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 | Amanda Adolphus
Visiting Angels Newton/Canton is proud to name Amanda Adolphus Angel of the Month for December 2020. It is entirely appropriate to end this difficult year by honoring a caregiver who is an expert at facing challenges with directed energy, thoughtfulness, and care. Amanda became a Visiting Angels team member in October of 2019. During her time with us, she has shown incredible empathy for and dedication to our clients.
Amanda embraces her caring philosophy of L.L.P.A. – Listen, Learn, Pay Attention. She has had great success as a caregiver because she listens to her clients and their family members and learns as much as she can about them. She knows that paying attention to behaviors, mannerisms, comfort levels, and needs can lead to a positive caregiver-client relationship. “I have developed creative ways to support my clients,” said Amanda, who earned her CNA certification through the Red Cross. “I do this through determination and a commitment to making sure they are comfortable and safe. I make it my goal to ensure that my clients have a smile and are peaceful by the end of my shifts.”
Amanda has special memories she easily recalls about each client she has assisted. The embroidered “You are My Angel” pillow presented to her by one client is a fond reminder of Amanda’s time with him. Amanda reflected on a client who passed away just about a year ago. Although there were many challenges with this client who had ALS, Amanda learned to navigate her way and dedicated herself to providing exceptional support, which kept him safe, sound, and happy. “We developed such a wonderful bond,” Amanda said. “It was a treasure to know and care for him. He loved my cooking and company, and I felt honored to assist him.”
Compelled by her desire to help others, Amanda switched career paths to become a professional caregiver after working in hotel customer service. “I realized that I would not feel fulfilled professionally on my current path and was guided by my love for my grandmother to care for the elderly,” she said.
Amanda’s grandmother raised her until she was eleven years old when her grandmother passed away. Amanda endured many challenges and struggles during her childhood. As a young wife and mother, she rediscovered the unconditional love that she felt with her grandmother, with her own two children. Fortunately for Amanda’s clients, she has channeled those cherished, loving memories into her work as a professional caregiver.
Case Manager Susan Saris shared what she thinks makes Amanda so successful, especially with abusive behavior. He has refused caregivers and continues to be in denial of his genuine need for assistance with personal care, including making sure he is taking his medications and eating meals regularly. When I spoke with Amanda about this assignment, she asked very pertinent questions. It was clear to me she was the kind of person who puts a lot of energy into making things work and becomes invested in the client’s best outcome. Amanda has been working with this client for the past eight months, which is by far the longest any caregiver has been with him. Over time and with patience, she has developed a trusting relationship with him. I have been impressed with her ability to provide care and her capacity to turn negatives into positives, figuring out strategies to get things done despite frequent resistance. She uses humor and has a personal style that lets him know she truly cares.”
Amanda said, “Through the years, I have learned to use methods such as giving a client space if they become agitated; I will go make them some tea or another measure that I know will reassure them. Sometimes you just have to step back and adjust your methods if your client is frustrated or feeling uneasy.”
Amanda expressed gratitude for the Visiting Angels Newton/Canton office staff, particularly Office Manager Joanne Minichino. She also expressed her appreciation for Susan Saris, Naté Paige, and Katherine Jennings, who are the case managers she has worked closely with over the past year. “Everyone is so nice and supportive. They check in on me and consider my strengths and needs when calling me about a case,” she explained.
A caregiver in her personal life as well, Amanda invests in her home country of Guyana by sending supplies for the children in her family and several orphanages there. She also helps those in need within her community here in Boston. When taking time for herself, Amanda is an avid reader and enjoys dancing, cooking, and being with her granddaughter and children. She is a savvy shopper, cutting coupons, and looking for deals.
We gratefully close this year by awarding Angel of the Month for December 2020 to a thoughtful and compassionate caregiver. Amanda, we thank you for caring so deeply for our clients. We are thrilled to have you as a member of the Visiting Angels Newton/Canton team.
newton-AmandaAdolphus _AOM_Dec2020.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Nadya Harriet
newton-NadyaHarriet_AOM_Nov2020.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Sam Ssebbowa
newton-SamSsebbowa_AOM_Oct2020.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Christine Kemiyondo
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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 in Newton, MA
383 Elliot St #100ENewton, MA 02464
Phone: 617-795-2727
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