April is National Humor Month. It was designed to heighten public awareness on how the joy and therapeutic value of laughter can improve health, boost morale, and enrich the quality of one's life. It takes no special skills, it makes you feel good, and it relieves stress. Humor has the power to heal the body, mind, and soul; and what better time of year to renew yourself than spring. Spring-that time of year when we begin to feel rejuvenated by the hint of warmer weather. The trees are becoming greener and the flowers are starting to bloom. The early mornings are still chilly, but by noon we feel the warmth of the sun. In the spring, nature provides many benefits: fresh air, the opportunity to go outdoors for physical exercise, and stimulation of the senses. Go for a walk with your senior loved one, plant a flower garden, or just sit on a park bench. The smell of spring is all around and those smells will also stimulate the senses. So, get some fresh air and enjoy the outdoors.

Monarch News!
We are proud to announce the birth of Decklyn, a healthy baby girl weighing 7lbs 10oz. to our wonderful
Field Supervisor Shannon, her husband Houston, and to the new big sister Loghan!

Our Caregiver of the month award goes to Jason Campbell! Great Job and Keep up the good work Jason!


Understanding Parkinson's Disease
April is National Parkinson's Awareness Month. Parkinson's disease is a disorder of the brain that affects motor skills, speech, and mobility. It is a slow, yet chronic and progressive disease that affects a small area of cells in the mid-brain. Symptoms include:
Tremors or slight shaking of hands, feet, head, or limbs
Muscle rigidity or unusual stiffness
Trouble with balance
Muffled speech
Uncharacteristic depression
Recognizing these symptoms early is the key to managing Parkinson's, coping with the disease, and helping loved ones maintain a high quality of life. Although there is no cure for Parkinson's disease, with early diagnosis and an effective plan of treatment, the symptoms of the disease can often be controlled or lessened. Treatment may include:
medication therapy
physical and occupational therapy to help maintain range of motion, muscle tone, balance, flexibility, and communication ability
lifestyle alterations through exercise, diet, rest, and stress reduction
Learn more about living with Parkinson's by visiting the local Michigan Parkinson's Foundation, the Michael J. Fox Organization and the National Parkinson Foundation.

Veterans Long-Term Care Benefits

Aid & Attendance (A & A) and House Bound benefits are paid in addition to monthly pension. A veteran must be eligible for pension to receive A & A benefits. Eligibility is provided to veterans that:
require the regular attendance of another person to assist in eating, bathing, dressing and undressing or taking care of the needs of nature, OR
are blind or in a nursing home because of mental or physical incapacity, OR
are bedridden.
A veteran may be eligible for House Bound benefits when the veteran:
has a single permanent disability evaluated as 100 % disabling and due to the disability, he/she is permanently and substantially confined to his/her immediate premises, OR
has a single permanent disability evaluated as 100 % disabling AND, another disability, or disabilities, evaluated as 60 % or more disabling.
Call Monarch Garden Inc for local contacts that can assist in applying for these benefits.
Service available in the Michigan Counties of
Oakland, Macomb, Livingston,
Washtenaw, Monroe, & St. Clair.

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Our "Helping Hands" are the intelligent decision that will provide the care you need & offer you piece of mind. Our caregiver's are professionally trained & will care for yours' as if they were our own. Allow us to provide superior home care for your senior, enabling them to continue living as independent as possible.

Family Care Giving Classes
American Red Cross Family Care Giving Classes
Are Being Scheduled at this time!
Class will be held at:
Monarch Garden Inc
14203 Rick Drive, Shelby Township
Michigan 48315
Please send your Resume and Three Letters of Recommendation to our corporate office or by fax/e-mail to (586) 803-8026 or http://us.mc315.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=administration@monarchgardeninc.com
After you have submitted your Resume and Three Letters of Recommendation & If you meet the initial employment criteria, A Monarch Garden Inc. staff member will contact you to invite you to attend the care giving classes.
All employee's under go extensive background checks
The fee for all nine classes is $45.00
Fee of $45.00 is due on the day of your first scheduled class.
Class size is limited to 16 persons.
$ 35.00 will be used for uniforms at start of employment if all criteria is met i.e., but not limited to; background, personality, skills assessment
If employment criteria is not met, or you have chosen employment else where, the $45.00 is for class attendance and the certificate of completion you receive,it is non-refundable.

