Home Instead Senior Care
Hunterdon County/Warren County

From Leslie of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania...

Dear Tracy, Chaz, Joan, Denise, Joe and any other people whose names escape me at the moment that had dealings with my father.  

Words can't adequately express how much gratitude I feel for each and every one of you for the love that you have shown my father. You took the lowest point of his life when he had to leave my mother and showed him that his life could be full again. He was content and happy even though he missed her dearly. His last years were full of laughter, friendship, good food, and love. His home was well taken care of and all of his needs were met. Any problem that would come up was dealt with. You became his second family. Because of you he lived a full life right to his last day and he was able to die in his own home, in his own bed, as he always wanted to do. What a gift.

Your attention to every detail allowed me to focus on my mother, again, what a gift as I really couldn't have managed both. I hope you truly appreciate how grateful I am that this is not a job to all of you but a much needed vocation.

From Lynn of Washington...

Thank you for sending Christopher to me. We became very good friends. He was the most faithful, considerate person. I enjoyed his company.  

I cannot thank you enough for recommending him to come to stay with my Mother. It was such a relief knowing he was here with her. I loved his sense of humor and his genuine compassion for my Mom. I work at M&M Mars and he loves chocolate so we made the perfect pair! I purposely said good bye to him over the phone because I knew I would cry if I said good bye in person.

In a short period of time, he became a part of our family.

From Frank of Hackettstown...

It will be two years next month that we have used Home Instead for my mom after her fall in April 2010. I could not have scripted it any better. The service that you have provided for my family has been nothing short of tremendous. Every time I have called with a request for some additional service or a change in some particular service, you have been there to abide by our request and it has always been with such a courteous response.  

Your company motto of “to us, it’s personal” is absolutely so true.

My mom’s regular care givers: Lorry, Betty, and Carol are truly three special individuals. They are wonderful with my mom and dad. We have been blessed to have such wonderful individuals take care of my parents in these difficult times as they become more limited in their activities. I know mom and dad have had some additional individuals since the increase in hours (Sally, Beverly, Debbie) and they have been pleased with these individuals. Lucy has been extremely helpful in the past two years. Further, the way Lucy and Lorry handled the situation with my dad’s fall was simply extraordinary.

I feel like it is family when I call your office and in particular, when I speak to either one of you. You have been incredible in how you have handled every situation I have thrown at you over the past two years.

From Kathleen of Hawke Pointe...

After an auto accident I needed temporary help with transportation, chores and errands. I called Home Instead to see if they could help me out, and it worked out beautifully. The staff was so friendly, helpful and companionable. I would recommended Home Instead to anyone!

From Gwen and Orr from Phillipsburg...

Thank you so much for your helping hand. You have made our life so much easier. We would be completely lost without you. God bless all of you for caring.

From Lenee O'Neill of Hackettstown...

We are extremely pleased with Helen. We feel very blessed to have her as a caregiver for mom. Helen is attentive, caring, thoughtful, creative and extremely encouraging with mom. My mother looks forward to her visits very much. Tracy, I love the Home Instead daily diary. It works beautifully and tells the story of a developing relationship, and, it's an eye-opener to us, the family. I don't have to tell you that it's easy to neglect the "companionship" aspect of taking care of an 89 year old parent 24/7.

We are very happy with our collective Home Instead experience, Tracy. Thank you (and Helen) for caring so much!

Very Sincerely,
Lenee O'Neill

From an anonymous friend,

I never expected such a lovely bag of gifts. It made my day to see Santa and his elves. Thank you so much for such a lovely thing it really made my Christmas.

From Margaret,

I wish to than you for your surprise and thoughtfulness. It felt so good to have someone you don’t know think of you. It did my heart “good” Thank you so much.

From Linda in Washington,

I want to thank you so much for your generosity with your company even though I'm not a client. It's been very hard for us with my illness and now my mother-in-law is living with us and she has needs also. We're trying to get help for her through government means now and possibly will have to get outside help. I will surely think of your organization if we need this type of help.

Santa Clause and his helpers was a real treat and believe it or not they were the only presents I got for Christmas. I'm glad I was able to change the jogging suit to something useful. I didn't have a robe to wear and this one is so soft I call it my "Blankey". I brought it to the hospital with me a few days later and all the nurses wanted it. I was in for 8 days, just got out yesterday. I had pneumonia, I was ill when you came that night so I'm sorry I wasn't more hospitable.

Thank you again, I also had no gloves so it was so well taken.

From Cathy Ahart,

Clinton Public School will once again participate in the national campaign called Read for the Record. We truly appreciate your donation of four copies of the "Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats which we will share around the building throughout the day.

Thank you, not only for your donation, but for your thoughtfulness and commitment to literacy!

Cathy Ahart
Media Specialist/Enrichment Coordinator
Clinton Public School

From Lorinda Ravo, Director of Haven Sent Nursey School,

October 3, 2010

Dear Home Instead,

As the Director of Heaven Sent Nursery School I want to thank you so much for the copies of Ezra Jack Keats wonderful book "The Snowy Day". We were given the copies today by Rhonda Stone, and I was quite overwhelmed by our good fortune.

