Caregiving- Is it the Right Profession for You?

Posted in Blog, Caregiving, Uncategorized on November 17, 2009

By Sandi Gunnet, BS, Director of Staffing and Recruiting

Most of the applicants I interview tell me their story. The story usually involves a relative or close friend who is older and is experiencing the challenges of aging. Often in the story, some wonderful experiences are related and the individuals want to give back to someone who helped them to become the person he or she is today.

Many of those who choose caregiving as a career, do so because they are called to this profession. Whether by the personal experience of seeing a loved one age and wishing that there was more that he or she could do, or by choice, sometimes as a second career in a challenging economy, either path works. Often, stay-at-home moms, come to us and say they have taken care of their kids, and to some extent their parents, and realize they have many appropriate skills. Some come to us fresh from CNA/LVN/RN schooling to get hands on experience in a companion care environment.

In today’s market, one thing is certain, people are still aging and many need help. The model at Eldercare Services is client-centered, we strive to go where the client is so that his or her independence can be retained whenever possible. Sometimes, we care for people in their homes, in a facility, and throughout the different stages of their aging process. Our caregivers come from a variety of backgrounds and the perfect recipe is: dedication to seniors, compassion, a willingness to learn and be open and the desire to be part of a team.

Our caregivers work as companions. The ability to understand those struggling with forms of dementia and physical challenges is essential. With an open mind one can learn a lot from our Professional Geriatric Care Managers and from the training that Eldercare Services provides to appropriate candidates. Some clients require just a few hours of help and others have live-in 24-hour care.

If you can communicate clearly, have no criminal background, a clean driving record, a reliable automobile, automobile insurance and are in good health, you may be a candidate for a career in care giving.

How to apply for a job in a professional manner

I receive hundreds of resumes a month from those looking to begin or advance a career working in caregiving or administration for our company. The challenge is to read all of the resumes and choose the best candidates. I am often asked how I do this.

The first thing I recommend is exploring the company’s website. By looking at the website, if one exists, you can gain great knowledge about the philosophy, mission and vision statements of the company. This also indicates an interest in the company and what their focus is on. The second thing I recommend is reading the job description clearly. If the job ad states to refer to something in the memo line do so, it is a good way to prove to the prospective employer that you can follow directions. Next, be sure to have a reasonable email address. Think about what the human resources representative may see when they open up your e-mail- partygirl@anywhere.com might not look as responsible as Gunnetts@anywhere.com. Be sure, if there is a cover letter that it is addressed to the correct individual and everything is spelled properly. Showing attention to detail might get you noticed. Using an appropriate readable font is a great idea. Colors of print and flashing lights probably are going to be more annoying than creative depending upon the job you are applying for. Finally, let the company know about your education, your job experience including months and dates of work and contact information for supervisors.

Be honest and straightforward. A willingness to learn is more attractive than someone who is not truthful. In a challenging economy, the best way to be noticed by recruiters and companies is attention to detail, following directions, and selling your self without compromising integrity or professionalism.

Making the Last 10 Years Like the First 10 Years

Posted in Age Related Issues, Care Management, End of Life, Uncategorized on November 11, 2009
Professional Geriatric Care Manager Supervisor Eileen Zagelow, BA, CMC

Professional Geriatric Care Manager Supervisor Eileen Zagelow, BA, CMC

A client once told me that life would be better if the last ten years were lived first and the first ten years were lived last. 

 Since that experience I feel challenged to provide some sort of delight to the clients we serve.  One of the most satisfying ways to do this as a Care Manager is to relieve families and friends of some of their functional duties.  This allows the caregiver time, energy and opportunity to provide some delightful experiences of their own.  Supporting contentment, companionship and the occasional high is very gratifying to both the giver and receiver.

 The moments don’t have to be very big, very long or even very often.  Exhilarating and/or meaningful should be the goal.  Families are often too exhausted to find energy for such pursuits.  By handing over the controls at least for a while the caregiver can replenish themselves and “pay it forward”. 

 Some of the following experiences come to my mind.  Enjoying a 90th birthday cruising along in a convertible, top down, complete with sunglasses and baseball hat.  (Of course normal precautions need to be employed!)  A visit to Pier 39 with a ride on the carousel.  A drive through the wine country or over the Golden Gate Bridge. For some, the sheer pleasure of sand running through the toes is a wonderful time.

 We create happiness when we feel alive and blessed ourselves.  Sharing the burden is immeasurable in the rewards it reaps.

Memory Loss and Aging Parents

Posted in Age Related Issues, Alzheimer's, Blog, Dementia and Memory Loss, Uncategorized on November 3, 2009
Founder and Executive Director Linda Fodrini-Johnson, MA, MFT, CMC

Founder and Executive Director Linda Fodrini-Johnson, MA, MFT, CMC

When one parent is exhibiting signs of memory loss the other parent can often cover up for the spouse who is losing the ability to care for themselves.   Adult children are often surprised when they hear about a diagnosis they never saw, sometimes because of denial and at other times because the well parent was doing such a good job of making excuses or covering for the ill parent. 

 Often this is because of the well parent’s denial and fear of facing the truth of the pending loss.  Other times both parents might be experiencing a dementia and they need each other to maintain their independence.  It is fascinating for me as a professional, to see how we humans struggle to stay independent for fear of losing control.  Are we not really all interdependent?  Don’t we depend on others to produce our food, manufacture our clothing, build structures, secure our financial resources etc?  Would it not be a better world if we were all much more comfortable with the phrase “inter-dependence” instead of struggling to hold onto “independence” even to our own detriment?

 Often adult children have a difficult time seeing the dementia for some of the same fears around loss and grief.  It is not easy to experience the loss of a parent in a way that robs them of self and leaves an empty shell of what was a beloved, intelligent being.  Rest assured that love can be experienced and expressed into the later stages of dementia and we can all learn the importance of just being in the moment – because truly that is all there really is.