Our Case Managers meet to choose a Caregiver for Angel of the Month. A Case Manager will generally nominate someone with an explanation as to why this person is chosen. The Caregiver is notified that they have been selected and comes in to the office for a full celebration. This person is honored with treats, a certificate, gift card and the Case Manager that selected them will read a full write-up about why they were chosen. The Caregiver is interviewed and then featured in the monthly newsletter as well as on Facebook. Visiting Angels Newton/Canton has the most amazing team of people to care for our Clients. Our Caregivers work tirelessly with their Case Managers to ensure top quality care.
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Zebiah Sempala
October 2019
Zebiah was born and lived in Uganda until 2006, when she immigrated to the United States, initially living with her daughter in Ohio. Zebiah moved to Massachusetts in 2009 with the support of her pastor and church, The New Life International Christian Center. She is the mother of six adult children and has twenty-one grandchildren. She has three grandchildren in the U. S., and the rest of her family live in Uganda. Zebiah visits her loved ones back home at least once a year, with many video chats and phone calls to keep up with her grandchildren while they are apart.
Zebiah was a midwife in Uganda for twenty years. She also worked at the local immunization clinic, which helped her to revisit the mothers and babies she delivered. Caring for others is in her nature, and she feels grateful to be able to use her heart and skills to have helped so many people through the years. Becoming a CNA and caregiver was an easy decision for her when she moved to Massachusetts, where she has enjoyed caring for the elderly and gaining tremendous experience in the home care field.
Zebiah is a dedicated member and usher at her church. She attends many events and classes during the week and services on the weekends. Zebiah has found a second family within her church, which has a fellowship of many people native to Uganda. The services are spoken in English and Luganda.
Zebiah has had 43 Client cases since she came on board with Visiting Angels Newton/Canton. She developed a beautiful bond with one of her Clients, who sadly just recently passed. Zebiah began working with her Client in May, and within that short time, she was treated as if she were a member of the family. She and her Client enjoyed lengthy conversations on each shift. Zebiah will remember fondly watching Red Sox and Patriots games with him. She also made sure he kept up his exercise routine on each visit. As his health began to decline, she quickly adapted to his new needs and used her skills to keep him as comfortable as possible.
Kit Jennings, the Case Manager for this case, appreciated that Zebiah was noting the changes in their Client’s health on each shift, and would discuss her concerns with Kit regularly. Their Client’s two sons and daughters-in-law, though living out of state, were regular visitors and often spoke with Kit and Zebiah about their father’s health and wellbeing. Kit fondly recalls their Client often asking Zebiah to, “Just move into the house, so you don’t have to leave.” Kit stated, “Their relationship was a blessing to me, and Zebiah’s feedback was priceless.” Kit greatly valued her responsiveness with phone calls and attention to details.
Thank you, Zebiah, for your compassion, knowledge, and commitment. We are grateful to have you as part of our team at Visiting Angels Newton/Canton and look forward to working with you for years to come.
newton-ZebiahSempala_AOM_October2019.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Rose S.
September 2019
newton-RoseStLouis_AOM_September2019b.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Rita Sarpong
July 2019
newton-RitaSarpong_AOM_July2019.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Mosunmola (Mo) Johnson, and Marie Bellefleur-Raymond
June 2019
newton-MoAndMarie_AOM_June2019.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Betie Modestin
May 2019
newton-BetieMondestin_AOM_May2019.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Denise Moreau
APRIL 2019
newton-DeniseMoreau_AOM_April2019.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Solomy Nakintu
MARCH 2019
newton-SolomyNakintu_AOM_March2019.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Russell Hyland
FEBRUARY 2019
newton-RussellHyland_AOM_Feb2019.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Tasha Petit
JANUARY 2019
newton-TashaPetit_AOM_Jan2019.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Annabella Prempeh-Amaniampong
DECEMBER 2018
newton-AnnabellaAP_AOM_Dec2018.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Liliane Uwineza
NOVEMBER 2018
newton-AOM_LilianeUwineza _Nov2018.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Hutchins Bernard
OCTOBER 2018
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Steven Muyingo
SEPTEMBER 2018
newton-AOM_StevenMuyingo_Sept2018.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Aba Owusu
AUGUST 2018
newton-AOM_AbaOwusu_Aug2018.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Marthe K.
JULY 2018
newton-AOM_MartheKomezimana_July2018.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Janet G.
JUNE 2018
newton-AOM_JanetLucey_June2018.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Aisha Gaddoura
MAY 2018
newton-AOM_AishaGaddoura_May2018.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Nicky Vilcine St. Jilus
APRIL 2018
newton-AOM_NickyVilcineStJilus_April2018.pdf
Timeless Gratitude to Alice Kimani
No, this is not a new award we’re giving, but a special commendation to Alice Kimani, who gave live-in care to one of our clients. One night in November 2016, she was awakened by the smell of smoke. There was a fire in the garage, which quickly spread to the rest of the house - but not before Alice successfully evacuated the senior whom she was caring for, as well as the adult son. The house was burned to the ground, fed by a full tank of heating oil. Two cars in the driveway, one of them Alice’s, were melted. But thanks to Alice’s heroism, nobody was injured, except for the senior’s pet cat, which unfortunately perished. Alice, we think that you are wonderful!
Tama Lewis – Massachusetts Home Care Alliance 2009 Aide of the Year
The HCA has 150 member agencies employing over 19,000 home health aides, and one of our very own was chosen as the 2009 Home Care Star Award Aide of the Year. Tama embodies the essence of what every family wants in a home care aide: skill, good judgment, compassion, integrity, kindness, reliability, good humor, caring, wisdom, dedication, warmth and respect in dealing with seniors. She has been with Visiting Angels for five years, but like all our caregivers, she came to us with years of experience in giving care to seniors.
For four years she was the lead caregiver to a man named Joe, who had no family or friends to help in his declining years. Although he had Alzheimer's disease, diabetes and high blood pressure, with Tama's care he was able to remain at home, where he wanted to be. When she came on the case, his health was declining rapidly despite ongoing medical attention. Soon Joe's deteriorating health began to improve as Tama made sure that he got a healthy diet and took his medications. His home got cleaner, and his appearance improved. Eventually Tama was joined by other caregivers, but she remained the lead person of the team that organized his life, did the shopping, got him to medical appointments, cleaned his house, prepared meals and kept him clean. With help from Tama and the rest of our team, Joe attended his Masons meetings, continued his treasured Saturday evening buffet at the Marriott, and visited places where he had spent his youth. When he developed pancreatic cancer, he died at home with Tama by his side. She was the closest thing to family that he had.
At Visiting Angels of Newton & Canton, we are proud of our reputation with our many referral sources and clients who note the excellence of our services and the quality of the people that we employ. That reputation rests on providing home care with men and women like Tama Lewis since 2004. As deserving as she is of the award, Visiting Angels has many other caregivers who are just as dedicated, give just as much of themselves, and who deserve their own awards. We salute Tama and all of the fine caregivers who work for us and allow seniors the joy of remaining at home where they want to be.
Visiting Angels Newton/Canton is an award-winning accredited home care agency that provides elder care services in Brookline, Newton, Needham, Brookline, Chestnut Hill, Canton, Westwood, Dedham, Watertown, Natick, Wellesley, Stoughton, Roslindale, Norwood and nearby areas. If you aspire to be the best caregiver you can be, contact us at 617-795-2727 or fill out the form on our home care careers page.
If you are looking for the best home care services in the Newton/Canton area, contact us at 617-795-2727 or click the button below to tell us about your case. We're ready to help you!
Contact Visiting Angels