UNITED CAREGIVERS OF AMERICA

THE FUTURE OF CAREGIVING BELONGS TO PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO CAN DREAM NEW DREAMS ABOUT HOW TO CARE FOR ELDERS. - WILLIAM H. THOMAS, M.D.

UNITED CAREGIVERS OF AMERICA THE FUTURE OF CAREGIVING BELONGSS TO PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO CAN DREAM NEW DREAMS ABOUT HOW TO CARE FOR ELDERS. - WILLIAM H. THOMAS, M.D. CONTENTS PAGE FUNDRAISING PROPOSAL FOR UNITED CAREGIVERS OF AMERICA SECTION 1: PERSONAL NOTE FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SECTION 2: CURRENT SITUATION AND ANALYSIS SECTION 3: INTRODUCTION TO UNITED CAREGIVERS OF AMERICA SECTION 4: MISSION OF UNITED CAREGIVERS OF AMERICA SECTION 5: PURPOSE AND REASON FOR UNITED CAREGIVERS OF AMERICA SECTION 6: UCOA WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT SECTION 7: TEAM FOR UNITED CAREGIVERS OF AMERICA A) Founder and Executive Director Marion Pound 1: My story Humble Beginnings

SECTION 8: GETTING STARTED GOALS AND NEEDS FOR UNITED CAREGIVERS OF AMERICA SECTION 9: CONCLUSION SECTION 10: OTHER PROJECTS FOR UNITED CAREGIVERS OF AMERICA SECTION 11: OTHER ARTICLES, STATISTICS, POINTS TO PONDER, WRITINGS A) Statistics on long term care B) Points to ponder C) Writings 1: United Caregivers of America helping America to be prepared Being Prepared 2: Flesh, Blood, and Bone 3: A Son's Last Goodbye

A PERSONAL NOTE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

In all the time that I have been working in and around long term care and the health care field in general the words reform keep coming up. Reform the system. Reform the nursing homes, assisted living centers, and any and all other parts of the system that deal with health care. When are we going to start reforming ourselves and those around us? When are we going to understand that all of these institutions are made up of people (living, breathing human beings) who are personally responsible for the mess we are in at the present? Why do we hide behind mask of corporate and government control as if we are powerless to change the system one person at a time? Why do we gag at the gnat while swallowing the camel? Why are we so afraid to stand up and be counted? America has lost control of its government. Each one of us is fooled into believing that everything will return to normal if we just keep our mouth shut and sit back and wait. Big government has completely lost its connection with the people. People have lost their connection with each other. We have lost the ability to share common ground, to work together, to solve problems at ground zero without the help of Uncle Sam and his massive money printing machine. I wrote this article to clarify my position on this matter because I am guilty of using the word 'system' over and over again. It is programmed into all of us. We have lost our individual identities. The spirit of America is dead. We are like little kids lost in a mall. Oh sure some of us look, act, and even talk tough, but on the inside behind the mask we are scared and even terrified as to what will become of us.

There seems to be this mass hysteria going on. People are afraid of each other, hateful to each other, rude to each other. Even churches are feeling the heat. Congregations are breaking up. Church attendance is down. People want to be entertained and amused at church. They want God to put on a performance for them. Large TV ministries are even selling small miracles. How have we set back and let this happen? What is this world coming to really? It is out of control completely. It is rotten on the inside. So rotten you can smell it. We need to get off the party bus, put our feet on the ground, and get back to some good, old fashioned work ethics. We got ourselves into this jam surely we can pull together and climb out of it. As I said before 'we have to change one person at a time, one day at a time'. We start with hope and faith that will sustain us and move into action. After that we stay focused and realize that it is not the system that has gone wrong. It is each and everyone of us, by ourselves, alone that has created the problem. I will try to stop using the word 'system' and start focusing on personal change starting with myself and working my way out to other like minded folks who share this common vision and together maybe just maybe we can make a difference.

CURRENT SITUATION AND ANALYSIS We live in a time of great uncertainty and mass confusion. At present the demand for long term care services far out weighs the ability of the system to supply those services in a timely, efficient, comprehensive, and coordinated manner. And the long term care system is at its breaking point. We must act now in order to ensure the survival of the system. The vast majority of the people in the United States are having trouble making ends meet. There is a wide gap between the leaders and the ones they are sworn to govern and protect. The main thing on everyone's mind at the moment is health care and it probably will be for the next twenty years. It is a complex problem with no easy and immediate answers. There is no quick fix especially when need is over shadowed by greed and technology is out running our ability to use it wisely. Good old fashioned common sense has been swallowed up by the need to please the investors and stockholders regardless of the risk. We are on a runaway train and the end is nowhere in sight. The following is a scenario for you to contemplate about the reality of it all the caregiver, the industry, and the elderly being cared for whether in a nursing home, assisted living facility, hospital or at home. Think about this: We go see the doctor. He or she hopefully makes the right diagnosis and suggests the proper care plan. After that we are pretty much on our own as far as following the orders and taking the proper steps to recovery. The problem is what happens between the doctor's visit and the intended result of the care plan. This is where things get complicated and even dangerous. Hospitals are understaffed and in many cases overwhelmed and under prepared to handle the critical needs of this exploding sick and elderly population. Nursing homes are severely understaffed. And in many cases one nurse aide will have to care for fifteen or more patients on a shift. Home health aides are lacking in training and education and as with the nurse aides receive very little, if any, recognition and respect for the critical job they do.

