Prime Living Aiken Standard
September 2021
Kara Flanders
Director of Business Development
DayBreak Adult Care Services
Do you have a White Card, or do you think you might be eligible for one? My job as the Business Development Director of DayBreak Adult Care Services is to assist families with the process which can be arduous without the help of someone who knows the program.
When I find out that our clients spent time working at Savannah River Plant (now SRS), I ask about their medical history to see if they have a condition that could be a result of the chemicals, radiation, or solvents they worked with during their employment at SRP/SRS. In 2001, the Department of Labor passed an act called the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program or EEOICP. In our area, it is commonly referred to as the White Card.
Exposures from radiation, chemicals, and solvents used at SRP?SRS has been shown to lead to cancer, COPD, Beryllium Disease, and even Parkinson’s disease. If a former worker is awarded the White Card, he or she receives a lump-sum payment of $150,000 (an additional $250,000 is possible, depending on the worker’s impairment rating) from the Department of Labor. That makes looking into the program worth the effort, but there is something else that might be equally beneficial. The former worker is awarded care for life for the accepted diagnosis on the card. That means DayBreak Adult Care Services can come alongside the family and provide the caregivers or nurses, depending on the level of care needed by the client, for the remainder of his or her life.
Seniors want to remain in their homes as they age instead of moving into nursing homes or similar facilities. DayBreak works with clients to find a caregiver to help with all activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing, toileting, ambulation, and transfers. Caregivers can also do light housekeeping; provide transportation to appointments, meal preparation, and socialization with the client.
DayBreak stands out because of our ability to care for the spouse of a DOL client. Because of our DHEC license, we can provide care for Mom and Dad. Please give me a call and allow me to join you in pursuing the White Card for you or your loved one! Call DayBreak at 803-226-0288 for a free in-home consultation.
