PRHHEALTH
A little “Home Helpers” goes a long way
W
e love our parents and we love our children. Watching the kids grow up though is not the same as watching Mom and Dad grow old. When the kids get sick, a trip to the pediatrician will help. But a call from our parents about a medical emergency or sudden illness can thrust us into the role of caretaker. Raising a family PLUS caring for aging parents can be stressful. Finding ways to provide our parents with the assistance they need and the autonomy they desire is especially challenging. Ralph Digneo is well aware of the strains that many families face. That is why he decided to do something about it. As the owner of Home Helpers, a Jefferson Health Systems preferred provider, Digneo started his family-owned business several years ago with wife Donna, daughter Jennifer and three helpers. He now has 50 employees. Home Helpers is not a medical team. It is a group of trained lay people who provide in-home personal care and companionship to 36
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the elderly. Tasks include light housekeeping, laundry, transportation and errands, recreational activities like arts & crafts -- whatever the person needs or desires. A supervising nurse is on-hand should helpers need additional guidance. “Our reputation speaks for itself. Word of mouth is our best friend.” To ensure that his clients receive the best helpers to meet their needs, Digneo said Home Helpers selects its own team of employees and does not use subcontractors. Every helper is bonded and insured. Digneo said his company conducts a telephone interview as well as a face-to-face interview. Prospective employees complete a competency and skills application, which is followed by an extensive criminal background check, four hours of orientation, visual media viewing, another test they must pass and handbook education. The Philadelphia Corporation on Aging (PCA), which oversees care for the elderly, including Meals-on-Wheels and senior center programs, also uses Home Helpers as
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a provider of senior services. Digneo says that new programs, services and technology are helping people to stay in their homes longer. “Many families opt to age in place. We will tailor a plan for each person, taking into account the socio-economic needs of the family. We also have a personal responder system called Direct Link, a wireless pendant or wrist band that is monitored 24/7. It’s been shown that seniors who use a responder system stay home for six years longer.” Digneo is also a member of The Alzheimer Association and provides care for those with Alzheimer/Dementia. You don’t have to be elderly to use the services of Home Helpers, Digneo points out. If you are a new mom, working parents of a sick child or rehabbing from surgery, Home Helpers will give you peace of mind knowing your day-to-day needs will be not be neglected. prh Home Helpers is a member of the Philadelphia RowHome (PRH) Business Network