Soup for the Soul

Here in North Central Pennsylvania, we are so blessed to have an amazing food bank that works hard to provide food to soup kitchens, shelters and distribution agencies around the region. The Central PA Food Bank is a run by an inspired team of individuals whose primary concern is the nutrition and well-being of those less-fortunate in our communities.

This past week, Mary Peck and I had the opportunity to attend the 6th Annual Soup & a Bowl event at the historic Gennetti Hotel here in Williamsport. This event benefits the food bank and serves as their primary fundraiser for the year. We  were glad we reserved seats early, as both sittings sold out shortly after we ordered our tickets!

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Balloons, beads and centerpieces were all in the traditional green, purple and yellow of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Tom Wetzel provided beautiful entertainment on the grand piano, and even treated us to my personal  favorite, Lara's Theme from Dr. Zhivago!

Upon our arrival, we were escorted through a line of beautiful, hand thrown pottery, made locally and donated for the event. Mary and I chose matching blue bowls, that are absolutely amazing!


After we chose our bowls, we worked our way through a buffet of soup choices, loaded baked potato to mushroom and spicy tomato bisque, it was delicious. You had the option of choosing a bread bowl, which I did and was not one bit sorry to have done so! It was perfect food for a dreary rainy day in Williamsport.

While we were enjoying our lunch, we watched students from Williamsport Area high School throw pottery on a wheel beside our table. It really makes you realize how important the arts is to these kids, watching the passion in their eyes as they worked.

While we really enjoyed ourselves, what was most moving was the knowledge that our ticket cost was going to support a very much needed service in our community

I would recommend this event to anyone, but more so, I would recommend volunteering or donating to the food bank!

New Tower, New Hope

Hope is something that began several years ago in our vibrant riverside community. Our local hospital system began a $150 million renovation and expansion. Yesterday, our staff, as well as other members of our local Chamber of Commerce, were treated to an early look at the new Susquehanna Tower at Susquehanna Health Systems.

I have spent many hours, over my 30+ years, in the Williamsport Regional Medical Center. While I have always had positive experiences with the staff, the physical plant always left something to be desired. It seemed very drab and did little to uplift the spirits of the patients. I once heard the Emergency Room referred to as a "black hole". During my stay following the birth of my second child, the HVAC in the maternity wing broke down. Granted it was October, but my room was still 85 degrees. When I heard the plans for the new wing, I was hopefully optimistic.

When I pulled into the new parking lot on High Street, my jaw dropped. I do not have occasion to use that entrance often, as I primarily utilize the main Rural Avenue entrance.  My first thought upon seeing the new tower: AMAZING. The exterior of the building is meticulously landscaped, with wide sidewalks and a spacious revolving door. What is especially inspired about this revolving door is that it is continuously in motion- thereby making it "hands-free"! This is ideal in an environment where germ contamination is a serious concern.

Photo courtesy of Susquehanna Heath

Everything was designed with the patient in mind. From color schemes to ease of movement for the patient during recovery, the new wings are state-of-the-art and aesthetically pleasing, all while providing the staff with a fluid layout to provide the most efficient care to the patients.

For this special "First Look" tour, you could take one of two tours: The Blue Tour or the Yellow Tour. We opted to start our journey with the Blue route.

These handy arrows would lead you on your tour, 

so that if you were separated from the group (as I was while taking this photo),

you can easily rejoin them!

We were graciously welcomed onto one of several elevators while a tour guide pointed out that we would first be visiting the Fourth Floor, home to the Cardiac Care Unit, including the new Cardiac and Vascular Operating Rooms (O.R.s). Our Tour guide stayed with our group throughout the Blue Tour. But what was truly fascinating was that Susquehanna Health had an assigned specialist who will actually be working in each department at each stop of the tour to describe the new updates and answer questions. In some locations, there were multiple specialists.

