Hanson Services, Inc.

09/03/2026

September is Hunger Action Month and tomorrow is Food Bank Day. The Greater Cleveland Food Bank is a great resource for those in need. Don't need their services? Then consider donating to this amazing organization that helps so many in our area.

No matter what challenges you are facing, you don’t have to navigate them alone.
The Greater Cleveland Food Bank’s Outreach Team is in the neighborhood to connect you with the right resources, right where you live.

We are here to help you:
📍 Find free, nutritious food at a pantry or meal site close to your home.
📋 Apply for public benefits, including SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, and more.
🏢 Access local support services at our Community Resource Center and through our amazing nonprofit partners.

Our services are completely free, confidential, and available to anyone who needs a helping hand. Take a look at some of our stops this month below.

08/31/2026

Hi local friends, Lakewood's Div of Aging needs more volunteers to deliver community meals! They're looking for someone who can cover a Tuesday or Thursday route. I've been doing this for over 5 years and it's enjoyable and really helps you connect with the community. I will say it takes more like two hours (rather than the one they're saying), you have to be able to lug the food bags out to your car when you pick them up, and you have to be able to go up and down stairs on porches and sometimes in apartment buildings. All the effort is well worth the smiles and thanks you get in return.

Be a volunteer driver for Home Delivered Meals and serve your community by serving your neighbor. We're looking for (human) volunteers for a Tuesday morning route and a Thursday morning route. Contact us at [email protected] or call us at Cove Community Center at 216-521 6051 to sign up.

08/25/2026

Free program at Cuyahoga County Library - Beachwood Branch
It’s never too late to focus on brain health!
In this interactive session, you will learn about the six pillars of brain health and strategies for supporting brain health, and hopefully be inspired by others. This session is a good overview for anyone interested in learning more about brain health and will provide you with information based on current research on brain health, lifestyle suggestions and resources to learn more.

Ever wonder what a day focused on brain health would look like? Learn about habits that incorporate the six pillars of brain health into your everyday life.. Event starts at September 1, 2026 11:00 AM EDT

08/21/2026

Today is Senior Citizen’s Day! It’s a time to honor the older folks in our lives, to appreciate their achievements and thank them for their wisdom! Sometimes it takes a long life to be able to see what’s really important in life are things like patience, kindness and forgiveness. Hopefully we can all learn that lesson from our elders sooner rather than later. Hanson caregivers often express how grateful they are to have meaningful relationships with our clients. Some favorite words of wisdom we’ve benefited from are:
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Everything looks better after a good nights’ sleep.
It's better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.
Wherever you go and whatever you do, just be the real you.
If you have an older person in your life, give them a call today and wish them well!

08/17/2026

An important part of keeping the brain healthy and functioning well, as we age, is to keep doing engaging activities. Exhausted family caregivers can get help from Hanson Services’ caregivers, who can plan and help with hobbies or outings.
Sometimes older adults lack the motivation to seek out activities for themselves. In particular, a person experiencing some type of dementia will usually lose the ability to think of and plan fun things to do. They may even experience apathy or depression and resist suggestions for engaging in anything that requires effort.
Many older adults would be happy to be busier; they just need help finding and getting to activities. Again, those with dementia may need a little more coaxing. When friends or family can accompany them, or spend time with them in the home, they may be more willing to engage. Time with others is sometimes what they crave most!
Your local senior center is a great place to explore the possibilities. And check out our suggestion, the Farrell Foundation, for supportive activities for those with dementia.

08/06/2026

Adults age 65 and over take an average of 4 to 5 different medications daily. It can be confusing keeping track of which pill to take when. Hanson Services' caregivers can help give medication reminders. It's important to provide a list of all medications a person takes, including dosage, when the meds should be taken and even what each pill looks like. We can either provide just a reminder to take meds, or we can assist the person to take their pills. An important guide we must follow is that we can only assist with medications that are already in a pillbox. We can also provide a Medications List form if you need one to help organize multiple meds. Just ask our caregiver to request one from the Hanson office. If your loved one doesn't need help taking their medications, it's still important to have a list with all details about what they are taking. Such a list is useful at doctor's appointments, emergency room visits, and it gives us a more complete picture of what conditions a person is trying to manage. We're always there to help with whatever you, or your loved one, needs to stay safely and comfortably in your own home!

07/29/2026

Last week we posted about hospice care, and this week we’d like to mention Palliative Care. Palliative care is specialized medical care for people with a serious illness who are not ready for or choose not to use hospice care. Like hospice care, Hanson caregivers can work alongside the medical team providing palliative care to someone at home, or other settings. While hospice is an approach to end-of-life care used when a person is past the point of curative treatments, palliative care may be used while a person still receives curative medical care. It’s appropriate at any stage of a serious illness. Both approaches focus on managing symptoms, especially pain, so a person may experience the best quality of life possible. Hospitals and hospice providers offer palliative care, just ask for it. It is usually covered by Medicare, Medicaid and many private insurances. Check your policy. More info in the comments.

07/27/2026

Registration open for Synergy 2026

What is Synergy?
Synergy is Ohio’s premier conference focused on inclusion, innovation, and collaboration within the developmental disability community. What makes Synergy unique is that people with disabilities, family members, providers, advocates, educators, employers, researchers, and policymakers come together as equal partners in the conversation.

More than a conference, Synergy is a catalyst for new ideas, meaningful relationships, personal change, and collective action that helps create better lives and stronger communities.

Who Attends Synergy?
Synergy welcomes a diverse community of participants, including:

Self-Advocates
County Board Staff
Educators
Policy Leaders
Families
Employers
Researchers
Statewide Leadership
Providers
Technology Partners
Community Organizations

REGISTER TODAY: www.synergyohio.org

07/22/2026

When caring for a loved one with serious medical issues, one decision families may struggle with is when to use hospice care. Hospice care focuses on keeping a person comfortable and helping them to manage difficult symptoms, while supporting them to live to their fullest in the time they have left. Hanson caregivers often work alongside hospice nurses and volunteers, supporting the wishes of the client and their loved ones. Hospice care allows a person to be in the comfort of their own home during the final stages of their journey.

You don’t have to wait until the last few days to use hospice care. Use hospice for anyone who has a life limiting condition, where their life expectancy is likely to be months rather than years. For example, if someone is bed bound, they probably qualify for hospice care and would benefit from having the services in place for months. The support offered by hospice extends to family and friends of the person as well. It can be a valuable source for help with emotional and psychological stress, while providing practical services like nurse visits and medication delivery.
For more info about hospice, explore the website for Reserve Care (link below) . This is one of many excellent hospice providers in our area. Many of our area hospitals offer their own hospice services and social workers there can help with recommendations upon discharge.
https://reserve-care.org/
If you don't feel your loved one is ready for hospice care, check back next week for info about Palliative Care. Often used before hospice.

Reserve Care provides hospice care, palliative care and grief support across Northern Ohio for patients, families and healthcare professionals.