Featured Article: New Look, New Message,
New Focus. The Value of Extraordinary Service

By Regina McNamara, RN, MSN, MPH, Owner

We enter 2016, our ninth year of service, during a watershed time in our industry. New federal regulations, state mandates, and other changes have reversed over 35 years of agency oversight.
These transformations have led many owners to initiate quick fixes, over react, or worse, do little, waiting for their world to change.

It will be a year of agency closings, consolidations and massive caregiver shortages as home care workers seek stable work environments.

This is the year of our greatest opportunity. We have built our company on a simple commitment to providing exceptional care and support to the loved ones of our clients who need substantial guidance in planning the care of their elderly and disabled family members.

From its inception, our company was never based on low cost. Price of service is no indicator of effectiveness or quality of care to our most important family members in their time of greatest need
Seeking information, choosing and selecting professional home care is extremely complicated. Services vary, preparation of staff differs significantly, and leadership and marketing can be confusing. Alas, price is often the first, and sadly the only criteria for choosing care.
It is also the WRONG choice.

We respect the limits of family resources. We work closely with all involved to insure that the least restrictive, but best environment is chosen for care. Poor caregivers can cause injury by neglecting clients, resulting in costly hospital and nursing home stays. Poor judgment by caregivers can lead to readmission and exacerbation of illness and decline of elderly in the most costly environment.
Navigating the health care system is time consuming and extremely confusing, Planning for care across the continuum is perplexing and “doing the right thing” can be an illusive goal.

It is this advocacy, which sets us apart. Although our people begin as clients, they end as valued friends.

We are not always the first agency chosen; we are always the final one.

But enough about us. The following is a lovely note from former clients. We cared for both parents for a year while they declined then passed on hospice:

My brother and I have looked back often over what was the most stressful time we have ever faced as a family; and are still overwhelmed by the devotion, sensitivity, skill and- most importantly- sense of humor that everyone at ATHC showed in caring for our parents.

The saddest three months were those at the end of Dad’s life, without his wife of 62+ years, when he had essentially given up the will to live. Antoinette and Dad had a very special relationship, built on trust and respect- the most important ingredients at this stage of life, we have learned. She allowed him to maintain his dignity at the end of his life, humored him skillfully when he was grumpy- and somehow kept him to two glasses of wine each night!! Her powers of observation regarding his medical care and her knowledge in dealing with the doctors were unsurpassed. We all adored Antoinette, and miss her laugh still.

We realize now just how exhausting this business must be for everyone at Always There. But you all handle it so well. We will always be grateful you came into our lives.

~ The Dovell Family, Wilton CT