Q: What exactly do you do? 

A: We help Portland seniors find joy in the aging process by addressing sources of frustration. This can take many shapes - helping transition to home from an inpatient or rehab facility, serving as your emergency contact, checking in on you regularly, providing respite for caregivers of loved ones with dementia, increasing the safety of your home, translating your health insurance benefits, helping you plan for the future, joining you for medical appointments, attending to household tasks, helping you navigate complicated health care systems, providing you transportation and support after procedures, and much, much more! 

 

Q: What are your qualifications? 

A: Dawn is a psychiatric nurse who worked in various roles supporting patients and outreach teams in Scotland for more than 25 years. Jillian is a social worker with over 15 years’ experience in health care settings.  Alison is retired from a 40-year career in health insurance. Together we believe strongly in building trust through our competent service and absolute integrity.

 

Q: What makes you different from care.com, or other similar agencies?

A: Companion/support organizations such as care.com can be excellent resources, but we are different.

• We are a team of highly skilled, seasoned, adaptable professionals. We are not new to the physical and mental health needs of seniors. 

• We own our company and can get your needs met without being restricted by bureaucratic obstacles. This allows us to respond to significantly more concerns than traditional caregivers. Need to talk through end-of-life options? Need to increase the safety of your home? Need to understand the nuances of your health insurance? Need a personalized plan to strengthen your body and calm your mind? We’ve got you covered! There are very few matters we can’t help with. 

• We personally serve you - you will always know the people working with you.

• We are a family-owned, local organization – we are already a part of your community! 

 

Q: How do I know the right time to consider working with you?

A: We can help you figure that out!  All our client relationships start with a free one-hour consultation, and we will know during that discussion if we are a good fit. If we are not, we will help find you a better fit for your needs.

 

Q: What are your hours? Do you work holidays? 

A: We work when our clients need us, including weekends and holidays.

 

Q: Where do you see clients?

A: Anywhere in the Portland Metro area (Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties). We can support you in your home, your skilled nursing facility, your office, your gym, your church, or just about any other location! 

 

Q: Are you a home health organization?

A: No. We offer support in the home and in your community, but we are not a traditional home health organization.

 

Q: Do I have to wait for an emergency to contact you?

A: No! In fact, it’s ideal for us to meet when life feels calm. This way, we can know you well if we do ever need to support you in an emergency in the future. 

 

Q: How can you help clients in an emergency?

A: We will meet you wherever you need help, and advocate for you - at the Emergency Department, in the hospital, at your home or any other location.  We will ease your stress and help with arrangements that bring you and your loved ones’ peace of mind.

 

Q: Can you help in an emergency if I’m not your client?

A: That’s sometimes how we meet new clients! Potential clients are always welcome to be in touch if they are in crisis, and we will do whatever we can to help as time allows.

 

Q: Some of my friends are your clients. Will you share things I tell you with them? 

A: Absolutely not. We would only ever share anything about you with the people you ask us to, and only if doing so is necessary in supporting you. We hold extremely high confidentiality standards.

 

Q: Can you involve my family when needed? 

A: Absolutely. We adhere to strict confidentiality practices, but will happily involve anyone you designate in our work with you.

 

Q: Can you take me to appointments? 

A: Yes! We can arrange transportation to anywhere you need to go, and will happily join you for any appointment. We will focus completely on you and help you prepare for your appointment. We are happy to join you for just about any appointment you can think of. We accompany clients to medical, legal, financial, funerary, social, and travel appointments. Just ask!

 

Q: Can you help me understand my health insurance? 

A: Absolutely! Our in-house expert has more than 40 years’ experience in health insurance administration.

 

Q: Do you help with end-of-life preparation? 

A: Yes! We are skilled at helping you think through what you want, consider future health care decisions, and conduct meaningful family conversations. 

 

Q: What kind of support do you offer caregivers? 

A: Caregiver burnout is real. We are very happy to stay with your loved one, allowing you time to take care of yourself. We are skilled at managing the anxiety that may occur with time apart, and we will be ready to support and reassure your loved one. We can also have one of us with your loved one while the other joins you for a cup of coffee, if it would help to process the complex emotions associated with caregiving.

 

Q: Can you help with non-medical needs? 

A: We sure can! Just name it. If what you need is outside our skillset, we will connect you with a trusted community resource

 

Q: My 80 year-old mom lives in Portland and I am in another state.  I worry about her feeling lonely. Can you help?

A: Yes. Social isolation is a common concern for our aging loved ones, and we have a variety of ways to address that. Gift cards are a great way to support loved ones from afar!

 

Q: Do you have age restrictions for the clients you serve? 

A: We primarily serve seniors, but we are happy to support the needs of younger adults if appropriate.

 

Q: Do you have any references I can contact? 

A: Yes, we have several client testimonials and references.  Just ask.