Coronavirus Prevention Plan

COVID-19

With the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak impacting lives across the country, we wanted to share our thoughts to help avoid transmission of COVID-19. The biggest issue is this illness is going to look like a sniffle for many of us. It’s easy for it to go unnoticed and unknowingly spread it. We must go back to the basics and remind all to practice good hygiene to mitigating the risk of infection and to avoid any unnecessary travel.

This disease spreads through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales. These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person. Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. People can also catch COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets. There are a few universal precautions that, if followed faithfully, will significantly reduce our caregiver’s and client’s risk of illness:

A Place At Home (APAH) Caregivers are required to thoroughly clean their hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water immediately after entering a client’s home.

Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.

Social Distancing: As much as reasonably possible, caregivers are advised to remain a minimum of 3 feet distance from clients, family and any other people in public spaces. APAH staff are advised to cluster care tasks involving direct client contact together and disinfect immediately thereafter.

Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain the virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.

Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth.

Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.

Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.

Please refer to the video above for additional information about keeping yourself protected. You can also download the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s workplace, school and home guidance for keeping your space safe.

Our priority is the health and safety of our employees, clients, and the communities in which we operate. Coronaviruses are typically seasonal. We hope that with the warmer weather, flu season ends, and this virus burns itself out. Until then, use these tools to educate those around you on how they can help control the spread or contact us with any questions.

Caregiver Never Felt So Welcomed and Loved: TyNesha Otis

Caregiver of the Month

“I’ve never been so welcomed and so loved and so touched since working for A Place At Home,” said Caregiver of the Month, TyNesha Otis, who joined the A Place At Home CARE team in May.

Before joining A Place At Home as a caregiver, TyNesha was previously in childcare. Her entire family worked in childcare and she recalled helping her mom babysit. “She used to ask, ‘TyNesha, help me with this or that.’ It kind of became my job.”

TyNesha has four children of her own now including a set of twins. She decided to get her CNA last year saying that jumping from childcare to senior care was just a reverse role. “They depend on us. I make sure they’re dressed and fed.” TyNesha added, “I was driven to get my CNA. And I did it. And I turned around and got my medical assistant certification too.”

She’s enjoyed the transition to caring for seniors. She smiled and said, “They make me laugh. I love working with the elderly and being there for them makes my day go a little bit smoother. It just gets better and better.”

Becoming a Caregiver

Every caregiving case is different and it’s hard to know how to prepare but TyNesha makes sure to take her time and listen. She advised anyone new to caregiving to help your client as much as you can without taking over. “If they are trying to work hard on something, give them that space. Ask them if they need help instead of helping because you’re taking away their independence. Help them along. Don’t just try to do everything for them. Guide them. If they can’t do it help them, don’t let them struggle. They need love too.”

TyNesha works with three regular clients, plus she picks up extra shifts when other caregivers callout. “I work while the kids are at school and if they’re busy after school I’ll pick up other shifts.” Dani Sloan, HR Director at A Place At Home – Omaha, commended TyNesha for stepping up to the plate when they needed her to fill a shift. “She’s been amazing and so reliable. Our clients love her, and we love working with her,” said Dani.

Compassionate Care Starts Here

At A Place At Home senior care, we know that our in-home caregivers make us great. Our careful hiring practices and high standards ensure that seniors receive compassionate, reliable assistance with the activities of daily life. Our senior support services are planned around the senior’s individual needs – and designed to maintain their dignity and independence. A Place at Home caregivers genuinely enjoy caring for others. Together, we work to provide each senior the opportunity to live their best life. Apply now or contact us to inquire about becoming a caregiver with us.

 

Caregiver Tips to Proactively Prioritize Your Mental Health

Caregiver Journaling

It’s a new decade and it’s time for caregivers to proactively prioritize their mental health to avoid burnout.

Professional caregiving is not for the faint of heart. It takes a desire to impact the lives of others. Many have children of their own, maybe family caregivers for someone close to them, and often find themselves working multiple jobs. The effect on one’s physical and emotional wellbeing can be overwhelming. Often, when a person being cared for is under duress, their caregiver can feel it also. That empathy is what leads many professional caregivers to the field, but it also can lead to exhaustion and burnout which takes a toll on your mental health.

