Posts by Cheryl Hammons CFE, CSA
The Legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers
Buffalo Soldiers An 1866 Act of Congress created six peacetime regiments of exclusively black soldiers. Later, these regiments were melded into two Infantry, and two Cavalry informally called the Buffalo Soldiers. The units represented the first black professional soldiers in a peacetime army. The recruits came from varied backgrounds, including former slaves and Civil War…
Read More10 Things You Should Know About Pension with Aid & Attendance
10 Things You Should Know About Pension with Aid & Attendance Applying for The Pension with Aid and Attendance benefit can be cumbersome and time-consuming. In addition, it can be confusing as it involves many rules and detailed criteria. Home care agencies may avoid promoting this benefit simply because they do not understand it.…
Read MoreBlack History Month: The Pursuit for Independence
As early as the 1940s, some communities celebrated Negro History week (later known as Black History Month) in February, recognizing Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglass’ birthdays and their contributions to African American liberation. President Gerald Ford recognized Black History Month in 1976, during the celebration of the United States Bicentennial. He urged Americans to “seize…
Read MoreMaking the Most of Your Agency Goals in 2022
2021 is almost in the rearview mirror. This is when agencies start wrapping up 2021 and look to what they want to accomplish in 2022. This year presented many more challenges than anyone would have guessed, from a continued pandemic to a worsened caregiver shortage to a significant rise in the cost of doing business.…
Read MoreWhat Does Veterans Day Mean to a Veteran?
In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower officially changed the holiday known as Armistice Day to Veterans Day. It is a day set aside to remember and honor the service and sacrifices of Veterans who serve and have served in all branches of the military. For many of us, we thank those who served and…
Read MoreThe Importance of Emotional Health in Senior Adults
Since 2004, National Emotional Wellness has been observed in October. The focus is to provide information and resources to help people improve emotional wellness. What is emotional wellness? According to the National Center for Emotional Wellness, the term refers to an awareness, understanding, and acceptance of your emotions and your ability to manage effectively through…
Read MoreWhat is the Choose Home Care Act 2021?
The Choose Home Care Act was introduced July 29th by Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan) and Todd Young (R-Indiana); with Sens. Ben Cardin (D-Maryland), Bob Casey (D-Pennsylvania), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire), and James Lankford (R-Ohio) signing on as co-sponsors. This bipartisan bill would expand eligible Medicare patient benefits by adding services at home…
Read MoreHelping Families Recognize the Need for Home Care
Syndicated columnist Hy Gardner once said, “You know you’re getting old when everything hurts. And what doesn’t hurt doesn’t work”. Although funny, it is also true. As we age, we experience changes, our heart works harder, our skin gets thin and feels dryer, harder to see and hear, and bones become more brittle. It’s a…
Read MoreA Call to Action for Those Who Need Us Most
According to the National Association of Home Care and Hospice, there has been a 125% increase in demand for caregivers. The lack of caregivers has reached a critical point. Because of the demand, wages have soared. In addition, on January 1st of this year, the minimum wage went up in 20 states. Five other…
Read MoreProfessional Boundaries for Caregivers
A caregiver is a key position in home care, and an agency couldn’t exist without them. To the client, the caregiver is the face of that agency. The caregiver’s relationship with the client and their family is critical to the home care success. In the same way, it can also be a detriment if the…
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