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Home Care In Bloomfield Hills, MI

Home Care Bloomfield Hills, MI

They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.

However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Walbri Hall gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Bloomfield Hills, MI is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

In-Home Care Bloomfield Hills, MI

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.

Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.

The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.

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“I have found that usually when you need the services of a company like Nita”

I have found that usually when you need the services of a company like Nita and Always Best Care Senior Services of Troy it concerns the changing life needs of a love one. The needs vary from short-term care, to 24 hr. assistance to finding new living quarters with appropriate services to support your loved one. You are searching for options in an area foreign to you and you need someone you can trust. During the past two years, my family and I have had the opportunity and good fortune to turn to Nita and Always Best Care in two such instances. It took but a few minutes to understand the passion Nita has for her clients, as she quickly became an extension of our family’s decision process. You can never put a value on good solid information, especially when given from a listening, caring, honest, trusted and empathic professional in a time of need. When you come to those trying times and the stakes and fears of making the wrong decision for the welfare of your loved one have you stressed, you could not be in better hands than Nita and Always Best Care. That is exactly what my family and I did and today, my parents are still enjoying their renewed life style at an Independent Living Facility. They could not be happier in their new home and the family is secure in knowing we made an informed and ultimately the right decision due to Nita’s guidance. Recently in the course of less than 3 days we required 24 hr. services for my 93 yr. old Mother-in Law. Today she is receiving the best of care and Nita was supportive and instrumental in directing us towards making the right decision for her. The value Nita and Always Best Care offers to families is having a Trusted, Informed, Dedicated Professional, passionate in assisting you and your family to the Best and Correct Decision for your unique situation. Thank you Nita for being there when we needed you most. ~Family of John S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I have found that usually when you need the services of a company like Nita and Always Best Care Senior Services of Troy it concerns the changing life needs of a love one. The needs vary from short-term care, to 24 hr. assistance to finding new living quarters with appropriate services to support your loved one. You are searching for options in an area foreign to you and you need someone you can trust. During the past two years, my family and I have had the opportunity and good fortune to turn to Nita and Always Best Care in two such instances. It took but a few minutes to understand the passion Nita has for her clients, as she quickly became an extension of our family’s decision process. You can never put a value on good solid information, especially when given from a listening, caring, honest, trusted and empathic professional in a time of need. When you come to those trying times and the stakes and fears of making the wrong decision for the welfare of your loved one have you stressed, you could not be in better hands than Nita and Always Best Care. That is exactly what my family and I did and today, my parents are still enjoying their renewed life style at an Independent Living Facility. They could not be happier in their new home and the family is secure in knowing we made an informed and ultimately the right decision due to Nita’s guidance. Recently in the course of less than 3 days we required 24 hr. services for my 93 yr. old Mother-in Law. Today she is receiving the best of care and Nita was supportive and instrumental in directing us towards making the right decision for her. The value Nita and Always Best Care offers to families is having a Trusted, Informed, Dedicated Professional, passionate in assisting you and your family to the Best and Correct Decision for your unique situation. Thank you Nita for being there when we needed you most. ~Family of John S.”

Family O.

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Bloomfield Hills, MI?

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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.

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When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

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At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

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Senior Care Bloomfield Hills, MI

Types of Elderly Care in Bloomfield Hills, MI

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal Care Services

If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.

Common personal care services include assistance with:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming
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Respite Care Bloomfield Hills, MI
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.

Common home helper care services include assistance with:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
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Caregivers Bloomfield Hills, MI
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Springdale Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
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Home Care Bloomfield Hills, MI
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Eddie Merlot's or visit Frank Lloyd Wright Affleck House, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.

At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.

If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.

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In-Home Care Bloomfield Hills, MI

Benefits of Home Care in Bloomfield Hills, MI

Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:

Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.

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Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?

A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.

With the help of elderly care in Bloomfield Hills, MI, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.

Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.

In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

Elderly Care Bloomfield Hills, MI

Affordable Care

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your MI's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
Senior Care Bloomfield Hills, MI

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Bloomfield Hills, MI understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

Assisted Living Referral Services

While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.

Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.

Respite Care Bloomfield Hills, MI

At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.

Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
Caregivers Bloomfield Hills, MI

At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.

Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.

Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:

  • A&A of Bloomfield Hills
  • Cedarbrook of Bloomfield Hills
  • Autumn House of Bloomfield
  • Orchard Meadows Senior Care Home
  • The Avalon of Bloomfield Township
  • Sunrise of Bloomfield
Home Care Bloomfield Hills, MI

For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.

In-Home Care Bloomfield Hills, MI

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way

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A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Bloomfield Hills, MI 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

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Elderly Care Bloomfield Hills, MI

Latest News in Bloomfield Hills, MI

Oakland Hills In Bloomfield Township Breaks Ground On New Clubhouse

The project comes nearly two years after a massive fire destroyed the building's clubhouse, roughly $80 million in damage, officials said.|Updated Thu, Dec 21, 2023 at 4:19 pm ETBLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, MI — Construction crews broke ground at the Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Township earlier this week, nearly two years after a fire destroyed its old clubhouse.The $...

The project comes nearly two years after a massive fire destroyed the building's clubhouse, roughly $80 million in damage, officials said.

|Updated Thu, Dec 21, 2023 at 4:19 pm ET

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, MI — Construction crews broke ground at the Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Township earlier this week, nearly two years after a fire destroyed its old clubhouse.

The $96.2 million project includes a new building with modern technologies and will restore numerous elements of the clubhouse's original design.

The new clubhouse will also be slightly larger (110,000 square feet) than the old one (90,000 square feet) and will include outdoor dining areas, three kitchens, ballrooms, men's locker room and a larger women's locker room than the old one. There will also be upgrades to the course, including a new greens and grounds (maintenance) facility, as well as better parking with a valet lot.

Officials said the project should be completed by early 2026 and will be funded by insurance proceeds, member assessment and member dues.

In November, Oakland Hills members agreed to pay an additional $230 a month in dues until the club's $40.3 million loan (set for at least a 15-year term) is paid off, according to the Detroit News.

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"Today is a momentous day for Oakland Hills members and staff who stand together, much like we did nearly two years ago watching flames rise from our clubhouse, but with a renewed excitement for the future. The Next 100 Project is the result of significant planning by the entire Oakland Hills family that will define the Championship golf experience for generations to come at our Club and beyond," said Oakland Hills President K. Dino Kostopoulos.

The Oakland Hills Country's clubhouse suffered extensive damage in February 2022 when a massive blaze broke out. Oakland County officials believe the fire was started accidentally as maintenance workers were using propane torches on the building's east side, which faces the golf course.

Officials did not know how many people were inside the clubhouse when the fire started, as the building has been undergoing renovations, but everyone was able to get out and no injuries were reported while over a dozen fire stations sent crews to battle the fire, officials said.

Although the fire destroyed much of the building, including its center where the clubhouse, restaurants and offices were located, officials did say firefighters were able to save some memorabilia from the clubhouse.

Oakland Hills, which opened in 1916 has a storied history. The golf course has hosted six U.S. Opens, three PGA championships and a Ryder Cup, among other major events. Golf greats including Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Ben Hogan have competed and won on the famed South Course, known better in the sport as "The Monster."

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Bloomfield Township appeals chicken ruling to Michigan Supreme Court

Bloomfield Township is asking the Michigan Supreme Court to reconsider a decision from the Michigan Court of Appeals that allows a township couple to keep their backyard chicken coop.The appeals court reversed the Oakland County Circuit Court and township’s Zoning Board of Appeals, which ruled last year that Lindsey Dezman and her husband, Jon Geiger, could not keep the chickens, according to court documents.The township appealed to the state Supreme Court in July. The Supreme Court has not said whether it will take the c...

Bloomfield Township is asking the Michigan Supreme Court to reconsider a decision from the Michigan Court of Appeals that allows a township couple to keep their backyard chicken coop.

The appeals court reversed the Oakland County Circuit Court and township’s Zoning Board of Appeals, which ruled last year that Lindsey Dezman and her husband, Jon Geiger, could not keep the chickens, according to court documents.

The township appealed to the state Supreme Court in July. The Supreme Court has not said whether it will take the case.