The mental stress experienced on a regular basis can have a negative effect. It’s true, you cannot care for others properly if you’re not putting your own needs first. That can be difficult advice to follow, but it’s imperative not only for yourself but for those under your care. Fortunately, there are some realistic, easy ways to proactively prioritize your mental health:

Journaling

Keeping a journal is one of the best ways to improve long term stress levels and your overall mood. Writing for just 20 minutes a day can have positive, long term effects, both on your mental health, and physically. It’s one of the most therapeutic actions you can take, and the benefits of how you feel after are almost immediate. You can learn more about journaling and all its benefits here.

Meditation

Often, people hear the word meditation and immediately think, “I could never stop my thoughts long enough to meditate”. Here’s the kicker – no one can, it’s impossible. That’s not the point. Sitting with yourself in silence allows you to be aware of your thoughts, and instead of reacting to them, acknowledging them without attachment to the feelings they induce. Even ten minutes a day (sometimes less!) produces benefits such as stress reduction, increased concentration, peace of mind, reduction in blood pressure numbers, better sleep, and overall better mental health. You can find out more about meditation, how to get started, and it’s many benefits here.

Yoga

Yoga is another fantastic way to prioritize yourself before you start giving to others. As with journaling and meditation, it doesn’t take much time out of your day to produce massive benefits. Just 15 minutes a day produces effects such as stress reduction, better sleep, more energy, boosts your immune system, and allows you to communicate with your body, and how each part of it feels. This quick, 15-minute routine is easy to follow, and it’s enough to have you feeling real results, very soon.

There are many more ways to put yourself first on a daily basis, but the only place to start is at the beginning. The practices listed in this article take less than an hour a day in total, and you’ll find the benefits to be exponential. Caring for yourself first allows you to fully serve those you care for, in the most fulfilling and rewarding way possible, for both you, and those in your charge.

A Place At Home is always looking to hire qualified and compassionate caregivers. Apply today to be a professional caregiver that makes an impact on the lives of seniors.

Caregiver Studying to be Neurosurgeon: Marcos Lopez

Marcos Lopez was named caregiver of the month for December.

Moving from Grand Island, Nebraska to Omaha in 2017, Marcos began his field of study in neuroscience, minoring in Physics and Chemistry at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

Marcos’ family doesn’t come from a medical background, but his father did inspire him to always be curious. “He said it’s good to learn a little about everything. He liked to help people. It didn’t matter what it was. He was always trying to help someone else out,” said Marcos.

Since 2018, Marcos has been impacting the lives of our clients by helping them age gracefully in the comfort of their own home. His three years of education have made him a very effective professional caregiver, but it will also aid him in how he approaches his future patients as a Neurosurgeon

“I like all my clients. They say interesting things sometimes and it sticks. I go to classes or other shifts and use what I learn. They also tell me to live my life and enjoy every moment.”

Students in the medical field working as caregivers are perhaps some of the most prepared professionals in the field. Marcos advised his peers to also consider becoming a caregiver. “It’s good to get out there and work anything medical. I know people that haven’t worked in this field and they try to get into med school, and they won’t let them since they don’t have the experience, or they end up not liking the work.”

Balancing a work and class schedule is hard, especially in a challenging program like neuroscience. Marcos said it’s helped him learn to manage his time better. “Med school is not easy. There’s a lot to do but [A Place At Home] is really flexible so I can decide what time I can work and then make sure I get studying done for school.”

Marcos enjoys his job as a caregiver, sharing, “I think that everyone deserves to live their life without an obstacle stopping them. I think its good to be able to help them out so they can live their life.”

Are you a student looking for an opportunity to gain more experience in the healthcare industry? Consider becoming a caregiver and apply to join our team today.

10 Tips for Navigating the Holidays and Alzheimer’s

A Place At Home Caregiver

Taking care of a loved one who has Alzheimer’s this holiday season? While being a caregiver is both challenging and rewarding, the holidays bring some special challenges and require a prepared, proactive approach.

