Quincy, MA home care agency leader will offer free phone consultations to family caregivers during November – National Family Caregivers Month

Quincy, MA, November 1, 2016 – While more than 850,000 Massachusetts residents take on the responsibility of caring for an elderly or disabled loved one, they may not immediately label themselves as family caregivers. Not strongly identifying oneself in this role may delay the search for guidance. And not getting advice and support puts the health and well-being of both the loved one and the caregiver, at risk.

“We see it all the time: a family member is helping their mom, dad, grandparent, or family member remain in their home. They’re managing the situation OK. Then, suddenly, this person is unable to drive, or experiences a fall and breaks their hip, or is diagnosed with a chronic or incurable cancer, or develops dementia or Alzheimer’s, or loses a spouse,” explains Best of Care Inc. President and COO Kevin Smith. “From that point on, the caregiver’s time commitment and stress level climb exponentially.”

Smith knows that many caregivers are not ready (or have the financial resources) to bring a professional home care aide into their loved ones’ home. He understands that many times, family caregivers simply need to talk with an experienced home care expert to sort through their caregiving issues, connect with resources they may not be aware of and make the best decisions for their family’s situation.

That’s why this November – designated annually as National Family Caregivers Month – Smith is offering no-cost phone or email consultations with Massachusetts families who want to discuss their caregiving dilemmas.

Families may call Smith directly from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at (617) 845-5342 or email kevin@bestofcareinc.com to set up a call.

Smith’s home care expertise comes from his leadership of the Quincy-based 35-year-old, 300-plus employee home care agency founded by his father, Stephen, in 1981. Kevin’s empathy for caregivers also stems from his family’s caring for his grandparents at the end of their lives. “All of us, but especially my mom, my dad, and my aunts dedicated countless hours to caring for them while running businesses, working in demanding healthcare careers, and managing their own personal and family responsibilities. I can help families think through their loved one’s needs, connect them to resources and manage their loved one’s plan of care. I can also help them think about ways they may address family dynamics and juggle their other obligations, issues that can help or hinder the loved one receiving support.”

Caregiving families in Massachusetts may also turn to the Massachusetts Office of Elder Affairs’ caregiver support page (http://www.mass.gov/elders/caregiver-support/) and home care page (http://www.mass.gov/elders/homecare/). On a national level, The National Family Caregivers Association (http://caregiveraction.org/) offers numerous resources for family caregivers, including tips and a comprehensive national list of home care agencies and organizations.

About Best of Care

Best of Care has delivered concierge-level home care services in eastern Massachusetts since 1981. Owned and managed by Kevin and Stephen Smith, Best of Care was one of the first agencies in Massachusetts to earn its accreditation from the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts. Best of Care provides an extensive array of home health care services in 115 towns in Greater Boston, South Shore and Cape Cod communities with offices in Quincy, Raynham, Dennis, and Martha’s Vineyard. Services include personal care services, homemakers and companions, hospice care, nursing care management and specialty services as they relate to dementia, psychiatric and acquired brain injury care. Best of Care Inc. was named a 2014 Family Business of the Year finalist by the Family Business Association of Massachusetts. President and COO Kevin Smith is the Vice President of the Massachusetts Council for Home Care Aides.