Caring Companions Of Atlanta

Helping People Live With Dignity

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The Reality VS. the Expectation of Getting a (great) Caregiver: The Care Giving Conundrum

This is the first in a series of posts that will define the reality of care giving vs the expectations most families have as they enter the care giving journey. We will also offer tips on how to make that journey successful.

Part One: The Great Care Giving Conundrum.

OK, seems simple enough. Mom or dad finally drops his or her resistance and decides to try a caregiver. All I have to do is call a home care company and tell them to have a caregiver here tomorrow. Well, yes and no. If all you want is a warm body and it does not matter if it is the same body day-to-day, you can likely find a company that can deliver.

The truth is, finding a great caregiver is a process and not a light switch you just flip on.

Understand the Great Care Giving Conundrum.

The conundrum is a simple, yet very unbalanced equation. People in need of assistance usually wait as long as they can before getting it…and, when they do, they want as little help as possible. On the other side of the equation, most caregivers want to work as many hours as they can.

It makes sense…for the person in need, it represents them starting to lose their independence. It also means dipping into the ever-cherished bank account.  I don’t know about you, but neither of those appeals to me very much! Often times, their ask is driven more by family hounding them to get help rather than their perceived need. So, they ask for a little help. Keeps it easy to stomach and affordable.

Back to the caregivers…as a whole, caregivers are largely underpaid (not because home care companies don’t want to pay them well, but the market sets the price).  Plus, they have families to take care of.  They don’t just want lots of hours, they NEED lots of hours to pay the rent and put food on the table.

The Request.

So, when the inevitable request comes in from a  family for two four-hour shifts a week, we normally have to politely explain that the odds of us finding a great caregiver that wants that kind of work is very slim. They (the family) are not at fault for asking…how would they know!? Seems like a reasonable request. The truth is, however, even if we could find a caregiver that agreed to work mini-shifts like that, the likelihood of them sticking around and being reliable is very low. It’s not that they are bad people…they just will leave when an assignment with more hours comes up. Food on the table.

So, they key learning here is as follows:

  • Be aware of the conundrum when you engineer you request to a home care company. Almost all of us got in this business because we love to help people. But we cannot help if we are not set up to succeed
  • Know that should short, infrequent shifts be the “ask,” you might have trouble finding a home care company that will accept your business. If one does , the body they deliver will likely be different shift-to-shift

Next up…the fallacy that no one can care for mom or dad as well as you can.

Happy reading!

Adam

 

 

 

“Raves” for Seniors!

Older Londoners “rave” in parties over tea!

If there is one truth I recognized in working with older adults its that they all were once young and have the stories to back that up! Many retain their youthful sense of humor and perspective…even if the old body is slowing down. I love hearing about the experiences they had as they navigated life.

I regularly attend events geared towards older adults and dancing is commonly on the agenda. Most seniors like to boogie and many retain a rhythm that today’s youth can’t match!

Case in point are tea party “raves” taking place in London. I came across this article and loved the outfits and spirit of the folks “raving.” Remember, you are only as old as you feel. RAVE ON!

https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/j5az48/this-nightclub-for-the-elderly-is-fighting-loneliness-with-tea-party-raves

Older Adults and Bathing

It is a common call. A loved one picks up the phone and asks if we can push our caregiver (which has usually become part of the family) to encourage mom or dad to bathe…change clothes. Lack of hygiene is an indicator of where a senior is in managing their daily life. Cognition might be good and you will rarely hear complaints.

Dad’s clothes are stained and an he generally seems disheveled. In close proximity an odor is present. Doing laundry and getting in/out of a bath can become more difficult if mobility is in decline.

Our caregivers are trained to urge clients to bathe, be cautious about navigating their space and be on top of medications. In the case of bating, not doing so can man a urinary tract infection…a common reason seniors end up in the hospital. And, while a caregiver cannot insist dad bathes, a little creative encouragement usually gets the job done.

An article on Daily Caring addresses seniors and bathing. If your older adult lacks proper hygiene, don’t ignore it…ask questions and be creative in encouraging they clean up. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

How Often Should Seniors Bathe? 3 Essential Health Tips

Adam

 

Sunscreen for Seniors – Are you Using it Correctly?

Caregivers in Atlanta GA: Sunscreen for Seniors – Are you Using it Correctly?
Caregivers in Atlanta GA: Sunscreen for Seniors – Are you Using it Correctly?

