HCAOA The Voice Fall 2020

4 HCAOA The Voice HOME CARE IN THE YEAR 2020 HAS BEEN TURNED upside down by this Crazy COVID Crisis. Everything you thought you knew about providing in-home care to the elderly has been rearranged by a disease that we can’t see, can’t hear, can’t touch, and don’t understand. Your national association, The Home Care Association of America, responded quickly back in the spring to help agency leaders develop strategies and insights to cope with this crisis. One of the things offered was a series of online web conferences designed to give leaders specific knowledge and skills to care for clients with COVID-19. A huge part of the educational effort was looking for ways to support caregivers who were asked to care for these highly contagious folks. In putting together this three-part educational opportunity, we learned some powerful lessons that you can apply going forward to support and encourage your caregivers in a Post-COVID World. We interviewed a panel of six home care agency leaders who are members of HCAOA, and also members of the Home Care CEO Forum Mastermind Groups. COMMUNICATION IS THE KEY TO CARING FOR CAREGIVERS The biggest challenge for agencies who elected to offer in-home care to clients who had tested positive for COVID-19 was getting caregivers who were willing to take those cases. Communicating with all caregivers was a key ingredient in encouraging them to take COVID cases. Here are some communication strategies shared by Andrea Cohen, CEO and Founder of Houseworks in Boston, MA and a member of our Top 5% Home Care Master - mind Group. • Understand what’s going on inside their heads. Under normal circumstances, caregivers are concerned with their consistent work hours and income, their personal safety, caring for their families, and caring for their clients. Showing empathy for caregivers willing to work with COVID-19 cases is critical. This applies to all our caregivers going forward. • Make one-on-one calls. Don’t assume caregivers are unwilling to work when they don’t respond to a written request. Making personal phone calls to check on caregivers, to learn about Strategies for Supporting Caregivers in a Post-COVID World HOME C A R E L E A D E R S ON T H E F RON T L I N E By Stephen Tweed