tender loving family care

Here's a news release from Tender Loving Family Care.

Tender Loving Family Care (TLFC), a local care provider with offices in Brockport and Batavia, is donating 100 hours of services to members of the community that may need care this holiday season.

TLFC, which is owned and operated by Anikka and David D’Andrea, is also encouraging caregivers and family members of elderly residents to be on the lookout for signs of depression in seniors during the holidays.

According to the National Institutes of Health, of the 35 million Americans age 65 or older, about 2 million suffer from full-blown depression. Another 5 million suffer from less severe forms of the illness. This represents about 20 percent of the senior population.

Depression in the elderly is difficult to diagnose and is frequently untreated. The symptoms may be confused with a medical illness, dementia, or malnutrition due to a poor diet. Many older people will not accept the idea that they have depression and refuse to seek treatment.

If you are a caregiver for an elderly loved one, you may notice a change in your loved one's mood as the holidays approach. Perhaps you are one of many, who visit elderly parents and family during the holidays who live a distance away. When you visit you may notice that loved ones are not as physically active, or they show symptoms of fatigue or sadness and have no interest in the holiday or in their surroundings.

You can help by recognizing the signs of depression and getting seniors out and about.  Invite them to do things with you such as helping with holiday tasks and encourage them to talk with their healthcare provider if you are concerned about them.

Keeping with the theme of volunteering and giving during the holiday season, TLFC is offering free service to help individuals that will be home alone, in the hospital or a rehabilitation facility during the holidays. TLFC, which provides affordable, comprehensive, non-medical care services, will make 100 hours of service available to those in need.

According to President and CEO Anikka D’Andrea, the goal is to help those in need while calling attention to the special needs of seniors.

“We have a large aging population that needs special attention and the care is often provided by family members that already have a number of responsibilities,” D’Andrea said. “We are here to help them and offer them a break from demands of care giving.”

To find out more about TLFC or to suggest someone that could benefit from free care, please call 637-0333.