Skip to main content

The Match-Maker by Tucker Labare

Caregivers are one of the most important aspects of in-home care as they interact with the clients on a daily basis and ensure that the clients are well taken care of. As important as it is to have qualified, caring and experienced caregivers in Vermont and New Hampshire at TLC Homecare; it is just as important finding the correct caregiver for each home care client. Home healthcare is all about keeping clients in a safe and comfortable environment as they age and the caregivers have everything to do with this. But just because a caregiver has years of experience, it does not mean their personality or skill set will match that of the home care client they are working with. It is my job to play “match-maker” to ensure the client, client’s family and caregiver are all happy with the home health aide.

The process of choosing the correct caregiver for a home care client starts the minute that new client comes on board with TLC Homecare. As soon as they choose TLC Homecare as their in-home health care provider, I look to see where the client is located which allows me to narrow down which pool of caregivers to choose from. I then take a look to see what home care hours are needed as this allows me to narrow the pool of caregivers down even further since some caregivers are looking for a lot of in-home healthcare hours, while others are looking for fewer hours. The final step is to find out important information about the home care client. Does the client have any special needs that only certain caregivers are able t deal with? Do they enjoy certain activities? Do they have a preference when it comes to males or females?

Once all of these things are taken into consideration I contact the caregiver that we feel would be the best fit and see if they are interested in working with the home care client. The caregiver then begins to work with that client and we hope that it is a good match. Typically, if it is not a good match personality wise or skill wise, we will hear about it quickly from either the caregiver or the client’s family. Our overall goal is to ensure that each client gets to age happily in the comfort of their own home. We want all of your clients to have the following experience when everything is said and done: “TLC’s wonderful staff was tremendously helpful in supporting us in having my father home on hospice. They were amazingly flexible, going the extra mile on numerous occasions to fit around our schedule. The individual caregivers were skilled, patient and caring. We never would have been able to do this without TLC, and it meant so much to my father.”

With that said, it is not always guaranteed to be a good match between the caregiver and the home care client, but TLC Homecare will do whatever it takes to ensure each client ends up with a caregiver they are happy with. It is a bit of a puzzle, but thanks to our wonderful in-home healthcare aides we are able to eventually match each one of our clients with a qualified, caring and experienced caregiver.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

My Journey To Nursing by Kim Bechard, RN

Nursing has always been a part of who I am. When I was very young, several of my aunts worked in nursing and I always had a deep admiration for them. In high school, I began taking health occupation classes and knew from that moment on, that I wanted to become a nurse. After high school, I began attending a community college, working on my nursing degree. Due to a lengthy waiting list for the RN program, I decided to apply for the LPN program. I was accepted and graduated a year later. While studying for my boards, I worked as a CNA in a nursing home. After working as an LPN for approximately fifteen years, I finally graduated with my BSN degree. I have always felt the need to care for others. My mother passed away when I was a baby and I lived with my grandmother thereafter and cared for her during her final moments when I was only thirteen years old. I have now worked as a nurse for almost twenty years and I really don’t know if I could do anything else. Being a part of TLC gives m...

Becoming a caregiver By: MaryAlice Callahan

Becoming a caregiver By: MaryAlice Callahan I became a caregiver because I knew that it was a career that I would be great at.  I worked on Hematology/Oncology for a few years and would see people that needed my help, but because I was a secretary and not a licensed caregiver I was not allowed to help.  It really bothered me because I saw the hurt and pain in their eyes and I would want so badly to be able to fulfill their request, big or small.   After my years at the hospital, I became a Medical assistant for an OB/GYN in South Burlington. I worked alongside with her, and again was in the presence of people who at times needed  tremendous support, and this time I was able to help them.  I also worked as a cosmetic laser tech in her office, and I loved the feeling when they saw their acne scars erased or spider veins that have embarrassed them forever disappear. I felt that there was an intimate exchange of energy between myself and them.  There...

Aging on the Dirt Road Less Traveled

  By Rosaline Lee, LPN                      Rural isolation and rugged independence can be barriers to serving seniors in Vermont… Guy R. lives alone in his home in Calais, Vermont. As I drive down the road to his home, I notice evidence of washouts caused by recent heavy rains.  There is no cell reception or street lights in this area, as in much of Vermont. Guy’s home is a simple farmhouse that has obviously seen better days.  The paint is peeling, the porch is rotting and the lawn is unkempt. Guy greets me happily and proceeds to tell me the history of how this property is tied to his family. “My grandfather built this place in the 1800’s, just look at the fireplace that he put in, it’s amazing that it’s still standing. I’m still standing too.” His enthusiasm wanes when you see him look around the living room.  He sighs and says, “I know I’m not much of a housekeeper, Betty used to do everything aroun...