Does anybody out there really know what a caregiver is and what they do? Can any of you tell me in complete detail how important caregivers are when it comes to taking care of our nation's sick, injured, and elderly? If you haven't been a caregiver, known a caregiver, or been taken care of by a caregiver. You probably haven't given it much thought. There are millions of them in the United States. They work in nursing homes, assisted living centers, home health agencies, hospitals, rehab centers, and many other places including foster care homes. Many caregivers are working at home taking care of loved ones or friends as an alternative to institutional care. All of the caregivers I mentioned above are pawns in a massive corporate money machine we call long term care. They are used as props to hold up the system while corporate fat cats stuff their pockets with your hard earned money that pays for Medicare, Medicaid and other tax driven programs. The major problem is this dedicated and committed work force, that does 80% of the direct basic care, has not and is not receiving the training and education they want and need to keep up with the ever changing world of direct senior patient care. They are treated like second class citizens; paid low wages; without comprehensive medical benefits; and there is very little room for career advancement because it has not been encouraged and made easy. If they complain, report, or go against the system in any way they get fired. Their voices go unheard. Their complaints buried. Their cries for help ignored. Caregivers have lived and worked in the shadows for too long. Their story needs to be told. Their voices need to be heard. The work they do needs to be praised and recognized. What is wrong with this picture? Why have we put so much responsibility and given so little recognition to this very important front line workforce the basic caregiver. Licensed nurses' instructions would be useless without the caregiver. Long term care institutions and facilities would be forced to close if not for the caregiver. Yes, those certified nurse aides, home health aides, resident assistants, companion sitters, volunteers, and not to forget the hundreds of thousands of unpaid family members working around the clock to provide care for loved ones at home.

All of the above mentioned direct patient caregivers are lacking a strong communication network designed to encourage the exchange of ideas, information, mutual support, team work, training and education, and provide a platform for voices to be heard and action taken on issues that effect the lives of our rapidly growing elderly population. So far we have done too little too late to put a comprehensive program in place that would help, lead, guide, and direct people to the resources, services, and organizations that specialize in long term care needs. Our current system is based on quantity not quality. The system is fragmented and disorganized. Social workers, critical outreach coordinators, and senior patient advocates are in most cases running by the seat of their pants when it comes to knowing the who, what, when, where, why, and how of comprehensive resource acquisition and implementation. There is not and has not been a one stop, one call does all program developed to solve these problems. We have the technology. We have the need. We have the programs. Someone just needs to take the time and effort to begin the process of connecting the dots. Most long term care institutions, facilities and providers do not want a comprehensive program in place concerning the basic caregiver even though the basic caregiver is the reason for their existence. Why, because this would cost them money, time, and effort. It would shake up the system and create such a storm. It would not just rock the money boat but it would turn it over. Training these basic caregivers would cost the industry millions if not billions in the short run. But guess what. We cannot and will not have the change in the long term care health system if we don't invest in our most valuable resource the caregiver. Investing in the caregiver will save lives. Many people have been duped into believing that long term care institutions are running over with highly trained medical professionals with advanced degrees in gerontology. This is simply not true. Many long term care institutions, organizations, and facilities are perpetuating the status quot due to the increase in costs of providing training to our current caregiver workforce. Most, if not all, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, as well as other long term care facilities will hire just about anyone as long as they do

not have a criminal record. In most cases new employees are shown a few training videos along with some very easy tests with the answer sheet in front of them and put to work. Yes, I said they give the employee the answers to the tests. There is very little one on one training involved. You are expected to hit the floor running and in most cases figure everything out for yourself. Now remember I speak from experience. I have been through this insanity more than once. As a matter of fact go talk to the caregivers yourself. Prove me wrong. Get the facts. Is it any wonder sub-standard care is at all time high in this country? Is it any wonder that Medicare and Medicaid are going broke? Who's caring for the caregiver? Who gives a damn about the caregiver? As long as we as a nation keep putting profit over people health care reform will never happen. Sure there are some changes being made and many facilities are doing a fair job. But fair is not enough. Don't get me wrong. Caregivers at the basic level do have to have training but it is not enough to acquire and maintain the skills necessary to meet the demands and challenges of the residents and patients of those being treated at home. It is time for the consumers of long term health care to wake up and realize how important these people are and how neglected they have been for many years.

