Senior Living in Elgin
When planning for retirement and envisioning the senior years of life, few people imagine living in assisted living facilities without the special touches that are associated with home. Home is where the heart is, and home is where many people want to stay. Yet, with many families having members scattered across the country and at times, the globe, it can be difficult for the children of aging parents to attend to their changing needs.
One of the keys to happy and healthy senior years is to know about local resources and make use of them. Senior Services Associates, Inc. is available to seniors in Elgin and the surrounding areas. This fantastic agency is a one-stop shop for learning about area resources and how to utilize them. The agency also provides access to numerous social service resources for seniors along with the assistance often needed to apply for these programs.
Beyond the many programs available to seniors in need, Senior Services Associates offers information on local senior activities, upcoming special events, and a slew of helpful links that open the doors wide to local and national organizations available to help seniors. Individuals who wish to volunteer with the organization will be pleased with the opportunities available to them: everything from providing transportation for a needy senior to becoming a source of weekly or bi-weekly camaraderie through the Senior Companion Program.
These services not only inspire volunteers, but they help seniors stay home longer, live happier and stay healthier. What more could anyone want? Yet, the reality is that few people know of the many opportunities available to them. To learn more about Senior Services Associates, visit www.seniorserviceassoc.org or call 847-741-0404. Seniors and their families will be happy to learn that Senior Services is not the only agency around town dedicated to helping seniors live an independent and healthy life.
Comfort Keepers of Elgin also works tirelessly to help seniors stay at home while maintaining as much independence as possible. The company offers many different levels of service depending on their clients’ needs: everything from a weekly visit to help with housekeeping and shopping to 24/7 care needed by those afflicted with more serious ailments.
Owners Bernd and Claudine Reimers purchased the Elgin franchise in the fall of 2001. January 1st, 2002 welcomed their first official day of business, but Bernd likes to tell the story of their first client, which they acquired during the transition between owners.
“We signed up our first client two weeks before we officially owned the business. Frank wanted a male caregiver to assist him with daily activities because his daughter lived in Colorado. In the beginning, I took care of him, but eventually we found a permanent male caregiver for him. Those two developed such a close bond. It was amazing. It was like they were father and son. We even gave Frank a birthday party that year because he had no family in the area,” explained Mr. Reimers.
Frank was special to the Reimers as their first client, but the amazing thing is that even after five years, Bernd Reimer can tell you story after story about his clients and their experiences together. In fact, this is what sets Comfort Keepers apart from others. They are always there and they know who their clients are.
“We love every minute of it. A majority of the clients we meet are just awesome. Occasionally we get a grouch too, but that’s okay — they’re entitled,” said Mr. Reimers. This accepting and compassionate attitude comes through clearly when Bernd Reimers speaks of his business and clients. There is little doubt that this has had a great deal to do with his success over the years.
Indeed, Mr. Reimers likes to point out that his business is always open. If someone calls Comfort Keepers on the weekend, they will call back. Both Mr. and Mrs. Reimers understand that their clients are not going to “get healthier or younger because it’s the weekend.” Mr. Reimers explains that his clients are considerate and they are not going to call on the weekend unless they need something.
One such example of this type of service took place late on a Saturday night. A caregiver called the Reimers at 11:30 pm to inform them that she could not open the client’s safe that contained their medicines. The medicines were under lock and key because the client had Alzheimer’s disease and could not be trusted around their medication. In spite of the late hour, the Reimers got up and went to the client’s house to help the caregiver.
“You take care of what needs to be taken care of,” said Mr. Reimer. In the end, this philosophy drives the Reimers to exceed their clients’ expectations on a regular basis. In the beginning, the Reimers were more hands-on then they are now, but the bottom line is: if they need to get their hands dirty, they will. It’s all about being there and helping people live the highest quality of life possible while staying in their homes.
Relatives of seniors will no doubt appreciate such a hands-on approach when they are not able to take care of all the daily requirements needed to maintain a healthy and happy lifestyle at home. Children, spouses and other responsible parties can go to work and attend to the daily needs of their own lives knowing that there are services available to help them help their senior counterparts.
Just knowing where to find the resources when they are needed is a great comfort. The world of senior services can be a confusing one, but there are many organizations ready to help individuals navigate the territory. With this knowledge, comes power. The power to decide how to live in an age where independence receives great respect — despite the many difficult hurdles involved in maintaining it as Father Time stakes his claim.
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