December 4, 2025 • 31 mins
If you think aging has to mean slowing down and staying home, this conversation will change your mind. We sit down with the team from Sunrise Senior Center and share how a thriving partnership with Comfort Keepers keeps older adults moving, laughing, learning, and—most importantly—connected. From $5 scratch-made lunches to Zumba, aqua fitness, and grief support, you’ll hear how a city-run center builds a full, affordable pathway to social connection and better health.
We walk through the real signs of isolation—quiet voices, loss of appetite, fatigue, and low motivation—and how families can respond with patience and respect for independence. Danielle and Wayne explain how their calendar is designed to lower friction: accessible pricing, diverse classes, transportation options, and a front desk team ready to guide first-timers. Then we dig into one member’s turning point: after a public fall, staff’s calm care helped him return, embrace exercise and healthier cooking, and rebuild confidence week by week.
Care doesn’t stop at the door. Comfort Keepers adds a virtual, audio-based safety system that detects potential falls and unusual health patterns, triggering timely check-ins without extra cost. That blend of in-home support and community engagement catches issues earlier, eases family worries, and helps seniors stay independent. You’ll come away with concrete ideas for spotting loneliness, encouraging participation without pressure, and using local resources to make every day richer.
Know someone who’s home alone and needs a nudge toward connection? Share this, subscribe for more stories and resources, and leave a review with your favorite community activity so we can highlight it next time.
Please visit our website for more information: https://www.comfortkeepers.com/offices/florida/davie/
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
Welcome to the Comfort Keepers Davy Podcast,
where we elevate the humanspirit.
Here's your host, Christy Grule.
SPEAKER_04 (00:13):
Well, hello, hello, everyone, and welcome back to
another episode of the ComfortKeepers Davy Podcast.
In case you didn't notice, I amnot Christy Grule, but I am
Jeremy Wolf, and I'm joined byKamar.
Kamar, how are you doing, myman?
SPEAKER_02 (00:27):
I've been, I'm good, doing great, doing great.
SPEAKER_04 (00:30):
Yes, yes.
And I I know, Kamar, I know youguys do a lot of at Comfort
Keepers, you are very much sointegrated with the communities
that you serve, and you have alot of wonderful partnerships.
So I thought it would be fittingtoday to have some of those
partners on to talk a little bitabout what they do and how
comfort keepers collaborateswith them.
So today we're joined by SunriseSenior Center, and we have Wayne
(00:54):
Skirvin and Danielle Santiagowith us.
Wayne, Danielle, thanks forjoining us.
Our pleasure.
Yes, of course.
So excited to get into this.
Why don't we start with somebasics?
Uh, can you tell our listeners alittle bit about the Sunrise
Senior Center?
SPEAKER_03 (01:10):
All right, so the Sunrise Senior Center is a city
of Sunrise.
So we are the official seniorcenter for the city of Sunrise.
We are 55 and up, and we are anactive senior center.
So individuals come in.
We have members who areresidents of sunrise and
non-residents of sunrise, and wehave a lot of different
activities that they couldpartake in on a daily basis.
(01:31):
We're open Monday throughSaturdays, and we have from
exercise, um, wood carving,crafting, um, dancing, all the
different programs that youcould think of.
Computers.
We have a game room where thegentlemen hang out and play some
billiards.
Uh, just a lot of fun stuff thatwe do here.
And so it's super active, andthere's a one-stop shop for
(01:52):
everyone's need.
Say that one more time, aone-stop shop.
It's a one-stop shop forwhatever you need.
SPEAKER_04 (01:59):
A one-stop shop for one-stop shop.
I love it.
I love it.
I just think it's so important.
Like the the older I get, themore I realize how important
community is.
And I think for for those thatare aging and getting older, if
you kind of retreat from societyand you unplug yourself, uh, it
can get very lonely out thereand it can you can get
(02:20):
depressed.
And it's so wonderful that wehave all these resources
available.
And I think a lot of peoplearen't really aware that these
things are out there for them totake advantage of.
Kamar, how did you end uppartnering up with Sunrise
Senior Centers?
Talk a little bit about how thatrelationship began and um, you
know, what where you see itgoing in the future.
SPEAKER_02 (02:38):
Yeah, so our partnership began long before I
even joined uh Comfort Keepers,but it's always a goal of ours
to uh outreach in the communityto partner with um other senior
organizations within our umterritory or community.
And the Sunrise Senior Centerwas one of those places that we
(03:01):
have been partnering with.
Uh, as Wayne said, they do a lota lot of activities, and it's a
great thing just seeing seniorsdancing, um, staying active
after retirement.
It's it's it's such a greatthing, and we enjoy doing
activities with them, sponsoringthese activities and uh
different events that they have.
So it's been an ongoingpartnership, long established,
(03:23):
and it's been going great sofar.
SPEAKER_04 (03:25):
Yeah.
So I want to go to you,Danielle.
Can you talk a little bit aboutyour role at Sunrise Senior
Centers?
What do you what do you do overthere for them?
SPEAKER_01 (03:33):
Yeah, so I'm the recreation programmer and Wayne
is the recreation supervisor.
So we work hand in hand.
We also have two full-timersunder us.
Um, so we kind of do all of theprograms for the seniors as well
as the special events.
We do have a social worker onsite, so we help her out with
things, which actually ComfortKeepers helps us with that as
(03:54):
well.
We do Thanksgiving baskets forthe community for families in
need.
Um, but basically we run allactivities for the seniors, and
a lot of the seniors will comein and not thinking that they're
gonna have anything thatinterests them, but all of that,
there's literally something foreveryone.
Um, like Wayne said, there's anarray of different classes, but
(04:17):
we pretty much help bring thoseclasses to the center as well as
bringing fresh new ideas, youknow, that maybe other centers
don't offer.
SPEAKER_04 (04:27):
In what ways have you guys seen over over the
years kind of working withcomfort keepers?
How have you seen thiscollaboration directly improve
the lives of seniors that youwork with?
SPEAKER_03 (04:41):
All right, so one of the things that um I would say
is we talked about a level ofinteraction that that comfort
keepers have with our with ourmembers.
So when they partner with thedifferent events and activities,
I'll say that personality andbeing great human beings,
(05:03):
something that's hard to learn.
You are or you're not.
And so with comfort keepers andwith Kamara, with Patrice, um,
with Christy, with what we'venoticed is when they're around
our seniors, the seniors reallylight up with them.
They say they gravitate towardsthem uh because there's a
genuine kindness that they find.
(05:26):
And so when someone cares aboutyou, it shows.
So we don't promote well, wehave sponsors, but we don't say,
hey, you had to sign up for thisprogram or you have to do this
with a sponsor.
They do it by choice, and whenthey like you, they will reach
out to you.
And and Kamara, Patrice, they'veseen that where people gravitate
(05:47):
towards them because of who theyare and how they show their uh
how they give back to theseniors.
SPEAKER_04 (05:53):
Yeah, absolutely.
That's one of the things Inoticed early on when I started
working with with Christy umover at Comfort Keepers.
She she just has this.
I don't know, I'm sure you guysknow her pretty well.
I'd imagine, with all the timeworking with them, she just has
this magnanimous, this wonderfulenergy and personality.
The culture of Comfort Keepersis that you just you just
(06:14):
confirmed that with uh what yousaid.
It's really really wonderful thework that they're doing um in
these local communities.
