From TheMiami Herlad article titled "The Need for In-Home Care Rises as Baby Boomers Age"

“We have agencies telling us, ‘We need this kind of worker, we need that kind,’” says Julie Northcutt, Caregiverlist.com founder and CEO. “Even in this economy, we’ve had a huge demand. Agencies are growing as fast as they can.”

Finding and training workers for these jobs will become increasingly important as the baby boomer generation, 78 million strong, ages. Various studies also have found that at-home care is actually more effective — and less expensive — than similar care in a nursing home or hospital.


From U.S. News & World Report titled "How to Become a Savv Nursing-Home Shopper"

Many so-called "private-pay" facilities do not accept Medicaid patients, for example, but are included in the Caregiverlist ratings. Not every home responds to its outreach efforts, she notes. "The ones that we don't have the costs from [is because] it's mostly that they're 100-percent Medicaid."

Another feature of her site that is relevant in the real world, Northcutt says, is that it identifies homes where access may be restricted—to people with certain acute needs, for example, or for veterans, or for patients of a specific hospital that runs the facility. And Caregiver list may also include retirement communities with nursing facilities, where access to nursing services may be limited to community residents.

In terms of key quality measures, "the staffing ratio is a real, real issue in the industry," she advises, "and it's going to affect the quality of care for your loved one."


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Mood Boosters for Caregivers and Senior Clients

October 6, 2024 Danielle

Caring for others comes with the challenges of managing the emotional journey of caregiving. As your aging clients are dealing with the losses of loved ones, along with the losses of physical capabilities, it's natural that some days will be emotionally challenging. Healthy mood boosters are tools you can use to bring a smile to yourself and others and relieve stress.

Here are some simple strategies that can help you—and your clients—lift your mood:

Taking a quick one- or two-minute walk each hour can do wonders for your mood. Not only does it lower blood pressure, but it also lightens your mental load. Even stepping outside to feel the sun on your face can provide an instant lift.

Engaging in a creative activity like drawing, coloring, or doodling can lower stress and improve your mood. Art therapy taps into our brain's reward pathway, releasing dopamine and helping to process emotions. This doesn't have to be a major project, something quick and simple can be enough to shift your energy.

Get up and move! Dancing around the room, stretching, or even doing a few household chores can work wonders. Physical activity helps release tension and breaks the monotony of caregiving routines.

Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) videos, those featuring soft sounds like whispering, tapping, or even makeup application can help lower your heart rate and create a sense of calm. If you find the right trigger, watching just a few minutes can be incredibly soothing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebnQsTk9s-s&ab_channel=OddlySatisfying

Watching funny cat or dog videos can do more than just make you laugh, it actually improves your overall mood. Humor is a great way to release endorphins and reduce stress.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcUHp8Wm7D0&ab_channel=ThePetCollective

The gentle sound of rain falling can create a peaceful ambiance and help quiet the mind. Incorporating calming background noise, whether it's nature sounds or soft music, can bring immediate relaxation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNDJi0ncE0c&ab_channel=RainSoundNatural

Music is a powerful tool for mood management. Whether it's singing, playing an instrument, or just swaying to your favorite tunes, music has the ability to boost energy both you and your client.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7HXibVwHU6ZvL6MZoe2kRv?si=25f54bf8a98b43bc&nd=1&dlsi=fc4da6cb3c56416a

As caregivers, it's important to take care of your own emotional well-being. Remember, it’s okay to feel sad, but you also have the power to pivot your mood and find little moments of joy throughout the day. Try incorporating these simple techniques to stay grounded and emotionally balanced while providing the care your clients need.

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Stress Relief Photo of the Week

Keeping It Moving for Stress Relief

October 7, 2024 Barbara Calabrese

This morning's motivational thoughts remind us to keep moving even when we feel stuck. It is important to keep a sense of balance and to embrace what lies ahead. This week’s stress relief photo was taken in Strasbourg, France. Caregiverlist invites you to enjoy the photo and share it with loved ones. At Caregiverlist we know the realities of caregiver stress. Now more than ever we thank you caregivers and certified nursing aides for your hard work and for caring for our seniors. We hope you have a great week ahead.

"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving."
-Albert Einstein

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Caregiver Pay Rates for 2013 Above Minimum Wage

9. May 2014 Shanice Kelly Background Checks, Caregiver Jobs, Caregiver Training

Senior caregivers assist seniors as companion caregivers and nursing aides working in nursing homes, assisted living communities and senior home care agencies. Hospitals also hire certified nursing aides. The pay rate for companion caregivers and nursing aides for 2013 has continued to rise and remains above minimum wage for all professional senior caregivers.

The Caregiverlist® pay survey results records the pay rates of 34,959 professional senior caregivers. Senior caregivers who work for a senior home care agency provide one-on-one caregiving services while nursing aides working for nursing homes and hospitals usually care for anywhere from 10 to 15 residents or patients. C.N.A. staffing ratios of nursing homes are reported in the health inspection reports conducted every 15 months and can be found in the Caregiverlist® Nursing Home Directory. More senior caregivers are needed and anyone with a caring personality may apply to a senior care job in their area on the Caregiverlist® Career Center.




The number of senior home care agencies continues toincrease along with the need for qualified caregivers

Senior care companies hire from 3 to 6 professional caregivers each week, to keep up with the demand for part-time and full-time senior caregiving services. Most American seniors do not plan ahead for senior care and because of this, when a senior experiences a sudden medical condition such as a stroke, heart attack or the early stages of memory loss, they will then immediately need professional senior caregiving services.

In order to keep up with the demand for senior care, the number of senior home care agencies has increased by 40% since 2008. More than 20 franchise companies provide senior home care in addition to national corporations. More professional senior caregivers are needed to fill these open positions which increase daily.

The ​Caregiverlist® Career Center assists anyone with a caring personality to learn how to become a senior caregiver and submit a job application which reaches multiple hiring companies in their area who subscribe to “the ​Caregiverlist®”. As the only resource with an ongoing database of experienced, professional senior caregivers, ​Caregiverlist® allows companies to efficiently hire the most qualified caregivers in their area.​ Caregivers may learn about required senior caregiver training and take an online course to learn the necessary caregiving skills and meet state requirements.