With the ongoing challenges in our community stemming from COVID-19, it’s especially important to support our local food banks.

INDIANAPOLIS (PRWEB)
December 29, 2020

North America’s largest provider of plumbing and drain repair services, Roto-Rooter, is elated to announce the results of their second annual Giving Thanks Food Drive. Each year, Roto-Rooter’s work teams and individual employees nationwide compete to collect the greatest number of non-perishable goods. These items are then given to community food banks and pet shelters for distribution.

This year, Roto-Rooter offices from the Midwest region dominated several top spots in the team competition. These results are calculated based on the largest percentage of donations when weighed with their monthly job count. Together, four Midwest branches –– Buffalo (2nd), Cleveland (3rd), Indianapolis (4th), and Dayton (5th) –– collected over 1,500 donated items.

Individual technicians from Midwest branches also performed strongly. Between just three of them –– Bob Warham (2nd, Buffalo), Matt Carlson (3rd, Cleveland), and Jeff Johnson (4th, Indianapolis) –– 984 donations were collected.

“Our Indianapolis office was once again delighted to be a part of this holiday tradition. With the ongoing challenges in our community stemming from COVID-19, it’s especially important to support our local food banks.”, says Hal Glenn, General Manager. “We are very grateful to all of our customers who donated generously this year.”

Top collectors from the Indianapolis branch were Jeff Johnson with 262 items and Vala Bochung with 178 items.

Nationwide, Roto-Rooter’s Providence, RI branch and El Paso, TX contractor location collected the largest percentages of donations. Roto-Rooter’s corporate headquarters also collected their fair share, bringing in 2,013 items.

Overall, Roto-Rooter teams and individuals collected 52,630 food items, which is 9,000 more cans than last year. To give some additional perspective, this equates to over 49,000 pounds or 24.5 tons of food. This is enough to feed more than 24 adults 3 full meals a day for an entire year.

Since the beginning of the food drive last year, Roto-Rooter has collected more than 96,916 items for local food banks and pet shelters. That amounts to 97,000 pounds (48.5 tons) of food!

To learn more about Roto-Rooter’s Giving Thanks Food Drive, visit https://www.rotorooter.com/fooddrive/.

For professional drain and plumbing assistance, call 1-800-GET-ROTO or go to https://www.rotorooter.com/.

About Roto-Rooter:

Roto-Rooter was established in 1935 and is the largest provider of plumbing repair and sewer & drain cleaning services in North America. Roto-Rooter also provides water damage cleanup services in most of its locations. It operates businesses in 130 company-owned territories and approximately 400 franchise territories, serving approximately 91% of the U.S. population and 40% of the Canadian population. Roto-Rooter also has licensed master franchises in the republics of Indonesia and Singapore, and the Philippines. For more information about Roto-Rooter, please visit https://www.rotorooter.com/.

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While the holidays are a time for joy and celebration, for many it can intensify feelings of loneliness, grief and sorrow. Check on the older adults in your life and remind them they are not alone this season.

OMAHA, Neb. (PRWEB)
December 28, 2020

This time of year is one to reflect on the past and look toward the future with anticipation and excitement. However, reflection can also spur and magnify feelings of grief and loss – especially for older adults who feel isolated or remember loved ones who have passed away. What’s more, the pandemic and its effects may increase feelings of grief, isolation and loneliness in older adults this year, which can impact both physical and mental health. According to a recent AARP report, more than 50% of adults surveyed said if social distancing guidelines remain in place over the winter holidays, this will increase the negative impact on their well-being.

Whether you are a family caregiver or have a special senior in your life, it is important to understand ways to help cope with grief while still enjoying the season.

“The holiday season can be overwhelming. It takes an emotional toll on older adults and creates obstacles for caregivers, friends and family to navigate, especially if they’ve recently lost a loved one. In those cases, special occasions can be particularly grueling,” said Lakelyn Hogan, Ph.D., gerontologist and caregiver advocate at Home Instead. “It is crucial that family and friends step in to help seniors process their emotions. Whether it be lighting a candle in someone’s memory, going through old photo albums to share happy stories or dancing to their favorite song – there are thoughtful ways to remember those who are no longer here.”

The holidays often bring back memories of a lost spouse, sibling or friend, and that can be especially painful for older adults. Hogan says friends and family can help seniors enjoy the time with those around them and offers these tips to help seniors navigate feelings of grief and loneliness.

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  1. Acknowledge and adjust. This time of year does not have to be all joy, all the time. It is perfectly acceptable to allow sadness in – particularly after losing someone special. Grief can be a complicated emotion. Encourage older adults to grieve in whatever way feels natural to them.
• 2. Honor the memories. Set aside time to help older adults memorialize the person who has died. While some find comfort in keeping their usual holiday traditions, others may struggle. Whether it’s carrying on a tradition previously done together or creating a new one in their memory, it is important to create a space for seniors to reminisce. By making the time, older adults can keep a piece of their loved one during this meaningful time of year.
• 3. Allow them space to heal. Grief is not a linear process. It takes time to fully grasp the magnitude of losing someone. Allow your loved one time to process what they are feeling and space to begin healing. When they are ready to open up, be there to listen, provide comfort and support. If appropriate, encourage them to join a support group to talk to others who have also experienced loss.
• 4. Create new goals. For many, the best way to honor a deceased loved one is to live life to the fullest. Set an actionable resolution for the new year to embrace all life has to offer and focus on the good. Whenever you experience joy, think of it as a gift sent from the person you love and embrace it as if you were embracing them once again.
• 5. Enlist professional help. If an older adult has lost a loved one and is experiencing overwhelming and unmanageable grief, reach out to a mental health professional for coping strategies and resources. Also consider in-home care services. This would not only provide your loved one with help around the house, but someone to interact with and talk to regularly.

