Caregiving Starts With Listening: Lorrie Van Roekel

November Caregiver of the Month

Lorrie Van Roekel was named Caregiver of the Month for November.

Born and raised in Albion, Nebraska, Lorrie became a caregiver when she was 16 years old. She worked in the local nursing home with both her sisters. “One’s an RN and one’s an LPN now,” said Lorrie.

Lorrie has been a CNA for 40 years and people always inquired why she never became a nurse. They knew she’d make a great nurse. Lorrie explained that she really enjoys the one-on-one opportunity she has with seniors by being a caregiver. “I like it when I can stick with one client. I get to know them, and they get to know me. Margie is my main girl,” shared Lorrie as she smiled over at her client Margie.

She has been Margie’s caregiver for a few months now and it was her independent testimonial that won Lorrie Caregiver of the Month. “Lorrie is always on time, she’s very caring, we have great conversations, and you don’t have to explain to her how to boil an egg,” Margie shared with a chuckle.

Working with people of all ages in her career, Lorrie found herself drawn to the older generation, commenting on how she loves the stories they tell. She was very close to her grandparents and had the opportunity to take care of her grandparents and her mom because of her experience and training.

Working for A Place At Home

With a long career as a CNA, Lorrie said she was very happy to find A Place At Home. “The office staff has been so helpful and kind. I worked with another in-home company before and we never had staff meetings, we never had any training. This is so much better. I just love the interaction everyone has,” said Lorrie.

She also offered up some advice to younger CNA’s just starting out. She found in her 40-year career that it’s best to listen to what your client wants, don’t just hear them. You may think another way is better or easier but it’s important to listen and consider it may just be the way they like things done.

APAH Recruiting and Retention Specialist, Stephenie Garrison, shared that Lorrie is a very kind and caring individual. She added, “Lorrie is very attentive to her clients and goes above and beyond to make sure they are taken care of. We are very happy that she is an employee with us and look forward to seeing her grow as a caregiver in our company.”

Are you CARE?

A Place At Home’s “We are CARE” philosophy is a commitment to our core values: Compassionate, Accountable, Respectful, and Ethical. If you are interested in becoming a caregiver and hold those values true in your own life, reach out to join our team today.

Connecting With Veterans: Amber Dean

Caregiver of the Month

Amber Dean was named Caregiver of the Month for October.

Amber became a caregiver by following in the footsteps of her mom, Aunts, and cousins. “I come from a long line of CNA’s in my family. We have a passion to help others,” Amber said.

She has been a caregiver since 1999, spending the last five years with A Place At Home – Omaha. With ten children and seven grandchildren, Amber was relieved to find an employer “that understands when things come up.” She finds APAH – Omaha to be a very family-oriented company.

About being selected Caregiver of the Month, Dani Sloan, HR Director of  APAH – Omaha, said “Amber is consistent, reliable, dependable, and epitomizes our “We are CARE” philosophy.”

Amber recalled her first clients when she started working here, “They were a couple and one had dementia and the other did not. They were fun to be with and kept saying they’d adopt me if they could.”

Amber also finds that many of the clients she cares for usually request her to come back. She said, “I connect with a lot of my clients. It seems like I’m with a lot of veterans and my husband is a veteran. It gives me a foot in the door to connect with them. They love to hear how my husband’s service animal is doing.”

She currently provides care for a veteran in Bennington who, like her step-son, was also in the Navy. She prepares his meals, runs to the grocery store and helps clean his home.

Ultimately, Amber shared, her goal is to be a nurse. “I’m in the mentoring program. A Place At Home helped me get a mentor to further my education as an RN,” said Amber.

Find an RN Mentor

A Place At Home has been collaborating with the Nebraska Action Coalition – Future of Nursing to provide a foundation to connect emerging nurse leaders with experts across the nursing profession. Five caregivers from A Place At Home have been matched with mentors since the program started this year.

This free program is available to all A Place At Home caregivers. Once matched with a mentor they will provide helpful resources and general guidance for navigating nursing school and other roadblocks along the path through nursing school. If you are an A Place At Home caregiver, contact Kris Kircher, Executive Director of APAH – Omaha, at 402-932-4646 for more information and to join the program.

If you are interested in becoming a caregiver, apply online today.

