April 15, 2025 • 24 mins
Three dedicated home-based care professionals share their journeys into caregiving and the profound moments that shape their work every day. Their personal stories reveal how compassion, creativity, and human connection transform lives on both sides of the caregiving relationship.
• Finding purpose through personal experience – caregivers inspired by caring for their own family members
• Supporting clients and families during end-of-life care with dignity and compassion
• Creative problem-solving to meet emotional needs, not just physical ones
• The critical importance of family connection in client wellbeing
• Finding humor and joy in caregiving relationships
• Strategies for avoiding burnout, including peer support and maintaining a positive mindset
• Walking in with a smile regardless of personal challenges
• The profound impact of simply being present during difficult moments
Episode resources:
- Podcast: How good leadership improves employee retention and client outcomes with Peter Svenneby
- Blog: Reimagining care: Why digital transformation starts with people
- Blog: Embracing AI technology to recruit and retain caregivers
- Blog: Tackling the caregiver shortage – 5 effective strategies for retention
- Blog: 4 ways to retain caregivers in home-based care
- Blog: 4 tips to improve caregiver experience through scheduling and route optimization
- Blog: The future of home-based care – Predictions for 2025 and beyond
- Webinar: Critical Strategies for Caregiver Retention – The First 90 Days
- Video: How Elara Caring prioritizes caregiver experience with AlayaCare
- Video: Employee experience as the cornerstone of competitive advantage
If you liked this episode and want to learn more about all things home-based care, you can explore all our episodes at alayacare.com/homehealth360.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Ana (00:00):
I've been working seven days for the last month or so.
We've been very busy andshorthanded.
But in my everyday, when I walkin, I try to walk in with
always a smile, always with asmile, and I try to walk in with
an attitude that I'm helping mymother.
I try to walk with an attitudethat they need the help from me
(00:24):
more than I need it from them,because there's a lot of stress
and there's a lot of headacheswhen you see them suffering and
when you see them trying tostruggle to get up.
Sometimes the family areworking or sometimes they're not
there and they're alone a lot.
So I try to go with a smile onmy face all the time.
Erin Vallier (00:54):
Welcome to another episode of the Home Health 360
podcast, where we speak tohome-based care professionals
from around the globe.
I'm your host, Erin Vallier,and today we're doing something
special.
We're diverging from our usualpodcast format to revisit an
inspirational conversation heldwith three home care
(01:15):
professionals who shared some oftheir firsthand experiences at
AlayaCare's most recent BetterOutcomes Conference.
I actually had the pleasure ofbeing in the audience and I can
say the stories these ladiestold pulled on everybody's
heartstrings.
There weren't very many dryeyes in the house and today I am
(01:36):
very happy to be able to sharethis inspiring conversation with
all of our listeners whohappened to miss it.
We started the conversation byasking Aijbola from Right at
Home, donna from the CareCompany and Ana from Venture
Forthe what drove them intohome-based care as a frontline
worker in the first place.
Aijbola (01:58):
Years back.
My mom was critically ill andwe've lost hope sincerely, so we
rushed her to the emerge.
My mom was critically ill andwe've lost hope sincerely, so we
rushed her to the emerge and Isaw how the healthcare
professionals, how they rushedto her, how everyone was
carrying out their duties and,miraculously, she made it.
At that point, at that moment,I proposed in my heart that I
(02:23):
was going to also be a lifesaver, paying it forward.
I love what I do, maybe becauseone of my values is compassion,
though it could be challenging,to be candid.
What I find fulfillment in whatI do, and today the rest is
history.
Donna (02:42):
I'm here representing the Care Company and my reason for
starting nursing actually isvery cliche.
I just like to help people, andI learned that very early on,
when I'd be the one running tothe office for ice for someone
that fell at school or whatever.
Ana (02:58):
So that's my reason.
My name is Ana Russi and Irepresent Venture Forthe, and I
became involved in VentureForthe because of my mother.
I'm the daughter, first-borndaughter, of a lady who had nine
(03:19):
children, and I worked for theNew York City Police Department
for 27 years.
Aijbola (03:28):
My name is Captain Ana
Ana (03:30):
Russi.
My mother kept getting ill andall of us eight of us at that
time we decided to have ameeting and see who was going to
care for my mother.
I decided to retire and move toBuffalo from New York City and
take care of my mother.
(03:50):
Unfortunately, she was foundthat she had terminal cancer and
at the time of my retirement Iwanted her to take some trips
with me and I was going to bethe miracle worker.
I was going to find my what waswrong with her and I was not
able to do so.
After she passed away, two yearslater, I found myself back in
(04:12):
Buffalo.
I had purchased a house and Ididn't know what to do and I
could have gone back to thepolice department but I'm
retired already.