The couple said they kept the chickens as pets to provide an educational experience for their children and as a way to provide eggs for their family, according to court documents. They live on nearly 2 acres in the area of Telegraph and Hickory Grove Road.

Their property lies in a single-family residential zone. The township said its ordinances said did not specifically permit a chicken coop under that zoning designation, so it must be prohibited.

Dezman and Geiger, however, argued that since no ordinance forbade the coop, it should be allowed. The state appeals court agreed with them.

“Plaintiffs argue, because the plain and unambiguous language of Bloomfield Township Zoning Ordinance § 42-3.1.3 omits any language prohibiting them from keeping chickens at their one-family detached dwelling, they are not required to seek a variance. We agree,” the appeals court said.

The couple received a violation notice from the township in 2021. They applied to the ZBA for a variance.

One neighbor complained to the ZBA about the chickens, expressing concerns about the potential for odors, noise and issues with allergies and asthma, court documents said.

A representative of the neighborhood improvement association spoke at a ZBA meeting in support of the couple’s chickens. He said he had not encountered any issues with noise or odor and did not believe the chickens would have an adverse effect on property values.

Township Supervisor Dani Walsh could not be reached for comment.

Several Oakland County communities have had disputes with residents over backyard chickens in the past decade. Other communities have ordinances that specifically allow them, including Royal Oak, Rochester Hills, Berkley, Ferndale and Hazel Park.

Some communities that allow the animals have an inspection process and specify that if they become a nuisance, they will be removed.

Mi Bancorp in Bloomfield Hills Names New Chairman and CEO

Mi Bancorp Inc. and Mi BANK in Bloomfield Hills announced that Rob Farr has resigned as chairman and CEO to purse a new opportunity in Traverse City. He will be replaced by Matthew Agnone as chairman and Jenny Meier as CEO.Farr was instrumental in the successful launch of Mi BANK in 2019, the first new bank in Michigan since 2007, and helped grow the institution in a challenging time. He plans to move to his primary residence to northern Michigan where he will continue his career. Meier’s appointment as president and CEO by the ...

Mi Bancorp Inc. and Mi BANK in Bloomfield Hills announced that Rob Farr has resigned as chairman and CEO to purse a new opportunity in Traverse City. He will be replaced by Matthew Agnone as chairman and Jenny Meier as CEO.

Farr was instrumental in the successful launch of Mi BANK in 2019, the first new bank in Michigan since 2007, and helped grow the institution in a challenging time. He plans to move to his primary residence to northern Michigan where he will continue his career. Meier’s appointment as president and CEO by the board is part of the company’s succession plan.

“I am grateful for this opportunity and look forward to working with the board on the next phase for Mi BANK,” says Meier. “Rob has been a mentor to me for many years, and I appreciate his valuable guidance during my career. We wish him the best on his next adventure.”

Tom Dorr will continue to serve as CFO and COO of the company and bank. As part of the transition, the board appointed Agnone as chairman of both the company and bank.

Agnone has been a director since the start of the bank and serves as the current chair of the audit committee. He is a CPA and currently the CFO of a local family office based in southeast Michigan.

“The board would like to thank Rob for all his efforts and dedicated service to the bank,” says Agnone. “We are excited to have Jenny lead Mi BANK and build on the progress we have made over the last four years. She has been a critical member of our executive management team and is an important part of the future success of the bank.”

Meier, who has been with Mi BANK since 2019 as one of the original employees and brings more than two decades of banking and leadership experience to the role. Prior to joining Mi BANK, she served as the district president of Bank of Ann Arbor’s Birmingham location and held the position as chief revenue officer for Bank of Birmingham until its merger with Bank of Ann Arbor.

Meier is a member of the board of directors for the Michigan Bankers Association and the current chairman of MBA Service Corp.

Bloomfield Hills school board must start superintendent search anew

The Bloomfield Hills Schools Board of Education must start its superintendent search over, as the two candidates who were to be interviewed a second time have withdrawn from consideration.Dr. Ernesto Matias, former chief education officer of the Illinois State Board of Education, and Dr. Roy Bishop, deputy superintendent for educational services in the Grosse Pointe Public School System, would have had second interviews in early September.Matias and Bishop were among five candidates the board interviewed in mid-July; the board ...

