To become a Frontline Honoree, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a dedicated, high-performing frontline worker who delivers exceptional experiences and outcomes; a passionate worker who knows how to put their vision into action for the good of older adults and aging industry professionals; and an advocate for older adults, their industry, and their peers.

Home Health Care News caught up with McBride to discuss their time in the home health care industry.

HHCN: What drew you to this industry?

McBride: I grew up watching my grandmother care for people in a small farming community in Michigan. She worked in a small office with one country doctor, a nurse (my grandmother) and office help for 40 years. I was intrigued with her job and during my summers I spent with her and my grandfather, I wanted to go to work with her. I had the opportunity to do that and spent afternoons watching Dr. Kopchick and my grandmother care for blue collar patients. The community depended so much on this health center and I was able grasp the importance of nursing and healthcare. This began my journey of becoming a nurse.

HHCN: What’s your biggest lesson learned since starting to work in the industry?

McBride: The biggest lesson is the importance of human life and how fragile it can be.

HHCN: What’s your favorite part about your job?

McBride: My favorite part of this job has three parts: first, seeing patients improve and heal; teach them how to manage their disease; and build relationships.

HHCN: What do you want society (or the general public) to know about your job?

McBride: I want society to understand the complexity of our jobs, the responsibility that we as home health providers take on when a person comes into care. That it is not just going to a person’s home and making a visit. It is holistic. It involves multiple layers; such as environment, family, neighbors, financial, health literacy, lack of food, resources—the list goes on. The last thing I want society to know is that home health care is imperative to the healing of patients, providing the resources needed in order for them to thrive in their environment.

HHCN: What may be one thing leaders don’t know, that you wish they universally knew, about your job?

McBride: The thing that I want leaders to know about my job as a home health care nurse case manager is that our job is complex. There are multiple layers to the work we do each day. These include autonomy, courage, diversity, understanding and being able to collaborate with many different resources.

To view the entire Frontline Honors Class of 2023, visit frontlinehonors.agingmedia.com/

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To become a Frontline Honoree, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a dedicated, high-performing frontline worker who delivers exceptional experiences and outcomes; a passionate worker who knows how to put their vision into action for the good of older adults and aging industry professionals; and an advocate for older adults, their industry, and their peers.

Home Health Care News caught up with Buttchen to discuss their time in the home health care industry.

HHCN: What drew you to this industry?

Buttchen: From as far back as I can remember, I always wanted to become a nurse. I have never wavered from this profession, and to this day I am thankful for the privilege of caring for others. If I was asked to choose this profession again, I would in a heartbeat.

HHCN: What’s your biggest lesson learned since starting to work in the industry?

Buttchen: One of the biggest lessons I have learned is the more you give, the more you will get back. Every person’s life has value and we all deserve to live life to the fullest. There is no greater feeling than to help care for another person and to witness their joy.

HHCN: What’s your favorite part about your job?

Buttchen: Building relationships, creating memories and appreciating my job for what it really is – caring for people – are all what makes my job as a nurse so rewarding.

HHCN: What do you want society (or the general public) to know about your job?

Buttchen: Working in healthcare has given me great purpose, as well as great satisfaction that no matter the title or position people need you. You will learn many skills working in healthcare, have financial security and hours and shifts can be flexible. Above all else, every person you care for will touch your life in some way and you will feel most fulfilled.

HHCN: What may be one thing leaders don’t know, that you wish they universally knew, about your job?

Buttchen: This is a difficult question for me to answer because my leaders at Madison’s Maxim Healthcare Services office have a great understanding of our industry and that the patient is the most important. At Maxim, we have a respectful workplace culture where everyone’s ideas and gifts are valued. Last September, I was even more filled with pride when I heard our CEO, Jarrod DePriest, talk sincerely about our industry and his unique perspective that we strive not only to provide high quality care, but also compassionate care for all those we serve. Healthcare in the home will continue to be needed, and I hope all healthcare leaders will aspire to provide the kind of care our company provides.

To view the entire Frontline Honors Class of 2023, visit frontlinehonors.agingmedia.com/

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To become a Frontline Honoree, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a dedicated, high-performing frontline worker who delivers exceptional experiences and outcomes; a passionate worker who knows how to put their vision into action for the good of older adults and aging industry professionals; and an advocate for older adults, their industry, and their peers.

Home Health Care News caught up with Haehl to discuss their time in the home health care industry.

