Guest Blog: A Cup of Kindness for Caregivers
The following is a guest blog from Anthony Cirillo:
Consumers are becoming more and more educated and savvy when it comes to their health care choices. Yet when it comes to care for mom and dad they are confused. They are often exhausted. And they are at their most vulnerable. I have seen steely eyed business leaders who literally fall apart when faced with the crisis and chaos when mom and dad need care.
So maybe 2011 should be the year of the caregiver. And I found a great way that you can help.
Limited time and chronic exhaustion are the two things that caregivers face in their lives. You know the toll it takes caring for an elder.
I discovered The Caregiver Relief Fund just recently. It was established in 2009 to provide caregivers with both respite and time needed to put a long-term plan in place for a loved one.
The Fund provides vouchers for at-home care and for recharge mini-getaways. Vouchers for professional at-home care services are donated or purchased on behalf of the Caregiver Relief Fund. They award these vouchers to caregivers, giving them time to address their personal needs and financial resources to invest in their own well-being.
- Let your clients/families know about this organization.
- Consider nominating someone for respite.
- Consider donating services to the cause.
Ok so that is one resource. Then I hit the bonanza, a second resource, this one originating in Canada.
Losing Our Parents is an Internet-based community offering free peer support & education for individuals who live with the stress, upset, and rollercoaster of emotions surrounding a parent's death or declining health.
To quotes from their site:
"We know what it is like to feel overwhelmed, isolated, and deeply sad when a parent's health declines.
We know what it's like to have only a few months, or even moments, left with our loved ones.
We know how hard it is when a parent dies.
Did you ever think that this would be so difficult?
Please know that you are not alone. Everyone is a son or daughter, and losing our parents is a timeless, universal issue."
Wow. Two great resources for your clients and caregivers in the community.
Here's why you should get involved in the lives of caregivers. As a marketer I talk a lot about word of mouth marketing and how it is the most important marketing tool you have. When you adopt causes strategically, you not only do the right thing but the word spreads about it. That reflects back to you and your brand and over time contributes to your business growth. So supporting caregivers is not just the right thing to do, it is good for business.
Anthony Cirillo, FACHE, ABC is the about.com expert in assisted living. A speaker, health care consultant, senior advocate and blogger, he consults with long-term care facilities and is available for management retreats and association keynotes. He is the author of "Who Moved My Dentures?" His company, Fast Forward Consulting empowers organizations to change the healthcare experience and leverage it in their marketing. For more information, go to www.4wardfast.com and www.anthonycirillo.com.