As we age, our brains undergo numerous changes, making brain health a crucial aspect of senior care. Understanding the unique challenges and needs of the aging brain empowers both seniors and caregivers to take proactive steps in maintaining cognitive health and overall quality of life for older adults.
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Today, we celebrate Arbor Day, a national holiday commemorating the beauty and life of trees and nature. At A Place At Home, we honor the holiday with our deeply rooted connection with the Arbor Day Foundation.
The roots of a tree hold powerful meaning; they nourish and create stability for the tree, building the foundation for healthy growth, and give back to the land around them. When Dustin Distefano and Jerod Evanich, founders of A Place At Home, thought about how the impact they wanted their senior-focused services to have, a tree is the first thing that came to mind.
Our philosophy at A Place At Home is rooted in CARE — care for our clients and their families, care for our staff, and care for our community. We strive to be Compassionate, Accountable, Respectful, and Ethical with every interaction — these are our roots, and they’ve allowed us to create a foundation of stability and nourishment to thousands of families in need over the last ten years.
Our CARE standards are what drive our partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation and their “Trees in Memory” program. For every client we have been honored to care for that passes away, A Place At Home plants trees in their memory. The trees planted in remembrance will leave a legacy for future generations, preserving the foundation built by those who came before us.
Since April of 2021, A Place At Home has planted 620 trees to honor those that have passed. These memorials can be found growing in Chippewa National Forest, Custer-Gallatin National Forest, Klamath National Forest, Superior National Forest, and Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Each tree will stand as a lasting tribute to those families and clients who have touched our lives.
To read more about our partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, click here.
Join in the celebration of life and nature by becoming a member of the Arbor Day Foundation. To learn more about their mission or to sign up, visit www.arborday.org.
We have a constantly growing library of video topics posted on YouTube. By watching, you learn the best approach to get the right home care services at the best available prices in your area. You also learn how to maximize those services once you choose to go forward with home care.
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Do you need to find home care services for yourself or a family member? Are you trying to find home cares prices you can afford? Whether a family member or the client does the looking, the terminology in the home care industry is confusing and frustrating. Choose the wrong type of home care services and you’ll pay hundreds of dollars more in senior care costs. Here are some quick, easy pointers to help you navigate these services like a Pro.
Home Health is what the name implies…health care in the home or senior living community where the Client lives. An example would be physical therapy at home after an accident. These folks work through insurance programs like Medicare or VA most of the time and prices are provided. This also means Home Health Agencies will not accept companion or homemaker service requests under normal circumstances. Home Health services are often assigned by the hospital, nursing facility or rehab center the client is leaving. Regardless, patients DO have the right to make this choice themselves.
Home Care services are centered around non-medical assistance that allows the Client to age more safely while living in the comfort of their own home, family member’s home or senior living community. Home Care gets broken into two service levels in most states. These service levels are Companion Care and Private Duty. Prices vary significantly between them. Here are brief descriptions of their services and differences.
Private Duty
These providers perform a range of personal care tasks called ADLs (Activities of Daily Living). ADLs include bathing, toileting and dressing patients unable to perform these activities for themselves. While they are also able to perform Companion Care services, these providers often require a minimum number of hours and are generally more expensive. Hourly base rates often range from $23-$35+ on average. Add-ons drive the costs even higher. If you need a more hands-on care approach, Private Duty is what you’re looking for. However, many folks seeking basic services hear these rates and go no further. Yet, there is still another option. This alternative to Private Duty is Companion Care.
Companion Care
These providers offer the level of care most families seek. These families want someone to help with IADLs (Independent Activities of Daily Living) while the Client is home alone. This list of services allows for basic companionship, light housekeeping, fixing a meal, medication reminders, grocery shopping, etc. The Caregivers offered by these providers are usually a mix of CNAs, Home Health Aides and independent Caregivers. They provide the majority of the services Private Duty providers perform at a lower cost per hour. As a result of the reduced level of care needed, prices for these services average just $20-$27 per hour based on the number of days and hours being requested.
It is also important to be aware of the differences between Home Care Agencies and Home Care Registries. While both may provide Private Duty services or specialize in Companion Care duties, the way they operate is quite different.
Registries (or Nurse Registries)
Registries generally do not employ the Caregivers they represent. They act more like a staffing agency for Independent Caregivers. Many of these Caregivers do not carry health insurance, general liability coverage, a professional liability policy or Workers Compensation insurances. Should an uninsured Caregiver get hurt, injure the Client or even take/break a valuable item in the Client’s home, the Client would be responsible for the expenses resulting from the incident.
Home Care Agencies (like A Place At Home)
Agencies are required by the State of Florida to fully employ their Caregivers. In addition, all Caregivers working for an Agency must undergo a Level II background check by the State to protect our seniors. Our franchisor takes the level of protection even further by requiring all of those insurances listed previously. Our Agency also requires initial drug testing and random drug testing throughout employment. We protect both our Clients and Caregivers from unfortunate situations where feasible.
