Homewatch CareGivers Partners with DCS Accounting and Tax Services to Provide Daily Money Management
Homewatch CareGivers, a leader in the in-home care industry, has signed on Maria Smith of DCS Accounting and Tax Services to provide Daily Money Management services for their clients.
Vulnerable adults who are suffering from physical or cognitive decline can run into trouble with managing their daily financial obligations. Unpaid bills and checks left un-deposited can have far reaching consequences such as utilities being cut off, losing their home to eviction or bank foreclosure or even financial exploitation.
“We are dedicated to keeping our clients safely in their homes,” said Belinda Gordon, CSA president of Homewatch CareGivers of the Lehigh Valley. “We know that the inability to take care of everyday finances can lead to abuse or placement into a facility. Our partnership with DCS Accounting will enable us to provide our clients another layer of security and help keep them at home longer.”
Maria Smith, BS is co-owner of DSC Accounting and Tax Services. Her degree is in Rehabilitative Services concentrating in Social Work. She has experience in the social work, public health administration and bookkeeping arenas including eleven years working in a nursing home predominantly with seniors. DCS Accounting & Tax Services is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and PA Institute of CPAs.
“Maria’s background gives her a unique advantage when working with our clientele,” Gordon said. “So, we are proud to partner with her and DCS Accounting.”
Homewatch CareGivers of the Lehigh Valley provides professional, in-home care to people of all ages with various levels of needed care. The company’s care givers are continuously trained and always triple-screened. Recent studies have shown that people who receive care in their homes recover quicker or extend their livelihoods because of the comfort, confidence and peace of mind that companies like Homewatch CareGivers of the Lehigh Valley offer them.
For more information, contact Belinda Gordon at 610-882-2477 or visit the Web site at www.homewatchcaregivers.com/lehighvalley.
About Homewatch CareGivers
Homewatch CareGivers has been providing in-home care services for over 30 years with the highest level of integrity, efficiency and quality. Our clientele includes not only the rapidly expanding senior population, but also special needs youth and adults, expectant and new mothers, and people of all ages recovering from illness, surgery or accidents. Our franchise owners provide the widest array of care services in the industry, including companion care, personal care, minor medical services, staffing, and case management.
Don’t Let Your Loved One Fall Without the Ability to Call For Help!
More than one-third of adults 65 and older fall each year in the United States, and you never know when and where emergencies might happen. CareLink MobileHelp keeps you connected to a live monitoring center regardless of your location*.
The #1 question people ask when shopping for a personal emergency response is…How far does the button work from my home?
CareLink MobileHelp: The Anywhere Help Button
CareLink MobileHelp has the answer you’re looking for…”Nationwide”.
CareLink MobileHelp allows you to summon emergency help 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by simply pressing your own Personal Help Button. Unlike traditional medical alert systems that only work inside the home, MobileHelp also enables you to participate in activities that you enjoy outside of your home, such as gardening, taking walks, shopping and traveling, all with the peace of mind of having a medical alert system with you at all times.
CareLink MobileHelp Features:
- Mobile Device featuring simple one-button operation
- Nationwide coverage on the AT&T network (service included)
- Amplified two-way voice communication with live operator
- Location detection by GPS satellite
- Monitored 24/7/365 Emergency Response Center
- CareLink MobileHelp package also come with in home base station and waterproof pendant help button giving you the same coverage as traditional medical alert systems.
How it Works:
- Press your pendant or portable emergency button.
- Your information and location are sent to the CareLink MobileHelp Response Center.
- Personal Response Associate establishes 2-way communication and assesses situation.
- Associate contacts a neighbor, family member or emergency services based on specific need.
CareLink MobileHelp is a simple and affordable solution to many problems:
Slip and fall accidents, medical emergencies including heart attack and stroke, security and fire concerns, and locating a loved-one…. These are just some of the reasons why people rely on CareLink MobileHelp for peace-of-mind and rapid access to care.
With CareLink MobileHelp, there’s virtually no limit to your help button’s range. With CareLink MobileHelp, you can enjoy life to the fullest in your home and have the freedom to continue participating in the activities that you enjoy outside your home, knowing that you are always accompanied by a highly efficient medical alert system.
Contact us to learn more.
Homwatch CareGivers of the Lehigh Valley/Poconos
3864 Adler Place, suite 300
Bethlehem, PA 18017
Phone: 610-882-2477 or 570-223-0399
*Service availability and access/coverage on the AT&T network is not available everywhere and at all times. Current GPS location may not always be available in every situation.