I and I wanted to ask, what aresome of the most, I mean, I I
can imagine that that this fieldthat you're in can be very, very
rewarding for you.
What are some of the mostrewarding parts of the jobs that
(06:34):
you guys do today to day?
SPEAKER_01 (06:37):
I think some of the best things that we do is like
we have volunteers as well thatwe're very close with and we
work hand in hand.
Like, for example, one of ourvolunteers went on the trip
today as a group leader, butmost of them are like our
family.
Um, and I think it's sorewarding because a lot of them
don't have family here or theirfamily's up north and they're
alone.
(06:57):
And we are pretty much theirsafe space and they love to be
here.
We love them.
So it's like a mutual thing thatwe really just enjoy their
company and they enjoy ours.
SPEAKER_03 (07:10):
Absolutely.
It's when um when you seesomeone, you give them a smile,
they give you a hug, and theytell you that you're the best
part of their day.
Yeah, it makes a differencebecause they don't get it at
home, like Danielle said.
Their families aren't here, sowe are an extension of that
family, and we try to make surethat it's felt.
Uh, the more genuine you are,the more they know it.
(07:30):
And so that's the most rewardingthing is to see the folks that
were by themselves or kind oflike recluse, and now they're
just outgoing, they know you,they're here all the time,
they're making new friends, andjust see the transformation.
It's always the best thing.
100%.
SPEAKER_04 (07:49):
What about some of the challenges that you face?
Obviously, this work, uh, whilerewarding, it does come with um
quite many challenges as manythings do.
What are some of the things, theobstacles that you face, and how
do you address those?
SPEAKER_01 (08:04):
Well, you know, I think the seniors they have a
lot of wisdom and they don't putup with a lot.
So they um it can be a littledifficult sometimes, but you
know what?
They we try our best to givethem what they want.
And I think the city of Sunrisealso is very big on customer
(08:26):
service.
And you know, maybe they didn'tsign up for this program, but we
give them their little snack andit just makes them happy, you
know, something so small, butthey can be a little demanding,
fun.
SPEAKER_03 (08:40):
Um it's like um it's like middle school on steroids
in some cases with some.
But it's a it's a great thing totry to navigate.
And one of the challenges thatwe have is we have dynamic
roles, and so we it's everchanging, ever evolving, but we
try to make sure that and peoplewant our times.
(09:01):
So sometimes we're busy andbehind the scenes it's harder to
then be front-facing, but we tryour best to be that face that
they see because they need it,they want it.
So it's like trying to multitaskand do everything behind the
scenes, but still be present forthem.
It's it could be challenging,but it's rewarding.
Um, and just to see how theyappreciate us is a reward.
SPEAKER_00 (09:23):
Yeah, but if it wasn't challenging, if it wasn't
challenging, it wouldn't berewarding, right?
SPEAKER_04 (09:27):
It wouldn't be rewarding.
Exactly.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I'm sorry, Danielle, you weresaying?
SPEAKER_01 (09:31):
No, it's just it's sometimes it is hard to juggle
because we work for the city andwe have different different
events and stuff besides beinghere at the senior center.
So it's hard to try to jugglethat and then give them the
time, but we always try to maketime for them because it's
they're really the reason whywe're doing this, you know.
SPEAKER_04 (09:50):
For sure.
Now, do you you mentionedworking for the city?
What's your background?
How did you get into this lineof work?
Um, Danielle, what what was thewhat did you do?
It's it's funny.
SPEAKER_01 (10:01):
So the city of Sunrise is a great place to
work, I must say, and I'm notbeing biased, but both Wayne and
I actually started um duringsummer camp as seasonals, and um
we kind of just worked our wayup.
I I've been here since I was 15,so almost like 18 years now.
SPEAKER_03 (10:20):
Um Wayne different decades.
SPEAKER_01 (10:26):
Wayne started I started at 16, and so and he he
actually left for some time anddid some corporate America
stuff, and then you know, theyalways come back.
SPEAKER_03 (10:36):
Had to come home.
So I had to come home.
City of Sunrise is a great placeto be.
Senior Center is a great placeto be as well.
So yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (10:44):
Nice.
Kamar, does comfort keepers doso like was there anything in
particular about the city ofSunrise that gravitated that
that gravitated you towardsthem?
Or do you do a lot of this workwith lots of different cities?
And and how how did you start orhow did you come up with the
idea of collaborating with localum local cities to help seniors?
SPEAKER_02 (11:06):
Well, or I mean, as you know, our primary market or
clientele is the elderly.
So we're looking to collab tocollaborate with any
organizations that aresupporting the elderly.
And we do collaborate with othersenior centers, um, like the
Sunrise Senior Center, but forsome reason they are a bit
(11:27):
different.
Um, Danielle, Wayne, the wholeteam there.
I've never gone there once andseen an unhappy employee.
Like everyone there is alwayshappy, always in good spirits.
It's very active on any givenday you're going.
There are seniors there dancing,and it's great seeing seniors um
(11:48):
in that space because oftentimesin or field, we're seeing we're
getting calls when the seniorsare down and out, they need help
in home, which is great too.
But it's good seeing the otherside of things that you know
you're seeing seniors that areactive, they're dancing, they're
doing, they're playing pool,they're they're showing you that
when you're retired or you'reold or you're getting old, um,
(12:10):
you can still be active andstill have a fun life.
So it's great seeing theseseniors um in that light, seeing
them dressed up for their prom,their senior prom.
It's absolutely amazing.
It is, it is, uh it's always agood time sponsoring events
there, seeing them.
And whenever we get clients thatare in or close enough to the
(12:31):
city of Sunrise or um the seniorcenter, we always uh advise them
or or refer the senior center tothem.
And recently, a client of ours,we've been pushing her um to
sign up with this uh the seniorcenter, and she she did, and she
now absolutely loves it.
Um, she is quite young, she's 63and unfortunately suffering from
(12:55):
um dementia, but she goes there.
She recently started a few weeksago and absolutely loves it.
So um it's a no-brainer.
And once you meet Wayne, uhDanielle, and the rest of the
team there, you will be hooked,I'm telling you.
They're really, really nicepeople.
SPEAKER_04 (13:12):
Yeah, it does sound like a match made in heaven.
And I love, I just love the ideaof having having these
connections rooted with thecommunity.
Yeah, comfort keepers cominginto the home, it's great, but
to have all these additionalresources available and outlets
for folks to kind of connectwith really brings a great deal
of meaning and purpose topeople's lives.
(13:33):
Um, and I know that, you know,like I talked about a little
earlier, you know, as we getolder, we often get isolated.
Um what are some of the signsthat you look for when you see
people disconnecting and you seepeople detaching a little bit?
What are some things to takenote of?
I'm trying to speak to those outthere that maybe have aging
parents that are starting to beisolated and they don't have any
(13:54):
help, right?
And they haven't yet plugged intwo senior senators and they
don't know about comfortkeepers, right?
And they're starting to seethese signs.
Like what are some things thatyou'd look for and some advice
that you could give to folks outthere like that?
SPEAKER_02 (14:06):
Um, it's it's a lot of things.
It it varies from person toperson, but a lot of the common
signs that we see is them beingless vocal, is them complaining
about feeling um you know moretired than than they usually
are.
Um and this often happens with alot of our clients that their
(14:26):
families are living out of stateand they don't see them a lot.
