As I indicated by voice mail on Friday, I am very pleased with the prompt service I have received from Youthful Aging.

I first called them around 2:30 PM on Friday to set up home care for my mother. I expected to have to wait until Monday before anyone could come. They arranged for someone to come to my mother’s home Saturday morning and Sunday morning, as well as each day next week. Given the short notice, I’m very impressed!

I think it was Sue that first took my call. Later on Friday, Kelly called me back to tell me that they would have someone come Saturday, Sunday and each day next week.

Sandy Elliott is the caregiver that came Saturday and Sunday. My mom likes Sandy very much. Jean Abel is the person coming Monday. I expect she’s as nice as Sandy.

Please tell the appropriate people at Youthful Aging that I am very pleased with the attention we’ve received.

Also, they may like to know that Youthful Aging was recommended by the person that sold my mom her home health care policy.

-Ron

Nicci we mentioned you in my Moms service………..you touched my mom, Dad, and family! You are a special person. You have a very difficult job and you practice your craft with grace and with tremendous expertise. Thank you!

I’m thanking you for the privilege of caring for Naomi over the past few months. She was truly a special person, mother and wife. She will be missed forever.

I understand (although one never really does) the anguish you went thru in wanting to do the very best for her. I only pray that in time, you will each find your peace. I intimately understand the inadequacies of the medical system, and each of us can refer to an episode and ask…”what if”. However, as children thinking about our parents…regardless of the circumstances, whatever we have done, whatever we continue to do, it’s never enough. It won’t change the fact that we cannot keep them alive, not forever. Our efforts only emphasize the truth that we and they must “live” every day that we have.

My thoughts and prayers as you grieve your tremendous loss.

-Nicci

Nicci,

Just wanted you to know that the trip to Pittsfield went well, and within half an hour of arrival, Mom, Dad and Dina were all hanging out at the annual “summer welcome” neighborhood cocktail party greeting old friends and neighbors. Everyone is very happy, especially my father who, frankly, thought he’d never see this day. Thanks for all you’ve done to make this possible, Nicci.

All the best,

Larry

Nicci,

I am Maxine Christie’s daughter and am writing to let you know how pleased both my brother David, and I, are with the care being provided for Mom.

In May of this year, we were faced with the dilemma of Mom being unable to take care of herself due to a sudden onset of illnesses…with my brother and I both halfway across the country, it was very difficult to decide how to give Mom the care that she deserved and yet provide us with the ability to maintain our responsibilities at our home. It seemed as though things were supposed to happen as they did, because we ended up with the number for Youthful Aging…and as it turned out, another of your agencies had provided care for my father a couple of years prior to this.

Through a series of phone calls and interviews with Eileen and Sue, we were fortunate enough to obtain the services of Penny Williams. I can’t say enough about Penny…her caring, her sense of responsibility, her willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty, and her bond with Mom makes her a unique individual. Penny is so terrific, and so caring…she has given us all the true gift of peace of mind, knowing that Mom is being very well cared for in a tough situation where we can’t be there every day to look over her. Her attitude and professionalism has far exceeded all of our expectations of a caregiver, and we consider ourselves fortunate to have her with Mom.

We have told Penny over and over again how fortunate we feel that she is there…but I wanted to let you know also what a wonderful person she is, and what a terrific job she does.

Thank you.

Cheryl

Dear Nicci,

A quick note to thank you kindly for the sincere hard work with my mother’s case in Sarasota over the holiday. Your genuine interest and Ina’s attention and compassion helped us to make it through an uncomfortable situation. I know you went over and above the call of duty to assist us and accomplish satisfying our needs on Thanksgiving.

What a pleasure to know others work is so dependable and professional. From the equipment to the staff we were greatly served and I thank you. My mother was pleased with Ina, and her desire to assist us was enormous. She gave us her best effort and we thank her too.

Wishing you a Happy Holiday Season. I hope to meet you on my next trip down to Sarasota. Should you visit the Tampa, St. Pete area, please don’t hesitate to call me. Nicci-again thank you from all of us!

Sincerely,

Susan

Dear Ms. Kobritz:

As you know, our beloved Rabbi, unfortunately, died March 26 in the presence of his children. I cannot thank you adequately in this letter for ensuring that Rabbi had the care to be able to remain at home as he desired. We extend thanks to you, your staff, and most-particularly the assigned daytime homecare aide, Lucy Koro. I truly believe that without Lucy, Rabbi would not have received 3 months of such dedicated, quality and loving care.