And a friend of mine told mewhy don't you try to help here?
And I said help him.
And he said, yeah, there's thiscompany that I know and they're
(04:36):
hiring.
So that's how I ended up goingto Venture Forthe and becoming
an aide and on my first day ofbeing home they called me to
take care of my patient and Iwas nervous, but then, when I
saw the first client there andhow much help she needed, it
(04:58):
reminded me of my mother and Iwas willing to do everything I
could to make her happy and makeher comfortable with the
experience that had taught me,
Erin Vallier (05:07):
As you might expect,
commonality among theseindividuals is their purpose and
passion to serve others.
For Ana and Aijbola, it wastheir mom.
The reason I got into healthcare was my grandparents On both
sides.
They lived in a really ruralarea and had zero access to care
.
And for others, like Donna,these folks are just wired to be
(05:30):
caregivers from birth.
These are the type of peoplethat just get immense joy from
helping others and a side notehere I want to point out that
workforce strategies that arecentered around uplifting,
empowering and investing in yourpeople the ones that just want
to help Now that's the key toproviding exceptional care and
(05:55):
also to keeping those caregivershappy and having longevity in
their roles.
I also think it's pretty coolthat the skills required to
provide care in the home canlead to saving lives while
you're just out in the wildliving your own life.
Listen to the story that Anatells.
Ana (06:15):
I was in Puerto Rico just this July and the reason I'm
saying this is because theamount of experience and the
training that Venture Forthegave me helped me notice things.
And we were sitting in therestaurant and there was six of
us in one table and there waslike eight men in a table next
(06:39):
to us and they were mature men Ithink in the senior, and one of
them got up, and I assumed thathe went to the men's room or
went to do something, then,coming back to go to the table,
for one reason, I had a feelingthat he was going to fall and I
jumped up and I took a chair andI put it behind him and he sat
(07:03):
right on it.
I took a chair and I put itbehind him and he sat right on
it.
And that's the experience thatI had as an aide, as working for
Venture Forthe, and almost 10years now, and that's how I
became where I am now and whyI'm here.
Erin Vallier (07:18):
These ladies have so many years of experience and
have seen so much.
They talk about their workbeing a lot more than just
giving medical care and doingtasks.
They provide comfort, they gifttheir presence and they show
the utmost respect to the peoplethat they care for.
Donna (07:37):
I do have one experience that comes to mind.
I was asked to take care of a 13year old that was just recently
diagnosed with abdominal cancerand I was asked to go in last
minute, go in Saturday andSunday.
And I couldn't do the Saturday.
It was my grandson's birthday.
So I said I could go in Sundayand I was going in blind.
(07:58):
I didn't know what was going on.
So I went in on the Sunday andthere were dozens and dozens of
people and the sign on the doorsaid don't ring the doorbell,
just go in.
So I went in and where's theclient?
And she was laying in her bed inthe middle of the dining room
and the table was pushed over tothe side and all the supplies
(08:18):
were on the table and theparents were at the foot of the
bed and all the people were justlined up and just paying their
respects.
She was alive, she was in thebed, but she was nonresponsive.
And then I realized that thisis a huge family.
I'm privileged to be in theirhome.
The only thing she needed fromme was ketamine, morphine and
hydromorphone every six minutesand I had to take care of the
(08:41):
family, and what we believe inis family-centered care.
So I talked to the mom a littlebit and she started showing me
pictures.
And then she showed me they hadjust gotten back from a trip at
Christmas and the daughter wasperfectly fine at that time.
And then first day back atschool she coughed up blood, she
went to hospital, was diagnosedwith terminal cancer and when I
(09:02):
went in March, the mom alsotold me she was showing me
pictures.
And the mom told me that it washer daughter's birthday
yesterday and I realized, oh mygosh, that was my grandson's
birthday also and kind of feltbad about that.
And I saw the balloons stillhanging around the house and
about a week later I got thenews that she had passed away.
Erin Vallier (09:22):
What struck me from Donna's answer is the fact
that home care workers not onlycare for their clients, they
also care for family members,and in that regard, caregiving
is way more impactful than youmight initially imagine.
The support given in the homereaches far beyond the door.
You really do have theopportunity to change so many
(09:45):
lives for the better, andalthough I'm not a caregiver, I
can imagine how rewarding thatfeels.
Aijbola (09:52):
There was one time I cared for a palliative patient
and everything was happening sofast his health was declining.
And then he made a final wish.
He said I would really love myfamily members to be at my
bedside while I pass away.
So the family was called and tomy surprise they were there the
next day.
(10:16):
I don't know what they'vediscussed before coming in, but
they all came in quietly intothat room without saying a word.
