Aging In Full Bloom Capital Health Care Network

In the Private Duty Care episode, we talked about the role of private duty. We offered some tips on how to screen providers. And we talked about the fact that not everybody's regulated depending on the state that you live in. And we covered when private duty is appropriate and what kind of services are typically offered.

My guest again is Kristen Ekanem, Community Relations Manager with Capital Health Home Care Concierge.

One thing we didn't touch on that I want to circle back around to is companionship. Because I know that that is a big piece of what we do. And I don't really think people understand it.

Most of us don't think people realize to what degree isolation and loneliness can do to our seniors, or how it can really affect them. But companionship is about providing somebody that is there to be a companion, to be their friend to get them involved, to keep them active.

When you're looking at individuals who are living alone, they're isolated, and especially people who are no longer able to drive. And even if you have somebody who can take care of themselves for the most part, they aren't getting out. They're not being social, they don't have interaction.

A lot of families don't even live near mom or dad, and they worry about this.

So this is somebody to keep them active. To keep them involved. Get them out of the house, get them to the senior center. It is companionship. Yes, it sounds like you're paying for a friend. But this is concerning their overall health.

Several of our personal assistants who have come become companions have become family. And some of them have bonded with somebody for months, even years. They become family. And it's wonderful. It's good for personal assistance just like it is for whoever it is that they're taking care of.

And here's something that folks might not realize, when in some of those situations, we have to provide some grief counseling for our personal assistants when the client passes away. That connection is real, that bond is real.

Does the provider...
Do background screening?
Do drug testing?
Provider proof of licensing and bonding for their caregivers?
Hire the caregivers, or are they working through a third-party company (contracted caregivers are not regulated)?

You might want to ask how long has this person worked for you? How long has this person been doing this kind of work? And check out any reviews that are online, including reviews from your local Better Business Bureau.

Email me, Lisa Stockdale, anytime at aginginfullbloom@gmail.com

Aging In Full Bloom is sponsored by Capital Health Care Network, an Ohio based, family owned and operated company, providing solutions that help seniors age on their own terms. Those solutions include home care, senior living, nursing home and rehab care, and hospice. Learn more at http://www.CapitalHealthCareNetwork.com.

Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iTunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast player. Android user? http://www.subscribeonandroid.com

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What else do we know private duty care as? Private duty in-home, and home care, some people call it a home care. It's the non-medical piece of home care, that is private pay.

My guest is Kristen Ekanem, Community Relations Manager with Capital Health Home Care Concierge.

What kind of services are we talking about?

*Personal Assistant
*Personal Care / Hygiene
*Light Housekeeping
*Meal Preparation
*Medication Reminders
*Home Safety Assessments
*Exercise Program
*Personal Emergency Response Services

Now don't assume that because it's private pay that it's beyond your reach. Because it may not be it may be. Explore your options. Private duty is not regulated in Ohio, but that isn't true in all states. In some states, it is regulated. If you happen to live in a state where it is not regulated, then I do want to encourage you to take some measures to vet the provider.

Does the provider...
Do background screening?
Do drug testing?
Provider proof of licensing and bonding for their caregivers?
Hire the caregivers, or are they working through a third-party company (contracted caregivers are not regulated)?

You might want to ask how long has this person worked for you? How long has this person been doing this kind of work? And check out any reviews that are online, including reviews from your local Better Business Bureau.

Respite stay is usually temporarily. And it's when the caregiver needs a break. So whether that be a spouse or family member, the caregiver can come in just temporarily, if needed. Or 24/7 to just coming and checking in few days a week, whatever is needed for that individual.

Email me, Lisa Stockdale, anytime at aginginfullbloom@gmail.com

Aging In Full Bloom is sponsored by Capital Health Care Network, an Ohio based, family owned and operated company, providing solutions that help seniors age on their own terms. Those solutions include home care, senior living, nursing home and rehab care, and hospice. Learn more at http://www.CapitalHealthCareNetwork.com.

Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iTunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast player. Android user? http://www.subscribeonandroid.com

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We are going to talk about refusing to live in fear. And we're talking about this now for a particular reason. There's a virus out there right.

My guest is Kristen Ekanem, Community Relations Manager with Capital Health Home Care Concierge.

It's March 13, 2020. Friday, the 13th, to give you some reference of where we are in time, because we don't know how this whole thing is going to play out. But I think the tips that we're going to go through and the advice that we're going to give you is going to be good beyond this virus. Because we will get past this virus.