INTRODUCTION TO UNITED CAREGIVERS OF AMERICA We are pleased to announce the formation and opening of United Caregivers of America is a non-profit organization in the United States devoted and dedicated to the thousands of caregivers (paid and unpaid) who work day and night to preserve the health and well being of our exploding baby boomer and senior population. It was born out of the idea that we all have a common responsibility to take care of our elderly population and support those who are taking care of them across the United States. We all have a personal responsibility to ensure the safety, health, and well being of those elderly and indigent who cannot care for themselves. We cannot wait for someone else to step up and take responsibility. We as a country must act now if we are to create a better system for the future generation of the elderly and indigent. It is a fact that we will be there soon enough. The clock is ticking and time is of the essence. United Caregivers of America will provide education and care to the caregivers as well as act as patient advocates. Our training and development programs, seminars and workshops are one on one or in groups. Many caregivers are burned out and burned up. Our job is to give them the support they need to carry on and provide the best care possible for themselves and the ones they are caring for. For more information about UCOA: website: www.unitedcaregiversofamerica.org email: queeniva89@gmail.com contact name: Marion Pound

Mission of United Caregivers of America

Our mission at United Caregivers of America is to increase public awareness and support given to the caregivers struggling to make a living and at the same time do a good job in this environment of long term care. It is also to empower the long term health care consumer by providing current, relevant information on issues that affect hundreds of thousands of elder caregivers in America. United Caregivers of America is a grass roots organization devoted to increasing the quality of direct care by communicating directly with those who provide it through support, education, training, advocacy, workshops, seminars, video, and audio media such as television, radio, and internet. When my patient died in October 2008 I made a decision to do whatever it takes to make this happen. If the general public does not make a decision to stand up and fight for the caregivers in this nation many people will continue to suffer needlessly and many lives will be lost as a consequence. By empowering the caregiver we will increase the standard of care, increase morale, infuse self-esteem, create a network that will increase the flow of ideas and information relating to long term care topics, be a clearing house of ideas and major referral and resource center for all health care professionals who are directly and indirectly involved in taking care of our nation's elderly. This vital mission effects each and every one of you. During your lifetime you will be a caregiver, be taken care of by a caregiver, or know someone who is being cared for by a caregiver. We hope that each and everyone of you reading these words will see the importance of building this strong alliance in the United States. We need to do our best to make this a reality by linking all critical health care systems together and making them available to the public along with human development programs. This way we can ensure a more positive outcome for everyone involved in the care plan.

Purpose and Reason for United Caregivers of America

There is a high probability that most of us will get old. There is even higher probability that when we get old we will get sick and require some type of long term direct care. When thinking of long term care we have to include more than just the one being cared for. We must place our central focus on the caregiver. By caregiver I mean the one who is with the patient all the time or doing the majority of the work for the patient no matter the time of day or night. This could be a nurse aide working in a nursing home. A home health aide working through a community based home health agency. Or so it is in many cases a family member providing care at home for a loved one. Whatever the case they are the ones who work the hardest and longest and unfortunately receive the least amount of praise, recognition, and benefits. Outside of these full time caregivers above we have a full range of multidisciplinary staff working around the clock to try to keep the system running effectively. These might include, but are not limited to doctors of gerontology, nurse practitioners, ms, lvns, portable x-ray teams, speech therapists, social workers, specialists in home medical supplies and equipment, and many, many more. Our nation's population is exploding. People are living longer with chronic illnesses, being treated quicker than in the past. And sent home quicker than in the past. Home care is the wave of the future. Unfortunately the majority of people faced with the decision to care for someone at home or in a long term care facility are not prepared for the journey that lies ahead. Patients, families, and caregivers are sometimes overwhelmed with the many decisions that must be made before, during, and after the patient gets home. In a situation like this it easy to lose control and feel completely overpowered by the system. This is the reason and purpose for United Caregivers of America. We are here to help guide you and your loved ones through the maze without losing your sense of control and provide education, training, support, and provide information to make the journey much more comfortable. And also to bring all the fields listed above and then some under one umbrella to create a united force and also create a support system for all involved, and create a forum for the exchange of ideas and information to increase the quality of long term care health care.

UNITED CAREGIVERS OF AMERICA: WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT

Our country is facing some of the most destructive forces ever encountered mainly ourselves. We were created and endowed with free will and the ability to know right from wrong. We are able to make choices based on sound reasoning and intellect. In order to overcome this we must first recognize our own faults and short comings. Caregivers in America will never be united until they realize the root of the problem is the following: lack of courage; lack of organization; lack of leadership skills and training; lack of compassion and love for others; and lack of determination. Let's break them down. Caregivers who work in the long term care health care system have a lack of courage to stand up to the massive corporations for fear of losing their jobs or retaliation from others. There is a lack of organization in the long term health care system meaning that the right hand does not what the left hand is doing. There is also a lack of leadership skills and training for caregivers whether they work in a facility or at home. They are left to fend for themselves. Caregivers have lost the true meaning of compassion and love for others and see what they do as a JOB. And determination to do better for all has fallen by the way side due to the fact of all of the above. United Caregivers of America has decided to overcome the world with faith,hope, and love. Corruption, pay offs, lying, cheating, slander, gossip, and propaganda seem to be the new idol of the culture. Anyone would have to be blind to not see how this effecting the over all systems that operate within our culture. We need to take our mission to the streets. We need to stand up to the main stream media. We need to stand together, side by side, and build an unstoppable force that cannot be countered. United Caregivers of America needs your support to make this transformation and change. We have many challenges to overcome in order to turn our country around and on a new track. Please help us by letting us know you are there is with us. Together we can win this battle. Time is of the essence. United Caregivers of America's focus is elder care. Our seniors are being thrown by the wayside along with the caregivers that take care of them. Help us reach out to them and let them know we are there.