Some held the feet, some heldthe hands, and there was a huge
(10:36):
silence in the room while myclients passed away.
When my clients saw them, hecouldn't communicate verbally,
but you could sense theexcitement and how it could
communicate.
That was being tearful, and afew hours later he passed away.
That moment taught me the powerof silence.
(10:58):
Why not saying anything, butyou could offer comfort in
crucial moments like that.
I've always known that silenceis powerful, but that moment
showed me a bigger picture.
I've applied that to my career,even outside my career how
being silent speaks louder thanvoice.
(11:19):
Indeed, silence is golden.
So it was really a veryfulfilling moment for me to be
part of that process.
Erin Vallier (11:29):
For anyone who hasn't been present with someone
when they take their lastbreath, it is profound and an
otherworldly moment.
Nearly two years ago, I had thehonor of being with my other
mother, which was my mom's bestfriend.
I was there when she passed andit was in a setting very much
(11:50):
like just described.
She was surrounded by herclosest friends and her family
when she transitioned and I cansay, the energy in the room
shifted in a very tangible way.
It was just like her spirit waslingering there for moments.
It's an experience that'll staywith you forever and, speaking
(12:14):
from that experience, in thosekinds of moments supporting the
family is invaluable.
When grief takes over, clearthinking flies right out the
window and having somebody therethat is just even slightly
removed and able to assist withthe simplest task like please
drink water, that becomes animmeasurable gift.
Ana (12:38):
My career for the nine years have been smooth with my
clients, except for the lastholiday.
I was with my client and wedressed her up because the
family wanted to bring heracross from where she lived to a
barbecue, and I have notexperienced none of my clients
(13:01):
having any kind of strokes orheart attack or anything like
that.
Yes, maybe a little femur,maybe a little cold, something
like that.
But as we got there we sat downand she wanted something to eat
and I got her something to eatand I'm sitting next to her and
she finished eating and all of asudden I saw the drop in her
(13:24):
face and in the arm and thankGod I had my phone and I had a
911 for me Because, by the way,I'm 80 years old, so I always
have it there.
So I pressed the right away andI knew the address and I call.
But this was an experience and ashock for me to see one of my
(13:46):
clients have a stroke in frontof me and it made my heart sad
for her and it made me who knowwhat it is to have something
like that.
Because of my age I might haveto experience it one day or not,
but it was warming and theneverybody, like she said,
everybody went quiet.
(14:07):
We waited for the ambulance, weget her to the hospital and
with us we have to stay withthem until they're assigned to a
room.
And she's there there and I goto her and I'm not going to use
her name, but I said, miss Katie, are you okay?
And I ran to the station,nurse's station, to get a nurse
(14:29):
because she was having anotherstroke right in front of me and,
even though my hands areshaking, because I didn't want
to lose her.
I love all my clients, I'm veryattached to them in some way or
another, but I was so happythat I was able to save her.
Erin Vallier (14:45):
The stories these home care heroes share highlight
that the work can be sometimesextremely emotional and it can
also provide opportunities tosave lives.
Ana shares her experiencepreventing falls in public
places and then saving a womanshe loved very dearly from two
active strokes.
I imagine those moments arevery terrifying but also
(15:09):
incredibly rewarding.
Next, we hear more about thesupport Aijbola gave her client
and how well she was able torecognize that client's needs.
Aijbola (15:21):
First of all I want to celebrate my company Right at
Home for giving me the privilegeto serve.
This was during COVID and Icame to work and I was told my
client has been so grumpy andrestless, which is so unusual.
My clients has been so grumpyand restless, which is so
unusual.
I've always known over theyears that when anyone it could
(15:42):
be a child or an adult is comingup with unusual behavior, a
need has to be met.
Most of the time it was alwaysemotional.
So I approached my clients andI said I was just looking for
ways to get to know the need.
So I initiated a conversation.
In the process he startedtalking about his daughter.
(16:04):
So at that moment I realizedit's been a while he saw the
daughter due to COVID, less ofphysical contact.
So I called the daughter and Iwas like, please, is there a way
you can come over just to seehim?
And at the same time I wantedto be very careful to be able to
(16:27):
get a safe distance.
So the daughter was so happy todo that.
So the daughter went to thewindow and then the man was in
the room.
So I wanted it to be a surprise.
So I called him.
I said oh, I have a surprisefor you.
He was really grumpy about itand I said you know what?
I think this is what you wouldlove to see.
(16:49):
When he stood up to see thedaughter at the window, it was
the switch for me From a grumpyman to a very happy man.
It was so exciting.
You could feel the joy, sopalpable.
It was really a heartwarmingmoment for me because I remember
they were Italians and theywere speaking their languages.
