Private Home Care,
Inc.:
Aging in Place
 |
| Photo by Bill Ernst 2015 |
To “age in place”—to continue to live in their own homes for
as long as possible—is what countless aging seniors want. The trend is strong,
and many medical and social experts believe it’s often the best option—when
there’s ongoing, qualified, in-home assistance. That means finding well-trained
trustworthy, caring help. But finding that help can be a challenge—and it's a
challenge that more and more people are having to face.
Private
Home Care, Inc. (PHCI), based in Belfast, was established to meet that need and
ease that challenge of finding top-notch, in-home assistance.
PHCI, a
state-registered agency founded by Katherine Strout, is an independently owned
provider of in-home care and assistance with the basic activities of daily
living. Care services range from light housekeeping, cooking, laundry,
medication reminders, and transportation to personal care (feeding, bathing,
dressing, incontinence and mobility). With its focus on quality and a strong
work ethic, Belfast-based PHCI is dedicated to helping people live as
comfortably and independently as possible in their homes.
From experience, from
the heart
Strout, a Maine native and a resident of Belfast for 24
years, has been involved in caregiving in some capacity, for most of her life. She grew up with her mother who was
physically handicapped since before Strout was born, and her father, who was a
Methodist minister. Her caring nature and respect for clients comes naturally
from her own experiences.
As a
result, helping people in need and treating them and their circumstances with
dignity and respect have always been important to her.
“Because
each of us are individuals, with our own preferences and requests, our goal as
a company is to tailor our services to those specific needs,” says Strout.
She worked
as a certified nurse’s aide (CNA) in high school and had considered nursing as
a profession, but she also wanted to
explore other interests that were equally close to her heart. With a strong
love for the outdoors, she earned a degree in environmental studies from Unity
College and later was a landscaper for a few years.
Her first
foray into providing care professionally came about 10 years ago. A landscaping
client needed private care for her elderly mother, who had dementia. The client
offered Strout a companionship position so that the mother could remain
independent and comfortable in her own home. Strout took the job. After a
month, the client asked her to consider being the coordinator for the house, an
added responsibility that included payroll, scheduling and overseeing the
day-to-day affairs of the staff of five who provided round-the-clock care.
Strout held that position for three and a half years.
From there, Strout continued to
receive referrals from people in the community and provided care to an
increasing number of individuals. Although she was bonded, she realized that
she needed to structure what she was doing as a business.
In 2012, Strout contacted SCORE
(Service Corps of Retired Executives), the national volunteer organization
supported by the Small Business Administration. SCORE offers advice and
information to small businesses that they deem viable. She explained her idea
for a structured personal-care business and its eventual growth. They reviewed
and accepted it. She started working with a SCORE mentor, and has been working
with their team ever since.
Strout’s
assets were her experience, knowledge, and strong commitment to her employees
and clients. With the help of her SCORE mentor and then-director, Jill Kulbe, plus
other staffers at Waldo County Home Health and Hospice, PCHI was born. But the
start-up challenges were significant, and many of them were ongoing. “There’s a
lot to starting a business. The advice and suggestions SCORE gave me [have]
been invaluable,” she says.
She
established a record of quality care for the company’s clients, and thanks to
SCORE’s help and her employees’ work and dedication, PHCI continued to grow.
The company now has more than 20 employees, and the current office opened in
January 2014 in the quaint, red brick building on High Street that was once
part of the old Waldo County General Hospital.
The focus on
quality and a strong work ethic are the hallmarks the company is built on and
grows on. To recognize PHCI’s success, SCORE honored Strout at its 50th
anniversary event in June 2014.
Making life easier
Basically, PHCI provides all aspects of in-home personal
care that don’t require actual medical attention. The employees who render that
care come from a variety of relevant backgrounds. Several have worked as
caregivers for many years; some completed their education in nursing or social
work; others are students. Some have had CNA training; others, personal support
specialist (PSS) training; and some are homemakers or retired nurses. Every
employee is fully insured and bonded.
In addition
to ensuring that the caregiver has the required skills and experience, the
company makes a point of matching caregiver and client for a fit that’s good
for both. And there’s always back-up staffing at the ready to ensure that every
scheduled shift is covered.
The
company’s services range from companionship to all facets of daily living, as
well as hospice care provided by certified hospice staff. Service can be
scheduled for as few as two hours a day to 24 hours, either short- or
long-term.
PHCI is
glad to offer advice, and help get the right services for in-home care and
assistance to meet each person’s needs.
Private Home Care, Inc., 243 High St., Belfast; 207.338.2100;
privatehomecareinc.com
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