6 years in business celebration continues… this morning we thank our dear friend Angela Olea, founder of one of the most successful franchises in the US, Assisted Living Locators ( a senior placement company), with more than 100 franchisees in 135 territories! Rodney and I met Angela literally the first month we started Golden Heart. She was speaking at a conference and I immediately introduced myself to her. The following week she met with me and we have had a great relationship since, helping each other! We are grateful!
Author: Craig Bass
(VIDEO!) The Senior Care Industry Netcast with Laurie Malone – GoldenHeartScottsdale.com
We were fortunate enough to have Laurie Malone, GoldenHeartScottsdale.com on our show and she offered some great insight and #advice for other #seniorcare and #healthcare providers.
Episode 30 of the Senior Care Industry Netcast is live!
Full Transcript:
Valerie VanBooven RN BSN:
This is Valerie VanBooven with the senior care industry Ned casts, where leaders with three or more years in the senior care industry share their advice. It’s six questions in nine minutes to let’s get to it.
Valerie VanBooven RN BSN:
In a few sentences, tell us who you are and what you do.
Laurie Malone:
I’m Lori Malone and managing partner and CEO of Golden Heart Senior Care, headquartered in Scottsdale. My husband and business partner, Rodney is partner and COO. I handle referral partners and clients, and he handles operations.
Valerie VanBooven RN BSN:
Awesome. All right.
Well, tell us what is the best thing about serving aging adults?
Laurie Malone:
So we got into this because of my parents. They said they were going to stay in their home. They absolutely were not going to a facility, which is what my aunt wanted. And we thought about, “Well, that’s a thing. People want to stay in their home.” And now more than ever with COVID and what’s happened, aging safely at home is really the best solution for seniors.
Laurie Malone:
And my phone rang off the hook during quarantine. We’re very blessed. It still is because of that reason. So we’re happy to have that as our passion.
Valerie VanBooven RN BSN:
Yeah. There is no better place right now. Home is absolutely where everybody should try to be if they can, if it’s feasible.
Laurie Malone:
Right.
Valerie VanBooven RN BSN:
Yeah, absolutely. All right.
I hear from other senior service providers that marketing online can be challenging. It’s a little confusing and it’s definitely ever changing. What has been your experience or what are your thoughts on that?
Laurie Malone:
I actually gave a national speech last year on social media means business. I’m the biggest advocate of social media. And I believe you and your team know that Valerie. We’ve leveraged your help for the Google algorithms, all the stuff we don’t know about. LTC, and then now Approved Senior Network and you guys help us. But beyond that, I work it every day. I get tons of business, referral partners, clients, employees.
Laurie Malone:
We actually acquired two small companies last year through me posting on social media. It is the most effective way we’ve had of growing our business.
Valerie VanBooven RN BSN:
I would agree you guys do a very … You’re very engaged and involved. And I think whether it has to do with COVID or you’ve done this forever, but way before COVID. You’ve always been very engaged in your online marketing. I know you have 10 gazillion LinkedIn contacts and you’re … [crosstalk 00:02:33]
Laurie Malone:
It’s personal work. It’s not something a marketer can do. It’s something I do.
Valerie VanBooven RN BSN:
That’s right. And that’s the most important piece of this is that you can hire anybody you want to post stuff for you. But if you don’t engage yourself and you don’t contribute to your own social media, it doesn’t work as well. We really need to participate, engage it’s social actually. So, let’s be social.
Valerie VanBooven RN BSN:
Anyway, so you guys do a great job and we appreciate that.
Laurie Malone:
Thank you.
Valerie VanBooven RN BSN:
Okay. Back to your wisdom about senior care.
What piece of advice would you give to other senior care providers?
Laurie Malone:
So my biggest advice and I mentor a lot of other Golden Heart franchisees, is you have to be all in. You have to be … We decided I was the face of the business, probably because I’m Italian and not shy. And my husband would rather run operations and he’s very good at that. But you have to be visible, a community person that people rely on. And we work through the Approved Senior Network for that. It’s very important that people view us as a resource. If somebody wants information on placement, it’s not what we do, but we know who to refer to, who will do an excellent job. You have to just be all in.
Laurie Malone:
If we’re out to eat before quarantine, every person we interact with, “Hey, do you know anybody that wants a caregiving job? We’ll put them through a school, we’ll help train them and so on.” So it’s just an all consuming thing. My children are so used to it. They don’t know any different. Mommy and dad work all the time, but we love what we do. If you’re passionate about it, it’s so consuming and so fun.
Valerie VanBooven RN BSN:
Yes. As long as you, if you have a passion for it, focus on that passion and sometimes we need a moment to bring us back to why we do what we do. And when you’re out there networking and talking to people about what you do, it really, even on the roughest day, you remember these people are why I do this. I think that’s awesome.
