It’s called GrandCare. Not only does the program monitor health and medication, it also allows the elderly to stay in communication with caregivers and loved ones. In his apartment in Cold Spring, Ed Thelen now has this magic window to a healthier world. As he touched a picture of a camera on his GrandCare touch screen he said, “My favorite things is merely touching this little thing and having all these beautiful people available to me.”

He’s talking about being able to talk to his three kids and six grandkids through a simple touch screen version of Skype. He said it has been beneficial to his emotional health. He said, “This system has kind of re-birthed me, so to speak.” Thelen, who battles Parkinson’s, Diabetes and depression, now sees family who live a minimum of an hour away almost every day. His grandson, John Volkers, said, “It means a lot to me because I barely get to see my grandpa a lot in real life.” His family can also see if he’s taking care of himself. His daughter, Kerry Volkers, said it’s, “Nice to be able to make sure that he’s OK. And since we don’t get to go see him as often, it feels like he’s part of our life on a daily basis.”

GrandCare helps families remotely monitor daily activities with sensors that send notifications when pills are taken or when a door is opened. Thelen said, “I can take my blood pressure and that automatically goes onto the system. I can take my glucose.” Brain waves can be monitored for those who have seizures. Motion sensors can detect movement for those who may wander at night. All of it can be monitored remotely by all caregivers, including family and health care professionals.

Deborah Delaney is with Sarah Care, a local home health care service that helped Thelen get the GrandCare system. Delaney said GrandCare truly relieves the stress on caregivers who want to keep their loved one in their own home. She said, “Many people are working all the time and have to run home how do I know that dad’s ok during the day now they can communicate all day long and it’s just a peace of mind for people.”

And Tom Ardolf of Cybermation which installs GrandCare technology said GrandCare costs much less than the alternative. Ardolf said, “Literally the cost of this system, in general, is less than one month of an assisted care facility.” With the help of an iPad camera, GrandCare also allows Thelen to watch his grandson play basketball live this past weekend. Thelen said, “When he came by the bench where my daughter was sitting he looked in the camera and he says, ‘Hi grandpa!’” Thelen said he has a bad short term memory, so the GrandCare reminders to take his meds and to eat healthy for his diabetes are invaluable. He believes he is not only healthier physically, but emotionally too.

Ardolf said GrandCare monitoring costs around $100-$120 a month. Installation averages around $3,500 which may be covered through government assistance. (Copyright 2012 by KARE. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

On Feb. 29, 2012 Deborah Delaney, CEO of Flagship Franchises of MN, Inc. joined Peter McClellan on AM1570 KYCR to discuss, Are you prepared to be a caregiver or do you yourself need some care?
They discussed how Deborah found a need in the marketplace and filled it with her natural abilities to help people. She talks about how one out of three people in America are already caregivers to their loved ones and how they can get some relief through some professional care and help.

On Christmas Eve morning in 2009, business owner Deborah Delaney was pulling the cinnamon rolls from the oven in her well-appointed Wayzata home and worrying about preparations for her guests arriving for that evening’s festivities.

At that moment, the phone rang with news that would change her life, ultimately for the better. “I want you to know that your [breast] biopsy came back as cancerous,” a nurse told Delaney. After a few moments of conversation, Delaney, a youthful 53-year-old, returned the phone to the receiver. “I’m going to die,” she thought.

“Then I composed myself and thought, ‘I have to get this thing out of me,’” Delaney she recalled in an interview last week. “Then I remembered, I’ve got all these people coming over. And my husband, Dale, sat down next to me and put his arm around me and said, ‘It’s going to be OK.’ “We told our [two] girls. And then I said, ‘Come on, we’ve got all this cooking to do.’”

In her heart, Delaney, a confident saleswoman and manager who had made more than $250,000 annually during the 1990s in the telecommunications business, was shaken by the prospect of months of treatment and her own mortality.

In January, the cancer was removed. She underwent chemotherapy and radiation over several months and got a positive prognosis: There’s a 95 percent probability that she’ll live at least another 15 years.

“I’ll take that,” she said. “I’ve got a business to run.”

In 2002, Delaney had left the telecom industry and invested more than $100,000 into launching Sarah Adult Day Services in Savage, the first Twin Cities “SarahCare” franchise. The business provides adult day and chronic-care management for about a third to half the price of a full-time nursing home. The service offers at-home care providers a break and works with clients through nurses, nursing assistants, therapists and others to help patients lead as full a life as possible.

Delaney chose SarahCare, because she had dropped out of college so that she could care for her ailing mother — while also working a full-time job. And Delaney’s market research showed that elder care was a boom market.

‘Vulnerable adult’

Her illness only increased the hard-charging Delaney’s passion for her business, her customers, their families and her staff.

“I had become a vulnerable adult,” she said. “I needed help … I get it now. I’m softer, more empathetic. People mean more to me.”

Delaney was changed by a process that began every other Thursday for several months that began with nurses filling two large syringes with cancer-killing toxins, known as “Red Devils,” after donning protective garb so they wouldn’t be burned if anything spills.

“‘Oh my God,’” Delaney recalled thinking as the needles penetrated her skin. “Your head gets loaded with a terrible weight. You’re very tired. It’s called ‘chemo brain.’ I’d be wiped out through Monday. Then I’d go to work. I’d try to hide the fear and pain. But I’d lose my memory. I couldn’t remember the names of people. Or where I put my keys, even though they were on the same corner of the desk as usual.”

