What does "making more possible" mean? Well, it depends on who you ask. For a daughter, taking care of her mother may mean "more convenience" because she has extra time to spend on getting things done at home. For an elderly couple, providing homecare assistance may mean "more hope" because they can remain independent in their home for longer. And, for one Birmingham homecare client, this is what it meant:
"I’d like to thank BrightStar for sending Monica as my caregiver. She is one of the most dedicated to her job. People say they care, but she shows it. She always makes my treatments (infusion therapy) go by so great. She is always asking me if I’m okay and if I need anything. She always fits the treatments for my schedule, even if it takes away from hers.
At the end of June, I had a treatment plus I had to be in Birmingham for a test on the last day so she couldn’t give the treatment that afternoon."
Click here to continue reading about Monica's touching gestures and how she went above and beyond to make more possible.
What would we do without caregivers? Family caregivers and caregivers by trade alike. This is undeniably something taken for granted by those who have never needed a caregiver. But the stories we hear on a daily basis about all they do - from the little day-to-day things to going above and beyond the call of duty - are nothing short of amazing. In fact, one recent story from our Wakefield MA homecare provider is a great example of this:
"We received a call as a response from an advertisement that we ran in one of our area’s parish bulletins last Friday. The call was from a woman whose mother lived in a neighboring town. She was looking for general help for her 89-year-old mother for bathing and some shopping needs, either accompanying her or performing some rudimentary errands for her. Some other health care agency would have simply dispatched a CNA to start performing these tasks for her.
As standard procedure in any case received like this from our Brightstar office, an RN, in this case my Director of Nursing, was dispatched to perform a preliminary initial assessment of the elderly woman’s needs (on a Saturday!), her living situation, home safety review, and review of the woman’s over-all health. What my DON discovered, unbeknownst to the woman’s daughter and hidden under her sock, was that the woman was suffering from cellulites on her right leg. The leg was purple with a pitting edema, and threatened to become septic. Red serosanginous drainage was occurring and was outwardly draining from the area of the leg. My nurse called her doctor and strongly recommended that the woman be examined and admitted. She was taken by her daughter to an area hospital ER and was then immediately admitted as an in-patient."
Click here to continue reading about what the doctors found when they took the woman to the ER and how RN oversight saved her life.
A recent article in the Nashville Business Journal tells the story of one Nashville medical staffing provider and his journey to starting his own homecare and healthcare staffing business. BrightStar owner Ron Benkert left his job as a home developer to provide care, from childcare to elder care, to individuals, families and organizations in the Nashville area.
Having observed the bonds many people have with their homes during his 29 year-long career inspired him to get into the business of helping to keep them there: "I felt drawn to people who wanted to be able to stay in their home and still be able to enjoy their home," he said. Read the rest of Ron's story here.
BrightStar Memphis homecare providers, Dr. Daron and Tyna Merryman, have taken a team approach to serving those in need in their community. As a physician, Daron realized there was a huge need to fill in providing care to people of all ages and, specifically, in providing senior home care to help the elderly in the Memphis area maintain their independence whenever possible.
"When I was in my geriatric fellowship, that was the crux of everything," Merryman said. "What seniors told us overwhelmingly, what they wanted more than anything, was to protect their independence. What they feared the most was the loss of that independence."
A recent feature on the Memphis "care-giving" duo profiled their journey together and how they came to join the BrightStar family.
"What I felt was lacking in care was an outstanding provider," Merryman said. "When I saw the commitment that BrightStar was doing as a national brand to try to make sure that they were going to be the Mercedes of home care, that's what I wanted to be a part of."
Read the full article.
Meet Henry. Henry is the newest addition to one
Minnesota BrightStar office. Rick Gass,
Maple Grove homecare provider, has added Henry to their medical staffing team. A certified pet therapy dog, Henry is a Golden-Doodle (or as they like to call him, "The Dood") that can provide a wide range of care, from childcare to elder care, for clients ranging in needs and abilities.
Recently, the Maple Grove homecare provider showcased Henry at the "Meeting of the Minds Conference" in St. Paul. He was a huge hit with all of the attendees. Specifically, many people struggling with Alzheimer's or dementia who have had to downsize their lives and give up beloved pets said it was wonderful to have a dog around, even if for just a short time. He is currently spending time with a young boy who has Autism and neuromuscular disease. Henry is a great companion to the boy, and can sense when anxiety is on the rise. He is able to help the child in re-directing his emotions and de-escalate situations.
Henry also visits Memory Care facilities. He enjoys all of the ear rubs and "handshakes" that the residents have to offer. What makes Henry so wonderful is his soft coat and friendly eyes. The residents enjoy his antics and those with disabilities appreciate that he is wheelchair height and accessible to them. Henry is looking forward to expanding his career and finding new clients to amuse, as he enjoys wearing his BrightStar Cape, and greeting everyone with a swish of the tail. Be sure to keep an eye on BrightStar Maple Grove's Website, as they plan to continue sharing more of Henry's adventures. Stay tuned!
BrightStar Co-Founder and CEO Shelly Sun received one of the franchising industry's highest honors by the International Franchise Association as its Entrepreneur of the Year during its 50th Annual Convention on Sunday, February 7, 2010 in San Antonio, TX. In accepting this award, Shelly joins the ranks of J. Willard Marriott of Marriott Corporation and Frederick DeLuca of Subway, among others, as recipients of this prestigious award. Mrs. Sun is only the second female to receive this impressive award.
As she reflected on her successes, Shelly was quick to pay tribute to BrightStar locations providing the utmost in quality care each and everyday: "This award is a result of our franchisees' relentless daily efforts in providing our clients quality of life, and providing peace of mind to families across the country."
Sun thanked her mentors, peers and staff and went on to say, "We are blessed to be in the business of providing peace of mind to our clients by providing the highest quality, compassionate care and service; and we look forward to entering new cities and new markets where we'll be able to bring that service to families giving them dependability and comfort knowing their family is well cared for."
Congratulations, Shelly!