Angel’s Wings News to lift your spirits! June 2019
Angel Commandments…………………...……..………... page 4 Caregiver Anniversaries …………………………..…………page 5 Medication errors……………………………... ………….…..page 3 Happy Birthday Angels & Office Staff ………..………..page 3 New Caregiver Welcome ……………..……………..……. page 6 Caregiver of the Month…………………. ……………….….page 2 Caregiver Promotions/ Staffing Star………………….…page 5 WIK goals- Work Ethic….....……………………………....…page 2
Upcoming Meetings/ Trainings
Brush up on your Alzhiemers skills:
This workshop is one afternoon of information on
dementia care. It is an entry level education for
those Caregivers who have a basic knowledge of
the disease, but desire a better overall
understanding. Learn how to enhance your level of
care providing.
Contact our Caregiver Development Coordinator,
Davita Silverstein to reserve your spot at the
workshop.
Date: Wednesday, June 26th
Time: 1:30pm – 4:30pm
You will be paid for the training time.
Coming soon - Angel Exchanges:
This is a brand new format for our education and
training options. We will offer a “round table”
option for a small group of Caregivers who want a
place and time to visit with each other on pertinent
topics that are self – directed. Sometimes the
most valuable information you can receive is from
other Caregivers who share their own
recommendations, experience and advice.
Times for the Angel Exchanges will be announced.
The first topic will be on Combating Caregiver
Fatigue. We can all use tips on how to handle
stress and exhaustion. Life is busy!
Don’t forget our Professional
Caregiver Dress Code!
Don’t forget, you can earn
$200 in bonus cash for referring a
successful Caregiver to Visiting
Angels. It will be the easiest money
you’ve ever made. Call Jen Allen,
our Human Resource Manager, for
all of the details!
With the arrival of summer feel free to wear lighter weight
tops and bottoms in lighter shades of blues, teals, and grays!
Remember whom it is you serve. The older generation did
NOT grow up with piercing and it still has the potential for
making the elderly uncomfortable. It wasn’t a social “norm”
even two decades ago. So, be respectful and professional
and remove your piercings. The exceptions: small earrings
(not dangling earrings for safety reasons) and very small
nose studs. All other facial rings should be removed
including any size facial hoops or rings.
Independence Day is coming soon! Celebrate freedom! Feel free to wear your patriotic scrubs
the last week of June and the first week of July.
Caregiver of
the Month!
Jane Morris
Jane is wonderful! One of her clients,
we will call her Mrs. Smith for HIPAA
reasons, has reported to us that Jane
is an excellent caregiver and very
dependable. She also said Jane has
the ability to anticipate her needs
which makes Mrs. Smith’s quality of
life much better! She LOVES Jane!
Thank you, Jane, for being so good at
taking care of your clients. We
certainly benefit from an outstanding
reputation in our communities when
we have Caregivers who always strive
to give their very best. Jane YOU ARE
APPRECIATED! Congratulations on
being the Caregiver of the Month!
W. I. K.
W-Work Ethic, I- Integrity, K– Kindness
We will highlight one of these core values in each monthly newsletter. This month is Kindness. Each of our CORE VALUES is important. In our industry we have many opportunities to express kindness through being sympathetic to others. Many of our clients and their families experience grief during the time that we provide care to them.
Kind, genuine and compassionate words can bring comfort to those who are grieving.
It can be a note or memory left in the online obituary guestbook, a text or email, a
card in the mail, a phone call or a face-to-face interaction. Keep in mind that many
times people grieving feel very alone. Reaching out with words reminds them they are
not isolated, alone or forgotten. Many read and reread the online comments or
sympathy cards, sometimes for years to come. As you express your sympathy
through words, gestures of condolences, or actions, keep a couple of small tips in
mind. Don’t compare grief (“I know how you feel…”). Each relationship, each person
is unique. Allow them their own grief and give them compassionate support. Don’t use
trite answers, don’t minimize their pain and don’t trivialize the experience or tell them
to move on (“you can remarry,” “you have other children” or “it was just their time”).
Instead, you could say, “I hate that you’re going through this difficult time,” or “This
must be really hard for you.”
Share a memory Share a sweet memory of the person who has passed away. Don’t be afraid to talk about them or say their name. You won’t remind your friend of their loss by talking about their loved one. Many are anxious to talk or hear about their loved one, but are afraid it may be awkward or uncomfortable for others. Hearing new stories, talking about old times or recalling their laugh or quirks may bring tremendous comfort to those mourning.
Provide a listening ear
Showing sympathy can go the other way as well. Listen. If they want to talk about their loved one, allow them. If they are sad, cry with them. If they are happy, laugh with them...it’s okay! If they are angry, let them express their feelings. You don’t need to have all the answers, sometimes a listening ear is what they need most that day. Just be real and allow them to be real with you. Be kind.
Show sympathy through actions
As you watch those around you grieve, and as you yourself mourn a loss, you may feel helpless and unable to take away the pain or bring comfort. This feeling often compels people to express sympathy by doing something practical to help, and chances are, these acts of kindness will be welcomed.
If you want to help through action, be specific in your offers. “Let me know if/or what I can do to help” is a sweet sentiment, but many times those who have just lost a loved one feel as though they are drowning in all that needs doing or may not even know where to begin. Offering specific tasks may just be the lifeline they need.
It’s tough to know what to say or what to do, but no matter how you express your sympathy, be sincere, be kind, listen and stay in contact. Be a caring presence in their life to offer encouragement and a shoulder to cry on, and let them know they are not alone.
