Sandi Gunnett, BS, Director of Staffing and Recruiting

As an employee of Eldercare Services and a consumer of Geriatric Care Management Services, I can empathize with anyone going through an emergency, status change, or strategic decision-making with a loved one. I often hear from clients or their families, what do I do first? Whom do I speak with, where do I find resources? Where do I begin?

When a member of our family is experiencing a crisis we often hesitate to obtain expert advice or help with his or her care plan or plan of action. Although, if we were experiencing a financial crisis or legal crisis, most of us would not hesitate to seek advice from a professional that relieves our burden, builds confidence, and helps us to avoid poor economic results.

When a family member in another area of the state was experiencing a health crisis, I asked for and received a referral to a Professional Geriatric Care Manager. The Geriatric Care Manager helped us to ensure that my family member received the level of care and concern that I could not provide personally without losing major time at work or at home. We cannot always be in two places at one time.

The Care Manager partnered with us to seek and provide answers to the questions we had, represented us when we could not be present, and advocated for my family member.  This ensured that our family member’s values, not the Care Manager’s, were represented.

The expertise was invaluable in obtaining a better outcome, ensuring better quality of life, and helping us to avoid costly financial mistakes often created by inappropriate placements or expenditures. The Professional Geriatric Care Manager was a valuable resource in a crisis and now as an ongoing basis. We do not feel replaced or delegated to a lack of authority or ability with our family member but empowered to make well-thought-out logical decisions that are based on expert advice or resourced information. The Professional Geriatric Care Manager is like the all-purpose tool in your bag.

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.