Posted by Rosie on November 2, 2008
Special Thanks once again to Greg Brown and James Armstrong, from Now What Jobs for this article. Many of us are attempting to deal with this new role in our boomer years.
Following is part two of an interview with Phyllis Slater, owner of Slater Solutions LLC. Ms. Slater has devoted years to providing coaching and concierge services to the working caregiver and aging parent. Visit Phyllis Slater’s website .
Q. Is caregiving a rewarding career?
A. Yes, I have a creative personality and passion to find solutions. Working for others did not provide that freedom, which was a trade-off for security. Eight years ago I started my own business helping seniors to downsize their home, pack and unpack for relocation, and organize the home for ease of movement. This process is more than just packing and unpacking. Now the family can learn how to properly do these tasks for themselves by hiring me for coaching sessions over the telephone.
As time went on, I created friendships with other senior care providers. It became clear that there was a gap with respect to information, resources and the caregiver. Unfortunately, aging is not a pleasant thought and people wait for the last minute to think about it.
Q. could we have an overview of caregiving?
A. There are two types of caregivers. There are both family and professional caregivers.
Q. What does it mean to be a family caregiver?
A. Family caregivers are on call 24/7 should a loved one’s health and care change. Today a loved one may be independent but a fall tonight could mean hospitalization, rehabilitation and care when they return home. That is if they return home.
Q. Describe a day in the life of a family caregiver.
A. From rising in the morning, responsibilities start with making sure a loved one takes meals and medications; is bathed and dressed; you cook, clean, shop and provide transportation. Don?t forget the importance of social interaction with the loved one.
Family and professional caregivers must work as a team. A perfect scenario of how to be a great caregiver includes planning ahead for any contingency, which includes a list of products, services and resources within reach. However, this is not reality since most caregivers wait until a crisis to think about these things. There are unknowns, such as being independent until illness places them into a nursing home. Years ago there wasn?t any in-between stage. Now we have options such as Assisted Living and Continuing Care Facilities.
Q. What kinds of people are most in need of caregiver services?
A. Caregiver services should be available to someone who has physical, mental or age related challenges.
Q. What do these people need the most?
A. Support and services in a clean, caring and affordable environment. Aging is a process. Preparing for reality of aging is as important as preparing for retirement.
Q. What kinds of challenges does a family caregiver face?
A. When a loved one can no longer be fully independent, many families have no idea of the emotional and physical stress it puts on them. The key is to avoid ?burnout? by taking time out for a quiet walk, lunch with friends or bringing a massage therapist and hair stylist to the home.
Q. What kinds of advice do you give to a Boomer who is considering getting a caregiver for his or her parent?
A. Plan ahead by asking friends for referral services they have used. Keep a record of this for future reference. Doctors and organizations provide referrals, but that does not mean they have ever used them or know someone who has.
If a professional caregiver is required, interview their company as closely as they will interview you.
* Is the company and staff bonded?
* Will one person be the primary caregiver?
* Does the personality of your loved one work with the personality of the caregiver?
* What is the pricing?
* Perform company background checks.
Q. What are some of the disadvantages of being a caregiver?
A. Burnout is a big concern if there is no personal respite time allowed. Sometimes a spouse feels guilty about taking time away from the ailing spouse. What happens is that the healthy spouse dies first.
James O. Armstrong, who is President of NowWhatJobs.net, Inc., http://www.nowwhatjobs.net, also serves as the Editor of NowWhatJobs.net. In addition, he is the author of “Now What: Discovering Your New Life And Career After 50″ and the President of James Armstrong & Associates, Inc., which is a media representation firm based in Suburban Chicago.
Posted by Rosie on October 8, 2008
As baby boomers many of us are care givers for family members. This is an insightful article from James O. Armstrong.
Following is part one of an interview with Phyllis Slater, owner of Slater Solutions LLC. Ms. Slater has devoted years to providing coaching and concierge services to the working caregiver and aging parent. Visit Phyllis Slater’s website at EldercareConcierge.Blogspot.com.
Q. Why did you become a caregiver?
A. At 23 years of age my first husband became ill at the same time I became pregnant. I was to become a caregiver to two people. This challenge has made me sensitive to the stress of being a caregiver. There was a limited support system available at that time. Today, the best support systems are for those who are low income.
Q. Where does a person go to become a caregiver?
A. Check with the Area Agency on Aging or government aging services. They can provide information about which jobs require certification, bonding, and extensive training. Non-medical in-home care requires very little schooling.
Q. Are there classes that people take?
A. Colleges offer courses for a variety of caregiving careers. Hospitals have their classes and requirements. The Internet is a great source of research for this. However, decide what area you would enjoy working in and contact the appropriate companies in that field to see what they require.
Check out Center for Caregiver Training at Caregiving101.org. And, there is Educational Resources for the Family and Professional Caregiver at Medifecta.com. I have never used them, so it would be up to individuals to learn more.
