Guitar Auction
Our first autographed guitar auction brought in $400.00 giving us a profit of $256.90! The guitar, autographed by Bret Michaels (lead singer of Poison) on May 3rd during his visit to Goodfellas, was posted on Ebay for 10 days. The winner was a Pottsville resident who purchased the guitar as a gift. The SCDCWA is planning several more guitar auctions with another guitar signed by Bret Michaels, one signed by the band Cinderella and others. Notice of the Ebay auctions will be sent via email to everyone on our mailing list so sign up now so you won’t miss the opportunity to bid. Watch our newsletters, blog and Ebay also to find out when these auctions will take place.
Defining Excellence Conference
Thank you to everyone who participated in and attended our May 1st Defining Excellence Conference at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center’s Wall Auditorium. The event was a great success with many educational opportunities for our DCWs. By all accounts everyone enjoyed the day and took home a wealth of knowledge that they can share in their everyday work with consumers. This is a start to bringing quality and professionalism to our field of work. Thank you to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center for use of the Auditorium and for the breakfast and lunch provided. Thank you to our presenters: Julie Sophy RN, Covenant Hospice; Lloyd Wertz, Good Sam Behavioral Health; Lori Stbeinart RN, Pottsville Hospital Cardiac Unit; Kathy Couch, AHEDD; Kim Noel, Senior Spectrum Consultants; Phoenix Rehab, Frackville; Janet Hooper; Nancy Pauzer; Tracy Lawless; Simone Baer and Roy Gedat for their presentations, Wasserot’s (medical equip) for their display and to Estelle Richmond, Secretary for the PA Department of Welfare for being our keynote speaker. Thank you to Aaron North, Addus Healthcare and Lori’s Angels for selling Joe Corbi Pizza to help pay for the event as well! Anyone interested in helping to plan and organize next year’s conference, please contact Lori Michael at Lori’s Angels 1-877-264-3505 or email scdirectcareworkers@yahoo.com
Upcoming SCDCWA Plans
The Schuylkill County Direct Care Workers Association would like to do a recruitment fair in the fall. All employers of direct care workers—in health care or human services, are invited to participate. Our vision is to provide employment opportunities as well as community support options for those interested in pursuing employment. Anyone interested in participating in this event or in helping to plan this event is encouraged to contact Lori. We are planning workshops on childcare programs, car care, job readiness skills and budgeting as well as some basic direct care worker skills with workshops such as standard precautions, and confidentiality. Anyone willing to volunteer their time to be a presenter is welcome. Please email Lori at scdirectcareworkers@yahoo.com or call 1-877-264-3505.
Higher Gas Prices Cause Hardship
In 2003, gas was selling for $1.35 per gallon. Today it is averaging $4 per gallon with predictions of $7 per gallon by the end of summer. The high cost of getting to work is only the tip of the ice burg in this oil crisis. While it is becoming more burdensome to get to work each day, the cost of every day basic needs is also increasing. The price of food, utilities, and clothing— just about every material thing is tied to the cost of oil! The cost of services however is not. The cost of services has not increase sufficiently to allow for adequate raises to workers to offset the increase cost of living. Conservation—where ever possible, is necessary to survive in our new economy.
Here are some tips to help make your dollars stretch:
Turn off the lights. If you don’t need the light on, keep it off. Even the Queen of England is doing this!
Turn down the heat and up the A/C. Two degrees cooler in winter or warmer in summer results in significant cost savings
Replace burnt out light bulbs with energy efficient ones (they cost more initially but last longer).
Tune up your vehicle. A well maintained vehicle uses less gas.
Buy your gas 3 days before a holiday—before the price increases.
Buy heating oil in the summer when demand is down and so are the prices. Lock in if you can.
Plan your trips to save gas and your time. Shop for everything at once and don’t go to the store every day.
Shop when you are in the area. If you leave work and pass the grocery store, stop then. Don’t go home then drive back to the store.
Shop at farmers markets whenever possible. The prices are better and the food usually fresher.
Shop the perimeter of the grocery store for most of your grocery needs. Stay away from high priced (and usually calorie and salt laden) processed food products that you don’t really need anyway that cost a lot.
Limit fast food purchases. A cup of coffee is much cheaper to brew at home than to stop at a drive through. Pack your lunch. It is healthier and saves you money.
Car pool whenever possible.
Keep track of your spending and look at cutting unnecessary or impulse purchases.
Discontinue premium TV channels that you don’t watch; cut telephone options that you don’t have to have such as call waiting or caller ID. Consider dropping your landline if you only use your cell. Contact Verizon for help with your basic phone bill. They have a program that assists low income individuals with basic telephone services.
