When you first glance at AB889  it seems like something you would want to support.  Positioned as a 'domestic workers bill of rights', it promises to provide basic workplace rights to in-home workers.  But you cannot protect workers who are hired directly by individuals, frequently underpaid, and often paid under the table.  AB889 will take the in home care industry underground, rendering domestic workers invisible, thereby more vulnerable to abuse.

If you look a little deeper, you see that AB889 makes two classes of already vulnerable citizens--seniors and domestic workers--more vulnerable to physical, financial, and emotional abuse.  The most recent changes to the legislation exempts everyone except the home care agencies.  Yet it is the home care agencies that keep seniors and caregivers the safest and most secure.  In fact, we hire caregivers out of abusive or potentially abusive situations.

AB889 is Bad for Seniors
Dedicated home care agencies protect seniors by pre-screening candidates, conducting background checks and medical screening, and taking on the employer liability.  And with day-to-day management, seniors are given better care, and have more flexibility in making sure that the caregiver that they are working with is the best person to care for them.

AB889 would force us to provide multiple caregivers per live-in client, making staying at home too cost prohibitive.  Far fewer seniors will be able to remain in their own home as they require care.  Also, imagine an older person living with Alzheimers having to have multiple shift changes every day.  That would make an already confusing situation more overwhelming.  

AB889 is Bad for Domestic Workers
Home care agencies pay a fair, dependable wage, cover workers compensation, provide training, and create a safe working environment for domestic workers.  If a caregiver is not being treated well, it is the home care agency that takes care of them.  If this bill passes, the home care industry will go underground, and domestic workers will provide care directly with no protection, no oversight, no one checking in to see how they are fairing.  Instead of preventing abuse, this creates a situation that is ripe for abuse.  

Please join us in opposing AB889.  Let your State Senators know that you want to keep seniors and domestic workers safe, secure, and well cared for.

Last month, the Alzheimer's Association of Northern California held it's 14th Annual Update on Dementia Conference in Foster City.  The theme of the program was Putting Research into Practice.  Since 5.2 million Americans now suffer from this horrible disease, there are many researchers working hard to find solutions to address Alzheimer’s.  While progress can never be quick enough for those afflicted, important discoveries have been made that will help diagnose and treat Alzheimer’s in the near future. 

Some interesting research is focused on early detection of Alzheimer’s disease potential in the brain.  Using  PET Scans, researchers can identify if there is Beta-Amyloid present in the brain, a known component of the plaque found in brains of Alzheimer’s patients. These scans can identify people who could potentially develop Alzheimer’s,  but currently do not exhibit any symptoms.  Once identified, treatments are being tested to try and slow the progression of the disease.  Bending the curve of onset by 3-5 years would have a significant impact on the medical costs of the disease as well as the quality of life for those afflicted.

At Caring Hands Caregivers, we have several clients who live with this disease, and have developed an expertise in caring for Alzheimer's patients.  If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and need care for a loved one with Alzheimer's, you can email me at scott@chcgivers.com.  

Yesterday, the Alzheimer's Association of Northern California held it's 14th Annual Update on Dementia Conference in Foster City.  The theme of the program was Putting Research into Practice and the speaker line-up was terrific!  Some take away's for me were:

We are learning more about how to work with the difficult behaviors associated with dementia.  Dr. G. Allen Power talked about his unique way of working with people who have dementia by really trying to figure out why are they doing what they are doing.  By changing the way we describe behaviors it forces us to take on a different paradigm.  Wanderers are really seekers with a purpose.  Our goal is find that purpose and address the underlying reasons.  Dr. Powers just came out with a new book called "Dementia Beyond Drugs".  I have just ordered it and will have my staff read it as well.  

1. There is progress in research on both the early identification helping develop treatments that slow the progress of the disease and in drugs that hold promise in treating Alzheimer's.
2. One of the best ways to minimize your risk of developing Alzheimer's is exercise 30 minutes a day!  Brain, heart, energy, mood,.........30 minutes can mean so much to your long-term health happiness!
   
3. Doctors who are involved in research are in need of patients for their clinical studies.  You can find information on how to participate in a research project on the Alzeimer's Foundation website.  Both Dr. Frank Longo at Stanford University's Memory Clinic and Dr. Michael Weiner of the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative are looking for people to help them make progress in the fight against this disease.  I am going to talk with Dr. Longo's staff about how I might be able to participate.

At Caring Hands Caregivers, we aim to preserve our clients' dignity through quality in-home care.  When we're better able to walk in their shoes, that makes us even better equipped to take good care of them.   If you or a loved one in the Bay Area need a caregiver, call us at 650.943.2313 to schedule a free care options review.