Quality of Life

Quality of Life is tied to perception of 'meaning'. The quest for meaning is central to the human condition, and we are brought in touch with a sense of meaning when we reflect on that which we have created, loved, believed in or left as a legacy.
- Frankl VE. 'Man's search for meaning.' New York: Pocket Books, 1963.

I have had the pleasure to work with a wonderful and talented woman whose art has brought joy to many, and most importantly herself. She has patented a particular style of batik and created and sold her work but has not been able in past years to express her artistic talents.

Elder Care Guides holds as one of its main beliefs the importance of helping our clients achieve "quality of life." Knowing my client's passion for her art, I set out to discover a means to help her create again and with much luck, discovered a great resource by the name of Kat Kirby.

Ms. Kirby is an Art Therapist who believes in the "healing power of the arts" and that one should have a "good time during the process." Her studio, 2KatStudios, offers workshops in collage, mosaics and other creative pursuits. To find out more about Kat, check out her websites here and here.



Kat's patience, expertise and own excitement in creating has brought my client the opportunity to express herself, to hope and to create a legacy once again.

We Love Carrots!

I recently attended the 62nd Annual SHRM Conference, the largest HR Conference in the world with over 11,000 attendees from 140 countries. As you can imagine, the general and breakout sessions were packed with valuable information on managing, supervising, and engaging employees. However, one session that stood out above the rest was "The Carrot Principle: How the Best Managers Use Recognition to Engage Their People, Retain Talent and Accelerate Results," presented by Chester Elton.

Elton is a dynamic and insightful speaker, who engaged the audience by encouraging participation, using multiple types of visual aides, and even throwing stuffed carrots into the audience. His message, backed by years of research, was simple: recognize your employees for a job well done frequently, specifically, and immediately, and they will feel valued and appreciated. As mentioned before on this blog, valued and appreciated employees stick around. The metaphor of the carrot as it relates to business is "something used to inspire and motivate the employee." In Elton and Adrian Gostick's book, it states:

"When employees know that their strengths and potential will be praised and recognized, they are significantly more likely to produce value."

So how does this relate to employees that care for elders for a living? The demographic that makes up the majority of caregivers, are those that live paycheck to paycheck. Don't those employees just want more money? Nope. At least, that's not what Elton and Gostick reported. One-third of people you give a cash award to will use that money to pay bills, and one in five won't remember in a few months how much they received or where they spent the money. But they will remember receiving a hand-written note from their direct supervisor, or better yet, the President of the company, thanking them specifically and timely for something they did that was above and beyond. If those appreciative notes and phone calls keep coming, employees will keep going above and beyond, because rewarded behavior gets repeated.

I highly recommend Elton and Gostick's book and website. Read them, study them, and implement a recognition program. Your employees will appreciate it, and become motivated to do better and be more committed, which directly translates to your companies mission, goals, and values.

A Little Bit of Fun

Sharing some laughter! Click on the photo to enlarge, and enjoy!

The spaces between my fingers

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to meet the folks behind an inspiring grassroots movement whose mission is to raise awareness about Alzheimer's disease and share wisdom between the generations, called The Spaces Between Your Fingers. Matthew Smith is currently engaged in a 30-day road trip across the country, using supplies that he purchased last year with his life savings to facilitate several 90 minute workshops in 13 different cities -- with, I imagine, some unplanned stops along the way. Participants come together in small groups and Mr. Smith shares a brief personal story of the life and loss of his grandfather, Dr. William McNamee, who died of Alzheimer's disease in 2003. In a letter to his grandson he asked him to think of him when he looked at the spaces between his fingers:

"Any time you want to find me, you don’t have to look far. Just look down at the spaces between your fingers—where my hand used to be—and instead of thinking of all that’s keeping us apart, remember this great force that’s holding us together, and always will."

Through some facilitated questions and discussion, participants are guided through memories from their childhoods, think back to lessons learned throughout their lives, and conjure up a piece of wisdom that they've gained and would like to pass on to the next generation. On a postcard, they trace an outline of their own hand, and then fill it in with their advice. Mr. Smith is collecting thousands of these postcards from individuals of all ages around the country, and will eventually combine them into a physical art installation and book, which will be used to promote awareness about Alzheimer's disease.

I am a volunteer co-facilitator of a support group for individuals living with early-stage memory loss that is held on Wednesdays mornings at the San Diego/Imperial County chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, who was contacted by Mr. Smith with a request to provide this free workshop to a group of individuals living with memory loss. The idea of the project was met with enthusiasm by our support group members, and we've been looking forward to his arrival on the west coast. The workshop this week was a great experience for the participants, sharing stories from their childhoods and early careers (a few of which I had heard over the seven years I've been facilitating the group, but most of which I had not). The telling of old stories by an individual who is progressively losing their memory is always a profound experience, and it's an honor to be there to receive these fleeting treasures. Wednesday mornings are always a highlight in my week.

