Home Health 360: Presented By AlayaCare

The human side of home care: Stories from our frontline heroes

• Erin Vallier • Season 1 • Episode 76

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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:

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.

Ana:

I've been working seven days for the last month or so. We've been very busy and shorthanded. But in my everyday, when I walk in, I try to walk in with always a smile, always with a smile, and I try to walk in with an attitude that I'm helping my mother. I try to walk with an attitude that they need the help from me more than I need it from them, because there's a lot of stress and there's a lot of headaches when you see them suffering and when you see them trying to struggle to get up. Sometimes the family are working or sometimes they're not there and they're alone a lot. So I try to go with a smile on my face all the time.

Erin Vallier:

Welcome to another episode of the Home Health 360 podcast, where we speak to home-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 usual podcast format to revisit an inspirational conversation held with three home care professionals who shared some of their firsthand experiences at AlayaCare's most recent Better Outcomes Conference. I actually had the pleasure of being in the audience and I can say the stories these ladies told pulled on everybody's heartstrings. There weren't very many dry eyes in the house and today I am very happy to be able to share this inspiring conversation with all of our listeners who happened to miss it. We started the conversation by asking Aijbola from Right at Home, donna from the Care Company and Ana from Venture Forthe what drove them into home-based care as a frontline worker in the first place.

Aijbola:

Years back. My mom was critically ill and we've lost hope sincerely, so we rushed her to the emerge. My mom was critically ill and we've lost hope sincerely, so we rushed her to the emerge and I saw how the healthcare professionals, how they rushed to 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 was going to also be a lifesaver, paying it forward. I love what I do, maybe because one of my values is compassion, though it could be challenging, to be candid. What I find fulfillment in what I do, and today the rest is history.

Donna:

I'm here representing the Care Company and my reason for starting nursing actually is very cliche. I just like to help people, and I learned that very early on, when I'd be the one running to the office for ice for someone that fell at school or whatever.

Ana:

So that's my reason. My name is Ana Russi and I represent Venture Forthe, and I became involved in Venture Forthe because of my mother. I'm the daughter, first-born daughter, of a lady who had nine children, and I worked for the New York City Police Department for 27 years.

Aijbola:

My name is Captain Ana

Ana:

Russi. My mother kept getting ill and all of us eight of us at that time we decided to have a meeting and see who was going to care for my mother. I decided to retire and move to Buffalo from New York City and take care of my mother. Unfortunately, she was found that she had terminal cancer and at the time of my retirement I wanted her to take some trips with me and I was going to be the miracle worker. I was going to find my what was wrong with her and I was not able to do so.

Ana:

After she passed away, two years later, I found myself back in Buffalo. I had purchased a house and I didn't know what to do and I could have gone back to the police department but I'm retired already. And a friend of mine told me why don't you try to help here? And I said help him. And he said, yeah, there's this company that I know and they're hiring. So that's how I ended up going to Venture Forthe and becoming an aide and on my first day of being home they called me to take care of my patient and I was nervous, but then, when I saw the first client there and how much help she needed, it reminded me of my mother and I was willing to do everything I could to make her happy and make her comfortable with the experience that had taught me,

Erin Vallier:

As you might expect,

Erin Vallier:

commonality among these individuals is their purpose and passion to serve others. For Ana and Aijbola, it was their mom. The reason I got into health care was my grandparents On both sides. They lived in a really rural area and had zero access to care. And for others, like Donna, these folks are just wired to be caregivers from birth. These are the type of people that just get immense joy from helping others and a side note here I want to point out that workforce strategies that are centered around uplifting, empowering and investing in your people the ones that just want to help Now that's the key to providing exceptional care and also to keeping those caregivers happy and having longevity in their roles. I also think it's pretty cool that the skills required to provide care in the home can lead to saving lives while you're just out in the wild living your own life. Listen to the story that Ana tells.

Ana:

I was in Puerto Rico just this July and the reason I'm saying this is because the amount of experience and the training that Venture Forthe gave me helped me notice things. And we were sitting in the restaurant and there was six of us in one table and there was like eight men in a table next to us and they were mature men I think in the senior, and one of them got up, and I assumed that he 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 feeling that he was going to fall and I jumped up and I took a chair and I put it behind him and he sat right on it. I took a chair and I put it behind him and he sat right on it. And that's the experience that I had as an aide, as working for Venture Forthe, and almost 10 years now, and that's how I became where I am now and why I'm here.

Erin Vallier:

These ladies have so many years of experience and have seen so much. They talk about their work being a lot more than just giving medical care and doing tasks. They provide comfort, they gift their presence and they show the utmost respect to the people that they care for.

Donna:

I do have one experience that comes to mind.

