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Why I’m Grateful For FMLA

February 9, 2023 by Diane Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links, and I will be compensated (at no extra cost to you) when you make a purchase by clicking on my links.

Image of female physician standing in operating room

First, I apologize for disappearing on you for the past two-plus weeks. You were correct if you guessed it was because of my cancer journey.

My problems started with a plummeting hemoglobin, resulting in extreme fatigue. I didn’t even have enough energy to work on my blog. Thankfully, I received two units of blood, and my hemoglobin has now improved significantly. Once again, I’m so very grateful to all of you blood donors out there!

Next, I developed a pleural effusion (excessive fluid around my lung). This led to significant shortness of breath and even less energy to work on my blog. I ended up needing a thoracentesis where they drained 1800 cc of fluid from my left lung. (That’s nearly the amount of a 2-liter soda bottle!)

A dear friend was with me during my blood transfusions, and my daughter took time off from work to be with me during and after the thoracentesis. I can’t imagine how lonely and scary some of these cancer treatments would be if I had nobody to be with me.

That leads me to today’s topic. I want to be sure all of you are aware of the FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act). This law could affect you, your co-workers, or your residents’ family members.

What is FMLA?

Years ago, I remember several sad situations where a family member couldn’t be with one of our seriously ill or dying residents for fear of losing their job. The FMLA came about in response to these and other work/life balance concerns.

Signed into law in 1993, the FMLA provides unpaid leave for specific family and medical events while providing job protection. These include:

  • birth of a baby
  • adoption
  • need to help care for a seriously ill family member
  • serious personal health problem

How do I qualify for FMLA?

Be aware that several specific regulations cover eligibility for FMLA. For example, an employee must have worked for the employer for at least 12 months. Also, the employer must have at least 50 employees within a 75-mile radius. Therefore, it’s important to talk with your HR department to be sure you follow all the rules and preserve your rights.

How long does FMLA last?

FMLA provides up to 12 weeks of job-protected unpaid leave per year. However, the 12 weeks don’t always need to be taken at one time. My daughter has taken a few shorter periods of FMLA to help me when I’ve gone through particularly difficult situations with my cancer treatments.

Again, thank you for your patience during this challenging time. My posts might be spotty over the next month or so while I work to get my cancer symptoms under control. In the meantime, I hope you’ll come back and catch up on articles you haven’t had an opportunity to read in the past.

Filed Under: Did You Know? Tagged With: cancer journey

Why We Need To Understand RSV

December 17, 2022 by Diane Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links, and I will be compensated (at no extra cost to you) when you make a purchase by clicking on my links.
Senior Hispanic man wearing casual clothes feeling unwell and coughing.

You’ve probably heard about the “tripledemic” of respiratory infections expected this winter. This includes COVID, influenza, and RSV.

We’re all familiar with COVID and influenza. However, unless you’re the parent of a young child, you might not know much about RSV.

[Read more…] about Why We Need To Understand RSV

Filed Under: Did You Know?

What Is An Adult Foster Care Home?

November 20, 2022 by Diane Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links, and I will be compensated (at no extra cost to you) when you make a purchase by clicking on my links.

Image of young woman combing elderly woman's hair.

The other day, one of my readers asked for my opinion of adult foster care homes. Unfortunately, I knew very little about this concept. So, I’ve been doing some research, and today I’ll share what I learned.

What is an adult foster care home?

An adult foster care home is a private home providing supervision and basic care to a small group of unrelated residents aged 18 and over. The residents may have developmental delays, mental health issues, or they may be elderly.

Rules vary depending on the state, but they usually limit the number of residents to six or fewer. Unlike an assisted living community, caregivers live in the house with the residents. While they provide care around the clock, the caregivers usually sleep during the night.

[Read more…] about What Is An Adult Foster Care Home?

Filed Under: Did You Know?

The Surveyors Just Walked In!

November 11, 2022 by Diane Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links, and I will be compensated (at no extra cost to you) when you make a purchase by clicking on my links.

Drawing of male detective wearing a trench coat & holding a magnifying glass.

When you saw the title of this article, did you feel a twinge of panic? If so, you’re not alone.

During the many years I worked in nursing homes, my stomach always did a flip when I heard the surveyors had entered our building. No matter what wonderful care you provide, it’s always unnerving to be watched and questioned by surveyors.

So, who are these people? Today we’ll look at the purpose, backgrounds, and responsibilities of nursing home surveyors.

[Read more…] about The Surveyors Just Walked In!

Filed Under: Did You Know?

Who Is The Nursing Home Housekeeper?

July 14, 2022 by Diane Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links, and I will be compensated (at no extra cost to you) when you make a purchase by clicking on my links.

Young woman helping older woman clean her home.

As we go through our shifts as nursing home staff members or volunteers, I think it’s important to understand the jobs of those around us. In the past, we’ve covered roles such as the social worker, activities director, and pharmacist. Today we’ll look at the nursing home housekeeper.

During the COVID pandemic, we realized the importance of these behind-the-scenes employees more than ever before. Housekeepers work hard to help keep residents, staff, and visitors safe and healthy.

[Read more…] about Who Is The Nursing Home Housekeeper?

Filed Under: Did You Know?

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