That is a common thing that wesee.
Um, a lot of our clients,they're living alone, um, their
family's out of state, they'renot seeing them quite often.
So they get depressed veryeasily.
And um these are some of thesigns that we look forward, um,
look to, I should say.
Them not speaking a lot, themnot eating a lot, their energy
(14:49):
is low, um, they're just not inthe mood to do a lot of things.
And sometimes they just blame iton, oh, I'm feeling a little bit
tired, or I didn't sleep welllast night.
But it all stems to them beingreally just depressed and and
lonely and um fearful, you know,fearful.
Um, just thinking about all theailments they're going through,
(15:12):
their families not being withthem, them living alone,
something possibly happening inthe night um when nobody's there
with them.
So these are a lot of the signsthat we we look to.
That's why we always encourageuh them doing activities if
they're physically able to, andif they're not, we still try to
keep them engaged, um, you know,cognitively and stimulate them
(15:34):
cognitively, and um just try tokeep them happy, lift their
spirits.
That's what we're there for, forsure.
SPEAKER_04 (15:41):
Yeah, it really is a slippery slope when you start to
withdraw yourself, right?
It's like this this loop thatgets this self-feeding loop.
And the more you detach, themore depressed you get, and the
more depressed you get, the moreyou want to detach, and it just
keeps going.
And it's amazing how plugging inand getting a sense getting into
a community and and and beingaround like-minded people raises
(16:02):
your spirits so tremendously.
SPEAKER_02 (16:06):
Yeah, for sure, for sure.
And as Wayne said, a lot ofthese seniors they're set in
their ways.
Um, they like things how theylike them.
So once they get used to acertain routine or doing things
or not going out or just stayinghome, it's very hard for you to
get them outside of theircomfort zone or doing things
that you know will benefit them.
(16:27):
But it just takes consistent,um, you know, consistent being
consistent with them and justencouraging them and being
patient with them, actually.
Actually being patient withthem, just um encouraging them
to get active or get out or talksome more or or just do fun
things.
Um, and eventually they will.
Eventually they will, you know,if if if if they see it's coming
(16:50):
from a place of love and concernand not trying to have them feel
like they're a child again andhaving them doing what you want
them to do, um, because they'revery they're very serious about
holding on to their independenceand not feeling like they're
being bossed around.
SPEAKER_03 (17:05):
So we try to well, one one of the things that we're
blessed with, um the differentprograms that we have.
We either have a bunch ofvolunteer instructors, and so
the volunteer instructors theyare capable and knowledgeable,
being able not only do theprogram that they're doing, but
also cater to the well-being andthe needs that the seniors have.
(17:28):
So the ability to branch out, donew stuff.
We have a less talk group wherethey come in, they talk about
any social topic.
At one point, we try to justsay, hey, you can't talk about
this, but they're gonna talkabout whatever they feel like
talking about.
So just do it responsibly, andum, they have a great time.
But just to be in a space withother adults, other like-minded
(17:50):
individuals, and just to be ableto talk about things.
We have a bereavement group, sofolks who are going through loss
together, sharing how they feel.
And it started out where theycame in, they did the group,
they left.
Now they're like a family.
Whatever events that we havegoing on, they show up together.
Yeah, and so they have theyformulated new families in the
(18:11):
do like a potluck.
Yeah, they they eat together,they every program they do that
we have, they sign up together.
Yeah, it's really good.
SPEAKER_04 (18:21):
Danielle, I want to talk a little bit more about uh
the programs that you guysoffer.
We've alluded to a lot of thefun things that you do.
What are what are some of thethings that seniors can expect
to find there?
I'd imagine there's exerciseprograms.
You mentioned the potluck,there's different run down the
list.
Uh you know, I want to catchpeople for anybody that's
listening, maybe somethinginterests somebody that doesn't
interest somebody else.
Yeah, of course.
SPEAKER_01 (18:43):
So we have a calendar that we send out every
two months.
It's a lengthy calendar.
So I like to tell people whenthey first come to kind of look
through it and see whatinterests them, like what day
works for them, what time.
But we have art classes, we havecomputer classes, we have
classes to learn English becausewe do have a divide a diverse
group of people here in Sunrise.
(19:04):
So health lectures.
That's one of the main thingsthat um I was also gonna add to
Wayne's uh comment aboutbereavement groups and stuff
like that, or health lectures.
And it touches base on differentthings like mental health and
stuff like that that will helpthese seniors get through those
hard hard times.
Um, so then we also haveexercise classes such as Zumba,
(19:25):
Tai Chi, Aqua Fitness, um, someother things we do is a cooking
class, a ballroom dancing class,which is like Latin dance based.
Um listen, he has the best moveshere at the Choice.
And then Kamar is second best.
So I kind of am in charge toothat we do a different special
(19:55):
event each month.
Um, it's either a social that wedo during the day that we
provide lunch and then some typeof entertainment, whether it's a
DJ or a band, and it's only$8 tocome if you're a member.
Our membership rates, just soyou know, are for Sunrise
residents, it's$15 to join forthe year.
If you're a non-resident, it's$25 to join from the year.
SPEAKER_04 (20:19):
Basically free, essentially.
Very, very affordable.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (20:23):
Um, and then so it just you there's a lot of
programs that you just can't be.
We do a lunch bunch that wepretty much make the food from
scratch.
Our director is a great cook.
She went to culinary school, soshe helps us out into making the
food, and it's the best meal forfive bucks that you can get from
(20:44):
scratch.
So it's just something for themto come and mingle.
We have line dancing, that theyall come and do line dancing
classes with our instructorthat's a volunteer.
So there's something foreveryone.
We have a book club, it just thelist goes on and on of what we
offer.
SPEAKER_04 (21:01):
It's it's incredible.
Uh, it really is a no-brainer,right?
Like if you're out there andyou're retired and you're just
sitting around all day, don'tlike you gotta get out there and
get plugged into theseresources.
But it it's just it's it's gottabe life-changing for people.
I can only imagine.
I've not been plugged in.
I mean, I'm all I'm only 46.
I'm not uh not quite a senioryet, but when I am, I'm glad
(21:22):
that I'm aware that all this isout there now because I think
there's a lot of people thatdon't really understand or
don't, or they're just not inthe know and they don't realize
that these resources areavailable to them and their
families.
SPEAKER_01 (21:34):
We also provide transportation too for a lot of
the seniors.
So a lot of them still drive.
Um, but if they live in sunrise,we have a bus transportation
route that picks them up in theolder community, which is
Sunrise Lakes, and then we alsocan pick them up at their home
if they call a day ahead.
So we try our best to get themhere any way possible.
And you know, a lot of them, youknow, give some pushback, but
(21:57):
their kids, let's say their kidsdo live here and they know that
they're home all day and they'reat work, you know, their kids
are at work, so they kind ofgive them that little push to
come, and usually they're alittle hesitant, but once they
start, they end up loving it.
I've heard I've seen and heardmany stories of a lot of the
seniors that come and they justreally enjoy it and they tell us
(22:20):
like this saved my life justcoming to the center.
SPEAKER_04 (22:24):
Good stuff.
Is there I want to ask you guysover the senior center, is there
a is there a resident story?
Something that really captureswhat the center is all about.
Does something come to mind?
SPEAKER_01 (22:40):
Resident story.
SPEAKER_04 (22:42):
Not resident, but one of your not residents.