Instead of going to the mall or WalMart for something to do, consider a walk or bike ride. It saves you money and is good for your health.
Don’t let the TV tell you or your children what you “must have”. Make smart choices with your spending so that you will have the money you need for what you really want.
Just a thought but most “millionaires” in this country started out as ordinary working people making the same choices suggested above to save money that enabled them to become millionaires!
Advocacy Corner
A lot has been going on in Harrisburg lately. Congress has been working on a budget and everyone is asking for a piece of the pie. One of the issues with a significant impact on Direct Care Workers is Senate Bill 1137. This bill will provide low cost health insurance to approximately 350,000 uninsured Pennsylvanians. While it does not mandate employer or employee participation, it is a great start. Workers in PA that do not have health insurance will be able to purchase the State’s plan. Premiums are based on income and would range from $35 per month to a maximum of $150.00. We urge all Direct Care Workers to contact their legislative representatives to encourage them to address the issue of lack of affordable health insurance and get this bill passed!
Nine common myths about the uninsured.
Myth #1: If you don’t have insurance, you can always just go to the emergency room.
Here are the facts:
· Hospitals in Pennsylvania are not required to treat someone without health insurance. Hospitals in Pennsylvania can and do turn away people who are uninsured.
· The law only requires a hospital to “stabilize” a person who is having an emergency.
· People with chronic disease or disability can be denied care if they are not in an acute or life-threatening situation.
Myth #2: Anyone who is poor can access health care through Medical Assistance.
Here are the facts:
· Many low-income Pennsylvanians do not qualify for Medical Assistance (MA).
· MA primarily helps very low-income children and their custodial parents, pregnant women, and elderly, blind or disabled adults with incomes of less than $867 per month.
Myth #3: Only the unemployed and part-time employed are uninsured.
Here are the facts:
· 70 percent of the uninsured in Pennsylvania are employed, 44 percent full-time.
Myth #4: The disabled can get health insurance through the federal government.
Here are the facts:
· Many people with disabilities do not qualify for government programs.
· People who do qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) must wait two years before they can receive Medicare coverage.
· If their incomes are very low ($867 per month in 2008), they might be eligible for MA. But having an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) with more than $2,000 is disqualifying.
Myth #5: College students and young adults can get insurance through their parents.
Here are the facts:
· Coverage for children is completely dependent on the health insurance policy the parent has purchased.
· Some policies have a strict age limit (e.g., age 21) and most policies require that young adults over age 18 be in school full-time to be covered.
Myth #6: Everyone on Social Security retirement is eligible for Medicare.
Here are the facts:
· While seniors can begin to receive Social Security retirement benefits at age 62, they are not eligible for Medicare until age 65.
Myth #7: People who lose their jobs can keep health insurance for at least 18 months through COBRA.
Here are the facts:
· COBRA only applies if a person was working for an employer with at least 20 employees.
· Even if COBRA rights are available, many people can not afford to buy health coverage through COBRA, which costs on average $600 a month, plus a 2 percent service fee.
Myth #8: I have health insurance and so the problems of the uninsured do not affect me.
Here are the facts:
· 6.5 percent of premium costs paid by the insured subsidize health care for the uninsured.
· Those of us who have health insurance through work are just one major illness or accident away from being uninsured. If we were unable to work, we would face either the high cost of COBRA coverage or the challenge of finding an alternative that did not exclude pre-existing medical conditions.
Myth #9: Physician volunteers can adequately address the needs of the uninsured.
Here are the facts:
· The proportion of physicians providing charity care declined across all major specialty groups between 1996 and 2005, according to the Center for Studying Health System Change.
· As the number uninsured has grown, the number of charity hours per 100 uninsured people declined 18 percent, from 7.7 hours in 1996-97 to 6.3 hours in 2004-05.
