Caring with a Difference: Introducing Stella!

My guest today is Stella, of Keko Personnel Limited, who has had a huge amount of experience in the care sector in many different ways.

Stella talks about how, while living in Korea and working in an office, she was introduced to the care industry by one of her friends. She started working part time in a care job and full time in the office. Stella had always had au pairs looking after her children, but she started having problems with them. In 2000 she decided to leave her office job and focus on care. Her reason being that the care work gave her time to look after her own children.

Initially Stella worked with adults with learning difficulties, but when her dad had vascular dementia, and then passed away, she decided she wanted to gain qualifications in care and went on leadership and management in health and social care courses. Then she set up her own care business – particularly working to help people with dementia, having seen the struggles her mum and family had gone through.

Stella shares the difficulties she had with officialdom when setting up her business, and how hard it is to find clients.

One of the types of care we talk about is sitting care, something that Stella’s company offers.

Sitting care is a very undervalued and unknown service. People need companionship so when a family carer wants to go out and have time to themselves, a sitting carer can come in and keep the family member company. There are so many opportunities where this type of care can be used – which Stella explains.

Her company logo is ‘caring with a difference’. She wants people to receive the same care they would if you were looking after family members. Also, it’s all about dignity, and encouraging people to make their own decisions rather than telling them what to do.

To contact Stella:

Email: Stella@Keko-Personnel-ltd.co.uk

Phone: 01784698300