Visiting Angels - April 2022

Visiting Angels - April 2022

April 2022

5274 Scotts Valley Dr., #102 Scotts Valley, CA 95066 831-430-0616 229 Reindollar Ave., Suite E Marina, CA 93933 831-392-0876 www.VisitingAngels.com/CentralCoast

A

e

S

Visiting Angels Named One of Top 100 Home Care Agencies in the US We’re at the Top!

Recently, Visiting Angels was named one of the top 100 home care agencies in the United States! This tremendous accomplishment would not be possible without our tireless caregivers, who have shared so much of themselves during this pandemic. As our owner, Jeanette Pagliaro said, “In the top 100 for the country — that says a lot! We owe it to our amazing caregivers. The work you do makes this all possible; you are dedicated and inspiring people working with those who deserve it most.” The path to earning this designation began with some simple research. They say you don’t know how to fix something until you actually know what’s wrong. A few years ago, we had caregivers helping a senior in a situation we thought was going well — until we received the results of their survey. That’s when we learned that their family wished we had helped the client prepare more nutritious foods and that the senior wanted to leave the home more. There were a few obstacles in this situation, such as the client’s disdain for healthy food and the fact that we

were still in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. These made leaving the home and eating healthy difficult. But if there’s one thing we have learned at Visiting Angels it’s that there is always an adaptation we can try to ensure our seniors continue to have independence in the home. To solve these challenges, we worked with the senior to create a list of healthy foods they do enjoy. Now, we incorporate those foods into their meals, and they are both nutritious and tasty! Our caregiver also started going for more walks and spending time outdoors with our client. We worked diligently together for months to ensure that we met the concerns of this senior and their family, and we were happy to make adjustments in the way that we did. And in doing so, the family rated us higher on the next survey — our scores had improved! It was a small yet momentous time for our caregivers and the team at Visiting Angels.

began working with Home Care Pulse, which is an independent experience management and satisfaction research firm we partnered with a few years ago. Home Care Pulse gathers feedback and satisfaction ratings from our clients and caregivers each month to help us deliver the best possible in-home care services. Once a client begins services, Home Care Pulse may call the client or person named to do the survey. The call usually lasts about five minutes when a representative of Home Care Pulse will ask our client or their family member to provide honest feedback in rating our services using a scale of 1–10 for several categories. This feedback is shared and analyzed. We then work with the clients who are dissatisfied and collaborate on the ways in which we can provide the best possible in-home care. We have found Home Care Pulse’s client and caregiver surveys to be very beneficial. You can choose to remain anonymous when taking the survey,

Continued on Page 3 ...

That’s just one of the many success stories we discovered since we

831-430-0616 | 1

Personalized Homecare ... When You Need It ... From People You Trust!

DOWNSIZING FOR THE BETTER Everyone’s Doing It!

Whether you simply want to eliminate clutter or move to a smaller home now that the kids have moved out, downsizing has increased in popularity in recent years. But, if it’s your turn to downsize, you may find it challenging and unexpectedly emotional. Here are some tips to make the process easier. Start early. This process cannot be rushed and will not be a quick one, so don’t try to squeeze all of the preparation and packing into a few days. This process can take weeks — or even months — and that’s completely normal. You’ll want time set aside to go through everything room by room, one item at a time. Create ‘keep’ and ‘toss’ piles. When going through your belongings, create a pile for items you want to

keep and items you want to either donate, give away, or throw away. While creating a maybe pile may feel worthwhile at the time, it will only end up leaving you with more clutter. Plus, indecision prolongs the process. Get rid of duplicates. You’ve collected a lot over the years. If you have two can openers, five sets of bed sheets, three cookie sheets, and an endless supply of spatulas, it’s time to clear out the duplicates that you don’t need or use. Consider donating everything that’s in good condition — someone surely could make good use of it. Take time to reminisce. There is fun to be had in sorting through old memories. Allow yourself time to stroll down memory lane. Welcome

laughter, smiles, and tears. You can even invite your loved ones over to help and share in the stories as you pack up the items you hold dear. Don’t let decluttering and downsizing be a daunting task; take it one step at a time. Even if you aren’t moving anytime soon, it’s always a good idea to cut down on the amount of clutter you hang on to!

