Forum Activity for @lisa-lontz

Let's Talk: What are some Unique Solutions to Help Mitigate the Caregiver Crisis?

Hot Topics and Challenges for Self-Determination

I completely understand that, too.  You have a budget to work within, and it makes it hard to go for a service that tends to be expensive.  Not all Support Brokers are created equally, too, so researching ahead of time to see who would actually be working with you is always a good idea.  I've explored some things like care.com but their ratings were not great, so I haven't used them.  We always try to mindful of the time spent and the hours that are authorized.  I don't know how other agencies handle that, but I would assume it is similar.  Sometimes it can be helpful for finding those workers who want to work for multiple people, since we often have a case load of individuals looking for assistance and can put together schedules.  I'm always honest with people though.  This has always been a difficult market, and since the pandemic it has only gotten worse.  It makes me feel bad enough when I am not able to help someone, so I'm not one to offer false promises.  I have also gotten creative with people who aren't able to find enough work through SDS workers or agencies and have decided to do a blended situation using both.  SHC agencies are all having the same difficulties as everyone else finding workers, so sometimes that can be a solution.  Maybe that could be something for you to explore, if you could hire SDS staff for medication management and an agency for some of your other shifts? Best of luck to you, in any case!

Let's Talk: What are some Unique Solutions to Help Mitigate the Caregiver Crisis?

Hot Topics and Challenges for Self-Determination

As a Support Broker I do work with numerous individuals trying to help find workers, and can try to assist with setting up scheduling that will work for multiple people, that way the workers can do more than a short shift here and there, but these other issues often do create problems for keeping people.  It becomes easier for the workers to go work for a supportive home care agency where the travel between homes is covered and they have access to benefits.  May of those workers would prefer to work directly for the individuals, but those benefits can really impact them.  In terms of the CNA certifications, workers often end up retaining jobs within nursing homes and such in order to maintain certification on top of working for individuals, limiting their availability even further.  It hurts my heart trying to help people and not being able to find workers.  The system really needs some changes that go beyond wage increases (although that is always a concern, too).  I was a little disappointment in the governor's taskforce, because I didn't feel there was enough representation of individuals self-directing.  Having a choice in who works for you, deciding your own schedules, and being able to stay independent and comfortable in your own home for as long as you are able can be huge factors in maintaining health and happiness.  I also feel the Electronic Visit Verification roll out has neglected those individuals significantly.  Everything has been geared toward the agencies, and I fear that when the hard launch rolls out many people self-directing will lose workers who are already in short supply.  It isn't a solution by any means, but if you are self-directing and in need of some assistance, you might want to look into Support Brokers, obviously it takes another chunk out of your budget, and I'll be the first to tell you we struggle too in the current market, so there are no guarantees on finding workers, but having an ally can at least give you some extra support. It seems to be a newer service available for most areas of the state, but there are a few agencies out there offering the service.

Let's Talk: What are some Unique Solutions to Help Mitigate the Caregiver Crisis?

Hot Topics and Challenges for Self-Determination

Hi, I'm a Support Broker and I help people who are self-directing their own workers and I have several things that I run into frequently that are roadblocks for finding workers.  Here are a few thoughts...

First, some kind of overarching umbrella through the state that allows for people to continue to self-direct their workers, but provides some benefits for the workers to make the positions more career oriented.  Such as:

1. Healthcare Benefits for individuals who work full time positions, even when working with numerous individuals (this would need to be worked out at a higher level, because each individual self-directing is a separate job, therefore the hours worked rarely are full time).

2. Time Off being available for those workers.  In order to make this possible, some type of float workers would need to be made available that can step in to cover for those individuals.  This is a challenge for each individual to do when hiring their own staff through self-direction.

3. CNA Oversignt so those who have a CNA can maintain what is required in order to keep updated to maintain their certification.

4. Scheduling Assistance- most of the individuals self-directing have very short shifts that make it challenging to attract the majority of workers.  Some kind of oversight that could group individuals and their needs to make a schedule that would be attractive to workers other than individuals who are solely looking for very part time work.

5. Mileage reimbursement for those who are willing to work for multiple people and work out a full schedule.  Currently, because working for each individual is a separate job the travel between individuals is all unpaid time, and the gas is not reimbursable.  Looking at some kind of solution for this would make it more appealing for those individuals to take on a position that includes working with multiple individuals.

Again, I do not want to lose the self-directed core of this, because I feel it is absolutely critical for these individuals to have that control over who they hire, and makes for better outcomes, but the state could look at something that would provide more incentives for individuals to look into this as an actual career it would make these positions more appealing to a much wider, and more qualified group of workers.

Thanks!