Last Thursday night, as a result of the severe rain and wind storms that lashed our area, a portion of the story room at Heaven Sent flooded. In all, we lost 189 books to water damage, including all of our winter books. We had owned two copies of "The Snowy Day" that both of our teachers used in January during our unit on winter weather, and both had to be discarded on Friday afternoon.

We are now faced with the prospect of replacing all of those books, and to be honest, I was feeling a little disheartened by the prospect. And then today, Rhonda arrive with what would prove to be the first replacements for our library!

It truly was a Heaven Sent gift. It not only replaced two well-loved story books, but brightened my spirits at the same time.

Best wishes to you in your Literacy campaign, and thank you so much for your generosity. We are blessed!

Sincerely,
Lorinda Ravo
Director, Heaven Sent Nursery School

From Dottie...

    I just have to write to you and let you know how wonderful it is to have an organization like [Home Instead] in our area.  My father in law was in his last days with us and my husband and I had been there with him for 12 hours straight and, not knowing when he was going to leave us, we knew that we needed to get some rest but we also knew that we didn’t want him to leave this earth being alone.  We were at the House of the Good Shepherd in Hackettstown and I asked Judi if there was anyone we could hire to be a companion during the night for my father in law.  Judi gave me several brochures and I saw yours.  I had the pleasure of meeting someone, it could have been you, many years ago when I was volunteering with DARCC at a fund raiser at Waterloo Village and I was given a card with Home Instead on it.

    Remembering the name I called about 3 PM on a Friday asking for help that evening at 11.  I knew that this was short notice and thought I would be told maybe Saturday they could help but to my surprise I was told they would get back to me.  I can’t tell you how nice your staff was.  Before I knew it I had a call telling me that they had someone that would be able to help us Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.  We were so gratefully and were so blessed to have met Sally.  She came in and was so compassionate with my father in law and us.  She told my husband and I to go home and get some rest.  We left at 11:30 PM knowing that he wouldn’t be alone if something should happen.  Well at 3:30 AM on Saturday we got the call that my father in law had passed away and we went right back.  Sally was still there and she reassured us that he went peacefully in his sleep and she was with him.  Then she stayed with us for a while and wanted to make sure that we were OK.  I cannot tell you how nice this was.

    What a wonderful company you have and all of your employees are ANGLES FROM HEAVEN in my book.  I can’t thank you enough for making a horrible time for us pleasant.  I will be singing your praises all over the county.  Thank you again for helping us in such a difficult time in our lives.

From Gina...

I just wanted to let you know that my Dad passed away on Sunday, June 6th.  He was at home and died peacefully in his sleep.  Please extend our thanks to Bob for being a part of our vital team of exceptional CAREGivers that made it possible for Dad to live at home until he passed.  Thank you for all of your help, care and concern over the years as well; it meant a lot to our family.

From Kristina, Activities Director at Warren Haven...

Thank you so much for all of the beautiful potted flowers that were delivered to Warren Haven.  We delivered them to many of our women that would not be receiving visits from family.  Many of the residents commented on  how beautiful the flowers were and how thoughtful it was for someone to think of them.  I am grateful for all of you who thought of Warren Haven.

From Marge in Washington...

Dear Tracy and Everyone at Home Instead,

Thank you for all the care and assistance you provided to my parents, Grace and George.  I know it wasn't always easy!  The whole family appreciates the effort you put into giving quality care.

We are so thankful that my Dad realized he needed help 24/7 and that [our CAREGiver] Olivia was there when my Mom passed away.

Thank you all again, and we will certainly keep you in mind should the need arise in the future.

Sincerely,
Marge

From a client's husband whose wife has Alzheimer's...

Thank you folks.  When asked by her neurologist Monday what she did with her time, my wife replied "I spent it with my friends", meaning her CAREGivers.  It's a nice sentiment.

From Evelyn in Hackettstown...

Dear Tracy and Staff,

Thank you for the Open House at the office. It was nice to see you all "face to face". Thank you also for the good food and my mug...but most of all I would like to thank you for the kindness and generosity you gave my client, Anne. I wish you could have seen her and heard her in my car on the way back to her home. You touched her more deeply then I could ever put into words. What you and your staff did for her was the best Christmas present I got this season!! Bless you all.

From Gwen in Phillipsburg...

Dear Home Instead,

Sorry I'm a little slow with my correspondence this year. My hand isn't cooperating very well.

I would like you to know Santa's visit was very timely. I was having a blue day but your visit and all the goodies really lifted my spirits. The hand made cards from Amanda and Lindsey blessed me. To think that they would take the time to make special cards for someone they don't even know touched my heart. Mr & Mrs Claus you too are a blessing. You make people feel loved and cared about as well as the girls who work for you. They are a real blessing to me. Thank you so much.

From Betts and Harris Smith of Califon, a poem about Home Instead...

We're now in our nineties and blessed with new friends,
The round-the-clock care of our friends never ends!

