Nova Scotia Community - communityherald.ca :: The Grey Zone :: “Do You Know a Good, Reliable….?” …finding a trusted service provider

Halifax, NS | Sat, July 31st, 2010

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The Grey Zone

The Grey Zone (for Seniors)
Alex Handyside CSA
I'm Alex Handyside and I love working with Seniors. They're a talkative bunch, and a lot of what they say makes sense. But they often feel that they no longer have a voice, or that their voice no longer counts as much as it once did. And that's what this blog is for. To get the word out about elder issues, and to get the discussion flowing. Welcome to Senior Care Corner (aka the Grey Zone)

“Do You Know a Good, Reliable….?” …finding a trusted service provider
Posted by: handyside on October 19, 2009 08:03PM

Not long after I started my homecare agency I began hearing how seniors weren’t able to find service providers they could trust. Rarely fraudulent (although occasionally they were), it was often a case of so-so work, finished late, and more expensive than the quote. I heard the same worrying story from the distant families of local seniors too: “Do you know a good, reliable…?”

So I made a point of getting to know the best service providers and tradesmen in the area. I asked friends, I inquired at the Chamber of Commerce, I talked to my lawyer, I checked with the Better Business Bureau, and I asked for references. Then I applied the final test: would I give them my mother’s door key? Not everyone passed, but we slowly built up a list of trusted professionals I could rely upon to assist my homecare clients.

For a few years it was just a list. But there was something missing – they were on my list, but how could I ensure ScotiaCare was on their list? So the people on my list met and talked about what exceptional service meant to us and what it would take to make a referral. The key was trust, not commissions. And that’s when Serving Seniors was born. The Serving Seniors Alliance is now known far and wide as a trusted free resource for seniors and their families.

Then Seniors groups heard about us and would ask our members to give little presentations. So began a new chapter in the life of the Serving Seniors Alliance – we became a trusted educational resource, presenting workshops, seminars and trade shows. The highlight of our year is the annual Serving Seniors Social.

Serving Seniors Social
The ‘Social’ has been a success from the beginning because the theme has always been education with entertainment. This year’s Social - our third - will be at the Holiday Inn Harbourview in Dartmouth on Saturday October 31st, from 9.30am to 4.00pm. Refreshments will be served and there is free parking. Presented by Tim Horton’s, and sponsored by Grey Power Insurance and Audiology Associates, our headline act this year is Canadian Idol Gary Beals. Tickets are $5 at the door, or free from any Serving Seniors member. Visit the website (www.ServingSeniors.info) to learn more about the Social, or call Grey Power at 902-425-1515. We are expecting to sell out again this year.

Alex Handyside CSA
ScotiaCare Homecare & Caregivers
T: 827-5599
homecare@scotiacare.com www.ScotiaCare.com
Winner of the 2006 Maritime Business Ethics Award. Winner of the 2007 CSA Award of Excellence for services to seniors. Founding member of Serving Seniors Alliance and NS HomeCare Association.
Accredited by the Better Business Bureau of the Maritime Provinces.