Cardiac Operating Room, with one of our informative Spot Hosts

Let me just say that I hope I will never have any cardiovascular issues, but if I do, I will surely come here. These state of the art surgical updates boast wireless, high-definition technology, with a new wireless network that connects the O.R. with the labs and any other department of the health system that would need to cooperate with the surgeon mid-operation. High definition, flat-screen panels are mounted throughout the room allow a clearly enhanced visual on the surgical procedure being performed, while a new centralized unit contains all wired electronics and monitors that is mounted to the ceiling and armed to pivot to any point in the room without the hassle or risk of having miscellaneous cords snaking throughout the O.R.

The armed unit it mounted centrally on the ceiling and in the left side of this photo. 

However, it can be easily moved at any point during

the procedure with the greatest of ease.

What is also amazing is the layout of the new cardiac floor. The best way to describe it is three concentric spaces, with the outer corridor for foot traffic and movement, a middle space for the operating rooms and the central space for sterilized equipment and surgical tools. Not only does this keep a clean surgical space, it limits cross-contamination, which is helpful in ensuring successful surgical procedure and recoveries.

Next on our Blue Tour, we visited the Sixth floor, which is home to the Joint Replacement wing of the Health System. We were treated to the new Therapy Gym which was leaps and bounds above the rehab facility where I had to take my husband in 2006 when he shattered his ankle. While the staff was great, the facility was less than inspiring. However, the new Therapy Gym is incredibly inspiring: from the quotes on the wall, to the open space and brand new equipment, it is clear the goal is healing.

Inspirational quite in the Therapy Gym

From relearning to walk to driving a car, the new gym has it all. Additionally, it is bright, well lit, and welcoming.

New Therapy Gym

What was truly remarkable to me, having been a patient at the Health System previously and being shuffled all over the complex, was the proximity of the Gym to the patient rooms. All Joint replacement patients are in rooms in a corridor adjacent to the gym. Patients do not have to navigate from one end of the hospital to the other in order to do their physical and occupational therapy. The rooms are designed specifically for Joint Replacement patients. From the spacious bathrooms and lift capabilities, to the wheelchairs that more resemble a La-Z-Boy that a traditional wheelchair, every accommodation has been made. The music piping through the rooms and halls was more like the music I have heard in a spa or yoga studio than traditional elevator music. The HD, flat-screen televisions were transmitting calming ocean views into a room with hardwood floors and earth tones. Frankly, I wanted to take up residency in that room.

Photo courtesy of SH on Facebook.

As in the Therapy Gym, the entire Tower boasts inspirational quotes on the walls. Often while healing, patients grow frustrated and often relapses can lead to depression which can further hinder recovery. These quotes, used as art, lift the spirit so as to help the body heal.

Inspiration quotes throughout the new Tower do just that: Inspire.

The second tour we took, the Yellow Tour, began on the first floor and highlighted the new Emergency  Medicine Department. I think you will recall the former E.R. being referred to as a black hole earlier in this post; the new Emergency Department is entirely on the other end of this spectrum.

I cannot even begin to tell you how much the new Emergency Department has been improved. Privacy is a main concern, as is expediting the patient's stay in that department.  The new Fast Track plan would send all incoming emergencies to 1 of 3 areas: Fast Track,  Urgicenter and Emergency. Fast Track would be for minor ailments, such as an ear infection, or sore throat, which would simply require a culture and a prescription. The goal with Fast Track is to diagnose and then treat you as efficiently as possible, all while minimizing the time a patient must sit in the waiting room. Urgicenter is for minor issues, such as  finger gash, which would require stitches. Emergency is for true medical unknowns requiring immediate attention. There are specialized rooms within the new ER specifically designed for cardiac emergencies.

One Emergency Cardiac room, with another through a sterile instrument room

Also new in the Susquehanna Tower is the inclusion of Private Emergency Treatment Rooms. These rooms allow patients and their companions to receive the necessary treatments in the privacy of their own room.