Oh my goodness, and right thereat that moment I just saw how
(17:15):
family is everything.
Family involvement is verycrucial, so over the years I
always try my best to involvefamily in the care plan.
Family means different thingsto us, so I try to ask my
clients who is important in yourlife that you would like me to
bring into this process?
I go far and beyond to do thatand it just validates the Maslow
(17:38):
hierarchy of needs would likeme to bring into this process?
We need that connection andespecially when we know we offer
emotional support but there's amissing link, which is the
family, and it really goes along way.
Erin Vallier (17:53):
I love this story because it shows just how
creative caregivers can get whenit comes to bringing joy to
their clients.
And, let's be honest, we're alltrying to forget the pandemic
ever happened.
But there's no denying theisolation it caused took a real
toll.
It even cost lives.
I read a statistic recentlythat social isolation and
(18:18):
loneliness are associated withan increased risk of death.
People who experience socialisolation have a 32% higher risk
of dying early from any causeas compared to those who are not
socially isolated, and theeffort that took to remedy this
for her client probablyprolonged his life.
(18:38):
But not all stories in healthcare are negative.
As we will hear in our nextstory, Real life also provides a
fair amount of humor, and weall know that humor is good
medicine.
Donna (18:52):
I have actually a few funny memories of nursing.
Last year, when I was in aschool, I was taking care of a
deaf little boy who needed aninsulin injection every day.
He had PTSD, he had just comefrom Afghanistan and so he was
hard to manage.
So I thought I'm going to learnsome signing.
(19:13):
So I was really excited.
First day I had learned to sayhi, my name is Donna, and I
spelled out my name.
For the whole week I was hi, myname is Donna, I'm going to
help you with your lunch.
And next day hi, my name isDonna, I'm going to help you
with my lunch.
And then after a couple ofweeks, his EA came up to me and
said well, what's your name?
(19:33):
And I said Donna.
And she goes.
Well, you've been signing hi,my name is Fonna for the last
two weeks.
I said no, that's not what thelady on YouTube said, but
anyways, at the end of the yearthey threw me a going away party
because that was my last year,and they gave me a nice little
(19:53):
card that said Fonna.
Erin Vallier (20:05):
We dove into how each of these care workers avoid
burnout.
This is a real important topic,so perhaps we can all learn
something from how these ladieshave been able to provide care
so joyfully over many years.
An alarming statistic that Iread recently was that 57% of
caregivers report burnout, which, as we know, usually leads to
turn, and this is costly.
Us businesses lose somewherebetween $17 and $33 billion
(20:30):
annually, depending on who youask, and this is just due to
caregiver absenteeism, caregiverturnover and reduced
productivity.
Obviously, it's important torely on your colleagues and your
family for support.
So next we hear Ana and Donnatalk about the support
strategies that help them tostay resilient as they deliver
(20:50):
care.
Ana (20:52):
In my everyday.
I've been working seven daysfor the last month or so.
We've been very busy andshort-handed.
But in my everyday, when I walkin, I try to walk in with
always a smile, always with asmile, and I try to walk in with
an attitude that I'm helping mymother.
(21:12):
I try to walk with an attitudethat they need the help from me
more than I need it from them.
I tried to because there's alot of stress and there's a lot
of headaches when you see themsuffering and when you see them
trying to struggle to get up.
I had one client that she wasstruggling to get up and I said
(21:34):
you need to get up for me,please.
You need to get up, let's try.
And then she kept trying up andI said you need to get up for
me, please.
You need to get up, let's try.
And then she kept trying.
She went.
I said okay, do me a favor, Canyou bring that lobster up now,
Because you can do it?
And she looked at me.
She said what do you mean?
Your lobster?
I said the lobster in the back,move it.
And she started laughing andshe got up.
(21:54):
Back, move it.
And she started laughing andshe got up.
But you have to go in with allthese feelings, that they have
feelings and you have feelings,and sometimes the family is not
there to give it to them.
Sometimes the family areworking or sometimes they're not
there and they're alone a lot.
So I try to go with a smile onmy face all the time.
(22:15):
I don't care how sick I am, howtired I am, I go with a smile.
Good afternoon, Miss Katie.
How are you doing today?
What can I do for you?
Let's go for a ride, let's godancing or something.
And that's my attitude as I goto my patients or my clients
every time.
Donna (22:32):
I have a group of friends .
So in nursing, you get a littleposse or a group of friends that
(22:52):
you trust and I debrief withthem quite often if I've had a
hard day.
Sometimes we even FaceTime,like, 4 of us.
We get together for dinners allthe time.
So you have to debrief you haveto talk to people.
Erin Vallier (22:56):
This conversation with Donna, Ana, Aijbola offered
a powerful glimpse into thelives of front line care workers
in home-based care settings,which is often overlooked.