Health insurance opens the door to preventive services, cost-effective medical care, and a more productive and loyal work force. Please support SB 1137 and Pennsylvania Access to Basic Care today! Thank you. Berry Friesen, Public Affairs Manager, www.pahealthaccess.org
DCW Training Proposal
The Schuylkill County Direct Care Workers Association had the opportunity to comment on a proposed training program for Direct Care Workers. This training program included a requirement for initial basic training for all direct care workers (even those hired privately by consumers), a second tier of training for those wishing to work in nursing homes and an advanced certification for DCWs who take apprentice training programs in specialty areas. While the SCDCWA is very supportive of any training initiatives, concerns regarding the implementation and funding of the training programs as well as reimbursement for “licensed” workers who complete training and apprenticeship programs were relayed to officials for consideration in any legislative effort to mandate training. Also of concern was the shortage of workers coming into the field today that may be hindered by this new training initiative. Comments were collected from various workers and providers in the county and compiled into one letter sent on behalf of the Association. Thank you to everyone who took the time to look over the proposal and submit comments to be included. The complete draft of the training proposal can be viewed at the following web site:
http://www.pahomecare.org/directcarerecommendations.pdf
Other State Legislation proposals:
HB 2257: The bill requires that the Dept of Health promulgate regulations for small residential hospices with 22 or fewer beds and ensures that children’s rooms in the hospice facility be secured from those areas that provide services to anyone 19 and older.
HB 2400: The Employee Misclassification Prevention Act seeks to ensure that individuals that receive wages for services performed would be classified as employees, not independent contractors. The legislation cites that the practice of improperly classifying employees as contractors “puts businesses that comply with the law at a competitive disadvantage”. The PA Homecare Association is closely examining the impact this legislation may have on homecare registries and fiscal intermediaries.
Federal Legislation proposals:
HR 5613: This legislation places a temporary one year moratorium on seven Medicaid regulations proposed by the Bush administration that would make significant cuts to the state Medicaid programs, including placing caps on federal matches of state Medicaid dollars. Though the seven Medicaid regulations do not directly impact homecare, any cuts to Medicaid would likely have an impact effect throughout the state Medicaid program and impede efforts to increase access to home and community based care. A similar bill recently introduced in the Senate (S 2819) also places a one year moratorium on pending Medicaid regulations. Both House and Senate leaders believe they have enough votes to override a potential veto by President Bush.
S 2795: Attempts to make health insurance more affordable for small businesses and self-employed individuals by creating the Small Business Health Options Program (or SHOP). The bill would allow small business to band together in pools to purchase health insurance. Self insured individuals could also join the pools. Offer a range of private health plan options. Give small businesses and self employed individuals tax credits. Make it illegal to use health status and claims experience to set premium rates. Sponsors of the bill cited the shortage of direct care workers as one of the reasons for this legislation.
On the Lighter Side: FAMILY
Three sisters, ages 92, 94 and 96, live in a house together. One night the 96-year-old draws a bath. She puts her foot in and pauses. She yells to the other sisters, "Was I getting in or out of the bath?"
The 94-year-old yells back, "I don't know. I'll come up and see." She starts up the stairs and pauses "Was I going up the stairs or down?"
The 92-year-old is sitting at the kitchen table having tea listening to her sisters. She shakes her head and says, "I sure hope I never get that forgetful, knock on wood." She then yells, "I'll come up and help both of you as soon as I see who's at the door."
Training Opportunities!
Dementia Training
Professional dementia training is being offered by Good News Consulting, Inc. and sponsored by Spectrum Senior Consultants, Inc. and the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center Behavioral Health Unit. The training will take place at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center on August 27th. Cost $80.00. Please call Kim Noel of Spectrum Senior Consultants, Inc. at 570-668-0368 for more information or to register. www.spectrumseniorconsultants.com
Alzheimer’s Support Group
Please join Providence Place and Manor Care at their Alzheimer’s Support Group meetings. This group meets monthly alternating meeting locations each month. The next meeting is at Manor Care July 22nd, Providence Place August 19th, Manor Care Sept 23rd, Providence Place October 21st and Manor Care Nov 18th. No meeting in December. The October meeting features Dr. Chawluk who will be speaking about Alzheimer's/Parkinson's disease. All meetings start at 5pm. If you would like to join everyone for dinner, please pre-register for the program. Anyone interested is welcome to attend. Please contact Providence Place at 628-6950 or Manor Care at 622-9582 if you would like more information or to register for the meeting.
Free Publicity For Your Organization’s Community Education Programs
The SCDCWA is looking to advertise free training and education programs as well as support groups that would be of interest to direct care workers. Any agency or facility that offers educational programs is asked to contact Lori at scdirectcareworkers@yahoo.com to be included in the next quarterly edition of this newsletter! Networking to provide continuing education opportunities at convenient times for direct care workers is a step toward achieving a better qualified and professional workforce. Thank you
Letter from the editor
Direct Care Workers are the backbone of the healthcare industry. They are the ones providing the basic care needed by consumers to survive. They are the eyes and ears of the caseworkers, nurses, therapists and doctors that are also involved with a consumers care. Everyone from the President of the United States down to every last person in the health and human service industry understands the importance of and need for quality direct care professionals in the field. The Schuylkill County Direct Care Workers Association as well as the PA Direct Care Workers Association is trying to support direct care workers so that their needs are fulfilled and they can continue to provide care to our counties most fragile population—those with disabilities and chronic illnesses that depend on our care.