Here are 10 tips to help you navigate the holidays while caring for someone with Alzheimer’s:

1. Find Ways Your Loved One With Alzheimer’s Can Be Involved

Just because your loved one has Alzheimer’s Disease doesn’t necessarily mean he or she can’t be involved in the holiday celebrations. Even if it’s something simple like packing holiday tins with cookies, assisting in decorating or wrapping gifts, or signing and sending greeting cards – it can mean a lot to the person doing it.

2. Write A Holiday Wish List 

Some holiday gifts can be inappropriate or even dangerous for someone who has Alzheimer’s. So, take the time to create a wish list for your loved one this season. Get ideas from your loved one and others who know him/her, cross off anything that wouldn’t be a good idea given your loved one’s condition – and share the list online. Check out these gift ideas.

3. Let Others Know What To Expect This Holiday Season

Be sure to keep the whole family informed on all developments in your loved one’s Alzheimer’s condition. Let them know what he/she can handle and what he/she can’t. For example, patients with Alzheimer’s tend not to do well in conversations with multiple voices all going at once – one-on-one conversations are best.

4. Maintain Routine As Much As Possible

People with Alzheimer’s generally need to follow a pretty strict routine. It helps them avoid confusion, disruption, and needless stress. Thus, while there will be special events during the holidays, regular day-to-day activities should be maintained at all other times.

5. Consider A Holiday Lunch Or Brunch Instead Of Dinner

Alzheimer’s symptoms may be more prevalent during the evening hours, and it’s just harder on them to have guests over for a dinner party as opposed to earlier in the day. See if you can have people visit for a holiday lunch or brunch at Mom or Dad’s house instead of the (usually) more traditional dinner gathering. Or check with the Assisted Living community as sometimes Holiday meals may be offered.

6. Be Creative With Introducing New Holiday Traditions

Most of us tend to get stuck in a holiday rut, as it were, and the very thought of changing old holiday traditions may seem unsettling. But new traditions can be founded that accommodate the family member with Alzheimer’s and the fact you are spending a lot of time caring for him/her. Watching a favorite holiday movie together or meeting at a special restaurant are some examples.

7. Simplify The Holidays To Reduce Stress

As a caregiver, you will have less time to deal with the holidays than you may have had in the past. You don’t have to “skip” the holidays, but you probably do need to scale things back a bit. Little things like doing your Christmas shopping online or using gift bags instead of wrapping paper will save time and reduce stress.

8. Know Your Limitations & Ask For Help

Nothing can be more stressful than trying to do what you don’t feel qualified to do or what you simply can’t find the time to do. Ask other family members to help as needed and go to professionals for timely assistance and for help with anything outside your field of expertise.

9. Consider Holiday In-Home Care

You may not want to have your loved one move into a senior living community, or at least not yet while their condition is not too far along. De-stress the holidays by hiring in-home care and giving your loved one some special attention while you run errands. Contact A Place At Home – Omaha to learn how we can help your loved one during the holiday season and beyond where needed.

10. Join An Online Support Community

Finally, 10 tips are never enough – you need more! So be quick to join an online Alzheimer’s caregiver support community or talk with other caregivers to “pick their brains” for ideas and find resources, support, and encouragement!

In the end, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming for you and your loved one with Alzheimer’s. Remember that regardless of any memory issues your loved one lives with, it’s still important to include them in holiday events.

Caregiving Starts With Listening: Lorrie Van Roekel

November Caregiver of the Month

Lorrie Van Roekel was named Caregiver of the Month for November.

Born and raised in Albion, Nebraska, Lorrie became a caregiver when she was 16 years old. She worked in the local nursing home with both her sisters. “One’s an RN and one’s an LPN now,” said Lorrie.

Lorrie has been a CNA for 40 years and people always inquired why she never became a nurse. They knew she’d make a great nurse. Lorrie explained that she really enjoys the one-on-one opportunity she has with seniors by being a caregiver. “I like it when I can stick with one client. I get to know them, and they get to know me. Margie is my main girl,” shared Lorrie as she smiled over at her client Margie.