The Problem With Women Retiring Earlier WORKING LONGER MAY BE A GOOD IDEA

In 1992, counselor and author John Gray published his widely discussed book “Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus.” The relationship book focused on the ways in which men and women communicate differently, offering insight to struggling heterosexual couples. However, in the world of retirement, that same title could apply. Women aren’t approaching retirement like men — and that’s not advantageous.

retire at least 2–3 years earlier than men. In 2018, The New York Times explored this phenomenon and cited a main cause. Women tend to marry men who are older than them, and many couples retire together. Therefore, women are younger than men when they retire. That same New York Times report found that women live — on average — four years longer than men. In retirement savings-speak, this means women need more retirement income than men. Furthermore, women typically earn less than men, which means their contributions to retirement are often less than men. (In 2021, the Pew Research Center reported women earned 84% of what men made in 2020.)

reduced retirement income for a longer period of time.

Granted, spouses often share retirement income, which could protect women who choose to retire when their husbands do or earlier than is the norm. However, it may be beneficial for women to work until the same age as their husband’s age of retirement — or longer — to pad their savings. Another New York Times article suggests that working until 70 can provide added income that savings strategies alone cannot meet. There are many social, cognitive, and emotional benefits to working longer, too. However, retirement is your oyster! Retire when you feel it’s best for you and your retirement savings plan is ready to use. But if this article raises questions, consult with your trusted financial expert.

According to studies,

women tend to retire earlier than their male counterparts. In particular, white, married

women without a higher education degree tend to

All of this adds up to a major problem: Women are having to rely on that

2

| www.VisitingAngels.com/CentralCoast

SCAMMERS BEWARE Arming You With the Knowledge to Avoid Phone Scams Scammers will try just about anything to steal your identity or finances — and they are very likely coming up with a scheme we haven’t even thought of yet, even as you read this! The good news is that experts in the government, technology, law enforcement, and senior advocacy groups have developed copious amounts of research and information to protect older adults and others from devastating thefts.

Clue No. 3: They ask for your information. This is the biggest clue of all! Governmental agencies and businesses will not call you and request your personal information. The only way these groups will accept details is if you call them first. If that’s a contingency to move forward with the phone call or interaction, hang up. If you believe the call you receive is true, hang up and call the service back. This will verify if the phone call you received is legitimate. You should also report scam calls through local law enforcement or the Federal Trade Commission online at Consumer.FTC.gov . As a reminder, our team at Visiting Angels relies on responses from clients and their families when Home Care Pulse calls them. These are not scams, but if you receive one of these calls and don’t feel comfortable with their questions, please contact our team.

Keep the following guide handy, so you’ll know how to spot phone scams and protect yourself and your loved ones.

Clue No. 1: Time is of the essence. Scammers know the sooner they get you to act, the less time you’ll have to think through their request. Most scams will require you to act immediately, and they won’t accept inquiries for their physical documentation. If you feel pressured to make a decision while on the call, simply hang up. Clue No. 2: There’s a punishment or prize. A scammer’s goal is to lure you into a trap through fear or excitement. When you receive a phone call saying your grandson is in jail or that you have won a luxurious tropical vacation, these are usually false. For example, while a family member could call you from jail, there are telltale signs, like a jail greeting prior to your loved one speaking. You can also verify their arrest online through a law enforcement website.

