What a Great Day!

The Penobscot Bay Business Expo was a very fun and successful day. My good friend, Carol Pettee, and I were very busy talking to the many wonderful people who stopped by the Air Companions booth to find out what we were all about. As you can see I snapped a picture of Carol talking with someone.

If you own your own business I highly recommend you join the Chamber of Commerce in your area. The networking possibilities are endless and it's a good way to get to know the business community. I've never regretted joining the Penobscot Bay Chamber of Commerce. I just wish I had done it sooner!

As I said, we had a great time and got a lot of good contacts. I also got to see lots of my business friends that I hadn't met up with for ages. That's always uplifting. Beth McKinney of Coastal Creative won the overnight bag filled with goodies that Air Companions gave away. I was pleasantly surprised when I won a gift certificate to the Rockland Cafe given away by Philbrook and Associates Book Keeping. Beth McKinney is pictured on the right holding her prize. Air Companions also gave away lots of candy; chocolate of course!

I just want to say thank you to everyone that stopped by the Air Companions booth. We loved meeting you and you helped make our day extra special. Please don't hesitate to contact Air Companions if you would like to know more about the services we offer. We would love to talk with you.

Penobscot Bay Business Expo

Air Companions will be at the Penobscot Bay Business Expo on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at the beautiful Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine from 3pm to 7pm. We would love to meet you and tell you all about our services.

Tell us you read this blog and you will receive a 15% discount when you use Air Companion's services. Give us a referral that turns into a customer and Air Companions will pay you 10% of the profits from that customer.

The Penobscot Bay Business Expo is a very fun and informative event. There is not charge to get in. So come on by, you'll be glad you did. Don't forget to stop by Air Companions and say hello!

On your left is a photo of Camden Harbor taken last summer at my friend's daughter's wedding. Camden Harbor is, of course, part of Penobscot Bay. What a beautiful place!

A Few Helpful Sites

I wanted to take the time to share some of my recent finds in helping folks help their folks or anyone who is taking care of the elderly.

Here is a site with many resources for aging parents and elder care.

Here is another blog on eldercare.

Here are some tips on travel for the disabled.

We hope this helps makes a smoother life for you whether you are caring for your mom in your home, managing an elderly aunts care in assisted living or traveling yourself.

Happy Spring!

Five Simple Tips When Caring For The Elderly or Disabled

If you are caring for an elderly parent or a chronically ill loved one following are some simple tips to help you keep them more healthy.

1. Our skin is our biggest organ and the first line of defense for the body. Keeping the skin healthy and intact goes a long way in keeping a person healthy. When you are assisting a disabled person with personal care remember to keep skin clean and smooth. An open sore on someone's skin can lead to an infection or worse.

2. As a rule people generally do not take in enough fluids. When you are caring for a disabled loved one remember to push fluids unless otherwise indicated by the doctor. One should try to drink at least 2 quarts a day. I know, I know, that sounds like a lot! When you take in enough fluids you have better skin integrity, less pain, better digestion, and overall better functioning of the body. Remember, our bodies are made up of 2/3 water.

3. Keep moving as much as you are able even if you don't feel like it. It is not good to allow a loved one to sit or lay in one position for long periods of time. If this happens one can develope pressure sores. Also, the old saying, "if you don't use it you lose it" is very true. If you are taking care of a disabled loved gently persuade them to get up and walk every hour or so. If they are wheelchair bound at least assist them in changing their position often. Pictured above is an elderly gentleman I have cared for. He walks with the assistance of a walker. He loves to go to church with me.

4. People are social creatures. When they are left alone for long periods of time their health usually declines. This is especially true in the elderly and physically disabled. If you are caring for a chronically ill loved one remember they need to engage in some socialization. Everyone is different but I believe that if someone socializes for just 15 to 30 minutes a day you will see a difference in them. There are lots of ways to socialize. A few examples are: Visiting one on one, taking a ride in the community, going to church, family functions, adult day programs and volunteering or getting a pet.

5. Often times when one is chronically ill they do not want to get dressed. They would rather stay in their p.j.s as it takes such an effort to clean up and get dressed for the day. Believe it or not when one cleans up and puts on fresh "street" clothes they usually feel better. Staying in the same clothes and not taking care of yourself daily can lead to depression and greater physical illness. If you are caring for a disabled loved one encourage them to start the day by getting cleaned up an dressed. Pictured on the right is an elderly gentleman I cared for several years ago. He got up every morning and dressed in a jacket and tie.

I have taken care of people for over 35 years and have followed these tips throughout my career. These tips have proven themselves over and over again. Of course there are many other variables that go into caring for people with disabilities but the above 5 simple tips are a sound starting point.

A Few Tips on Caring for the Elderly

I am Sonja Burns, LPN, founder of Air Companions. I have also taken care of people, mostly the elderly, since I was a teenager. Over the years I've picked up picked up a few tricks of the trade and thought I would pass a few along. I know there are many people out there caring for their loved ones and perhaps will benefit from some of the things I have learned working as a caregiver for over 30 years. Since this is a blog for Air Companions I thought it would be appropriate to start off with tips on traveling with the elderly.

By the way, the photo below is a picture of my husband's grandmother, Beatrice. She was 100 years old at the time. She lived with my husband and I for a couple of years at the end of her life. She passed away in September 2009 at the age of 101. She was quite a character!

