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Jeff Vander Velde is the owner of Helping Our Maritime Elderly Inc. Providing in-home care for seniors which includes: companionship, house cleaning meal preparation, Pet Therapy, etc.
Are you ready to be a Senior?
There is a lot of debate and concern about how seniors are going to be looked after in the next 10 to 30 years. There are many issues facing seniors that have governments and families scurrying to find solutions for today and to plan for the astronomical issues for seniors in the future.
What are these issues at present? You may have read about bed shortages in long-term-care or assisted - living facilities. You may have read about the long waiting lists to get into these facilities. You may have heard that hospital stays for surgery recovery are much shorter now then even ten years ago. You may have read that there is a labour shortage in many provinces for many service industries including hospital staff and home care providers. You may have read that we are living longer and that the chances of a dehabilitating illness or an unexpected medical condition may lead to living with reduced independence, mobility and dignity for some of your golden years.
What can we expect in the future? The wave of baby boomers has begun to enter their retirement years. The largest group (now in their early 50s) are on the way to rock our healthcare system's foundations. So, it is time to prepare.
Statistics and statistical projections are great, but for seniors many are not very comforting. Here are a few to get you thinking:
• The population of seniors in Nova Scotia is expected to grow by a staggering 80 percent between 2005 and 2026, where the overall population is expected to grow by only 3 percent during the same period.
• Seniors will make up 25 percent of Nova Scotia's population by 2026. Since women live longer than men a large proportion of these seniors will be female.
• The number of seniors requiring care assistance is expected to double in the next 25 to 30 years.
• The number of caregiving households (a family member or friend caring for a senior) has tripled since 1976 (based on 2005 data). It has been projected that up to 70 percent of boomers expect to care for a family member in the near future.
The facts go on and on. I recommend every reader pick up a copy of "The Strategy for Positive Aging" Published by the Seniors' Secretariat of Nova Scotia in 2005. It is a great resource and we are lucky to have it.
Enough with rehashing the doom and gloom! There are solutions. And it is not too late to prepare. First, if you are boomer, talk to an insurance agent about long term care insurance or critical illness insurance if you have not already done so. Second, look at your diet and exercise. Do some research on healthy eating, vitamins and supplements (most of our diets are deficient in these). What foods have what we need? If you ache somewhere, what causes it and what can you do about it? Do you exercise both your mind and body? Simply stretch all of your muscles daily (not just your thumb on the remote). Believe it or not most of us don't even breath correctly, nor do we exercise our brains - good idea if you want to improve and maintain your memory. With technology today (love the Wii) and the availability of information at our finger tips, we can improve our health as we age longer into our futures.
Will many of us need care? Yes, but why not try to give yourself several extra years of independent living in your retirement. You deserve it! You worked hard to provide for your family, so now it is time you take care of yourself.
Why Home Care?
The care of seniors is a growing concern as our population ages here in Nova Scotia. 2005 statistics, from the Nova Scotia Seniors Secretariat, put the senior (65 and older) population in Halifax (HRM) at approximately 41, 603 people in 2003. This age group is expected to grow to 65, 570 by the year 2016 - an increase of 58 percent. With figures like these we should be concerned about how we are going to provide, not just care, but the best care for our seniors? With a looming medical crisis due to staff shortages at all levels in our hospitals and care facilities and the exponential increases in medical costs synonymous with the hire demand for medical treatment for each of us as we age, we need to be prepared. Will the levels of government be able to maintain a high level of care offered through our hospitals and care facilities?
So what is the solution? What needs to be done to prevent a treatment and care crisis from plaguing our seniors? How are we going to assist seniors at the lowest cost to tax payers, while maintaining their quality of life, independence and happiness?
There are a few steps the private sector has initiated to assist and protect what is important to our seniors. The development, growth and successes of the Home Care industry speak volumes. The primary focus of this industry is to promote a high level of care that maintains quality of life, independence, and happiness of seniors. The proof that this is working is the decades of success and growth of the industry. Home care company growth is expected to grow substantially over the next 10 to 15 years. Cutbacks in publicly funded care facilities are resulting in a growth of private services. The results of these cutbacks we are starting to see in the media: Elder abuse, neglect, increased risk of serious falls, apathy of staff do to being overworked, etc.
Looking at the costs on their own the math speaks for itself; and the pocket books of seniors and their family's experiences far less financial strain. In a long term care facility a senior can expect to pay between $22,000 and $75,000.00 per year. This is of course assuming you can get into a long term care facility. The waiting lists can be from months to years. The staff to patient ratio can be as high as 1:11.
