Sylvia Davey, the owner and managing director of Home Instead Frankston, shares her inspiring journey from caring for her family to a career providing care services to seniors on the Mornington Peninsula.
“I first cared for my father when he was palliative over 20 years ago. He didn’t want to go into a facility. Back then, home care wasn’t what it is today. So I took leave from my job and learnt to care for him at home. Even though I didn’t have any formal training, I still managed to get the equipment I needed. I also had help from the Cancer Council. That was a very impactful experience knowing that I gave him the best life possible right to his last days.
“About five years ago I decided to move from Queensland to the Mornington Peninsula where my godparents live. Their health had started to go downhill and I’m the only virtual family they have. I cared for Auntie Pat for six months before she passed. I still support Uncle Ken, who is 95 and lives at home independently.
“Home Instead began in America in the early ‘90s. It’s now throughout the US, Europe, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and a few other countries. Home Instead has a well-established network with tried and tested policies and procedures; at the same time, each Home Instead is tailored to the local market.
“The values of Home Instead are very personal to me because it’s very much a part of my life. It’s about providing the best care for older people. So when I came to be with my godparents, I took the opportunity to start a Home Instead in Frankston.
“We take pride in having a strong local presence and a local personal touch in our office. We’re just down the road and we can pop in and visit you with flowers if you’ve gone to the hospital. When you call our office, there is a person who answers the phone as opposed to a call centre.
“Keeping it personal often lies in the small details, like helping a client feed her cat while she is in the hospital, linking clients with services that are tailored to their needs and interests, and working with local staff who are familiar with the area. It’s about creating a more personal connection. And from personal connection we can foster trust and reassurance within our community.
“The vision for me is to keep it personal and to share this message with our clients and our staff through our day-to-day work. It always makes me feel proud when I get feedback from clients and staff members that we are more than a business and they can sense that we care.”
Recent Comments