tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2938775437231014036.post6210696336929080700..comments2023-09-11T07:13:59.685-07:00Comments on A Different Nest: Caregivers: Got to get them into our livesCarolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09999871816948636830noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2938775437231014036.post-78990350008672665542008-04-24T12:19:00.000-07:002008-04-24T12:19:00.000-07:00Cindy,Thanks for sharing your story. It's so inte...Cindy,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for sharing your story. It's so interesting to learn how moms in Canada deal with our similar issues. Good luck with your CommUniversity - what a great idea. I love the idea of university caregivers as renewable resources. Let us know how it evolves!Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09999871816948636830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2938775437231014036.post-26508312328910758982008-04-22T14:05:00.000-07:002008-04-22T14:05:00.000-07:00Hi there Moms,Ahhh, the eternal search for caregiv...Hi there Moms,<BR/><BR/>Ahhh, the eternal search for caregivers. Drives me bananas, and I've been at it for 15 years. However, I am a believer in possibilities and not one to make an ado about the effort needed to drive forth change. I can fling paint when my job is done.<BR/><BR/> I used to have a 'roster' of seven women, most of whom were students at varying stages of their post secondary education. Now I am down to two gals. I, too, have experienced the chicken and egg scenario...too burned out to train new ones. Advertising in the paper was a dead end as it brought in ALL kinds of unique people, none with the qualifications which were advertised. Other parents have been finding it increasingly hard to find caregivers too. So, at a community all-supports meeting the issue was addressed. Even the services and associations which were mandated to 'find' care workers, have not been successful. (Four-month waits just don't cut it for most families.)<BR/><BR/> We decided that finding a 'home' for a Community Caregiver Service (screening, training and matching) would support families who were looking after children, youth or their adult parents with caregiving. A one-stop shop idea formed. We envisioned something which would serve multiple caregiver needs, provide volunteer and employment opportunities for students, part-time workers and professionally trained carers, increase quality of care with standard training for all, provide for multiple financial situations (free, funded contracts, parent contribution)all centralized through a Service Coordinator. Community support organizations would pay to use the service for their client families, training programs could offer their services for a fee, community businesses could offer 'perks' for parents and care givers alike. A One-Stop Shop. <BR/><BR/> I took our brainstorming results, pulled together a proposal and budget...(in my 'spare' time) and phoned the executive director of the most logical existing choice for a 'home' for this service. I wanted a meeting, but there were changes happening in the service and timing was off. I was sent away to get numbers of people in the community and a budget. That was a year ago. Along with the numbers of families whose child requires one-on-one care I ALSO followed up on a hunch that and placed an announcement on several websites of our local university (I call it, CommUniversity Connections - connecting student volunteers with families who need support for their child.) <BR/><BR/> I now have a list of 35 names of university students who are desperate to obtain a required 70 hours of volunteer work in their area in order to apply for the Masters programs in physio, speech, and occupational therapies. (Was it the Dalai lama that said we need to realize that we are interdependent?) This list will offer a 'jump-start' to the 'home' of a Community Caregiver Service. While using university students has its down side as they inevitably move on, it is one RENEWABLE SOURCE of caregivers.(You want to make sure they send their resume, three letters of recommendation, current First Aid and CPR, and a current Criminal Records Check.) <BR/><BR/> The last piece would be the funding of a Coordinator and administrative support person to screen, interview and do the matching of students to families - a two-year grant may just fit the bill to get a service like this on its legs and off to a good start.<BR/> I am facing the rest of my life with the prospect of having to find, train and employ caregivers. My motivation is definitely personal in seeking a source of caregivers through the establishment of a new community service. But when I think of the enormous relief something like this will afford all families, the responsibility can shift to a place where interdependence is recognized and modeled. And, everyone can live happily ever after. Well, that may be a bit of a stretch. But I DO plan on carrying on with my personal dreams – become a professional development presenter on ionclusive education and the best …fling paint!<BR/>Cheers,<BR/>CindyCindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08603708749966684542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2938775437231014036.post-51917685177509532008-04-13T12:38:00.000-07:002008-04-13T12:38:00.000-07:00Hi, Pam again. If you want to check into agencies,...Hi, Pam again. If you want to check into agencies, just look under "home health services" in yellow pages. Even if ad does not list disability care, most do include it.<BR/><BR/>We also have been helping several high school students over the years complete required volunteer hours and/or senior project. No matter what your field, being comfortable around someone with a disabilty is a huge plus. Geoffrey has enjoyed this; one student did taste tests on different koolaide flavors, another did art with him, and another visits his class in a mini skirt and push up bra (heard this from the teacher, who says the mostly male student whole class loves it). Take care, everyone. PamAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2938775437231014036.post-76265072520433348202008-04-12T17:49:00.000-07:002008-04-12T17:49:00.000-07:00Thanks for sharing your story, Pam. I hadn't thoug...Thanks for sharing your story, Pam. I hadn't thought about contacting an agency. That may be something to consider in the future.Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09999871816948636830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2938775437231014036.post-72844368225614089292008-04-10T22:52:00.000-07:002008-04-10T22:52:00.000-07:00Hello, our son is 20 now and I absolutely agree wi...Hello, our son is 20 now and I absolutely agree with need for caregivers. We have always wanted our son's sister to be just that, a sister, especially since she is 4 years younger. So we rarely use her except for occasional easy times such as an early morning grocery store run when Geoff is still asleep.<BR/><BR/>One option that worked really well for us was to have a male teenager the same age as Geoffrey come over once a week in the evening to get to know him. After they had had about six months of time together I could confidently leave them alone and they did great. Nick came over every Tuesday night for several years (he now lives away from town). I have also found it helpful to get help with our typical daughter, for example, hiring one of our adult young single women friends to take her to the mall. She has a better time with them anyways and this saves my energy for other things......<BR/><BR/>Since I do work part time out of our home, we have used caregivig agencies (13 years now). There are several in town that provide care to people with disabilites. We have an annual home inspection where they check us out (simple things such as smoke detectors in place) and they come up with a care plan. We have two caregivers from our agency now: a man who has been with us five years (he is a grandpa) and a female energetic college student who has been with us six months. There are substitutes in the agency who can cover in a pinch as well. I do have to say that there have been definite bad days (people with car trouble, out sick, etc.), but most of the time we can get by and keep everyone reasonabaly safe and happy. <BR/><BR/>As an aside, my husband and I work different shifts. He is a RN at night and I do consulting work by day. We have been doing this for nine years. The advantage for us is that there can be a parent available if needed 24/7.<BR/><BR/>Hang in there, everyone, PamAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com