Donna:

I was asked to take care of a 13 year old that was just recently diagnosed with abdominal cancer and I was asked to go in last minute, go in Saturday and Sunday. And I couldn't do the Saturday. It was my grandson's birthday. So I said I could go in Sunday and I was going in blind. I didn't know what was going on. So I went in on the Sunday and there were dozens and dozens of people and the sign on the door said don't ring the doorbell, just go in. So I went in and where's the client?

Donna:

And she was laying in her bed in the middle of the dining room and the table was pushed over to the side and all the supplies were on the table and the parents were at the foot of the bed and all the people were just lined up and just paying their respects. She was alive, she was in the bed, but she was nonresponsive. And then I realized that this is a huge family. I'm privileged to be in their home. The only thing she needed from me was ketamine, morphine and hydromorphone every six minutes and I had to take care of the family, and what we believe in is family-centered care.

Donna:

So I talked to the mom a little bit and she started showing me pictures. And then she showed me they had just gotten back from a trip at Christmas and the daughter was perfectly fine at that time. And then first day back at school she coughed up blood, she went to hospital, was diagnosed with terminal cancer and when I went in March, the mom also told me she was showing me pictures. And the mom told me that it was her daughter's birthday yesterday and I realized, oh my gosh, that was my grandson's birthday also and kind of felt bad about that. And I saw the balloons still hanging around the house and about a week later I got the news that she had passed away.

Erin Vallier:

What struck me from Donna's answer is the fact that home care workers not only care for their clients, they also care for family members, and in that regard, caregiving is way more impactful than you might initially imagine. The support given in the home reaches far beyond the door. You really do have the opportunity to change so many lives for the better, and although I'm not a caregiver, I can imagine how rewarding that feels.

Aijbola:

There was one time I cared for a palliative patient and everything was happening so fast his health was declining. And then he made a final wish. He said I would really love my family members to be at my bedside while I pass away. So the family was called and to my surprise they were there the next day.

Aijbola:

I don't know what they've discussed before coming in, but they all came in quietly into that room without saying a word. Some held the feet, some held the hands, and there was a huge silence in the room while my clients passed away. When my clients saw them, he couldn't communicate verbally, but you could sense the excitement and how it could communicate. That was being tearful, and a few hours later he passed away. That moment taught me the power of silence. Why not saying anything, but you could offer comfort in crucial moments like that. I've always known that silence is 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 than voice. Indeed, silence is golden. So it was really a very fulfilling moment for me to be part of that process.

Erin Vallier:

For anyone who hasn't been present with someone when they take their last breath, it is profound and an otherworldly moment. Nearly two years ago, I had the honor of being with my other mother, which was my mom's best friend. I was there when she passed and it was in a setting very much like just described. She was surrounded by her closest friends and her family when she transitioned and I can say, the energy in the room shifted in a very tangible way. It was just like her spirit was lingering there for moments. It's an experience that'll stay with you forever and, speaking from that experience, in those kinds of moments supporting the family is invaluable. When grief takes over, clear thinking flies right out the window and having somebody there that is just even slightly removed and able to assist with the simplest task like please drink water, that becomes an immeasurable gift.

Ana:

My career for the nine years have been smooth with my clients, except for the last holiday. I was with my client and we dressed her up because the family wanted to bring her across from where she lived to a barbecue, and I have not experienced none of my clients having any kind of strokes or heart attack or anything like that. Yes, maybe a little femur, maybe a little cold, something like that. But as we got there we sat down and she wanted something to eat and I got her something to eat and I'm sitting next to her and she finished eating and all of a sudden I saw the drop in her face and in the arm and thank God 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 and I knew the address and I call.

Ana:

But this was an experience and a shock for me to see one of my clients have a stroke in front of me and it made my heart sad for her and it made me who know what it is to have something like that. Because of my age I might have to experience it one day or not, but it was warming and then everybody, like she said, everybody went quiet. We waited for the ambulance, we get her to the hospital and with us we have to stay with them until they're assigned to a room. And she's there there and I go to 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 because she was having another stroke right in front of me and, even though my hands are shaking, because I didn't want to lose her. I love all my clients, I'm very attached to them in some way or another, but I was so happy that I was able to save her.

Erin Vallier:

The stories these home care heroes share highlight that the work can be sometimes extremely emotional and it can also provide opportunities to save lives. Ana shares her experience preventing falls in public places and then saving a woman she loved very dearly from two active strokes. I imagine those moments are very terrifying but also incredibly rewarding. Next, we hear more about the support Aijbola gave her client and how well she was able to recognize that client's needs.

Aijbola:

First of all I want to celebrate my company Right at Home for giving me the privilege to serve. This was during COVID and I came to work and I was told my client has been so grumpy and restless, which is so unusual. My clients has been so grumpy and restless, which is so unusual. I've always known over the years that when anyone it could be a child or an adult is coming up with unusual behavior, a need has to be met. Most of the time it was always emotional. So I approached my clients and I said I was just looking for ways to get to know the need. So I initiated a conversation.