She has been Margie’s caregiver for a few months now and it was her independent testimonial that won Lorrie Caregiver of the Month. “Lorrie is always on time, she’s very caring, we have great conversations, and you don’t have to explain to her how to boil an egg,” Margie shared with a chuckle.

Working with people of all ages in her career, Lorrie found herself drawn to the older generation, commenting on how she loves the stories they tell. She was very close to her grandparents and had the opportunity to take care of her grandparents and her mom because of her experience and training.

Working for A Place At Home

With a long career as a CNA, Lorrie said she was very happy to find A Place At Home. “The office staff has been so helpful and kind. I worked with another in-home company before and we never had staff meetings, we never had any training. This is so much better. I just love the interaction everyone has,” said Lorrie.

She also offered up some advice to younger CNA’s just starting out. She found in her 40-year career that it’s best to listen to what your client wants, don’t just hear them. You may think another way is better or easier but it’s important to listen and consider it may just be the way they like things done.

APAH Recruiting and Retention Specialist, Stephenie Garrison, shared that Lorrie is a very kind and caring individual. She added, “Lorrie is very attentive to her clients and goes above and beyond to make sure they are taken care of. We are very happy that she is an employee with us and look forward to seeing her grow as a caregiver in our company.”

Are you CARE?

A Place At Home’s “We are CARE” philosophy is a commitment to our core values: Compassionate, Accountable, Respectful, and Ethical. If you are interested in becoming a caregiver and hold those values true in your own life, reach out to join our team today.

Resources Available For Family Caregivers

National Family Caregivers Month is a time to recognize the sacrifices made by 90 million Americans providing voluntary care to their loved ones.

The economic value of unpaid caregiving services provided to an adult with limitations was estimated at $470 billion in 2013, according to the AARP. This amount exceeded what was spent on home care and nursing services combined. With nearly one in five United States citizens projected to be 65 years of age or older by the year 2030, the number of family caregivers is only expected to rise.

For the last two decades, Presidents have recognized November as National Family Caregivers Month to honor the millions of selfless Americans who dedicate their time and resources to be a caregiver to a loved one who wishes to remain at home.

The Caregiver Action Network (CAN) is a non-profit organization providing free education, peer support, and resources to family caregivers across the country. Their theme this year is #becarecurious to encourage family caregivers across the country to ask questions, explore options and share in the care decisions that affect the health and well‐being of their loved ones.

There are innumerable sacrifices made by caregivers as they tend to daily tasks such as shopping, food preparation, housekeeping, laundry, transportation, and giving medication. These tasks can expand into dressing, grooming, bathing, researching information on diseases and tending to financial matters.

Caregiving can sometimes get extremely overwhelming and the person providing care can become overworked. They can find it difficult to enjoy their loved one because it all begins to feel like work. Print these 10 helpful tips from CAN for yourself or a caregiver in your life to ensure they continue to mindful of their own health as well. You can also read these self-care tips for caregivers.

A Place at Home: Trust Us for Compassionate Senior Care

At A Place At Home senior care, we know that sometimes you need a break from your caregiving duties. When you find it difficult to juggle work, family, household, and caregiving for a loved one, that’s when we step in. Whether you just need a few hours or 24/7 care—we are here to provide compassionate care solutions, where and when you need us. We offer a continuum of care for seniors ranging from in-home care services and care coordination to senior living alternatives. Contact us today for more information.

Connecting With Veterans: Amber Dean

Caregiver of the Month

Amber Dean was named Caregiver of the Month for October.

Amber became a caregiver by following in the footsteps of her mom, Aunts, and cousins. “I come from a long line of CNA’s in my family. We have a passion to help others,” Amber said.

She has been a caregiver since 1999, spending the last five years with A Place At Home – Omaha. With ten children and seven grandchildren, Amber was relieved to find an employer “that understands when things come up.” She finds APAH – Omaha to be a very family-oriented company.

About being selected Caregiver of the Month, Dani Sloan, HR Director of  APAH – Omaha, said “Amber is consistent, reliable, dependable, and epitomizes our “We are CARE” philosophy.”