MARION POUND FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: ABOUT ME

My name is Marion Pound. I am thirty four years old. I did not wake up one morning and decide to run out and start a non-profit organization to help caregivers and the ones they take care of. In fact I don't even like it when people refer to me as the founder and executive director of United Caregivers of America. I have been down in the trenches of the long term care system for fourteen years. I am war torn and battle ready to take on the current system alone if I have to. I cannot just sit back and wait for the government or some other organization to fix things. I have to do something with all the knowledge, wisdom, and experience I have gained over the past fourteen years. It would be a crime if I didn't. I found out really quick how hard it is for new non-profits to start up and survive. There are so many worthy causes out there and so few dollars to go around. But that will not stop me from giving it all I've got. Everyone has told me to run out and put together a powerful board of directors and a very smart and dedicated advisory board and maybe an executive committee so I will look important and popularity and legitimacy in the non-profit world. My question is where are all the people who have the time, energy, and money to help me help the caregivers who take care of our nation's elderly. Who cares, I mean really cares. I do not really know how to make people care. It is hard to convince people that they need to get on board ad work with me. It is hard to explain to them that they will be in this system very soon if not already. America always seems to be an hour late and a dollar short when it comes to facing the realities of the day. Special interest lobby groups are like snakes in the grass especially in the long term care industry. The fox has been guarding the hen house way too long. If most of you would take the time to really try to understand what I am doing with this organization. Then you

would realize just how important it is that we succeed or at least get out there and make our voices heard. There are many days and nights when I want to just quit, throw in the towel and give up. But something keeps driving me on. It is most likely the hundreds of frail and elderly that can't speak for themselves or protect themselves. They are trapped in a badly, broken long term care system. They are alone and without advocates who are educated, experienced, road worn, and independent of the special interest groups, who have got us into this mess in the first place. I know their tricks, games, and gimmicks. I can see through them and they know it. If any of you are reading this will just take some time to contemplate the consequences of sitting back and not doing anything you might decide to help me. We are all in this together like it or not. If you are ready to join the fight to over come the status quot that is harming and even killing our senior citizens. Let me know.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
Thirteen years ago I met Virginia across the fence from where I lived. At that time I had no idea she would become my best friend and full time patient. Shortly after we met Virginia fell and broke her hip while at the beauty shop. She had always been active, alert, and on the go. She was 79 and everyone said she did not look a day over 60. I received a call that night to go to the hospital. Things were not looking good. It was a bad break and would require weeks if not months of rehabilitation. With only her son to help her day and night, and after hearing her screams at the hospital. I knew that this was my calling. It would change my life forever. At 21 my life would be turned upside down and inside out. I very soon moved in with Virginia and her son. We took care of her every need. At the time I knew nothing about taking care of myself. This would soon become the ultimate crash course in life 101. Virginia's health went down after the broken hip. She said she felt she was useless and did not want to be a burden on myself or her son. She became very depressed and confused. We did everything to try to make her happy but nothing worked. Her son also became very depressed and now it seemed I would have to find a way to keep both of them on track. Just when you things can't get any worse guess what they do. Virginia had a major stroke and would spend the next 21 days in the hospital in a coma. We stayed with her night and day. The doctors said she would almost surely not return to any state of normality or even be able to move her legs and arms. Her son at the time was not a big prayer warrior but boy did that change. I remember it like it was yesterday. Him standing out in front of the hospital with hands stretched to the sky for all to see. He didn't care or even seem to know who was watching. He just cried and prayed. It was the night before Easter and Virginia looked dead. I was afraid we would not be taking her home. Easter morning we had a miracle. To everyone's amazement at 8 in the morning, that morning, she woke up and said I'm hungry. Then with a big smile she turned to her son and said she loved him. The doctors and nurses were completely baffled and amazed. After rushing her to do a brain scan they found no sign of the stroke. The blood clot had completely disappeared. Before that day I had not been the most religious person in the world and her son was not very vocal about his belief in God. But the day completely and forever changed the both of us.

We knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that God had laid his hands on Virginia and us and that our life would be changed from that moment on. After that fearful day Virginia's son and I would go on to become lifelong partners. It melded us together like glue. We had found a common ground. We knew that we had to stick together and make a life for ourselves and most of all for Virginia.

