February 2016
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A Word from
Mollie Baldwin, CEO
February is mild and free of major storms so far. Per the ground hog, we will have an early spring! Days are getting longer and that feels good.
The Agency aprons have been mailed. Enclosed with the apron will be a copy of the policy and an acknowledgement of receipt of the apron to be signed and sent back to central office. Wear them with pride and spread the word about Home Care for Maine! (All workers who have met their probationary period and have their PSS certification are receiving them now and they will be mailed going forward as employees meet these requirements.)
New timesheets are now in effect! Please ask your Staffing Coordinator if you have any questions about the timesheets. If an Area Coordinator stops in at one of your consumer’s when you are there, feel free to ask them questions about consumers initialing the timesheet each day. Please review the timesheet policy we sent out. Pay close attention to the Paid Travel Time policy as well and if you incur travel time beyond 30 minutes be sure to track it on the paid travel timesheet and send it in with your regular timesheets.
LD 886 is being worked on next Thursday before the Health & Human Services Committee. I will be present to answer any questions committee members may have and to promote additional rate changes that have been proposed. We’ll keep you posted as the Legislature debates this important matter.
Those workers eligible for health insurance have received the required tax documents we sent out. Please call us if you have questions.
Keep up the good work and thank you for caring for the consumers we serve!
Social Media
You do not want to become friends with your consumers on Facebook, Twitter, Myspace,ect… It can become an issue.
Calls from Homecare
If Home Care for Maine calls you, please listen to our voicemail before calling us back.
Policy reminder
If it is snowing or has snowed, make sure you that yourconsumersdriveway and walk way is plowed or shoveled. You can call your consumers before going to make sure it is. If it is not cleared, you cannot go to work and need to call the office. It is not your job to shovel them out.
Presidents Day Facts
- Presidents' Day/Washington's Birthday is a federal holiday in the United States. Even though George's birthday was February 22nd, the day is officially celebrated on the third Monday in February.
- In the 1700s, George Washington's birthday was celebrated while he was still alive, and many in the U.S. took part in the festivities. He was born in 1732 and died in 1799.
- In 1879, approximately one century later, President Rutherford B. Hayes signed the bill making February 22nd a federal holiday.
- Abraham Lincoln's birthday falls closely to George Washington but his is not a federal holiday. Many states still celebrate his birthday along with George Washington's.
- Even though it is a federal holiday, each state is free to call it what they choose and how to celebrate.
Grippers
Driveways, doorways, and walkways may be slippery. Please make sure that you are wearing your grippers. Your safety is important.
Personal Issues
Discussion of personal issue is prohibited. You don’t want your consumer or their families upset and it is very unprofessional.
Valentine’s Day Facts
- In 1537, King Henry the Eighth declared that February 14th was a holiday. King Henry the Eighth had most of his wives executed because they did not give birth to a son.
- Penicillin was introduced on February 14th in 1929.
- On Valentine’s Day, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell applied for his telephone patent.
- The first Valentine`s Day candy box was invented by Richard Cadbury in the late 19th century.
- Every Valentine’s Day, the Italian city of Verona receives approximately 1,000 letters that have been addressed to Juliet. This is where Romeo and Juliet, the young lovers in Shakespeare’s play, lived.
Calling All Workers!
We need workers in many parts of the state. Remember the referral bonus program! The referral program pays a $200.00 bonus (taxable) to employees who refer applicants who meet Home Care for Maine’s hiring criteria and who are in good standing at their 3 month anniversary. The employee receiving the referral bonus must be an active employee at the time of the bonus paid out.
Recipe Of The Month
Chocolate Cheerios Marshmallow Hearts
Ingredients
Crust
1 cup Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
1 cup Chocolate Cheerios™ cereal, crushed
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups miniature marshmallows
Topping
2/3 cup light corn syrup
¼ cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 bag (11.5 ounces) milk chocolate chips
4 cups Chocolate Cheerios™ cereal
Betty Crocker™ candy sprinkles, if desired
Directions
1Heat oven to 350°F. Line bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with foil. In large bowl, mix all crust ingredients except marshmallows with electric mixer on low speed until crumbly. Press firmly into bottom of pan.
2Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove from oven. Immediately sprinkle with marshmallows. Return to oven; bake an additional 1 to 2 minutes or until marshmallows just begin to puff. Cool while preparing topping.
3In large saucepan, place all topping ingredients except cereal and sprinkles. Heat over medium-low heat just until chips are melted and mixture is smooth, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in 4 cups cereal. Immediately spoon warm topping over marshmallows; spread to cover. Sprinkle with candy sprinkles. Cool completely, at least 1 hour.
4Using foil to lift, remove mixture from pan; remove foil. With deep 2 1/2-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out 18hearts. Store loosely covered.
Medical Emergency Policy
Medical emergencies include, but are not limited to;
- Uncontrollable breathing problems
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Uncontrollable pain
- Inability to move in their usual manner
- Inability to respond/interact with others
- Loss of consciousness
When a reasonably prudent person believes the consumer is experiencing a medical emergency, the emergency medical system will be activated by calling 911 (or the correct telephone number for that area). This is true even when the consumer or family member request that you not call 911. The Direct Care Workers/Personal Support Specialists call the emergency response team before calling the office. Note: Do not attempt to move an individual in distress.
After the emergency medical personnel have arrived and are providing care for the consumer, the Direct Care Workers/Personal Support Specialists will call the Supervisor to report a consumer incident. The Direct Care Worker/Personal Support Specialist does not accompany the consumer to the hospital unless directed to do so by the Supervisor.
The Supervisor completes the Consumer Incident Report Form and contacts the emergency contact person the consumer has indicated. The referral source is also contacted if appropriate. If the medical emergency occurs after hours or on a weekend or holiday, the on-call manager completes the Consumer Incident Report Form and leaves a voice mail message for a Supervisor.
Home Care for Maine – providing Personal Care and Homemaking Services since 1994