Members, I should say.
SPEAKER_01 (22:48):
I mean maybe Ozelle.
SPEAKER_03 (22:51):
Oh, yes.
So we have um one of our one ofour members, he is on the
heavier side.
Um, and he was trying to makesure health was something that
he regained because he startedgoing downhill at one point.
Hard for him to maneuver, hardfor him to move around.
(23:11):
We had an event called Walk inthe Park.
And at one of the specificparks, we have a lot of
different vendors' activities.
We encourage them to walk aroundthe park.
And as they walk around, thereare different activities that
they can do uh along that path.
So we try to do a new park eachyear to introduce our seniors to
it.
So during this one event, he waswalking and actually went down.
(23:34):
His knees gave out uh under hisweight and he went down.
And there were some youngerseasonal staff that we had, and
I was trying to get him up, andI saw this one kid just hop a
fence, came over, butcollectively we were there, got
him up, and he shared that thatmoment that he went down.
He felt embarrassed, but we madehim feel confident in that
(23:58):
moment.
We took away the embarrassmentand just showed care, and he
went from being um uh morbidlyobese to working out, doing our
aqua fitness class, now doingdifferent exercise classes,
taking the cooking class, takingthe cooking class to have
healthier options to know how toeat properly.
And he said that one event thatcould have turned out to be the
(24:18):
most embarrassing thing where hecould have been more recluse in
after that, he to he changed itand started coming out more.
And he's here every week doingthree programs exercising,
stretch classes, stretchclasses, all of it.
SPEAKER_01 (24:32):
Yes, he takes full advantage now, and we're we're
just so proud of him, and hetells us all the time.
And he's like, Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (24:40):
So really touching stuff, yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (24:44):
Yeah, it really is.
It's it's it's one of thosesituations where we realize that
we work at a senior center whenwe have some of the more tragic
scenarios, and it's like, uhit's one of the hardest things.
You know, the folks that youcome to love and know, and now
they're not here anymore, and itmakes it real.
But then the ones that you couldconsistently and continuously
impact, you're like you doubledown even more because you want
(25:07):
to make sure that you're still apart of their lives.
SPEAKER_04 (25:11):
Absolutely.
So you mentioned volunteers, youhave a lot of volunteers working
there.
For anyone out there listeningthat does want to get connected,
that maybe does want to act as avolunteer and show their
support.
What's the best way for them todo that?
SPEAKER_01 (25:24):
So they would go on the city website.
They still have to apply as ifthey're almost applying for a
job, but it's a lot easier.
We can always they can alwayscome to our center and we can
help them fill out thatapplication.
So it's on the upper right-handcorner of sunrisefl.gov.
You click on jobs, and thenyou're gonna click on volunteer
(25:46):
application and you fill out theapplication, and then we'll
usually bring you in for aninterview, kind of see what you
like, your availability, and wego from there.
SPEAKER_03 (25:55):
Correct.
So if it's uh someone that'slooking to volunteer to teach a
program, um, volunteer to bepart of our front desk staff, or
just volunteer to um do anythingin general, we try to find out
what your gifts are, what yourneeds are, um, and your skill
sets, and we'll go from there.
SPEAKER_04 (26:13):
Excellent.
And for anyone out therelistening that is interested in
in coming by and taking part andbecoming a member, let's say
somebody out there that thatdoesn't drive, maybe they're all
alone, they don't have familyhere.
Can they just reach out, pick upthe phone, call you guys, you'll
get them the bus information.
What's the best inform the bestway for them to connect and and
and get plugged in and startstart coming to see you guys?
SPEAKER_03 (26:37):
So if they are a city of Sunrise resident,
definitely um they could reachout, contact us.
I'd probably say try to havesomeone take you here first so
you get all the information thatyou would need.
And then from there, we'll see.
Um, our we do a medicaltransport need, and uh we'll see
what you need as far astransportation goes from a
(26:57):
pickup for medical umappointments and so forth, and
we'll try to fit you in and whatthe next steps are.
Uh we don't have anything onlineyet for our application, so
everything is still in person,but we would encourage them to
have somebody bring them here ifthey can come here themselves.
If they can drive, drive here,and we'll go through our front
(27:18):
desk staff is phenomenal, andour whole team will be able to
help you through, give you atour of the facility, just talk
through and see what it is thatbest fits your need.
So, everything that we do is notfor everyone, but there's
something for everyone.
So you'll find something thatyou'd like to do.
SPEAKER_04 (27:35):
Well, I for one can safely say that I'm glad that we
had this conversation today.
My father is approaching 80,he'll be 80 next year, I
believe.
And he lives in sunrise, andhe's he's pretty much just kind
of like sitting in his house allday, like he's completely
disconnected.
Like, I don't know if he'd bewilling to even go and check it
out, but I'm gonna make it amission of myself to go over to
(27:56):
him and bring him down to yourfacility because I do want to
see what you have going onthere, and I want him to see
what's available, and I want himto kind of plug himself in and
and you know, he's never beenone to be plugged into the
community like that, but maybeyou know it could give him a
renewed sense of purpose.
So I'm pretty excited about it.
SPEAKER_01 (28:12):
And the ladies need more time there.
SPEAKER_02 (28:16):
I was gonna say because if he does, I I I know a
few scenes there looking for uhuh you know, looking for a guy,
yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (28:26):
Yeah, they're they're hanging out on the hunt,
they're on the hunt.
SPEAKER_04 (28:29):
I almost want to call him right now and put him
on speaker and say, hey Nudge,you want to go?
But I'm I'm actually a littlebit concerned that he might say
something inappropriate becausehe has a inappropriate time.
So I'm gonna I'm gonna hold offon that.
I don't want to do some awkwardsituations, but I think that
could be fun.
Oh goodness.
All right, cool guys.
Uh this was a lot of fun.
Anybody have anything elsethey'd like to add before we
(28:50):
wrap up here?
SPEAKER_02 (28:51):
Well, before we wrap up, um, a new initiative that we
have um with providing more carefor our seniors, because a lot
of the client or our seniorsthat we care for are financially
unable to, let's say, pay for24-hour care.
You know, we see them four hourshere, four hours there, maybe a
couple of days per week.
(29:12):
So what we now have is a virtualsystem that we uh we stay
connected with them 24 hoursoutside of the times that we're
providing care for them.
And it's all encompassed intheir um, they're not up charge
or charge anymore.
So whatever they're paying forthese four or five hours per
week that we're seeing them, umthey essentially stay connected.
(29:33):
This is a small pod that um weplug in the three most visited
areas of their home.
And it's an audio based system.
So if they were to fall, itwould trigger an alert on our
end.
Um, again, a lot of them areliving by themselves.
Um, they fall and they're notclose to a phone to call for
help.
Once they fall, it triggers analert on our end.
(29:54):
If they're coughing more thannormal, um, it you know, gives
us an alert that hey, this maybe an operation.
respiratory issue.
So it's a preventative um youknow system.
And also if something were tohappen, it also gives us an
alert.
This morning, for example, I gotan alert that a client of ours
um uh might have felt well lastnight at 1130 and before going
(30:15):
to bed I just gave her a call toensure that she was okay and she
told me that everything wasfine.
And so this is what we have it'sit's a virtual system that we
are standard part of work herenow that we are giving to all
our our clients.
So and it's been making a greatdifference.
