Adapting senior care to meet challenges of pandemic

Businesses have had to adapt because of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially those providing services to senior citizens.

During the pandemic, Seniors Helping Seniors, providing stay-at-home care throughout Sussex County for seven years, has not stopped providing services. But the company is adapting to meet challenges caused by the pandemic with more telecommunications technology and services to provide greater safety for its clients when workers are not present.

Owner Amy McDermott said more and more seniors have become isolated due to fewer outings and visits from families and friends. In addition, she said, more seniors are reluctant to enter assisted-living facilities.

McDermott, who works from her home office in Long Neck, said when given the opportunity, seniors prefer to live at home. “Our mission is to provide our seniors with the ability to choose an independent lifestyle in their own homes, for as long as possible, with the dignity and respect they deserve,” she said.

Hiring seniors, McDermott said, not only allows a closer kinship with clients but also provides employment to a segment with limited job options.

All but two of the company's 50 employees are over the age of 50, and most are in their 70s, McDermott said. “Seniors can help each other age better and remain more active,” she said.

Staff visit seniors at least three hours twice a week, but other options are available including 24-hour care. The company plans to initiate daily wellness checks via telephone.

Although staff can't dispense medicine, Seniors Helping Seniors offers a variety of other services, including companionship, light housekeeping, shopping, escorts to appointments, meal preparation, medication reminders, pet care, dressing, laundry, bathing and personal hygiene, and mailing letters and bills.

Among the updated services are wellness checks and medication reminders by telephone; a home monitoring system to check blood sugar levels, temperature and blood oxygen levels that are sent to doctors or family members; and physician-on-demand services 24 hours a day.

“With the push of a button, our clients will be connected to a physician facilitator who will verify, record symptoms and contact a physician until an emergency is resolved,” McDermott said.

Owners Amy and Bob McDermott have the only Seniors Helping Seniors franchise in Delaware.

For more information, phone 302-858-7330 or go to seniorcarerehoboth.com.