ElderCare Connections Takes Jay Leno's Ribbing in Stride; Ad from local companion care services organization featured on Tonight Show's "Headlines"

ElderCare Connections, a provider of in-home companion care services to northeastern Colorado and the northern Front Range, was surprised to find one of its ads featured on NBC's Tonight Show earlier this month. In Jay Leno's weekly "Headlines" feature, viewers from around the country send in newspaper items and advertisements with mistakes, wording or images that generate unintended laughs.

Loveland, CO (PRWEB) April 28, 2004 --- ElderCare Connections, a provider of in-home companion care services to northeastern Colorado and the northern Front Range, was surprised to find one of its ads featured on NBC's Tonight Show earlier this month. In Jay Leno's weekly "Headlines" feature, viewers from around the country send in newspaper items and advertisements with mistakes, wording or images that generate unintended laughs.

One of the images that ElderCare Connections was fortunate to capture during its years of service to Colorado was of an animal-loving client who was thrilled to entertain a llama in her living room. The visitor, part of an animal therapy program, provided an hour of stimulation and entertainment for the aunt of ElderCare Connection's founder, Eileen Blood. Eileen's "Auntie" suffered from Alzheimer's, and was the inspiration that led Eileen to found the organization.

"It really is an unusual image - you don't often see a llama in a living room - so it's perhaps not surprising that it ended up on 'Headlines'," notes Blood. "However, Jay's comments, and the bit's use of viewer-contributed material as the butt of the segment's jokes, overlooked the context and the importance of the services we provide, so we're working to make the most of the educational opportunity this event has provided us."

Leno, while displaying the organization's ad, commented, "This is ElderCare Connections - in-home compassion. If you don't feel like taking care of your parents, you send them to this place." Then noted, "I don't know why they put a llama in grandma's living room. I don't know why they would do that. Here you go, grandma, this will keep you busy."

Blood acknowledges the humor in Leno's interpretation, but notes that ElderCare Connections actually sends its staff to the homes of its clients and cares for them in their environment. The reason for bringing the llama to the home of her Auntie was to do for her what they do for all ElderCare clients -- they try to tailor activities to the individuals they serve, and figure out what brings them joy and will make their day wonderful and awesome. Since Auntie grew up and lived much of her life on a farm, she had always had a love for all types of creatures.

Blood is currently working with Tonight Show personnel to see if she might make an appearance on an upcoming episode, not to rebut the use of her organization's ad, but to educate and promote in-home care services, as well as animal-therapy programs, to Leno and his audience. The program was estimated in early March to have a viewership of approximately 6.8 million. Blood has been in contact with California-area animal therapy organizations that use llamas, so Leno might soon welcome a llama to his stage.

About ElderCare Connections
ElderCare Connections provides affordable in-home companion service to northeastern Colorado and the northern Front Range, including Larimer, Adams, Boulder and Weld counties. Services offered include meal preparation, light housekeeping, laundry, recreational activities, transportation, medication reminders, and personal care assistance such as help with bathing, transfers and grooming. Respite services are also available for families who need a break or vacation. Further, ElderCare Connections, LLC sponsored the formation of
ElderCare Connections Foundation as a non-profit (501) (c) (3) entity to provide similar services to the financially challenged. The foundation
has begun doing business as Companion Connections with the same personal focus as its parent corporation. To provide these services to the financially challenged, Companion Connection's relies on donations,
grants, and foundations while clients contribute on a sliding scale according to their personal economic situation. For more information, call 970-278-0010, or visit www.eldercareconnections.com.