SPEAKER_04 (30:32):
So yeah just wanted to you know tell you a little
bit about yeah good stuff alwayson the the cutting edge yes or
trying to all right cool wellwe'll leave it at that everyone
out there thanks for joining usuh if you found this useful if
you know of a senior in yourlife that needs help and support
please share this with them andmake sure that they take
(30:53):
advantage of these wonderfulresources that are available.
Everyone again thanks for tuningin and we will catch you all
next time on the next episode ofthe Comfort Keepers Davy
podcast.
SPEAKER_00 (31:02):
Everyone take care have a blessed day thank you
thank you for listening to theComfort Keepers Davy podcast for
more information visitcomfortkeepers dot com or call
nine five four nine four sevenseven nine five four
Welcome to the Comfort Keepers Davy Podcast,
where we elevate the humanspirit.
Here's your host, Christy Grule.
SPEAKER_04 (00:13):
Well, hello, hello, everyone, and welcome back to
another episode of the ComfortKeepers Davy Podcast.
In case you didn't notice, I amnot Christy Grule, but I am
Jeremy Wolf, and I'm joined byKamar.
Kamar, how are you doing, myman?
SPEAKER_02 (00:27):
I've been, I'm good, doing great, doing great.
SPEAKER_04 (00:30):
Yes, yes.
And I I know, Kamar, I know youguys do a lot of at Comfort
Keepers, you are very much sointegrated with the communities
that you serve, and you have alot of wonderful partnerships.
So I thought it would be fittingtoday to have some of those
partners on to talk a little bitabout what they do and how
comfort keepers collaborateswith them.
So today we're joined by SunriseSenior Center, and we have Wayne
(00:54):
Skirvin and Danielle Santiagowith us.
Wayne, Danielle, thanks forjoining us.
Our pleasure.
Yes, of course.
So excited to get into this.
Why don't we start with somebasics?
Uh, can you tell our listeners alittle bit about the Sunrise
Senior Center?
SPEAKER_03 (01:10):
All right, so the Sunrise Senior Center is a city
of Sunrise.
So we are the official seniorcenter for the city of Sunrise.
We are 55 and up, and we are anactive senior center.
So individuals come in.
We have members who areresidents of sunrise and
non-residents of sunrise, and wehave a lot of different
activities that they couldpartake in on a daily basis.
(01:31):
We're open Monday throughSaturdays, and we have from
exercise, um, wood carving,crafting, um, dancing, all the
different programs that youcould think of.
Computers.
We have a game room where thegentlemen hang out and play some
billiards.
Uh, just a lot of fun stuff thatwe do here.
And so it's super active, andthere's a one-stop shop for
(01:52):
everyone's need.
Say that one more time, aone-stop shop.
It's a one-stop shop forwhatever you need.
SPEAKER_04 (01:59):
A one-stop shop for one-stop shop.
I love it.
I love it.
I just think it's so important.
Like the the older I get, themore I realize how important
community is.
And I think for for those thatare aging and getting older, if
you kind of retreat from societyand you unplug yourself, uh, it
can get very lonely out thereand it can you can get
(02:20):
depressed.
And it's so wonderful that wehave all these resources
available.
And I think a lot of peoplearen't really aware that these
things are out there for them totake advantage of.
Kamar, how did you end uppartnering up with Sunrise
Senior Centers?
Talk a little bit about how thatrelationship began and um, you
know, what where you see itgoing in the future.
SPEAKER_02 (02:38):
Yeah, so our partnership began long before I
even joined uh Comfort Keepers,but it's always a goal of ours
to uh outreach in the communityto partner with um other senior
organizations within our umterritory or community.
And the Sunrise Senior Centerwas one of those places that we
(03:01):
have been partnering with.
Uh, as Wayne said, they do a lota lot of activities, and it's a
great thing just seeing seniorsdancing, um, staying active
after retirement.
It's it's it's such a greatthing, and we enjoy doing
activities with them, sponsoringthese activities and uh
different events that they have.
So it's been an ongoingpartnership, long established,
(03:23):
and it's been going great sofar.
SPEAKER_04 (03:25):
Yeah.
So I want to go to you,Danielle.
Can you talk a little bit aboutyour role at Sunrise Senior
Centers?
What do you what do you do overthere for them?
SPEAKER_01 (03:33):
Yeah, so I'm the recreation programmer and Wayne
is the recreation supervisor.
So we work hand in hand.
We also have two full-timersunder us.
Um, so we kind of do all of theprograms for the seniors as well
as the special events.
We do have a social worker onsite, so we help her out with
things, which actually ComfortKeepers helps us with that as
(03:54):
well.
We do Thanksgiving baskets forthe community for families in
need.
Um, but basically we run allactivities for the seniors, and
a lot of the seniors will comein and not thinking that they're
gonna have anything thatinterests them, but all of that,
there's literally something foreveryone.
Um, like Wayne said, there's anarray of different classes, but
(04:17):
we pretty much help bring thoseclasses to the center as well as
bringing fresh new ideas, youknow, that maybe other centers
don't offer.
SPEAKER_04 (04:27):
In what ways have you guys seen over over the
years kind of working withcomfort keepers?
How have you seen thiscollaboration directly improve
the lives of seniors that youwork with?
SPEAKER_03 (04:41):
All right, so one of the things that um I would say
is we talked about a level ofinteraction that that comfort
keepers have with our with ourmembers.
So when they partner with thedifferent events and activities,
I'll say that personality andbeing great human beings,
(05:03):
something that's hard to learn.
You are or you're not.
And so with comfort keepers andwith Kamara, with Patrice, um,
with Christy, with what we'venoticed is when they're around
our seniors, the seniors reallylight up with them.
They say they gravitate towardsthem uh because there's a
genuine kindness that they find.
(05:26):
And so when someone cares aboutyou, it shows.
So we don't promote well, wehave sponsors, but we don't say,
hey, you had to sign up for thisprogram or you have to do this
with a sponsor.
They do it by choice, and whenthey like you, they will reach
out to you.
And and Kamara, Patrice, they'veseen that where people gravitate
(05:47):
towards them because of who theyare and how they show their uh
how they give back to theseniors.
SPEAKER_04 (05:53):
Yeah, absolutely.
That's one of the things Inoticed early on when I started
working with with Christy umover at Comfort Keepers.
She she just has this.
I don't know, I'm sure you guysknow her pretty well.
I'd imagine, with all the timeworking with them, she just has
this magnanimous, this wonderfulenergy and personality.
The culture of Comfort Keepersis that you just you just
(06:14):
confirmed that with uh what yousaid.
It's really really wonderful thework that they're doing um in
these local communities.
I and I wanted to ask, what aresome of the most, I mean, I I
can imagine that that this fieldthat you're in can be very, very
rewarding for you.
What are some of the mostrewarding parts of the jobs that
(06:34):
you guys do today to day?
SPEAKER_01 (06:37):
I think some of the best things that we do is like
we have volunteers as well thatwe're very close with and we
work hand in hand.
Like, for example, one of ourvolunteers went on the trip
today as a group leader, butmost of them are like our
family.
Um, and I think it's sorewarding because a lot of them
don't have family here or theirfamily's up north and they're
alone.
(06:57):
And we are pretty much theirsafe space and they love to be
here.
We love them.
So it's like a mutual thing thatwe really just enjoy their
company and they enjoy ours.
