11/20/2025
So proud of my team and the opportunity to serve as well as educate our communities in our territory on how valuable home care can be. Senior Helpers has amazing resources and tools that allow owners to leverage what their passionate about in order to raise the bar on the quality of care to allow people to age in the place that best fits what matters to them. Thank you to my amazing team and my partners for helping me raise awareness in so many areas that come along with aging. And a huge thank you to my clients who I learn from every day, they are the best teachers.
Congratulations to the Columbia Office – Our New Blue Ribbon Certified Center of Excellence!
The Columbia team has earned their Blue Ribbon COE certification by fully integrating the four M’s of Age-Friendly Care into every part of their caregiver training—teaching caregivers to understand the whole person, not just complete tasks.
What Matters Most: Training always begins here. Their practice mannequin, “Miss Sylvia,” named after a beloved former client and wrapped in an afghan blanket crocheted by the real Miss Sylvia, reminds caregivers that every client brings their own history and personal priorities that must guide their care.
Mobility: Caregivers get hands-on practice with DME and participate in risk-finding activities, gaining confidence in supporting safe, independent movement.
Medication: Training covers where medications are typically stored and how they’re packaged, sparking practical conversations around safety and adherence.
Mentation: From Gems dementia education to noticing mood and environmental triggers like lighting and noise, caregivers learn to see what clients may not be able to express.
Together, the four M’s help caregivers deliver truly age-friendly care—and clients feel the difference. As owner, Brandy Alexander shares, “People are smiling more and getting out. A client who never left his house anymore got dressed up, put on cologne, and went to church one Sunday.”
The Columbia team is also extending this training to community partners, including hospice agencies, SC Thrive, and a local nursing school whose students found the COE experience so valuable they requested it earlier in their curriculum. Next year, Columbia will guide junior nursing students as well.
Congratulations again to our Columbia Blue Ribbon COE team—your leadership is making South Carolina a more age-friendly place to live.