Comparing this to one-on one home care service (with the average senior needing 65 hours per month) we are looking at $15,600 per year on average. Working with the families of seniors this team approach to caring is a win-win all around. Even 24 hour in-home care is more beneficial. It may cost approximately $60,000 to $65,000 per year, however, it is still one-on-one care. Bonding and sharing will flourish while a senior's dignity and independence will be maintained.
We must realize that there is much more to Home Care than just the costs. As already mentioned there is the social, mental and physical benefits seniors receive from being cared in their own homes; home are where most of their memories are and where they are physically used to being.
Are you a Care Ambassador?
People that selflessly help others are what make the world a wonderful place. As far as senior care is concerned, the heart and soul of home care are what we call Care Ambassadors.
Care Ambassadors have specific talents and traits that instill gratitude in the seniors that receive care in their homes. Compassion is the number one character trait a Care Ambassador has to offer the elderly. This goes way beyond the ability to clean, cook a meal, assist with personal care and any of other many basic services our company provides.
As a company we see many resumes. We realize that there are hundreds of applicants very qualified to provide the services offered. However, we know that it is impossible to see the compassionate heart of a caring person on a piece of paper. So, in an interview the focus is on the body language of the candidate when describing a time or event when they reached out to help someone in need without monetary gain or selfish satisfaction.
Many people can be a Care Worker or Care Provider but being a Care Ambassador involves something deeper. An Ambassador's work is fueled from the heart and the above-and-beyond service is from the soul. These are the people HOME Senior Care wants in our care family. These are the people we want filling every positions within the company. Ambassadors develop strong relationships with the seniors that choose HOME Senior Care to help them.
What makes up such a relationship? Like all relationships trust, understanding and dedication are needed. A senior needs to feel that they can trust their Ambassador with their home, their possessions, and their care. Respect in our current view has three important aspects to it.
First, an Ambassador needs to know what the senior can do independently and to encourage them in these activities. This could be from reading to walking.
Second, is to understand what a senior needs help with but loves to do. An Ambassador promotes working as a team to complete these tasks. Cooking, baking and personal care are examples of this.
Finally, assisting with those things the senior can no longer do. House cleaning, driving, and organizing appointments and outings could fall in this category.
However, a Care Ambassador needs is to know each seniors individual needs and to respect those needs. This is what an Ambassador understands.
Care Ambassadors are dedicated to every moment they help a senior. Why? Because they enjoy what they do. If we show our enjoyment others see it. This will show in an Ambassador's efforts to go above and beyond - providing more than what is on their task sheet. For example, we have seen a simple light house cleaning job turn into pulling out a stove that has not been cleaned behind for several years. It has led to a time of tea and chatting. This is a Care Ambassador.
Care Ambassadors are there for the loved ones of seniors also. An Ambassador relieves the stress of caring for an aging relative. Boomers and younger generations have hectic work and family lives. Help is available. Are you a Care Ambassador? Do you need a Care Ambassador?
Pet Therapy
Many of us have had a pet at some point in our lives. They bring joy to all ages and provide what we all need in our relationships.
Personally, I have two wonderful dogs (Cockeliers), Libby and Linus. They never fail to be at the door when I get home to greet me with their tails wagging. They are always willing to receive an ear scratch or tummy rub. When they really get excited is when I reach for their leashes.
I admit sometimes I am too tired to walk them, but it is hard to say no when it obviously means so much to them. When returning home, I realize that their persistence to walk has benefited me also. I just got fresh air and exercise - something many of us can use more of.
In a nutshell, dogs provide something so greatly needed by us humans: unconditional love. They sit on your lap, nuzzle and lick no-matter our mood. They have the power to make us feel better.
There is far more to Pet Therapy or Animal Assisted Therapy (its clinical name) than this. Children learn responsibility and how to care for other living things in addition to the love they receive from our furry and some non-furry pets. I have watched my dogs run and play with the pack (my three children) many times. The dogs never get left out: who wouldn't incorporate them into the play when they are so excited to participate.
Now for seniors all the above benefits apply and then some. For example a 2 year study from the UCLA Medical Center revealed in 2005 that therapy dogs visiting 76 severely ill cardiac patients in intensive care significantly lowered their stress and anxiety and their heart and lung pressure. In this study a visiting human could reduce anxiety in these patients by 10 percent, however, when a Therapy Dog came along the drop was an amazing 24 percent.
Even though the medical or physical improvements pets provide are amazing, there is still more. Pets provide seniors with social and psychological benefits also. Pet Therapy dogs have been shown to reduce loneliness, depression and introversion at all ages.