SPEAKER_03 (07:10):
Absolutely.
It's when um when you seesomeone, you give them a smile,
they give you a hug, and theytell you that you're the best
part of their day.
Yeah, it makes a differencebecause they don't get it at
home, like Danielle said.
Their families aren't here, sowe are an extension of that
family, and we try to make surethat it's felt.
Uh, the more genuine you are,the more they know it.
(07:30):
And so that's the most rewardingthing is to see the folks that
were by themselves or kind oflike recluse, and now they're
just outgoing, they know you,they're here all the time,
they're making new friends, andjust see the transformation.
It's always the best thing.
100%.
SPEAKER_04 (07:49):
What about some of the challenges that you face?
Obviously, this work, uh, whilerewarding, it does come with um
quite many challenges as manythings do.
What are some of the things, theobstacles that you face, and how
do you address those?
SPEAKER_01 (08:04):
Well, you know, I think the seniors they have a
lot of wisdom and they don't putup with a lot.
So they um it can be a littledifficult sometimes, but you
know what?
They we try our best to givethem what they want.
And I think the city of Sunrisealso is very big on customer
(08:26):
service.
And you know, maybe they didn'tsign up for this program, but we
give them their little snack andit just makes them happy, you
know, something so small, butthey can be a little demanding,
fun.
SPEAKER_03 (08:40):
Um it's like um it's like middle school on steroids
in some cases with some.
But it's a it's a great thing totry to navigate.
And one of the challenges thatwe have is we have dynamic
roles, and so we it's everchanging, ever evolving, but we
try to make sure that and peoplewant our times.
(09:01):
So sometimes we're busy andbehind the scenes it's harder to
then be front-facing, but we tryour best to be that face that
they see because they need it,they want it.
So it's like trying to multitaskand do everything behind the
scenes, but still be present forthem.
It's it could be challenging,but it's rewarding.
Um, and just to see how theyappreciate us is a reward.
SPEAKER_00 (09:23):
Yeah, but if it wasn't challenging, if it wasn't
challenging, it wouldn't berewarding, right?
SPEAKER_04 (09:27):
It wouldn't be rewarding.
Exactly.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I'm sorry, Danielle, you weresaying?
SPEAKER_01 (09:31):
No, it's just it's sometimes it is hard to juggle
because we work for the city andwe have different different
events and stuff besides beinghere at the senior center.
So it's hard to try to jugglethat and then give them the
time, but we always try to maketime for them because it's
they're really the reason whywe're doing this, you know.
SPEAKER_04 (09:50):
For sure.
Now, do you you mentionedworking for the city?
What's your background?
How did you get into this lineof work?
Um, Danielle, what what was thewhat did you do?
It's it's funny.
SPEAKER_01 (10:01):
So the city of Sunrise is a great place to
work, I must say, and I'm notbeing biased, but both Wayne and
I actually started um duringsummer camp as seasonals, and um
we kind of just worked our wayup.
I I've been here since I was 15,so almost like 18 years now.
SPEAKER_03 (10:20):
Um Wayne different decades.
SPEAKER_01 (10:26):
Wayne started I started at 16, and so and he he
actually left for some time anddid some corporate America
stuff, and then you know, theyalways come back.
SPEAKER_03 (10:36):
Had to come home.
So I had to come home.
City of Sunrise is a great placeto be.
Senior Center is a great placeto be as well.
So yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (10:44):
Nice.
Kamar, does comfort keepers doso like was there anything in
particular about the city ofSunrise that gravitated that
that gravitated you towardsthem?
Or do you do a lot of this workwith lots of different cities?
And and how how did you start orhow did you come up with the
idea of collaborating with localum local cities to help seniors?
SPEAKER_02 (11:06):
Well, or I mean, as you know, our primary market or
clientele is the elderly.
So we're looking to collab tocollaborate with any
organizations that aresupporting the elderly.
And we do collaborate with othersenior centers, um, like the
Sunrise Senior Center, but forsome reason they are a bit
(11:27):
different.
Um, Danielle, Wayne, the wholeteam there.
I've never gone there once andseen an unhappy employee.
Like everyone there is alwayshappy, always in good spirits.
It's very active on any givenday you're going.
There are seniors there dancing,and it's great seeing seniors um
(11:48):
in that space because oftentimesin or field, we're seeing we're
getting calls when the seniorsare down and out, they need help
in home, which is great too.
But it's good seeing the otherside of things that you know
you're seeing seniors that areactive, they're dancing, they're
doing, they're playing pool,they're they're showing you that
when you're retired or you'reold or you're getting old, um,
(12:10):
you can still be active andstill have a fun life.
So it's great seeing theseseniors um in that light, seeing
them dressed up for their prom,their senior prom.
It's absolutely amazing.
It is, it is, uh it's always agood time sponsoring events
there, seeing them.
And whenever we get clients thatare in or close enough to the
(12:31):
city of Sunrise or um the seniorcenter, we always uh advise them
or or refer the senior center tothem.
And recently, a client of ours,we've been pushing her um to
sign up with this uh the seniorcenter, and she she did, and she
now absolutely loves it.
Um, she is quite young, she's 63and unfortunately suffering from
(12:55):
um dementia, but she goes there.
She recently started a few weeksago and absolutely loves it.
So um it's a no-brainer.
And once you meet Wayne, uhDanielle, and the rest of the
team there, you will be hooked,I'm telling you.
They're really, really nicepeople.
SPEAKER_04 (13:12):
Yeah, it does sound like a match made in heaven.
And I love, I just love the ideaof having having these
connections rooted with thecommunity.
Yeah, comfort keepers cominginto the home, it's great, but
to have all these additionalresources available and outlets
for folks to kind of connectwith really brings a great deal
of meaning and purpose topeople's lives.
(13:33):
Um, and I know that, you know,like I talked about a little
earlier, you know, as we getolder, we often get isolated.
Um what are some of the signsthat you look for when you see
people disconnecting and you seepeople detaching a little bit?
What are some things to takenote of?
I'm trying to speak to those outthere that maybe have aging
parents that are starting to beisolated and they don't have any
(13:54):
help, right?
And they haven't yet plugged intwo senior senators and they
don't know about comfortkeepers, right?
And they're starting to seethese signs.
Like what are some things thatyou'd look for and some advice
that you could give to folks outthere like that?
SPEAKER_02 (14:06):
Um, it's it's a lot of things.
It it varies from person toperson, but a lot of the common
signs that we see is them beingless vocal, is them complaining
about feeling um you know moretired than than they usually
are.
Um and this often happens with alot of our clients that their
(14:26):
families are living out of stateand they don't see them a lot.
That is a common thing that wesee.
Um, a lot of our clients,they're living alone, um, their
family's out of state, they'renot seeing them quite often.
So they get depressed veryeasily.
And um these are some of thesigns that we look forward, um,
look to, I should say.
Them not speaking a lot, themnot eating a lot, their energy
(14:49):
is low, um, they're just not inthe mood to do a lot of things.
And sometimes they just blame iton, oh, I'm feeling a little bit
tired, or I didn't sleep welllast night.
But it all stems to them beingreally just depressed and and
lonely and um fearful, you know,fearful.
Um, just thinking about all theailments they're going through,
(15:12):
their families not being withthem, them living alone,
something possibly happening inthe night um when nobody's there
with them.
