Thomas R. Ort
Statistically, it’s a sobering fact that the older you are, the more likely you are to need help with the normal tasks of daily living.
These needs are met by organizations ranging from freelance caregivers to full-service nursing homes. In between are home care businesses that cater to most people’s desire to stay in their own homes for as long as possible.
Mark Arquit, 34, is the owner of The Home Institute, an in-home care service that operates in eastern Polk County. Born in Florida and raised in Avon Park, Arquit took over as general manager of the Winter Haven business in 2016 before acquiring the franchise.
It was when he took care of his own grandfather that he started working as a caregiver. He puts in about 60 hours a week, which he says is an improvement over the 80 he did when he first became a franchise owner.
Q. What are the qualifications required to work in your industry?
A. I have to care. I can teach you how to take a bath, but I can’t teach you how to take a bath. your heart must be in it. Others can be removed very easily. It actually doesn’t take that long. For those who care, check your doctor’s appointment or look in your fridge to find out more. Do you have fresh fruit? Do you have tomorrow’s meal when they are not around? These are what make good caregivers. All of my staff have personal experience caring for loved ones. They wouldn’t stay here unless it was a personal experience.
Q. What misconceptions do people have when they ask you for help?
A. They underestimate how much help they really need. Even if you come in with the idea of ’oh, I just need a little housework,’ I can’t get in and out of the shower, so I’ve not had a bath for a couple of weeks. Or maybe you think you’re on your own, but you forget and can’t make it to your doctor’s appointment. Or they don’t realize how much stress family caregivers are under when caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease.
There are a little over 5 million people in America with, or diagnosed with, Alzheimer’s disease. The number of undiagnosed people is astronomical. I often worry that my family caregiver will die before my client. We care for many families whose caregivers are struggling to do their very best.
Memories of July 4thA Grand Experiment Based on “Consensus and Compromise”
Q. How can your services help care for family caregivers?
A. We try to take things off the other person’s plate. They don’t have to do everything alone. A person with dementia may be wandering around all night. I need sleep. You can’t be awake 24/7. Or they may put off their own doctor’s appointment because they need to see a doctor. Our caregivers can receive them. You don’t have to be the only one cleaning the house. We try to get them back to their spouses and daughters. They are exhausted from caring for so long and want to be part of the family again.
It killed my own grandfather. The 80-year-old was cutting down trees. The 84-year-old had a bad fall while trying to stop his grandmother from falling and was using a walker. This happens to many older people. You try to help your spouse move, but your strength doesn’t improve much and you end up falling.
Q. What is the range of services offered by a company like yours?
A. Almost the same as life insurance. We bathe, groom, change clothes, clean, empty catheter bags, cook, and shop for groceries. Assist with transferring from bed to walker. About 400 people die each year from falling out of bed. About 80% of what we do is personal care, but we take care of everything else you can no longer do. In some cases, it can be as simple as helping sort mail or keeping spam callers out of reach. We are on the phone, so people looking for money have to go through family and CPA. But most of what we do is in assisted living, except you can stay home.
Q. What kind of training do you need?
A. We employ CNAs and HHAs. A certified nursing assistant is one step below a hospital nurse. They are responsible for much of our physical care, such as bathing, dressing, and grooming. Another is a home health care assistant. They are trained only for housing, not for nursing homes or hospitals. We inspect everyone who comes here. Licensed or not is irrelevant. I want to see if you have the skills.
Q. Is there a background check?
A. We conduct background checks every year as well as driving records. We are doing two background checks on him. One through the state and one through the corporate headquarters. And we randomly administer drug tests at first hire. I can’t tell you how many people in Polk County are “into” something. There are always excuses like, “I was in the car with someone” or “My partner does and I don’t.” we will not tolerate it. You don’t want to be driven by someone who is high.
Q. Is caring for people with dementia a big part of your job?
A. Very big portion. The busiest time for us is from Thanksgiving through May. Family members can talk to Dad or Mom on the phone and pretend to be there for a while. Or, “She’s just a little confused.” increase. It could be an untreated urinary tract infection. Urinary tract infections are devastating to older people. It can worsen dementia and affect people dramatically. People roam the streets, forget your name, and get very combative. Routines are very important. We wear the same color shirt every day, so people with dementia don’t get confused as to why some people wear different colors.
Q. How do you handle cultural and language differences between clients and caregivers?
A. The biggest factor is personality. Anyone can take a bath. But when people feel that their friends are there to help them, they feel relieved. Some clients have been with us for 10 years, and their caregivers are like daughters. Instead of “Oh, help is coming on Tuesday,” you say, “Mary is coming on Tuesday.”
Q. This industry is notorious for high turnover. why?
A. It’s a tough job that doesn’t pay very well. It’s physically taxing. It’s very mentally taxing. Often, people lose caregivers when they die. They are so attached to the person that they don’t want to go to another house and face death again.
“My Childhood Friends”Winter Haven graduate and army officer die in Vietnam 17 months apart
Q. What is the range of options in nursing care?
A. There are three types of home care.
First, there is the “grey market”. A friend or neighbor from church sits with your loved one. What’s great is that it’s someone you know. The question is, who will pay for their liability insurance, workers’ compensation, taxes, and are they insured? Will there be someone to take their place if they get sick?
Next is the “registry” or 1099 organization. They’re contractors, so they work for you, so they have to worry about taxes. Do they have their own worker’s compensation insurance?
Then there are the agencies, which is us. They are more expensive, but cover all responsibilities, taxes, salaries, and have more oversight. It costs money, but it also protects your home.
Q. How much does professional full-time 24/7 home care cost?
A. 250,000 a year. If you have a long-term care policy, stick to it. We cover part of it. Wages are skyrocketing, and fees have to rise to cover that.
Q. Please give some advice to families who are thinking about the future.
A. Please make a plan. About 70 million baby boomers are expected to retire over the next seven years, all moving to Florida. About 26% of Polk County residents fall into her 55+ senior category. This situation will grow even more in the years to come and at some point everyone will need help. Visit assisted living and home health care companies. That way you know who you want to do business with. When emergencies occur, they can be overwhelming and create waiting lists at many facilities. Most of all, you need someone who cares.
Q. What personal experiences led you into this field?
A. My grandmother in Tennessee had a stroke and then dementia. She became very mean, very confrontational and belligerent. My grandfather took care of her for seven hard years. It exhausted him. We didn’t know how bad it was until we started helping. They had four children who lived nearby and they all helped. I have an MBA from a nearby university and started helping out. When she died, he told me that morning. Would you like to live with me? ” What do you say after that? I lived in the basement and he called me his personal servant. He was a bit of a mean crook, but that helped me with everything and gave me a good personal care experience. I realized that this is what I want to do.