We found a great article about fear, and here's an excerpt - "It is human nature to avoid emotions that scare us who wants to walk directly into what promises to be a painful experience, except that by continually avoiding looking at the boogeyman within you become hostage to the monster."

Times likes these can seem crazy. You can become overwhelmed. So one way to overcome the fear is ask yourself, Who can I help today? All of us can help. We've had disasters before. And if you look at it after the fact, most of what you're talking about is what good came out of it, the community who came and helped each other.

Tip #1- Face your fear.

Tip #2 - Write down the things that you're grateful for. Your anxiety is a storehouse of wisdom. Write a letter to the anxiety. "I am no longer intimidated by you. What can you teach me?"

Tip #3 - Exercise. Exercise can refocus you and your mind. And we do know that when you exercise, you use up all that extra energy that you use to make you nervous.

Tip #4 - Use humor to deflect your worst fears. It may feel strange to make fun, or poke at, the very seriousness of the situation, but humor has healing powers.

Tip #5 - Appreciate your courage. It will make you stronger and less likely to let the next fear attack and stop you.

So, the message is don't let the boogeyman stop you in your tracks. You're bigger and better than that. And you're braver than that. It's in your best interest not to be captivated by the boogeyman. He can't hold us hostage.

Email me, Lisa Stockdale, anytime at aginginfullbloom@gmail.com

Aging In Full Bloom is sponsored by Capital Health Care Network, an Ohio based, family owned and operated company, providing solutions that help seniors age on their own terms. Those solutions include home care, senior living, nursing home and rehab care, and hospice. Learn more at http://www.CapitalHealthCareNetwork.com.

Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iTunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast player. Android user? http://www.subscribeonandroid.com

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We'd love it if you could please share this podcast with your social media friends!
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We're talking about a program called Matter of Balance. I have Kim Willis, a program coach, in the studio with me who teaches Matter of Balance. It's all about fall prevention, overcoming the fear of falling and all those things that help us live more successful lives as we age.

Thanks for listening to this preview, and I hope you will want to listen to the full episode coming up soon.

Email me, Lisa Stockdale, anytime at aginginfullbloom@gmail.com

Aging In Full Bloom is sponsored by Capital Health Care Network, an Ohio based, family owned and operated company, providing solutions that help seniors age on their own terms. Those solutions include home care, senior living, nursing home and rehab care, and hospice. Learn more at http://www.CapitalHealthCareNetwork.com.

Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iTunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast player.
Android user? http://www.subscribeonandroid.com

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!

We'd love it if you could please share this podcast with your social media friends!
If you liked this episode, please leave us a rating and a review in your podcast player.

Coming up in our next episode, we're going to talk about a program called Matter of Balance. I have a coach in the studio with me who teaches Matter of Balance. It's all about fall prevention, overcoming the fear of falling and all those things that help us live more successful lives as we age.

Thanks for listening to this preview, and I hope you will want to listen to the full episode coming up soon.

Email me, Lisa Stockdale, anytime at aginginfullbloom@gmail.com

Aging In Full Bloom is sponsored by Capital Health Care Network, an Ohio based, family owned and operated company, providing solutions that help seniors age on their own terms. Those solutions include home care, senior living, nursing home and rehab care, and hospice. Learn more at http://www.CapitalHealthCareNetwork.com.

Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iTunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast player.
Android user? http://www.subscribeonandroid.com

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!

We'd love it if you could please share this podcast with your social media friends!
If you liked this episode, please leave us a rating and a review in your podcast player.

Our topic is the importance of mentoring. Is it a concept lost on us?

Mentorship is a relationship in which an experienced or more knowledgeable person helps to guide a less experienced or less knowledgeable person. The mentor may be older or younger than the person being mentored. But he or she must have a certain area of expertise.

So it's this idea of sharing our knowledge, our wisdom, our talents with other people who are lacking that knowledge, wisdom or talents, but they want to learn.

You ever heard of such a thing? Do you do any of that in your own life or your professional life?

Email me, Lisa Stockdale, anytime at aginginfullbloom@gmail.com

Aging In Full Bloom is sponsored by Capital Health Care Network, an Ohio based, family owned and operated company, providing solutions that help seniors age on their own terms. Those solutions include home care, senior living, nursing home and rehab care, and hospice. Learn more at http://www.CapitalHealthCareNetwork.com.

Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iTunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast player.
Android user? http://www.subscribeonandroid.com

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!

We'd love it if you could please share this podcast with your social media friends!
If you liked this episode, please leave us a rating and a review in your podcast player.