Dignity, July 01, 2004, Page 3, Image 3

Corvallis Caregiver and Local 99 Officer Honored
In April, Terry Haydon and Elaine Hurley were honored as “Caregivers of the Year”
in Linn and Benton Counties. Both were chosen,by case managers for professional
and dependable care given to their clients and excellence in providing services in
the home-caring field.
“It ^was quite a surprise, deeply appreciated and
valued The award and the celebration was quite an
“uplift” to one's self-worth. As far as I know, Linn
and Benton counties are the only ones in the state
who does a “Caregiver of the Year” award I thought
how nice it would be if this award idea was
borrowed by other areas ofthe state.”
-Terry Haydon
Terry Haydon
A Survival Tips
BSWJ for fiomecare workers
It pays to be safe.
Our raise in January
2005* is tied to the cost of workers’ comp claims, so in
addition to wanting to be safe on the job, we also
want to ensure our second year raise! The old saying
“it pays to be safe” really applies to us. So...
Be aware of potential hazards in your workplace for
your own safety as well as your client’s. SAIF reports
most injuries were strains and sprains resulting from
lifting, slipping and falling.
You should have a task list for each client you care
fot. If you have concerns about what your client(s)
may request help doing-for example, moving a heavy
piece of furniture or helping to shoe a horse-check
your task list and discuss it with your client or your
client’s case manager.
If your client needs a toilet lift, bath benches,
handrails, a walker or any other safety feature device
that will help keep him/her safe as well as reduce the
risk of your injury, ask your client’s case manager
what resources are available. Make written requests
for safety equipment to the program manager. (Refer
to Article 26 Health and Safety in our contract).
Unemployment Insurance Did you
know that homecare workers do have access to,. •
unemployment insurance? If you have recently lost
your homecaring job, just check with your local
Employment Department to see if you qualify for
unemployment insurance.
STRONGER TOGETHER
____ C SEPTEMBER A------------------
Case Manager
Appreciation Month
For the past two years, homecare workers have begun a
new tradition - communicating appreciation to case
managers and agency staff who also have a commitment
to providing quality services to our clients. We have
declared September to be Case Manager Appreciation
Month.
Case managers and other agency folks often have
thankless jobs, high caseloads and overwhelmingly high
workloads. They are on the front lines of explaining how
legislative decisions are going to affect their clients. And
yet they have the same mission as homecare workers; to
provide the best services to clients so they can live
independently in their own homes.
In the past two years, we have presented agency workers
(many of whom are members of SEIU Local 503) with
homemade cookies, bouquets of balloons or simply hand­
made cards expressing our appreciation for their efforts.
These tokens of our appreciation have been warmly
welcomed and gratefully accepted.
Please help us expand this tradition. Contact the homecare
council representative closest to you (seepage 11 for
contact information) and ask how you can participate in
Case Manager Appreciation Month this September.
Or just take a few moments to write a thank you card to
your agency to deliver when you turn in your end of
month voucher for August. Hearing “Thanks - good job!"
means aiot.
_____ ________ _____ ,--------------------------------------------------
Page 3