This quick explanation will aid you in your efforts to provide the appropriate level of care for yourself or loved one. Choosing the right services and level of care you or your loved one needs early in the search will also save you time, money and hopefully keep your blood pressure at a safe level.
My Team and I are always available to you should you have any questions. Please feel free to call our offices at 407-565-7600 anytime. You can also send an email to stephen.sherbin@aplaceathome.com if you have a question, comment or need assistance.
Have A Blessed Day!
In 1994, the Caregiver Action Network dubbed November as the month to recognize and honor those Americans that give their time and energy to care for the ones they love. This year’s theme is “Caregiving Around the Clock,” and for a good reason.
Being a family caregiver is no small feat. Caring for another person can be a full-time job. Given that most Americans require two incomes to support their households, most family caregivers juggle careers, children, and life in general. Whether you’re an adult child caring for a parent, or a spouse caring for your other half, caregiver burnout is a real thing. The pandemic doesn’t make things any easier. The CDC is now recommending that family caregivers be assessed regular mental health assessments in the future.
Some of that anxiety is from the everyday stress of juggling life and caring full-time for another adult. But some of this stress comes from situations we’ve never seen before in our lifetimes. For example, the decision to keep a parent home versus moving them into a senior living community. While the idea of being around one’s peers and having the socialization that communities can offer, the pandemic has many people choosing to keep their loved-ones home, where it’s safer from the risk of infection. For some, their loved ones were living away from home when Covid hit the US. Now, the concern is the isolation that their loved-ones are facing while visitors are no longer allowed into facilities.
National Family Caregiver Month is an excellent time to remember that you can’t pour from an empty cup. If you’re a family caregiver, you must take care of yourself first, no matter how counterintuitive it may feel in the moments of everyday life. Taking care of yourself looks like getting enough sleep, exercise, and yes, even time away from the person you’re caring for.
It can be challenging to decide what you can remove from your plate when caring for someone you love. Start with small doses. For example, managing your loved one’s medications can be a daunting task. Have an agency come in and take over this task for you. It takes an hour or less a week, but the weight off of your shoulders is invaluable. You can also hire an agency to provide respite care. Respite can give you the much-needed opportunity to step away and take time for yourself. Having someone you trust to take care of your loved one while you take care of yourself is also invaluable.
You may feel guilty about taking time for yourself, but having the time to fill your cup will make huge strides in your quality of life. And that will positively impact the quality of time and care that you’re able to provide your parent, spouse, or other family members. If you’re a family caregiver and struggling with caregiver burnout, reach out to us. A Place At Home offers both respite care and medication management, among other services. Our priority is caring for your loved one so that you can care for yourself.
Veterans Day was conceptualized in 1918 to celebrate the end of World War I. The day was dubbed “Armistice Day” due to the Allies and Germans calling a truce. The truce went into effect on the 11th day of the 11th month in the 11th hour. While World War I was thought to be the “war to end all wars,” World War II and the Korean War soon followed. As such, veterans and other military entities solicited to Congress to have the day changed to Veterans Day.
These benefits can cover homemaker services as well as personal care. Veterans need only speak with their team at the VA. Their physician can write an order for up to nine hours a week of care, with no out-of-pocket expense for the Veteran. As well, a benefit called Aid and Attendance exists for not only Veterans but their surviving spouses. This particular benefit does have eligibility guidelines but will pay for care either in the home or in a senior living community, up to $27,195 per year.
Despite the current pandemic, there are still ways we can honor Veterans this Veterans Day. You can donate to any of the Veteran-approved foundations found here or ask a Veteran you know to share about their time in the service. As well, you can send letters or a postcard to a local military installation. National Parks offer free admission to everyone on Veterans Day – invite a Veteran you know to explore with you (keeping safety in mind with social distancing, of course).
Every day across the country, our caregivers provide personalized care and companionship to retired members of our country’s military. We are proud to ensure these American heroes have the care and security they need when they need it most. If you are a Veteran or know someone who is, reach out to us today. We will help you navigate the options and benefits available.
Veterans Day was conceptualized in 1918 to celebrate the end of World War I. The day was dubbed “Armistice Day” due to the Allies and Germans calling a truce. The truce went into effect on the 11th day of the 11th month in the 11th hour. While World War I was thought to be the “war to end all wars,” World War II and the Korean War soon followed. As such, veterans and other military entities solicited to Congress to have the day changed to Veterans Day.
These benefits can cover homemaker services as well as personal care. Veterans need only speak with their team at the VA. Their physician can write an order for up to nine hours a week of care, with no out-of-pocket expense for the vet. As well, a benefit called Aid and Attendance exists for not only veterans but their surviving spouses. This particular benefit does have eligibility guidelines but will pay for care either in the home or in a senior living community, up to $27,195 per year.
Despite the current pandemic, there are still ways we can honor veterans this Veterans Day. You can donate to any of the veteran-approved foundations found here or ask a veteran you know to share about their time in service. As well, you can send letters or a postcard to a local military installation. National Parks offer free admission to everyone on Veterans Day – invite a veteran you know to explore with you (keeping safety in mind with social distancing, of course).
