In this strange new world we live in virtually everyone (save those on the International Space Station) have had to adjust to be safe and productive. As a home care company, the need for care does not go away…so for us, at some level, it is business as usual.
Caregivers
When the crisis hit, we knew there would be fear and questions from our caregivers. “Am I an essential worker? What can I do to stay safe? Can I still go to the assisted living facility where I provide care?”, etc. So, we did our homework and launched a campaign to keep them informed. Regular emails with CDC guidelines, notices about who is or is not deemed essential. Gave them letter to carry with them in case they ever got stopped for being out while we were under stay-at-home orders. We communicate with them every week (we did that prior to COVID-19) and thank them for being part of the team.
We also knew that their jobs had become harder in many cases and that being in a client’s home might be stressful for them and the client. So, we recently delivered care packages to the care givers…sanitizer, gloves, masks and goodies. We wanted to keep them safe and let them know we really appreciate them.
Clients
Like the caregivers, we anticipated questions from clients as well. We launched a similar communication platform for clients. CDC guidelines…what we were doing to keep our caregivers knowledgeable about “best practices,” etc. We had some clients that trimmed service…some asked for more hours. Like the caregivers, we constantly communicated with our clients.
Recruiting
Our recruiting had to be completely re-engineered No more live interviews or orientations. New platforms and techniques. Virtual delivery of paperwork and signatures. A new approach for a new world.
The Corporate Team
The corporate team meets at least once a week…but no longer in person. Rather, video conferencing has taken center stage. We still act as a team…poke fun and have fun, but the venue is dramatically different.
We are not alone in making adjustments…businesses everywhere are in the same boat. We are just thankful that our caregivers and clients have remained healthy. And, we are fulfilled to see people everywhere going out of their way to be considerate of others.
Amid this pandemic we remain “open for business!” So, if you know anyone that needs a little help to stay safely at home, don’t keep us a secret!
Adam
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