Why We Love our Caregivers

Something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately is how our A Place at Home Caregivers are so much more than CNAs or CMAs to our clients. They do so much more than provide cares, clean up messes, or run errands.

Our Caregivers are friends. A friendly smile in someone’s possibly lonely day. A light in someone’s life. A caring person who genuinely loves their client.

Recently I posed a question to our Caregivers asking for a special moment they’ve had with our clients that didn’t include providing cares. The responses came pouring in:

“I say prayers with my clients at bedtime.”

“I cooked my favorite breakfast for him and he loved it.”

“We went to garage sales and Goodwill and he (client) had such a good time. Couldn’t stop laughing and smiling.”

“Sometimes we just stare at each other and bust up laughing.”

“I was told by a client that I’m his best friend.”

Most of the responses I received ended with, “this is why I love my job!”  It takes a very special person to be a Caregiver, and we’re so lucky to have those kinds of employees on our APH team.

I interviewed a young woman yesterday who recently received her CNA license. She could not stop smiling. She was so excited for the opportunity to interview for the position. She told stories about people she has cared for in the past, and her passion shone through her voice. Her smile wouldn’t quit.

We’re so proud to have these Caregivers on our staff and the next time you see one of our team members, thank them. Thank them for providing such great above-and-beyond care for your loved ones.

I’m happy to say that the highlight of my day today will be calling that young woman and offering her a spot on the APH team. I’ll be just as excited as she will.

Leigh Chaves is A Place at Home’s Recruitment and Retention Specialist. This means that Leigh spends her days hiring and keeping our Caregivers happy.  She is on the front line of making sure we hire qualified, passionate and caring people to take care of our clients. This month, she reflects on how important our Caregivers are in the lives of those we care for.

 

Sam and Marlene: A Senior Living Alternatives Success Story

Our Senior Living Advisor shared a success story about a couple who were married for 53 years and needed to find a new place to call home.

Here’s the story of Sam and Marlene:

What would you do if your spouse was having memory loss?  Do you think you would be their sole caregiver?

Maybe these are questions that you might have never asked yourself. However, as the  Senior Living Advisor at A Place at Home, I see this situation often.

Recently, I received a call from a man named Sam.  Sam has been married to Marlene for 53 years. They were living in a house and Marlene’s memory had been failing for the last few years.  She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2013.  Sam could no longer leave his house without Marlene.  Sometimes he would run to the store for about an hour, but he knew that it was no longer safe for her to be alone.  Sam enjoyed playing golf with his friends but now it had become difficult because of Marlene’s memory decline.

I sat down with Sam and Marlene at their kitchen table in their home.  We discussed options.  Did he want to hire in-home care for Marlene or move to a Senior Living Community?  Did he want to move with or without her?

Sam said that he was tired of taking care of a house and worrying about yard work and snow removal.  He wanted to simplify his life and still have his independence without worrying about Marlene’s safety all the time.  It was also important for him to reside with her.

Sam provided me with his budget and location.  Together we narrowed down the options based on their needs.  Next, I set up and accompanied Sam on tours of three Senior Living Communities.  Sam and Marlene each had Long Term Care Insurance.  Long Term Care Insurance can only be used if “care” is needed.  So, Sam chose a community that had Assisted Living apartments so that they could share an apartment together.  Sam moved in at care level 0 and Marlene moved in at care level 3.  Marlene’s long term care insurance started kicking in upon their move-in while Sam’s policy would not be active yet.

Today, Sam goes golfing with his friends and knows that Marlene will be safe in their Senior Living Community.  He can still reside and spend time with Marlene but is no longer her sole caregiver.

*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of the couple.