Professional Helping Hands (PHH), a Highland Park-based, fully licensed, independent New Jersey Home Care company, does exactly what its name describes: it lends a helping hand in one’s own home with well-trained aides who value professionalism, excellence and compassion. Even though the majority of its clients are senior citizens, PHH is equipped to serve people of all ages who because of surgery or an injury may need an extra hand to do everyday tasks such as cooking a meal, doing laundry, getting up and down stairs.
But the inspiration for PHH were the senior citizens in Highland Park and the desire to embrace the concept of “Aging in place,” defined by the Center for Disease Control as “the ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level…. Highland Park is one of those “ideal” communities: a walking town with a diverse population. With good schools, a variety of housing options, a grocery store, convenience stores, drug stores, restaurants, doctors’ offices and public transportation, including a “senior bus,” combined with the closeness of a major university, the train station and cultural venues in New Brunswick, living one’s entire lifetime in Highland Park is much sought-after goal. And we can help make that goal a reality. With some pre-thought and knowledge of available resources for those times when support is needed, aging in place can be a desirable and achievable option for Highland Park’s seniors,” said Martin Friedman, the co-owner, co-operator of HPP.
Mr. Friedman, who conceived of the business in 2010, partnered with Jani Masur, RN, also a co-owner, co-operator, both of whom live in Highland Park. PHH, with 15 active aides and 10 more on the PHH roster, coordinates home care with clients and their families throughout central New Jersey and is committed to providing the highest level of service for those in need of assistance, including seniors, the disabled, those recently released from the hospital, or simply families looking for relief from the daily responsibilities of care. Certified home health aides are trained to provide such care. Certified by the New Jersey Board of Nursing, home health aides must successfully complete a 76-hour training program, and pass a competency evaluation and background check.
How do you find a qualified certified home health aide? PHH is licensed by the NJ Board of Nursing and assures the quality of its aides. PHH professional staff assesses the needs of the client and does its best to make “the right match” between client and aide. The company has aides who can cover from a few hours a day to 24 hours, seven days a week. The professional registered nurses work with the client to establish the plan of care that will be followed by the aide and will make periodic visits to assess for any changes necessary.
Mr. Friedman started the business in 2010 when he retired from an executive position with a New York City bank and was looking for a new career opportunity. He had been through the “very stressful,” care-giving process with his parents and “had an understanding of the importance of home health aides providing not only care to the client but also relief to the caregiver.
PHH owners and operators, Jani Masur, RN, BSN and Martin Friedman, can be reached at (732) 754-5125 or Marty@PHHands.com.