I have seen it when my dogs visit seniors. From sharing memories (spontaneous recollection) with me about the dog they used to have to just petting and hugging Libby or Linus. I have witnessed firsthand a sparkle in senior's eyes when interacting with my dogs. I have even seen a late stage Alzheimer's patient gravitate towards Linus and in his native tongue of French saying "Bon Chien!" This was amazing to witness.
"Good dog" really says it all doesn't it?
Attention Sandwiches!
Even though I am not a big fan of the term, there are a lot of sandwiches in the world. No, I do not mean the deli kind, but those of us who are caught between their family, a career and aging parents. I am speaking about the group of boomers now called the sandwich generation. Who are you? Well, you are between the ages of 45 and 65 years old. Not only do you have children under the age of 25, but you are also caring for elderly parents and/or relatives or even grand children. You are sandwiched between your family and the needs of your aging parents, leaving you stressed, pressed for time, and strapped for cash. In between the pieces of bread are you and your life. Your career is the butter, your savings are your mayo, your lack of time is the pickle (sorry I had to use it), your relationships are the cheese, etc.
Home care for seniors helps take some of the "pickle" out of your sandwich. Meaning, time is freed up to dedicate room in your life for the other things (the bread, the cheese, etc.). This is accomplished by providing Professional care for an elderly relative in their own home. You will no longer need to worry if mom is taking her medication; if dad even got dressed today; if there is food in the house; is Aunt Jane eating properly; when was the last time mom had a shower; I haven't had time to clean dad's house in weeks; and so on. If you could have someone free up some of your time and make life better for someone you love at the same time wouldn't you do it?
Now that your worries are put to rest, you can also focus on visiting your elderly relative instead of only taking care of their basic needs. Home care offers quality, professional, compassionate care for seniors. This is what we do. No more changes in schedule at your work. You will not be losing income because you have gained much of your time back. A major stressor in your life has been removed. Your mom, dad, or relative are in good hands and can stay in their own home at the same time. Home care is the best solution for most seniors and their families. After all, home is where the heart is!
If you want to read some personal stories about those in a sandwich go to: What's your sandwich generation?
Health Care Professionals: Time to Stop Elderspeak and Elderexclusion
Well, HOME has learned something about seniors that I have to share. This article is directed to Nurses, Doctors, Care Workers, Administrators, Assessment Officers, and anyone involves with seniors.
When a senior seeks or needs help, maybe it is a human instinct to coddle and "elderspeak" to seniors. It was interesting to find that this word "elderspeak" actually exists. It means: a manner of communicating to older people using slow rate of speaking, simplified syntax, vocabulary restrict-tions, and exaggerated prosody on the assumption that their age makes them cognitively impaired.
Specifying words such as 'sweetie' and 'dear', which paint the elderly the same as small child is an issue. It is also said that speaking loudly and slowly is unnecessary. It is obviously a larger problem then I realized.
In addition, to this issue, many Health Care Professionals sitting down with a senior and a relative or care taker will direct all comments and suggestions to the relative or person caring for the senior. The comments, information and/or test results are not spoken to the senior directly - treating the senior like they are not even there. Well they are and this hurts them. I will call this elderexclusion - as they are excluded from the conversation.
To further convince people who assist seniors (including family members - also prone to elderspeak and elderexclusion) let's look at the impact these may have on a senior. They can cause seniors to be less cooperative and more aggressive to the speaker/excluder. The senior may start believing they are cognitively impaired. This can result in a negative image of aging, which can lead to worse health and even earlier death.
I recently received a response to HOME's Client Survey from one of our 2009 clients. It was a very open and honest response and rating to the service we provided. All though HOME did everything required to assist our wonderful client (and even did a lot of extra work), we were responsible for elderspeaking and elderexclusion. For this I truly apologize. In the survey I was informed that elderspeaking and exclusion are very common at all levels of healthcare.
If any of my company's Care Workers are versed in Elderspeak/exclusion then it will be addressed and corrected. Care Workers will receive sensitivity training if needed. They will learn how to properly treat and speak to seniors using and needing our services. I strongly encourage other healthcare organizations to do the same.
It's quite simple, speak to seniors like a friend, not a child. Treat them with respect and/or how you want to be treated. When two senior friends are together talking you do not see them talking to one another in a degrading, belittling tone. So, neither should we. Doesn't this prove something?
Here are a few links for more information on Elderspeak.
Desigining and Working with Older People
A Condescending Vernacular: The Problem of Elderspeak
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