Emergency Private Treatment Room

Additionally, the new nursing command center is a separate area to control every issue, from intake to management of emergency cases. Also, the nurses and physicians now have separate command centers (so they are no longer tripping over each other). These separate command centers are connected through the latest high-definition, wireless technology.

The Third Floor of the new Tower will soon be home to the new Birthplace™. Still under construction, the new maternity wing is expected to open in June of 2012.

Clearly, Susquehanna Health put much thought into the design of this new tower. I think it is clear that they are putting the needs of the patients as their first priority, with the ease of operations within the new physical plant of the tower a close second.

I look forward to seeing these new systems in action, as do our clients here at Comfort Keepers! On behalf of all who attended this first look, sponsored by Susquehanna Health and the Williamsport-Lycoming Chamber of Commerce,  thank you!

A view of the Chamber Event on 2/23/2012

Comfort Keeper of the Year, 2011

Comfort Keepers® of the Greater Williamsport Area is pleased to announce that EVELYN MOORE has been chosen as Comfort Keeper of the Year® for 2011.

Comfort Keeper of the Year®, a prestigious annual award, is bestowed on a singular employee who not only exemplifies what it means to be a Comfort Keeper®, but exceeds expectations and sets new standards for excellence in the care that they provide to their clients.

Moore is recognized as a shining beacon in her field. In her time with Comfort Keepers®, she has the received some of the highest ratings from her clients, in addition to being the leading refer of new employees. 

Moore is now participating in a nation-wide pilot program through the Alzheimer’s Foundation to test the use of baby dolls as therapy with Alzheimer’s patients. Her work and research that she customizes for each client is what truly sets her apart and motivates her coworkers to aim for her high standard of excellence.

For Moore, being a Comfort Keeper® is a gift. She regularly expresses how much she “loves her work” and “loves Comfort Keepers®”. She has proven herself to be the single best advertisement for Comfort Keepers®, both in her vocal support for the company she so dearly loves and in her outstanding client care. 

Evelyn Moore, Comfort Keeper of the Year for 2011, working with one of her many clients in their home.

Passing On

At Comfort Keepers, we are often faced with the challenge of working with people who are in the end stages of life. While this can be a rewarding field of work, it can also take an emotional toll on our employees. 


At our offices, this past week has been especially difficult. We have lost 4 clients and have another actively dying. (To put it in perspective, we had previously lost 4 clients in the past four months.) Some of these clients were long-term clients who we have grown to love. In the process of providing care, we also get to know the families and loved ones. We feel the loss acutely.  

If I have said it once, I have said it a hundred times: You will grow close to your clients & their families. They will and do become your friends.When those clients then die, even when it expected, it can be hard to process the emotions. It can be especially tough if a Comfort Keeper is remaining in the home to continue providing service to a surviving spouse. We are the ones who remain when friends and family return to work and their regularly scheduled lives. Often, we are the ones who see the loss the surviving spouse faces in their day-to-day lives. It can force us to look at our own lives and to face our own mortality. 


It is important to note that everyone faces death, and the grief associated with it, differently. One person sobs openly for weeks on end; another bottles their grief at the funeral and puts it away, never to be seen again. It is not our place to judge how one grieves, but rather to show support and respect the wishes of the surviving family.We can recommend counselors or support groups and we can listen. Often, the grieving simply want the ability to remember, out loud, the person they have lost. 


I think the most important thing is to not allow the grief to consume you. Grief is healthy and has a place in our lives. We need to deal with it as we feel is best for our mental well-being, so long as it does not harm our physical well-being. The American Psychological Association has some great tips on dealing with death and dying.

As we say goodbye to those we have cared for, it is important to recall how we enhanced their last days and assisted them in maintaining the highest quality of life possible in their final days.

What a week!

This was a big week for Team CK!!!


