Senior care home care agency Home Instead Senior Care, one of the largest senior home care companies, will close nominations today for their "Salute to Senior Service Contest".  The contest allows anyone to nominate someone who volunteers with senior programs to win a $5,000 donation for their designated non-profit charity as the national winner and local winners receive a $500 donation.

Senior home care agencies offer caregiving services to seniors in their homes and in assisted living communities and often coordinate all of the senior's care services, from food delivery to transportation to medical equipment.  Home Instead offices are located nationwide.

How to Nominate a Volunteer to Win the Home Instead "Salute to Senior Service Contest":

Entry and Voting Deadline Extended to March 2, 2014

National Winner's charity receives $5,000 donation

Local Winner's charity receives $500 donation

All Winners receive a Certificate and a Spot in the Contest's Wall of Fame

Submit Nominations - You May Include Up to 3 Organizations Where the Nominee Volunteered

Remember, anyone interested in working as a senior caregiver may apply for a part-time or full-time caregiving position in their area on Caregiverlist.com, as there continues to be a demand for more professional caregivers.  Caregiver employment delivers both a paycheck and fulfillment by assisting a senior to enjoy a better life as they age-in-place.  Caregiver basic training starts the process of learning the skills used by professional caregivers.

Knowing the correct format for correspondence can be difficult. Creating an easy to read resume that highlights your talents as a senior caregiver and an accompanying cover letter about your work experience makes a big difference in getting hired. The Pages app features resume, letter and other templates for easy creation of professional documents.

As a caregiver, your resume should reflect all of your past work experience and any training you've completed. There are six different resume template choices in the Pages app, so users can select the one that best represents the feel they'd like for the information they're sharing. Most are generally alike. The elegant resume and the informal resume both use the same basic components for the body, offering users the chance to define their professional summary before highlighting work experience, education/training,  skills, etc. 

Once a template is selected, the entire resume template can be edited on the user's smartphone. The template comes with filler text that can be deleted, replaced and customized with the user's experience. If a particular section isn't applicable, users can easily delete it from the template as well. Once all of the user's experience is filled in, the options to print, share via iCloud or e-mail make it easy for caregivers to send their resume whichever way is most convenient for them. The e-mail option includes a conversion to PDF, which is a format that can be opened on virtually any device. 

The other template options include letters, which can be used to create a cover letter detailing why you'd like a specific position as a caregiver. Other templates include envelopes, business cards, greeting cards, etc. for other personal and professional uses. 

The pages app is available for free for Apple platforms.

Senior caregivers, let us know your feedback on this app and keep us posted if you discover additional apps that assist with caregiving duties and help relieve caregiver stress. You may also refer-a-friend to a senior caregiving job and win prizes weekly and monthly on Caregiverlist. 

-Paige Krzysko

Senior care and the need for quality caregivers has made eldercare one of the fastest growing industries in America. It is projected that by 2050 the senior population will reach 88.5 million, or 20% of the entire United States. As a result, the burden of care will continue to shift from family caregiving to professional senior care, through in-home health care services, nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Julie Northcutt, CEO and founder of Caregiverlist, discusses her vision and mission to provide online resources for seniors and professional caregivers through Cargiverlist.com on Chicago Tribune’s new small business entrepenuer spotlight, Blue Sky Innovation.

In his Letter from the Editor, Gerould Kern, Senior Vice President and Editor of Chicago Tribune writes, “Blue Sky Innovation will carry news about Chicago’s emerging business development landscape — startups, technology, innovative new products, services and entrepreneurial best practices.”

Personal and Home Care Aides and Home Health Aides are projected to be the second and third fastest-growing occupations in the country between 2006 (the year of Caregiverlist’s inception) and 2016 — increasing by 51 percent and 49 percent, respectively. In addressing that market need, Caregiverlist’s mission is one of connecting seniors with quality care choices with the assistance of innovative technology.

“Almost nobody plans ahead for senior care,” says Julie. “You’re encouraged to save money for retirement, and they always show you sailboats and going on cruise ships, but the reality is you may need that money to pay for caregiving services.”

Caregiverlist works with quality home care agencies to provide the most economical senior care by keeping seniors in their own homes longer. Caregiverlist also called 18,000 nursing homes to provide information on daily costs nationwide in its Nursing Home Star Rating tool.

Caregiverlist’s Caregiver Training University (CTU) announced the launch of Caregiverlist Basic Training earlier this year, providing training that meets industry standards for professional competency. The digital training platform allows caregivers to take the training course from their laptop, desktop or smartphone.

Caregiverlist is constantly striving to provide the most ground-breaking tools to serve this burgeoning industry. You can watch Julie Northcutt discuss Caregiverlist on Blue Sky Innovation here.

