Home Caregiver Recognitions
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 into 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
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Nerlande Registre
June 2024
Congratulations to Nerlande Registre, our Angel of the Month for June 2024. Unlike the intense heat we’ve experienced over the past few weeks, the warmth she brings to each of her clients’ homes is deeply appreciated and reflective of her dedication to being a top-notch caregiver.
Since November 2021, Nerlande has cared for ten different clients, each one with their own unique personalities and needs, which is something she’s come to appreciate since becoming a home health aide in 2016.
“Seniors make my day because they’ll talk to you about anything, and they have good jokes,” Nerlande said with a chuckle. “Wherever I’ve worked or whoever I’m with, I believe I’ve made a positive change in the client’s life.” And we here at Visiting Angels Newton / Canton can say with confidence that we believe it, too!
Nerlande’s journey as a caregiver began even before she got her certification, when she was only 15 years old and lived with her aunt back home in Haiti. “My aunt got very sick, and I had to take care of her,” Nerlande shared. “I even took her to the hospital and was holding her hand when she passed away at only 63 years old.”
The time Nerlande was able to spend with her aunt was a life-changing experience for her, so much so, that by the time she moved to the US and received her high school diploma, she could think of no other career path than caregiving. She started out by working with multiple homecare agencies and a facility, learning exactly what makes a successful caregiver. Then, in 2021, Nerlande obtained her CNA license, found her way to us here at Visiting Angels Newton / Canton, and quickly began endearing herself to clients.
“You have to do this with your heart because it’s not an easy job. You need to be patient and caring because you don’t know what tomorrow’s going to bring,” Nerlande said. “I like to say that you have to be good to someone today to expect someone to be good to you tomorrow.”
Making sure that both the client and their family feel comforted by her presence is important to Nerlande—in fact, she believes it’s key to her success as a caregiver. “Sometimes the family might be under pressure and have a hard time caring for the client, or even just communicating with the client, themselves. I just have to be creative in those moments—I talk to them, get them to tell me something about themselves and share things about myself with them. Eventually they come around and start to trust me.”
Case Manager Patrick Murray agrees. “Nerlande’s worked with several of my clients, and she’s truly a joy to work with. Her work ethic as well as her positive, upbeat demeanor allows her to establish rapport with clients and family members from the moment she meets them.”
Since the first day she came in for her interview with us, she’s continued to build relationships with our office team, just as she’s done with each of her clients. Director of Client Services, Julie McBain, recalled introducing Nerlande to her first client two days after completing orientation and witnessing the relationship between client and caregiver develop.
“Nerlande very quickly acclimated and learned the client’s needs,” Julie said. “She has continued to provide a high level of service with every client she assists. It just comes naturally to her because she’s so personable, upbeat, and caring about her work with seniors.”
Senior Case Manager Elizabeth Quagraine has had Nerlande on some of her cases over the past few years as well and has never been let down. “She’s reliable and consistent. She gets there on time and makes the most of her time with her clients, even when all her tasks are completed. It’s all we can ask of our caregivers and more,” Elizabeth said.
When Nerlande was asked what she’s most proud of in her caregiving career, it’s easy to see why our case management team is so effusive with praise for the work she does. Her understanding of seniors and their needs is on point! “You’re not just walking in and telling them what to do and what not to do in their own home. If you do that, they’ll kick you out!” Nerlande joked. “You just have to remind them that you’re there to help and give them guidance on what they need to do throughout the day.” As an example, she talked about how she’ll make sure to leave one of her client’s pillboxes in the exact same place on the bedside in the morning and at night so the client never forgets to take her medication and only takes exactly what’s been prescribed.
Visiting Angels Newton/Canton isn’t the only agency Nerlande has worked for, but she made it clear that it is the best. “It’s a great team. You guys have helped me to improve a lot, and you’re all very good at what you’re doing. Most importantly, though, you guys don’t judge me or deny me of anything when life happens. I love working with Visiting Angels very much so,” she said.
Nerlande, we’re thrilled to name you our Angel of the Month because of your commitment to providing exceptional care and always being a joy to have on our team. As a model angel, you know the importance of being reliable and exercising a great deal of empathy with every visit you make. Ultimately, your love and passion for caregiving means our clients don’t have to wait until May or June to feel a bit of sunshine!
Nerlande R. - AOM June 2024.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Rosemary Atieno
May 2024
Rosemary Atieno - AOM May 2024.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Sallay Mboyawa
April 2024
Sallay Mboyawa - AOM April 2024.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Marie Ketsia Daille
March 2024
Marie Ketsia Daille - AOM March 2024.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Maliza
February 2024
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Ruth Ellis
January 2024
Ruth Ellis AOM January 2024.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Andell Sylvester
October 2023
Andell Sylvester AOM November 2023.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Dawna Nogueira
September 2023
Dawna-Nogueira-AOM-September-2023.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Kettly Aurelus
August 2023
Kettly-Aurelus-AOM-August-2023.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Eileen Duggan
July 2023
Eileen-Duggan-AOM-July-2023.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Pat Durrant-Campbell
June 2023
Pat-Durrant-Campbell-AOM-June-2023.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Sheila Small
May 2023
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Sandy Souza
April 2023
Sandy-Souza-AOM-April-2023.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Glorieuse Antoine
March 2023
Glorieuse-Antoine-AOM-March-2023
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Leonie Benson
February 2023
Leonie-Benson-AOM-February-2023.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Raxanne Wright
January 2023
Raxanne-Wright-AOM-January-2023.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Karen Breen
December 2022
Karen-Breen-AOM-December-2022.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Nadya Harriet
November 2022
Nadya-Harriet-AOM-November-2022.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Betie Mondestin
October 2022
Betie-Mondestin-AOM-October-2022.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Marie Bellefleur-Raymond
September 2022
MarieBellefleur-Raymond_AOM_September2022
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Paul Geneus
July 2022
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Nosa Ogbebor
June 2022
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Kettlie Juste
May 2022
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Williams Ejimonyeabala
April 2022
newton-WilliamsEjimonyeabala_AOM_APRIL2022.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Rody Fils-Aime
March 2022
newton-RodyFils-Aime_AOM_MARCH2022.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Mirla Joseph
January 2022
newton-MirlaJoseph_AOM_JANUARY2022.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH 2021 Awardees
ANGEL OF THE MONTH 2020 Awardees
ANGEL OF THE MONTH 2019 Awardees
ANGEL OF THE MONTH 2018 Awardees
Special Recognitions
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!
Serving Brookline, Canton, Dedham, Natick, Needham, Newton, Norwood, Stoughton, Watertown, Wellesley and Westwood
Visiting Angels NEWTON/CANTON, MA
29 Crafts St #320Newton, MA 02458
Phone: 617-795-2727
Fax: 617-244-0260