So these are a lot of the signsthat we we look to.
That's why we always encourageuh them doing activities if
they're physically able to, andif they're not, we still try to
keep them engaged, um, you know,cognitively and stimulate them
(15:34):
cognitively, and um just try tokeep them happy, lift their
spirits.
That's what we're there for, forsure.
SPEAKER_04 (15:41):
Yeah, it really is a slippery slope when you start to
withdraw yourself, right?
It's like this this loop thatgets this self-feeding loop.
And the more you detach, themore depressed you get, and the
more depressed you get, the moreyou want to detach, and it just
keeps going.
And it's amazing how plugging inand getting a sense getting into
a community and and and beingaround like-minded people raises
(16:02):
your spirits so tremendously.
SPEAKER_02 (16:06):
Yeah, for sure, for sure.
And as Wayne said, a lot ofthese seniors they're set in
their ways.
Um, they like things how theylike them.
So once they get used to acertain routine or doing things
or not going out or just stayinghome, it's very hard for you to
get them outside of theircomfort zone or doing things
that you know will benefit them.
(16:27):
But it just takes consistent,um, you know, consistent being
consistent with them and justencouraging them and being
patient with them, actually.
Actually being patient withthem, just um encouraging them
to get active or get out or talksome more or or just do fun
things.
Um, and eventually they will.
Eventually they will, you know,if if if if they see it's coming
(16:50):
from a place of love and concernand not trying to have them feel
like they're a child again andhaving them doing what you want
them to do, um, because they'revery they're very serious about
holding on to their independenceand not feeling like they're
being bossed around.
SPEAKER_03 (17:05):
So we try to well, one one of the things that we're
blessed with, um the differentprograms that we have.
We either have a bunch ofvolunteer instructors, and so
the volunteer instructors theyare capable and knowledgeable,
being able not only do theprogram that they're doing, but
also cater to the well-being andthe needs that the seniors have.
(17:28):
So the ability to branch out, donew stuff.
We have a less talk group wherethey come in, they talk about
any social topic.
At one point, we try to justsay, hey, you can't talk about
this, but they're gonna talkabout whatever they feel like
talking about.
So just do it responsibly, andum, they have a great time.
But just to be in a space withother adults, other like-minded
(17:50):
individuals, and just to be ableto talk about things.
We have a bereavement group, sofolks who are going through loss
together, sharing how they feel.
And it started out where theycame in, they did the group,
they left.
Now they're like a family.
Whatever events that we havegoing on, they show up together.
Yeah, and so they have theyformulated new families in the
(18:11):
do like a potluck.
Yeah, they they eat together,they every program they do that
we have, they sign up together.
Yeah, it's really good.
SPEAKER_04 (18:21):
Danielle, I want to talk a little bit more about uh
the programs that you guysoffer.
We've alluded to a lot of thefun things that you do.
What are what are some of thethings that seniors can expect
to find there?
I'd imagine there's exerciseprograms.
You mentioned the potluck,there's different run down the
list.
Uh you know, I want to catchpeople for anybody that's
listening, maybe somethinginterests somebody that doesn't
interest somebody else.
Yeah, of course.
SPEAKER_01 (18:43):
So we have a calendar that we send out every
two months.
It's a lengthy calendar.
So I like to tell people whenthey first come to kind of look
through it and see whatinterests them, like what day
works for them, what time.
But we have art classes, we havecomputer classes, we have
classes to learn English becausewe do have a divide a diverse
group of people here in Sunrise.
(19:04):
So health lectures.
That's one of the main thingsthat um I was also gonna add to
Wayne's uh comment aboutbereavement groups and stuff
like that, or health lectures.
And it touches base on differentthings like mental health and
stuff like that that will helpthese seniors get through those
hard hard times.
Um, so then we also haveexercise classes such as Zumba,
(19:25):
Tai Chi, Aqua Fitness, um, someother things we do is a cooking
class, a ballroom dancing class,which is like Latin dance based.
Um listen, he has the best moveshere at the Choice.
And then Kamar is second best.
So I kind of am in charge toothat we do a different special
(19:55):
event each month.
Um, it's either a social that wedo during the day that we
provide lunch and then some typeof entertainment, whether it's a
DJ or a band, and it's only$8 tocome if you're a member.
Our membership rates, just soyou know, are for Sunrise
residents, it's$15 to join forthe year.
If you're a non-resident, it's$25 to join from the year.
SPEAKER_04 (20:19):
Basically free, essentially.
Very, very affordable.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (20:23):
Um, and then so it just you there's a lot of
programs that you just can't be.
We do a lunch bunch that wepretty much make the food from
scratch.
Our director is a great cook.
She went to culinary school, soshe helps us out into making the
food, and it's the best meal forfive bucks that you can get from
(20:44):
scratch.
So it's just something for themto come and mingle.
We have line dancing, that theyall come and do line dancing
classes with our instructorthat's a volunteer.
So there's something foreveryone.
We have a book club, it just thelist goes on and on of what we
offer.
SPEAKER_04 (21:01):
It's it's incredible.
Uh, it really is a no-brainer,right?
Like if you're out there andyou're retired and you're just
sitting around all day, don'tlike you gotta get out there and
get plugged into theseresources.
But it it's just it's it's gottabe life-changing for people.
I can only imagine.
I've not been plugged in.
I mean, I'm all I'm only 46.
I'm not uh not quite a senioryet, but when I am, I'm glad
(21:22):
that I'm aware that all this isout there now because I think
there's a lot of people thatdon't really understand or
don't, or they're just not inthe know and they don't realize
that these resources areavailable to them and their
families.
SPEAKER_01 (21:34):
We also provide transportation too for a lot of
the seniors.
So a lot of them still drive.
Um, but if they live in sunrise,we have a bus transportation
route that picks them up in theolder community, which is
Sunrise Lakes, and then we alsocan pick them up at their home
if they call a day ahead.
So we try our best to get themhere any way possible.
And you know, a lot of them, youknow, give some pushback, but
(21:57):
their kids, let's say their kidsdo live here and they know that
they're home all day and they'reat work, you know, their kids
are at work, so they kind ofgive them that little push to
come, and usually they're alittle hesitant, but once they
start, they end up loving it.
I've heard I've seen and heardmany stories of a lot of the
seniors that come and they justreally enjoy it and they tell us
(22:20):
like this saved my life justcoming to the center.
SPEAKER_04 (22:24):
Good stuff.
Is there I want to ask you guysover the senior center, is there
a is there a resident story?
Something that really captureswhat the center is all about.
Does something come to mind?
SPEAKER_01 (22:40):
Resident story.
SPEAKER_04 (22:42):
Not resident, but one of your not residents.
Members, I should say.
SPEAKER_01 (22:48):
I mean maybe Ozelle.
SPEAKER_03 (22:51):
Oh, yes.
So we have um one of our one ofour members, he is on the
heavier side.
Um, and he was trying to makesure health was something that
he regained because he startedgoing downhill at one point.
Hard for him to maneuver, hardfor him to move around.
(23:11):
We had an event called Walk inthe Park.
And at one of the specificparks, we have a lot of
different vendors' activities.
We encourage them to walk aroundthe park.
And as they walk around, thereare different activities that
they can do uh along that path.
So we try to do a new park eachyear to introduce our seniors to
it.
So during this one event, he waswalking and actually went down.
