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 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
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Jacqueline Nwosu
October 2021
We are thrilled to award Jacqueline (Jackie) Nwosu Angel of the Month for October 2021. Jackie became a member of the Visiting Angels Newton/Canton team in November 2008 and will celebrate her 13th anniversary with us on November 13th!
Over the years, Jackie has been a clutch team player and has accepted many emergency and fill-in cases, helping us out in a pinch. Jackie has cared for sixty-two of our clients - an astounding number. She has been adored and appreciated by every one of those clients. There was a time when Jackie was working two four-hour cases for two of our clients on the same days. She assisted one who had late-stage dementia in the mornings, preparing breakfast and getting him ready for the day, and the other, who has ALS, in the evenings, with dinner and help getting ready for bed. Her morning client would absolutely light up when he heard Jackie's voice and respond with immediate calm when she would sing to him. Jackie has been with our other client since the beginning of his Visiting Angels services in October 2016. Her success in caring for both clients is masterful and shows her diverse skill set.
When asked about her experience working with our office team, Jackie shared, “Visiting Angels is the only senior home care agency I have ever worked for. I love this company. They have always been so considerate and helpful. I have been able to modify my schedule and have had so much flexibility while taking classes and growing my family. I have loved working with Julie, Elizabeth, and Susan. And, Joanne has always been kind to me. I tell everyone that this is the best agency!”
We also celebrated Jackie as our Angel of the Month in April 2013. She has received many Caught in the Act of Caring and Home Care Pulse Caregiver Excellence awards from us over the past thirteen years. She earned these accolades for good reasons. Jackie fully commits herself to providing the best care possible to every client she works with. Jackie’s dedication to her job is limitless.
Office Team Calls Jackie “A Remarkable Person”
“Jackie is genuinely connected with each of us that have worked with her. She has a natural ability to build relationships with clients, other caregivers, and office staff. When Jackie is with a client, you can feel the heartfelt love and care she brings to helping them. She makes everyone feel like they’re part of her family.” Julie McBain, Director of Client Services, shared.
Jackie has always had an excellent relationship with the Visiting Angels Newton/Canton office team. Case Managers Susan Saris and Elizabeth Quagraine expressed deep gratitude and appreciation for Jackie. Susan said, “She is reliable and professional, and when meeting her, clients immediately feel a level of confidence. We are most fortunate to have her on our team.” Elizabeth added, “Jackie was exceptionally flexible and a star caregiver for a challenging case I offered her. She accepted and adjusted her schedule to be available as much as possible. I will forever remember and cherish her calmness and professionalism as our client’s health declined.”
Office Manager, Joanne Minichino, shared, “Jackie is a very wonderful person and caregiver. She is loving, kind, and reliable. Our clients have an extra treat when they get Jackie to help them; she sings like a songbird! She is also very attentive to our clients, and we all love her. Jackie was asked to sing along with some of our other caregivers at one of our cherished client’s funeral – she was incredible.”
Professional Background
Growing up in Nigeria, Jackie helped care for her elderly father and her older sister, who is disabled and needs total assistance with daily tasks. She also regularly supported her senior neighbors with chores and various activities. Jackie knew from a very early age that it gave her great joy and satisfaction to bring happiness and comfort to others.
When Jackie moved to Massachusetts, she assisted disabled adults at a school in Boston while attending college, where she received her LPN degree. Jackie joined Visiting Angels Newton/Canton after obtaining her Home Health Aid certification. She was given an award for being at the top of her class with the highest scores and best-applied knowledge when she received her certificate. Jackie and her husband have grown their family over the years and have a son and two daughters. Her husband, who was an optometrist in Nigeria, also cares for adults with disabilities and fully supports Jackie in preparing and studying for the nursing boards. He is also planning on taking nursing classes soon. Jackie would like to work as a maternity nurse in the future and says, “I will most likely continue to work for Visiting Angels, even when I am a nurse. I don’t know if I’ll ever retire; I truly love what I do!”