Naturally, my mind wandered away from the table a few times and I got to thinking about my own childhood, the people who have influenced me, and some important lessons I've already learned in my short 35 years. Not many days go by that I don't think about my maternal grandmother Phyllis, who was - and is - a central figure in my life, and died in 2005. The summer that I was fourteen, my grandma undertook the task of teaching me to sew. She was an amazing seamstress, and had passed her skills along to her own talented daughters as well. My mom had not yet had an opportunity to teach me to sew; she was raising her three kids in a different era that required her to work full time and manage a busy household. But this is the gift of grandparents! They have time and space in their days that the rest of us simply don't have, and Grandma had decided that it was time that I learned. My first project was a black calico print dress that I'll never forget. I remember selecting a pattern in the shop, browsing for fabrics, and the afternoons of learning to cut, pin, and press, and getting familiar with the feel of the sewing machine on countless scraps in my grandma's sunny sewing room. It frustrated me to spend days practicing before I could even make the first cut into that pretty black fabric, but Grandma was adamant. That summer she taught me the importance of not just "doing things," but doing them right. She taught me that anything I make should look as good from the inside as it does from the outside. Straight stitching and clean seams (even if other people will never see them) not only make your clothes fit better, but they make you feel good about your work when you put them on. The things that I do in life need to not just look good to other people from the outside; they need to look good to me from the inside as well. I hope that Grandma Phyllis knew how important that time that summer with her was, and I suspect that she did. Today whenever the spaces between my fingers are filled with pins and crinkly tissue paper, or are guiding a piece fabric through a sewing machine, I think back to that sunny room and all of the love and laughter there, and that little bit of becoming who I am.

What a gift my grandmother was to me -- and that all members of an older generation are to those who follow them. Those of us who spend our days engaged in service to our elders are constant recipients of these gifts, and every day I know I chose the right path. I thank Matthew Smith and everyone who is supporting him in his project for this opportunity to spend some time in personal reflection, and for providing the members of our support group who live day in and day out with the frustration of a failing short-term memory with this valuable opportunity to tell stories and teach lessons. To answer Dr. William Thomas' important question: this is what old people are for.

The Aging Caregiver Workforce

In the elder care industry, most focus on the clients, or the elders, and rightfully so. It is them for whom we care, center our business on, and assist in finding their purpose as they move through their elderhood. But what about the caregivers? At what place in their life journey are they?

Research shows that 22 percent of home care workers, or caregivers, are 55 or older. And that number is expected to grow to 30 percent over the next decade. Traditionally, most companies may be reluctant to hire and older worker for fear they aren't as productive, slower to catch on to new technologies, and could cost the company more in health benefits. Not so in the elder care industry.

Older workers are not only preferred, but sought out as caregivers. The typical older worker not only has experience caring for aging family members, but understands the stresses families are under, has respect for age, and doesn't see age as a disability. Most often, a good match can be found between an older caregiver and an elderly client, because of the greater chance for common interests and hobbies.

Additionally, the caregiving profession is often the perfect fit for an older worker. The flexible hours, the part time hours for those not needing health benefits, and most importantly, it creates a sense of purpose, caring for someone who values their help, something they enjoy doing, and do well.

We Have A Winner!

Elder Care Guides is proud to announce that one of our caregivers, Maricela Pulido, received the award for Outstanding Home Care Service from the California Association for Health Services At Home. The award is given to an individual who is "directly involved in day-to-day care and has consistently provided outstanding service to patients in their homes." Maricela was honored with this award at the CAHSAH National Conference luncheon in Sacramento, CA on May 6, 2010.

Maricela was nominated because she not only has worked for Elder Care Guides since 2004, but she has been a caregiver for the same family for over 12 years. Maricela has managed the changing medications, the bathing routine, the various outings, all while keeping in mind her clients strengths and giving him a sense of purpose during his elderhood. Maricela is punctual, dependable, and has been throughout her tenure with this client over the last decade. She has developed a trust with her client and his family that is beyond measure. In addition, Maricela has been a consistent, reliable caregiver, rarely taking time off and always being flexible with the changing needs of her client. For all these reasons and more, Maricela was nominated for, and won this prestigious award! Congratulations Maricela!

A Great Time to Be A Caregiver

"The Great Recession," as it's now dubbed, has affected all of us in one way or another. The healthcare industry, especially home care, is expected to grow exponentially over the next decade. Employment statistics show the caregiving profession grew 26% from 1996 to 2006, thanks to aging baby boomers and the 85+ group, which is the fastest growing segment of the population. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, caregiving is the second fastest growing occupation in the country, and is projected to grow by 51% between 2006 and 2016. This is due to a multitude of factors, which primarily include the ability to treat and manage many health conditions at home with the help of a professionally trained aide, and elders increasing desire to remain in their homes where they can keep control and independance in their lives.

Caregivers provide a greatly needed relief to family caregivers, a consistant source of companionship to elders, and expert skills assisting with activities of daily living, all combined with a warm, friendly touch. These factors and more make staying at home the most appealing option to elders, vs. relocating to an assisted or skilled nursing facility. These labor statistics further prove that not only is professional caregiving an honored occupation, it is in great need and promises to be a wise career choice for years to come.

You can read more about professional caregiving and the nations employment outlook in the March issue of Caring Magazine.