A larger training area, and improved privacy for caregiver/client discussions are just some of the perks of the new location of Comfort Keepers, 672 Miami St., Suite D.
The company, which opened in Tiffin in 2004 specializing in non-medical caregiving for seniors, moved to the new location in April from 2457 W. Market St. Gary Neisler, co-owner with his wife, Lennis, said the owner of the office complex, Bill Arnold, helped them plan and create the building to their needs.
The configuration of the office space allows privacy, for meetings to discuss client issues, and easy access to office equipment. In addition there are employee meeting/break rooms. More important, according to Neisler, the new space allows for a larger, dedicated training room that allows 30 caregivers to be trained at a time.
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PHOTO?BY?CATHY?WILLOUGHBY
Two care givers receive training in the new Comfort Keepers office location.
"This office is about training," Neisler said. "This office gives us room, that even though our caregivers were trained once, they can be completely re-trained to incorporate the information about interactive caretaking."
Interactive caretaking always has been part of Comfort Keepers philosophy and practice, yet now it is infused within the caregivers' responsibilities, and more recently supported through materials and training methods.
"We've introduced a survey of interactive caretaking,'' Neisler said. "This is so we can see what's important to the clients. Some of our caregivers do it naturally. They talk about things that matter to them, not just conversation, but things that matter to them. It's about engaging them."
Fact Box
For more information about Comfort Keepers, individuals can call the local office at (419) 443-1044 or visit the website at www.comfortkeepers.com.
Comfort Keepers has 600 offices nationwide, with Tiffin's recently honored as among the top 25 offices in the company. The local office serves clients who reside in Seneca, Wyandot, Crawford, Hancock and Huron counties, employing 85 caregivers. Caregivers work flexible hours to offer non-medical care with the goal of allowing seniors to stay in their homes.
Additional policies that have been reinforced are a zero-tolerance drug policy, background checks annually and random drug testing. Its system is supported by a caretaking log-in system that is tracked by two care coordinators. Once the caregiver calls in upon arriving at the client's home, the time rolls to the invoicing process, resulting in reliability and savings.
"We believe this is what care is all about, and always has been," Neisler said of the company's philosophy.
