World War II vet and his wife receive help with daily household chores, meals
LAS VEGAS – Philip Allen spent his whole life taking care of his family. A World War II veteran, Allen worked for the National Meteorological Center in Washington, D.C., where he once briefed Pres. Dwight D. Eisenhower on the probable devastation of an atomic bomb blast in the nation’s capital. He moved toLas Vegas in 1956 to work at the Nevada Test Site’s weather bureau, and up until a few years ago, he served as a volunteer guide at the Atomic Testing Museum.
Today, at age 92, things are a bit different. Allen can’t walk as well as he used to, and his wife Jean’s health is at a point where he can no longer take care of her on his own. On a referral, he found Visiting Angels, which provides in-home care to the elderly and disabled. Shirley Cunningham visits the Allens’ home three hours a day, five days a week to help with laundry, house cleaning, shopping, meals and make sure the couple has everything they need.
“We have no relatives living within 500 miles of us,” Allen said. The couple’s two children live inCaliforniaandAustralia, respectively. As a result, Cunningham’s help with the Allens’ basic household needs is invaluable.
“The most important to me is she takes Jean at about 7 p.m., gets her ready for bed and exercises her legs while she’s lying down. I don’t think she’d be able to walk without that exercise.”
Because of Visiting Angels, the Allens can stay in their home instead of moving to an assisted living facility. Soon, Visiting Angels will begin sending a specialist to their home on the weekends as well, and Allen said he suspects morning visits are in the future as the couple’s needs increase.
“The home care support offered by companies like ours is a rapidly expanding service area among the elderly and disabled, especially inNevadawhere the independent senior population is dense,” said Jackie DiAsio, the administrator for Visiting Angels. “The support we provide allows our clients, as well as their families, a chance to maintain independence in the comfort of their own home in order to give them the happier and fuller life they deserve.”
Although they are receiving services, Allen said he and his wife feel as if they’ve made a friend in Cunningham.
“We’re quite happy with the help Shirley has been giving us,” Allen added. “I think Shirley is more interested in helping than she is being paid.”
Visiting Angels is senior home care with more than 400 franchises across the United States. With three franchises in Southern Nevada, the Green Valley Parkwayoffice – located at1701 N. Green Valley Pkwy.– is owned by Michael and Jackie DiAsio and is the largest inSouthern Nevada. It serves Henderson, the south, southwest, west and northwest regions of Las Vegas. Due to an increase in need, the DiAsios have opened a satellite office in Summerlin off Lake Mead BoulevardandRampart Road.
For more information on Visiting Angels visit www.visitingangels.com or call 800-365-4189.