Arlington’s Cascade Companion Care opens its doors on Olympic Ave.

ARLINGTON — Several years ago, Arlington resident Jon Senn wanted to keep his aging and widowed grandfather at home, even though his grandfather was unable to handle many of the daily chores of living alone. "Because not much family lived close, my grandfather had to transition to an assisted living facility in order to receive help with his daily care," said Senn, who added that this scenario has become more and more commonplace for many families living in the Puget Sound region. These circumstances inspired Jon Senn, an occupational therapist, and his wife, Linda, to help other families find quality caregivers for their parents. Together, they opened Cascade Companion Care, LLC, to help families throughout Snohomish County who find themselves in the same situation. When an elderly parent needs assistance in basic tasks such as walking, dressing, cooking or hygiene, they don't necessarily need to be placed in a nursing home. Even a number of elderly people with Alzheimer's or other diseases can remain at home with the proper caregiver services.

March 4, 2011 6:06 pm

ARLINGTON — Several years ago, Arlington resident Jon Senn wanted to keep his aging and widowed grandfather at home, even though his grandfather was unable to handle many of the daily chores of living alone.

“Because not much family lived close, my grandfather had to transition to an assisted living facility in order to receive help with his daily care,” said Senn, who added that this scenario has become more and more commonplace for many families living in the Puget Sound region.

These circumstances inspired Jon Senn, an occupational therapist, and his wife, Linda, to help other families find quality caregivers for their parents. Together, they opened Cascade Companion Care, LLC, to help families throughout Snohomish County who find themselves in the same situation. When an elderly parent needs assistance in basic tasks such as walking, dressing, cooking or hygiene, they don’t necessarily need to be placed in a nursing home. Even a number of elderly people with Alzheimer’s or other diseases can remain at home with the proper caregiver services.

“It can be overwhelming trying to bathe and fix meals for a parent who is otherwise fully capable of living alone,” said Linda Senn, a Certified Senior Advisor.

The Senns noted that one of the major problems facing families is knowing where to go to get help, since in-home medical services are available, but limited to medical assistance. Cascade Companion Care coordinates with other agencies throughout the county as part of a comprehensive service plan. According to the Senns, elderly people tend to live longer and be more comfortable if they can remain in their own homes rather than nursing homes.

“Independence and the security of knowing that a loved one is safe and cared for is what we provide families,” Linda Senn said. “We evaluate each family’s unique needs and find the proper caregivers.”

The team usually selects about one out of every 20 applicants that meet their criteria as care providers.

“I will not hire someone that I would not feel comfortable placing with my own parents,” Jon Senn said.

Each caregiver has to have the qualities that the Senns deem necessary to provide companionship and daily assistance to the elderly, and must undergo an extensive background check. The caregivers are employees of Cascade Companion Care and the fees charged are designed to be competitive with other area providers.

Jon Senn explained that assessments take into account activities of daily living, such as bathing, meal preparation, transportation to the doctor and stores, and even just companionship.  “Quality time for just talking or reading to a parent can occur when the working adult child doesn’t have to cook, bathe and take the elderly parent to the doctor or other appointments,” Linda Senn said. “This is especially true for working couples with children at home.”

Cascade Companion Care welcomed the public to an open house at its new office in downtown Arlington, located in Suite 211 at 307 N. Olympic Ave. For more information, call 888-390-6068 or log onto www.CascadeCompanionCare.com.