WEYBURN - An update on the in-home services to seniors provided by the Comforts of Home Senior Care services was recently provided to the Weyburn Rotary Club.
Holly Adamache and Tanya Kwochka started the non-medical and in-home care program for seniors in the community who may need assistance, to assist them in remaining at home as long as possible.
“When we started this business five years ago, we didn’t realize how much this service would change our lives, and how much it would evolve into what it is today,” said Adamache. “When you start a business, you have an objective of what you want to do, and what you want to present. As you go along with the business, you realize that it constantly changes.”
“We are still doing what we set up to do, the goal of our business, to help seniors to stay at home as long as they can,” added Adamache. The list of services includes personal care (assisting with bathing, dressing, exercising), meals and nutrition, general household duties ranging from emptying trash and sorting recyclables, washing and folding laundry and light household cleaning.
“There is also a lot of companionship and spending time with our clients.”
One of the biggest challenges since starting the business was working around the obstacles that were presented during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We meet with families, we meet with clients, and figure out how to help them by dividing and conquering,” said Adamache.
“We pick up the little things, and notice a little more eyes-on attention, by alerting the family,” said Kwochka. “We are in contact with the families of our clients a lot, to keep them informed about what is going on in the home. That information has benefited not only the clients, but the families as well.”
An important focus of the Comforts of Home Senior Care is to keep the seniors active, and involved in the community.
“We lost some of that personal touch during COVID, which means our clients are so thankful when we walk through the door since we are the only people coming to see them,” said Kwochka. “There are still some deficiencies in that part of our services, but we are slowly getting back into community involvement.”
“Another thing that has changed is helping with transitions, as our clients age and get to the place where they can’t be at home anymore,” noted Adamache. “Our rule is when it is not safe anymore, when we can’t provide enough care for our client.”
The Comforts of Home Senior Care do have connections with every nursing home in town, so as to keep in touch with clients who have gone through a transition process.
“We got to be a part of their lives, and help them stay at home as long as we could, which I am so thankful for,” said Adamache. “It has been a great opportunity for us, to be involved in the lives of our clients, and get to know their families.”
“Our work includes being involved with home care, doctors, and social workers, so that we are part of a team. They are very receptive to them, as they are to us, so we can make the same goals for the client,” said Kwochka.
Since the Comforts of Home Senior Care is a lot more personalized, there are moments when Holly or Tanya will note something of concern in the home, and make sure that information is told to the right person in the expanded team.
In the past five years, the Comforts of Home Senior Care have added one more staff member. The minimum time spent in a home is an hour, but the length of the time is usually dependent on the client. “We have never said no to helping a client,” said Adamache. “Our job changes everyday. We try our best to balance as best as we can.”
Tanya and Holly’s goal is to provide personalized, compassionate care to seniors, in their own homes. “We want to keep it personal, so the clients and caregivers can build trusting relationships.” For more information, email them at [email protected], or call Holly at 306-891-5706 or Tanya at 306-861-2806.
