Managing Your Caregiver Career

Hello Caregivers!

A restful sleep is so important for your mental and physical health. That’s why when you accept a night shift, it may be hard on your mind and body if you are used to working during daylight hours. Below are a few tips to help you adjust to an upcoming night shift schedule.

It is almost impossible to get ready for the night shift in just a couple of days. If you have the time, it’s best to train your body and mind for a few weeks to acclimate to the change.

Create a perfect space for sleeping during the day by mimicking night. This may include using blackout curtains, a sleep mask and possibly ear plugs to minimize any distractions to your sleep. Also keep the room cool and tell people in your household to be as quiet as possible while you rest. It’s not easy to reset your body’s natural circadian rhythm!

On your night shift, it can be tempting to consume foods or beverages with sugar or caffeine for a much needed jolt. But these can offset all the hard work you have put into training your body’s clock. Opt for healthier alternatives such as berries, nuts, yogurt and lots of water. For a quick pick-me-up try a brisk walk, a cold compress to your face and neck or do some jumping jacks. Anything to get your mind and body moving again!

My favorite sleep mask and ear plugs I personally use:

Stay Amazing!

~ Franny

Hello Caregivers!

Managing your money is important no matter your career, but it is especially important when your pay may vary from week to week. When you trust a bank with your hard earned money, you want to make sure they don’t tack on any fees or hidden costs! Below are recommendations of 3 no-fee checking accounts. Some even offer cash bonuses for signing up! As with any financial product, make sure you read the fine print and they do not have physical locations to visit if you have questions, just online/phone customer service.

Note: Recommendations based on information current as of September 28, 2022

SoFi

You may have seen SoFi billboards around town or even been to an event at the splashy new SoFi stadium. What started as a college loan company has morphed into a full service online bank. SoFi is offering a no-fee checking and savings account and up to $300 “cash back” when you link to direct deposit and meet the minimum deposits. They also offer a 2.00% APY (annual percentage yield) which is basically unheard of in the banking world and an option to get paid before payday.

https://www.sofi.com/banking/

Ally Banking

I have personally used Ally Bank and their app and customer service is great. They have zero monthly fees and no overdraft fees. They also will never charge you for a low balance. Their APY is low at .25% so I would recommend looking elsewhere if you want to accrue interest. They also have an option to get paid before payday.

https://www.ally.com/bank/interest-checking-account/

Chime

Chime is the newest addition to the online banking world. It being a younger entity might give you some pause, but Chime has great reviews. One thing unique about Chime is they do not charge for international transactions, so if you are traveling overseas you can use your Chime card without any fees. Chime also will not charge for monthly fees, overdraft and they have the largest network of in-network ATMs (ATMs you can use without a fee). Again, they also have an option to get paid before payday.

Note: Chime has a credit card as well and their website can make it a bit confusing. I am only talking about their debit card or checking account here.

https://chime.com

Stay Amazing!

~ Franny

Hello Caregivers!

As a professional caregiver you have never been in higher demand. It is a perfect time to reevaluate your pay rates. It’s all about leverage! (With FrannyCares you can set what your desired pay range. We will not show you any jobs lower than your set range.) If you think you are being underpaid, you must take it upon yourself to ask for a raise and demonstrate why you deserve one. Not the easiest conversation, I know…but this is YOUR power and YOUR livelihood. Taking control is the only option.

Below are my tips for negotiating a raise:

Do Your Research

Knowing what the average pay is in your area is critical to know before you start negotiating. Check out Intuit Mint for average salaries for caregiving jobs. If you have caregiver friends, ask them what they are getting paid. Also ask them what benefits they receive, for instance, paid-time off, paid meals, health insurance etc.

Note: Intuit’s figure is a yearly salary so to find out what the hourly rate is, you would divide by 2080, which is the average hours worked per year.

Make a List

You may think your employer understands your value and will pay you fairly. I wish, you wish, we all wish! If you don’t advocate for yourself and stay silent then things will stay the same. I recommend caregivers write down all the times they helped their employers by going above and beyond, were flexible with covering a shift or received compliments from a family, colleagues or supervisors. Your aim is not to read this list off, but it demonstrates that YOU understand your value and you want the employer to understand it as well.

Note: Pay disparity between women of color and White women has increased over the past few months. Do not be a statistic.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Negotiating for a raise is not a conversation we have every day. What I’m saying is that it is usually uncomfortable to us because we haven’t practiced it like we have practiced our conversations with say, a dementia patient, or giving colleagues notes on patients during shift changes. These are conversations you can probably have in your sleep! Tap a trusted individual to play the role of the employer. Have them say “no” to you or “we don’t have the budget” or “why do you need a raise?”. The more you practice your pitch, the better the result will be.

