The Beginning of the Career
By Chris Christel
Alameda County Newsletter
July/August 2001 issue of "Senior Update"
Back in 1984, while training at JFK University to become a psychotherapist, I lived with a sprightly 93 year-old senior in Berkeley. My landlady was an inspiring, totally independent woman; but soon she took a fall and broke her hip-A common senior injury. After she was discharged from the hospital, she could no longer function independently. Getting in-home help was discussed because going to a nursing home was strictly a last resort. Her daughter felt she was still alert and would have much better quality of life at home. It was my job to find a caregiver for her. I put an ad in the local newspaper and was flooded with calls. After screening about 50 people, we hired a live-in that worked out very well. My landlady lived another five years, finally dying at home on the eve of for 99th birthday, surrounded by family and friends.
This was beginning of Christels Home Care Agency. I met many wonderful people in the course of screening for my landlady, and many loyal caregivers are still in the agency pool 15 years later! As a geriatric social worker, I feel strongly about handling the process of matching seniors and caregivers personally, so that I know who I am matching each care recipient to. There is also a chance for the family to interview the caregivers, and picking the one they feel is most compatible. I try and send two or three caregivers so they feel they have a choice and are not "stuck" with someone they don't like or trust. We also provide relief help and on-going care management for as long as the caregiver remains in the home.
So, thanks to my dear landlady. I hope she realized the significant role she played in changing the direction of my career path and all the seniors she has indirectly helped as a result of a positive response to her misfortune. I have never regretted my choice to help seniors " age in place".
July/August 2001 issue of "Senior Update"
Back in 1984, while training at JFK University to become a psychotherapist, I lived with a sprightly 93 year-old senior in Berkeley. My landlady was an inspiring, totally independent woman; but soon she took a fall and broke her hip-A common senior injury. After she was discharged from the hospital, she could no longer function independently. Getting in-home help was discussed because going to a nursing home was strictly a last resort. Her daughter felt she was still alert and would have much better quality of life at home. It was my job to find a caregiver for her. I put an ad in the local newspaper and was flooded with calls. After screening about 50 people, we hired a live-in that worked out very well. My landlady lived another five years, finally dying at home on the eve of for 99th birthday, surrounded by family and friends.
This was beginning of Christels Home Care Agency. I met many wonderful people in the course of screening for my landlady, and many loyal caregivers are still in the agency pool 15 years later! As a geriatric social worker, I feel strongly about handling the process of matching seniors and caregivers personally, so that I know who I am matching each care recipient to. There is also a chance for the family to interview the caregivers, and picking the one they feel is most compatible. I try and send two or three caregivers so they feel they have a choice and are not "stuck" with someone they don't like or trust. We also provide relief help and on-going care management for as long as the caregiver remains in the home.
So, thanks to my dear landlady. I hope she realized the significant role she played in changing the direction of my career path and all the seniors she has indirectly helped as a result of a positive response to her misfortune. I have never regretted my choice to help seniors " age in place".