Laurie Malone:
Right.
Valerie VanBooven RN BSN:
All right.
Well then you have a win in life or in business, how do you like to celebrate?
And that could be anything. It could be a graduation. It could be a birthday. It could be a client who’s so happy. How do you like to celebrate?
Laurie Malone:
So let me say this. Tomorrow, July 14th, 2014, marks six days in business, six years in business. We literally started six years ago tomorrow. So we’re going to surprise the office, even though we’re not in there very often. We’re in and out, everybody’s working in separate social distance stations. There’ll be all kinds of balloons and lunch catered and so on. And then my husband and I always celebrate by taking ourselves to a nice meal. And if we can’t do that, we’ll cook one at home and have some champagne. You have to celebrate the small stuff I believe. I just said to him this morning, “Do you realize tomorrow six years? This is a big deal.”
Laurie Malone:
He’s like, “Yeah, we started with two of us. Now we have over 75 employees.” And we’re very fortunate and blessed.
Valerie VanBooven RN BSN:
Yes. That is an excellent reason to celebrate and you made it a past that one year mark that’s so crucial. You made it past the five year mark that’s so crucial. And you’re running and gunning and doing great. You guys have all kinds of reasons to celebrate. That’s awesome.
Laurie Malone:
Thank you.
Valerie VanBooven RN BSN:
So thank you for that. Okay.
Is there anybody out there who has made a difference in your career, your life, an inspiration, an organization out there?
that you think, “Man, I really liked the way they do stuff.” I don’t know. We’ve had all kinds of answers on this one.
Laurie Malone:
My dad always told me, don’t do it halfway, whatever you’re doing, be all in. So that’s number one. May he rest in peace. But in this business specifically, we didn’t know what a care plan was six years ago tomorrow. We didn’t know anything about it. We relied on the corporate training and the people that helped us and most importantly, referral partners and those referral partners, two of them have been with us since the beginning. One’s Angela Oleo, the founder of Assisted Living Locators nationally, she’s brilliant. Two is Robin Bib of Blue Zone Marketing. And she’s a patient advocate. She refers home health. We refer to her and so on.
Laurie Malone:
And then there’s other people that have had a profound effect. And it’s really surfaced how the value of referral partners during this quarantine and COVID, we’re navigating murky waters. Caregivers are panicked. Clients are panicked.
So Lisa Paulson, who is with Homestead Hospice, we have referrals from Hospice of the Valley, Suzanne Sanchez and a good friend, Beverly Diaz, who’s with Visiting Physicians. I met all these people through online marketing, every single one of them.
Laurie Malone:
And in every case they brought value to us and we’ve hoped to have brought a lot of value to them.
Valerie VanBooven RN BSN:
Yeah. Great. Thank you very much. Those people will be so thrilled that you gave a shout out to them. Having great marketing partners in your community. We got to work together. It’s more than just you, yourself and your business. There’s so many different needs our seniors have. So having lots and lots of resources who are willing to refer back to you, man, that is a great strategy all the way around.
Valerie VanBooven RN BSN:
Cool. Okay. Well, thank you so much for being on the show and for doing what you do. We appreciate you and all your brave caregivers out there.
Laurie Malone:
Thank you, Valerie. Take care. Bye bye.
Four Things to Try if Your Senior Won’t Stop Driving
If your elderly family member is determined to keep driving, you might have already tried logic, appealing to her emotions, and a host of other possibilities. But that doesn’t mean they got you anywhere. You may have to try some other options that are a little more complicated.
See if Her Doctor Has Any Pull with Her
Your elderly family member may not want to listen to you about driving, but there might be someone else she will listen to. If her doctor is able to convince your elderly family member to reconsider driving, this is worth a shot. Let her doctor know what you’ve talked about with your senior. There may be some other suggestions that her doctor can make that help you to get your point across.
Relocate the Car
Seeing the car, right there in the driveway or the garage, may be a reminder that your elderly family member and you could do without. If every time she sees the car she remembers that she wants to drive, it might be worth figuring out where else you can park the car. Talk to family members or friends who might have some space you could borrow for a little while. See if moving the car has the effect you’ve been trying to achieve.
Talk to Someone at the DMV
If your elderly family member knows that she no longer has a valid driver’s license, that may be enough to keep her from driving, too. Talk to someone at the Department of Motor Vehicles. They may be able to revoke her license based on some of her health issues. Or they may require her to take a written test, a driving test, or both in order to keep her license. The benefit of that is that you’ve got an impartial entity judging your senior’s ability to keep driving.
You May Have to Sell the Car
Finally, you may have to outright sell the car. Your elderly family member may no longer have a license and even that may not matter to her. Not having access to a car at all may be what finally gets through to her that you’re serious. If you don’t have the legal ability to sell your senior’s car, this may not be possible, though.
