Alex Camarillo is one perfect example of this. He is 35 years old, has severe multiple sclerosis, and lives at home in South Bend, Indiana, where he is cared for by his brother Danny, who is in his late 30s.
The brothers could not live in the way that they do without the benefit of the support they receive from a dedicated care team from Caregiver Homes.
Danny told me: “I was put in contact with Caregiver Homes through Real Services. I think this is a very valuable company with a lot of resources. It is extremely helpful to someone as myself, who does not have any medical experience.
“The services I have used the most have been the resources the company has helped set me up with. For example, getting Alex set up with a therapist to see, and also just the support they offer Alex when they come to our home. They are always a listening ear for him, which is very helpful.”
I asked how long Alex had been diagnosed. Danny’s reply was heartbreaking: “Alex has been diagnosed with MS since 2012. I myself have been diagnosed since beginning of 2015.”
Yes, both brothers have MS.
Fascinated with the services provided by Caregiver Homes, I spoke with Dr. Jay Patel, the clinical transformation officer of its parent company, Seniorlink.
Care at home achievable with right support
“Caregiver Homes is a caregiving-focused organization that provides training and support to Medicaid recipients — support to allow them to stay in their own homes,” Dr. Patel said.
“Every client has a care manager and nurse who identify needs, create a care plan to achieve goals, overcome obstacles and make regular visits. They also work with hospital discharges, medications and so on.”
He continued: “Over time, regular family caregivers can become stressed. In these cases, we can provide an alternative caregiver who can step in to give the regular one a break. We can also find an adult day care facility in some communities. We find the most appropriate places and can provide help with transport if needed.”
The company currently has 3,500 families as active clients across six states, but demand for its services is growing. “We will not only be expanding in those states but, in the next few years will be launching in three others,” he said.
I was keen to know how his company’s services are funded. Dr Patel said: “Caregiver Homes is not a charity; we are a ‘for profit’ organization, but all the services we provide to a client are paid for by Medicaid. We only work for Medicaid recipients.
So, how do the Camarillo brothers rate the support they receive?
“Caregiver Homes has helped me in numerous ways in caring for Alex,” Danny said. “They are always very supportive and there if I have any questions or concerns. It is also very nice that they come and do in-home meetings, because sometimes it is hard to get Alex out of the house.
“At the same time, they are very respectful of our time and privacy and never come without arranging something beforehand. This company has allowed me to properly care for my brother and give him sense of independence rather than having nurses/home health aides come in and care for him.”
This article,written by me, first appeared in Multiple Sclerosis News Today.
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