Telling My Boss About Caregiving

Question/concern: Telling My Boss About Caregiving This article is a good catalyst in deciding how to handle the revelation to your employer that you need to take an active role in providing caregiving for a senior parent or loved one. The author of a recent article I read suggests that perhaps a grand revelation of her new caregiving status wasn't in her best interest. I appreciate that the author acknowledges that an employer has an obligation to other employees and the company's stakeholder to ensure a well-run organization. However, work culture has built in accommodations for the fact that most people regularly go through life changes that need special attention. Whether it be a new baby, award ceremonies, sick children, weddings, funerals, grandchild birth, aging parents appointments and illnesses, etc., there is a natural flow of life events experienced concurrently while being an employee. So, concessions in the work place are to be expected.  However, companies are at risk in it's ability to thrive in different ways. The difference is in the type of job, how flexible a job can be, time commitment, how individually imperative the presence of a particular employee is, etc. Even so, making a big announcement that your lifestyle is about to change may make an employer more suspicious and create an increased focus on your performance and office hours. In my opinion, communicating your need to an employer that you need time off for caretaking should be treated like any other life event.  It may be best to treat the situation like a sick child event which is viewed as a more natural, expected season of life however, if you know you can't perform adequately, facing the issue openly with your employer, is better than being confronted by your boss. If you know the situation will shortly become more critical, it may be best to be intentional. There may be creative strategies like job sharing, or a calculated decrease in hours and responsibility.  Taking the high ground will be appreciated. Continue to article

If I can be of assistance in helping you find care for your loved one when the need arises, I would be honored to assist you.  Please feel to call or email us at info@trustedseniorplacement.com. Sincerely, Teresa Jepsen Trusted Senior Placement www.TrustedSeniorPlacement.com 714.533.4015

Will Medicare pay for long term care?

  Care Giver Concern: September

In our last newsletter we asked if anyone had questions regarding caring for their aging loved ones.  Question: Will Medicare pay for long term care? I have seen and heard conflicting experiences among seniors I work with on a day to day basis. Today I received a call from a gentleman who had a myriad of co-morbid diagnosis that I was surprised he could even use the phone. The hospital was telling him he was being put out asap. They said it was his responsibility to find a place. Any place, including a shelter. The shelters would not take him because his medical conditions were so serious. He had no money and no family. I have seen people set up lovely rooms in skilled nursing facilities (SNF) due to "care needs" who appeared to belonged in assisted living care. I have seen hospitals offer to pay for board and care while a resource less patient is recovering from surgery. (Of course that does get the patient off their hands). I have been told by multiple families who researched the law that SNF's are not allowed to discharge a resident without having a place to go. I have seen plenty of conflicting scenarios. So who gets to stay and who must go? Take a look at this article for the answers that concern you. Read the article

If I can be of assistance in helping you find care for your loved one when the need arises, I would be honored to assist you.  Please feel to call or email us at info@trustedseniorplacement.com. Sincerely, Teresa Jepsen Trusted Senior Placement www.TrustedSeniorPlacement.com 714.533.4015

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