Caregivers employed with senior care companies know the realities of caregiver stress. Caregiverlist invites all family caregivers and professional caregivers to take a moment for relaxation with our photo of the week and inspirational quote. This week's photo features ancient mountain resting in Yosemite National Park, California. Thank you caregivers and certified nursing aides for caring for our seniors and please refer your friends to apply for part-time and full-time job positions on Caregiverlist.com and visit our career center for additional career tools.

"A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them."

John C. Maxwell

Congratulations to the February weekly winner of Caregiverlist Refer-a-Friend and Win program - caregiver Brenda Russell from Burns, TN.

Brenda referred her friends and neighbors for caregiver and certified nursing assistant jobs that are available on Caregiverlist's Caregiver Career Center, and she won basic senior 8-hour caregiver training and certification from Caregiverlist.

Senior care companies require background checks for all employees. Professional senior care companies provide active management of the care and the caregiver and will only hire caregivers who pass criminal background checks. 

Remember, you may always apply for multiple caregiving positions (Professional Caregiver, C.N.A., C.H.H.A. and Family Companion) near you online on www.caregiverlist.com.

Refer-a-friend to Caregiverlist and get entered to win a free 8-hour online caregiver training program certification for senior caregivers. A new winner is drawn weekly. One monthly GRAND PRIZE WINNER receives a Scrub of the Month (top, bottoms and pair of shoes), courtesy of Scrubs Magazine.

Sometimes browsing the internet for a new household project, recipe or fitness routine can result in many great finds without a cohesive way to organize and save them for future use. The Pinterest app and accompanying website allow users to search through their database of user content and "pin" it to various of their own boards for future use. 

The Pinterest database is sorted into different categories for easy browsing. Some categories that senior caregivers may find most useful in finding activities to share with their senior clients are DIY & Crafts, Health & Fitness and Gardening. Finding projects to help senior clients switch up their routines and work their brains hold many positive benefits. Exercising the body and mind on a regular basis helps with dementia prevention. An activity like gardening can get seniors moving as well as stimulate the mind. Additionally, caregivers can use the Food & Drink section to browse through new recipes to make for themselves or share with their senior clients. 

Once a user finds content they'd like to save on the site, they can "pin" it to one of the boards attached to their profile. For example, caregivers can create a board for recipes, another for projects and a third for pictures they find relaxing or funny. When a caregiver comes across a recipe they'd like to make next week, then they can click the button at the top right of the screen that says, "Pin It" and a new screen will pop up asking which board the user would like to pin it to. When caregivers save content to a board, then it will remain there indefinitely for users to come back to and view whenever they'd like.

Pinterest also offers the chance to follow other users and view what they pin, so if you have friends who use the site you can view their boards as well. Users can view the website and the app interchangeably for ease of accessing content.

The Pinterest app is available for Apple and Android platforms.

Senior caregivers, let us know your feedback on this app and keep us posted if you discover additional apps that assist with caregiving duties and help relieve caregiver stress. You may also refer-a-friend to a senior caregiving job and win prizes weekly and monthly on Caregiverlist. 

-Paige Krzysko

Senior caregivers list heart disease as one of the major concerns for their senior clients and loved ones. Heart disease is the leading cause of death among the elderly, and it affects both men and women. Looking at the statistics, it’s easy to see why many of us know someone in our lives that has been affected by heart disease.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every year about 715,000 Americans have a heart attack, and about 600,000 people die of heart disease in the United States every year–that’s 1 in every 4 deaths.

February is, not surprisingly, American Heart Health Month. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) includes heart disease, strokes and high blood pressure. Although some factors can put you at higher risk, such as race and ethnicity, family medical history, and even geographical area, many CVD deaths could be prevented with lifestyle changes such as eating a healthier diet, exercising, and not smoking. Medication may also be necessary to manage conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes.

Healthy habits and a healthy lifestyle can go a long way toward preventing heart disease. Here are some tips from the CDC:

Get a check-up once a year, even if you feel healthy. You know the adage: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Have your blood pressure and cholesterol numbers checked regularly. If you have diabetes, talk to your health-care team about how to best manage it. If you need medication, remember to take it.

Eat a healthy diet. Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Limit your fats and sodium. Whole foods are better than processed. Good nutrition is key.

Exercise regularly. Incorporate exercise into your everyday life. Shoot for 30 minutes of exercise every day.

Don't smoke. If you don't smoke, don't start. If you do smoke, quit as soon as possible.

Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese can increase your risk for CVD. Know your body mass index (BMI) and maintain the optimal weight for your height.

Limit alcohol use. Alcohol can increase your blood pressure. Men should stick to no more than two drinks per day, and women to no more than one.

