I Hired A New Caregiver Today!

Since I have served as a long-distance caregiver, I have realized how challenging it is to find good night time help.

In all, I have hired 10 caregivers, including the newest one. They have lasted from one week (a state agency replacement who spent more time smoking than caregiving) to four years (a state agency homemaker who began working eight hours a week for my parents in 2004 before my mom got sick).

Most of the time, I have managed four shifts of workers, and sometimes five.

The caregiver that I hired in November to share the nighttime caregiver duties, has consistently proven to be a problem. In fact, I hear only negative feedback about her from the other caregivers, and most importantly from my Dad. He has never felt comfortable around her. Personally, I find her to be emotionally unstable and extremely unprofessional. I feared her volatile personality could turn violent-that is why I fired her last night. I have watched her closely and conclude she cannot help herself.

Rigorous searching along with a stroke of luck brought me a new candidate yesterday. She was recommended to me by a Department of Aging director whom I’d met the previous day at a family caregiver support meeting. During the interview, I was pleased she was the consummate professional, thorough with her application, and appropriately personable.

I trained her this evening.

update: She began working Sunday night (December 2). So far, the other caregivers like her and Dad approves!

Family Caregiver Support Groups Help!

I attended family caregiver (of aging adults) support meetings at two separate locations yesterday.

Staff of the Salvation Army facilitated both groups. Chuck Sturbis led the first meeting, where I was the sole caregiver in attendance and Niyi Braimah M.S. M.A., led the second meeting of 9 attendees.

Both gentleman advised us of the myriad services offered by Chicago’s Department on Aging—services for both seniors and their caregivers. Some include case management, home delivered meals, legal counsel, respite, training/education, and counseling. The phone number is 312-744-4016.

I was impressed by the wide variety of senior activities offered at the centers including: computer training, exercise classes, health screenings, free meals, transportation, line dancing, pool and chess tournaments, personal trainer sessions, defensive driving classes, tax preparation, Spanish lessons, bible study, trips and tours, holiday parties, choir practice, music and dance therapy.

Sharing personal accounts of our specific family care giving issues in the group was extremely cathartic. I plan to attend more of these sessions when I come back to town!

Chicago Department on Aging Expands Caregiver Support Groups

Monthly Caregiver Support Groups

In Chicago, the Department on Aging has expanded Caregiver support group efforts adding additional monthly meetings at 12 regional and satellite centers throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. There are two centers near us. 1) The Satellite Center group meets the 4th Tuesday of the month at 10AM; 2) The Regional Center group meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 2PM.

Weekly Caregiver Days

Weekly Caregiver Days are now offered by five Chicago Regional Centers beginning in November 2007. Specifically these centers will feature a day of activities ranging from art classes to exercise sessions to computer training workshops for caregivers. Importantly, companion/”babysitting services” will be provided for elderly loved ones from 830Am til 430Pm on those days.

I look forward to exploring tomorrow!

Physical Therapy Has Reversed my Mom's Weakened Condition

During the time my Mom was in hospice care, her mobility began to deteriorate to the point where she required a wheelchair for movement. Since she was released from hospice last month, her new home health care agency assigned a physical therapist to help her.

The results of the first 6 sessions have been nothing less than miraculous. She has resumed walking comfortably with her walker, she is more alert than ever, and her emotional well-being reflects these improvements. She even smiles more often and her voice is stronger.

My Mom’s recovery demonstrates the power of physical therapy and of all the related exercises that strengthen the muscles. We can all learn from this experience!

Replacing Ancient Household Appliances

I am convinced that we bought our household washing machine and clothes and dryer from Sears, while Richard Nixon was still in the White House.

It should come as no surprise to me that yesterday, the Sears appliance repair guy informed us they no longer made parts for our antiquated clothes dryer—it is more than 35 years old. It had finally died, and its sister, the washing machine, was also on its last leg. In fact, both the washer and dryer have been dying a slow death, requiring more frequent visits from the household appliance repair guys.

I knew this was coming so in anticipation of having to replace these appliances, I had actually searched for washers and dryers online about six months ago—so, I was already somewhat familiar with the process of ordering big-ticket items online-- without having to actually go onto the show room floor.

Because we are brand loyal to Sears, I went directly to Sears’s website to search for washing machines and dryers.

Since there are so many models with a variety of features available, it can be an overwhelming experience to review and compare them all. Without the aid of the expertise of an appliance sales person to answer my questions, I could easily make a mistake.

Fortunately, Sears has added a new feature: an online assessment tool that guides you through the major choices and that helps you determine which model will best suit your family's needs. Some of the questions it asked our about volume of laundry, size of loads, gas or electric for the dryer, and price ranges. I carefully answered the questions and was delighted to see that my choices had been narrowed down to only six models.

My next decision-making tool was to read online evaluations and ratings (1-5«) from customers who had actually purchased those models. I found this to be immensely helpful. (As it is helpful for choosing books, hotels, computers, cameras etc). It made it even easier for me to settle on my choices: The Whirlpool, Super Capacity Plus gas dryer and Whirlpool Super Capacity Plus washing machine.

I purchased items that were on sale, I ordered delivery service, and I bought five-year warranties/maintenance agreements from Sears. I also paid an extra $10 per item to have the delivery team remove the old machines.

I ordered the items at 5:30 p.m. Eastern standard Time on Thursday; they promised delivery on Sunday. I'm surprised to know they have Sunday deliveries. I suppose they are appealing to working families who need access to services both Saturday and Sunday.

My next steps are to ensure that the Sunday daytime caregiver knows how to open the door in the back yard that leads to the basement and that she has access to keys to the backyard gate.

I will see the new items when I arrive on Tuesday for the Thanksgiving holiday (11-22-07).