As our loved ones age, ensuring their well-being and comfort becomes a top priority for families. For many, the decision about how to best provide support for elderly relatives can be overwhelming. While nursing homes and assisted living facilities are common options, an increasingly popular choice is in-home care. This option not only helps seniors maintain their independence but also significantly enhances their quality of life.
Patti Baskin Scholpp knows this all too well, having been the primary caregiver for her own mother for five years. That experience is what led her to leave her accounting career and open Caring Solutions in 2006. She knew she could make a difference in the way elders were cared for – offering safe and compassionate care by healthcare professionals that families can trust – wherever they choose to live – at home or in a facility.
She took a leave of absence from a corporate accounting position to care for her mother, but after her mother passed away and she returned to her job, her heart was no longer in it. She left and went to work for an agency that placed nursing assistants in homes for the elderly. She knew it was where she was meant to be. While she learned a lot while working for the agency, she also realized that there were things she could change to make elder care better.
What sets Caring Solutions apart is the strict standards used to vet potential employees. CORI checks are mandatory. Families can feel comfortable knowing that they can trust those who care for their elders to treat them with dignity, compassion, and respect. Just as important is the personalized approach that Caring Solutions gives to each client. Care providers assess each individual's unique needs and preferences, allowing them to develop tailored care plans. Whether it’s help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, and meal preparation, or assistance with medical needs such as medication management and mobility support, in-home care can be customized to fit the specific requirements of the elderly loved one.
Personalized care fosters stronger relationships between caregivers and seniors. Familiarity breeds trust, making it easier for seniors to express their needs and concerns, ultimately leading to better care outcomes. “I want to know who you are, says Patti of her clients, “tell me who you are, and I can take better care of you. The only way you can see people as they really are, is to talk to them.”
Patti and her team also try to match caregivers with their clients’ interests. For example, one client speaks four languages and has traveled all over the world, so Caring Solutions matched him with a caregiver from Sri Lanka and Haiti. Another of his caregivers is from Paris “He loves to talk to them – he’s intrigued by people from different countries,” Patti says.
“We listen and respond to the needs of all of our clients so we can create a positive and enriching experiences,” Patti explains. “I’m proud of my staff and the level of care and integrity we offer,” Patti says. To families looking for care, Patti asks, “What would the perfect caregiver look like to you?”
If she had not taken care of her own mother, Patti says she would not be doing what she’s doing now. “She prepared me for this, I just didn’t know it.”
Caring Solutions
131 Elm Street
West Springfield, MA 01089
413-733-5588
www.caring-solutions.com
If she had not taken care of her own mother, Patti says she would not be doing what she’s doing now. “She prepared me for this, I just didn’t know it.”
“We listen and respond to the needs of all of our clients so we can create a positive and enriching experiences”