The Chosen Home Care Agency
Whether it is a spouse, a parent, or even a friend, there are signs that perhaps your loved one may need services by a caregiver agency. There are many things to look for from physical and mental limitations, to their ability to keep up with housekeeping and finances. Difficulty walking or unsteadiness on their feet can lead to falls, which is a huge safety risk for an elderly person. Also, if you have noticed diminished driving skills or near misses while driving, elder care services may be something to look into to protect them, as well as others. A change in eating habits may be observed, or they may not be able or willing to cook for themselves anymore. There can be a lack of nutritious food available in their homes, and maybe spoiled food in their refrigerator. There may be a concern about the safety of them cooking for themselves, and good nutrition is mandatory for their health. Grooming can become a problem for the elderly. If you have noticed his/her personal hygiene is not as good as it should be, this is another sign of your loved one is needing some help keeping up with their daily routines. Administering medications may also lead to the need for elder care services. This is critical for their health preservation and safety. Sometimes prescription drugs are very complicated to keep up with and the elderly need assistance in being reminded when their daily dosages should be taken. Housekeeping and paperwork may also be something that is not being kept up with for your loved one. There can be unopened mail and past due bills leading to mishandled finances, and added stress. Sometimes a loss of interest in socializing or activities that they typically enjoyed can be a warning. If they have difficulty concentrating, poor judgment, or even a personality change, it may be a sign of Dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Confusion and struggling to complete familiar actions can be signs of the onset of one of these cognitive disorders. Your loved one may misplace familiar objects, become depressed and irritable, and be forgetful and lose memory. All of these are indicators that one may need elder care services.

About Us
Lisa McFarland, R.D. N.H.A.
Registered Dietitian & Nursing Home Administrator
Monarch Gardens Inc. came to fruitain when our founder, Lisa McFarland needed home care for her grandmother whom had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. At that time, high quality home care was not readily available. This experience inspired Lisa to create a home care service company in her vision of what she wanted for her grandmother.
Lisa McFarland attended and obtained her degrees from Michigan State University and Wayne State University. She is a Registered Dietitian and a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator.
Monarch Gardens Inc. provides many services to meet the specific needs of seniors and their family caregivers.
Our "Vision and Mission" is to provide superior home-care services and to be a household name among your family, friends, neighbours and your community.
Monarch Gardens Inc. will give you a comforting peace of mind. Call today, for a consultation at no charge!
Our Office
Classes are held at our headquarters in Shelby Township. Service's are available in the Michigan Counties of Oakland, Macomb, Livingston, Washtenaw, Monroe, & St. Clair.
Who We Are
Our wonderful staff has attended and completed all nine American Red Cross family care giving modules
and trained by Lisa McFarland specifically for the purpose of services offered by Monarch Gardens Inc. All employee's have obtained a clean background check, are insured/bonded and are covered by workers compensation.
American Red Cross Class
The course starts with a group assessment. Each family caregiver is carefully selected. We interact directly with each individual for the purpose of matching caregivers with clients. Each family caregiver will successfully complete a series of 9 module courses.

Contact Us

Monarch Garden Inc
14203 Rick Dr.
Shelby Twp. Mi, 48315
Phone: (586) 247-3513 Fax: (586) 247-5101
MonarchGardenInc.com
http://monarchgardeninc.com/blog/
http://us.mc315.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=LisaMcFarland@MonarchGardenInc.com

IMPORTANT INFORMATION YOU SHOULD KNOW!
The Area Agency on Aging 1-B
The Area Agency on Aging 1-B (AAA 1-B) is a nonprofit agency serving the needs of
older adults in Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, and Washtenaw counties.
For more information about the Senior Advocacy Network (SAN) or to receive
future editions of The Advocate, contact Ann Langford at (248) 262-1282 or by email
at alangford@aaa1b.com.
Federal Legislation to Combat Elder Abuse Signed
President Obama signed the Elder Justice Act and the Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention
Act this week as part of health care reform legislation.
The main provisions of the Elder Justice Act include:
• Adult Protective Services (APS) funding. Provides $400 million ($100 million each
year) in first-time dedicated funding for adult protective services. Also provides
$100 million ($25 million annually) for state demonstration grants to test a variety of
methods to improve APS.
• Provides $32.5 million (over 4 years) in grants to support the Long-Term Care
(LTC) Ombudsman Program and an additional $40 million ($10 million annually) in
training programs for national organizations and state LTC ombudsman programs.
• Establishes an Elder Justice Coordinating Council to make recommendations to the
Secretary of HHS on the coordination of activities of federal, state, local and private
agencies and entities relating to elder abuse, neglect and exploitation. Recommendations
contained in a report are due in two years.
The Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act creates a national program of criminal background
checks for persons seeking employment in nursing homes and other long-term
care facilities. The Patient Safety legislation was added by Michigan Senator Debbie
Stabenow on behalf of the bill’s author, Senator Herb Kohl (D-Wisconsin).
The non partisan 622 member Elder Justice Coalition called the legislation “the most comprehensive
federal legislation ever to combat elder abuse, neglect and exploitation.”
ADVOCACY SPECIALIST JOINS AAA 1-B
Ann Langford has joined the Area Agency on Aging 1-B as its new Advocacy Specialist. Ann is responsible
for managing the Senior Advocacy Network and working with advocates to bring to legislators the concerns
and needs of older adults. With several years’ experience in corporate and non-profit management,
finance, and marketing, Ann has chosen to redirect her career toward serving older adults. She has a
Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of Michigan, and has recently earned a graduate
certificate in gerontology from Eastern Michigan University. Prior to coming to the AAA 1-B, Ann spent
three years serving as Resources Manager at an area adult literacy non-profit organization, including one year as an AmeriCorps service member.