Professionalizing the Family Caregiver
Ross Davis, Connecticut State Director at Seniorlink
Gary Barg: What is Caregiver Homes? How did it start?
What support do you offer family caregivers?
Ross Davis: Caregiver Homes or Seniorlink started in the
early 2000's by Tom Riley and Byron Hensley. They recognized
a gap in the healthcare system with 44 million unsupported
family caregivers not knowing how to get the resources they
needed. Caregiver Homes created a model with in-home
visits where nurses and social workers help them navigate
day to day challenges.
With this program adult care costs about half as much, which
also saves states dollars. We're reducing hospitalizations
and emergency room visits. They take their medications
and go to checkups. They have more confidence and less
caregiver stress.
Gary Barg: I know you have a lot of interaction with the
caregivers at our conferences. What challenges are they
facing that Caregiver Homes can support?
Ross Davis: As part of the program there's also a small
stipend paid to the caregiver because they're sacrificing work
opportunities. But, the most powerful aspect is that we're
providing them confidence by having someone to help them
understand what they are going through as a caregiver.
Gary Barg: It seems like you're talking about
professionalizing the role of the family caregiver by showing
them respect.
Ross Davis: I completely agree with you. Our job is to help
them, educate, teach and listen to them as well as help
them navigate barriers. That's why we developed Vela, our
care communication platform. It is a HIPPA secure data
application, through which our caregivers can text us. It
provides a current contemporary communication where
we can send resources, documents, pictures. We can even
do Facetime phone calls. It's been of a game changer in our
ability to one build a relationship and support our caregivers.
Gary Barg: What are you hearing from the caregivers at the
Fearless Caregiver Conferences?
Ross Davis: Gary, what you guys have put together is very
unique. Most conferences I go to are for service support
providers, but your event is special as it supports the actual
caregiver and allows people to be together, exchange stories
and resources. For one day they get a bit of respite, feel more
supported and part of a community. I think it's a fantastic
event which we wholeheartedly support.
For more information, visit caregiverhomes.com
FEARLESS CAREGIVER CONFERENCE
/caregiverhomes.com
/smartcaregiver.com