Good Fortune

There also was financial stress. It took until 2008 for SarahCare to break even. Delaney had to invest more than she had projected. She refinanced her Wayzata dream house, valued at $1.2 million in 2006, to pay down business-related debt. The monthly payment rose from $3,000 to $8,000. And her husband lost his job before Delaney got sick.

Still, Delaney could not stop marveling at what she regarded as her good fortune. The love and generosity of her family, close friends and staff buoyed her spirits. She cut her CEO salary to $50,000 to save money. And she grew closer to her husband and prouder of her college-educated daughters, one of whom works at SarahCare.

The busy staff, including nursing assistants who make $12 to $14 an hour, always had time to inquire about the boss’ health and what they could do.

Even though it was expensive, Delaney was grateful that she was able to provide health insurance to employees.

“Who knows when one of them could discover cancer, have a stroke or fall and hit their head,” Delaney said. “It can happen to anyone.”

As Delaney’s health improved this year and her memory and energy returned, she and Dale made some life-enhancing decisions. They sold the expensive speedboat, gave away possessions that didn’t matter anymore and put the big house up for sale.

“I’ve got a second chance,” Delaney said. “Now, I don’t need the big house, the boat and all those things that used to mean a lot to me. I still need to make a living. But it’s more about what I can do to help others. I’m more reflective. My reward is helping struggling families.”

Delaney is calm, energetic, positive and focused.

SarahCare was featured at a booth at the IDS Center on Tuesday, November 16.  We have a great time and met a lot of people. We were at the IDS to raise awareness for caregiving and answer questions and concerns.

See you next year!

Sara

To read the article, go to: http://www.savagepacer.com/news/general-news/right-place-right-time-michelle-green-called-angel-110

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On November 2 at 2 p.m. Flagship Franchises of Minnesota Owner Deborah Delaney will discuss breast cancer and how it affects family and business

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — October 7, 2010 — We depend on our mothers to help us in every aspect of our lives but what happens when mom gets sick? Flagship Franchises Owner Deborah Delaney discovered firsthand how to manage this life-changing moment.

Delaney was shocked by the news but she did not let it control her life. Delaney had a family to care for and a business to run. Delaney runs the SarahCare Adult Day Center in Savage, Minn. The facility specializes in providing superior adult day care and home health care services to vulnerable adults.

“I knew in order for my business to survive my entire family needed to help,” said Delaney. “My daughters came to work for me as well as my husband. It was a group effort.”

Delaney will discuss her journey on The Real Mom TV web show. The program is an interactive show that discusses real issues and real solutions about women. The host is Annie Foonberg. Annie is the mother of 3 children and is very involved in breast cancer issues.

You can find more information at www.TheRealMomTV.com.

For More information about SarahCare Adult Day Services, at www.sarahcaremn.com.

About SarahCare Adult Day Services
SarahCare© is a participant-driven program developed in 1985 by internationally renowned gerontologist Dr. Merle Griff, Ph.D. in Canton, Ohio. The unique program begins with the individual and reaches outward to involve the community as a whole. SarahCare© offers unparalleled assistance to the participant’s special needs, but more importantly recognizes the uniqueness of each individual. Beyond our professional staff of nurses and specialists helping with the daily tasks of living, SarahCare© seeks to share in the richness of the individual’s personal life and actually customize the environment to stimulate the client’s senses.

Sara Lien
SarahCare Public Relations Director
952-220-5414
Sel001@msn.com

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There are 65 million caregivers in the United States. Most of them are overwhelmed, looking for compassion and someone to listen. Adult day service is the answer. The services are designed to provide social and health services to adults who need supervised care in a safe place outside the home. In addition, they give caregivers respite from the constant demands of caregiving.

“Adult Day Centers are not just a place to receive health care services,” said SarahCare Owner and CEO Deborah Delaney. “We offer a club-like atmosphere where adults can participate in social and therapeutic activities and receive personal care.”

Caregivers can be assured of competent care. In fact, SarahCare CNA and driver Michelle Green recently demonstrated the highest level of care. She was moving the SarahCare bus at the parking lot across from the facility when she drove up next to a tow truck. She saw the driver lying on the ground and he was blue in the face. She asked what happened and no one knew. She immediately performed CPR and as a result of Michelle’s efforts the tow driver survived and they are optimistic for his recovery.

“This is an example of the type of employees we believe in,” said Delaney. “We strive to be a participant in our community and we don’t hesitate to care for those around us.”

Don’t forget to remember a loved one on National Adult Day Services Week. September 19-25 is set aside to raise awareness of the availability and accessibility of adult day programs nationwide. Go to www.nadsa.org for more information.

ABOUT FLAGSHIP FRANCHISES OF MN, INC. AND SARAHCARE ADULT DAY CENTERS
Imagine a place where special loved ones can feel a sense of purpose. Where laughter is the medicine, friendship is the means and activities abound. Imagination is no longer necessary. The place is SarahCare. Our staff understands that each individual has unique impairments, health problems and needs. We specialize in meeting these needs. We are different because we are a participant-driven program. We concentrate on creating unique programs for the individual and we reach out to the community as a whole.
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Democratic-Farmer-Labor Candidate for Governor, Matt Entenza met with families and their loved one’s on July 28th to discuss Elder, Caregiver issues and the future.