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As seen in The Birmingham News
Gene Davenport is an outgoing, independent, retired businessman who lives alone in a nice apartment in Mountain Brook. But when Mr. Davenport was faced with the prospect of back surgery recently, he had some serious decisions to make. Not only did he have to discuss the procedure and risks with his doctor, he had to make plans for his care after he left the hospital. He knew he would need some help around the house and driving to follow-up appointments. Mr. Davenport says that, “before the surgery, I was so hunched over I was just steps away from being confined to a wheelchair.”
So he called “Always There” In-Home Care. What he discovered was truly an answer to his prayers. Now Mr. Davenport is not only fully recovered, but he is better than before. Independence restored, Gene is happy to share his story.
Dee Harrell and Patty McLain founded their company in 1999. With a combined 20-year background in nursing, home health care, recreation therapy, adult day care, and other senior programs, Dee and Patty had all the right skills to jump into this new industry – non-medical in-home care. They also had a lot of passion for helping people, running their own business, and doing it right. Customer service was the key. And the Gene Davenports of the world have helped Always There become a very successful enterprise. Dee says, “We really did not have much of a marketing plan. We just kept getting referrals from satisfied customers!”
Having sent a “bragging” letter to Dee, Gene Davenport is one such satisfied customer. He reports that when the Always There caregiver, Sherry Sparks, aided him in the hospital that first night, he just knew it was a good match. He liked Sherry so much that he called Always There and requested that she come back. Mr. Davenport says that he and Sherry coordinated their schedules so that she could work all the hours that he wanted. And while Sherry’s physical assistance with bathing, dressing, meal preparation, light housekeeping, and running errands was very important, Mr. Davenport was most impressed with her “positive attitude.” In fact, Gene attributes his recovery to that wonderful attitude, which “rubbed off on me.”
Attitude can be everything when it comes to in-home care. The caregivers at Always There are screened and trained carefully before being sent to a client’s home. Staffing Coordinator, Dedra Adcock, spends countless hours matching client needs with caregiver talents. The most successful matches, however, involve complementary personalities. Dedra loves to get calls from clients and caregivers reporting a good match. “I know we’ve done a good job when the client calls to say ‘I just love Ana,’ for example,” reports Dedra. “I called one of our caregivers the other day to see if I could pull her off one case to staff another and she said, very sweetly, “no,” because she had already started a Christmas project with her client. It’s June and she’s working on a Christmas project with her client! I just love that!” Dedra says, smiling.
Whether your need for in-home care is temporary - as in the case of Gene Davenport’s recuperation after surgery - or long term, the thought of having a stranger in your home can be uncomfortable. There is enormous satisfaction the moment you realize that not only are your physical needs going to be met by this person, but your emotional concerns have been eased as well.
The mental shift from dependence on another person to some level of independence is important, too. Good caregivers foster independence in their clients – encouraging the client to do as much for themselves as reasonably possible, while remaining ever vigilant as a safety net. The Always There caregivers know that a job well done frequently means leaving the clients they have helped. But that’s alright, because Dedra will staff good caregivers on other cases.
The cycle repeats itself, though everyone’s situation is unique. One client may need 24-hour care while another may need only four hours of assistance once or twice a week. The Always There staff is flexible and happy to work with you to find the solution to your problem.
On this Independence Day weekend, just think of all the ways that “Always There” In-Home Care can help someone you know retain their independence.
The Web site, www.AlwaysThereInc.com, contains useful information about available services, client testimonials, Alzheimer’s disease, and home safety. Better yet, call the Birmingham office at 205-824-0224 to speak with Dee or Patty. The Tuscaloosa branch can be reached at 205-248-9822.
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