It’s not easy to have to tell your senior that she can’t do some things, including driving. As her caregiver, though, you’re responsible for helping her to stay as safe as possible.
If you or an aging loved one is considering hiring caregivers in Mesa, AZ, please call the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Scottsdale at (480) 284-7360. We are here to help!
Golden Heart celebrates 6 years in business 7/14/14!
SO PROUD TO ANNOUNCE….Golden Heart Senior Care aka our Company, headquartered in Scottsdale and serving all zip codes East of I-17, is SO PROUD to announce 6 YEARS IN BUSINESS this week. We signed the papers, 7/14/14…just the two of us…with only the passion of knowing people like my parents wanted to AGE SAFELY IN THEIR HOMES. We didn’t know a single person in this industry, or the industry really, but knew this was and is OUR PASSION. We will be posting Celebration Moments all week. You can ignore or bear with me…we want to CELEBRATE! These last 4 months, in our industry, have been unprecedented and we are grateful to our friends who made a call…sent a text.. or just had us/ our clients/caregivers in your thoughts. Thank you. We appreciate you!
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO BELIEVED IN US IN THE BEGINNING. #gratitude #goldenheartscottsdale
Sleeping Better with COPD
People with COPD can have issues with lots of normal daily activities. For some folks who have COPD, sleep is a huge issue. It might be difficult for your elderly family member to get to sleep or even to stay asleep. Worse, she might not feel rested, even after a full night of sleep.
Always Talk to Your Senior’s Doctor
Your senior’s doctor can help you to figure out sleep issues with your senior. Some of them may be related to COPD, while others may be related to other health issues. Her doctor can help you to understand how much activity is right for your elderly family member and what she needs to do in order to get her sleep back on track. If medication is really the best or only option, her doctor is the best source for that, of course.
Take Care with Naps
Naps can be helpful, but they can also be a problem. If your elderly family member is sleeping too long during a nap or is napping too late in the day, that can have an impact on sleeping overnight. Naps done right can be refreshing, though. The trick is finding your senior’s napping sweet spot, meaning the right amount of time for her to nap and have that nap be effective. Tracking sleep and how it affects her can help with this.
Exercise Really Is Effective for Sleep
Lots of people with COPD get winded easily just by doing everyday activities, so the idea of exercise is almost laughable. But exercise is not only possible with COPD, it can help immensely in improving lung function and other issues, like sleep. The trick is for your elderly family member to exercise properly and for the right amount of time. She also needs to respect what her body tells her while she’s exercising.
Work on Conserving More Energy for Important Tasks
Conservation of energy is a phrase you’ll hear a lot as your elderly family member deals with COPD. The concept is basically that your aging family member only has a certain amount of energy and much of it is required by her body to just perform basic functions, like breathing. That can also mean that activities that she normally performed easily are now more difficult. Turning those tasks over to someone else, like an elder care provider, allows your senior to save that energy for her own tasks, like getting some tai chi in.
Sleeping better might have more to do with what your elderly family member is doing while she’s awake than it does anything to do with what she’s doing while she’s sleeping. Getting that balance right can help so very much.
If you or an aging loved one is considering hiring elder care in Paradise Valley, AZ, please call the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Scottsdale at (480) 284-7360. We are here to help!
Are Your Parents Aware of the Latest Coronavirus Scams?
Scammers can take any crisis or concern and turn it into a convincing scam. The COVID-19 pandemic has been no different. Several scams popped up in hopes of convincing people to pay money to “cure” or “prevent” the disease. There are scams for protective supplies like face masks and hand sanitizers. There are also scams designed to trick people into giving out personal information like SSNs or bank account numbers.
Pet Scams
People are home more and have the time to spend training a new pet. As a result, there is an uptick in scams involving pet sales or adoptions. The scammer posts pictures of a pet that’s up for adoption or sale and asks for money to send the pet to you following new COVID-19 guidelines.
You pay the insurance or deposit and once that’s received, the animal will be sent via an airline, courier, or another service. The thing is the pet doesn’t exist. The scammer takes that deposit or insurance payment and disappears. A home care aide could help your parent look for a new pet without falling for this type of scam.
Expedited Stimulus Checks
One of the scams the IRS started warning people about involved the CARES Act stimulus checks. People were getting calls or emails from people claiming to be from the IRS or other government agencies. The caller said they could help you get your stimulus payment faster. You just had to share personal information like your SSN or bank routing number and account number.
Checks and automatic payments go out when the IRS sends them. There is no expedited option, and your parents need to be aware of that.
