff as a Recruiting Coordinator! Connie has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mississippi State University. She has over 25 years’ professional experience working in customer service and communication roles. Having spent many years taking care of an elderly family member, Connie has a passion for seniors. In her role as an Always Best Care Recruiting Coordinator, she looks for job candidates with a compassionate heart, as well as extensive professional healthcare experience. Connie knows from personal experience that providing quality care services takes a special person. She is constantly on the hunt for new employees and knows the qualifications needed for caregivers to succeed at Always Best Care.

She has been actively involved in various philanthropic programs. Connie has served as a volunteer at Birmingham’s Children’s Hospital, the Baby’s Place Children’s Home in Birmingham and Respite Care in Boca Raton, Florida.

Connie enjoys working for Always Best Care because she appreciates the company’s strong focus on providing excellent care services to families and their loved ones. She says, “Caregiving is important for our seniors, patients with disabilities, as well as the families of the patients.”

Connie lives a very active lifestyle. She enjoys nature, hiking, sailing, kayaking, and biking. She also loves spending time with her big furry companion, Oliver.

We are excited Connie has joined our team! Our company is growing as we seek to help Seniors with their healthcare needs while living their golden years at home!

Caring.com, a national program recognizing service excellence in homecare, has presented Always Best Care in Mountain Brook with a 2023 Caring Super Star Award. To be considered for this industry honor, homecare agencies must meet a rigorous set of criteria based on consumer ratings and reviews published publicly on Caring. com. Caring Super Stars have earned the Caring Star service excellence award for three or more years. Of the estimated 451,000 homecare agencies in the U.S., only 305 agencies received this award.

Always Best Care is one of only four Alabama agencies and the only Mountain Brook-based agency to qualify for this prestigious award.

In addition to our accreditation by the Accreditation Commission of Healthcare (ACHC), Always Best Care is accredited by the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC). These certifications are recognition of the company’s commitment to quality service and care delivery. Always Best Care is the only homecare agency in the state of Alabama to receive accreditation by these two accreditation organizations.

For information about Always Best Care and their services, please call the company at 205-874-9730 or e-mail them at jmancuso@abc-seniors.com

Garden Art Party

Volunteer Luncheon Set the Stage for Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama’s Fundraiser in May

The Mountain Brook home of Miller Piggott was the setting for Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama’s Garden Art Party Volunteer Luncheon on Feb. 8.

The event marked the kickoff for the Garden Art Party on May 6, a major fundraiser that is being held this year for the first time since 2019, said Vance Holder, the organization’s community relations coordinator.

Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama supports low-income families of dementia patients care for their loved ones at home. Several types of help are available, such as incontinence products and monthly $300 scholarships for a patient to attend adult day care programs. ❖

Vickery-Warren

Rebekah Ray Vickery and Christopher Brett Warren were joined in matrimony on Nov. 19, 2022, at South Highland Presbyterian Church in Birmingham.

The Rev. Eric Thomas Warren, brother of the groom, and the Rev. Michael Cortland Gatliff of South Highland Presbyterian officiated the ceremony.

The bride was given in marriage by her father, Barry Edward Vickery. She wore the bridal gown worn by her grandmother in 1950 and her mother in 1977. The vintage satin gown featured a cathedral train and was redesigned by Leslie Salzmann, a bridal stylist who specializes in heirloom wedding gowns. She added the original Chantilly lace around the cathedral-length veil.

The matron of honor was the groom’s sister, Rachael Warren Jent of Nashville. The maid of honor was Laura Peyton Vickery, sister of the bride, of Hoover.

Bridesmaids were Senzela Atmar, Brogan Howard Reviere, Sarah Ellen Thomas and Malyn D’Ann Winger, all of Nashville; Morgan Vice Bruce, Mary Margaret Abernathy Johnson and Mallory Morrison Means, all of Birmingham; Savannah Thomas Richey of Atlanta; and Madeline Chesnard Turner of Fairhope.

The flower girls were the bride’s cousin, Margot Mae Daniels of Atlanta, and the groom’s niece, Ella Rose Jent of Nashville.

The best man was the groom’s father, Kelton Lee Warren Jr. of Brentwood, Tennessee.

Groomsmen were Samuel Griffin Barnes, Lucas Aloysius Foley, Adam Russell Reviere, Christopher Dodson Manning, Lee Francis Noel Jr., Matthew Carlton Smith, Michael Thomas Wyler Young and John Asbury Bacon Harlin Jr., all of Nashville; David Benton Turnage of New Orleans; and Davis Edward Vickery of New Haven, Connecticut.

The ring bearer was the groom’s nephew, Josiah Kelton Warren of Nashville.

A reception was held at the Hoover Country Club, where the bride’s parents held their wedding reception.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Barry Edward Vickery of Hoover. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kelton Lee Warren Jr. of Brentwood, Tennessee.

After a wedding trip to Turks and Caicos, the couple will be at home in Nashville. They plan an extended honeymoon trip to Greece in 2023.

By June Mathews

On April 5, 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order establishing the Civilian Conservation Corps, an environmental conservation program created to provide jobs for young men during the Great Depression.

To house this workforce of hundreds of thousands near the CCC’s projects, about 2,900 camps were established across the U.S. In 1942, CCC funding was diverted to the war effort, and the camps were shut down.

Meanwhile, E.A. McBride, superintendent of Talladega County Schools, had long harbored a dream of developing an outstanding summer camp for boys and girls. McBride –Mr. Mac, as kids called him – knew that classroom learning would give youngsters only part of what they needed to know to become successful adults. He also knew that summer camp would be an appealing and effective way of teaching those life lessons.

He found the place to turn that dream into reality in an abandoned CCC Camp tucked into the towering pines of the Talladega National Forest. Thus in 1948, Camp Mac was born.

“In the beginning there was really very little here. No ball field, no lakes, no food, no gym, not even a telephone line. And the only access to camp was an old dirt road,” said the late Bob Gene McBride, son of Camp Mac’s founder, in a 2008 video history of the camp.

There were, however, a few cabins, a dining hall, a recreation building and some general-purpose buildings and storerooms. Mr. Mac figured it was enough to get started and plenty to build on, so he got to work.

Among the first of the many improvements made to the camp was the installation of a swimming pool. In those days, however,

Camp Mac’s 75th Birthday Celebration

Camp Mac invites alumni and friends to become campers again at its 75th Celebration Day in 2023.

For more information, visit campmac. com, follow Camp Mac on Facebook and Instagram, or send an email to office@ campmac.com.