Every day across the country, our caregivers provide personalized care and companionship to retired members of our country’s military. We are proud to ensure these American heroes have the care and security they need when they need it most. If you are a veteran or know someone who is, reach out to us today. We will help you navigate the options and benefits available.
If you were to meet Wanda in person, it would be obvious why the team chose her as caregiver of the month. You can hear her boisterous laughter through walls, and her smile will light up a room. She’s been a favorite among A Place At Home clients over the years, and it’s no wonder.
Wanda has been caring for others since she was nine years old. At the time, her mother was diagnosed with Lymphoma, which ultimately took her from this world. Wanda promised her mother before she passed that she would always help those that need help. It wasn’t an empty promise. Caring for others is something that Wanda holds dear.
Wanda’s clients feel the same way about her – she has a profound impact on the lives of the people she cares for. One of her current clients, Mr. Hartwell, expressed his appreciation for Wanda’s time with him. Mr. Hartwell is legally blind and shares that Wanda does outstanding work for him. She takes care of his meals, makes sure his apartment clean, and orders his groceries.
Wanda has a special gift of getting her clients to open up and engage with life. Part of that might have to do with her cooking. Every single client Wanda has cared for has shared their appreciation for Wanda’s cooking. To that, she says, “When I see my clients, there’s a smile on their face, I can get them to open up, and they eat!”
While Wanda has been caring for people since she was a child, she’s been a professional caregiver for 25 years. With all that experience under her belt, the best piece of advice she gives to new caregivers is to treat their clients like they would treat one of their family members. That outlook has served her and her clients well over the years. That, and her love of caring for others, which she says she plans on doing forever. “I enjoyed caring for others when I was younger, I enjoy doing it now, and I’ll do it until my dying day.”
If Wanda’s passion for caring for others resonates with you, apply to work with us today. Experience what it feels like to positively impact the lives of seniors in the metro area!
International Nurse Day is May 12, 2020. Nurses are an integral part of our lives in general and here at A Place At Home, but often we don’t think about them until there’s an immediate need. In the moment of an emergency, we rely on nurses to care for us, answer questions, and provide us with compassionate care. How often are we thinking of our nurses outside of those emergency situations?
Sure, we thank them in the moment, but do they receive our thanks the rest of the year? On International Nurse Day; a reminder to show our appreciation for the care they provide. International Nurse Day became recognized by the White House in 1974; 21 years after the idea was initially proposed. The date of observance was chosen to commemorate Florence Nightingale’s birthday, the founder of modern nursing.
Nursing is of course a career that these professionals voluntarily chose, but what a compassionate profession to choose! It takes a special person to give their all to care for people every day, and these people deserve to be commended.
Here are some ways you can show your appreciation:
There are plenty ways to show these individuals your appreciation. For more info about International Nurse Day, visit www.nursingworld.org.
Arbor Day – it’s one of those holidays that we don’t take off work for, or exchange gifts. But for our planet, it’s one of the most important holidays of the year. The founder of Arbor Day, Julius Sterling Morton, had a passion for nature, and trees in particular. Originally from New York, Morton settled down in the Midwest, founding this holiday dedicated to trees in Nebraska, the same state A Place At Home was founded. It is estimated that one million trees were planted in Nebraska at the first Arbor Day celebration in 1872.
Trees have a major impact on our environment, and our health. Most people know that trees clean the air. But did you know that each year they remove over 46 million tons of air pollution, just in the United States? In the same amount of time, one mature tree will absorb more than 48 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. In exchange, it releases oxygen. It’s no wonder then, that 20 percent of the earth’s oxygen overall is produced in the Amazon Rainforest. And trees don’t just affect our air quality. Studies have shown that just being able to see a tree significantly reduces stress levels and improves quality of life.
Traditionally, people across the world celebrate Arbor Day by planting trees. Not just to be kind to the environment, but to honor loved ones who have passed away. It’s for this reason that Arbor Day, and the Arbor Day Foundation, is near and dear to our hearts. At A Place At Home, trees represent powerful meaning. Like others, we think of trees as the symbol of the vitality of life, and those that came before us, and those that will carry on after we are gone. It stands for families and ancestors. It stands for strength, stability, and nourishment.
For every client we have been honored to care for that passes away, A Place At Home plants trees in their memory. Since 2014, A Place At Home franchise network has planted almost 2,000 trees. Memorials to our clients are growing in Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Superior National Forest, Chippewa National Forest, Custer-Gallatin National Forest, and Klamath National Forest. Each tree we plant reminds us of how grateful we are to have been touched by the lives of those families and clients.
If you’d like to celebrate this Arbor Day by planting a tree, why not go the extra mile and become a member of the Arbor Day Foundation. First time members get 10 trees free and you can sign up here.
If you or someone you know can benefit from extra support in the home, please reach out to us to see how we can help.