HHCN: What drew you to this industry?

Haehl: I grew up in a caring family and community. I learned to look for needs, and then strive to meet those needs. Caring for those in Home Health has been a driving passion for me. Being a Home Health Aide has afforded an opportunity for me to, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

HHCN: What’s your biggest lesson learned since starting to work in the industry?

Haehl: Continuing to gain a greater skill set, working as a team, and treating each client as unique and valuable are essential to great care. Each person has a varied set of factors that matter in the scheme of providing clients with highly skilled and personalized care.

HHCN: What’s your favorite part about your job?

Haehl: The “paycheck of the heart” can’t be put in the bank. It makes me feel rich! When a client smiles and says, “Thank you for all you do,” it is like sunshine in my soul.

HHCN: What do you want society (or the general public) to know about your job?

Haehl: Home Health Aides are the “eyes” and the “ears” who alert the team of professionals to any needs that require their attention. We provide the compassionate, hands-on care day in and day out. We are often the very “lifeline” for our clients.

HHCN: What may be one thing leaders don’t know, that you wish they universally knew, about your job?

Haehl: Essential home healthcare workers, such as aides, are the “hidden warriors” in the healthcare world. Day in and day out, they provide care for a wide variety of clients who struggle with every kind of condition. Clients who are well cared for at home thrive and don’t merely survive.

To view the entire Frontline Honors Class of 2023, visit frontlinehonors.agingmedia.com/

The post Frontline Honors: Grace Haehl, Help at Home appeared first on Home Health Care News.

To become a Frontline Honoree, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a dedicated, high-performing frontline worker who delivers exceptional experiences and outcomes; a passionate worker who knows how to put their vision into action for the good of older adults and aging industry professionals; and an advocate for older adults, their industry, and their peers.

Home Health Care News caught up with Voisey to discuss their time in the home health care industry.

HHCN: What drew you to this industry?

Voisey: The flexibility of home care is really what drew me to the industry. The fluctuations of the day, the time that you get to spend with people, the different patients – every day is different. You get a lot of variety and practice with different nursing skills and your patients daily.

HHCN: What’s your biggest lesson learned since starting to work in the industry?

Voisey: Growth with adaptability. You must be able to adapt to changes in your schedule, changes in the weather, even adapting to traffic. Beyond that, each patient is different, so you have to use different strategies with different patients. In order to be successful, I had to learn how to bring out that spark in each individual so that they wanted to help themselves as much as we strive to help them.

HHCN: What’s your favorite part about your job?

Voisey: Getting to REALLY know my patients. Compassionate care looks at the person in their entirety, not just their ailment. You want to be welcomed and invited into a home, and the process of establishing that trust is really enjoyable for me.

HHCN: What do you want society (or the general public) to know about your job?

Voisey: I think just the overall general awareness of home health care and breaking down the stigma behind it. There can be a resistance to allowing strangers in your home, but home health care is a great option. People have the ability to stay in their home and get well from home, which allows the patient to truly rest and recover.

HHCN: What may be one thing leaders don’t know, that you wish they universally knew, about your job?

Voisey: I’ve been so fortunate to have so many great leaders and mentors over the course of my career, that this can be tough to answer, but if I had to pick one thing, it would be that home health is a different animal. Good customer service takes a team. We’re all unique in our structure, and we all feed off and learn from one another. For me, every person I meet, patient or colleague, I take a piece of that person with me.

To view the entire Frontline Honors Class of 2023, visit frontlinehonors.agingmedia.com/

The post Frontline Honors: Shannon Voisey, Friendship Village Senior Services appeared first on Home Health Care News.

To become a Frontline Honoree, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a dedicated, high-performing frontline worker who delivers exceptional experiences and outcomes; a passionate worker who knows how to put their vision into action for the good of older adults and aging industry professionals; and an advocate for older adults, their industry, and their peers.

Home Health Care News caught up with Kirkendolph to discuss their time in the home health care industry.

HHCN: What drew you to this industry?

Kirkendolph: During the pandemic, I volunteered delivering “Meals on Wheels” to vulnerable people who couldn’t leave their homes. It truly opened my eyes that there were so many people that were alone, and waited at their door for me to come because that was the only interaction they had with others. I then discovered 24 Hour Home Care’s in-home care programs and knew that caregiving was my calling.

