Remember when you first helped your parents with the holiday decorations? Bringing those boxes of tangled light sets and frosted ornaments down from the attic, you knew something exciting was happening. Those scenes were a preview of family traditions that would be passed on to the generations.
Today, as Hawai‘i’s aging population grows, many of us carry on these traditions and are the privileged caregivers for our parents.
Holiday festivities can be challenging, as many need to work and balance family life at the same time, in addition to their caregiver roles.
“When the decision is finally made to get help, we often see families in a panic, overwhelmed and confused about home care providers,” said Janet Grace, sales and marketing director at Attention Plus Care.
Exercising due diligence, vetting home care agencies and understanding what resources are available can keep these challenges to a minimum, and improve the quality of life for families. Knowing how to discern what matters in home care agencies can also go a long way toward an effective decision-making process.
“Asking the right questions when shopping for a service provider is paramount to giving your parents high-quality and safer care,” said Cindy Baker, RN at Attention Plus Care. “When the roles are reversed and the adult children of seniors are tasked to find care, we encourage those involved to ask questions. It’s a good sign.”
Don’t let first meetings, minimal fees and quick promises of services mislead you. Real life doesn’t operate that way. In a July 13, 2012, study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, researchers posed as consumers seeking a caregiver for an older adult relative. Surveyed were 180 agencies around the country regarding hiring methods, from screening measures, training and skill competencies assessments to supervision, with the following results:
- Only 55 percent of agencies did a federal background check
- Only one-third of agencies said they did drug testing
- One-third test for caregiver skill competency
- Supervision ranged from one to weekly, which included home visits, phone calls and caregiver office visits
Based on just a few results, consumers looking for a home care agency are taking a risk as to whether they will get a trained professional who provides quality care or one with little to no experience and training.
Taking the proper steps will help keep your holiday traditions memorable and keep the spirit of giving special. No matter what the newness of the season brings, loving our kupuna is the greatest gift of all.
For more information and details on home care and free community workshops on Aging in Hawai‘i hosted by Attention Plus Care, call 808-440-9372.
FOUR KEY QUESTIONS TO ASK ARE:
- How long has the provider served as a home healthcare agency in Hawai‘i?
- Is the provider currently accredited by The Joint Commission? Is there a history of maintaining accreditation?
- Is the agency audited by the state Department of Health for proper bonding and insurance requirements under state law?
- Are caregivers regularly supervised, monitored to a home healthcare standard audited by a state or federal agency?
ATTENTION PLUS CARE Accredited by The Joint Commission
1580 Makaloa St., Ste. #1060, Honolulu, HI 96814
808-739-2811 | www.attentionplus.com
Seniors also love our newest classes — MOSSA Group Power™ and Enhanced Fitness.™ These fun, high-energy group exercise classes provide a very efficient workout at every pace and level. Motivated by great music, up-beat instructors and positive physical results, seniors excel in these classes.
For those suffering from arthritis, evidencebased Enhanced Fitness is designed to help reduce painful symptoms. Seniors see improved strength, mobility and agility — all while having fun and making new friends. One senior’s physical therapist asked what she was doing. He was amazed at how much flexibility she gained in her spine!
Senior citizens can attend classes on University of Hawaii Manoa campus through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. For 10 years OLLI has been offering non-credit, college-level courses and other activities to encourage older individuals to engage their minds, enrich their lives, and serve the community. While the institute primarily serves mature learners aged 50+, the only true requirements for participation are maturity, life experience, and a desire to learn.
Watching a running relay race is exciting. Running together at full speed and passing the baton to a teammate is thrilling to watch. I would ask you to consider that your estate plan is your relay. The definition of the word relay is “a series of persons relieving one another.” Your baton is your legacy — your intentions and wishes passed on with your material wealth. The passer of the baton must be in sync with the receiver for success. And both the passer and receiver bear responsibility for this transfer. Running together in sync, stride-for-stride is essential and requires planning. This is why including your beneficiaries and fiduciaries in the estate planning process, with clear communication is necessary in the estate planning process. Running in sync together with clear understanding of intentions can make for a successful relay of your legacy.
Rosemarie Dungca has been working for the City and County of Honolulu since 1978. In 1983, Whitmore Village asked her to teach hula classes. Her popularity grew and soon was teaching throughout the Leeward area.
