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These two take care of lots of things Photo by Bob Pennell Dianna Bear of Earthsong Caregiving takes Sylvia Thompson, who lives at Mountainview Retirement Residence, out to the movies twice a week. Both provide helping hands when needed By WENDY SIPOREN It's a common scenario: aging parents, middle-age children with busy careers and young children of their own. Salucci Whether it's a drive to the grocery store, help with cooking or more intensive personal care, two Southern Oregon businesses are serving a wide range of needs in the Rogue Valley. Company name: The Saucy Pair Product/service: Entertainment, catering, repair work, errand running and other services. Phone number: 535-9807 E-mail: [email protected] CEO, president or owner: Nancy Salucci and Linda Louise No. of employees: Just Salucci and Louise "The big picture is this is a transformation in our society," said Dianna Bear of Earthsong Caregiving. "As more and more people are living longer and longer, they want quality of life to continue and this service helps that to happen." Bear recruits and oversees a team of caregivers and specialists to cater to the specific needs of an individual. She is often employed by the family to care for those who are limited or incapacitated by illness or age. She can arrange 24-hour, in-home care for those who are dying or just cook a few nutritious meals every week. After the New Year's Day Flood of 1997, she helped a client move out of a swamped mobile home and even helped her purchase a new one. Some of her clients just need a companion to shop for clothes or groceries. Some need help with correspondence. Others need to have clothes altered after having a stroke. Bear also contracts with people to give massage, counseling or help with exercises. "Really we do just about anything a person needs," said Bear, an Ashland resident who worked as a Jane-of-all-trades before beginning this service. "I see my job as being a networker and facilitator." Nancy Salucci and Linda Louise of Phoenix call themselves "The Saucy Pair" and cater their services primarily to older women with a long "honey-do list" but without the time, energy or skills to complete it. "We want this to be the one number they can call instead of 15 different names," said Salucci, who was recently recognized by the Phoenix Chamber for the most improved home in town. Just two weeks into their new business, the Saucy Pair have catered a friend's wake and helped another put up new shelves and plant a flower box. But Salucci says they plan on offering services that range from gardening, errands and computer help to companionship for people who want to take a short trip to visit relatives. They charge one set hourly rate for all their services. The business' unique name is a play on the Rogue Valley's pear industry and highlights their cooking skills, says Salucci. "We're not an escort service," she emphasized. While the two businesses have a slightly different focus, their owners came to see the need for this type of service when friends asked them to help provide home care. In Salucci's case, a friend asked Salucci to stay with her for a while after having surgery. "She loved the gourmet meals and my positive attitude," said Salucci. After another friend lost her husband recently, Salucci stepped in to help her plan and cater the wake. Before moving to the Rogue Valley five years ago, Salucci was an emergency medical technician and volunteer firefighter in Scott Valley, Calif., where she first met Louise. Both women have homebuilding and renovation experience. Louise has worked in property management for 15 years. Most recently she did some gardening and odd jobs at a California retirement community. Bear was in medical school for three years before becoming disillusioned with the business part of medicine. She moved to the Rogue Valley in 1982 and started doing a variety of jobs, including housekeeping and gardening. She had been housekeeper for Bill and Shirley Patton for nine years when they asked her if she would be willing to help care for Virginia Cotton, who had had a stroke. The family decided she needed a team of caregivers and Bear wound up managing the team as well as Cotton's home. It was an easy transition from that job to her caregiving business, she said. Demand for her services increased through word of mouth. She now coordinates a team of 20 service providers in the service of eight clients. Bear begins by evaluating a client's needs and directing families to other community services or facilities if appropriate. She maintains a journal for each client with information about the client's background and needs to ensure continuity in care. Bear also oversees the work done and follows up on things such as doctor's visits, making sure clients' questions are answered. Before sending out caregivers, she does extensive interviews and background checks. Ultimately, it is the client who decides if the person is right for them. She charges a set-up fee and then a management fee, depending on the amount of attention needed by the client. "It's really the caregivers and the clients who benefit," she said. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA