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Author teachers others how to be ‘The Ultimate Caregiver'
Frustration over uncaring corporations motivated Tena Scallan to write and publish “The Ultimate Caregiver.”
“I was just sick of this; I wanted to teach the world how to be the ultimate caregiver,” said the Sandestin resident.
A breadth of information is included in the book, from basic first aid and back rubs to types of soap and how to cook an egg and properly measure a person’s blood pressure. Illustrations are included to take the “guessing out,” she said.
The roots of the book are from notebooks she puts together for her Independent Living Services clients.
Scallan thinks it is better for an aging loved one to stay in the home as long as possible. But she has seen how it can affect the family and in some cases how lost they are providing even the most basic care.
From her first job as a candy striper, Scallan has known she was destined to work in the health care industry.
“I’m not in it for profit. If I were I would have been a millionaire a long time ago,” she said. “I pay most of the money out to my employees; they are all medically knowledgeable EMTs, CNAs, lawmen and firemen.”
All of her employers are “very elegant” and “my employees are top notch,” she said.
The hardest part of the job for Scallan is helping clients deal with a tough reality.
Hard situations like “when an employer says ‘My wife is not doing so well’ or ‘I want her to be like she was,’ ” Scallan said.
In between caring for patients and running a business across three states with 19 full-time employees, Scallan released her guide for people “to take care of their family member or anyone, anytime, anywhere.”
“I didn’t miss anything; everything is in there,” Scallan said of her first book that was released in May.
Subscribing to the idea that “if you look good, you feel good,” Scallan provides massages, pedicures and manicures to her clients.
Scallen will be signing books and answering questions at Seasider’s Sundog books on Sept. 18 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The book is being offered in hardback and paper editions at Sun Dog Books, Barnes and Noble and as an e-book at Amazon.com, ultimatecaregiver.net or xlibirs.com