HHCN: What’s your biggest lesson learned since starting to work in the industry?

Kirkendolph: Caregiving is a humbling job. I have learned and grown exponentially in my empathy for others both at work, and in my personal life. It pushes you to accept people as they are, and to try to look deeper to understand their challenges and see what you can do to make their situation better. Caring for others gives me a deep sense of purpose every day.

HHCN: What’s your favorite part about your job?

Kirkendolph: I love making a difference in a client’s life by promptly assessing their needs and addressing them as quickly and seamlessly as I can. I love to see clients recover and make positive strides in their health both physically and mentally. When a client gets comfortable with me, it gives me confidence.

HHCN: What do you want society (or the general public) to know about your job?

Kirkendolph: I want society to know that in-home caregiving services exist, and that these programs aren’t just for people in hospice, palliative care, or other end-of-life care. We’re here to help people in various capacities and in all stages of life, including when people are discharged from the hospital, needing social connections, experiencing chronic illness or health challenges, and more.

HHCN: What may be one thing leaders don’t know, that you wish they universally knew, about your job?

Kirkendolph: I would like the leaders in our community to know that caregiving is important, and I would love to see them advocate for in-home caregiving because more people deserve access to these health services. In-home caregiving should be available to anyone and everyone. I think it truly enables people to get better because they are in their own surroundings — that is the power of in-home care.

To view the entire Frontline Honors Class of 2023, visit frontlinehonors.agingmedia.com/

The post Frontline Honors: Gloria Kirkendolph, 24 Hour Home Care appeared first on Home Health Care News.

To become a Frontline Honoree, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a dedicated, high-performing frontline worker who delivers exceptional experiences and outcomes; a passionate worker who knows how to put their vision into action for the good of older adults and aging industry professionals; and an advocate for older adults, their industry, and their peers.

Home Health Care News caught up with Brewster to discuss their time in the home health care industry.

HHCN: What drew you to this industry?

Brewster: I have always been a person that was drawn to serve and support developmentally disabled individuals and elderly people; even as a child, I felt the need to protect them. Why did I think they needed my protection? Though I am an able person, abuse that I endured as a child deepened my compassion for and forged my commitment to help those who were vulnerable. Therefore, I chose an industry in which people facing these challenges could have full access to me… someone who cared.

HHCN: What’s your favorite part about your job?

Brewster: The words of wisdom that I’m able to both share with others and receive during my conversations with those under my care, as well as the ability to serve in an area that’s so desperately needed.

HHCN: What may be one thing leaders don’t know, that you wish they universally knew, about your job?

Brewster: Caregivers play a crucial role in assisting individuals who are unable to fully care for themselves. And not everyone is built to shoulder the burdens that come with this role, which truly doesn’t get the respect that it deserves. In fact, non-medical caregivers are perhaps the most under-appreciated human resource in healthcare, and alongside RNs, LVNs, and other medical professionals, they provide indispensable care that positively affects patient outcomes and quality of life.

To view the entire Frontline Honors Class of 2023, visit frontlinehonors.agingmedia.com/

The post Frontline Honors: Tameco Brewster, Sharecare appeared first on Home Health Care News.

To become a Frontline Honoree, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a dedicated, high-performing frontline worker who delivers exceptional experiences and outcomes; a passionate worker who knows how to put their vision into action for the good of older adults and aging industry professionals; and an advocate for older adults, their industry, and their peers.

Home Health Care News caught up with Lockett to discuss their time in the home health care industry.

HHCN: What drew you to this industry?

Lockett: My grandmother had dementia and I used to enjoy helping her because when I did, she was much better. She would laugh and talk and eat with me and she wouldn’t for anybody else, so that made me feel really good.

HHCN: What’s your favorite part about your job?

Lockett: Helping people, seeing a smile, seeing how happy they are and giving them a better quality of life. A lot of times, they are down and, if you do something small, maybe something that’s not important to you, but it is to them and makes them happy, that is my favorite part of this job.

HHCN: What do you want society (or the general public) to know about your job?

Lockett: I love it! I would do this until the day I die. I love people and I love helping people. This job is a blessing and it’s healing. It means a lot to me to help other people.

To view the entire Frontline Honors Class of 2023, visit frontlinehonors.agingmedia.com/

The post Frontline Honors: Delisa Lockett, Help at Home appeared first on Home Health Care News.