It's so easy to get far removedfrom the impact that home care
has on the people served and thecommunity at large.
This was a really good reminderfor me, so I hope that you've
enjoyed these touching storiesand you are reminded just why
(23:20):
you do what you do every singleday in this line of service that
we call home-based care.
Thanks for listening.
Home Health 360 is presented byAlaya Care and hosted by Erin
Vallier.
First, we want to thank ouramazing guests and listeners.
Second, new episodes air everymonth, so be sure to subscribe
(23:42):
today so you don't miss anepisode.
And last but not least, if youlike this episode and want to
learn more about all thingshome-based care, you can explore
all of our episodes atalayacare.
com/ homehealth360 or visit uson your favorite podcast
platform.
I've been working seven days for the last month or so.
We've been very busy andshorthanded.
But in my everyday, when I walkin, I try to walk in with
always a smile, always with asmile, and I try to walk in with
an attitude that I'm helping mymother.
I try to walk with an attitudethat they need the help from me
(00:24):
more than I need it from them,because there's a lot of stress
and there's a lot of headacheswhen you see them suffering and
when you see them trying tostruggle to get up.
Sometimes the family areworking or sometimes they're not
there and they're alone a lot.
So I try to go with a smile onmy face all the time.
Erin Vallier (00:54):
Welcome to another episode of the Home Health 360
podcast, where we speak tohome-based care professionals
from around the globe.
I'm your host, Erin Vallier,and today we're doing something
special.
We're diverging from our usualpodcast format to revisit an
inspirational conversation heldwith three home care
(01:15):
professionals who shared some oftheir firsthand experiences at
AlayaCare's most recent BetterOutcomes Conference.
I actually had the pleasure ofbeing in the audience and I can
say the stories these ladiestold pulled on everybody's
heartstrings.
There weren't very many dryeyes in the house and today I am
(01:36):
very happy to be able to sharethis inspiring conversation with
all of our listeners whohappened to miss it.
We started the conversation byasking Aijbola from Right at
Home, donna from the CareCompany and Ana from Venture
Forthe what drove them intohome-based care as a frontline
worker in the first place.
Aijbola (01:58):
Years back.
My mom was critically ill andwe've lost hope sincerely, so we
rushed her to the emerge.
My mom was critically ill andwe've lost hope sincerely, so we
rushed her to the emerge and Isaw how the healthcare
professionals, how they rushedto her, how everyone was
carrying out their duties and,miraculously, she made it.
At that point, at that moment,I proposed in my heart that I
(02:23):
was going to also be a lifesaver, paying it forward.
I love what I do, maybe becauseone of my values is compassion,
though it could be challenging,to be candid.
What I find fulfillment in whatI do, and today the rest is
history.
Donna (02:42):
I'm here representing the Care Company and my reason for
starting nursing actually isvery cliche.
I just like to help people, andI learned that very early on,
when I'd be the one running tothe office for ice for someone
that fell at school or whatever.
Ana (02:58):
So that's my reason.
My name is Ana Russi and Irepresent Venture Forthe, and I
became involved in VentureForthe because of my mother.
I'm the daughter, first-borndaughter, of a lady who had nine
(03:19):
children, and I worked for theNew York City Police Department
for 27 years.
Aijbola (03:28):
My name is Captain Ana
Ana (03:30):
Russi.
My mother kept getting ill andall of us eight of us at that
time we decided to have ameeting and see who was going to
care for my mother.
I decided to retire and move toBuffalo from New York City and
take care of my mother.
(03:50):
Unfortunately, she was foundthat she had terminal cancer and
at the time of my retirement Iwanted her to take some trips
with me and I was going to bethe miracle worker.
I was going to find my what waswrong with her and I was not
able to do so.
After she passed away, two yearslater, I found myself back in
(04:12):
Buffalo.
I had purchased a house and Ididn't know what to do and I
could have gone back to thepolice department but I'm
retired already.
And a friend of mine told mewhy don't you try to help here?
And I said help him.
And he said, yeah, there's thiscompany that I know and they're
(04:36):
hiring.
So that's how I ended up goingto Venture Forthe and becoming
an aide and on my first day ofbeing home they called me to
take care of my patient and Iwas nervous, but then, when I
saw the first client there andhow much help she needed, it
(04:58):
reminded me of my mother and Iwas willing to do everything I
could to make her happy and makeher comfortable with the
experience that had taught me,
Erin Vallier (05:07):
As you might expect,
commonality among theseindividuals is their purpose and
passion to serve others.
For Ana and Aijbola, it wastheir mom.
The reason I got into healthcare was my grandparents On both
sides.
They lived in a really ruralarea and had zero access to care
.