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/support-friends-and-family/ways-to-show-sympathy
Please wish a very
Happy Birthday to
these Angels in
June
Maria Schmitz 6-1 Sarah Malcom 6-2
Jamie Legg 6-4 Annette Roberson 6-7
Birthday wishes to the lovely ladies of
Visiting Angels!
We are serious about your safety!
When you clock in for your shift please listen to the safety tidbits and facts. Safety should be in the forefront of
your mind every single visit. Keep your client safe and keep yourself safe, by knowing and understanding our
policies. If you have questions or concerns, please call your Case Manager right away.
Be sure you wear non slip,
closed-toe shoes to prevent
injury to yourself!
Get to know the office staff personnel:
Sandy Lewis will be here two years on her
next anniversary. Sandy works hard every
afternoon to make sure our staffing needs
are met. She is very organized and definitely
enjoys the analytical part of her job. Her
management background has suited her well
as a Staffing Coordinator. Sandy is spending
her free time on projects at her new home.
She lives with her significant other, Jeff and
their two fun-loving, four-legged babies.
Roxie is an old English Bulldog and her
super-sweet Boston Terrier is Archie (he
joined us at the Alzheimer’s walk last year).
Sandy has an accomplished son and soon to
be daughter-in-law. She makes a mean
grasshopper pie, has really cool shoes and
always decorates her desk for the season
with fun little items. We couldn’t ask for a
more dependable employee and an all-
around stand-up person to be part of our
team!
Check us out on Face Book and become a fan!
Medication Errors
One of the most important things we do is help our clients
remember to take their medication. This needs to be made a
priority on EVERY single shift. You should know whether or
not a reminder is scheduled. Being too rushed or too busy
isn’t an excuse to miss a reminder. Being on a “fill-in” case or
a new case is not an excuse. You should READ the Care plan
every time you start a shift. If you have questions… you are
expected to call the office for clarification. Medication errors
will result in required re-training and possible disciplinary
actions. These are incidents that must be reported to the
state health department and quite simply are unacceptable for
an agency that desires to give high quality service.
Great News!
Present your Visiting Angel’s badge at the SCRUB HOUSE and
receive 15% off of your purchase. The SCRUB HOUSE is
located at 1739 Rocky Mountain Ave., Loveland, CO 80538
(Right by Target in the Centerra shopping center).
Call with questions: 970-663-6111
The Staffing Coordinator’s
Staffing Star Sandy, Pat and Deb are our beloved Staffing
Coordinators. They’ve decided the most recent
“Star” is Elisabeth Inman . Elisabeth is easy to
place. She is adored by the clients who have the
privilege of meeting her. Additionally, she
always tried to help out! The Coordinators can
count on her to be where she is supposed to be
and do what she is supposed to do. Her
responsible nature is a blessing to us! She is our
“star” performer for the month!
Thank you, Elisabeth, for being so dependable!
Professional Caregiver Program
Promotions
Part of the Professional Caregiver Program is the ability of our
Caregivers to move up through the Caregiving “ranks”. With
each rank, there are additional privileges and increased wages.
Within the last few weeks some of our Caregivers were promoted
to new ranks!
Congratulations to our newest Caregiver III:
Darcie Nunez- Nunez Mayra Santana
Requirements for CG III include: employed at least 1 year,
completed Mentorship, eligible for Bonus Program and Angel
Academy Education. Eligible for PTO and 401K Matching Benefits
(must be over 21 years and a minimum of 1000 hours worked),
must demonstrate: Dependability - Availability - Flexibility
Angel Anniversaries!
Sandi Felix – 5 yrs Mary Jo Coffee – 5yrs Tamera Blei – 3 yrs
True Caregivers! That is the best description of these ladies. They
are caring, compassionate people who love to take care of others
and do so with great professionalism and humility. We are so
blessed to have them as “Angels”. Congratulations to all three of
you for years of service. You are beautiful inside and out!
Please welcome our new hires!
Welcome Cher Heimbegner Welcome back Ashley Card- rehire Welcome Jamie Legg
We are excited to introduce three amazing women to you and welcome them to Visiting Angels! We
look for Caregivers with integrity. Those who display a steadfast work ethic and have a kind heart are
the “Angels” who are bound for success. We already know Miss Ashley and we are so pleased she has
returned. Cher and Jamie are off to a great start as well. We look forward to working with all of you!
Thank you for choosing to become an “Angel”.
Angel Commandments
Thou shall notify office of any and all gift exchanges
Our policy on gifts is that we don’t allow them-- unless we can document the gift exchange and confirm the appropriateness of the gift with the client and their family members. Please understand this is for your protection and the protection of the agency. We discourage our clients from gifting; however, we do understand that they often times have a strong desire to bless their Caregivers. It is vitally important that we document these situations and we know everyone involved is on the same page. We never want to take advantage of a client’s kindness and generosity. We don’t even want the appearance of impropriety. So, if a client wants to give you a gift, notify your Case Manager right away! Integrity is one of our core values and it is the perfect opportunity to put your integrity on display by following this commandment!
Easy Way to support our Local Alzheimer’s Associations
This year Visiting Angels is taking our level of support to even greater
heights!!! We are hosting a HUGE “Visiting Angels’ yard sale for those of
you who want to show your support by shopping! We want your help and
you can purchase some really cool “stuff.”
Details:
Where: 2607 W 15th Street, Greeley, CO 80634 Date: Friday, June 7th and Saturday, June 8th Time: Starting at 7 a.m.- ends early afternoon (if it is busy we will be open)
All of the proceeds will be split between the WELD County and the
LARIMER County Visiting Angels’ teams to support the Alzheimer’s
Association—that’s right—100%! Mark your calendars! Bring your
friends!