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Aug 14 2018

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

 

 

 

Written by Adam Seever, Owner · Categorized: Caregiver in Atlanta GA, Caregiver Strategies, Caregiver Worries, Caregivers in Decatur GA, Senior Issues · Tagged: care givers, home care

Oct 26 2017

What Can You Do in Order to Balance Your Career and Your Desire to Be a Caregiver?

You might think that you don’t have many choices as a family caregiver who also has to work. In reality, though, the world is becoming more understanding about the fact that aging family members need a caregiver. By exploring the options that are available to you, you might find that you can do far more than you realized to maintain your career and still be an effective caregiver.

 

Home Care Services in Brookhaven GA: Balancing Your Career and Caregiving
Home Care Services in Brookhaven GA: Balancing Your Career and Caregiving

 

Talk to Your Employer about Your Options

Many employers are far more willing to work with you in your quest to be a good caregiver than you might think. Some might work out a telecommuting option or they might be willing to work with you on your time off. They may even have other options that can work for both of you. Until you ask, though, you won’t know what’s possible.

 

Work with Local Agencies for the Elderly

Another source you need to reach out to is an agency in your local area that works with senior citizens. They can help you to find assistance that you and your aging adult need in order to meet her needs. Some of the solutions they can help you find might be enough to allow you to work your regular hours and still care for your elderly family member.

 

Hire Home Care Providers

You might think that hiring home care providers is not something that you should be doing. The thing is, elder care providers are more than just babysitters. They can help to make sure that your elderly family member is socializing, getting where she needs to go, eating well, and following the rest of her regular routine. And that’s all possible while you’re doing what you need to do at work, too.

 

Take Time Away from Work, if Possible

It’s not always feasible, of course, but if you can, you might want to consider taking a break from work in order to get your elderly family member’s situation stable at home. Then, when you’ve got a smooth system in place for your elderly family member, you can step right back into your career again.

Usually, there is a solution for any issue you’re having with balancing work with caregiving, but you might have to get a little creative.

 

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

 

Written by Adam Seever, Owner · Categorized: Caregiver Health, Caregiver Strategies, Home Care Services in Brookhaven GA · Tagged: Caregiver Strategies, Home Care Services in Brookhaven GA

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Wonderful Care! ★★★★★ 5 out of 5 – by Laura S. on Aug 14, 2017

My parents recently relocated to Atlanta to be closer to family. My father has Alzheimer’s disease requiring assistance with all activities of daily living. My mother’s goal has been to care for him at home and Caring Companions has made this goal a reality. The caregivers who assist my parents were selected with care to be a good “fit.” They are even better than I had hoped for. Both of my parents look forward to seeing them because they are so kind and respectful. They go above and beyond to support my family. I could not be more pleased with the caregivers and Adam Seever! Caring companions has truly exceeded my expectations!

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