Page 4 - Access Winter 14.15

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In-home service caregivers go beyond job requirements to deliver quality care with compassion
Currently, one of the fastest growing industries in Michigan is in-home care, due to an escalating population of older adults and ensuing aging issues. The Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute of Michigan estimates there are over 160,000 in-home care workers in Michigan and its projected that
jobs in this field will increase by 32% from 2010-2020.
Michigan’s growing legion of in-home care workers employed by home care companies are part of the state’s efforts to assist individuals in avoiding the costly expense of nursing home care. In Governor Snyder’s State of the State address, he stressed his support in honoring senior citizens wishes to remain at home by means of the home care industry and was in favor of making Michigan a “No Wait State” for in-home care assistance.
The Michigan Office of Services to the Aging reported that at the beginning of fiscal year 2013, there were over 3,500 disabled older adults on wait lists for in-home assistance through government subsidized programs. Older adults or adults with disabilities who qualify for Medicaid and lack access to in-home care services tend to move into nursing home living. This equates to more costly care and Medicaid foots the bill. According to the results of an AAA 1-B in-home care study conducted last spring, AAA 1-B projected that for every 100 seniors on the waitlist, Michigan could save as much as $1.1 million annually if seniors received even a limited amount of in-home care.
An overlooked aspect to the local in-home care story is that organizations like the AAA 1-B are able to manage Michigan’s government subsidized home care programs efficiently by keeping costs down. The AAA 1-B is able to reimburse home care companies with rates 17-19% less than private market rates for personal care and homemaking through volume discounts and the good will
of home care agencies. Projected statewide, this means that the state can save over $37 million annually.
When a care recipient has access to personal care and homemaking services it significantly improves their quality of life. Compared to care recipients who lack access to these services, those who receive services live longer with a lower mortality rate; are 20% more likely to remain living at home; and are five times less likely to be in a nursing home in two years.
The AAA 1-B in-home care study also looked at the quality of service, cost effectiveness, and results stemming from personal care and homemaking service experiences. The results were encouraging. The study found that:
L The efforts of home healthcare workers went above and beyond what was required and they provided high quality service.
L 88% of home care agency aides arrived early and 80% stayed late whenever necessary
L Thousands of homecare aides were found to perform extra acts of kindness every day. They were compassionate and freely gave of their time. In fact, 58% of those surveyed providing items at their own expense. Employees were reported to prepare and share holiday meals with their clients, bake
birthday cakes, offer advice on home safety and assisted devices, and provide care for pets.
L 81% provided bereavement support
L 91% offered extra assistance to the care recipient by handling preparations
for special occasions
In a different AAA 1-B survey completed in 2012 that focused on care recipients, 96% felt respected when receiving services and 99% would recommend their home health care employee to friends or family.
That’s certainly the case for Oakland county resident Glenice Anderson, who would definitely recommend the home healthcare Personal Assistants from Affordable HomeCare (AHC), a company providing in-home care for Metro Detroiters since 1989.
“We all love our mom and consider it a blessing to be able to give back to the person who gave us life.”
“We’ve been with Affordable for a number of years and I’m very impressed with the staff,” said Anderson who found her way to AHC through AAA 1-B Care Manager Charlene Southern. Anderson, employed full-time, realized that she’d need help in caring for her mom Jaunita Melton, 87, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease six years earlier. Anderson’s two siblings live out of state. “This situation is very close to the heart,” she said. “We all love our mom and consider it a blessing to be able to give back to the person who gave us life.”
But at this time in 2007, the disease had progressed. Jaunita would lose things, which made her accusatory and agitated. Anderson noted that this was completely opposite behavior from Jaunita’s pre-Alzheimer’s demeanor of kindness and consideration.
When Jaunita was raising her four children, a single parent due to a divorce, she took the role on with grace. “Mom always made sure we were in a safe environment,” said Anderson. “She worked hard as a caterer and a cake decorator and yet, she’d still take time to make our family meals balanced, pretty and plentiful. She was a wonderful cook!
We really had a blessed childhood. I remember a Friday night tradition mom came up with where we could pick any treat we wanted. Then we’d set up our TV tables and watch our favorite shows together. It was so fun.” Family time helped build lasting bonds. Anderson said, “To this day, my siblings and I talk with one another at least five times a day.”