(Page 1 of 2)
I believe that I have the unique distinction of
being the only person traveling to Ohio this week
who is not running for office, working for someone
running for office or reporting on the people
running for office. The P.A. system at the
Columbus airport sounded like it was announcing the
new fall cable television lineup. “Mr. /Ms.
(fill in name of major political reporter), please
meet your party at baggage claim.” Although
the elections are extremely interesting for a
political junkie, I was in Ohio for something even
more interesting, important, educational, and even
fun.
I was there for the 119th Fearless Caregiver
Conference which was hosted by our partners at the
Area Agency on Aging Region 9. Thanks to AAA
CEO Jim Endly, Caregiver Coordinator Laurel Dubeck
and their extremely dedicated team for their
incredible efforts. The setting was idyllic: a lodge
and conference center called Salt Fork in the middle
of the woods. The fun was slightly abated the
morning of the event since we woke up to fog you
could cut with a knife. Concerned for the safety of
caregivers traveling to join us, we were heartened
by the fact that everyone showed up – safe and on
time. And I’m glad they did.
As usual, I really learned a lot from my fellow
caregivers during the event; but it was in the gift
shop that I heard some of the most novel advice. I
haunt the gift shops when I travel, trying to find
interesting refrigerator magnets for my mom. (No, I
don’t get her refrigerator magnets necessarily
because I am so cheap; it is what she asks me to
bring her – and for that, I am grateful.)
After selecting my gifts for this trip, I ran
into a gentleman at the cash register who had
attended the morning session and he told me about
how he had been stumped by one of his senior
clients. She simply would not allow any of his
staff members to clean her house. Previously,
she had exiled his workers to the kitchen, agreeing
to let them sit there, but wouldn’t permit them any
further into the house.
My new friend told me that he finally took his
client aside and told her he really needs her help.
Nobody he hires can clean as well as she can and
would she please train his staff on the proper way
to take care of a home. Problem solved. She
now accepts any one of his aides into her home and
allows them to do their job.
