Immediate Steps to Take if You’re New to Being a Family Caregiver
If you’ve had kids, you know a bit about caring for another person. If you’re married or in a relationship, you know a bit about caring for another. Caring for a parent has some similarities, but there are also a lot of differences. If you’ve never experienced any of this and are brand new to being a family caregiver, the challenges may seem overwhelming.
Home Health Care in Beech Grove IN: Family Caregiver Tips
Family caregiving doesn’t have to pose tremendous hurdles. By taking a few initial steps, you can make it very easy to transition to this new role.
Take Care of Legal Paperwork First
The very first thing a family caregiver needs to do is to get legalities out of the way. As a family caregiver, you need to be able to talk to your mom or dad’s doctor. Without a medical power of attorney or HIPAA permissions in place, that won’t happen.
At the very least, your mom or dad needs to fill out HIPAA paperwork. This gives the doctor permission to talk about your parent’s medical tests and results with you. If you will ever be in a position to make medical decisions, your parent also needs to draw up a medical power of attorney.
A medical power of attorney is important. If your mom has a stroke and cannot talk, you have the right to speak on behalf of your mom. You know your mom’s wishes on things like feeding tubes and ventilators and can make sure doctors do exactly what your mom wants.
Talk to Family Members and Close Friends
Talk to your family members and friends to see if they want to and can help provide some of the care your mom and dad need. You may find your siblings are eager to help them. When you have input, create a weekly schedule so that everyone knows their role in the care plan.
Create a Care Plan
Come up with a solid list of the help your parents need. Go through the areas where they cannot manage things on their own. Figure out what you can do to help them. If your help isn’t enough, look into senior care services. With senior care, you can pick and choose the services they get. You might want to keep making their meals on your own but have help with their grooming and personal care.
It’s not hard to arrange senior care. Pick up the phone, talk to the advisor about your parents’ strengths and weaknesses, and schedule services.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering Home Health Care in Beech Grove, IN, please call the caring staff at Home Services Unlimited. Serving Greater Indianapolis Area. Call for Immediate Info & Assistance: (317) 471-0760
As a practicing Registered Nurse, Etelka was keenly aware of a void in quality patient care that could be provided in the home. She embarked upon a journey to develop a home health care agency that would exceed all expectations and become a trusted partner to physicians and patients.
A Distinguished Career From Nurse to Director of Nursing to President of Home Services Unlimited
Etelka’s distinguished career followed a logical progression to her position as President of Home Services Unlimited. She graduated as a nurse practitioner with a Bachelor of Nursing (RN) in 1972 from Meshgorya University in the Ukraine, close to where she lived with her family. She married her husband Phil in 1973 and decided in 1977 that they would relocate to the United States to be closer to family and to come to this land of opportunity. With an eagerness to continue her budding career, Etelka sat for and passed her Boards in the U.S. in 1979.
A Love and Talent for Working with the Elderly
Etelka began her nursing career in the U.S. at Colonial Crest, now part of Golden Living, where she was the In-service Coordinator, the Director of Training and Education and Director of Nursing, a position she occupied for several years.
With a group of partners, she co-founded Adept Corporation, which operated group homes for the mentally challenged. The business was successful and in 1996, Etelka sold her share to return to her roots, caring for the elderly.
In January of 1997, Etelka opened Home Services Unlimited as a fully licensed business to provide home health care. In her quest to learn to do better for her patients, she had already obtained a Masters in Healthcare Administration (MHA) in May of 1990 from the College of St. Francis. As President of Home Services Unlimited, Inc., Etelka guides the trusted, experienced care model Home Services Unlimited uses to continue providing excellent home health care.
Giving Back to the Community of Indianapolis
Volunteering for community services is a high priority for Etelka. Her memberships include the Indiana Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, Executive Women in Health Care and the Indiana Association for Home and Hospice Care, where she is a member of the Board of Directors.
Etelka has also served on the Board of Directors with Hooverwood Home, a highly regarded geriatric facility, since 1997 and as the President for 2005-2006. Through her community work, she has received several awards and accolades, including the Nora McFarland award in 2002, from the Indiana Association of Home and Hospice Care.
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