SYNERGYHomeCare.com FALL 2018
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hen Kevin Droniak began posting videos to YouTube in 2012 he quickly discovered that one type of video got more attention than the others: videos featuring his grandma, Lillian. Placing his camera on the dashboard of the car, Kevin recorded his interactions with his grandmother as they spent time running errands together. These videos gained popularity, and the pair became YouTube celebrities with a following of over half a million people.
KEVIN & LILL JULY 2012 FIRST CAR RIDE
Additionally, Kevin showed that spending time with his grandmother is fun and beneficial for both of them. His interactions with Grandma Lill taught him about her perspective on life, and their activities helped her to become more connected to the community around her. According to Kevin, he created videos on YouTube with Grandma Lill for two years before telling her what he was up to. People began to recognize her when she went out, or when the both of them were running errands together. Finally, in 2014, Kevin showed Grandma Lill the channel, told her about the videos, and even watched some of them with her. He was pleasantly surprised by her reaction, telling her on camera, “I’m glad you’re laughing, I thought you’d be mad!” “People love it, Grandma,” Kevin told her during the reveal episode. The two of them took a moment to read some of the comments from fans posted on previous videos. “You inspire people,” said Kevin after reading a comment from a video.
You’re an inspiration to the youth, Grandma. You’re making them into good people.
And it all comes from Kevin including his grandmother in his activities and from Grandma Lill wanting to be supportive. “You’re having fun, right?” Grandma Lill asked Kevin in the reveal video, “We’re both having fun.”
Once Grandma Lill knew that Kevin was creating videos for YouTube, her interactions with the community and with technology increased. “She really loves being a popular person, at 88-years old,” said Doug Droniak, Grandma Lill’s son and Kevin’s father. “Being famous, you have to be busy all the time. There’s always something you’re doing,” said Grandma Lill, “But I still make time to play Bingo.”
GRANDMA LILL LITTLE BIG SHOTS POSTER
KEVIN & LILL SECRET RECORDING REVEAL
In an article on legacy.org, Susan V. Bosak states, “the richest forms of human development are most available to those willing and able to interweave their needs and potential with the needs and potential of others, especially those younger or older.” Kevin had the drive and desire to create a successful YouTube channel, he just needed the right content. Grandma Lill had the right personality and attitude, she just needed someone to spend the time with her. By combining their needs and potential, Kevin is able to create fun and engaging content as well as be a significant part of his grandmother’s life.
FALL 2018 | SYNERGYHomeCare.com
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Source: http://www.legacyproject.org/guides/intergenbenefits.html
Over the course of their time as YouTube celebrities, Kevin and Lill have met thousands of people and shared many experiences, from attending creator conventions to making commercials to being interviewed on the news and various talk shows. Ultimately, their inspiration to others and dedication to living life with purpose lead SYNERGY HomeCare to name them as brand ambassadors earlier this year.
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hen caring for someone, a solid and reliable network of people and organizations with the right knowledge and experience makes a significant, positive impact in the lives of families and their loved ones. Home care professionals know that their services are often needed to supplement care that people are already receiving. They also know that reaching out to other organizations that they trust for help and support will benefit their clients in times of need. SYNERGY HomeCare franchises develop partnerships with many organizations in their community in order to provide mutual support and ensure that clients needs are met. Weaam Kassam, a franchise owner in Oklahoma, shared an event which shows the value of these partnerships.
“Last week, a nurse from a local retirement community called us at 11:30 PM as a patient living in the memory care needed immediate one-on-one assistance. We sent a caregiver right away! Our caregiver not only helped to keep the resident safe but provided relief to the retirement community staff.” Gaye Aaberg, a franchise owner in Illinois, shared an experience where partners came together to support a client transferring home from their facility. “A nursing home contacted us late on a Friday afternoon. They needed 24/7 care for a client that was getting discharged that evening. We all worked together to make it happen. Within two hours we introduced the care team to the client and the family. Everyone was so grateful, especially the nursing home.” Recently, one organization found themselves needing some unexpected help. They turned
to their local SYNERGY HomeCare partner for support. “It was a dark and cold night in February when I was approached by our nursing staff that we had an ill male patient who was worried about his aged wife having something to eat. I met with him and he did have real concerns and a plan for her but didn’t have a way to make his plan work. It was thought that his concerns might impact his consenting to needed medical care and that a little-aged lady might go hungry. So.... who was thought of first as the ONE who could help? Sue from SYNERGY HomeCare! Your kindness still stands tall. Thank you for being who you are..... Sue with a big heart. Blessings, Cathy.” SYNERGY HomeCare community partners are a valued and critical part of providing the best care, whether they reside in their own home or are residents of a care organization. These partnerships help our local franchise owners provide quality care to everyone.
SYNERGY HOMECARE WORDSEARCH Words can be vertical, horizontal, diagonal and also backwards.
AGING ARTIST CAREGIVER CELEBRITY COMMUNITY CREATIVITY HALLOWEEN HEART
INSPIRATION KEVIN LILL PAINTING PARTNERS SYNERGY WEAVING YOUTUBE
ACROSS 05. SYNERGY HomeCare franchises have many ______ with local organizations. 07. ______ Droniak made YouTube videos with his grandmother. 08. Grandma Lill still makes time to play ______. 09. Grandma ______ is Kevin’s grandmother. 10. Grandma Lill said that she and Kevin are both having ______.
Hint check out the rest of the magazine for more clues.