After Virginia woke up it would be a while before she could feed herself or move her arms and legs without assistance. But we were determined to make it happen. And we did all of it by ourselves with the hand of God upon us. The doctors even came into her room and said there are somethings we just cannot explain. Well it was finally time to go home and boy were we ready. Well back to going home. It would not be long until we found out just how drastic a stroke can change a person's personality and overall self perception. She went into the hospital thinking and acting one way and came out a completely different person. She used to hate cartoons and now she loves them. She used to hate fast food and now she craves it. Of course we limit her intake because of her diet. She used to have her hair done every two weeks even in time of war. Ha! Ha! Now she could care less if it is even combed. It is amazing and scary what a stroke can do to the brain. It can change a person so much you almost have to get to know them all over again. They develop new likes and dislikes out of nowhere. The point I am trying to make in all of this is that I'm slowly becoming a caregiver without even realizing it. I'm just evolving through experience one day at a time. It's been almost three years now taking care of Virginia, since her stroke, day and night 15 to 17 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year that adds up to 5,460 hours. We never leave her and if we do it is only to go to the drug store or pick up food or supplies. It is grueling. It is intense. It is stressful. Sometimes it is maddening and crazy especially when Virginia forgets who I am and calls me terrible names and throws unbelievable tantrums that leave me in tears. And that all might happen just after we've enjoyed a movie together. She's been fed her favorite meal. We changed her diaper, given her a bed bath, and given her a rub down with her favorite lotion. One minute later she is hugging my neck and telling me how much she loves me. Sometimes 24 hours of this can make you want to jump through a closed window. Sometimes you just want to say to hell with it. Sometimes you just want to slap the patient silly, but somehow you go on. Somehow you pull it all back together. We change Virginia's diaper or panties as we like to call them 3 to 5 times per day. And that does not include lifting her almost dead weight and putting her on the potty. The diet we have her on keeps her bowels moving (which is the life of the patient you know). We turn her every three hours to keep her from getting bed sores which can get infected and be almost impossible to heal. We should know she developed one on her rear end and it almost killed us and her. We did everything including putting her in a so-called wound care clinic. When we found out they weren't doing anything we couldn't do at home. We took her home. They would not even feed her. If I had not been there and stayed at the hospital with her she would have fallen out of bed and starved to death. Patients like Virginia have to be protected from the elements. The caregiver, in most cases, is the direct representative for the patient and sometimes even the family. The caregiver

knows the patient better than anyone else (or at least they should) especially the full time caregiver. It is very dangerous that today's caregivers are not where they need to be when it comes to the basic anatomy, physiology, and basic medical terminology. They are lacking many skills such as CPR, vital signs, advanced airway management, dynamics of human communication, communicable diseases, intravenous care and management, diet and nutrition, patient lifting and moving procedures, bowel care and management, wound care and much more. As I said before we live in a hurry up, get um in, and get um out world. And that is especially true when it comes to nurse aides, home health aides, and resident attendants. Currently in the United States the minimum training and education needs to increase for all caregivers to meet the current demands of those being cared for and the state and federal regulators need to enforce the laws that are already in place to make sure that caregivers are receiving the full amount of training required. And testing procedures in place to make sure the skills are really being learned and applied effectively to ensure a high standard of care across the continuum. Many state and federal surveys have been done to assess the quality of this training and it has been found to be inadequate and out of date with current needs and technology. Home health aides do not even need to be certified to work in private duty nursing. At least not when they are first hired by the agency. You must be very cautious when hiring a caregiver from an agency or anywhere else for that matter. How long have they been working in the field? Who did they last work for? Can you check and verify all references even meeting with family and patients that know them? Can they take and understand blood pressure, pulse, and respiration? Are they currently certified in CPR? Do they have a CPR card? Can you call and check to make sure it is real and up to date? Have you checked with proper state agencies to make sure there is no complaints against the caregiver or the agency he or she came from? A good rule of thumb to follow when hiring a caregiver is that the caregiver should be as trained or better than the patient is sick. And that the caregiver is willing to further their education as the patient's illness progresses. Caregiver education should be ongoing and should continue forever. Anytime a caregiver tells you that they know it all when it comes to elder care show them the door and slam it behind them. One cannot and will not ever know everything about elder care or any other type of care for that matter. It is an ongoing continuing process that evolves with time and experience. One is always learning and growing.

GETTING STARTED: GOALS AND NEEDS FOR UNITED CAREGIVERS OF AMERICA Change is not an easy thing. We are set in our ways. The problem is doing the same old thin in the same old way which will provide the same old results. We believe the top down approach will not work anymore. If we are to solve the problems concerning the long term health care system for the elderly and indigent then we must work together at the grass roots level. We must form a lasting and meaningful alliances that will be conclusive to change and provide alliances with information and education necessary to make change possible. United Caregivers of America has many goals and one of those is to acquire funding to design, build, and implement the first online, interactive, comprehensive, and user friendly multimedia universe composed of the following:
computer website and database capable of audio, visual, graphic, and text capabilities with the ability to capture psycho-demographic information and stratification secure online interactive chat room for long term care personnel, patients, advocates, and others in the long term care field live online internet talk radio (weekly one hour show) devoted to long term care subjects and related topics special portions of the website will be devoted to special events and activities diet and nutrition community outreach by state and community writer's forum: articles about long term care and related subjects such as death and dying, stress, depression, burn out and many others create your own community medical supplies, equipment, and services by state and community medico legal, power of attorney, living will, medical directive Medicare and Medicaid elderly and long term care services education and training workshops and seminars be 10,000 strong by June 2012

