Senior Care Solutions by Oakwood Helps Dearborn Resident Keep Her Independence

ALLEN PARK, MI--(Marketwired - Aug 10, 2015) - When you meet Dearborn resident Irene Scollard, you quickly learn that she has never been one to sit on the sidelines. As a young woman during World War II, Scollard and her girlfriends talked about joining the war effort to volunteer their services.

"I was tired of waiting on them," said Scollard, who was the first of her friends to join the U.S. Army Women's Army Corps. "My get up and go, got up and went."

Born in Detroit in 1921, raised in Melvindale and the third of eight children, Scollard received the full blessing of her mother who said, "If I were your age, I'd do the same thing."

Ready for adventure, Scollard was sent to Malaysia, under General Douglas MacArthur's command in the Pacific, to work as a secretary in the offices that supported the war effort.

 Following World War II, she put her excellent secretarial skills to use at Ford Motor Company, where her dad had worked on the line.

 Scollard kept her independent spirit by learning to fly, playing golf and traveling--often taking nieces and nephews with her. To be on the safe side, when she drove as far as Florida by herself, she made a mannequin to sit in the passenger's seat and a large stuffed animal to resemble a dog.

 It wasn't until her 50s that Scollard took on her biggest adventure and married a recently widowed Ford executive who had eight children. The youngest, Samantha, was only six years old.

 Scollard likes to tell the story that it was Samantha who proposed that she marry her dad and become her mom. 

"What an amazing challenge for her it must have been to take on a family like ours," said Samantha Truex, who was adopted by Scollard and now takes care of her mom's affairs.

 Strangely enough, it was Independence Day nearly three years ago that nearly curtailed Scollard's independent spirit when she suffered a stroke and was hospitalized.

 Truex, who lives in Boston with her family, knew how much her mom valued her independence and life in Dearborn. 

"The only way my mom could stay in her home was to have round the clock care," said Truex. "I was fortunate to find Senior Care Solutions (SCS) by Oakwood. They make sure her medications are in order, take her to multiple doctors, provide companionship and ensure her safety. It's a huge benefit to me."

Truex, who makes regular trips from Boston to visit her mom, also credited SCS' geriatric care manager, Marcia Filek, with providing managerial services.

"She reminds me of things that I don't always consider or have time for, from changing the furnace filter to having the rugs cleaned," added Truex.

Home Health Aide Sandy Peace has served the longest as Scollard's home caregiver, and the friendship and camaraderie between them is evident.

"It's not unusual for her to break out singing 'Getting to Know You' and even do a two-step," said Peace. "She's a joy to be around."

Scollard, who has been known to try to take care of her caregivers, said, "I treat them like I want to be treated."

 While Scollard is no longer able to host the private parties she once enjoyed giving for friends and family, she still makes an occasional visit to the Dearborn Country Club where she keeps her membership and recalls the days she golfed in a women's league.

 "I don't usually celebrate Independence Day," said Scollard. One can only guess that's because every day is special for this amazingly independent woman.

Senior Care Solutions by Oakwood offers geriatric care assessments and case management services along with in home, non-medical and personal care services for seniors and post trauma patients. Located in Allen Park, Mich., Senior Care Solutions by Oakwood, which is part of Beaumont Health, provides services throughout the five county areas of Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne. Personal care services are also available within a 30 mile radius of Detroit. For more information, call 866-776-1869 or visit www.OakwoodSeniorSolutions.org.