When I partnered with Rabbi in late October of 2004, I could not have envisioned the security and quality of one committed caregiver for the entire last 90 days of his life. Fortunately, the Jewish Family & Children’s Service recommended Youthful Aging and gave us that gift: Ms. Lucy Koro.

Lucy approached each and every day with a joyful presence and a total view of not only what her client needed that day, but also what he might need and what would make his quality of life better. Lucy is unique in so many ways. She brings an “olde-world” charm (a family feel) to her daily professional duties. To me, this offers a special level of comfort for all around her and should especially give peace to those concerned from a distance.

Lucy’s experience and personal attributes (personality, values, honesty, and work ethic) offer a professional above all. She adds a skill of astute observations and willingness to look outside the box – both anticipating and concisely communicating critical concerns – giving the client, overseers and family, and added opportunity to feel confident about the client’s care, safety, and overall well-being.

Lucy is an excellent “team player.” For Rabbi, she often had to balance his personal needs and desires with those of so many other parties, such as your company management, Hospice care manager, nurse/doctors, and in this case, me – a client’s “overseer locally” (in my case – with a very strong presence and voice). Also, in the Rabbi’s case: there were very interested and involved out-of-town family members and a lot of close friends.

Lucy deserves accolades and applauds. She dealt exceedingly well with so many varied personalities and perspectives – ALL whom themselves are dealing with severe stress and differing interests. She really was a class act!

We were so fortunate that Lucy was committed to Rabbi from day #1 – He was “her Rabbi” and #1 in her own life commitments for the whole 90 days! I know it was her pleasure: she worked longer and practically 7 days a week for her honored client.

Lucy thought of ways to keep busy when he was not very ill at first and actually far from ready to have home care. Later, she tactfully and quietly found ways to please him and ways to make him more comfortable – both with her presence and when she sensed a need for her increasing very intimate assistance in light of his growing incapacity. She succeeded in gaining his confidences and trust (without her or his ever discussing it).

I was there regularly and I both observed and overheard. When I was not present, Lucy would keep me apprised through phone calls and messages on my answer machine. We were both readily accessible to each other for the Rabbi. I will never forget many critical times that showed-up the true caliber of this very special woman and out partner in care:

- The day the Rabbi was picked up at 11:45AM and taken to one of his weekly study groups at his Temple (a commitment he was unwilling to miss no matter his condition.) I found Lucy’s message when I returned home at approximately 1:15PM: “Rabbi is so weak, he can barely walk…uneasy on his feet, I’m worried for his safety and health.” I trusted her instinct and the alert – I called his doctor’s office and drove immediately to the Temple where I observed Rabbi and took his to the Hospital Emergency Room as instructed by the nurse. (Rabbi needed medical support and remained overnight for care.)
- Rabbi had outpatient surgery to have a “port” installed. Upon return home, Lucy and I made a joint decision that we had an emergency condition – bleeding from the surgical area – and our unified effort of care, attempts to stop the bleeding, and an hour of phone calls back and forth to the surgeon’s nurse, ultimately, took Rabbi and both of us back to the Hospital unexpected Emergency Room care which brought the surgeon to his side to re-stitch. Lucy would not leave until Rabbi was admitted for observation overnight.
- During her last week with Rabbi – Lucy was awesome in everything she did and could do – from stroke assistance to sitting beside him for immediate responsiveness!

I hope you will provide a copy of this letter to our Lucy and place it in her personnel file. I want you and Lucy to know how much I totally respect and will be forever grateful to her – personally (and on behalf of our Rabbi). Also, I appreciate Youthful Aging and recommend it to everyone with whom I speak – thank you for providing excellent support and for giving us our connection to Lucy.

Sincerely,

Carol
Friend/Health Advocate/Administrative Aid

To Whom It May Concern:

Subject: Letter of Recommendation Regarding YOUTHFUL AGING HOME HEALTH

Youthful Aging Home Health has provided care to my mother at Village on The Isle Nursing Home since 1999.

Under the leadership of Nicci Kobritz and her fine staff, Youthful Aging have given my mother the finest care I could ask for. They not only provide a service, but do so in such a caring way that you would believe it was their own mother or sister they were looking after.

Youthful Aging worked as part of a multi-part care team composed of Village on the Isle, Medical Providers, and my family in a very co-operative fashion. They were always ready to advise me of issues of which I should be aware and were very strong from a communications standpoint.

I recommend them highly.

Sincerely,

Donald