Senior Helpers of Northern Michigan

Pros

• The director was friendly, delightful, and competent in her care for Mom and Dad.
• Senior Helpers is recognized as a great organization by those who have used their services.
• The care received was consistent at 3 hours a day, three days a week, providing reliable support.
• The team handled essential chores like changing bed sheets and laundering towels effectively.
• There were opportunities for extra chores to be addressed, showcasing the flexibility of the service provided.

Cons

• The caregiver who replaced the director was not very good at her job.
• She burnt pancakes for breakfast, indicating a lack of cooking skills.
• The cleaning product used on the bathroom floor made it very sticky, suggesting poor cleaning practices.
• The caregiver misplaced the bathroom rug by putting it away in the upstairs linen closet, showing a lack of attention to detail.
• There were inconsistencies in care quality after the director returned to school.

Review

In recent experiences with Senior Helpers, a home care organization, the quality of care provided to elderly clients has had its ups and downs. Throughout the summer months, two senior family members received care for three hours a day, three days a week. Initially, the service was commendable due to the presence of a delightful director who managed the care team. Her friendly demeanor and competent approach set a positive tone for both caregivers and clients alike. This experience garnered trust in her capabilities and reflected well on the organization as a whole.

However, as the summer progressed and the director returned to school, the quality of caregiving took a noticeable dip with the introduction of another caregiver. This new staff member struggled to meet expectations — an unfortunate shift that led to some disappointing moments during service visits. For instance, breakfasts provided by this caregiver included burnt pancakes, which understandably disappointed both parents and their family members. Such careless mistakes can greatly affect not only meal enjoyment but also overall satisfaction with in-home care services.

The cleaning protocols employed by this second caregiver also raised concerns among family members; she used an unfamiliar product when cleaning the bathroom floor that resulted in an excessively sticky surface rather than ensuring cleanliness. Attention to detail is crucial in maintaining hygiene standards for elderly individuals who may be more vulnerable to accidents or infections. Moreover, some disorganization occurred when everyday items were misplaced — notably when she put away a bathroom rug in an upstairs linen closet instead of returning it to its rightful spot after cleaning.

Despite these setbacks with one caregiver's performance, it is essential to highlight that Senior Helpers remains a reputable organization overall. The initial experience with the director left such a lasting impression that even amidst inconsistencies in caregiver quality, many family members have continued recommending Senior Helpers to friends who might be seeking similar support for their loved ones. This speaks volumes about how significant initial impressions are within caregiving services.

Furthermore, it's worth noting that while there were challenges during mid-summer regarding staffing continuity of high-quality care providers’ skills, specificity about tasks performed by caregivers showcases some remaining positive aspects of service delivery at Senior Helpers. The director consistently oversaw important chores such as light housekeeping duties — changing bed sheets regularly and laundering towels along with personal items demonstrated commitment towards maintaining cleanliness within clients' living spaces.

In summary, experiences shared reflect both satisfactory moments alongside instances where improvement is needed within Senior Helpers' operational parameters regarding staff training or support systems for caregivers transitioning between roles. The underlying sentiment is mixed but tempered with hopefulness about retaining high-standard services moving forward given how much faith families have shown toward their potential based on prior excellence encountered earlier during their time receiving help from dedicated staff like the original director mentioned throughout these accounts.

Parks

• Grand Traverse Veterans Memorial Park (0.1 miles)
• The Open Space (1.1 miles)
• Clinch Park (1.2 miles)
• Hull Park (1.5 miles)

Restaurants

• PepeNero (0.2 miles)
• Trattoria Stella (0.2 miles)
• Left Foot Charley (0.3 miles)
• Spanglish (0.3 miles)
• Earthen Ales (0.3 miles)
• Slabtown Burger (0.6 miles)
• Grand Traverse Pie Company (0.7 miles)

Physicians

• Cosmetic Skin & Laser Center (0.2 miles)
• Village Family Practice (0.2 miles)
• Bay Area Dermatology (0.4 miles)
• Munson Hearing Clinic (0.5 miles)
• Northwest Michigan Surgical Group PC (0.5 miles)
• Surgical Associates of Traverse City (0.5 miles)
• Northern Michigan Gastroenterology PLC (0.5 miles)

Hospitals

• Munson Medical Center (0.4 miles)
• Munson Medical Center - Outpatient Services (0.4 miles)
• Cowell Family Cancer Center (0.5 miles)
• Munson Healthcare (0.7 miles)
• Copper Ridge Surgery Center (0.9 miles)

Pharmacies

• Munson Ambulatory Pharmacy (0.4 miles)
• Good Neighbor Pharmacy (0.5 miles)
• Sixth Street Drugs (0.5 miles)
• Olesons West Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
• Walgreens (0.8 miles)
• Petertyl Drug (1 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Francis Catholic Church (0.8 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.9 miles)
• Brew (1 miles)
• Panera Bread (1.1 miles)
• Espresso Bay (1.1 miles)
• Morsels (1.3 miles)
• Aroma's Coffee & Tea (1.4 miles)

Theaters

• AMC CLASSIC Cherry Blossom 14 (1.6 miles)