Q. What is the income for the professional caregiver?
A. It depends on the field of caregiving that is desired. An in-home care worker earns between $15 to $21 dollars an hour. Many times they work for a client only four hours a day or once a week. In-home care companies usually do not provide health coverage but pay for the bonding and background checks. Each state has a different law about this. Naturally, an insurance specialist, lawyer, and financial planner can earn whatever the market allows.
Q. Where can a family caregiver get funds to pay for professional services?
A. From…
* Family
* Medicare
* Medicaid
* Reverse Mortgages
* Long Term Care Insurance
* Financial Planning
Some Senior Centers have volunteers to assist with non-medical care.
Q. Tell us about you.
A. Eight years ago, I left 25 years of working as an administrative assistant and word processor for Human Resources, to start my own business. I was concerned about the challenges of the working caregiver generation. They will face situations our parents did not.
Two years ago, I was diagnosed with a vision challenge that to date has no cure and am considered legally blind. To date I remain independent and able to assist others outside of the home. However, planning for the future, I had adjusted how to assist others by offering on-line support 24/7 anywhere in the United States.
The key is to face reality and make changes before needing to. I refuse to give up my passion to make life easier for the working caregiver and praise their efforts. My first step was to write a book [CALMING THE CHAOS: Life Raft for the Working Caregiver] to be used as a tool only. It talks about all the information you will learn during this interview in an easy to read, large print guide. Once a caregiver understands what services to look for and why, the next step is finding a professional caregiver.
Posted by Rosie on August 29, 2008
Many Baby Boomers are faced with caring for aging parents. If you have something you want to share I invite you to be a guest author or blogger on this site. Today let’s hear the insights of James Armstrong.
Also, you can hear the interview I did with him a while back.
In Your Next Chapter, Caring for an Aging Parent by James O. Armstrong
As you begin to transition into the next chapter of your life, other considerations will begin to emerge on your horizon. Among those factors entering into your new equation may be the consideration of caring for an aging parent or parents.
Q: “I can’t get more job training because I’m taking care of an aging parent. What would you say to me?”
A: There are alternatives or options which you need to consider, including elder care options from agencies that visit men and women’s homes on a regular basis. So, perhaps the answer is bringing someone in on those days of the week when you are working or gaining additional training.
Q: “I take my mother to many doctors appointments. Does this limit me in the kinds of jobs I can accept, because I have to take so much time off work?”
A: There are agencies dealing with aging in each county. Some of these are voluntary organizations, such as churches uniting together to take seniors to doctors’ offices and dentists’ offices plus tests at hospitals. There are simply men and women in the community who have already retired, and they’re willing to perform these functions.
Q: “Where can I learn more about these services?”
A: You can check with your own county departments on aging or voluntary organizations in your county that deal with the subject of aging.
Q: “I never know when a family member is going to need me, and then I have to drop everything. So I can’t work, and we’re running out of money.”
A: Most companies and schools would take that into consideration from an attendance standpoint. This is an item that can be negotiated.
Q: “I have to give the highest priority to helping my aging parent. Don’t you think so?”
A: Your aging parent understands the necessity of you working, if you absolutely have to have money from a cashflow standpoint. Everything in life is a question of establishing correct priorities. If you need income every month to pay your bills, then that is your first priority. This doesn’t mean that you’re not involved in the resolution of your aging parent’s problem.
Q: “My mother is very high maintenance.”
A: There are also nursing home options and assisted living options that need to be evaluated going forward. Perhaps, one of these options involves your mother selling her current home or condominium, as she evaluates these senior living options.
Q: “I know that other cities have more job opportunities for me. But my parents wouldn’t even consider moving and I take care of them.”
A: All of these concerns have to be taken into consideration. So, if working is the first necessity that you have, then you have to pursue these job opportunities where you’re concerned and, then, deal with your aging parent issues as a separate line item. In other words, you need to de-couple those items.
Q: “My father is frail, and he simply could not move with us.”
A: Then your father needs to consider senior living options that would be appropriate for him, based upon his age and physical or mental limitations.
Q: “All of my family and friends are in this town. We just can’t move.”
A: Because your family and friends are here doesn’t mean you can’t move. That’s a choice on your part.
Q: “I’m too old to move. I’m set in my ways.”
A: I’m reminded of the phrase from the Lord’s Prayer, “Give us this day our daily bread.” I don’t think that it has to do with where you currently live but where you can earn your income. And I believe that flexibility is part of the answer in this process. The more flexible we’re willing to be, the more easily our needs can be met in this area in terms of providing the income we need for our basic necessities.
James O. Armstrong, President of NowWhatJobs.net, Inc., http://www.nowwhatjobs.net, also serves as the Editor of NowWhatJobs.net. NowWhatJobs.net is the resource for job and career transitions for workers 40 years old and over, Baby Boomers and Active Seniors. Read NowWhatJobs.net for skills training, relocation options, job opportunities and much more. In addition, James is the author of “Now What? Discovering Your New Life and Career After 50.”
Article Source: Articles for Boomers