And for others, like Donna,these folks are just wired to be
(05:30):
caregivers from birth.
These are the type of peoplethat just get immense joy from
helping others and a side notehere I want to point out that
workforce strategies that arecentered around uplifting,
empowering and investing in yourpeople the ones that just want
to help Now that's the key toproviding exceptional care and
(05:55):
also to keeping those caregivershappy and having longevity in
their roles.
I also think it's pretty coolthat the skills required to
provide care in the home canlead to saving lives while
you're just out in the wildliving your own life.
Listen to the story that Anatells.
Ana (06:15):
I was in Puerto Rico just this July and the reason I'm
saying this is because theamount of experience and the
training that Venture Forthegave me helped me notice things.
And we were sitting in therestaurant and there was six of
us in one table and there waslike eight men in a table next
(06:39):
to us and they were mature men Ithink in the senior, and one of
them got up, and I assumed thathe went to the men's room or
went to do something, then,coming back to go to the table,
for one reason, I had a feelingthat he was going to fall and I
jumped up and I took a chair andI put it behind him and he sat
(07:03):
right on it.
I took a chair and I put itbehind him and he sat right on
it.
And that's the experience thatI had as an aide, as working for
Venture Forthe, and almost 10years now, and that's how I
became where I am now and whyI'm here.
Erin Vallier (07:18):
These ladies have so many years of experience and
have seen so much.
They talk about their workbeing a lot more than just
giving medical care and doingtasks.
They provide comfort, they gifttheir presence and they show
the utmost respect to the peoplethat they care for.
Donna (07:37):
I do have one experience that comes to mind.
I was asked to take care of a 13year old that was just recently
diagnosed with abdominal cancerand I was asked to go in last
minute, go in Saturday andSunday.
And I couldn't do the Saturday.
It was my grandson's birthday.
So I said I could go in Sundayand I was going in blind.
(07:58):
I didn't know what was going on.
So I went in on the Sunday andthere were dozens and dozens of
people and the sign on the doorsaid don't ring the doorbell,
just go in.
So I went in and where's theclient?
And she was laying in her bed inthe middle of the dining room
and the table was pushed over tothe side and all the supplies
(08:18):
were on the table and theparents were at the foot of the
bed and all the people were justlined up and just paying their
respects.
She was alive, she was in thebed, but she was nonresponsive.
And then I realized that thisis a huge family.
I'm privileged to be in theirhome.
The only thing she needed fromme was ketamine, morphine and
hydromorphone every six minutesand I had to take care of the
(08:41):
family, and what we believe inis family-centered care.
So I talked to the mom a littlebit and she started showing me
pictures.
And then she showed me they hadjust gotten back from a trip at
Christmas and the daughter wasperfectly fine at that time.
And then first day back atschool she coughed up blood, she
went to hospital, was diagnosedwith terminal cancer and when I
(09:02):
went in March, the mom alsotold me she was showing me
pictures.
And the mom told me that it washer daughter's birthday
yesterday and I realized, oh mygosh, that was my grandson's
birthday also and kind of feltbad about that.
And I saw the balloons stillhanging around the house and
about a week later I got thenews that she had passed away.
Erin Vallier (09:22):
What struck me from Donna's answer is the fact
that home care workers not onlycare for their clients, they
also care for family members,and in that regard, caregiving
is way more impactful than youmight initially imagine.
The support given in the homereaches far beyond the door.
You really do have theopportunity to change so many
(09:45):
lives for the better, andalthough I'm not a caregiver, I
can imagine how rewarding thatfeels.
Aijbola (09:52):
There was one time I cared for a palliative patient
and everything was happening sofast his health was declining.
And then he made a final wish.
He said I would really love myfamily members to be at my
bedside while I pass away.
So the family was called and tomy surprise they were there the
next day.
(10:16):
I don't know what they'vediscussed before coming in, but
they all came in quietly intothat room without saying a word.
Some held the feet, some heldthe hands, and there was a huge
(10:36):
silence in the room while myclients passed away.
When my clients saw them, hecouldn't communicate verbally,
but you could sense theexcitement and how it could
communicate.
That was being tearful, and afew hours later he passed away.
That moment taught me the powerof silence.
(10:58):
Why not saying anything, butyou could offer comfort in
crucial moments like that.
I've always known that silenceis powerful, but that moment
showed me a bigger picture.
I've applied that to my career,even outside my career how
being silent speaks louder thanvoice.
(11:19):
Indeed, silence is golden.
So it was really a veryfulfilling moment for me to be
part of that process.
Erin Vallier (11:29):
For anyone who hasn't been present with someone
when they take their lastbreath, it is profound and an
otherworldly moment.
