Choosing a caregiver is a big decision for families who want a loved one to feel comfortable at home. It’s a responsibility that a local family-owned company takes seriously.
“When placing caregivers with a client, we try hard to match their needs with the right caregiver,” said registered nurse Carolyn Aijian, executive director at Complete Care Santa Barbara. “Some people need cheery talkative caregivers and some need a quiet person. The caregiver is there to improve the ability to live life the way the client chooses.”
Mrs. Aijian works with her daughters, registered nurses Katie Lekas and Rachel DuPar.
“Being a family-owned business means that we know how to build on each other’s strengths,” said Mrs. Lekas, director of home care management. “It’s really leveraged our ability to create a company from scratch, essentially.”
Home care expectations
A caregiver is a good choice for an adult who wants to live at home and needs a little or a lot of help.
“It’s a pleasure to help people be successful in the environment that they have established in this beautiful town,” Mrs. Lekas said. “We want to honor their lives and their values.”
Caregivers can help with big and small things while respecting client choices.
“That means sleeping in if they choose to or taking an early morning walk with the dog if that is their custom,” Mrs. Aijian said. “Everyone is different, and we find joy in making sure that our clients find joy as well.”
When Mrs. Aijian hired a caregiver to help with her mother, it opened her eyes to what clients experience.
“I realized the stress of having an opinionated caregiver and changed some of my preconceptions,”Mrs. Aijian said. “It was a good experience for me to be on the other side of home care.”
Caregiver responsibilities
Caregivers will help clients to live at home for as long as possible.
“They have worked hard to establish their environment, and we want to respect that,” Mrs. Lekas said. “I often think of what I would want should someone need to care for me, and that helps me be creative in my case management for my clients.”
Mrs. Aijian and Mrs. Lekas train their nearly 100 caregivers to handle varying situations.
“I may teach them the fine art of an old fashioned meatloaf dinner, and she might hone their skills with a proper way to give a shower,” Mrs. Aijian said. “We teach our caregivers hands on, requiring them to demonstrate learning, not just agree that they understand.”
Because the company’s managers are registered nurses, they understand client needs.
“Each of our clients get a custom care plan that’s tailored to their individual needs,” Mrs. Lekas said. “We don’t provide cookie-cutter care to our clients.”
Disaster preparedness
Complete Care also prepares for emergencies. For example, every client had a plan during the Thomas Fire that started in 2017, Mrs. Aijian said.
Additionally, the company found hotel rooms for clients and caregivers who needed them and provided hospital beds and other safety equipment.
“For one particular client, we relocated him over and over until his home was out of danger,” Mrs. Aijian said. “He was grateful not to have to worry about any details. Later, when his home was safe but power was intermittent, we provided a generator and trained the caregiver to put them to use whenever needed to keep his equipment going.”
It’s this level of care that Complete Care Santa Barbara is known for. Learn more and schedule a free consultation at completecaresb.com or by calling 805-727-3445.
