Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Katie McCleary. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Katie , appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about the best advice you’ve ever given to a client? (Please note this response is for education/entertainment purposes only and shouldn’t be construed as advice for the reader)
As adult children, many times we find ourselves almost reversing roles with our parents. As they age, some of their physical, emotional and mental functions may not be as sharp as they once were. As such, adult children are put in uncomfortable situations in order to keep a parent safe. This is very common. A client will say that they have to be the parent now. My suggestion is this:
Our parents are always our parents and need to be treated and respected as such. With our children, we are teaching them so that they are able to perform in the future without our presence. We need to be directive and sometimes penalize them for not doing what they should. With our parents, while our job is to sometimes direct behaviors, we are still dealing with adults and very special ones as they are responsible for us. All language needs to be kind and loving with explanation even if it is directive. Our parents deserve to leave every conversation or interaction with dignity. Treating them like a child does NOT do this.
One of the worst experiences for anyone is the recognition that a parent should no longer be driving. Being forced to take away the car keys feels cruel. As a daughter, I appeal to the safety of not only my parents, but even more so to the safety of anyone out on the road. Literally hundreds of people are in danger when there is an unsafe driver on the road. If this compelling argument isn’t enough, a trip to the DMV for a road test underscores the urgency. If the pass, terrific. Put in some boundaries that keep them safe, like don’t drive during rush hour or in the dark or rain.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I was an executive in a Fortune 50 company with no plans to leave. I loved it! But when my mom got sick, I was out of the country working for a month, my family was in Atlanta, and my parents were in SC, and I was overwhelmed by what to do. Ultimately, we solved that issue, but I knew I could do better for others that what was done for us. A year later, I quit my job and started what would become Visiting Nurse Private Home Care. Private Home Care is in home, hands on care that helps with activities of daily living like showering, dressing, tolieting, meal preparation, medication management, and errands. It is usually and out of pocket expense as insurance (even Medicare) does not cover it. It has been an extraordinary experience for me and our company as we help families navigate senior healthcare issues and find the least intrusive answers to safety, health and independence at home. There are many hundreds of home care companies in Georgia alone. What makes Visiting Nurse Private Home Care unique are multi-fold. First, years ago we were asked by Visiting Nurse Health System to license their name and work alongside their organization. VNHS provides Home Healthcare (PT, OT, nursing, covered by Medicare), Community Care (waiver programs), Palliative Care, and Hospice Atlanta. What they didn’t have was Private Duty Home Care. Because we were well aligned with our values and mission, we completed their continuum of care so that anyone needing help at home can come to Visiting Nurse and receive what they need.
Secondly, we realized that many families could not afford to pay the costs of private in home care, so we looked for affordable alternatives and found Remote Health Management. Through this we can monitor chronic illnesses through cellular devices and alert the users, the families and their doctors if anything is problematic. This expense is covered by Medicare and we have been able to prevent many potential problems through this.
Next, we offer skilled nursing as well as non-skilled care. While most people need a certified nurse assistant to help with activities of daily living, sometimes nursing care is needed. Tracheotomies, tube feedings, medication management, and wound care are just some of the things that our nurses can do to prevent a person from having to be in a facility or the hospital.
Finally, we started a non-profit organization a few years ago, Sylvia’s Attic, to “care for the professional caregiver”. We learned very quickly that caregivers give heart and body to taking care of others, yet live literally hand-to-mouth. Their days are long and very tiring, and then they come home to their own families. We raise money for medical and dental expenses, funeral expenses, education, car maintenance, and deposits for housing. We also collect gently used household items, clothes and furniture for them.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Ha! So so many to choose from… In Visiting Nurse Private Home Care the user of our services is usually on a fixed budget. We will get a call from an adult child asking for help, and when the senior sees the bill for services, they don’t believe they need any help. It is expensive. While many people need private care to even move through their homes safely, others don’t. In 2015, I started looking at remote patient monitoring and believing that this could be an option to help our seniors. I went to conferences, tested devices, worked with many platforms, and had dozens of fails. BUT, this shift has paid off. We understand what makes RPM work and work with seniors who may be technology averse. Now, we can help seniors all over GA to have trained eyes on their vitals each day, to stay connected to humans through conversation, and to receive valuable data about their health that can be shared with family and medical providers.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I had intended to work my entire career at Pfizer. I simply loved it and the people with whom I worked. They invested in me mightily and gave me opportunities and experiences I can’t imagine gaining elsewhere. As a mother of two who travelled a great deal, I had very good backdrops in place to support me and my family so I could work. I didn’t count on my parents needing me. My parents were so healthy and independent; I didn’t see cancer hitting them. I was the adult child living closest to them, so I found myself running up to SC frequently to help with doctor appointments, surgeries, and all things senior healthcare. We couldn’t find what we needed there to support my parents.
My big pivot was to abandon everything I knew and the safety and comfort of corporate America to forge out on my own and create something new. It was exhausting, terrifying, exhilarating, and the best pivot of my life. Every single day we make a significant difference in the lives of families. I simply love it!!
Contact Info:
- Website: visitingnursephc.com iwg-ga.com sylviasattic.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AtlantaAreaHomeCare
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiejonesatl/
Image Credits
Open Heart Media