Phishing Scams
If your parents get an email telling them to click a link to sign up for a COVID-19 vaccine or drug, it’s a scam. It may simply ask for a lot of money, but there’s the chance the link could install malware on their computer if they click that link. The same goes for emails that appear to be from a government agency that sends a link to sign up for additional aid.
Fake Cures
Another scam has involved treatments and cures. People are told they can buy the cure or preventative treatment for COVID-19 online or over the phone. These products include everything from lotions to teas. There is no cure or treatment available at this point. Make sure your parents are not falling for a hoax and spending far too much money in hopes of staying safe.
Schedule home care services to make sure your parents are not alone and vulnerable while you’re self-distancing during the pandemic. If they’re the only ones sorting mail, handling phone calls, and managing emails, they may find it hard to determine real warnings and offers from scams. Home care services are going to help.
If you or an aging loved one is considering hiring home care in Cave Creek, AZ, please call the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Scottsdale at (480) 284-7360. We are here to help!
Congratulations Paola on your Caregiver Award!
Golden Heart is proud to announce that Paola has been awarded a Caregiver Award today! Paola never misses a shift; has a compassionate manner and her seniors are very important to her. Paola has excellent clinical skills coupled with the gift of kindness. She works closely with the office team, helping out wherever needed. Her primary client, a bed bound gentleman, speaks of her careful handling, and dignified care. We pride ourselves on having an excellent team and she exemplifies that. Paola will receive a bonus for this award!
Golden Heart supports Homestead Hospice’s Food Drive!
On Behalf of myself and the entire team at Homestead Hospice and Palliative Care, Thank you to everyone that dropped off donations today for the Extended Hands Food Bank! We had more than 75 generous donors. We really have a great community! Special thanks to Laurie Malone & Rodney Malone and their team at Golden Heart Senior Care for their very generous donation! As well as Isabella Stanton Hernandez and her team from Sacred Heart Home Healthcare for their help. And of course, a HUGE Thank you Fountain View Village for all the donations from your staff and residents and the use of your parking lot – You are amazing! Lisa Paulsen, Community Liaison for Homestead Hospice!
Congratulations Bridgette on your Caregiver Award!
Golden Heart Senior Care has awarded Bridgette a coveted Caregiver Award for going above and beyond and always helping clients; stepping up to take extra shifts and being a joy for the office team. We are proud to have her as part of our team for close to a year! Thank you Bridgette for your service to seniors! She will receive a bonus on her next check!
Tips for Pain Relief if Your Elderly Loved One Suffers from Arthritis
There are many types of medications that doctors prescribe to help reduce the pain that people experience from arthritis. However, many of these medications come with side effects, especially if taken over a long period of time. If your elderly loved one is looking for a way to relieve arthritis pain, they might want to try natural pain relief options.
Cold and Hot Treatments
Many elderly adults use cold or hot treatments to help control their arthritis pain. You can have your elderly loved one try placing a heating pad on the joint where they are feeling the pain. If this doesn’t help, you can have them take a hot bath. You can also encourage them to use ice packs which often work well for pain relief, as well.
Massage and Acupuncture
Some professionals recommend acupuncture and massage to elderly adults who experience pain due to arthritis. These techniques are designed to give temporary relief to stiff joints. It is important to speak with your elderly loved one’s doctor before they do any kind of acupuncture or get a massage. If the doctor approves these treatments, you can have your loved one’s senior care provider take them to these appointments.
Meditation and Yoga
Meditation and yoga can help a person relax and de-stress. These options can also help reduce pain in the joints and other areas of the body. You can find many mediation and yoga videos online that your elderly loved one can try out.
Exercising
Exercising is good for the entire body. It can also help reduce pain, improve movement, and make your elderly loved one stronger. Some types of exercise that many elderly adults use to help with pain relief include the following:
- Stretching
- Range of motion exercises
- Strength training exercises
- Seated back exercises
There are many exercise videos online that are specifically designed to help with pain relief. Just remember to have your elderly loved one check with their doctor before starting any new exercise regimen.
Maintaining Proper Posture
Maintaining proper posture is very important. If a person sits too long without moving their joints, their pain can get worse. It is important to encourage your elderly loved one to move around throughout the day. For instance, you should make sure they get up off their chair every hour. You can also walk with them around the yard or have them stand up and stretch while they watch television.
Conclusion
There are medications that are designed to help with arthritis pain. However, many of these come with side effects. Instead of using these medications, you can encourage your elderly loved one to try the above-mentioned tips for arthritis pain relief.
Sources
https://flboardofmedicine.gov/pdfs/HB451_pamphlet_6-28-19.pdf
https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/programs_campaigns/wellness_initiative/paw-opioid-prevention-fact-sheet.pdf
If you or an aging loved one is considering hiring senior care in Queens Creek, AZ, please call the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Scottsdale at (480) 284-7360. We are here to help!