Note: Remember this is a negotiation. An employer may go back and forth with you on the actual figure. Know what your bottom line is. What is the minimum figure you are willing to accept?

Good advice from a CEO!

Stay Amazing!

~ Franny

Hello Caregivers!

There is probably some confusion to the different terms we and others use to describe caregivers. And the reason is not because we want to be difficult (I promise!) but because the training, certification and terms can vary from state to state. You may have heard terms such as personal care attendant, home health aide, healthcare assistant, professional caregiver etc. which can all mean different things. So to clear things up I’m going to tell you what it is in the State of California only, FrannyCares’ home base.

Many in-home care agencies, assisted living facilities and SNFs etc. require their caregivers to be licensed home care aides (HCAs). However, the HCA term does not necessarily exist in other states. An HCA must be licensed by the state of California and have 5 hours of training from their employer each year. They must also pass a background check and be clear of TB. HCAs provide non-medical help with activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs).

Home Health Aides (HHAs) is the term I see get mixed up the most. Here in California HHAs require more training than an HCA and can work in Medicare approved services such as home health and hospice. Their HHA certification is checked and audited so that home health and hospice agencies can be reimbursed by Medicare and Medicaid. Home Health Aides will assist with ADLs and IADLs however their extended training allows them to assist with medications and basic skin/wound care.

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) go through a rigorous training and certification process. They must pass state clinicals and exams to be a CNA. CNAs assist with all ADLs, IADLs, administration of medications, taking of vital signs and setting up medical equipment such as an IV drip.

Whatever name you go by, HHA, HCA, PCA, or another combination of the alphabet YOU all are the unsung heroes of the healthcare system and at the end of the day you all give care. People depend on your smile, your assistance, your knowledge, your skill, your presence day in and day out. We thank you!

Stay Amazing!

~Franny

Hello Caregivers!

Over the next 7 years, long-term care employers will need to fill 7.4 million direct care jobs. This is due to our aging population and that luckily, our seniors are living longer. And with an impending care shortage, this is an incredible time to be pickier with the jobs you take, which employers you decide to work with and what benefits you deserve as a caregiver.

Because of the critical need for caregivers we are proposing a new, and we truly believe, a better way to find a caregiver job.

Below is a snippet of how FrannyCares works to match you in real-time to employers based on:

** YOUR requirements (what type of jobs you are looking for)
** YOUR skills (what type of jobs you are qualified for) and
** YOUR availability (choose the shifts you want):

Our team is focused on making the whole job search process easier on caregivers. When you are matched with a job YOU control the process by saying you are interested or not. Employers cannot contact you until you agree to be contacted.

No more scrolling. No more clicking on link after link to find out a job fits you.

We hope you love FrannyCares! And it’s free for caregivers forever. Period.

Stay Amazing!

~Franny

Hello Caregivers!

A couple weeks ago we told you about the best sneakers for running around as caregivers. You have to take care of your feet! Today we are going to talk about the best scrubs on the market. There are several scrub companies out there reinventing those once dowdy, scratchy and ill-fitting scrubs. Here are the most innovative scrub brands:

Lago Wear – THE ONE TO ADMIRE

Started by designers who used to work at Nike (one of the coolest companies on the planet) Lago has created scrubs that fit well and look amazing. They come in a variety of colors and are breathable, wrinkle free and best of all…they are made with sustainable materials and sustainably manufactured. Lago scrubs are the best choice to feel good while DOING good for the planet.

Figs – THE ONE YOU KNOW

It’s hard to walk into a healthcare facility and not see someone in Figs scrubs. In less than 10 years, Figs has become a favorite amongst healthcare professionals. And it’s easy to see why, their scrubs provide a great fit and they partner with other brands to bring cool collaborations to market. Also some good news…students get 15% off! Save some money while looking good!

Perfect Fit Scrubs – THE ONE FOR THE LADIES

Kelvina Coles started Perfect Fit Scrubs and she had first hand experience in scrubs as a healthcare professional. She designs figure-flattering scrubs no matter your size and right now has 3 different styles and even a very cute sweats set. Kelvina is super generous and is offering a discount for FrannyCares readers: Enter “WEARPERFECT” at checkout to save some money!

Stay Amazing!

~Franny