We’re Moving Our Lehigh Valley Office
It’s official! We are s
tarting the New Year in a new office. The new space is at 3864 Adler Place in Bethlehem, off of Route 512 close to Route 22, just three miles from our current office.
This move is long overdue. If you have been in the Lehigh Valley office lately you will undoubtedly have noticed how crowded it has become. We appreciate everyone’s patience with the close quarters, especially the office staff who are most affected by the situation.
Our new location is nearly double the size of our current office. We will have plenty of space, not only for everyone to be comfortable while working but also for training new caregivers and having caregivers in for group meetings and In-services.
We will continue to keep everyone posted on the progress of the move, including an official move in date, as the information become available.
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Employee Spotlight: Nurse Megan
Megan at current office 2010
We are pleased and proud to recognize our RN Supervisor, Megan Principato, who since November 10th has officially been with Homewatch CareGivers of the Lehigh Valley for seven years. Megan- affectionately known as Nurse Megan by her clients and coworkers alike-was our first RN on Staff.
As the RN on Staff Megan went into our client’s homes to create their Care Plans, made Quality Assurance visits and generally made sure the care being provided by our caregivers was appropriate to the client’s needs. She was the ‘ears and eyes in the field’ of the management team. But she also listened to their stories, learned about their families and really got to know each and every one of them. In many cases she can even tell you the names of their pets!
“The first thing you notice about Megan,” said Belinda Gordon, owner of Homewatch CareGivers of the Lehigh Valley “It her bight cheery personality and how much she truly cares for all of her clients. We feel truly lucky to have such a loyal caring person as part of our team.”
Megan, as our RN Supervisor, rarely goes out to visit with clients these days. Her main responsibilities revolve around following up on caregiver concerns, supervising QA visits and caregiver education including utilizing the Homewatch CareGivers University.
Megan’s clients have great things to say about her. Here is a small sampling of what they have told us:
“She is so kind, compassionate, and pretty. She touched my heart from the moment I met her.” -J. N.
“She’s the best nurse I’ve ever had!” – L.F.
”I think she is a very special woman, she knows how to listen to me. She is caring, loving and always there for me when I need her.” -P.M.
“Nurse Megan is always cheerful and funny. She can take a good joke and she is down to earth. And I love her BMW. LOL” -JB B.
Congratulations Megan on seven years of outstanding service at Homewatch CareGivers!
Megan's first In-service 2003
Megan in our original office 2003
Family Caregiver of the Year 2010 Local Results!
Homewatch CareGivers of the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos is pleased to announce our local winner of this year’s Family Caregiver of the Year Award.
Our Winner!
Mary Beth Hines of Bethlehem: nominated by Peter Paul Sondova
Mary Beth Hines, 56, is a RN previously employed at Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest. When her father Bill Hines had open-heart surgery, Mary Beth Hines reduced her hours to part-time so she could care for her father and her mother, Margaret Hines, who had developed Alzheimer’s. Eventually Mary Beth Hines had to quit her job altogether in order to care for her parents.
Mary Beth Hines’ father passed away three years ago, but she continues to take care of her mother who is now bed bound and suffering from Alzheimer’s, Diabetes and Arthritis. Neighbor Peter Paul Sondova, who nominated Hines, said, “she owns nothing but love and caring for other people. She even calls me to make sure I am well when I am ill.”
Like her mother, Mary Beth Hines has diabetes, which she works hard to contain so as not to interfere with the care she provides for her mother. Margaret Hines, because of the severity of her Alzheimer’s is bed ridden, which makes her daughter’s job all that more difficult. Given the challenges facing Mary Beth Hines, one would not be surprised if she sought outside assistance. However, according to Sondova, “Margie at the present is watched, prayed for and well taken care of by her daughter.”
Before becoming a full-time caregiver to her parents Mary Beth did community service as a healthcare worker. Caring for her mother has, “given her life purpose and taught her to look at life from a different angle.” She says she hopes to one day return to community service and share what she has learned with others.
Honorable Mentions:
Susie Chiriano of Macungie: nominated by Patty Gatter
Susie took care of her mother, Doreen Allen, from 2000 through 2010. She built an addition to her home for her mother to live in and took care of all her needs. Sadly Susie’s mother passed away in July, after Patty made this nomination. Our condolences go out to all of Mrs. Allen’s family and friends.
Donna Hoffman of Bethlehem: nominated by Carolyn Heft
Doris has been taking care of her mother, Doris Heft, for over ten years. She keeps Doris’ home clean, does her grocery shopping and laundry and takes her to doctors appointments, to name just a few of the things she does regularly for her mother.