Caregivers Make A Significant Difference in Client's Lives

Caregivers take note:
We need to show family members that when employing us to help a loved one, we will make a real difference in the lives of our clients. How so?

We are there on a daily basis and can monitor changes in our client's condition, which may make it possible to discover problems when they first begin to occur, before they become major and require hospitalization.

We do not need to be a nurse or even an NA in order to do this. What we need is to be organized and observant. Here is how I manage my client's health.....

I keep a notebook and log in it daily.
I log moods, behaviors, weight, appetite etc. Things that are specifically important to each client's health. This will vary depending on issues that each one is dealing with. In this way I can look back and see how things have been going and I can answer questions family members and doctors may have. Using my log I then send an email update each week or more frequently if necessary to my primary contact in the family giving them an overview of conditions.

I have found that this helps me stay on top of issues and the family remarks that they appreciate the consise updates. It puts them at ease knowing I am keeping close track of things.

Try this method yourself and share your ideas with the rest of us. We will all be better PALs if we learn from each other.

Take care

Ruth Anne

As Independent Caregivers - Work in a Facility or a Private Home?

As Independent Professional Caregivers we have several options when it comes to the location in which we chose to work. We can work in a facility, such as a senior living community, or assisted living community, nursing home or speciality care facility. Or we may chose to work in a private home. I have done both. And I can tell you that both options have their pros and cons.

Here is my take on both situations:

In a private home you usually have one or possibly two people you care for. In this intimate setting, bonds form quickly. You many also find that in this setting you have more down time than you may like, even with doctor's appointments, errands, personal care and entertainment for the client(s), an 8 -12 hour shift will leave you with time on your hands. Personally I like to stay busy or my day drags on.

So plan wisely. Spread your chores out to make for a well rounded week. You will find your time goes by faster and you will have a sense of accomplishment each day.

In a facility setting, if you work for one person as an Independent Private Caregiver, you will still touch the lives of many people. This you will find brings great rewards. Older folks are such a pleasure to be around and so appreciative of any attention you give them. However you open yourself up to a greater potential for loss. Case in point:

I work at a senior living community as an Independent Professional Caregiver for a couple that lives there. While my duties are to them first, I have also made it a goal to get it know as many people as possible at the facility by name. When we go to meals, entertainment and such, I meet the other residents and this is a true pleasure. I have become close to several people in the 5 months I have worked there. And during those same 5 months I have lost some friends too. Just last week two residents passed away and one was moved to a memory care facility.

Not only was it hard to lose them, but it was hard to see the other residents heal after the losses as well.

So when making your choice to provide your Professional Independent Caregiver service at a Private Home or Facility Setting, keep the loss factor in mind. It may make a difference in how you chose.

Ruth Anne

I love comments. Please tell me what You Think or something about your own experience. Thanks!

Recap: Solutions for Family Caregiver Expo

Solutions for Family Caregiver Expo - Recap

Went to the Family Caregiver Expo in Novi Michigan.Will and I were there on Saturday. On the whole it was a good venue to gather information and ideas on how to be a Good PAL.
Our Caregiving is improved when we always look for ways to increase our Knowledge and Expertise.
While There...
We saw lots of vendors offering all kinds of services; Of course we were interested in those that would add to our abilities to provide the best of care to our clients as Professional Independent Caregivers.
And we attended one of the seminars - One on Elder Law. This was primarily addressed to the family looking to hire a caregiver, mostly through an agency. Also how to address certain issues concerning the individual seeking a caregiver or Personal Assistant.
Mostly the whole event centered on Agencies wanting to provide a family or individual with advice on hiring a caregiver.

What we came away with:

1. The Caregiver agency industry is HUGE.
2. Families have many questions about caregiving for their loved one (seniors).
3. There are HUGE opportunities for Professional Independent Caregivers and PALs.

I think the path to becoming the best qualified and thus the best appreciated PAL is to be educated. I hope to help by continuing to give you the best of what I Have Learned on these pages! I will tell you about the booths I was most interested in at the Expo next.

