Canadian Jewish News -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 10/6/2005
Last Visited: 2/14/2006
Lisa Wiseman and her staff of registered nurses and caregivers are thrilled to be celebrating the 10th anniversary of Eldercare Home Health.
"I didn't think it would be 10 years," Wiseman said about the in-home elder-care company she founded in December 1995.
Wiseman, a registered nurse and former nurse manager at the Queen Elizabeth Centre and Baycrest, was concerned with the level of assistance elderly patients were receiving when they left the hospital.
Lisa Wiseman
"Once the patients were discharged into the community they were not getting the support required for a safe recovery.The patients were not doing well because they didn't have the basics," Wiseman said.
She complained about this for years until her colleagues finally said, "If you think you can do better why don't you try."
Ten years later, Eldercare Home Health has become one of Toronto's most respected in-home elder-care providers.
"I think it's a great way to provide care.You can see the results - it's making people's lives better," Wiseman said.
Her team of 70 registered nurses and caregivers are dedicated to meeting the needs of their 80-, 90- and 100-year-old clients.The caregivers provide their patients with companionship and assist with bathing, personal care, meal preparation and all activities associated with daily living.They also arrange for physiotherapists and other professionals to provide assessment and treatment as required.
"It is really important that we understand the needs of the clients and do things specifically for them," Wiseman said.This includes pairing the Jewish clients with caregivers who understand Judaism and kashrut.
The caregivers have even attended weddings and bar/bat mitzvahs with their clients.
"Sometimes our patients need help getting dressed for a special occasion or they can't dance the whole evening, so we send a caregiver.We have done quite a few events like this," Wiseman said.
...
"In all my years knowing Lisa, I have never heard about one caregiver not getting along or meeting the needs of the client.This is a testament to Lisa's skills in hiring people who are excellent caregivers," she added.
...
"My mother's recovery is in no small part due to the caregivers and the attention they have given my mother," wrote Geller in a letter to Wiseman.
28 online sources [ view sources ]
Profile is not claimed [ claim profile ]
