SOME HELP IN FINDING HELP
By Heidi Johnson-Wright
For a person with mobility limitations, a personal care attendant offers help and independence. But finding the right attendant can be daunting. Here are a few tips from someone who knows the ropes.
The arrival of my 18th birthday heralded several major events in my life. The stabilization of my juvenile arthritis, the beginning of college, and working with a personal care attendant who was not a parent or sibling.Laura was my attendant all four years of college. We became great friends, both majored in English and even took some classes together.
Today, 27 years later, I realize that my relationship with Laura was unusual in its longevity and compatibility. But what I learned from working with her, as well as the dozen or so attendants who have followed her, should answer many questions you might have if you or someone you love are considering taking the big step.
If you have a chronic health condition that may limit your mobility or require surgery, chances are you'll need an attendant sometime in your life.
I was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at age nine. As a result, I've had nearly a dozen surgeries, including six joint replacements.
My pain and limited range of motion have made assistance with personal care a fact of life for me. I've been hiring attendants since I left home as a young adult.
But for someone who's led an active life and hasn't experienced the effects a disability until middle age or beyond, it may be harder to know when you need an attendant.
If you're unsure, ask yourself a few questions:
• Are you frequently wearing easy-to-put-on casual clothes because getting dressed up is too painful or difficult?
• Do you hesitate to have friends over because you can't clean like you used to and you're embarrassed by your messy house?
• Have you given up fun activities or hobbies because you're too sore or tired after doing the regular household chores?
• Is it taking you longer and longer to dress, groom, bathe, prepare meals and do housework?
•
If you find yourself answering affirmatively, it may be time to seek an attendant.
Exactly how and how much your attendant will help you will depend on several factors: the areas where you need help, the skills and interests of the person you hire and, of course, how much you're willing to pay.
Generally, attendants assist with personal care, such as bathing and dressing. Often they do light housekeeping, laundry and meal preparation as well. Some people hire attendants to drive them to the grocery store or appointments, or the attendants themselves run errands. A person with paralysis who owns a home may even need assistance with handyman chores and small repairs.
Of course, what you hire an attendant to do will match your particular needs. There are no hard and fast rules.
Basically, there are two ways to find an attendant -- on your own or through an in-home health care service. Each way has its advantages and its drawbacks. For example, hiring your own attendant can be a lengthy process, but a service can often supply someone virtually overnight.
I have used both methods. Usually I have one attendant at a time that I've hired on my own. My attendants have typically been female college students. They do a combination of personal care and housework. My husband helps me when the attendant isn't there.
Twice, however, I've had to use an in-home health care service because I needed nearly full-time care while recovering from an injury. Using a service was the only way to get a qualified attendant who could work 40-plus hours per week.
If you want to hire your own attendant, there are at least a couple of ways to get started. First, and probably best, is to use your connections. Take advantage of any contacts you may have at local universities or colleges. College students in health care-related programs often make excellent attendants.
Another option is to advertise in the newspaper. Hiring an attendant directly, on the plus side, allows you hands-on control over whom you'll hire and how much you'll pay.
The advantages of using a service include getting an attendant who is usually trained and experienced and never having to worry about substitutes if an aid is sick.
Also, the services usually pay their share of federal and state taxes, unemployment and workers' compensation for their employees so there is less concern about liability if an attendant is injured on the job.
Drawbacks of a service may include a minimum number of hours that the aid must work -- some won't send an aid for less than four hours per day -- and higher pay. (Remember, you're paying for the services of both the aid and the agency in that case.) Also, there's no guarantee that you'll get along with the person who shows up at your door.
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