Thanks Again
Ruth Anne

Attending Michigan Caregivers Expo Today

Getting ready to go to the event we have shared with you. I will post later to fill you in on any hot topics share there.

Talk to you all soon.

Michigan Event Reminder

Reminder: 14 Annual Solutions for Family Caregiver Expo!

 It is important that we as PAL Caregivers stay up to date on a variety of subjects.

Here are the details about an upcoming Seminar/Expo in Michigan. Will and I are planning to attend.

• There will be presentations and of course vendors. 
• Vendors can providing interesting products and services 
• Event Details
  Saturday, October 12, 2013
  9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
  Suburban Collection Showplace
  46100 Grand River Avenue
  (One mile west of Novi Road)
  Novi,  Michigan 48374

I would recommend if you can make it, do go.
A link to the event website is below:

Area Agency on Aging 1-B

Solutions for Family Caregiver Expo 

The link gives the time and subjects of the presentations too.

Maybe we will see you there.

When Professional Caregiving and Family Caregiving Collide

Being a PAL: Professional and Family Caregiving

When the Two Worlds Collide

As a Professional, your responsibilities are pretty much spelled out. They may evolve as time goes on and the needs of your client change. As a family member, a son, daughter, sister, brother etc.of someone who now needs care your love and concern for them may move you to want to use your well developed skills to help care for them. But what happens if you must work 40 even 50 or more hours a week just to make ends meet? We all know that caregivers like ourselves are not the highest paid professionals. How do you balance both?

This can be a real tough position to be in. It may cause you a lot of stress. How do you handle this? Share your story with us?

Caregivers - Increase Your Earning Potential

As I stated in a recent post the demand for caregivers is rapidly growing. The link I have below from NPR states that the number of people with Alzheimer's disease and Dementia will triple by the year 2050.
Link to NPR

Report on Growth of Alzheimer's cases

NPR Report - Increase in People with Alzheimer's

As a caregiver your earning potential can substantially rise if you become certified. This is easier than you might think. I am including another link to the Alzheimer's Association website that has certification classes you can take online, some for as little as $24.99.

Alzheimer's Certification Online Courses

Alzheimer Association Certification Online Courses

 Give Careful Thought 

The Alzheimer's Association realizes just how great the need is for people to understand this disease; such an understanding of Alzheimer's allows we as caregivers to provide proper and professional care for our clients. Please take the time to look at the two links provided here and give careful consideration to educating yourself. This will benefit not only you but your clients as well.

Seriously - I Never Thought I'd Talk About THAT!

Say Whaaat?

I found myself sitting with a nice lady I befriended at the senior village where I work the other day when the conversation turned to bodily functions. Oh who am I kidding we were talking about bowel movements. Yes there I said it. I thought my mother was the only senior who went there, but turns out having a good BM is important, yes even life changing for us all. Only thing is we won't admit to it unless we are over 50 - at least not out loud and certainly not to a stranger.

Can you imagine sitting in a room full of teens, one being your daughter and saying " boy was I constipated this morning ". She would absolutely die of shame. And yet here we were, me in my 50's and she in her 70's, new friends to boot, casually conversing about what works for us. Weighing the pros and cons of laxatives, prunes v prune juice, the whole nine yards. And we have had the same conversation more than once, even rating our day on how things went ( pun intended ).

Life is funny that way, priorities change. Little - or should I say Big things - make us happy. Think about how things have changed for you.

~Why not share your bowel movement moments and stories with us.~

We'd love to hear what topic you never thought you'd be talking about.

Demand for Caregivers Set to Out Pace Available Workers

The need for good quality caregivers is rapidly growing. Every 6 minutes another babyboomer reaches the age of 65. While many are in better health than the previous generation, due to advances in medicine, those same advances mean a longer life. A some point a vast number of them will need care, whether on a short term basis or long term.

If you are a loved one caring for a spouse or family member and you wonder if it is time to ask for help, consider taking the Caregiver Stress Test below. Remember you are not in this alone. There are many people who can help.

Stress can make us Tired

 The Alzheimer's Association(R) Stress Test page
link correction

In the days to follow I will be posting links to some
ideas for funding your need for help.