Young nurses launch home care service
Juella Adams, co-founder, A&J Caring Companion Caregivers
Juella Adams, co-founder, A&J Caring Companion Caregivers

AMID the pervasive novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which is plaguing the world, young contemporaries, Juella Adams and Alex Garnette, are finding a way to deliver “home care” to persons in need. The nurses-turned-entrepreneurs, founders of A&J Caring Companion Caregivers, shared the motivation behind their venture in an interview with the Chronicle last Thursday. “We have always had a passion for providing care and helping others. It seems most persons think that the only way to access health services is through the hospital or health centre. That’s not so,” co-founder of A&J, Alex Garnette explained. Amidst the mounting fear of contracting COVID-19, the young professionals have launched an original service whereby persons can access multiple forms of medical care from the comfort of their own homes, simply by contacting either of them. “A lot of persons didn’t want to go to the hospital, because they were scared of contracting the virus, and if they would come into contact with somebody [who is infected], so that encouraged us to push faster in opening our business,” Adams said. Much like other innovative businesses which have found a niche during the pandemic, the young woman said the idea of establishing such a service had been lingering in their minds for a long while before they decided to make their dream a reality.

Alex Garnette, co-founder, A&J Caring Companion Caregivers

PASSION FOR CARE
“We have always had a passion for providing care and helping others. It seems most persons think that the only way to access health services is through the hospital or health centre. That’s not so,” Garnette reasoned. On this point, he added: “We wanted to provide health care at their home, where they’re going to be comfortable; where they’ll have their loved ones around them, especially during this pandemic time. “Most persons are afraid of leaving their homes and going to the hospital, because it seems we have a stigma attached to it; that if you go to the hospital, you stand a greater chance of contracting, or being infected with COVID-19. We want to alleviate that fear, and we want to provide the best possible home care, right in the convenience of their home.” The couple launched their service in late February of 2020, and has since provided essential services to multiple customers. “Of course, since we’re still in the start-up phase, business is a little slow, but, so far, we’re satisfied at the business we’ve been getting,” Adams shared, adding: “I have been in the profession for approximately five years. My love for caregiving was always there, and it still is, but it has grown tremendously.”

It is especially satisfying when a medical professional sees a patient being discharged; this gives them a sense of accomplishment, since it is their effort that helped someone regain strength and battle the lingering medical adversities. “… the way you care and love your patient, help this person to gain strength, and fight also with you, because caregiving is not only about administering drugs, or doing a patient’s dressing, or basic nursing skill. It’s all about the love and safety you give to that patient, the reassurance that it’s not only you, but we are going to get through this together, so I do have a passion towards caregiving for my patients,” a sentimental Adams said. It is for this reason that the ultimate goal of the home agency is to administer quality care to persons in the comfort of their homes. “We do not provide care only for senior citizens, but we also provide care for persons who were hospitalised, got discharged and need further care at home, because when people hear the word ‘home’, or ‘home agency’, they always think ‘oh, it’s only for senior citizens’. “No. It’s for persons who were in accidents, and need dressing care, persons who just got discharged from surgery, and need care. Instead of going to the health centre, someone can come to you, and provide care in the comfort of your home,” Adams said. Both professionals are driven by their love for caregiving, and their desire to help persons in need of assistance.

AFFORDABILITY
“Placing a relative in a home permanently can be costly, and we know that some people can’t afford it, so there is where we come in. We work out a flexible payment for the relative, so that their family doesn’t have to be placed in a home, and they can go about their daily activities, and we will be with the patient 24/7, providing continuous care,” Adams said.
Further, she said: “It is very time consuming, but we both love what we’re doing, and what we envision to do. We don’t mind working late hours. Someone may call us at two in the morning and say, okay, my relative is here, she’s in distress, and explains to us what is going on; we will show up. So it’s very time consuming for us, but it’s a price we’re willing to pay.”
Specific services offered by the nurses include skilled nursing, home health aides, psychiatric care, light housekeeping, dressings, baths, and administering prescribed medication.

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