Aijbola:

In the process he started talking about his daughter. So at that moment I realized it's been a while he saw the daughter due to COVID, less of physical contact. So I called the daughter and I was like, please, is there a way you can come over just to see him? And at the same time I wanted to be very careful to be able to get a safe distance. So the daughter was so happy to do that. So the daughter went to the window 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 surprise for you. He was really grumpy about it and I said you know what? I think this is what you would love to see.

Aijbola:

When he stood up to see the daughter at the window, it was the switch for me From a grumpy man to a very happy man. It was so exciting. You could feel the joy, so palpable. It was really a heartwarming moment for me because I remember they were Italians and they were speaking their languages. Oh my goodness, and right there at that moment I just saw how family is everything. Family involvement is very crucial, so over the years I always try my best to involve family in the care plan. Family means different things to us, so I try to ask my clients who is important in your life that you would like me to bring into this process? I go far and beyond to do that and it just validates the Maslow hierarchy of needs would like me to bring into this process? We need that connection and especially when we know we offer emotional support but there's a missing link, which is the family, and it really goes a long way.

Erin Vallier:

I love this story because it shows just how creative caregivers can get when it comes to bringing joy to their clients. And, let's be honest, we're all trying to forget the pandemic ever happened. But there's no denying the isolation it caused took a real toll. It even cost lives. I read a statistic recently that social isolation and loneliness are associated with an increased risk of death. People who experience social isolation have a 32% higher risk of dying early from any cause as compared to those who are not socially isolated, and the effort that took to remedy this for her client probably prolonged his life. But not all stories in health care are negative. As we will hear in our next story, Real life also provides a fair amount of humor, and we all know that humor is good medicine.

Donna:

I have actually a few funny memories of nursing. Last year, when I was in a school, I was taking care of a deaf little boy who needed an insulin injection every day. He had PTSD, he had just come from Afghanistan and so he was hard to manage. So I thought I'm going to learn some signing. So I was really excited.

Donna:

First day I had learned to say hi, my name is Donna, and I spelled out my name. For the whole week I was hi, my name is Donna, I'm going to help you with your lunch. And next day hi, my name is Donna, I'm going to help you with my lunch. And then after a couple of weeks, his EA came up to me and said well, what's your name? 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 the lady on YouTube said, but anyways, at the end of the year they threw me a going away party because that was my last year, and they gave me a nice little card that said Fonna.

Erin Vallier:

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 ladies have been able to provide care so joyfully over many years. An alarming statistic that I read recently was that 57% of caregivers report burnout, which, as we know, usually leads to turn, and this is costly. Us businesses lose somewhere between $17 and $33 billion annually, depending on who you ask, and this is just due to caregiver absenteeism, caregiver turnover and reduced productivity. Obviously, it's important to rely on your colleagues and your family for support. So next we hear Ana and Donna talk about the support strategies that help them to stay resilient as they deliver care.

Ana:

In my everyday. I've been working seven days for the last month or so. We've been very busy and short-handed. But in my everyday, when I walk in, I try to walk in with always a smile, always with a smile, and I try to walk in with an attitude that I'm helping my mother. I try to walk with an attitude that they need the help from me more than I need it from them. I tried to because there's a lot of stress and there's a lot of headaches when you see them suffering and when you see them trying to struggle to get up. I had one client that she was struggling to get up and I said you need to get up for me, please. You need to get up, let's try. And then she kept trying up and I 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, Can you 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 and she got up. Back, move it. And she started laughing and she got up.

Ana:

But you have to go in with all these feelings, that they have feelings and you have feelings, and sometimes the family is not there to give it to them. Sometimes the family are working or sometimes they're not there and they're alone a lot. So I try to go with a smile on my face all the time. I don't care how sick I am, how tired 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 go dancing or something. And that's my attitude as I go to my patients or my clients every time.

Donna:

I have a group of friends.

Donna:

So in nursing, you get a little posse or a group of friends that you trust and I debrief with them quite often if I've had a hard day. Sometimes we even FaceTime, like, 4 of us. We get together for dinners all the time. So you have to debrief you have to talk to people.

Erin Vallier:

This conversation with Donna, Ana, Aijbola offered a powerful glimpse into the lives of front line care workers in home-based care settings, which is often overlooked. It's so easy to get far removed from the impact that home care has on the people served and the community at large. This was a really good reminder for me, so I hope that you've enjoyed these touching stories and you are reminded just why you do what you do every single day in this line of service that we call home-based care. Thanks for listening.

Erin Vallier:

Home Health 360 is presented by Alaya Care and hosted by Erin Vallier. First, we want to thank our amazing guests and listeners. Second, new episodes air every month, so be sure to subscribe today so you don't miss an episode. And last but not least, if you like this episode and want to learn more about all things home-based care, you can explore all of our episodes at alayacare. com/ homehealth360 or visit us on your favorite podcast platform.