Caregiving is a team effort – we are in it together!
Being a caregiver is a lot of responsibility. But a Help at Home caregiver never should feel like they are on their own. Being part of the Help at Home team means that they have a national network of people who stand ready to help.
For example, Help at Home can help caregivers figure out how to evaluate a client’s home for tripping hazards or suggest ways to adjust favorite activities to accommodate different abilities. We are a team working together to solve our client’s problems!
Here’s a recent example: Ezell is a caregiver in Georgia who works with several clients who need help going on outings in the community. One day, Ezell made six stops with his client! But the client, who had communication challenges, wanted to go to one more place. Ezell couldn’t understand where the client wanted to go. That could be frustrating for both the client and the caregiver. But Ezell didn’t give up. He called a Help at Home professional who specialized in the type of challenges this client had. Together they were able to figure out that he wanted to go to a bookstore. That was a good day for the client and the Help at Home team.
Ezell, a Help at Home Caregiver located in Georgia
“We have all kinds of support for our caregivers,” said Priscilla Messir, Chief People Officer for Help at Home. “Whether you are having trouble understanding a client’s specific need or wanting to get advice on a piece of equipment, we are prepared to help you serve the client. That is one of the reasons we are considered the best employer for caregivers.”
Home Care – a passion-driven career
Ezell is a former army medic and once worked in a nursing home, so he knows that caring for people can take a lot of different forms. As a home care worker, he doesn’t need any medical training, he just needs to enjoy being there for people who need a little extra help.
Most of Ezell’s clients have developmental challenges. He typically meets them after they arrive home from group workshop activities and takes them on outings – whether that’s a walk in the park, shopping or attending an outdoor concert. One of his clients likes to go to Burger King or GameStop. “I really don’t count it as working,” said Ezell. He said he feels like he is helping someone who needs it.
Ezell said that in a home care role, he feels like he is really helping his clients live out their interests and dreams. Once he took a client to an outdoor band performance and the drummer let his client play the drums! Ezell took video of the client’s performance and sent it to the clients’ mother. It made her day. At Help at Home, we strive to have meaningful moments and good days. That was both!
A home care approach means you are part of the team
In some cities, Help at Home is also piloting a new program called “HealthyMATCH,” which helps clients by having caregivers answer a series of important questions that help determine if the client has enough food, is getting enough social interaction, or is of high risk of falling in their home. Based on the caregivers’ answers, clients can be connected to a food pantry or receive other assistance.
That kind of support means caregivers aren’t working alone but are part of a network of support for the client. The judgment and observations of the caregiver are important to keep the client safe and healthy.
The HealthyMATCH program is an innovative feature of working at Help at Home, but sometimes the support is as simple as caregivers helping each other. In February, Help At Home honored several caregivers with Heart and Hustle Awards. One of the honored caregivers was Kia, who agreed to come in and train a coworker on how to use a mechanical lift that a client needed. Most caregivers hadn’t been trained on this type of lift, but Kia was willing to share her knowledge. That’s what being part of a good team is like.