Our ultimate goal is to build the largest and most comprehensive elder care training, education, and research center in the United States. It will serve as a beacon of light to caregivers throughout America. It will provide the caregivers with support they have needed for

years. It will also increase the quality of care that is currently being provided in the United States by providing easy access to educational materials and training aides in one physical location as well as online. We hope to have enough funding to build or convert an already existing building into a completely green, environmentally, self-sustaining structure using any and all green technologies available. The center would grow its own food both conventional and organic; use solar and wind technology to power the facility; and as many local, natural resources accessible. Our indoor water gardens would provide a place to relax, study, research, meet, or just reflect on times past. We want this center to be a model for all to see. We want it to inspire younger generations to think outside the box and know that anything is possible when we all work together for something worthwhile. It will also house our television and radio production facilities; our caregiver education and training division; and one of the most comprehensive libraries in the country on elder care issues. Volunteers at the center would constantly be using the internet to research information and resources that are local and reliable therefore making it easier for the client to access these resources. United Caregivers of America is in the process of appointing its board of directors and community advisory board members, volunteers, sponsors, writers, advocates, board members, counselors, critical outreach team, and much more. Some of our current needs are: short term goal of fund raising for UCOA is $75,000 to increase the efficiency of our internet based training and education portion of our website and long term goal of $250,000 that will be used for direct operating costs donated van to carry medical supplies to caregivers in need of items their patients cannot afford and Medicare or Medicaid will not pay for $5,000 contribution, grant, or gift to build our internet radio station in the elder care education, training, and research center, which will be located in our home state of Oregon, devoted to health care issues and other related topics volunteers to train for our support groups in Oregon churches and senior centers to help caregivers cope with the heavy demands and sometimes impossible tasks they are faced with donated digital television cameras, lighting and sound equipment to do our own television production on long term health care from public access television centers in Oregon, which will be broadcast all over the United States via internet media and public access media office equipment and supplies transportation vehicles for critical outreach assessment team medical books and training manuals to help in our continuing education effort print shop to donate printing for United Caregivers of America sign shop to donate signs and banners for United Caregivers of America

CONCLUSION Our mission as most of you have already read is to support the elder caregiver in every way possibly can; to do that we must make, you, the general public or health care consumer aware that they need support, education, training, and recognition. This requires a massive public relations campaign and marketing plan. All of this is expensive and time consuming. We do not get paid for what we do. We do not have any benefits. We do not take vacations or go on fishing trips. We will do all of that when the caregiver is recognized as the important elements in the long term health care system. Until then we will burn the midnight oil writing letters, sending emails, making phone calls, eating on the run, barely paying the rent, going without sleep, and pacing holes in the floor until America wakes up and realizes that the caregiver is the gate keeper between life and death. They are the ones that can make or break you. Your life or the life of someone you love is already or soon will be in their hands. No, this program will not save the world. But it will make the world a better place for our elderly population who rely on the caregiver to protect them from harm to care for them in the face of sometimes impossible odds, and to love them unconditionally. This program is for everyone young and old, sick and well. You cannot help but be involved whether directly or indirectly. So please help us in our effort to make United Caregivers of America a lead to follow. We look forward to hearing from those of you who realize the breadth, depth, and magnitude of this problem and want to help bring it to the public's attention. For more information or to support United Caregivers of America. Our contact information is: United Caregivers of America http://www.unitedcaregiversofamerica.org Marion Pound, Executive Director Email address: queeniva89@gmail.com

OTHER PROJECTS FOR UNITED CAREGIVERS OF AMERICA

AMBASSADOR GROUP This very special group of volunteers will be responsible for outreach to shut ins and nursing home residents who have very little contact with the outside world. They will also provide much needed donated medical supplies and other items these patients cannot afford. They will be responsible for facilitating support groups for caregivers and conducting training and education workshops to volunteers and the general public. The ambassador group will respond to senior emergencies anywhere, anytime. They will work close with the Department of Aging, Police and Fire Departments, and local churches. They will also be able to assist in providing a wide range of services to those seniors in need who would otherwise have trouble getting it. We are looking for partners, funders, donors, and advisers to help build this much needed program. Our seniors deserve the best possible care we as a community can provide. They deserve the right to have access to resources that make care possible. Each and every one of you will be utilizing many if not all of these long term resources soon if not already. Why not be a part of making them the best they can be? When the community at large including sponsors, contributors, and volunteers realize that they are investing directly in their future and the future of their children, extended family, neighbors, and friends.; it makes it a little easier to put United Caregivers of America on your list of worthy organizations to fund.

STATISTICS ABOUT THE LONG TERM CARE SYSTEM

veterinarian assistants have more training in anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology than our caregivers who take care of our senior citizens certified nurse aides who work in nursing homes and other health care facilities have little or no training before they are turned loose with to manage these very sick and chronically ill patients in these institutions home health aides, in many cases, have absolutely no direct patient care training when they go to work; many of them are hired right off the street and put to work the very next day taking care of your loved ones long term care facilities are notorious for putting profits over patient care the caregivers that are responsible for delivering life saving drugs (medication aides) and have very little training in pharmacology and often go to work on the floor with real patients after only about 15 to 20 hours of training (more often than not without an experienced aide working with them to decrease opportunity for mistakes) caregivers who work in assisted living facilities can go to work full time without any medical training or previous job experience in the long term care field (would you want someone who just came from the local fast food joint to care for your mother and father who were chronically ill) most long term care training consists of watching a few videos, taking home some handouts and a stapled paper booklet that no one hardly ever reads; if you don't believe me go test a caregiver in your neighborhood very little, if any, specialty training is given to caregivers who work with Alzheimer's patients