Bringing Confidence Back to Seniors: Keva Nero

Caregiver of the Month

Keva has been a caregiver for 22 years and landed in Nebraska after she and 19 of her family members were displaced by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. 

In August of 2005, nearly 80% of New Orleans flooded after the levees failed during Hurricane Katrina. Keva Nero and her family found themselves displaced along with more than a million other people in the Gulf Coast region. Keva’s brother took in 20 family members, including Keva, while they found new housing and jobs in the area.

Keva originally wanted to be an RN, but after having her second child she decided to try out being a CNA first so she could learn more in the field before taking that next big step. What she found was a job she loved that has now lasted 22 years.

“I love it. I love working to help people. You get to meet new people and learn about their different needs. You learn more and more about different things and get more experience,” said Keva. While she attended Hamilton College to become a Medical Assistant, she found great interest in researching illnesses suffered by her family members so she could better serve them. This education has really advanced her knowledge and skills ultimately making her a better CNA today.

Keva’s approach to caregiving is to bring confidence back into the client’s life. Keva feels that if we keep feeding someone the message that they can’t do something anymore, then they’ll really believe they can’t. “A lot of them say they can’t and it just brings them down after being so independent for so long. It makes them feel good to get them involved where they can. Even if it’s just opening up the bread, let them do something,” Keva shared.

Keva was selected as Caregiver of the Month after APAH office staff received compliments raving about how well she was caring for one of the clients. They commended her for being intuitive to his needs, consistent and knowledgable. Keva said, “I’m warm-hearted and I love people whether you’re my family or not. I treat them as if they are my family. It’s about caring. When you’re in this field, you have to have a passion for other people’s feelings. I’m not here for a check, I’m here to help.”

Keva is a true inspiration for perseverance and a genuine caregiver’s heart. Congratulations on being Caregiver of the Month for A Place At Home!

A Place at Home: Trust Us for Compassionate Senior Care

At A Place at Home senior care, we know that our in-home caregivers make us great. Our careful hiring practices and high standards ensure that seniors receive compassionate, reliable assistance with the activities of daily life. Our senior support services are planned around the senior’s individual needs – and designed to maintain their dignity and independence. A Place at Home caregivers genuinely enjoy caring for others. Together, we work to provide each senior the opportunity to live their best life. Apply now or contact us to inquire about becoming a caregiver with us.

An Angel Among Us: Donna Bird

Caregiver of the Month

Donna Bird named A Place At Home’s August Caregiver of the Month.

She recently became a caregiver with A Place At Home a couple of months back, but in that time, she has gone above and beyond to give her clients the best care possible. “What I love most about being a caregiver is the people I work with. All of them are sweet, sweet people,” said Donna.

Donna is from southwest Kansas where she was working on her Master’s Degree in Social Work. She said, “I was one semester away from being an RN. It really makes me better in the homes because I understand what I’m working with medically.”

Donna has been a caregiver for 27 years. She said one of the most touching moments in her career happened recently with a gentleman she was assigned to provide care to by A Place At Home.

“We really bonded. He went into hospice shortly after we met and from that point on, he let go. What was so beautiful through that whole thing was I knew he needed to see me one last time before he died. That’s just how close we were. The last day I went in there, I shaved his face really good with the razor, gave him a really nice sponge bath, I would talk to him and his eyes would open and he’d look directly at me so he understood what I was saying. I would always sit by his bed and put my hand on his so he knew he was never alone. It was very touching. When I left the next day he passed away. But he needed to see me one more time before he died.”

The family was extremely grateful that Donna came into his life, even if it was briefly. “His wife thought I was the best thing that ever happened to him. His daughter said I was an angel, as much as I helped her cope through this process. The card they sent me, what they said…I’ll save it for the rest of my life. I will never ever forget this family.”

Donna felt this connection and timing was a miracle. “The Lord put me there for that very reason.”

While the family expressed how important Donna was to them, she said the impact on her was equally moving, “They were thankful to me…but do you know what they did for me? There are no words to describe it. They thought I did a lot for them…but oh, what it did for me. There’s not enough words or tears that could ever tell anyone what it meant to me to be with him.”

Become A Caregiver

A Place at Home caregivers genuinely enjoy caring for others. Together, we work to provide each senior the opportunity to live their best life. Apply now or contact us to inquire about becoming a caregiver with us.

Learning Invaluable Lessons From Seniors: Odillia Magut

Odillia Magut has been named A Place at Home’s February Caregiver of the Month.