Key is available at https://goo.gl/JCf3hQ
DOWN 01. Kevin and Grandma Lill are ______. 02. The greatest caregivers are those who do it from the ______. 03. This year there where to______ -up for the Caregiver of the Year award. 04. Kevin said that Grandma Lill is an ______ to others. 06. Many older people enjoy showing their ______ abilities.
CAREGIVER TIPS SYNERGY HomeCare caregivers are the best caregivers. Each year we receive excellent nominations for our annual Caregiver of the Year award. This year we had so many great nominations that we ended up with two Runners-Up!
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wen is part of the team at SYNERGY HomeCare of Richmond, VA. They shared several reasons why she is one of the best.
Gwen continuously goes above and beyond what she is asked of as a caregiver to touch the hearts of our clients. We refer to her as ‘all-wheel-drive’. Gwen has the ability and desire to work with
any client, in any situation, in any location and has made a difference in the lives of so many of our clients.
Gwen has an ability to encourage and reach clients in a way that few can; a client that no one (not even family caregivers) could convince to try to take steps, is now walking laps around the house. Gwen has gone to great lengths to ensure the safety of her clients, as she sprinted screaming, down the road after a transport van that did not stop to drop off her client. She has the gift of getting the grumpiest of clients to smile and find some happiness in their day.”
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ayra is a member of the SYNERGY HomeCare of Sun City team. An example of why Mayra stands out among caregivers comes from the mother of one of Mayra’s care recipients. “My daughter, Denise, was in her last stages of a brain tumor slowly taking her life and leaving her with a slow loss of the ability to walk, talk, and interact with people. But… we were sent an angel who could talk and elicit small human responses from Denise up until the end. For months, Mayra came 6 days a week, always with a smile, on time, and neatly dressed. She was able to feed Denise and get responses and smiles from her. Mayra was a daily beam of light, caring, and resourcefulness to help dispel the daily dread of our imminent family loss of our daughter … I will miss her almost as much as my daughter and hope she can continue to help others.” Another family member, who calls Mayra “Pixie”, shared the following: “Pixie is the number one caregiver for my wife, Mary Lou. Pixie is the best as she gets along with Lou. We lover as though part of our family.”
The greatest caregivers are those who do it from the heart. - Steve Thompson, Franchise Owner Keep an eye out for our next issue of SYNERGY HomeCare magazine which will feature our Caregiver of the Year winner! FALL 2018 | SYNERGYHomeCare.com
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any older adults find themselves with opportunities to spend time exploring and sharing their skills and talents. They discover that aging has provided them with an opportunity to explore their creative side and they often find inspiration and encouragement through sharing their creations with each other.
I absolutely need to share what I create,
said Ravan Powell, an artist from Arizona. “Friends become important. When art is such a
big thing, I find that I resonate with other artists.” Painting and creating poetry has helped Ravan meet new people and continue to refine her artistic abilities. She says that peers will introduce her to other artists or writers, and these introductions create connections and friendships. “My friends are very important (for) connecting me, and keeping me connected to the community,” she said. Ravan said that being able to meet with other older adults who create art is beneficial to her and to her peers. “We support and encourage each other,” she said. “They show me what they’re doing and their excitement; I show them what I’m doing, and we become a support base for one another.” Sharing artwork and other creative work is especially important to older adults who frequently face loneliness in their lives. For people who are alone, sharing their creations can significantly improve their quality of life. “Your joy is doubled when it’s shared,” said Ravan.
“A LITTLE HELP” BY RAVAN POWELL
“SLEEPING BEAUTY” BY RAVAN POWELL
“WHEELS” BY RAVAN POWELL
“GRAVE DANCERS” BY RAVAN POWELL
“LIVES ON” BY RAVAN POWELL
DOT REPLINGER POSES WITH HER LOOM IN HER HOME IN APRIL
DOT REPLINGER DOLLS CREATED BY DOT OVER THE YEARS
DOT REPLINGER PAINTED PIECES OF ARTWORK BY DOT
DOT REPLINGER SCARVES WEAVED INTO A TAPESTRY
Another creative older adult, Dot Replinger, used her skills in painting and weaving to create lasting works that were a part of her life long after her friends had passed away. “Pretty soon, if you live to my age, all your friends will be gone,” said Dot. “ I’m grateful I’ve had my artwork.” As Dot continued to get older, she was still able to express herself through her creativity, spending time completing artistic projects with caregivers from SYNERGY HomeCare. “I love my caregivers, Bonnie and Maria, they are superior,” said Dot.
DOT REPLINGER NECKLACES CREATED OVER TIME BY DOT
Supporting creative endeavors is just one of many ways that caregivers support older adults. As people get older, they learn that having some help can improve their life. Ravan captured this sentiment in her painting titled “A Little Help,” the first in her Little Old Ladies (LOL) series. “Now, as I age, and as my health continues to do what it’s doing; I really celebrate ‘it’s ok to get a little help’,” she said. “My art is my expression of all that I’m working out personally.”
They saved me.
Her latest series of projects has allowed Ravan to explore concepts that older adults think about and face, but are often not expressed. “I think people Spending time creating works of art with her benefit from my paintings ... by being inspired by caregivers felt like a family experience. “I never images that portray the idea that aging, physical had daughters, Bonnie and Maria are like my daughters,” she said. “The artwork I’m doing with handicaps, and health challenges are not the end of an enjoyable life,” she said. “I find that if I can them is a God Send.” put a visual expression to the invisible, it helps.” FALL 2018 | SYNERGYHomeCare.com
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