By Lee Ann Sides Garrett
news@salisburypost.com
Charles and Doris Barrier have been married for 60 years. Despite continuing health problems, they still live in their home on Leonard Road. Chemotherapy from ovarian cancer five years ago left Doris with neuropathy in her feet and weaker than before.
“When she had cancer,” Charles said. “I looked after her.”
But things have changed. Charles, 82, says he has had 10 strokes in a year’s time. Some of them were mini-strokes and others were very hard on him. In December 2007, a stroke left him paralyzed on his left side.
“Chemo left me with no energy,” Doris, 80, says. “And I can’t help him the way he helped me.”
Caregivers now do housework and many of the things Doris can’t do. Beverly Sloan, a caregiver with HomeInstead Senior Care, comes in twice a day. In addition to cooking meals, Sloan says she does whatever needs to be done.
“I’m here for both of them,” she says.
She refills the bird feeder for Doris ó who loves to sit and watch the birds ó folds clothes, sweeps, does the dishes, puts lotion on Charles, helps him change into pajamas and puts him to bed. Another caregiver does housework in the morning.
“We are at home,” says Doris. “And it’s cheaper than being in a nursing home.”
At-home care is becoming increasingly popular as a less costly and more comfortable alternative to nursing homes.
Colleen Tiexeira Moffat, an economist with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, says rising health-care costs are responsible for an increasing demand for home health care.
“It’s a lot more cost-effective to leave a hospital sooner when all a senior might need is assistance with daily activities,” Moffat says. “A visiting nurse, home health aide, and personal and home care aide all will be cheaper than a stay in a residential care facility.”
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says the demand for caregivers will increase. With American seniors living longer because of better medical care and the oldest of the baby boomers reaching retirement age in the next few years, the demand for caregivers is projected to increase 51 percent by 2016.
“This could become a national crisis issue,” says Jena Hare, co-owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving Rowan and Cabarrus counties. “At our company alone ó the largest of its kind, but one of many throughout our country ó the number of caregivers is about 60,000. To keep pace with this projected demand, our company will have to double its care force in just three years, according to our research.”
Doris says having caregivers also keeps her and her husband from being a burden on their three children. They have two daughters, one living in Rowan County and one in Maiden, and a son who lives in Michigan.
“My children have their lives to live and work to do,” she says. “When we’re being taken care of, it makes things easier for them.”
Despite the economic downturn, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook for 2008-09 says the outlook for home health professions is excellent.
In addition to being the second fastest-growing job category nationally, CareerBuilder.com has listed personal and home care aides as one of the top ten best part-time jobs as well as part of one of the top five recession-proof industries.
That’s good news for Sloan, who says she loves her job.
“It’s the people, the conversations. I learn a lot,” she says. “I enjoy hearing about their lives and being there for them whenever they need me. I hope when I leave, I’ve made their day a little brighter and better.”
Charles, who is now recovering from getting a pacemaker, loves the caregivers despite the fact they fuss with him sometimes.
“He already tries to play Speedy Gonzales and uses only one hand on his walker,” Sloan says laughing. “The pacemaker will only speed him up.”
“My grandkids think it’s funny,” Charles grins. “They threaten to put me in time-out.”