While Odillia has only been a CNA for four months, she is no stranger to caring for others. She has dedicated nearly three decades to taking care of her older relatives, including her mother-in-law.

During her time as a family caregiver, Odillia soaked up invaluable life lessons that she now takes with her in her daily life.

“I have learned so much from being a caregiver – how to be patient, how to be compassionate, and how to live life to the fullest,” Odillia said.

From companionship to providing seniors assistance with day-to-day activities, Odillia truly cherishes her time spent caring for others.

“I love spending time with seniors and helping them with their needs. It makes me feel so fulfilled,” Odillia said.

In addition to enjoying her time with senior clients, Odillia appreciates the support she receives from the A Place at Home staff. “They truly listen and are always very understanding. They are kind and they motivate me to always be my best,” Odillia said.

Become A Caregiver

A Place at Home caregivers genuinely enjoy caring for others. Together, we work to provide each senior the opportunity to live their best life. Contact us to inquire about becoming a caregiver with us.

Living Out My Passion: Shena Cue

Shena has dedicated the past 17 years to being a caregiver. Her genuine compassion for others has nabbed her Caregiver of the Month for January.

Shena has been passionate about caring for others ever since her childhood. “When I was a little kid, I used to volunteer whenever I could. In high school, I helped out with the Special Olympics. Then my grandparents started needing help around the house, so I spent a lot of time caring for her. That’s when I realized caring for others is what I really wanted to do,” Shena said.

Shena’s dedication, passion, and love for her job are truly unmatched. Caregiving isn’t just a job, it’s her life’s purpose. “There is nothing else in my life that makes me as complete as being a caregiver. It just makes me feel so good being able to care for people – giving them the things that they really need,” Shena said.

With nearly two decades as a caregiver under her belt, Shena aspires to expand her compassion from caregiving for individual clients to caring for her entire community.

“I love being a CNA. That’s why I’ve been in this field for 17 years. I genuinely love doing what I do. But I want to broaden my reach someday by opening up a staffing or home care agency like A Place at Home,” Shena said.

Shena is the epitome of A Place at Home’s motto, We are CARE (Compassionate, Accountable, Respectful, Ethical). Every day, she sets out to treat everyone she encounters with kindness and respect.

“Shena has to be one of the most compassionate people I know. She definitely has her heart in this job, and it really shows. She strives to do everything she can to make her clients happy,” Dani Pierce, HR Director said.

Congratulations Shena! Thanks for always showing A Place at Home seniors the CARE they deserve.

A Place at Home: Trust Us for Compassionate Senior Care

At A Place at Home senior care, we know that our in-home caregivers make us great. Our careful hiring practices and high standards ensure that seniors receive compassionate, reliable assistance with the activities of daily life. Our senior support services are planned around elderly individuals’ specific needs – and designed to maintain their dignity and independence. A Place at Home caregivers genuinely enjoy caring for others. Together, we work to provide each senior the opportunity to live their best life. Apply now or contact us to inquire about becoming a caregiver with us.

 


When Clients Become Family: Katy Curlis

Katy Curlis has been named A Place at Home’s December Caregiver of the Month. For the past three years, she has dedicated her life to being a caregiver.

Katy always knew that she wanted to make a difference in her community, but had originally pursued a career in Early Childhood Development.

“I was close to getting my degree in early childhood development when I did some work with seniors. I loved hearing their stories, and just really connected with them. After that, I made the decision to switch over from child development to senior care,” Katy expressed.

During her time with A Place at Home, Katy formed an unbreakable bond with her client, Bill. After three years of working with Bill, he and his family became like family to Katy.

Katy and Bill had fun little rituals like going to get ice cream. She loved seeing how happy it made him. And when he struggled to get out of the house, she would bring him his favorite ice cream.

“I just loved making his day even with just a small gesture like getting ice cream. It’s the little things that make a big difference,” Katy said.

Katy’s close relationship with Bill made it even more difficult when she received the news of his passing.

“The family called me to tell me, ‘he’s passing, come quickly’,” Katy said. “Afterwards, it was really hard. I had prepared myself. I knew that he was going downhill, and in senior care, it’s unfortunately inevitable that clients may eventually pass away, but that didn’t make it any easier [losing him].”