(23:34):
His knees gave out uh under hisweight and he went down.
And there were some youngerseasonal staff that we had, and
I was trying to get him up, andI saw this one kid just hop a
fence, came over, butcollectively we were there, got
him up, and he shared that thatmoment that he went down.
He felt embarrassed, but we madehim feel confident in that
(23:58):
moment.
We took away the embarrassmentand just showed care, and he
went from being um uh morbidlyobese to working out, doing our
aqua fitness class, now doingdifferent exercise classes,
taking the cooking class, takingthe cooking class to have
healthier options to know how toeat properly.
And he said that one event thatcould have turned out to be the
(24:18):
most embarrassing thing where hecould have been more recluse in
after that, he to he changed itand started coming out more.
And he's here every week doingthree programs exercising,
stretch classes, stretchclasses, all of it.
SPEAKER_01 (24:32):
Yes, he takes full advantage now, and we're we're
just so proud of him, and hetells us all the time.
And he's like, Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (24:40):
So really touching stuff, yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (24:44):
Yeah, it really is.
It's it's it's one of thosesituations where we realize that
we work at a senior center whenwe have some of the more tragic
scenarios, and it's like, uhit's one of the hardest things.
You know, the folks that youcome to love and know, and now
they're not here anymore, and itmakes it real.
But then the ones that you couldconsistently and continuously
impact, you're like you doubledown even more because you want
(25:07):
to make sure that you're still apart of their lives.
SPEAKER_04 (25:11):
Absolutely.
So you mentioned volunteers, youhave a lot of volunteers working
there.
For anyone out there listeningthat does want to get connected,
that maybe does want to act as avolunteer and show their
support.
What's the best way for them todo that?
SPEAKER_01 (25:24):
So they would go on the city website.
They still have to apply as ifthey're almost applying for a
job, but it's a lot easier.
We can always they can alwayscome to our center and we can
help them fill out thatapplication.
So it's on the upper right-handcorner of sunrisefl.gov.
You click on jobs, and thenyou're gonna click on volunteer
(25:46):
application and you fill out theapplication, and then we'll
usually bring you in for aninterview, kind of see what you
like, your availability, and wego from there.
SPEAKER_03 (25:55):
Correct.
So if it's uh someone that'slooking to volunteer to teach a
program, um, volunteer to bepart of our front desk staff, or
just volunteer to um do anythingin general, we try to find out
what your gifts are, what yourneeds are, um, and your skill
sets, and we'll go from there.
SPEAKER_04 (26:13):
Excellent.
And for anyone out therelistening that is interested in
in coming by and taking part andbecoming a member, let's say
somebody out there that thatdoesn't drive, maybe they're all
alone, they don't have familyhere.
Can they just reach out, pick upthe phone, call you guys, you'll
get them the bus information.
What's the best inform the bestway for them to connect and and
and get plugged in and startstart coming to see you guys?
SPEAKER_03 (26:37):
So if they are a city of Sunrise resident,
definitely um they could reachout, contact us.
I'd probably say try to havesomeone take you here first so
you get all the information thatyou would need.
And then from there, we'll see.
Um, our we do a medicaltransport need, and uh we'll see
what you need as far astransportation goes from a
(26:57):
pickup for medical umappointments and so forth, and
we'll try to fit you in and whatthe next steps are.
Uh we don't have anything onlineyet for our application, so
everything is still in person,but we would encourage them to
have somebody bring them here ifthey can come here themselves.
If they can drive, drive here,and we'll go through our front
(27:18):
desk staff is phenomenal, andour whole team will be able to
help you through, give you atour of the facility, just talk
through and see what it is thatbest fits your need.
So, everything that we do is notfor everyone, but there's
something for everyone.
So you'll find something thatyou'd like to do.
SPEAKER_04 (27:35):
Well, I for one can safely say that I'm glad that we
had this conversation today.
My father is approaching 80,he'll be 80 next year, I
believe.
And he lives in sunrise, andhe's he's pretty much just kind
of like sitting in his house allday, like he's completely
disconnected.
Like, I don't know if he'd bewilling to even go and check it
out, but I'm gonna make it amission of myself to go over to
(27:56):
him and bring him down to yourfacility because I do want to
see what you have going onthere, and I want him to see
what's available, and I want himto kind of plug himself in and
and you know, he's never beenone to be plugged into the
community like that, but maybeyou know it could give him a
renewed sense of purpose.
So I'm pretty excited about it.
SPEAKER_01 (28:12):
And the ladies need more time there.
SPEAKER_02 (28:16):
I was gonna say because if he does, I I I know a
few scenes there looking for uhuh you know, looking for a guy,
yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (28:26):
Yeah, they're they're hanging out on the hunt,
they're on the hunt.
SPEAKER_04 (28:29):
I almost want to call him right now and put him
on speaker and say, hey Nudge,you want to go?
But I'm I'm actually a littlebit concerned that he might say
something inappropriate becausehe has a inappropriate time.
So I'm gonna I'm gonna hold offon that.
I don't want to do some awkwardsituations, but I think that
could be fun.
Oh goodness.
All right, cool guys.
Uh this was a lot of fun.
Anybody have anything elsethey'd like to add before we
(28:50):
wrap up here?
SPEAKER_02 (28:51):
Well, before we wrap up, um, a new initiative that we
have um with providing more carefor our seniors, because a lot
of the client or our seniorsthat we care for are financially
unable to, let's say, pay for24-hour care.
You know, we see them four hourshere, four hours there, maybe a
couple of days per week.
(29:12):
So what we now have is a virtualsystem that we uh we stay
connected with them 24 hoursoutside of the times that we're
providing care for them.
And it's all encompassed intheir um, they're not up charge
or charge anymore.
So whatever they're paying forthese four or five hours per
week that we're seeing them, umthey essentially stay connected.
(29:33):
This is a small pod that um weplug in the three most visited
areas of their home.
And it's an audio based system.
So if they were to fall, itwould trigger an alert on our
end.
Um, again, a lot of them areliving by themselves.
Um, they fall and they're notclose to a phone to call for
help.
Once they fall, it triggers analert on our end.
(29:54):
If they're coughing more thannormal, um, it you know, gives
us an alert that hey, this maybe an operation.
respiratory issue.
So it's a preventative um youknow system.
And also if something were tohappen, it also gives us an
alert.
This morning, for example, I gotan alert that a client of ours
um uh might have felt well lastnight at 1130 and before going
(30:15):
to bed I just gave her a call toensure that she was okay and she
told me that everything wasfine.
And so this is what we have it'sit's a virtual system that we
are standard part of work herenow that we are giving to all
our our clients.
So and it's been making a greatdifference.
SPEAKER_04 (30:32):
So yeah just wanted to you know tell you a little
bit about yeah good stuff alwayson the the cutting edge yes or
trying to all right cool wellwe'll leave it at that everyone
out there thanks for joining usuh if you found this useful if
you know of a senior in yourlife that needs help and support
please share this with them andmake sure that they take
(30:53):
advantage of these wonderfulresources that are available.
Everyone again thanks for tuningin and we will catch you all
next time on the next episode ofthe Comfort Keepers Davy
podcast.
SPEAKER_00 (31:02):
Everyone take care have a blessed day thank you
thank you for listening to theComfort Keepers Davy podcast for
more information visitcomfortkeepers dot com or call
nine five four nine four sevenseven nine five four
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