Another option for care of seniors

Monday, June 19, 2006 | 7:01 a.m.

Andrew Gyure had a dilemma, and he needed help.

The former Scottsdale, Ariz., resident took a job in February as head of catering at Wynn Las Vegas at the same time his mother, Betti, was getting out of a nursing home after an extended stay. He was eager for her to make the move with him.

It wasn't that Gyure, 46, had to sell his mom on the idea of moving here. They had visited a couple of years ago and agreed it would be a nice place to live. They owned separate condos in Scottsdale and decided to sell them and share a home here.

"I wanted her to come with me, and I wanted the peace of mind of knowing she was in the same house," he said.

Managing the catering operations at one of the Strip's premier resorts is demanding work, however, and Gyure often worked 10-hour-plus days and some weekends.

Betti Gyure is 78, and while her mind is still sharp, infirmities and illnesses have taken a toll on her body. She uses a wheelchair or a walker to get around, and she just can't do many everyday chores anymore.

The Gyures' home, in one of the valley's most scenic areas, is equipped with large closets and wide doorways that accommodate her wheelchair, and all of the modern conveniences.

Still, despite the creature comforts, the mountains of Red Rock Canyon as a backdrop and Mitzi the dog for company, Gyure didn't feel good about leaving his mother home alone all day.

He feared choosing between putting his mother back in a nursing home and giving up a really good job.

Then he found Home Instead Senior Care.

The company is one of several that provide home care services and companionship for older adults in the valley. It has more than 600 franchises throughout the world and can provide care for a few hours a day or around the clock.

With estimates of up to 25 percent of U.S. adults providing care of some kind for an elderly relative, the demand for such service continues to grow.

Gyure had heard good things about Home Instead from an acquaintance but was still a little bit wary. After all, this was his mom.

"We had some bad experiences with the nursing home, and I did not want her to go through anything like that again," he said.

From his first conversation with the people at Home Instead, Gyure said, he began to feel at ease. They asked him questions about what kind of care his mother would need, but also about what kinds of activities she enjoyed and how she spent her day. Then they came to the Gyures' Summerlin home and talked to Betti Gyure about what she wanted from a caregiver.

"They really seemed concerned about finding someone that was compatible with me," she said. "That meant a lot."

Andrew Gyure admits cost was also a consideration. Although he said it is impossible to put a price tag on good care for his mother, he had seen how expensive that can be .

"I expected it to be more expensive than a nursing home because of the personal care and attention that they give, but actually found it to be much less," Gyure said.

Home Instead Senior Care charges $16.95 per hour for 10 or more hours a week, with a three-hour daily minimum. For visits of nine hours per week or less the hourly rate increases to $17.95.

Gyure said the first caregiver the company provided "was like Mary Poppins," and his mother really liked her. Unfortunately, she had to leave to take care of her own father, and her replacement was competent but "just not a good fit."

Then Marie Carter, Gyure's current caregiver, showed up. The third time was the charm.

"We get along great," Betti Gyure said. "She comes in now, and I don't even need to tell her anything; she knows what to do."

Carter stays with her while Andrew Gyure is at work and can also stay overnight - as she did this past weekend when he went out of town.

Her chores can include just about anything nonmedical - from shopping, to laundry, to taking exercise walks with Betti.

Home Instead tries to use the same caregiver whenever possible to increase the comfort level for its clients.

While companies such as Home Instead are not currently licensed, Bonnie Reppert, owner of the Las Vegas franchise, said they soon will be and she welcomes that.

"I think it's a great idea," she said. "It lends some credibility to us."

Reppert said the emphasis on the whole family and not just the person receiving care is a key to the company's success.

"We recognize that the family, especially those who share the residence, put a lot of effort into the care as well."

With that in mind, Home Instead and Caring Today Magazine are trying to give some family caregivers a break. The companies are sponsoring an essay contest for $10,000 in free home care services distributed among three winners. The essays will focus on the challenges and rewards associated with providing care for a family member.

Andrew Gyure plans to submit an essay, but not just for the prize.

He admits he has had to make some sacrifices but said that it is also tremendously satisfying for him to know that his mother will be able to live out her days in her own home. He thinks people who can't see that are missing out.

"I know some people would not look at it that way," he said, "but for me it was a no-brainer. This is my mother and it's worth it."