A couple of weeks ago (on May 6, to be achingly exact), we celebrated an “Information & Assistance Fair” with about 150 of our closest friends at the Port Angeles Senior Center, which I, for one, thoroughly enjoyed. If you made it – Thanks! If you didn’t, you can always call 452-3221 (1-800-801-0070) and get access to all the same stuff, and all the same people, for free. Decent people will help you, without trying to sell you anything.
Now, having lived here for 30+ years, I know what a lot of people on the West End are thinking: “Swell – Just another agency that thinks civilization ends where the lake begins.”
OK, granted, the “civilization” discussion might be another matter, but to get to what you’re really thinking, I say, “Hah!” (Well, I didn’t really say “Hah!” – I almost never say “Hah!” – But I thought it…) and I thought “Hah!” because the day after tomorrow (May 21, to be achingly exact), we’re throwing the first annual “Forks Family Fair” in…Port Angeles!
No, I’m kidding; obviously, we’re throwing the “Forks Family Fair” in Forks! At the Recreation Center, to be achingly exact (90 Maple Street, to overstate the obvious) from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and you care about this…why?
Well, for 4 hours on a Saturday, you can get access to a whole lot of information in one place, for free, without having to sit through any speeches or programs. You can just wander around, gather up info, talk to any of us who will be lurking about and leave when you’re darned good-and-ready; for instance:
- Are you taking care of somebody who needs to be taken care of, whether they like it or not? Then, you’re a “caregiver” – Whether you like it or not, so you might want to see what’s available for Family Caregivers or “Relatives as Parents;”
- How about Olympic Medical Home Health?
- How about an expert on Veteran’s Disability?
- How about face-painting for kids (well, I assume it’ll be mostly kids, but one can never be sure…)?
- Free (Yes, FREE) sno-cones!
- …or, for that matter, free refreshments!
- Or, maybe you have a few thousand questions about health insurance and/or Medicare and/or Medicaid? Yup, people will be there who know what they’re talking about and will NOT try to sell you anything!
- …and “Sunshine & Rainbows,” and “Concerned Citizens” and “OlyCAP” and “Assured Hospice” and and and…
- …and, of course, good old “Information & Assistance” – Us.
See? Where else are you going to find this on a Saturday?
Now, here’s the best part: Maybe you don’t even know what you’re looking for – Maybe you just know what’s wrong, or what might be wrong or what could go wrong or what you’d rather not have be wrong, and you just need to share it with someone who will actually listen and give you some ideas without asking you for money – Come on.
Yes? Day after tomorrow, May 21, 10:00-2:00, at the Rec Center, free. Or we can just grab a couple of sno-cones and debate where civilization really ends…
Now, just a quick little something from a reader who has, obviously, “been-there, done-that,” and the subject is finding a caregiver. What people often mean when they use that phrase – “…finding a caregiver…” – Is finding someone to hire to come in and “help,” which can mean anything from helping with the housework to helping with errands and chores to helping with VERY “personal” care.
There are generally two ways to do that: (1) search out one of a number of local “homecare agencies,” interview them, get their rates and off you go; (2) find someone to hire, privately, on your own, so let’s talk about #2.
The good news is that, sometimes, you can find a saint who will change your family’s lives, for less than you might have to pay a homecare agency. The BAD news is that, sometimes, you might find a “predator” who will steal you blind – Or worse; it’s a crapshoot, on a good day.
If you’re thinking “AGENCY!”Go to http://www.o3a.org/, where you can find a list of all the homecare agencies in the area. If you’re thinking, “Nooo…I really need to save a few bucks, so I’m going to look around…”, then do a couple of things:
- Get a copy of our booklet, “How to Hire In-Home Help,” then read it – Twice;
- References, references, REFERENCES!
- …and now, a suggestion from a reader you cares, and that reader says:
“…you might want to encourage people looking for caregivers to do some of their own background search by looking at Washington State court records online.
Go to http://dw.courts.wa.gov// Click on Name Search, click on Accept, then type in last and first names. A middle initial might help distinguish the person from others with the same name.
This works to investigate anyone who has lived in Washington State and has gone to court for any reason.”
While I haven’t actually tried it, it sounds like a good idea – There is no such thing as too much info on a person you are going to bring into your home. In the booklet mentioned above, “How to Hire In-Home Help,” you’ll also find info on how to run your own background checks.
Enough? OK, see ya Saturday. You bring the chocolate chip cookies and I’ll bring the sno-cones – You’re on your own with the face-painting…
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