Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Family Caregiver Gets a Break - Essay Contest


Every family caregiver has a story. Caring Today & Home Instead offers you a chance to win the Grand Prize worth $5,000.00! Just submit a 500 word or less essay telling them you caregiving experience for a chance to win! You may qualify for the FIRST PRIZE worth $2,500 or an Extraordinary Caregiver Award worth $500. Deadline to submit entries is July 16, 2008. See below how to enter to win.

Just them about your day-to-day experience of caregiving: How you've embraced the role of caregiver for a senior loved one, what impact it's had on you and how you've inspired others, demonstrating how a Home Instead CAREGiver could make a difference in your life. 2008 Caring Today "Give a Caregiver a Break" Essay Contest

I read stories about your giving hearts & challenges and have experienced many myself helping mom & dad. Now it's your chance to share with Caring Today and Home Instead your personal experiences with a chance to gain financial help on this arduous path.

Your days are filled with concern, worry, and love - so take advantage of this great opportunity to win cash. The deadline to submit your essay entry is July 16, 2008.

Good luck to you all!

Carol at WorkingCaregiver.com

www.WorkingCaregiver.com

Monday, May 19, 2008

Home Care in Houston, Texas - At Your Side Home Care


Donna Wrabel, MSW, is co-owner and operator of At Your Side Home Care with husband of twenty-five years, Rick Wrabel. At Your Side Care is a licensed home care agency by the State of Texas.

Two years ago they decided to put their marriage partnership to the test and buy a business both felt drawn to, serving seniors. Donna and Rick Wrabel's shared goal is to help elders remain safe and independent while living in their own home. A goal many seniors and elders crave to accomplish.

Donna is a licensed Social Worker and raised 2 sons. Out of her experience of mothering and caring for her sons she often wonders why families don't treat elder care with the same dedication and energy we use on caring for children! What a thought and great observation. Why do we feel helpless when it comes to caring for our elders? And why do many family caregivers and adult children take on passive roles when dealing with parent care as opposed to the empowerment we thrive on when raising our children! Thank you, Donna, for bringing that to our attention! I have a thought about that and will give you my opinion later in this post.

How Donna and Rick came about deciding on a home care businss was initiated by caring for Rick's grandparents. They found it difficult navigating through resources and locating quality care for them. So, they decided to do something about the lack of quality care in the industry and provide for families and elders what they had trouble locating... good, reliable care for someone you love.

Donna has learned over the years what is most useful when matching up a caregiver to the senior needing home care. Steps Donna applies to her business was learned over the years of marriage:
1. She and Rick, her husband, are a true match.
2. She applies this learned intuition (with Rick) to families and their loved ones when matching them to a caregiver.
3. She and Rick thoroughly screen the caregivers they hire.

But out of her experience, Donna talks about using intuition as a guide to help in her business. I agree with Donna. And believe most family caregivers and adult children have not learn to trust their own instincts when it comes to elder care. I think we take on that passive role... too many times.

Other tips Donna Wrabel gives to families when evaluating home care agencies:
1. Make sure they are licensed by the state.
2. Look for family owned businesses, this feature alone insures they understand the importance of family connection.
3. Who's in charge? Is the owner/operator an expert in the elder care industry?
4. Make sure the agency employees an RN or Social Worker, better yet, is the agency operated by one?
5. Pick an agency who's owner gets personally involved in the process.

Thank you, Donna and Rick. These tips are useful and many family caregivers will learn how to better care for their aging relative when applying them.

Contact Donna and Rick Wrabel at 713-337-1133 or send Rick an email rick@atyoursidehomecare.com.

As for the passive involvement... it's my opinion that we behave this way because we still view ourselves as the child of the elder and having that perception limits our responsibility of caring for them.

My best,
Carol@WorkingCaregiver.com

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Austin Texas Home Health Care - First Care Home Health in Georgetown, Round Rock, Austin


First Care Home Health in Austin & Round Rock educates aging clients on how to take better care of themselves when living with chronic illnesses. It can be a lesser expensive way of caring for the elderly and allowing them to remain independent at home. Medicare requires the education so that the elderly does not slip into ill health and land in the hospital again. So, First Care Home Health finds that education is the best policy for remaining safely at home!


They help educate clients having concerns of medical conditions such as Congested Heart Failure, Arthritis, Cancer, Hypertention. Part of the education process includes how to take medications and follow treatments. They have employed a high quality staff of nurses and professionals.


First Care Home Health also communicates findings, treatments and outcomes to, and with your physician so everyone involved understands the patient care. They can also administer wound care, injections and topical agents as directed by your physician.

Nutrition Care is an important element of the healing process, First Care Home Health has a registered dietician on staff that will recommend modifications in the patient’s diet, or when required to accommodate the patient’s needs; after obtaining a physician’s order.


Both Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy is part of their offerings and expertise. Providing treatments concerning disorders of the muscles, bones or joints. They will assess the client’s rehabilitation needs and potential. A therapy program will be implemented based on the patient’s physician’s order.


The therapist will recommend modifications in the physical environment when required to accommodate the patient’s needs. The therapist will provide instruction on self-care, and activities of daily living according to the patient’s physician order.


Call First Care Home Health if your aging family member has a doctor's order for nursing care in the home. They are located in Round Rock, TX. Phone number is (512) 990-2425 or visit them on the web http://www.firstcarehomehealth.com/.


My best,


Carol