To this day, Katy still keeps in contact with Bill’s family. “They will have always have a special place in my heart,” Katy expressed.

While Katy has worked for a few other in-home care agencies, she says that A Place at Home is by far her favorite.

“A Place at Home just has a better set-up. I get along with the office staff, they are easy to talk to and very supportive. And most of all, compatibility is super important to them. They do a great job pairing clients with the right caregivers,” said Katy.

A Place at Home: Trust Us for Compassionate Senior Care

At A Place at Home senior care, we know that our in-home caregivers make us great. Our careful hiring practices and high standards ensure that seniors receive compassionate, reliable assistance with the activities of daily life. Our senior support services are planned around elderly individuals’ specific needs – and designed to maintain their dignity and independence. A Place at Home caregivers genuinely enjoy caring for others. Together, we work to provide each senior the opportunity to live their best life. Apply now or contact us to inquire about becoming a caregiver with us.

Caring Heart: Chikodili Enendu

Chikodili Enendu has been named A Place at Home’s November Caregiver of the Month.

She recently became a caregiver with A Place at Home a few months back, but in that time, she has gone above and beyond to give her clients the best care possible.

While Chiko has only been with A Place at Home a short time, she is no stranger to caring for others. She dedicated a large portion of her childhood serving as a family caregiver to her senior relatives.

“While my mom was at work, I would step in and take care of my elderly relatives—bringing them to doctors appointments, walking with them, doing chores and laundry for them,” Chiko said.

Caring for her elders blossomed her passion for helping others, which led to her pursuing a bachelor’s degree in human services at the University of Baltimore. 

Working as a caregiver for A Place at Home has allowed Chiko the ability to expand her skills. 

“I am always looking to sharpen my skills so that I can take everything I learn as a caregiver and apply it to my future endeavors,” Chiko said. 

Chiko is currently working towards a masters degree in social work. “I would love to do clinical social work—working in the hospital. I want to counsel them and ultimately discover better ways to serve patients,” Chiko expressed.

Chiko also aspires to eventually own her own business in the human services field. We are certain that with all of Chiko’s drive and ambitions, she will continue to serve the community for years to come with her caring heart.

Become A Caregiver

A Place at Home caregivers genuinely enjoy caring for others. Together, we work to provide each senior the opportunity to live their best life. Apply now or contact us to inquire about becoming a caregiver with us.

Caregiver of the Month: Scott Collier

Caregiver of the Month Scott Collier has dedicated nearly two decades to caring for others – as both a CNA and Medication Aide. He began in the early 2000’s caring for patients in nursing homes and at the hospital to now being a caregiver with A Place at Home.

“Being a caregiver isn’t a paycheck for me, it’s my passion, it’s my calling,” Scott expressed.

When Scott first began at A Place at Home over three years ago, he primarily worked with facilities. Until one day he filled in a shift taking care of veteran and stroke survivor, Ron Poe.

“I had been working at facilities, but after working with Ron – I knew that I wanted to continue to care for him full-time. He was just great. It allowed me more one-on-one time and truly being able to give my all as a caregiver versus trying to care for multiple patients at once,” Scott recalled.

Ron’s wife, Deb Poe instantly took to Scott from the very first time he cared for her husband, and even requested that Scott become his regular caregiver.

“From the very beginning, it was apparent just how much Scott genuinely cared for Ron. He is very attentive, dependable and incredibly trustworthy. He closely monitors changes in Ron both physically and emotionally,” Deb said. “For me, it’s key that whoever cares for Ron is someone that I can trust. And I trust Scott. If I have to run errands, I know that Ron will be taken care of very well. Scott isn’t just our caregiver, he is a part of our family.”

Deb first discovered A Place at Home while Ron was at a rehab facility after experiencing a massive stroke back in September 2015, which ultimately affected his ability to move and talk.

“The stroke was very devastating for our family, but even more so for Ron. He was no longer able to do basic tasks on his own. It was difficult, but I wanted to make sure that he was able to stay home. We’re blessed to have the support we’ve had to make it possible for him to be home. We don’t know what we’d do without Scott,” Deb expressed.

Deb reiterates that it hasn’t been an easy road, but that she just feels blessed to still have Ron here, alive and well.

“I can’t believe it’s been three years since his stroke. I have learned so much, but the most important lesson has been learning to cherish each day because you have no idea what could happen at any minute,” Deb said.