By Jane A Malkoff MSN RN NP
I am fortunate. I have years of experience as a nurse/nurse practitioner working with older adults and their families as advocate/advisor. I have the added opportunity as owner of a licensed care giving company. I frequently share reasons why it is difficult to handle the care needs of an adult. A major reason is because a community is required for success in caregiving. Our culture does not promote deep community connections, multi-generational living or even living on the same street. Therefore, we are deeply challenged to create a community in times of care stress.
I want to set a standard for service providers working together on behalf of older adults. Not in competition. I only partner with services who understand it is through relationships we succeed serving others. Serving the needs of older adults through placing quality and teamwork first is the right approach. It is not a, ”you scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours” approach. Integrity matters.
One community partner is Michelle Nunn RN, owner of Home Helpers, Carmel office. This is not an ad for my company Clarity Care Givers or for Home Helpers. Neither one of us get it right every time but we know how to put our clients first and work together to achieve the best partnership to benefit our clients and community.
Here is a recent interview with Michelle:
Jane: You and I are both registered nurses and perhaps our perspectives are a bit different as business owners of care giving companies. How do see your background as a nurse as an advantage or a challenge?
Michelle: I am in charge of the care management for our company. When I see a client for the first time, they are getting a lot of expertise when they are faced with difficult decisions of trying to find the best possible option of home care services. I do not find anything challenging about being a registered nurse. I only see it as a benefit.
Jane: With over 100 care giving companies in the State of Indiana and many others entering the market place, what made you decide to focus your time/energy on care giving services?
Michelle: I have been in healthcare for over 20 years and started out as a Certified Nursing Assistant. I helped take care of my grandma and grandpa while on hospice. I have always had a passion for helping seniors. It brings me a lot of joy to help make a difference and give someone the best quality of life.
Jane: What would be your top 2 metrics you would suggest when searching for a quality care giving company?
Michelle: The top two metrics would be client reviews and background and expertise of owners.
Jane: Have you seen issues with care giving companies and other providers losing the emphasis of providing quality care? If so, why do you think this occurs?
Michelle: In the marketplace we have seen a lack of training and screening of caregivers. We do not always see a robust quality assurance program based on the feedback of new clients.
Jane: What would you say would be the first step to build stronger collaborations among care service companies?
Michelle: I really believe if you are in this business for the right reason you don’t see another company as competition but a referral source. We are all in this together. If we aren’t able to help a client with their needs, I want to be able to trust that we can refer to another company and they be able to do the same.