Amber recalled her first clients when she started working here, “They were a couple and one had dementia and the other did not. They were fun to be with and kept saying they’d adopt me if they could.”

Amber also finds that many of the clients she cares for usually request her to come back. She said, “I connect with a lot of my clients. It seems like I’m with a lot of veterans and my husband is a veteran. It gives me a foot in the door to connect with them. They love to hear how my husband’s service animal is doing.”

She currently provides care for a veteran in Bennington who, like her step-son, was also in the Navy. She prepares his meals, runs to the grocery store and helps clean his home.

Ultimately, Amber shared, her goal is to be a nurse. “I’m in the mentoring program. A Place At Home helped me get a mentor to further my education as an RN,” said Amber.

Find an RN Mentor

A Place At Home has been collaborating with the Nebraska Action Coalition – Future of Nursing to provide a foundation to connect emerging nurse leaders with experts across the nursing profession. Five caregivers from A Place At Home have been matched with mentors since the program started this year.

This free program is available to all A Place At Home caregivers. Once matched with a mentor they will provide helpful resources and general guidance for navigating nursing school and other roadblocks along the path through nursing school. If you are an A Place At Home caregiver, contact Kris Kircher, Executive Director of APAH – Omaha, at 402-932-4646 for more information and to join the program.

If you are interested in becoming a caregiver, apply online today.

Caregivers: Making An Impact Isn’t Always Easy

Courtney-Lynn Styba

A Place At Home (APAH) welcomes compassionate Caregivers who believe that caring for others is one of the most important roles they can possess. APAH believes in the “We are CARE” philosophy which is a commitment to the core values of being Compassionate, Accountable, Respectful, and Ethical. The values are incorporated into every dealing A Place at Home has with the families it serves, our employees and caregivers, and the entire metropolitan Omaha community as a whole.

At times it’s difficult for others to understand the commitment that goes into serving with sensitivity and understanding, advocating for mutual trust and consideration while maintaining the highest standards and morals. Making a difference in someone’s life isn’t always easy or pretty. It takes a special person to understand the impact they are making even when the waters aren’t always smooth. Below is an insightful look into one caregiver’s life. Her name is Courtney-Lynn Styba and this is her story:

I used to be offended when I said I was a health care assistant and people would reply, “oh, so a glorified a** wiper”. I’d struggle to explain to them that it really didn’t matter how much poop I’d see in a day, you forget all about it. And what most people don’t understand is, it really IS glorified. It’s the most humbling, tenderhearted experience to be apart of. And call it what you want, but nothing will do it justice. Sure, there’s a lot of feces and bedpans, a lot of blood and tubes, a lot of catheters and supps. There’s a lot of hitting and grabbing, punching and yelling. But there is also a lot of love, hugs, dancing and hand-holding. It’s not all pads, bed baths and poop. It goes a lot deeper than cleaning up after some “senile” Senior.

What it really is, is breaking the news 15 times in an hour to a devastated wife, that her husband died 30 years ago, each time breaking her heart more and more. It’s holding someone’s hand while they scream in pain that they are experiencing mentally, leaving them crippled in bed for days, weeks, months. It’s continuously redressing a patient who is confused whether it’s daytime or nighttime and maintaining a happy joyful heart as you explain to them that it’s morning time. It’s noticing your patient likes music, but can’t express it- so you sing to them when you get them ready just to see their smile. It’s maintaining a loving heart when you’ve been hit by your patient because you’ve been trying to clean them, and they’re scared of being hurt. It’s wandering around the halls holding your patient’s hand as they cry out in loneliness and brokenheartedness because their family never comes to visit them, even though their family left 30 minutes prior. It’s remembering their favorite food, snack, drink, it’s knowing their life inside and out and making sure that each person is treated as if they are a person. It’s talking about death and helping them prepare, reminiscing on experiences, it’s learning about their life and listening to their sweetheart’s stories. It’s crying together, laughing together, it’s everything tragic and beautiful at the same time. It’s explaining that they might not remember you tomorrow, but assuring them you are coming back to regain your trust and respect every day. It’s working 14 days in a row just to build the relationship to make the patient’s life more comfortable. It’s crying on your drive home because you lost a patient that day. It’s caring about them so much you lay awake at 3am wondering how they’re doing. It’s holding back someone’s hair and scratching their back as they vomit into their bed because their medications make them sick to their stomach. It’s reminding them that they are loved, no matter what nasty parts of them you’re experiencing. It’s reminding them that they are heard, valued, noticed and loved regardless of their status, race, origin, or religion.