First of all, we were inspired by something we read on CK Delaware County's Facebook page. They were participating in a local Congressman's Working Families Resource Fair. That got us thinking about our beloved Lycoming County and the many families who are living in inter-generational households. We thought about all the potential clients who inquire with us about service and have no idea about the many resources available to them, not only as seniors, but at any age. We contacted State Representative Rick Mirabito, who has graciously agreed to host this amazing event with us. The ball is just beginning to roll on this event, but we will keep you updated on all the details as they become available.


Secondly, throughout the day Thursday, our amazing team of Comfort Keepers met for our first tri-annual meetings of 2012. We laughed, we learned and we honored our team for all the work they have done for the past 4 months. Over 60 employees were able to attend these meetings (we have to host 3  so that as many employees can attend as possible) and everyone left smiling.

On Friday, I was so pleased to be offered a private tour of Geisinger HealthSouth, Montour County's premier rehabilitation hospital. Wow. I was so inspired at the work that goes on in this state-of-the-art facility. The joint venture between Geisinger and HealthSouth has created one of best rehab facilities in the nation. Specializing in traumatic brain injury, stroke and Parkinson's disease, the team at HealthSouth is an inspiration to all facilities, focusing in both in-patient and out-patient rehabilitation. I would like to send a special thank you to Jim Myers, who graciously answered my questions and took several hours out of his busy schedule to educate me on this inspiring program.


Lastly, on Saturday, Comfort Keepers kicked off our new Zumba Gold program at the James V. Brown Library. We had 10 participants, which is great for a first class. Here is a look if you are interested in joining us this Saturday or any other Saturday in the Lowry Room from 1:30-2:30pm!

From Generation to Generation

The Greatest Generation lived through significant historic events and change – from the Great Depression and World War II to rapid-fire advances in technology and medical science. Along the way, through times both challenging and prosperous, they collected a plethora of experiences and knowledge. We need to create opportunities for seniors to share their life stories with younger generations, while they are still able to do so.

Over time, many seniors do share their experiences, one by one, with family and friends. That is good, but often they are only spoken and not written down or recorded. And many times they are passed along only to immediate family members and not others who may lack strong family ties of their own, thus missing out on chances to swap stories with older adults. Intergenerational conversations—in a variety of settings—can enrich younger people’s lives while giving seniors precious opportunities to relive their vivid tapestry of experience. As a result, one generation gains new understanding and respect for the other.

Following are a few suggestions for bridging the generation gap and keeping alive the memories of our elders:

• As a part of in-home care – To enhance the quality of life of the seniors in their care, in-home care providers can encourage seniors to reminisce and recall important times in their lives. They can also help them or encourage them to write narratives about these experiences to share with family. This fits nicely with Comfort Keepers®’ unique approach to care called Interactive Caregiving^®, which engages seniors in activities that promote their physical, mental and emotional well-being.
• At your religious institution – More and more, religious institutions are arranging special opportunities for young and old to share with one another. If you do not have something like this planned at your church or synagogue, take the lead. How about a congregation-wide birthday party where members of all generations sit together by birth month, share cake and ice cream, and get to know one another as they compare notes about what it was like to grow up in their respective time periods?
• At schools – Seniors can add an important dimension to history lessons, from elementary school to college classrooms. They can provide first-person accounts and breathe life into the dry pages of history books. Some teachers assign students to interview seniors and write down their impressions and memories or videotape seniors’ recollections.
• At senior centers – Senior centers also plan occasions that bring generations together, for instance, to recognize seniors for their service as veterans or community leaders. Senior centers often host writing classes and programs to teach seniors how to write their life stories to share with family and friends.
• At family gatherings – There may not be time during a reunion, between eating and lawn games, to write your family elders’ life stories. But a family reunion can be a good place to get started, as the storytelling and reminiscing unfold. At this opportune time you could suggest putting these stories in writing. Maybe there is a budding young author or two in the family along with a gifted writer who could coordinate the project. And by the next reunion, they could have a volume of life stories to give everyone.

