Employee Spotlight #4

James (Jim) Vandenberge

Meet Jim - he is a special caregiver who joined us this past year. His motivation for caregiving stems from his faith and his desire to help those around him. He says that “it is important that those we care for do not feel like they are a burden on others but are cherished and valued”. As Jim is now officially retired, he likes to take the time to go on road trips and explore the world around him. One of the coolest places he has ever been to was the Xel-Ha park in Cancun, Mexico, where he swam in the clearest water he had ever seen and explored underwater caves and marine life. In the summertime, you can often find him down at the beach in Saugatuck or finding a new place to hike. Did you know that Jim used to be a DJ? One of his favorite hobbies now is to listen to and mix music. Jim’s best piece of advice to everyone is to always look for the positive in everyone and everything; and if you can’t find a positive, then you can make one. Thank you for being such a beacon of light in our world, Jim!

Employee Spotlight #3

James Elzerman

We would like to introduce you all to James! James has worked for us for almost five years now, and we are so grateful to have him. He first became a caregiver in 2011 to give him something to do during his retirement. In his free time, James enjoys reading, especially books written by Terri Blackstock and Karen Kingsbury, and scuba diving. The coolest place he has ever gone scuba diving was in Cozumel, Mexico. On the weekends, James volunteers at his local church with the most important person in his life, his wife. He stays motivated during the pandemic by maintaining a positive attitude and focusing on his relationship with God. Thanks for all your hard work, James!

Safety and You

My what a month! Nora and I are pleased to share that we have provided more hours of care this month than in the history of the company. Families continue to call daily looking for help to keep their parents at home and you continue to share our jobs with friends and families enabling us to keep up with the need. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

Referral Bonus for New Employees

Just a quick reminder, we offer a $75.00 Referral Bonus. The bonus is paid after your friend or family member has worked with us for 30 days and 40 hours.

COVID cases are on the rise

Along with providing many more hours of care, we are also working with more possible Covid exposures that ever before. Thankfully, we still have not had a single transmitted case of Covid between our caregiver and a client or vice-versa. During my work with the Kent County health department and Spectrum employer task force last month, I have learned a few items that I think are helpful to know.

1. An exposure is being in close contact with a person diagnosed with Covid.

2. Close contact is defined by the CDC as someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes (over 24 hours), for healthcare workers add and not wearing PPE, starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic clients, 2 days prior to positive specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated.

3. The CDC protocol indicates that if the healthcare provider is wearing a face mask or respirator and the patient is wearing a face covering, then no further action is needed.

This protocol reminds us how critical it is that we are following the 8 Simple Steps to Safety and always wearing a mask, if within 6 feet of the senior. It is best if your senior is also weaning a mask when you are within the 6 foot boundary, if at all possible. Personal Protective Equipment is designed to keep you safe, but it only works if you use it.

Remember that all possible exposures are to be reported to the office immediately. Both possible and confirmed cases of Covid are protected under HIPAA guidelines, so do not discuss any exposure or testing protocol with a client or their family.

For your information, I also have included a link to the Kent County Covid dashboard that shows a lot of information about testing and confirmed cases in our area. Dashboard

Employee Spotlight #2

Gayle Freiburger

Before Gayle became a caregiver last year, she used to work as a medical transcriptionist. However, after spending so much time at a computer, she decided she wanted a job where she could interact with people all day. Being able to spend her day creating bonds with clients and hearing their stories motivates her to continue her work and gives her a purpose. In her free time, Gayle enjoys working out, going for walks, golfing, and spending time with her grandkids. She also enjoys travelling, and the coolest place she has ever gone to was the Caribbean. Gayle’s advice to all of us is to remember to take the time to care for ourselves during the pandemic.

Thank you Gayle for all you do!