Nearly two years ago, I had thehonor of being with my other
mother, which was my mom's bestfriend.
I was there when she passed andit was in a setting very much
(11:50):
like just described.
She was surrounded by herclosest friends and her family
when she transitioned and I cansay, the energy in the room
shifted in a very tangible way.
It was just like her spirit waslingering there for moments.
It's an experience that'll staywith you forever and, speaking
(12:14):
from that experience, in thosekinds of moments supporting the
family is invaluable.
When grief takes over, clearthinking flies right out the
window and having somebody therethat is just even slightly
removed and able to assist withthe simplest task like please
drink water, that becomes animmeasurable gift.
Ana (12:38):
My career for the nine years have been smooth with my
clients, except for the lastholiday.
I was with my client and wedressed her up because the
family wanted to bring heracross from where she lived to a
barbecue, and I have notexperienced none of my clients
(13:01):
having any kind of strokes orheart attack or anything like
that.
Yes, maybe a little femur,maybe a little cold, something
like that.
But as we got there we sat downand she wanted something to eat
and I got her something to eatand I'm sitting next to her and
she finished eating and all of asudden I saw the drop in her
(13:24):
face and in the arm and thankGod I had my phone and I had a
911 for me Because, by the way,I'm 80 years old, so I always
have it there.
So I pressed the right away andI knew the address and I call.
But this was an experience and ashock for me to see one of my
(13:46):
clients have a stroke in frontof me and it made my heart sad
for her and it made me who knowwhat it is to have something
like that.
Because of my age I might haveto experience it one day or not,
but it was warming and theneverybody, like she said,
everybody went quiet.
(14:07):
We waited for the ambulance, weget her to the hospital and
with us we have to stay withthem until they're assigned to a
room.
And she's there there and I goto her and I'm not going to use
her name, but I said, miss Katie, are you okay?
And I ran to the station,nurse's station, to get a nurse
(14:29):
because she was having anotherstroke right in front of me and,
even though my hands areshaking, because I didn't want
to lose her.
I love all my clients, I'm veryattached to them in some way or
another, but I was so happythat I was able to save her.
Erin Vallier (14:45):
The stories these home care heroes share highlight
that the work can be sometimesextremely emotional and it can
also provide opportunities tosave lives.
Ana shares her experiencepreventing falls in public
places and then saving a womanshe loved very dearly from two
active strokes.
I imagine those moments arevery terrifying but also
(15:09):
incredibly rewarding.
Next, we hear more about thesupport Aijbola gave her client
and how well she was able torecognize that client's needs.
Aijbola (15:21):
First of all I want to celebrate my company Right at
Home for giving me the privilegeto serve.
This was during COVID and Icame to work and I was told my
client has been so grumpy andrestless, which is so unusual.
My clients has been so grumpyand restless, which is so
unusual.
I've always known over theyears that when anyone it could
(15:42):
be a child or an adult is comingup with unusual behavior, a
need has to be met.
Most of the time it was alwaysemotional.
So I approached my clients andI said I was just looking for
ways to get to know the need.
So I initiated a conversation.
In the process he startedtalking about his daughter.
(16:04):
So at that moment I realizedit's been a while he saw the
daughter due to COVID, less ofphysical contact.
So I called the daughter and Iwas like, please, is there a way
you can come over just to seehim?
And at the same time I wantedto be very careful to be able to
(16:27):
get a safe distance.
So the daughter was so happy todo that.
So the daughter went to thewindow and then the man was in
the room.
So I wanted it to be a surprise.
So I called him.
I said oh, I have a surprisefor you.
He was really grumpy about itand I said you know what?
I think this is what you wouldlove to see.
(16:49):
When he stood up to see thedaughter at the window, it was
the switch for me From a grumpyman to a very happy man.
It was so exciting.
You could feel the joy, sopalpable.
It was really a heartwarmingmoment for me because I remember
they were Italians and theywere speaking their languages.
Oh my goodness, and right thereat that moment I just saw how
(17:15):
family is everything.
Family involvement is verycrucial, so over the years I
always try my best to involvefamily in the care plan.
Family means different thingsto us, so I try to ask my
clients who is important in yourlife that you would like me to
bring into this process?
I go far and beyond to do thatand it just validates the Maslow
(17:38):
hierarchy of needs would likeme to bring into this process?
We need that connection andespecially when we know we offer
emotional support but there's amissing link, which is the
family, and it really goes along way.
Erin Vallier (17:53):
I love this story because it shows just how
creative caregivers can get whenit comes to bringing joy to
their clients.
And, let's be honest, we're alltrying to forget the pandemic
ever happened.
But there's no denying theisolation it caused took a real
toll.
It even cost lives.
