Wilsonville, OR

WHEELS AND EARS ~ A New and Valuable Service For The Elderly

A Safe Ride and A Second Set Of Ears

Have you had to accompany one of your parents to doctor appointments because they had no means of transportation to get to their appointment and you were the only one who either had the time or could do it at all. Did you have to take time off from work or a busy schedule and sometimes it amounted to at least once or twice a week if it was physical therapy?

Did your parent have the transportation and they were dropped off at the doctors office but when they were through with the appointment had to wait a long time before the ride came back to get them and take them home. This happens all too often, and that is how this wonderful service was born.

A Safe Ride and A Second Set Of Ears

There are many concerns and fears facing Seniors when they are visiting their doctor, especially if they are alone. Will they have enough time to cover their concerns. Will they feel rushed, unheard and misunderstood.

Sometimes they find that by the time they were done telling the doctor their concerns the appointment was over and they did not receive answers to their questions. Sometimes the Senior does not understand what their doctor has said to them and then forget the instructions by the next day.

These concerns are just a few of the things that

Wheels and Ears Medical Companions, LLC is there to help with.

• The companion organizes the Senior's concerns and information and presents it to their doctor in a concise way that will allow the Senior quality time with their physician.

• The companion takes notes before the appointment for the doctor.
• With the Senior's permission the companion will stay with them and take clear notes on what the doctor says.
  
• The companion also brings the Senior home with notes signed by their doctor regarding the appointment for the Senior to refer to later, in the quiet of their home.

They also ride in a nice vehicle with a safe driver who is used to driving people in their cars, this companion is your local Realtor.

Debbie is recruiting only Realtors at this time because she realizes, having been in the business for 38 years, that Real Estate goes up and down in cycles and there are many times when we are less busy, and that is the time seniors usually have their doctor appointments. She also knows that Realtors are caring people, good listeners, and used to preparing information accurately. They take pride in giving back to their communities. Realtors in 2009 in the Portland area donated over 39,400 hours of community time.

There is so much more to know about this much needed service and I can say that I am now a part of this community of Realtors that are beginning to work with Wheels and Ears Medical Companions, LLC. It is a way to give back for me plus it is also a way to earn a little income doing something for someone else. There is a charge that the Senior pays when the appointment is finished, something they have agreed to and understand prior to making the appointment.

This service will eventually go nationwide, the plans are already in place. Baby boomers are maturing and the generation or two before them are now the elderly needing help that their families cannot always provide. It is perfect if they are able, but we all know that is not always possible.

If this is something you might want more information about please do not hesitate to get in touch with Debbie and let her know, and should you reside somewhere outside of the Portland Metro area and are interested in participating, she will help you become licensed in your city to operate Wheels and Ears.

The doctors here have been thrilled with this service saying "it is about time" and thank you because it gives the physician more quality time with their patients. The Seniors are saying:

• "Why didn't someone think of this before and you have turned a stressful experience into an enjoyable one."

• "The transportation part is great, but having a nice person to guide and take notes for you is far more comforting."
  

All I am saying is that this is a wonderful service for the elderly and their families and it is

A Safe Ride and A Second Set Of Ears

For everyone

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL November 11, 2011 Greetings! For the past ten years, our country has been at war. For most of us, daily life has not been greatly affected, but for military families the strain has been immense. As Veterans' Day approaches we all should try to do more to support our servicemen, servicewomen, our veterans, and their families. Please help circulate the information below -- and please find time over the holiday to thank a veteran or servicemember for their sacrifices to defend our nation. John Kroger, Oregon Attorney General, presents the Governors Coin on behalf of Governor John Kitzhaber at the demobilization ceremony for Detachment 1, Bravo Company, 168 Aviation at Army Aviation Support Facility #2, Pendleton, Ore., 16 June. Photo courtesy of the Oregon Military Department Public Affairs Office. Employment Discrimination. It is unlawful to discriminate against servicemembers in the workplace. Whether you have decided to enlist, are on active duty or have served in the past, if an employer denies you employment, retention in employment, promotion or accrued seniority or benefits because of your association with uniformed service, it may be employment discrimination. Contact the Oregon Department of Justice at 1-877-877-9392, or any of the other resources listed at the bottom of this email to get help. Learn more about veterans employment rights. Consumer Protection. It is an unconscionable trade practice to knowingly take economic advantage of a deployed or disabled veteran or their spouse. If you are the victim of consumer fraud contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-877-877-9392 or file complaint online. If you are called to active duty you may qualify for additional consumer protections such as reduced interest rates on consumer debt, delay of bankruptcy, foreclosure or other civil court actions, and protection from eviction. Learn more about consumer rights for veterans. Child Support Services. The Oregon Child Support Program offers a range of free or low-cost services to support Oregon veterans and their families. If you are a veteran, current military member or a member of a military family with an open child support order, please tell us. For a veteran paying support, it may be possible to lower your out-of-pocket payments by applying a portion of your veterans' benefits toward your monthly child support obligation. For a family member receiving support, it may be possible to receive additional support if the service member is receiving veteran disability benefits. Our case managers can also help make sure your children have legal access to military benefits. Learn more about child support for military families or contact the child support office nearest you. Additional Resources: Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) A federal Department of Defense organization staffed by local volunteers that takes employment discrimination complaints and attempts to work out negotiated solutions between employers and servicepersons. Contact the ESGR by calling 1-800-336-4590. U.S. Department of Labor Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS) To make a formal employment discrimination complaint under federal law call 1-866-4-USA-DOL. Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) To make a formal employment discrimination complaint under state law (can be made in addition to a formal complaint to VETS) call 971-673-0764 Oregon State Bar's Military Assistance Panel This program matches deployed servicemembers and their dependents with attorneys willing to provide up to two hours of legal advice at no charge. Contact the Military Assistance Panel toll-free in Oregon at 1-800-452-8260. Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs (ODVA) Explore the ODVA website to learn more about educational benefits, counseling services, long-term care for senior veterans, low-interest home loans, emergency assistance and other services available to Oregon military members. Quick Links DOJ Web Site Sign Up for the Scam Alert Network File a Consumer Complaint