Why In-Home Care Could Be the Right Choice for the Elderly Loved One in Your Life
When our loved ones can no longer adequately care for themselves, the traditional options have been moving them into our own home or into an assisted living facility. However, both options are fraught with challenges, from the cost and isolating depersonalization of nursing homes to the mental, physical and emotional strain of undertaking full care of the loved one without any support. In-home care has emerged as a viable alternative way to navigate the challenges of advancing years.
Executive Care, a family-owned and operated in-home caregiving service based in Stratford, Connecticut, stands out as the premium in-home care company of the region. Recently we caught up with Michael Savoie, who started Executive Care with his mother, Camille Savoie, and his sister, Robin Zacks. We wanted to learn more about what in-home care is and why Executive Care is the best choice in a crowded field of in-home caregivers.
Executive Care began as an extension of Michael Savoie’s personal journey. “My family and I owned restaurants in the community for 27 years before transitioning to in-home care,” explains Savoie. “My mother was a caregiver for many members of my family, including my father. We witnessed firsthand how important the best care is for everyone’s loved one.” Executive Care’s philosophy is that compassionate and respectful in-home care for elderly loved ones is a well-deserved essential. It offers a dignified alternative to nursing homes, providing safety and companionship to the elderly and peace of mind to the family members.
What is In-Home Care?
The goal of Executive Care is to keep your loved one in a safe, clean and familiar environment. The services range from providing companionship and household cleaning to assisting the senior with bathing and personal care to more medically focused 24-hour live-in care. Personalized to each client, the services are executed by highly trained, personable caregivers. “We get extensive information about our potential client so that we can match the client with the best, most compatible Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA),” says Savoie.
Executive Care Means Quality
The quality of Executive Care’s CNAs is bar none. Explains Savoie, “All of our caregivers are given written tests, oriented, drug tested, and are given national background checks and specific plans of care for each case.” Once hired, Executive Care’s CNAs “are required to complete 12 hours of online training per year. Our core CNAs are CPR-certified, plus have specialized dementia/Alzheimer training.” Savoie describes this training as a “very new, unique technology,” one that utilizes virtual reality to give caregivers a sense of what it’s like to live with dementia, thereby inspiring increased compassion and empathy. “All our caregivers are required to go through this process,” says Savoie, something only Executive Care requires of their CNAs.
“At Executive Care, we have a strong, consistent core of caregivers whom we know very well.”
Unlike many registry services available online, all of Executive Care’s CNAs are employees, not subcontractors. This creates invaluable accountability. Savoie warns, “You have to be extremely leery when looking for home care because there are registries who provide home care services that are not complying with all laws.” If the agency is subcontracting caregivers out to the family, it becomes the family, not the agency, who assumes the liability and risk of bringing the caregiver into their loved one’s home. “We don’t blame families for being scared about letting a stranger into their home,” Savoie says. “At Executive Care, we have a strong, consistent core of caregivers whom we know very well.”
Executive Care is the only in-home caregiving service in Connecticut to be CHAP certified. CHAP (Community Health Accreditation Program) is based in Washington, DC, and is the oldest accrediting agency in the country. Says Savoie, “At Executive Care, we believe in quality, not quantity, which is why we chose to go through this rigorous accreditation process.” This is an important distinction. “Sadly, in Connecticut, there is virtually no oversight in our industry by the Department of Consumer Protection,” Savoie explains. “There are no laws regarding training.” Executive Care’s commitment to the highest-quality service standards is evident by the fact that they remain voluntarily accredited. “To remain CHAP certified, we must go through the accreditation process every three years,” says Savoie, a process that includes a two-day, in-office audit of all Executive Care’s staff and practices.
When is the Right Time to Consider In-Home Care?
Executive Care clients can expect that only trustworthy, professional caregivers will assist the loved one needing care. But how does one decide when the time has come to enlist the services of Executive Care? Savoie understands this is a tough decision. “The advice I give a family as far as contracting a home care agency is to do it sooner, rather than later. It can be very difficult to accept that Mom or Dad may be in the early stages of needing help, but we certainly don’t want them taking a bad fall or risking an injury.” Executive Care has a registered nurse on staff who can visit the potential client to do a complimentary home assessment and create a plan of care. Once a plan is in place, communication remains key. “The CNA takes daily notes and the client is constantly monitored for any changes or signs of decline. Our goal is to keep the client stable and try to improve their status.” In addition, Executive Care employs an end-of-life doula to ensure the family of the loved one can be properly counseled on all major decisions.
“We’re dedicated to being in constant communication with family and the loved one.”
Affordability of In-Home Care
One misconception about in-home caregiving concerns its affordability. Although in-home caregiving is not covered by Medicare, a number of options make it an affordable alternative to moving a loved one into your home or an assisted living facility. Savoie notes that most in-home care agencies accept long-term care insurance, Veterans assistance programs and private pay. Despite the cost, in-home care can be the most valuable, stress-relieving solution for both the senior and their loved ones. In-home care eliminates worries of accidental falls, forgetting to take medication and keeping the house clean, and, sometimes most importantly, it alleviates loneliness. “In most cases, the caregiver and the senior form a special bond,” Savoie says. “Some clients have been with their same CNA for years, so naturally there is a true love that develops. They often become best friends.”
Savoie and his staff of certified employees treat all their clients with dignity, empathy and respect. They acknowledge how stressful it can be for the loved ones of seniors in decline and are there to support them. Says Savoie, “We answer the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, no answering services. We’re dedicated to being in constant communication with family and the loved one.”
For anyone considering an alternative to assisted living or moving their loved one into their own home, Executive Care is the premium choice. “We constantly reinvest in our agency, refining all of our technology and implementing new programs,” Savoie says with conviction. “We spare no expense in our dedication. We constantly strive to be the best that we possibly can be.”
Don’t just take his word for it. Executive Care has an expansive record of glowing testimonials. Says Sue Peters, whose mother was diagnosed with dementia seven years ago, “From the moment I walked into Executive Care, I felt a sense of warmth and calmness. Robin Zacks [Michael Savoie’s sister and co-owner] displayed incredible patience and deep understanding when describing the services Executive Care offered. I was amazed. The process was well organized and seamless. I have been caring for my mom for seven years, and to be able to have the burden of stress and worry lifted is an incredible feeling. This is truly how a healthcare agency should operate.”
For more information, give the compassionate caregivers at Executive Care a call at 203-690-1963 or visit www.stratford.executivehomecare.com. A better alternative for you and your loved one awaits.