I read a statistic recentlythat social isolation and
(18:18):
loneliness are associated withan increased risk of death.
People who experience socialisolation have a 32% higher risk
of dying early from any causeas compared to those who are not
socially isolated, and theeffort that took to remedy this
for her client probablyprolonged his life.
(18:38):
But not all stories in healthcare are negative.
As we will hear in our nextstory, Real life also provides a
fair amount of humor, and weall know that humor is good
medicine.
Donna (18:52):
I have actually a few funny memories of nursing.
Last year, when I was in aschool, I was taking care of a
deaf little boy who needed aninsulin injection every day.
He had PTSD, he had just comefrom Afghanistan and so he was
hard to manage.
So I thought I'm going to learnsome signing.
(19:13):
So I was really excited.
First day I had learned to sayhi, my name is Donna, and I
spelled out my name.
For the whole week I was hi, myname is Donna, I'm going to
help you with your lunch.
And next day hi, my name isDonna, I'm going to help you
with my lunch.
And then after a couple ofweeks, his EA came up to me and
said well, what's your name?
(19:33):
And I said Donna.
And she goes.
Well, you've been signing hi,my name is Fonna for the last
two weeks.
I said no, that's not what thelady on YouTube said, but
anyways, at the end of the yearthey threw me a going away party
because that was my last year,and they gave me a nice little
(19:53):
card that said Fonna.
Erin Vallier (20:05):
We dove into how each of these care workers avoid
burnout.
This is a real important topic,so perhaps we can all learn
something from how these ladieshave been able to provide care
so joyfully over many years.
An alarming statistic that Iread recently was that 57% of
caregivers report burnout, which, as we know, usually leads to
turn, and this is costly.
Us businesses lose somewherebetween $17 and $33 billion
(20:30):
annually, depending on who youask, and this is just due to
caregiver absenteeism, caregiverturnover and reduced
productivity.
Obviously, it's important torely on your colleagues and your
family for support.
So next we hear Ana and Donnatalk about the support
strategies that help them tostay resilient as they deliver
(20:50):
care.
Ana (20:52):
In my everyday.
I've been working seven daysfor the last month or so.
We've been very busy andshort-handed.
But in my everyday, when I walkin, I try to walk in with
always a smile, always with asmile, and I try to walk in with
an attitude that I'm helping mymother.
(21:12):
I try to walk with an attitudethat they need the help from me
more than I need it from them.
I tried to because there's alot of stress and there's a lot
of headaches when you see themsuffering and when you see them
trying to struggle to get up.
I had one client that she wasstruggling to get up and I said
(21:34):
you need to get up for me,please.
You need to get up, let's try.
And then she kept trying up andI said you need to get up for
me, please.
You need to get up, let's try.
And then she kept trying.
She went.
I said okay, do me a favor, Canyou bring that lobster up now,
Because you can do it?
And she looked at me.
She said what do you mean?
Your lobster?
I said the lobster in the back,move it.
And she started laughing andshe got up.
(21:54):
Back, move it.
And she started laughing andshe got up.
But you have to go in with allthese feelings, that they have
feelings and you have feelings,and sometimes the family is not
there to give it to them.
Sometimes the family areworking or sometimes they're not
there and they're alone a lot.
So I try to go with a smile onmy face all the time.
(22:15):
I don't care how sick I am, howtired I am, I go with a smile.
Good afternoon, Miss Katie.
How are you doing today?
What can I do for you?
Let's go for a ride, let's godancing or something.
And that's my attitude as I goto my patients or my clients
every time.
Donna (22:32):
I have a group of friends .
So in nursing, you get a littleposse or a group of friends that
(22:52):
you trust and I debrief withthem quite often if I've had a
hard day.
Sometimes we even FaceTime,like, 4 of us.
We get together for dinners allthe time.
So you have to debrief you haveto talk to people.
Erin Vallier (22:56):
This conversation with Donna, Ana, Aijbola offered
a powerful glimpse into thelives of front line care workers
in home-based care settings,which is often overlooked.
It's so easy to get far removedfrom the impact that home care
has on the people served and thecommunity at large.
This was a really good reminderfor me, so I hope that you've
enjoyed these touching storiesand you are reminded just why
(23:20):
you do what you do every singleday in this line of service that
we call home-based care.
Thanks for listening.
Home Health 360 is presented byAlaya Care and hosted by Erin
Vallier.
First, we want to thank ouramazing guests and listeners.
Second, new episodes air everymonth, so be sure to subscribe
(23:42):
today so you don't miss anepisode.
And last but not least, if youlike this episode and want to
learn more about all thingshome-based care, you can explore
all of our episodes atalayacare.
com/ homehealth360 or visit uson your favorite podcast
platform.
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