Seniors Taking Care of Seniors Program Takes off
The shortage of health care para-professionals is openeing doors for seniors to learn a skill to take care of their own; caring for other seniors just like them who need love and compassion provided by a caring hand.
Inglewood, CA (PRWEB) April 27, 2005
De Gruy & Associates, a minority woman owned consulting business based in Inglewood specializing in geriatric education, care management and other services, today announced a new training program to equip seniors with critically needed home caregiving skills.
Dr. Sheila De Gruy, President of De Gruy & Associates stated “that the numbers of seniors that have reached the age of 65 years and older has more than doubled since the early 50’s and is equal to 35 million people. Because of the serious need for additional caregivers to care for loved ones and other community seniors the Seniors Taking Care of Seniors program was launched.”
Dr. De Gruy has long recognized the many important contributions that seniors have given and can continue to give to our local communities. Although the program will be a non-state certified program, it is being offered to seniors who want to learn the basic care-giving skills that can give them added income and self-gratification.
Some of the areas that will be covered through the training are: Toileting, personal hygiene, diet and nutrition, symptom and medication monitoring, bed making, incontinence, immobility, transfers, fall prevention, assessing vitals and more.
“I understand the frailties and the physical limitations that seniors have but I believe they have a lot of life left and much to give. The key to the care is for each senior to acknowledge their limitations and only take on a patient that they can physically handle.”
“Seniors know people in their families, neighborhoods and churches that need these services, now they’ll be able to give help and remain active as it is meant to be, “said Dr. De Gruy.
Although this is a new program there has been numerous inquires and community interest. The training program is opened to seniors who have a desire to learn these skills and to serve those in need. Most families canÂ’t afford the services through an agency that generally charges anywhere between $15-$20 per hour for this type of assistance. Seniors will be able to offer their services to their friends, family members, neighbors and churches for a negotiated fee between them and the patient which will benefit them both and be affordable.
We are in a unique position to change some of the misconceptions society has in relation to the “uselessness” of our seniors. The need they will fill is priceless. Families will be able to get some respite at a price they can afford. Bonds will be formed between senior and senior and because of the help being offered, the growing number of elder abuse cases will decrease. Elder abuse is a product of frustration and frustration comes from feeling you don’t know what to do. If you give people a viable solution to a problem society benefits. It’s a win-win situation.
The cost for the training is less than $75.00 for 16 hours of training and will cover the training, handouts, certificate of completion, testing and any text book to be used. Those wishing to continue and take a state certified course will be given a referral to local schools.
For additional information, please call De Gruy & Associates at (310) 671-1816.
De Gruy & Associates was founded in 2004 by Dr. Sheila A. De Gruy, who has over twenty five years in health care management as administrator for some of the communityÂ’s well known home care agencies.
For More Information, Contact:
Dr. Sheila A. De Gruy or
Jocelyn Coatney at
De Gruy & Associates
(310) 671-1816
Degruyassociates
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