“There are only four kinds of people in the world – those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers and those who will need caregivers”. Rosalyn Carter
Introduction
If you are a caregiver in
Not everyone, however, has family or friends to give them direct care and support; and even if they do, families or friends cannot always do it all. You may be one of those special workers - a professional caregiver. Whether you are called Personal Care Attendant (PCA), Home Health Aide, Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA), Direct Support Professional (DSP) or any other name, you make an invaluable contribution to a better quality of life and quality of care for our friends and neighbors whether in a home, community or healthcare setting. You may be employed by a facility or an agency or you may be privately hired by the person or the family that you support.
11,000 Professional*
83,000 Family**
Whether family, friend or professional caregiver the hands-on help and support you give to another person in negotiating the tasks of daily living is essential. It is your efforts that give thousands of Vermonters peace of mind and security. You are the foundation of our long-term care system.
The National Family Caregiver Alliance states that “…family caregivers are part of a silent and neglected workforce that does not receive the recognition, training, support, assistance, or public policy attention it deserves.” The same is true for professional caregivers. According to
The purpose of this web-site is to serve all caregivers by providing information on
- Policy issues and opportunities
- Local and on-line training programs and workshops
- Links to support groups
- Tips to sustain you in your daily work
- Relevant news articles
- Stories highlighting the outstanding work that you do
- There are also links to help you find a caregiver or find a job in the caregiving field.
As both the populations of older Vermonters and younger adults with physical disabilities grow, the need for family and professional caregivers is becoming more and more apparent. Supporting family caregivers and developing and maintaining a stable direct care workforce that is valued, trained and adequately reimbursed and are both goals of
* (Direct Care Workforce Legislative Study, 2008)
** (AARP Valuing the Invaluable: The Economic Value of Family Caregiving, 2008 Update)
New
Vermont Nursing Homes Designated “Gold Stars” for 2010
The Gold Star Employer Program, which is sponsored by the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) and the Vermont Health Care Association (VHCA) was designed to foster and support Best Practices for recruitment and retention of caregivers, particularly direct care staff in nursing homes. The program recognizes those nursing homes that employ Best Practices. Research in
Enrichment Staff, volunteers, family member, and residents put on a play during Franklin County Rehab’s Gold Star trip to
Since the Gold Star Program was introduced in 2004, participation has grown from 11 nursing homes to 25 nursing homes in 2009. Every nursing home in
The program focuses on staff and is a great tool for retaining good workers. Gold Star projects build professional skills; increase resident and staff satisfaction; reduce turnover; reward employees for great customer service and a job well done; improve communications and provide opportunities for success.
Mayo Healthcare’s Have-a-Ball/Drop-a-Job Gold Star Committee L-R: Darlene Mossman, Kim Marcotte, Tanya Law, Sally Fletcher, Chris Scott, Lisa Cerasoli
THIS YEAR’S
Centers for Living & Rehabilitation,
Crescent Manor,
Franklin County Rehab, St Albans
Helen Porter, Middlebury
Mayo Healthcare,
Menig Extended Care,
Starr Farm,
The Manor, Morrisville
New
“I WAS THE
On May 21st, the Community of Vermont Elders (COVE) and the Institute for Spiritual Development, with the support of the Northeast Sisters of Mercy, hosted 25 family caregivers at our Caregiver Retreat to Renew Body, Mind & Spirit at the beautiful Wake Robin Life Care Community in Shelburne. Our approach to inviting caregivers was unique. We reached out to 13 agencies in the area which had connections to family caregivers and offered them the opportunity to select and invite two deserving caregivers to this special day of pampering.
The planning team, of Sr. Ruth Ravey, Sr. Ann Duhaime, Heidi Pfau,
All retreat presenters, well aware of the daily sacrifices and struggles that many caregivers experience, were kind enough to donate their time and services. We extend our thanks to Dr Susan Wehry, keynote; Fran Joseph
We also want to thank Home Instead Senior Care who generously sponsored the luncheon, as well as the following additional sponsors: Armistead Caregiver Services, Champlain Valley Agency on Aging, Lake Champlain Chocolates, VNA of Chittenden & Grand Isle and Wake Robin.
At the end of the day, each caregiver was presented with a Treasure Kit of resources for comfort, inspiration and renewal.
This special day was enjoyed by all participants as well as staff and presenters. It was a blessing for everyone. We are now in the process of planning a similar retreat for caregivers in the
Scholarship Congratulations
We are pleased to announce that Charlene Waite of
Being a professional caregiver, whether you work in a home care setting, in the hospital, nursing home or one of many other places, is not an easy job. Work is often demanding and seeking further education can be difficult.
Education and access to training are some of the best tools we have to improve our standard of living. Access to education and training is especially important in the caregiving world which is a career that often employs low-income women and men. Caregiving as a career should never be a dead end job, but rather should be filled with opportunities to learn and grow.
L-R Susan Gordon, Charlene Waite, Rachel Lee Cummings
"COVE's mission is to promote and protect a higher quality of life for
Although the Scholarship Review Team was challenged to select just one recipient from among the 26 deserving applications, the Review Team enthusiastically endorsed the choice of Charlene. Charlene has been working as a live in caregiver for a geriatric patient who had been told by his doctors he was being sent home to die six years ago. Her client commends Charlene for helping to save his life and keeping him healthy. Charlene assists him with his baths, administers his medications, provides transportation to dialysis treatments and cooks and cleans. She has been working with the elderly since the early 1990’s and has been a hospital volunteer at
Caregiver Champion
The Community of Vermont Elders worked to insure that this year the Governor’s Healthy Aging Awards included the new category of Caregiver Champion to celebrate professional caregivers. This award honors those outstanding caregivers who exemplify the profession in the field of caregiving. Lucinda “Cindy” Vandenburgh, a Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA) of 30 years, was honored with this award at a ceremony held at the Vermont Statehouse on Tuesday, November 24th.
Cindy works at
Caregiver testimony to value of support network
Contact Info
If you have information to share or questions about resources for caregivers please contact:
Susan Gordon
Caregiver Initiative Director
The Community of
PO Box 1276
802-229-4731