Client-Caregiver Relationship Helped to Weather the Storm

Mary, a Help at Home caregiver for 25 years, has always worked hard to build trust with her clients – and that requires special understanding and trust, especially for those clients who are nonverbal.  

For Mary and her client, having a trusting relationship was key to keeping each other calm during a scary situation. When the sirens went off signaling a tornado was sighted in their community, Mary was able to comfort her client and help her to feel safe as they moved to the center of the hallway in the client’s home. Not long after, they both felt like the house was shaking and heard a loud crash.  

It turned out that the loud noise was a huge tree that had fallen and significantly damaged the house and the carport, as well as Mary’s new car.”  

Mary observed that the client was breathing fast and seemed scared. She realized the storm must have been especially scary to her client, who didn’t have the verbal skills to talk about what was happening. So even though Mary was naturally upset and worried about her car, she focused on keeping the client calm.  

“I thought, well, there’s nothing I can do out there,” Mary said. “We sat and we sang, and we talked and we laughed. We had a lot of laughter that day to keep her calm. She would just not let go of my hand.”  

Mary spent the night to keep her client safe, given the dangerous situation. And, then there’s the fact that she didn’t really have a ride as her car was under the tree.  

We’re lucky to have amazing caregivers like Mary. She told us she had worked as a caregiver for other employers, but once she found Help at Home, she knew she found a great company to work for.  

“I’ve worked for many companies,” she said. “Help at Home is, in my opinion, the cream of the crop. They are the one company that encourages each and every person to be the best they can be. Staff is always available to give us the best working environment, keeping us well-educated on upcoming details and problem solving. I love Help at Home. It’s not just my job. It’s my family.”