Both entities stay alert and active in legislative issues that will affect the ability of direct care workers to continue to work in the field and also to attract new workers. They work to provide a plethora of educational opportunities so that direct care workers can grow in their knowledge and skill thus providing even better care for their consumers. They are advocates of legislative issues to address the lack of affordable health insurance for workers. They are working to get increases in reimbursement so that wages can be increased.
Direct Care Workers, however, are at times their own worst enemy. While studies have shown that if a consumer has a good outcome they tell 1 or 2 other people ; when they have a bad outcome they tell 12 other people! The few among us that provide substandard care, don’t show up for work, quit with no notice, collect unemployment or comp when they could be working, make it difficult for all of the good workers to gain the respect of the public at large for the work that we do and also negatively impact wages and benefits to those working. While agencies and facilities are trying to combat this “negative” image of direct care workers, the workers themselves must take some responsibility for change.
Workers must start realizing that what they and their co-workers do affects the image of the profession. If workers want to be treated professionally—with professional wages, benefits and respect, they must help stop the “bad” workers from negatively impacting the profession.
The Schuylkill County Direct Care Workers Association is an opportunity for all DCWs to have a say in how their industry is managed and governed. This is your voice. Don’t let someone else speak for you. Learn all you can about the business end of the profession so we can work together to help solve the long term issues affecting direct care work.
Fundraising for the SCDCWA
As everyone knows, nothing in this life is free. The SCDCWA is in need of funding to help offset the costs of the programs we are trying to provide. While those working on behalf of the Association are not paid, we do have expenses that must be covered. Our biggest expense is ADVERTISING! Below are some opportunities for individuals &/or businesses to help support the Schuylkill County Direct Care Workers Association. Please contact us for information about deducting monetary donations on your taxes! All fundraising programs at this time are managed through Lori’s Angels at 1-877-264-3505 or scdirectcareworkers@yahoo.com
Reflective Address Markers
The Association is selling the green reflective address markers for $20 each. The markers are life savers when emergency response providers need to find your home fast. Signs are made up for each individual to post at their driveway or roadside mailbox to make their home easily identifiable, especially at night! These signs also help direct care workers locate the homes of new clients!
Cruise Car Tickets
The Association is selling tickets for the 2008 Great Pottsville Cruise 1995 Admiral Blue Corvette Coupe to be drawn Cruise Night August 10th, 2008. Donations for the tickets are $2.00 per ticket or 3 tickets for $5.00. Someone will win this car—why not you?
Compact Florescent Light Bulbs
In a partnership with Schuylkill County Vision and PPL, the SCDCWA is selling energy efficient compact florescent light bulbs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs that normally retail for $7 each will be sold for $4. Each bulb is a 60W equivalent. Save money, save the environment help us. Call to order yours today.
Schuylkill County Direct Care Workers Association, Inc.
The Vision
Honoring, Valuing, Respecting and Training the Direct Caregiver, thus assuring that people who need care are treated with Skill, Dignity, and Compassion
Our Mission
To increase the number of trained, qualified Direct Caregivers to care for elders and disabled individuals and to decrease turnover rates.
The focus of the Schuylkill County Direct Care Workers Association is to:
Provide quality educational opportunities for workers within the county.
Provide for monthly meetings where paid caregivers can receive the same type of support and information that unpaid and family members receive through various programs.
Promote Direct Care positions as a worthwhile respectable profession for prospective workers.
Publish a newsletter aimed at providing Direct Care Workers with information affecting their positions—such as new techniques or advancements, legislative changes, tips on performing their jobs better, promoting professionalism and promoting educational opportunities.
Advocate for direct care workers, providers and consumers on legislative issues affecting the profession.
Some day many of us will be in need of the services of a Direct Care Worker at home, in a facility or for a loved one. Our hope is that when that day comes, a caring, educated professional will be the person providing for our needs.
To be added to (or removed from) our email list, contribute information or articles for the October edition of this newsletter, or to volunteer your time for our Association please email scdirectcareworkers@yahoo.com or call Lori Michael at Lori’s Angels 1-877-264-3505.
Next meeting: Sept 18th, 2008 @ 3pm Lori’s Angels, Schuylkill Haven Please RSVP your attendance plans.
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