currently there does not exist a powerful network or professional association for United States caregivers, that is why we started United Caregivers of America (http://www.unitedcaregiversofamerica.org) the average turn over rate for 95% of long term care facilities is 100%; these factors are due to long hours, low pay, no benefits, bad morale, lack of recognition

of the job done, lack of continuing education and training, and poor management a tremendous amount of unintentional neglect and abuse is going on right down the street from you; it has been built into the profit crazed system; the long term care system needs to be reorganized, reformed, and a system needs to be put in place to regulate this industry and raise the standard of care for all of America's seniors and those with chronic illnesses and injuries family members left to take care of their loved ones at home, who are chronically ill, have very little if any support from the local community, social service agencies, or the department of aging respite care in many cases is often unavailable or too expensive for families who need a break from the many stresses of care giving; one of the major factors causing patient abuse is caregiver burnout due to lack of resources and community support the average long term care consumer is completely unaware of the atrocities and criminal activities going on in long term care facilities in the United States dollar for dollar it is better to keep your loved ones at home and take care of them by utilizing the services of a qualified home health agency than to put them in a facility

POINTS TO PONDER
1) Baby boomers do not have as many children as their parents did. So the care giving load, which is considerably greater, will have to be carried by a relatively smaller number of people unless we're able to address the issue on a societal level. Whatever solution we come up with, someone will have to bear the costs, whether they are monetary, physical, of psychological Richard Schulz, Ph.D., a psychologist and researcher with the Pittsburgh Veterans Administration 2) Guilt is anger that people think they don't have the right to feel. 3) Care giving is one of the most challenging tasks a person can take on, especially if the situation lasts more than a few months. You can't do it all by yourself. You need help and lots of it. 4) The only thing really in control is your reaction to what's going on around you. 5) There's something deeply comforting about unburdening yourself to people who know exactly what you're going through because they've been there. 6) The more organized you are today, psychologically and logistically, the better prepared you'll be for tomorrow whatever it may bring. 7) You can tie yourself in a knot over a particular incident, or you can work at maintaining a healthy perspective on it. 8) Caring for your loved one provides not just assistance and support but also companionship. 9) A significant challenge for the care giving community, and for all of us, is to recognize that we need to help each other, especially as we age. 10) Caring for a loved one can be a demanding job and a rewarding one too. 11)My hope for the future is that family caregivers will be considered an integral part of the care system and be given the training, support, remuneration, and benefits that are their just due. 12) Caregivers need to be emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually ready to accept the challenges that await them, and they must learn how to give care in such a way that they feel they're not giving up their lives but rather expanding them. 13) People who laugh seem to be healthier, more creative, more productive, and better at problem solving. 14) I would like to see church congregations develop a goal-centered, high-quality senior adult program so that seniors don't get the left over time in the pastor's schedule or the congregation's schedule.

UNITED CAREGIVERS OF AMERICA HELPING AMERICA TO BE PREPARED: BEING PREPARED

Are you prepared for acute or long term life changing emergencies? Do you have everything in order? Have you chosen someone to speak for you and take care of your business in the event you become ill or injured? Do they know your complete medical history? Do they know all the medications you are taking? Do they know where you keep things? What about medical power of attorney? They will need this to help make critical decisions concerning your care and ongoing treatment. Do you have a will prepared? Is it up to date? Do you need to choose another executor or agent? Things do change you know. Do you have all of your important documents up to date and kept where your agent can find them? Have you sent copies of important papers to all those who need them? Where are the keys to any lock boxes you might have? Do you keep money hid anywhere? Who is your primary physician? Do you have other physicians your agent should contact should you become ill? What about life insurance or other insurance you may have? If you are old enough to work then you are old enough to get all or some of these things in complete order. If you are married and have children it is a must that you take care of these things now before it is too late. I speak from experience. This is not something to put off. Who will take care of you should you become ill? Will you stay at home with loved ones or go into a nursing home? At home care requires a lot of dedication on the part of the family members and others. It is not a job for the half hearted or someone that does not like digging in and getting their hands dirty. On the other hand nursing homes are notorious for not being able to take care of folks in the way that they should. How do you feel about life support and cardiac resuscitation? Do you want to be buried or cremated? Where do you want to be buried? Do you want a small service or large? Open or closed casket? Any other special requests? What do you want done with your ashes if you are cremated? All of these items need to be fully discussed now unless you want to leave your family members with a mess. Please take my advice and get your things in order. It won't happen unless you do it. It won't get done unless you start now. Remember whatever can possibly happen will. Take time and be prepared.