The Bloomfield Hills Schools Board of Education must start its superintendent search over, as the two candidates who were to be interviewed a second time have withdrawn from consideration.

Dr. Ernesto Matias, former chief education officer of the Illinois State Board of Education, and Dr. Roy Bishop, deputy superintendent for educational services in the Grosse Pointe Public School System, would have had second interviews in early September.

Matias and Bishop were among five candidates the board interviewed in mid-July; the board eliminated the other three after the first interviews.

Several board members said they didn’t want to hold the second interviews or community forums where people could meet the candidates during the summer, when many staff members, parents, students and other stakeholders are on vacation.

The board decided at a meeting Aug. 10 to conduct a targeted search, rather than reposting the position, at the suggestion of John Silveri, president of Michigan Leadership Institute, which is assisting the district with its superintendent search.

In a targeted search, Silveri will approach potential candidates who could be a good match for the district.

Silveri is a former superintendent and has conducted about 30 searches for numerous districts at the helm of MLI.

Bloomfield Hills received 26 applications when the position was posted last spring, Silveri said.

He said some potential candidates that he thought would be a good fit were reluctant to apply because they are in a comfortable role and don’t want to take a risk by being identified as a superintendent candidate in another district.

In a targeted search, a candidate wouldn’t be identified unless there was a consensus of the Bloomfield Hills board’s superintendent search committee that the candidate held promise.

Board members Michelle Southward, Meagan Hill and Siva Kumar serve on the search committee.

If they approved, the candidate would be interviewed by the seven-member board in a meeting open to the public.

Former Superintendent Pat Watson retired, effective July 31, after serving the district for a little more than three years.

He announced his retirement after parents and others called for his termination in the wake of a controversial diversity assembly at Bloomfield Hills High School.

Jewish groups said a speaker at the assembly made remarks about the conflict between Israel and Palestine that became political and were offensive to Jewish students.

Parents of Jewish, Muslim and Arab-American students reported their children were threatened and harassed in the aftermath.

Many parents said the administration’s response to the controversy was inadequate.

The board voted in early July to appoint Dr. Randy Liepa as interim superintendent when Watson’s retirement became effective. Liepa is a former superintendent of the Wayne Regional Education Service Agency and of the Livonia Public Schools.

Bloomfield Hills students create industry-changing invention

Patience and patents come to those who wait, just ask the GEKOT robotics team from East Middle School in Bloomfield Hills.The ten member GEKOT (Great Engineering Kids of Tomorrow) FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology) LEGO robotics team will receive a patent Tuesday evening for their collision alert systems and methods for micromobility vehicles.Each year, LEGO Innovation teams at schools throughout the country are assigned real world problems and asked to come up with solutions for them.In 20...

Patience and patents come to those who wait, just ask the GEKOT robotics team from East Middle School in Bloomfield Hills.

The ten member GEKOT (Great Engineering Kids of Tomorrow) FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology) LEGO robotics team will receive a patent Tuesday evening for their collision alert systems and methods for micromobility vehicles.

Each year, LEGO Innovation teams at schools throughout the country are assigned real world problems and asked to come up with solutions for them.

In 2019 the assignment was solving problems revolving around city living. On a trip to Detroit, Bloomfield Hills parent and team leader Dan Champoux and his team of middle school students noticed the number of electric rental scooters that were moving through downtown and found out that accidents and injuries related to the scooters were a significant problem within the city landscape.

“The kids looked at existing laws like helmets and said ‘what else can we do?’ and I connected them with a safety engineer at Chrysler where I was working at the time, and he taught them about different safety systems like collision avoidance systems,” said Champoux. “The kids wondered if they could put a safety collision systems on scooters, and they began drawing up concepts.”

Champoux, who has been the LEGO team coach for nine years, said the team drew up concepts and voted on the best ideas, put together a list of requirements and began creating concept images which led to a prototype system.

“We thought after doing some research that the E-scooter (electric scooter) collision avoidance system would be a great idea to improve cities, because there are thousands of accidents happening every day since E-scooters were invented,” said Mihir Shah, now an eighth grader and member of the GEKOT team.