While the holidays are a time for joy and celebration, for many it can intensify feelings of loneliness, grief and sorrow. Check on the older adults in your life and remind them they are not alone this season. For more information on how to support seniors during the holidays, visit https://www.caregiverstress.com/senior-activities/holidays/.

ABOUT HOME INSTEAD

Founded in 1994 in Omaha, Nebraska, the Home Instead® franchise network provides personalized care, support and education to enhance the lives of aging adults and their families. Today, the network is the world’s leading provider of in-home care services for older adults, with more than 1,200 independently owned and operated franchises that provide more than 80 million hours of care annually throughout the United States and 13 other countries. Local Home Instead offices employ approximately 90,000 CAREGivers℠ worldwide who provide basic support services that enable older adults to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible. Home Instead franchise owners partner with clients and their family members to help meet varied individual needs. Services span the care continuum – from providing personal care to specialized Alzheimer’s care and hospice support. Also available are family caregiver education and support resources. Visit HomeInstead.com. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

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This time of year is about making memories and cherishing the time we have with one another. By planning ahead, being flexible and finding ways to minimize feelings of stress, caregivers can look forward to holiday festivities instead of dreading them.

OMAHA, Neb. (PRWEB)
December 21, 2020

The holiday season is officially upon us, marking that special time of year filled with family festivities, gift giving and time off from work. However, for those acting as a family caregiver, the season of peace and joy can be a stressful time that disrupts daily routines. This year, with the ongoing presence of COVID-19, holiday stress and caregiving duties may reach a new level. And as families plan to celebrate differently, caregivers must consider the health and safety of their senior loved ones, while ensuring they feel included this season.

Managing caregiving duties on top of outside stressors – such as holiday shopping, decorating and connecting with family members – can take a physical and emotional toll on caregivers. According to a survey from AARP, nearly seven in 10 caregivers say it is emotionally stressful to care for their loved one during the holiday season. Even more, over 85% of caregivers plan to make at least one holiday-related change or adjustment to their typical routine in order to accommodate for their caregiving duties.

“This time of year can be an overwhelming time for anyone, but adding caregiving responsibilities to an already long list of activities that may include children at home, demanding work situations, and now concerns around COVID-19, this year can be particularly challenging,” said Lakelyn Hogan, Ph.D., gerontologist and caregiver advocate at Home Instead. “It’s imperative that caregivers know there are things they can do to lower stress while amplifying the holiday spirit.”

This season will most likely not look like what we would prefer. With social distancing and virtual celebrations, the holiday stressors caregivers deal with are still there and may be amplified this year. It’s important to not only find ways to mitigate this stress but to also enjoy the season.

Hogan suggests the following tips for caregivers who are feeling anxious about the holidays this year:

• 1. Take care of yourself. As caregivers, it can be easy to get caught up in a flurry of holiday duties on top of day-to-day caregiving responsibilities. Make time for yourself, take a breather and find ways to recharge. This could include going for a walk, watching a holiday movie or enjoying some festive treats.
• 2. Be flexible. This season can be jam-packed with personal and religious commitments, which can be a lot of responsibility for family caregivers to take on in a few short weeks. This year, embrace the smaller or cancelled commitments and view this time as an opportunity to slow down and eliminate some responsibility. To further help minimize the number of demanding situations, make a list of responsibilities that are important to continue, adapt or let go.
• 3. Make safe choices. Once you have identified your top priorities, plan on how you can meet these expectations safely and responsibly, whether that is hosting a virtual family gathering, contact-free gift delivery, or spending the holidays quietly at home. Consider reviewing the CDC’ s latest guidelines when deciding how to celebrate this year.
• 4. Connect with other caregivers. Caregivers experience many of the same emotions and challenges. There are Facebook groups specially designed for family caregivers that offer a support system of others who can share best practices and inspiration for the holiday season.
• 5. Be resourceful. If you are feeling too overwhelmed, this may be the time to reach out for extra help. Ask family or friends if they are available to assist in caring for your loved one or take advantage of professional in-home senior care services.

This time of year is about making memories and cherishing the time we have with one another. By planning ahead, being flexible and finding ways to minimize feelings of stress, caregivers can look forward to holiday festivities instead of dreading them.

For more helpful tips and information on how to avoid stress and enjoy the season, visit http://www.caregiverstress.com/stress-management/family-caregiver-stress/.

ABOUT HOME INSTEAD

Founded in 1994 in Omaha, Nebraska, the Home Instead® franchise network provides personalized care, support and education to enhance the lives of aging adults and their families. Today, the network is the world’s leading provider of in-home care services for older adults, with more than 1,200 independently owned and operated franchises that provide more than 80 million hours of care annually throughout the United States and 13 other countries. Local Home Instead offices employ approximately 90,000 CAREGivers℠ worldwide who provide basic support services that enable older adults to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible. Home Instead franchise owners partner with clients and their family members to help meet varied individual needs. Services span the care continuum – from providing personal care to specialized Alzheimer’s care and hospice support. Also available are family caregiver education and support resources. Visit HomeInstead.com. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

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