FLESH, BLOOD, AND BONE

The government can not and will not solve our problems we face today. Our problems are self made. They started with you and they will end with you. You are responsible for you. You are a part of your community. Your communities make up your town, municipalities, state, and country. It is your responsibility to take care of you. We live in a world where most people think the government owes them a living. We live in a country where people are afraid to stand up and fight for what is right. Sure we organize, gripe, protest, grumble, scream, shout, and pout. But we do act on our own accord. Do we take personal responsibility for our actions? Do we reach out to each other? Do we share each others burdens and sufferings? Are we able to forgive each other things we have done ourselves? Do we really love our neighbors? The answer is 'NO'. If we did the world would not be in the shape it is in. We are living in a self made hell on earth. The walls are collapsing all around us. Our education system is in ruin. Our economy is in the toilet. Our health care system favors the rich and famous. Our faith in God has fallen to an all time low. We are like chickens lost in a storm. Dogs without a home. Our ship has lost its way. We are moving dangerously toward the rocks of destruction. Our only hope is to change our stupid, selfish, and greedy ways. God is our only hope. He never left us. We have turned our face from his true and everlasting gospel. We have reinvented religion to fit our own way of thinking and doing. I am so sick and tired of hearing people complain about their problems. I am tired of listening as they blame everyone but themselves for the mess we've gotten ourselves into. We are all at fault and guilty as charged for helping this country fall apart. We are a nation in denial. Hell bent on self denial and the blame game. God has become a figment of most peoples' imaginations. He has become a mythical character in an ancient book. He is not the living, breathing, active, ever present everything personal God that formed the universe and created everything in it and around it. Churches have become powerless in the communities. Prayer has become something of a fad or ritual. True believers are a minority and shrinking by the minute. The God of America has become greed, selfishness, power, violence, lying, cheating, hate, disobedience, money, perversion, corporate corruption, fake smiles and handshakes, material possessions, and personal gain. We are a nation of back stabbers, busy bodies, two faced hypocrites. We are terminally divided on issues that could be solved with common sense and moral compass. Special interests have no place in God's kingdom. We are all one and the same and

should act accordingly. God does not see rich or poor. He does not see pretty or ugly. He does not see smart or dumb.

We are all connected at the hip, like it or not and yes you are your brother's keeper. God does not see color, race, creed, religion, or economic status. He sees the essence of his creation. The inside of the inside. We are flesh, blood, and bone. We are physical bodies trying to find our spiritual selves. We struggle to escape ourselves. These mortal tents are but temporary prisons that we must endure until released into the great beyond. We have been commanded to love one another. We have been given change over the earth, to preserve, keep, and secure it. We have been commanded to love our neighbor as our self. We have been given an opportunity to see God in all his glory and magnificence. We have come forth out of the ground to see all that is and be a part of it. Yet our base nature keeps us chained to self destruction. That is what we must fight every day that desire to do the opposite of what God has called us to do. We are commanded to hate evil and do that which is good and righteous. We are commanded to lift each other up, to love one another, and forgive as he loves and forgives us. But most have chosen the self-righteous and hypocritical path the one that leads to destruction and darkness. Our eyes have been blinded by the dark forces that abound. We have fallen for the deception and are suffering the consequences of our actions. The enemy is in the mirror we look into every morning. When we decide to face ourselves head on. When we decide to do the right thing. Then and only then can we have true peace and security.

The following article is one that has spurred us on in our hearts to continue with the mission of United Caregivers of America and spread the words to others: A SON'S LAST GOODBYE
Sitting there watching mother die is the hardest thing I know I will ever have to do in my lifetime. Her body swollen and ravaged, mangled, poked, and prodded. What else could they do to her? What else would I let them do to her? I wanted her to be my mother again like she used to be. I knew she was in there somewhere. I hoped she heard me when I told her I loved her more than life itself. Everyone in the hospice group told me to tell her its okay to go. Just whisper in her ear and tell her its okay. At the time it sounded insane to me. All I wanted was for her to wake up and talk to me just one time. But all she could do is just look at me with a cold glazed look with no expression what so ever. And sometimes when she heard my voice she would let out a moaning sound that broke my heart in half. If there could be a hell on earth this was is. I was living right in the middle of it. You are standing there pouring liquid into a tube inserted into her stomach. You are putting morphine and acetaminophen in her mouth. You are praying to God its all a dream. Oh God let this be a dream but it is not. It is real life and you have to face it head on like it or not. I wanted to take her place so bad. All that she had done for all of us and and to have to die like this. It is not fair. I don't understand it and anyone that says that they do is an idiot plain and simple. The last thing anyone wants to hear at a time like this is God has everything in his hands. You really just need someone to be quiet and listen. Just be there for you without lofty advice. You just want someone to share your grief and deep sorrow in that moment and time. I laid down beside her those last few hours. I kissed her on her forehead and cheek. I loved her with all of my heart but it would not bring her back to me. It was almost time for her to go. The end of my world was coming and somehow I had to deal with it. Her temperature was 106 degrees Fahrenheit. Her bowels were moving uncontrollably. Her eyes opened wide as we were cleaning her up. I screamed Mother go on to Heaven if you can.. I held her as she took her last little breath and she was gone. My mother was gone. Oh God be with me and help me through this Father. I put her stuffed animals on her chest and lay with her for an hour or so. It didn't seem real. We cut off a lock of her beautiful hair to keep. I still sleep on the pillow she died on every night and I will forever. May God be with you all in times like this.