They show up on time and bring news from outside,
From Warren and Hunterdon - news far and wide!

They dress us and feed us and tuck us in bed,
Lord knows where we'd now be without Home Instead!

Our home is the best place to spend senior years,
And surely a good place to end our careers!

From Mr. Smith...  

For helping out the wife I wed, get CAREGivers from Home Instead.
To reconstruct the life I led, I must rely on Home Instead.

Slow the clock that life has led, I'm winding down with Home Instead.
For getting in and out of bed, I always wait for Home Instead.

Dishing out my daily bread, I must depend on Home Instead.
For keeping me alive - not dead, I'll stack my chips on Home Instead.

From Deb of Phillipsburg...  

I had a really bad experience with a prior Home Health Care Agency caring for my elderly mother. With Home Instead Senior Care, I am assured that my mom is in good hands every day and have the peace of mind that goes along with that. Thanks so much!

From  Lois and Terry...  

Dear Tracy & Staff, Terry and I would like to let you know how thankful we are to have found Home Instead Senior Care. You and your staff not only took the best care we could have hoped for Terry's mom, but helped us as we were going through a difficult time with my parents. Mom's CAREGiver, Comfort, is a very special person. She not only takes care of her clients, but she shows them love, reassurance & compassion in all that she does for them. Terry and I would come to visit and Comfort would be bringing mom her breakfast. It looked more like a tray set up for room service in a hotel. She would cut up fresh fruit, serve cereal, toast, coffee & her favorite coffee cake. In the end, when Comfort went on vacation she was replaced by Kim. We were so fortunate, to have two CAREGivers with such remarkable skills each in their own special way. Terry and I have heard many stories lately from people going through similar situations with their loved ones. Unfortunately, most of them did not have the positive experience we did working with the staff of Home Instead Senior Care. Terry's mom wanted to stay home and we were able to grant her wish because of you and your staff.  Thank you.

From Kate H....  

Dear Tracy,

Hi, this is Kate H. I hope you remember me and my grandmother, Angela. I just wanted to let you know that my grandmother passed away in late August, but I haven't forgotten all of the hard work and attention to detail that you and your staff put into her final months. In looking back on 2009, I realized what a difference I made for my grandma, but also how I couldn't have done this without your help and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your company gave me and my family the time we needed to say goodbye and saved my grandma's dignity as well. There are too many names for me to recall, but all of the women who worked with my grandma were excellent, professional, friendly, patient and loving - at a time when I couldn't be there 100% and I want to thank them as well.

Tracy, if there is ever anything I can do for Home Instead, please let me know....Your sincerity, professionalism, and heart will never be forgotten. Again, THANK YOU very much!

From Charlie and Angie of Phillipsburg...  

Both my husband and myself are "Home Instead" clients. We chose this agency because they offered us the perfect solution of staying at home, which makes us feel very independent. They truly take an interest in our lives and care about us. The [CAREGivers] they chose to send us to help with our doctor appointments and to keep our home tidy are God sent. I really believe they feel all their clients are like family. Yes, I highly recommend "Home Instead" to everyone.

From Edith of Belvidere...

I adore [my CAREGiver] Debbie, she does her work for me and she is a very good friend besides. I would never want another CAREGiver if Debbie were not available....

From Mrs. Parker...

 [The CAREGiver] immediately fit into our household with her care.  We learned that she had graduated from the same high school as our son, and knew some of the same people.  Before we knew it, she was like one of the family.  It was her great care, her dependability, and her loyalty that made her that.

From Mr. Hornby, Esq....

[The CAREGivers] took very good care of him and were always attentive to his needs and wishes.  They made his days more fulfilling than they would have been otherwise.  The administrative staff did everything you could to see that he never went without coverage.  You were flexible at all times.

A letter of appreciation from Lisa and the entire "Clarahan Clan"...

I know this letter of appreciation is a long time coming but every time I would sit down to write I could not find the right words to express mine and my entire family's gratitude for everything that you and the wonderful caregivers have done and continue to do for my father. As I sit to try yet again, the words are literally staring me in the face. On my coffee cup are written the words from 1 Corinthians 13:

Love is patient; love is kind.
Love is not jealous; it does not put on airs,
it is not snobbish.
Love is never rude, it is not self-seeking,
it is not prone to anger; neither does it
brood over injuries. Love does not
rejoice in what is wrong but rejoices with the truth.
There is no limit to love's forbearance, to its trust,
its hope, its power to endure.
Love never fails
There are in the end three things that last:
Faith, hope, and love,
And the greatest of these is love.

The care that has been bestowed on my father embodies this very definition of love. Peggy, Linda, Mae, Barbara, and Janet have been so kind to my father. He is so happy to be alive and greets each day with enthusiasm and joy. It is a gift you have given my father and as he would say, "his nine children, 18 grandchildren, and four great- grandchildren!" I know my mother is looking down from heaven and smiling at all of you!

As I end my letter, tears of happiness are falling down my cheeks. It is our hope that all of you know how much you mean to my family and especially my father!