Insider’s Guide to Becoming a Nursing Aide
There are many different paths to becoming a caregiver. Some senior caregivers first provided care to a friend or family member before becoming a professional caregiver. Others may have worked in other industries which did not provide flexible schedules or personal fulfillment. For those caregivers seeking to become certified in their state as a certified nursing aide […]
Home Care Workers Exempt from Overtime for Live-in Caregiving
We are often asked about caregiver pay and the difference between hourly and live-in care. Senior home care agencies employ caregivers and provide for all of their payroll taxes and worker’s compensation insurance, as required by law. This protects both the caregiver and the senior client they are caring for in the event of an […]
Early Warning Signs for Alzheimer’s Disease
Senior caregivers know the difficulties of caring for someone with memory loss. But sometimes when you see someone daily, you do not as easily notice some of the early warning signs for memory loss in the form of Alzheimer’s Disease. The Alzheimer’s Association has been promoting their new “Know the 10 Signs” for early detection […]
Senior Caregiver Pay: How Much Should Caregivers Be Paid?
This past weekend the Washington Post magazine published an in-depth story about senior caregiving, profiling a 63-year-old caregiver, Marilyn Daniel, who cares for multiple senior clients as a home health aide. The story mentions the turnover rate of 40 to 60% for direct-care workers and the low pay. Although the article says caregiving does not pay much […]
Senior Long-term Care Costs in U.S.A.
Where are the Best Places in America for Long-Term Care? An annual senior care cost survey highlights U.S. states with the most affordable long-term care options. It seems the heartland states, not the sunshine states, offer the most affordable and diverse care choices for seniors. A regional gap exists in the U.S. between areas where […]
Health Care Reform Policy Debate Affects Seniors
Health care reform policy debate affects seniors Summary: The health care policy options under debate could reduce costs and dramatically improve quality of long-term health care for seniors. On Wednesday, Members of the Senate Finance Committee will debate health care policy options aimed at making the health care delivery system more effective and efficient. Many of […]
Swine Flu Symptoms: Keep Seniors Safe
What should seniors and their caregivers be aware of with the recent announcement of the swine flu virus? Seniors are always impacted more by illnesses because their natural defenses are no longer as strong to fight diseases and their bodies may already be weakened by age-related illnesses. A geriatric doctor once told me that pneumonia […]
Use Spring Cleaning for Senior Care Needs Check
Do you think your parent or grandparent may be at a point where they need caregiving services to help them better navigate their daily living as they deal with the challenges of medical illnesses or memory loss? Are you noticing they are not keeping up with some of their household maintenance or staying active in […]
Senior Care Funding: Government Budgets and Private Pay
Most people do not want to think or talk about how to pay for senior care until the issue of needing a caregiver to assist with daily needs actually arrives. Hire a senior home care agency or move to assisted living? Recover in a nursing home or in your own home with skilled care provided […]
Caregiver Training
Caregivers often email us to ask about caregiver training programs. Most senior home care agencies offer training programs to all of their newly hired caregivers through orientation and continuing education seminars. Special training programs for caring for seniors with memory loss and providing hospice care are usually offered. Family members are often pleasantly surprised to […]
Caregiver Qualifications
What are the qualifications to be a senior caregiver? Senior caregiving involves assisting seniors with their activities of daily living, or “ADL’s”. What are these activities? Anything required to function throughout the day as a healthy adult: eating, bathing, toileting, shopping, cooking, household cleaning and managing scheduled appointments. Socializing and exercising are also considered important activities […]
Preventing Elder Abuse
Several cases of alleged senior abuse have crept up across the nation during the past month. On March 30, 2009, a 31-year-old former nursing home employee in Oklahoma was accused of abusing his senior patients and videotaping it, according to a Fox 23 news report. Experts say many of these crimes against the elderly in long-term residential […]