Seniors living even the healthiest of lifestyles can still fall victim to cardiovascular disease. The elderly and their caregivers should be aware of the following warning signs that necessitate immediate intervention (courtesy of the American Heart Association):

HEART ATTACK WARNING SIGNS

• Chest discomfort
• Discomfort in other parts of the upper body
• Shortness of breath
• Cold sweat, nausea, lightheadedness

STROKE WARNING SIGNS Spot a stroke F.A.S.T.:

• Face Drooping: Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile.
• Arm Weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
• Speech Difficulty: Is speech slurred, are they unable to speak, or are they hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like "the sky is blue." Is the sentence repeated correctly?
• Time to call 9-1-1: If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get them to the hospital immediately.

CARDIAC ARREST WARNING SIGNS

• Sudden loss of responsiveness: no response to tapping on shoulders.
• No normal breathing

If you think you or someone you know is experiencing any of the symptoms above, call 9-1-1 or your emergency response number immediately. Heart attack and stroke are life-and-death emergencies — every second counts. Senior caregivers can receive additional Caregiverlist Basic Training, powered by Caregiver Training University. The 8-hour training course meets senior caregiver orientation training requirements for many states and provides information on how to best care for your senior client or loved one.

Caregivers employed with senior care companies know the realities of caregiver stress. Caregiverlist invites all family caregivers and professional caregivers to take a moment for relaxation with our photo of the week and inspirational quote. This week's photo was taken in Hawaii, featuring friendly dolphins. Thank you caregivers and certified nursing aides for caring for our seniors and please refer your friends to apply for part-time and full-time job positions on Caregiverlist.com and visit our career center for additional career tools.

"Find a place inside where there's joy, and the joy will burn out the pain."

Joseph Campbell

Congratulations to the February weekly winner of Caregiverlist Refer-a-Friend and Win program - caregiver Melissa Diaz from Orlando, FL.

Melissa, certified nursing aide, referred her friends and family for caregiving jobs that are available on Caregiverlist.com, and she won basic senior caregiver training and certification from Caregiverlist. Read Melissa's and other caregivers' stories on Refer-a-Friend page, and refer your caregiving friends and family for senior care employment.

Senior care companies hire Professional Caregivers, C.N.A.’s, & C.H.H.A.’s weekly from Caregiverlist, the only Caregiver Career Center customized for the senior care industry.  Apply for multiple caregiving positions near you online by visiting Caregiverlist Caregiver Career Center.

As more senior caregivers are needed, refer friends to caregiving jobs at the Caregiverlist Career center and anyone considering a career in senior care can also visit the C.N.A. and C.H.H.A. school directories, C.N.A. sample and practice tests, and other up to date information for senior caregivers.

Refer-a-friend to Caregiverlist and get entered to win a free 8-hour online caregiver training program certification for senior caregivers. A new winner is drawn weekly. One monthly GRAND PRIZE WINNER receives a Scrub of the Month (top, bottoms and pair of shoes), courtesy of Scrubs Magazine.

As a leading social network, Facebook connects us with out loved ones no matter how close or far away they may be. Last week, to celebrate their 10 year anniversary as a company, they launched the Facebook Paper app to combine the Facebook newsfeed with the world of online news. 

Caregivers can use Facebook to help their senior clients connect with their loved ones. Whether a caregiver helps a senior client run their own profile or simply adds a few of their senior clients' relatives on their own profile, they can use Facebook Paper to share updates and pictures just in time for Valentine's Day. Senior clients may be missing their friends and family around this holiday if they're not nearby, so using social media to write a little message and see a few pictures can help them feel the love.

The layout of Facebook paper offers clean and simple browsing. When new users log in for the first time, the app requests that they choose which categories they would like included in the app and the order of importance. The categories include Headlines, Pop Life, Tech, Cute, Flavor, etc. The various options give Facebook Paper the feel of a customizable magazine. Users first see their regular Facebook newsfeed stories from their friends when they log in. Then, if they swipe from right to left, they are taken to their highest rank category, such as Headlines, to read the latest in that area. The stories come from popular and reputable sources, such as TIME and CNN International. As users continue swiping from right to left, they browse through more categories of their choosing.

For the newsfeed section of the app, Facebook will display various recent pictures across the top half of the screen in a slideshow fashion. This gives your senior clients the opportunity to easily view photos shared by their loved ones without having to go directly to their profiles. Senior clients can also set up their own category preferences for the rest of the tabs in the app. One recommended category that's fun and light is the Cute category, which features adorable photos of small animals. Who doesn't love a cute baby elephant? 

The Facebook Paper app is available for free for Apple platforms.

Senior caregivers, let us know your feedback on this app and keep us posted if you discover additional apps that assist with caregiving duties and help relieve caregiver stress. You may also refer-a-friend to a senior caregiving job and win prizes weekly and monthly on Caregiverlist. 

-Paige Krzysko