... continued from Cover

HEALTHIER, LIGHTER DEVILED EGGS Inspired by LiveEatLearn.com

but it is helpful when responders provide their names. This way, we can mitigate the issue quickly! The survey is a great way for us to measure if we are truly helping our clients; however, we hope if there is ever an issue, that our clients feel comfortable approaching us before they take the survey. We want to fix problems as soon as they arise! It is extremely important to us that we provide the best possible support for our caregivers as well as our clients. If they share their name with Home Care Pulse during a survey, we will work with them to resolve any issues. It is important to us that our caregivers are happy and satisfied. They are the heart of Visiting Angels. Because of the honest feedback we were given from Home Care Pulse, we celebrate this top 100 spot today! We thank our clients, their families, and our wonderful caregivers for contributing to this amazing recognition of being one of the best, top 100 home care agencies in the U.S.

Hard-boiled eggs are essential for Easter, so why not transform them into a healthy appetizer?

Ingredients • 6 large eggs

• 1 tsp lemon juice • Optional: Hot sauce, to taste • Optional: Paprika and chives, chopped, for garnish

• 3 tbsp Greek yogurt • 1 tsp Dijon mustard

Directions 1. In a large pot, add eggs and cover with water. Put on high heat, and then boil eggs for 10 minutes. 2. Once boiled, peel eggs by gently tapping and removing the shell. (Adding the eggs to an ice bath after boiling can make this task easier.) 3. Cut eggs lengthwise and place yolks into a medium mixing bowl. Set egg white halves open side up on a plate. 4. In a bowl, combine yolks, yogurt, mustard, lemon juice, and hot sauce (if desired) until smooth. 5. Transfer the yolk mixture into the egg white halves. Garnish with paprika and chives if desired.

We are so grateful for all of you.

Cindy Saunders, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

831-430-0616 | 3

Personalized Homecare ... When You Need It ... From People You Trust!

5274 Scotts Valley Dr., #102 Scotts Valley, CA 95066 24/7 831-430-0616

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

Scotts Valley Office Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday–Friday

www.VisitingAngels.com/CentralCoast Home Care Organization #444700002

Inside

1

We’re a Top Home Care Provider in the US!

2

How to Make Downsizing Less Painful Women Retire Before Men — Why That’s a Problem Protect Yourself With Knowledge About Scams Healthier, Lighter Deviled Eggs

3

4

Be a Tourist in Scotts Valley

3 SPOTS TO TRY Spend the Day in Scotts Valley!

Hiram D. Scott House Located in MacDorsa Park, the Hiram D. Scott House holds a small piece of Scotts Valley history. It’s here that one of the founders of our city, Hiram D. Scott, built a New England- style home using redwood tree logs. You can see this well-maintained and pristine piece of history in MacDorsa Park, and when you finish, enjoy a lunch at the picnic area or in the gazebo. Bring the grandkids, as they will love the wide-open green spaces and the playground. To tour the house, call 831-246-0710 .

City of Heritage Trees Tour You know our region is famous for redwood forests, but did you know Scotts Valley maintains a registry of trees designated as Heritage Trees? You can view this magnificent flora and snap a few photos, or simply enjoy musing over the stories these century-old trees could tell as you take a self-guided tour around the city. With trees located in town and others firmly rooted along the outskirts, there’s a view everyone in your party is bound to enjoy. Start your tour by determining your route at ScottsValley.org . If you want to explore additional parts of Scotts Valley, please visit the Santa Cruz County website at SantaCruz.org. Please adhere to COVID-19 protocols when visiting each location.

There are many towns in our central California community, but the one that will always be near and dear to our hearts is Scotts Valley. This April, we’d like to encourage you to explore what makes this city so great! You can start with these three locations. Canepa Motorsports Museum Hello, car enthusiasts! The Canepa Motorsports Museum is the perfect place for those who love all things racing. The museum includes vehicles driven by NASCAR, Indy 500, Can-Am, and other famous racers. There’s even a section for motorcycles, too! From historical vehicles to the next generation and the engineering that makes this adrenaline-pumping sport possible, there is sure to be a vehicle that makes you say, “Whoa.” The museum also offers services for collectors. Learn more online at Canepa.com .

4

| www.VisitingAngels.com/CentralCoast