1. Make absolutely sure your loved one has a picture ID. I have discovered that older people who no longer drive and need care often do not have a picture ID. If you do not have one when you enter the airport you will not be able to fly.

2. If a person is wheelchair bound and cannot walk through the metal detectors at the airport they will be required to be patted down. So, if you are flying with a loved one who cannot walk please give them a heads up about going through security. They will be patted down.

3. Airports offer escort services in the airport. I have discovered that airports often contract with a company that provides those services within the airport. I have also found the escorts to be very helpful and courteous. They can help you get checked in, take you to your gate, and assist a wheelchair bound person on and off the plane. I honestly don't know what I would of done without their help when I have been accompanying very disabled people from one destination to another. Another good tip is to remember these people enjoy a good tip, money that is. :)

4. I always carry a small package of wet wipes in my purse. When you are traveling with someone who needs assistance with their care wet wipes are invaluable for numerous reasons!

5. Always bring along extra supplies for your loved one. If they are incontinent bring extra incontinent pads/underwear. If they have an ostomy bring extra ostomy supplies. And so on ans so forth......

6. Make sure your loved one dresses comfortably. I would suggest a fleece outfit as it is warm and roomy.

7. When purchasing a ticket the best solution is to go first class. But, not everyone can afford that. If you have to fly in coach ask for seats by the bulkhead. There is more leg room by the bulkhead. Tell the agent you are flying with someone disabled. The ticket agents really do try to help you out.

8. If your loved one hasn't flown in a long time it might be a good idea to tell their doctor about the upcoming flight. If you think the flight might stressful to your loved one perhaps you could ask the M.D. for a mild sedative to help them get through the trip.

9. Make sure your luggage has wheels! When you are pushing a wheelchair it is very difficult to carry bags on your shoulders. A small carry on bag on wheels is a very good investment!

10. If all this sounds like too much work contact Air Companions! We would love to accompany your loved one in air travel! Or, any kind of travel for that matter. We would love to hear from you.

I hope these tips have been helpful. Next time I will give some tips on general care of the elderly.

A Recent Testimonial

How are you doing? Gee, it's interesting how connected I feel to the people who helped me out with the folks and the move!

The above statement was written to me in a recent email from a satisfied customer. I blogged about the trip. Check out "From Freeport to Freeport".

How To Mess Up a Referral

I am so upset by this I have to blog about it! Last week while driving in the car I received a call for Air Companions. Let me back this up just a little....Last week while driving in the car and answering a call and trying to placate a confused elderly gentleman I was caring for a call that I did not recognize came in on the other line. I answered. To my delight the lady calling was inquiring about Air Companions accompanying her mother from Syracuse, N.Y. to Long Beach, California on December 23rd. She also wanted Air Companions to accompany her mom home from Long Beach on January 3rd. The lady, who told me her first name but I have forgotten it, said that her mother was 80 years old and in good health. The very nice lady went onto say that her mother was some what fearful of flying and would just feel better if she had an escort. I told the lady that Air Companions would love to accompany her mother. The lady then asked what I charged. At that point I told her I was in the car. I told her I would be home in a half hour and at that time would call her back so we could discuss the details. She was agreeable. I told her I did not have access to pen and paper but I knew her number was on my phone so there was no need to write it down. We said our goodbyes. Little did I know that it would be forever!

Once I got home, got everything and everyone settled I made a couple of calls to help me accurately price out the potential trip to Long Beach, California. Feeling fairly confident I picked up my cell phone to retrieve the number to call the lady back. To my horror I could not find the number! I looked everywhere I could in the phone. (Mind you I am 53 years old.) In desparation I called my 33 year old daughter and told her, almost hysterically, what had happened. I could see her rolling her eyes even though we were talking on the phone. She said in an exasperated way, "Mom, the number has to be on the phone. Are you looking under Missed Calls?" I told her I had looked everywhere that I usually look to retrieve a number and the number wasn't there. At the time Rachael was caring for three children; her son 1.5 years old and her niece at 4 years old and her nephew at 10 months old. Needless to say, she was very preoccupied. I know I had to go another avenue so I sarcastically thanked her for her help and told I would call the phone company.

I called the cell phone company and told them my terrible plight. I asked them to please rertrieve the number for me so I could call this lady and at least explain why it had been over an hour since I had last spoken with her. I was put on hold for a few minutes. Finally the customer service lady came back on the line. She asked if the call from the lady had been a call waiting call. I told her it was. She then told me that there was no way to retrieve the call due to the fact it had come in as call waiting. I was stunned! I couldn't believe my ears! I am a big fan of Law and Order and CSI. They seem to be able to retrieve cell phone numbers from anywhere and everywhere! Now the cell phone company is telling me what I am asking is impossible! I felt like throwing up. The customer service woman was very apologetic and very sad that she could not help me. I thanked her for what she did do. Defeated I said goodbye and hung up the phone.

I could feel myself getting more and more stressed but then I said a prayer and told God that the only person who could fix this was Him. I was hopeful the lady would call me back wondering what had happened. It's been a week and she hasn't called. Despite all this I have learned a BIG lesson. No matter what if you have to get back to someone write down their name and number. Do not trust the cell phone!

If by some miracle the lady who called me is reading this blog I would very much like to talk to you about accompanying your mother to Long Beach, California for the holidays. I am so sorry this happened. Believe me, it will not happen again!