Sound Advice from Jackie
“Your client was once a thriving, independent person, and it is so important to remember that,” Jackie explained when asked what advice she would offer to others in the field. “I have adored every client I have supported through the years and have fond memories of each one. Being a caregiver cannot just be a job for a paycheck; you have to be accommodating, caring, and purposeful in your efforts.”
“I have assisted many people in various stages of dementia, and what has proven to be successful is being soothing, kind, and gentle. I love to sing and will use my singing to calm someone who is agitated. I’ll take my client for a walk, even just through their home if the weather is bad. I’ll plan activities and board games, or we will do range of motion exercises and stretches.”
Jackie has many recollections of her time with our clients, including one who was one hundred years old and stopped sleeping due to night terrors. She would wake up screaming when she dozed off. Jackie developed a plan for our client. Whenever she fell asleep and woke up, Jackie would rub her temple and her hands and talk to her gently, which was so effective that our client could finally sleep. “Although it might be challenging, be creative and try different methods until you can help your client get comfortable.”
On a Personal Note
Jackie and her husband make sure to plan family outings with their children as much as possible such as taking them to the Franklin Park Zoo, amusement parks, and playgrounds. Jackie loves being outside, reading, cooking, and watching movies. She is focused on studying for the nursing boards when not working or spending quality time with her family.
Our Sincere Gratitude for You
Jackie, it is with great pleasure we award you Angel of the Month for October 2021. We are beyond grateful for the outstanding care, devotion, compassion, calming nature, and professionalism you bring to our clients each and every day. Jackie, thank you for everything you do and for your warm smile, beautiful voice, and kind heart.
https://cdn.visitingangels.com/docs/newton-JacquelineNwosu_AOM_OCTOBER2021.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Christine Sylfrin
September 2021
newton-ChristineSylfrin_AOM_SEPTEMBER2021B.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Mary Depradine
August 2021
newton-MaryDepradine_AOM_AUGUST2021B.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Grace Quaye
July 2021
newton-GraceQuaye_AOM_JULY2021.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Colbert Pierre
June 2021
newton-ColberPierre_AOM_JUNE2021.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Garlyne Renois & Ernestina Arthur
May 2021
newton-Garlyne Renois and Ernestina Arthur_AOM_MAY2021.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH TEAM | Dawn Burrell, Stella Spencer, Rebecca Namatovu, Adiaba Bofia, Silvana Caruso & Carline Bijou
April 2021
newton-TeamHerbert_AOM_APRIL2021.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Aminah Nakafeero
March 2021
newton-Aminah Nakafeero_AOM_MARCH2021.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Judith Pierre-Louis
February 2021
newton-JudithPierreLouis_AOM_FEB2021.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Renette Glaure
January 2021
newton-RenetteGluare_AOM_JAN2021b.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Amanda Adolphus
December 2020
newton-AmandaAdolphus _AOM_Dec2020.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Nadya Harriet
November 2020
newton-NadyaHarriet_AOM_Nov2020.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Sam Ssebbowa
October 2020
newton-SamSsebbowa_AOM_Oct2020.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Christine Kemiyondo
September 2020
newton-ChristineKemiyondo_AOM_Sept2020b.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH: CONTINUING THE TRADITION
August 2020
newton-AOM Cont the Tradition August 2020b.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Elizabeth Namutebi
July 2020
newton-ElizabethNamutebi_AOM_July2020b.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Patricia Durrant-Campbell
June 2020
newton-PatDurrantCampbell_AOM_June2020b.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Sonia Tibekyinga
May 2020
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Daniella Franklin & Daphney Sainvilus
April 2020
newton-DaphneySainvilus_AOM_April2020.pdf
newton-DaniellaFranklin_AOM_April2020.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Eslie Lacroix
February 2020
newton-EslieLacroix_AOM_February2020.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Jackie Asiimwe
January 2020
newton-JackieAsiimwe_AOM_January2020.pdf
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, MASSACHUSETTS
383 Elliot St #100ENewton, MA 02464
Phone: 617-795-2727