The team put together their system and tried it out on a Razor stand-up scooter and advanced to the state LEGO Innovation competition. Before the competition they sought out advice from industry experts in the field of scooters.

The team won first place at the state competition, and Razor told Champoux and his students that they would help them perfect the system and submit the idea for a patent.

“It wasn’t something we pursued. They said it was a valuable system for the industry, and they took all the initiative to get the provisional patent application and take care of fees and other issues associated with moving forward,” said Champoux.

“Razor reached out to us and sent us two electric scooters,” said Champoux. “We got together with other parents who were engineers and began working on a coding system and the kids were involved every step of the way.”

The system the students developed is explained by the U.S. Patent Office:

“The controller compares the speed of the micromobility vehicle (Razor scooter) with a predetermined speed threshold, enters the bypass mode when the speed of the micromobility vehicle is less than the predetermined speed threshold, and enters the warning mode when the speed of the micromobility vehicle is greater than the predetermined speed threshold.”

“We had a lot of help from mentors who were college students and engineers, and they helped us with writing the code,” said Shah. “We knew what we wanted to do; they just helped us write the language.”

According to Champoux, Razor said the team’s sensor system was cheaper and more effective than using cameras they had tested to detect objects that could lead to accidents and collisions.

“They told me that they thought that our technology was a better path forward,” said Champoux.

“Our GEKOT robotics team consisted of fourth and fifth graders from East Hills who developed the collision-avoidance technology over three years and received a US patent for their system,” said East Middle School Principal Jason Rubel. “I am incredibly proud of their hard work and innovative spirit. These students really embody all that we teach at Bloomfield Hills Schools.”

The entire process took three years starting in 2019 up to the announcement that they had received a patent for their system in April 2023.

“Receiving a patent is an outstanding accomplishment for these young inventors,” Assistant Regional Director Elijah J. McCoy from the Midwest Regional Office of the United States Patent and Trademark Office said in a statement. “Their success serves as an inspiration to others, showcasing the power of ingenuity, imagination, and impact through innovation. I am proud to be a part of their journey and I wish them continued success as they further develop and explore the possibilities of their invention.”

Even a global pandemic did not slow the team down.

“When the pandemic hit, I continued to develop the prototypes further and we met virtually as much as we could, but it was tough for the kids” the coach explained. “When the pandemic restrictions were lifted, I flew to California to show them (Razor) our work and they loved what we did and wanted to develop it further.”

“It was going along very well, but the pandemic made it harder than we thought,” said Shah. “Our patience was definitely tested a lot because we always thought that we were so close, but things had to be put off for a long time and it was hard for us.”

Champoux said Razor gave the team more resources to complete their work and signed a letter of intent on first right of refusal on the patent.

He started a company soon after called GEKOT Robotics Inc. and began working with engineering students from Lawrence Tech and Oakland University to continue to hone their collision system.

Razor and local state organizations helped raise over $400,000 in funding for the project over the past three years and now Champoux is looking to put together $500,000 to begin commercialization and manufacturing for the system the GEKOT team created now that it is officially patented.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is funding a 100 vehicle pilot program for the scooters.

“When the pilot program is complete we will have some effectiveness data and if it shows that if it prevents accidents and injuries then we are going to take this to market,” said Champoux. “As far as I know there have been two patents that have come out of FIRST Robotics, but I have never heard of anything being commercialized.”

But the coach is quick to point out that receiving a patent and taking their idea to market will not automatically lead to newfound wealth with students and their families upgrading their lifestyles anytime soon.

“If there is a positive outcome for the company then we will recognize the students, but the real value for the students is the actual patent,” said Champoux. “That is to say, if we are able to license the patent or sell the patent itself, then the students would be directly connected to those efforts. That is how we should frame this, not that it is a money grab.”

In the end, the students are excited to receive a patent for all of their hard work and perseverance.

“It was tough to handle how long it took, but we just kept going because it inspired us so much that at this young age we could create something that could earn a patent,” said Shah. “And now looking back it is very nostalgic for me that we did not give up and kept pushing through.”

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