Spring is the time to start getting back outdoors. It is the time to plant gardens, to go on walks, to go to the park, and to just get outside and enjoy the warm sunshine.

Unfortunately, though, the same sun that we have been missing all winter can cause some serious skin problems, especially in seniors. Too much sun can cause sunburn, skin damage, and even put us at a higher risk for skin cancer. This is something that most people ignore, though, as they get ready to hit the park, and this can lead to dangerous consequences.

As a caregiver for an aging loved one, it can be difficult to make them realize how important skincare is for the elderly. It will help to know, however, that simply using sunscreen or sunblock can greatly reduce the occurrence of sunburn or other skin problems caused by sun exposure. So don’t skimp on it!

Here are some questions that might come up when you decide to start sticking to a sunscreen regimen, along with some answers that will really make you think!

Which sunscreen is right for my senior?
Any sunscreen is helpful, to be honest. Even just a little bit of protection is better than none at all, so you don’t have to go out and buy the fanciest, most expensive brand on the market. However, if you want to get the best type of sunscreen, aim for sunscreen or lotions with 50 SPF. Brands like Coppertone’s Water Babies is especially good, because it is gentle on the skin.
However, be sure to check the ingredients before you buy: some sunscreens contain harmful chemicals like oxybenzone, which can cause hormonal problems, and retinyl palmitate, which actually causes skin damage instead of preventing it.

When should we apply sunscreen?
Any time the senior will be outside for an extended period of time, it is best to put on a layer of sunscreen. Even on cloudy days, UV rays can come through the clouds and cause skin damage, so it is better to be safe than sorry! Apply the sunscreen before heading out the door, and reapply often. Which leads us to the next question…

How often should we reapply?
The answer to this is: it depends. The general rule of thumb is to reapply sunscreen every two hours. If your senior is sweating a lot, though, or going in the water at a pool or a beach, reapplying every hour is a better bet. This isn’t the only time you can reapply sunscreen though: if your senior’s skin is starting to burn or itch or turn pink, you can reapply right then and there, no matter how much time has passed. This will not only prevent further damage, but it may help soothe the redness and itching that is already bothering them.
As you can see, sunscreen is a simple, easy way to prevent a lot of problems down the road. And this doesn’t just apply to seniors – it applies to family caregivers and the rest of your loved ones as well! It only takes a few minutes to put on sunscreen, and that few minutes could save your skin, and your life.

If you or an aging family member are considering hiring a professional caregiver in Atlanta, GA, please contact the caring staff at Caring Companions of Atlanta 470-514-5954 .

We provide quality non-medical services to our clients in their homes or in a facility if that’s where they live. Our staff is available for care plans for extensive care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or as little as 4 hours per visit. Reach out to us, and one of our outstanding administrative staff will meet with potential clients to assist them and their families in designing an effective, personal plan of care.

It’s All About Us!

Caregiver in Atlanta GACaregiver-in-Atlanta-GA

It’s not, of course, but we are confident enough in our service to our client base and hospitable care of our caregivers to toot our own “horn!”

When we started Caring Companions of Atlanta, we set forth to operate on one very simple foundation. Just do the right thing. Many of you have seenCaregiver-in-Atlanta-GA that line on mugs we occasionally share with folks, on candy jars we leave behind and fill (“the Candy Man can!”) and on printed materials we distribute. Our belief is that if we “just do the right thing” at each and every turn, the rest will take care of itself. Our clients will be very satisfied, our caregivers will love working with us and we will be profitable. So far, so good!

So, at the risk of being presumptuous today it is all about us! If you would, please:

And by all means, do not keep us a secret!

Have a terrific (and safe) week!

Adam

 

Caregiver-in-Atlanta-GA Caregiver-in-Atlanta-GA Caregiver-in-Atlanta-GA

 

If you or an aging family member are considering hiring caregiver services in Atlanta, GA, please contact the caring staff at Caring Companions of Atlanta 470-514-5954 .

We provide quality non-medical services to our clients in their homes or in a facility if that’s where they live. Our staff is available for care plans for extensive care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or as little as 4 hours per visit. Reach out to us, and one of our outstanding administrative staff will meet with potential clients to assist them and their families in designing an effective, personal plan of care.