HOME CARE MATTERS
January Newsletter - 2019
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Paid Family Medical Leave Act
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Starting in 2020, Washington will be the fifth state in the nation to offer paid family and medical leave benefits. This benefit offers partially paid leave to care for yourself or a loved one in times of serious illness or injury, to bond with a new child joining your home through birth, adoption or foster placement, and for certain military-connected events if you have a family member in active duty service.

As a worker in Washington, you will experience a few changes in 2019. In your first paycheck of 2019, you might notice a new deduction. For example, if your pre-tax wages are $1,000 per paycheck, you may pay up to about $1.32 from each paycheck. Employers contribute to this program too, so we’re in this together.

In 2020, you will be able to apply for leave when you experience a qualifying event and have worked 820 hours (about 16 hours a week, on average) in the year leading up to your date of leave.

This isn’t like paid sick leave; you will file your claim with the Employment Security Department (ESD), and your payment will come from ESD. Typically, you’ll have access to up to 12 weeks of paid leave. You can learn more at www.paidleave.wa.gov/workers .

Do you have questions? Ask JoAnne, your HR Manager. Email JoAnne by clicking here.
WELCOME to our NEW EMPLOYEES hired in December
We want to welcome the new team members who joined us last month:

Marissa D.
Susana D.
Ashley D.
Awa N.
Sandra S.

We are so happy you have chosen to be a part of our caring team!
What Clients Are Saying about YOU

Autumn P., Bettina M., April S., Denise A., Kyong G., and Larisa K. were all specifically mentioned in the December HomeCare Pulse Surveys.

We are so proud of all of the work that you do with our clients. You each make such a difference every day you go to work. A few of these client quotes have been put on our website. Click to see what your clients may be saying here! 
Congratulations to Autumn P., CNA




Congratulations on passing the state test and obtaining your new credential. We are proud of your hard work!
January Anniversaries to Celebrate:

Doreen W. 19 years
Ofeina L. 6 years
Roxana C. 5 years
Dianna S. 2 years
Ronald A. 1 year
Lina H. 1 year
Yuriko M. 1 year
Sadie S. 1 year
Shaylah W. 1 year

 Thank you for your dedication to Advanced Health Care and to the clients you faithfully serve!
Thank you for joining us in the office for our Christmas parties!
We loved meeting your families and getting to spend some relaxed time with you last month. Thanks to those of you who made it in to celebrate the season with us. Here are a few snapshots of the day we wanted to share.
There are more photos on our closed Facebook employee group! If you haven't joined us there yet, please click over and Join us on Facebook now!
2019 AHC Education Classes... we want your input!

The RN supervisors have begun to meet to talk about classes to offer you in 2019. What topics would you like to see covered? We want your ideas now! Please take 60 seconds to submit your feedback on our survey.


We'll let you know the results next month!
Save the date for 2019 Skills Fair : Friday, April 12th in the Lakewood office. More details to come! Mandatory, paid attendance.
Reminders When Going to a New Client  
When you have accepted or been assigned to a new client, please contact the nurse to go over the client information/assignment sheet as soon as possible and BEFORE your shift.

You should always have the assignment sheet, as well. (Don't forget to check your email junk folder as it sometimes is delivered there.)

Please do not wait until the middle of the night or at the last possible minute to talk to the nurse. We want you to have the best preparation and information for your shift. You deserve that and so does your client!
Thank you.
W2s Mailing Soon
This is a final reminder to make sure you update your mailing address with us if it has changed. Please call or email  Mychael   so that there are no delays in getting this important document out to you. W2s are typically mailed out by January 31st. Thank you!
Caregiver Profile:
Doreen W.
19 years years with AHC

What do you love about being a caregiver?
It’s hard to put it into words. I love being appreciated, even when it’s not directly showed. It’s important for me to help people and make a difference in their day to day lives. I get to know people from different backgrounds, areas, and all parts of life that I would never have met. It’s interesting to talk to them and their families. Each and every person has a back story that I like to get to know. I have a blast and love it.

Any advice you would give to a newer caregiver?
Patience, patience, patience! We have to be patient; that’s the most important thing to remember. We also need to do everything to the best of our ability and remember that we are there for them. We truly make a difference in their lives and we need to remember that. 

Why have you chosen to stay at Advanced all these years?
That’s easy; you’ve always worked with me and my schedule. You have always treated me very kindly. I know that you’ll always have my back and that’s the truth. I love my job and my clients, but I also love you guys. You (Sara) and Julie are awesome; you always take care of me and listen. Most importantly, I love my job!

Thank you for your 19 years of faithful service, Doreen!
We appreciate you.
Reporting Abuse & Neglect
Call 1- 866-END-HARM

As a reminder, if caregivers are paid to
provide care to a person with intellectual or developmental disabilities, they are considered mandatory reporters.
They must report any suspected abuse or neglect, abandonment, or financial
exploitation to proper authorities.

Red Flags – Indications of possible mistreatment

~Poor personal hygiene

~Inappropriate dress for weather conditions

~Unexplained bruises or skin tears

~Unexplained stained, torn or bloody underwear; bruises or bleeding, pain or itching in genital or anal areas

~Isolation or withdrawal

~Unexplained changes in behavior

~Depression or sadness

~Disturbance in sleeping or eating habits

~Vague physical complaints with no identifiable cause

~Verbalizations about feelings of worthlessness

~Crying or combativeness when a particular caregiver is on duty, when a certain person visits, or when they are around a certain person

~Pressure injuries

~Complaints that specific personal belongings are missing

DSHS has a created a great handout that addresses more information. Click to read more...
Click here to view the January