Life story writing has become a growing enterprise. Many entrepreneurs have launched businesses to help people who want to preserve their or a loved one’s experiences. There also are plenty of Web sites that offer do it yourself advice. Just Google “writing your life story.” The reality is that intergenerational conversations can take place anytime there is a group willing to share their stories and keep the memories going.

Seniors and Driving: How to Steer Through a Difficult Turn

Whether we are going to the grocery store, the doctor’s office, the golf course or to visit a friend, the ability to drive provides us a sense of independence. But as we age, we lose (some of us more gradually than others) physical and mental capabilities essential to safe driving, such as vision, hearing, mental acuity, muscle strength and dexterity.

There likely will come a time when, for safety’s sake, we have to give up driving. Until then there are ways to compensate for some of the changes that come with aging and to continue to drive safely. These include refresher driving courses for seniors, provided by driving schools, through senior citizen centers and healthcare providers. One example is DriveOn, a program of the Rochester (NY) Rehabilitation Center that combines driving skills evaluation with training.

A Car That Fits
Driving a car with senior-friendly features can make a big difference. The American Automobile Association (AAA) and the National Older Driver Research and Training Center at the University of Florida in Gainesville recommend cars that have such features as adjustable pedals, power-operated seats, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, four doors and an accommodating entry height, large or wide-angle mirrors, brake assist, lumbar support, adjustable seatbelts, keyless entry and start, and stability control.

A program called CarFit® provides seniors free 15-minute car “fittings” to determine whether they can be comfortably and safely seated in their car in relation to mirrors, the steering wheel, headrest, pedals and controls. The program was developed by the American Society on Aging in collaboration with AAA, AARP and the American Occupational Therapy Association. A trial of the program found that 37 percent of participating seniors had at least one critical safety issue. Ten percent did not have proper spacing between the steering wheel and their chest. About 20 percent did not have adequate line of sight over the steering wheel.

Retiring from Driving
Just as we make plans to retire from work—possibly transitioning from full-time to part-time employment before full retirement—it is important to look ahead to retiring from driving. In fact, many seniors choose to limit their driving as they encounter physical and cognitive changes. For instance, they may decide to drive only in daylight when vision impairment makes night-time driving difficult. Or they may decide to drive only in town when high-traffic situations become stressful.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reported in a recent study that more seniors are self-limiting their driving and surmises that this could account in part for another finding: Fewer drivers 70 and older died in crashes and fewer were involved in fatal collisions from 1997 through 2006 than in years past, even though this segment of the population grew 10 percent.

It is essential that family and friends of a senior approach with compassion a discussion about driving —being sensitive to the senior’s need to maintain independence. Also approach the subject from a concern for the senior’s and others’ safety.

Easing the Transition
Seniors often fear that when they give up the keys they give up their lifestyle, being able to see friends, go shopping and take part in other activities they enjoy. Family and professional caregivers can help make the transition from driving seem less threatening to independence by offering workable options. This could be as simple as taking a parent on a once-a-week outing for recreation and errands, coordinating other transportation or arranging for delivery of groceries and other needed goods.

In-home care providers like Comfort Keepers^® also provide seniors transportation to activities, doctor’s appointments and shopping, as part of their in-home services.

When it comes to a senior who is reluctant to limit or stop driving, despite obvious danger signs, a second opinion from an authority or the counsel of a respected friend, such as a pastor, may be helpful. A friend who has already given up driving can offer the reassuring voice of experience.

Many motor vehicle bureaus offer assessment services for elderly drivers. The senior’s physician may also provide an evaluation and a prescription to cease driving due to safety concerns.

As a last resort—particularly for those who cannot remember that they are not supposed to drive—taking away the keys and removing the car or disabling it may be the only solution.

The Smallest Room in the House May Be the Most Dangerous for Seniors

We all want the best for the senior loved ones in our lives. For many seniors, living independent lives at home is their main desire. Seniors are able to do so provided they are physically and mentally able to care for themselves. Sometimes, depending on their situations, seniors need help and guidance from friends and relatives, or from even caregivers who can facilitate the potential of seniors living home alone for as long as possible.