To become a Frontline Honoree, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a dedicated, high-performing frontline worker who delivers exceptional experiences and outcomes; a passionate worker who knows how to put their vision into action for the good of older adults and aging industry professionals; and an advocate for older adults, their industry, and their peers.

Home Health Care News caught up with Oluseye to discuss their time in the home health care industry.

HHCN: What drew you to this industry?

Oluseye: I was drawn to the home health care industry because I love making a difference in other peoples’ lives.

HHCN: What’s your biggest lesson learned since starting to work in the industry?

Oluseye: The biggest lesson is that it’s increased my self-awareness, listening skills, ability to respect, and increased tolerance.

HHCN: What’s your favorite part about your job?

Oluseye: The favorite part of my job is the satisfaction of helping the helpless, making a difference, and the value of building personal relationships.

HHCN: What do you want society (or the general public) to know about your job?

Oluseye: I want society to know that the role of caregivers is indispensable and they deserve recognition and respect.

HHCN: What may be one thing leaders don’t know, that you wish they universally knew, about your job?

Oluseye: If leaders universally knew the value of emotional intelligence, they could build more effective teams and create a more supportive and productive work environment.

To view the entire Frontline Honors Class of 2023, visit frontlinehonors.agingmedia.com/

The post Frontline Honors: Folashade Oluseye, Open Systems Healthcare appeared first on Home Health Care News.

To become a Frontline Honoree, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a dedicated, high-performing frontline worker who delivers exceptional experiences and outcomes; a passionate worker who knows how to put their vision into action for the good of older adults and aging industry professionals; and an advocate for older adults, their industry, and their peers.

Home Health Care News caught up with Fong to discuss their time in the home health care industry.

HHCN: What drew you to this industry?

Fong: I am a house call provider, also called Home Based Primary Care (HBPC). There are many patients that are homebound, especially older adults with mobility and cognitive challenges. Some of them haven’t seen a primary care provider for a few years. It is a great honor to provide services to this population who needs more care, not less.

HHCN: What’s your favorite part about your job?

Fong: The best part of this job is that I can focus on only one patient at a time. If you work in a clinic, the time with patients could be interrupted with reminders, messages, or other staff. As a house call provider, I can focus a full 20-30 minutes on only one patient, which allows me to do a thorough assessment and spend time on education and coaching.

HHCN: What do you want society (or the general public) to know about your job?

Fong: I would like society to know that all people are entitled to have a primary care provider, regardless of their mobility and/or cognitive status.

HHCN: What may be one thing leaders don’t know, that you wish they universally knew, about your job?

Fong: One thing that I wish leaders universally knew about being an HBPC provider is that there is a gap in access to care: patients who can no longer go to a regular clinic are under-cared for. HBPC is part of the solution.

To view the entire Frontline Honors Class of 2023, visit frontlinehonors.agingmedia.com/

The post Frontline Honors: Sarah Fong, Senior Care Clinic House Calls appeared first on Home Health Care News.

To become a Frontline Honoree, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a dedicated, high-performing frontline worker who delivers exceptional experiences and outcomes; a passionate worker who knows how to put their vision into action for the good of older adults and aging industry professionals; and an advocate for older adults, their industry, and their peers.

Home Health Care News caught up with Smith to discuss their time in the home health care industry.

HHCN: What drew you to this industry?

Smith: I started working as a State Tested Nurses Aide (STNA) after having my children. I loved direct patient care and getting to know the residents, but wanted to learn more about the disease processes and what caused them to need skilled care. I decided to go back to school to become a RN.

HHCN: What’s your biggest lesson learned since starting to work in the industry?

Smith: Often, people are their own worst enemy when it comes to their health because of lack of knowledge. Explaining what is happening, why they have the symptoms they have, and how to manage their disease helps patients to better help themselves. Healthcare providers often take for granted that patients know what’s happening because they know, and don’t always do the best job of explaining it to the patients.

HHCN: What’s your favorite part about your job?

Smith: Educating my patients. Knowledge is power. The more I can teach patients in ways they can understand, the better they do at caring for themselves.

HHCN: What do you want society (or the general public) to know about your job?

Smith: Healthcare is a very emotionally charged profession. We spent countless hours with patients to help them improve the overall well being. We celebrate the highs and empathize with the lows of every patients journey along with them and their family.

To view the entire Frontline Honors Class of 2023, visit frontlinehonors.agingmedia.com/

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