Greetings!

I want to welcome you to "On The Home Front", the Visiting Nurse Plus e-letter. I hope you will find it interesting and informative. Feel free to email us your comments and suggestions.

Gloria Horton
VNP Executive Director

Plan Ahead to Avoid Workplace Disruptions
The first several weeks of a new year usually mean a revitalized sense of putting the holiday mode behind and "getting down to business" once again. However, for family caregivers, the same responsibilities still exist; responsibilities that will undoubtedly interfere with their jobs at times. The Alzheimer's Association recommends the following tips to help minimize workplace disruptions:

1. Lay the groundwork for possible absences. Work longer hours and quickly finish projects so that if you are called away for a care-related crisis, there will be fewer loose ends. Leave detailed notes for others who may have to fill in for you.
2. Talk to your employer about what the future might bring. In addition to working with your boss on a plan to take necessary time off, familizarize yourself with state laws and your company's policies. Know if and how your job may be protected.
3. Gather medical information. Preparing summaries of insurance plans, emergency contacts, medications and a patient history ahead of time can help make for smoother care, as well as allow you to finish up a project instead of spending time performing those tasks at the last minute.
4. Know your limits. Due to work commitments or the need for personal time, there may be instances when you'll feel conflicted about the level of care you're providing your loved one. Don't guilt yourself into doing more than you're able.

Reprinted by permission of the Alzheimer's Association.
Copyright 2009 Alzheimer's Association. All rights reserved.

Stroke--Another Risk of Caregiving
A new study published in the journal Stroke has found that husbands caring for ailing wives are at a higher risk for stroke if their caregiving responsibilities cause them a lot of strain.

Of the 767 individuals studied, stroke risk was most pronounced among men, especially African-American men. Those who reported high levels of stress while caring for a sick spouse were 23% more likely to have a stroke than caregivers who said they felt no strain regarding their responsibilities. This particular study did not demonstrate the risk of caregiver strain on heart disease, although previous studies have indicated a link between caregiver stress and depression, and early death.

William E. Haley, PhD at the University of South Florida in Tampa, who led the study commented, "This is why caring for the caregiver is extremely important. Counseling is important where the caregiver can learn new information and skills to be better prepared to manage their family member's illness and their own stress." He adds, "Another kind of assistance is receiving more help in providing care from other family members, friends, or community agencies, or using respite services."

Visiting Nurse Plus respite care is available for as little as two hours at a time; for more information, please call a Customer Care representative.

2009 Caregiver of the Year Announced

Mary Willett, a Visiting Nurse Plus employee since 1998, was named the 2009 Caregiver of the Year at the agency's annual holiday gathering. Following her retirement from the Evansville State Hospital, Mary joined VNP as a Companion Caregiver and was promoted to Personal Care Assistant in 2002. She was nominated by her supervisors who described her as "a giving person that is dedicated to her customers and always ready and willing to step in and help wherever it is needed." The Caregiver of the Year award is presented every year to a VNP direct care employee that best exemplifies the Visiting Nurse Plus mission. Mary (right) is pictured with her supervisor, Pam Smith.

Cooperative but Cautious: Know What to Say
When the Census Comes Knocking
To reduce the risk of becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft, the Better Business Bureau is advising citizens to think before they speak to a Census Bureau worker. Heed these reminders:

• An official U.S. Census worker will have a badge, a handheld device, a Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see identification and the badge before answering any questions.
• Do not give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to anyone. The Bureau may ask for basic financial information such as salary range, but will not ask for specifics and does not solicit donations.
• The Census Bureau may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home, but will not contact you by e-mail. Beware of e-mail scams that attempt to represent or impersonate the Bureau.

While these tips are beneficial for everyone, the elderly who live alone should especially be cautioned about not inviting anyone into their home that does not have proper identification or giving out personal information that is not required to complete the census process.

Better Training Equals Better Care
For more than a year Visiting Nurse Plus Executive Director, Gloria Horton has been collaborating with other home care colleagues to design and implement the Home Care Work Force Training Project.

Co-sponsored by the Indiana Association for Home and Hospice Care and the Indiana Home and Hospice Care Foundation, the end result of the task force's efforts offers consistent training guidelines and career advancement opportunities for homemakers, personal care attendants, and skilled home care workers throughout the state. Horton explains, "This project was developed to address the current and impending shortage of direct care workers in Indiana which will have a tremendous impact on Hoosier families as more seniors and disabled individuals require in-home services."

The task force was thrilled to learn in early 2010 that their training had been selected by Ivy Tech Community College to become part of the curriculum at all of its educational sites throughout the state.

For more information and a list of upcoming trainings, visit the IAHHC website at www.ind-homecare.org.

Visiting Nurse Plus, Inc. provides private pay and government funded in-home non-medical and nursing services to the counties of Gibson, Posey, Vanderburgh and Warrick in Indiana, and Wabash County in Illinois. Founded in 1982 as a sister agency to the Visiting Nurse Association of Southwestern Indiana, Inc., Visiting Nurse Plus is locally operated, not-for-profit, and licensed by the Indiana State Department of Health. As a mission-driven agency, VNP is committed to being a professional resource to its communities--please call anytime with questions or concerns.