There is something so special about being the person that holds someone as they take their last breath. Or knowing that you are possibly the last person they will see before they die. It makes you want to be a better person, it makes you want to give as much of yourself as you can just to make someone’s like a little bit better. Yes, this includes pad changes to prevent skin breakdown, yes, it means giving them a bath as they’ve been covered in their own feces, yes, it means that I will sit for 45 minutes just to help someone drink a small cup of water. Yes, it means that I will patiently listen to a story from somebody who is incapable of forming sentences. No, I will not strike back when I get called nasty names, or get hit across the arm, or kicked in the leg. I will love this person in a way they can understand, in a way they can feel safe. I will not give up on these people just because their brains are throwing them into defense mode and they are incapable of using words to describe what they need.

With a happy heart, I will go to great lengths, not because it’s my job or my title, but because I love my patients as they are my family and want to make a difference in the lives of those I love. Being a health care assistant is more work than I ever thought, but I have been immensely blessed with patience and love for the people I am honored to care for. It is pretty damn hard, but worth EVERY single moment.

THIS is what it looks like to love so deeply every single day.

APAH currently has the pleasure of scheduling nearly 70 similar caregivers to Omaha community seniors. When it comes to senior care, and in particular, in-home senior care, we consider our employees the best in the business because of our commitment to our core values. If you feel inspired by the impact you can make in someone’s life, want to be apart of a team that cares as well as a company that leads with its values, develop your skills through training and career advancement opportunities, be recognized and rewarded for your passionate adherence to our core values, you’ll find yourself right at home with us.

Apply online today. We look forward to having you as part of the Omaha-based A Place at Home family.

 

Credit and consent courtesy of Courtney-Lynn Styba

An Angel Among Us: Donna Bird

Caregiver of the Month

Donna Bird named A Place At Home’s August Caregiver of the Month.

She recently became a caregiver with A Place At Home a couple of months back, but in that time, she has gone above and beyond to give her clients the best care possible. “What I love most about being a caregiver is the people I work with. All of them are sweet, sweet people,” said Donna.

Donna is from southwest Kansas where she was working on her Master’s Degree in Social Work. She said, “I was one semester away from being an RN. It really makes me better in the homes because I understand what I’m working with medically.”

Donna has been a caregiver for 27 years. She said one of the most touching moments in her career happened recently with a gentleman she was assigned to provide care to by A Place At Home.

“We really bonded. He went into hospice shortly after we met and from that point on, he let go. What was so beautiful through that whole thing was I knew he needed to see me one last time before he died. That’s just how close we were. The last day I went in there, I shaved his face really good with the razor, gave him a really nice sponge bath, I would talk to him and his eyes would open and he’d look directly at me so he understood what I was saying. I would always sit by his bed and put my hand on his so he knew he was never alone. It was very touching. When I left the next day he passed away. But he needed to see me one more time before he died.”

The family was extremely grateful that Donna came into his life, even if it was briefly. “His wife thought I was the best thing that ever happened to him. His daughter said I was an angel, as much as I helped her cope through this process. The card they sent me, what they said…I’ll save it for the rest of my life. I will never ever forget this family.”

Donna felt this connection and timing was a miracle. “The Lord put me there for that very reason.”

While the family expressed how important Donna was to them, she said the impact on her was equally moving, “They were thankful to me…but do you know what they did for me? There are no words to describe it. They thought I did a lot for them…but oh, what it did for me. There’s not enough words or tears that could ever tell anyone what it meant to me to be with him.”

Become A Caregiver

A Place at Home caregivers genuinely enjoy caring for others. Together, we work to provide each senior the opportunity to live their best life. Apply now or contact us to inquire about becoming a caregiver with us.