The key to seniors maintaining independent lifestyles depends on many factors and most importantly their safety in doing so. With that being said, it should be noted that one of the most common dangers older seniors face is falling. In fact, research shows that injuries and subsequent complications due to falls are the leading causes of death in seniors who are 65 and older. Furthermore, one out of three seniors in this age group fall each year. While not every tumble guarantees an injury, these statistics should prompt you and your senior loved ones to make every effort to prevent falls occurring within their homes.

The first place to evaluate is the bathroom. While this is the smallest room in the house, bathrooms potentially offer the most opportunities for falls to occur. Bathtub edges may be hard to step over for some seniors. Once in the shower or tub, wet surfaces can cause seniors to slip. Some seniors may not be able to stand steadily while bathing. Others may have trouble sitting down on toilets or standing up again after using them. Wet floors after showers or baths and even bath mats can cause seniors to slip and fall.

Comfort Keepers offers these ideas and solutions for safety in the bathroom: 

Bathtubs and Showers
Install grab bars in proper places to aid in safe entry and exit of tubs and showers. Consider replacing a bathtub with a walk-in shower for seniors who have trouble stepping over high bathtub sides. Non-skid mats or decal applications should be applied on the floors of showers and tubs to help prevent slipping while bathing. Seniors who have trouble standing to bathe should use sturdy shower chairs made specifically for this purpose. Make sure soap, shampoos, towels and other bathing necessities are within easy reach.

Toilets and Floors
Seniors who have trouble sitting and standing up can have raised toilet seats installed to make this process easier. Grab bars should be installed for additional support. Make sure the toilet paper dispenser is easily accessible. Use a bathmat for the bathroom floor just outside the shower or tub to prevent slipping on slick floors after bathing. Place a non-skid material between the bathroom floor to prevent the mat from sliding or creasing.

While none of these safety features guarantees a no-fall zone, they certainly add layers of protection and aid for seniors at risk for falling. Your local home improvement store or durable medical equipment company carries safety devices made for specific purposes, and to ensure the safest results these items should be used instead of homemade devices. Another crucial element is installing safety aids properly and also teaching your loved ones how to use them. The discussion may be a bit hard to broach but the end result fosters safe, independent living for seniors in their own homes for as long as possible.

New Year, New You!

New Year Resolutions are common for most Americans. I have been making (and subsequently breaking) my resolutions for nearly 20 years. This year, in an effort to get back in good physical shape, I have started taking Zumba classes. Zumba is a high energy, fast paced dance class that provides cardiovascular exercise and is super fun. A friend of mine likes it so much that he recently certified to teach both Zumba and Zumba Gold. I had never heard of Zumba Gold, so we met to discuss it. He told me that Zumba Gold is a toned down version of Zumba for older participants, as well as those just starting on their physical fitness journey. It is great for people with arthritis, or people who are recovering from injury or surgery (once medically cleared). My pet project for the new year is working on setting up Zumba Gold classes locally for our clients. Look for more information soon!


The following is from the Zumba Website: Zumba Gold targets the largest growing segment of the population: baby boomers. It takes the Zumba formula and modifies the moves and pacing to suit the needs of the active older participant, as well as those just starting their journey to a fit and healthy lifestyle. What stays the same are all the elements the Zumba Fitness-Party is known for: the zesty Latin music, like salsa, merengue, cumbia and reggaeton; the exhilarating, easy-to-follow moves; and the invigorating, party-like atmosphere. Active older adults want camaraderie, excitement and fitness as a regular part of their weekly schedule. Zumba Gold is the perfect fit. It’s a dance-fitness class that feels friendly, and most of all, fun.

Here is some footage from a recent Zumba Gold Demo class that I attended here in Williamsport: