Written by Tanya Terry
Anna Attard, owner of a Seniors Helping Seniors franchise in southern Genesee County, recently talked to the Courier about how her struggle with finding quality senior care for her family during the COVID-19 pandemic helped inspire her to open a senior care business.
Attard shared that her mother, father and stepfather all needed care during the pandemic.
She noted she felt most of those involved in senior care at the time were doing the best they could do, though care was sparse. She recalls how those living in senior care facilities suffered as a result.
Attard explained that in her heart, she wanted to help seniors be as independent as possible.
“All those little daily activities that you do, you don’t really think about until you can no longer do them for yourself. That’s where I’m going to step in, and then my caregivers are going to step in and just offer them a little bit of assistance in being able to be independent.”
Attard’s family-owned bookstores. Attard explained when retail businesses are family-run, they tend to be “people” businesses. She said a senior care business is also a people business in which building and maintaining relationships is very important.
Attard was also very close with her parents and grandparents while growing up.
“I really love spending time with that generation of people, and I think that they have unique experiences that I don’t have in my life. I like to learn from people who are older than me. I’m almost 50. So, I’m almost a senior. For those older than me, I really feel there’s a lot to learn. Somehow, we lost that along the way.”
Attard pointed out that in many other countries, a great deal of emphasis is put on learning from elders.
She also stated her caregivers are “loving, giving people” and “true volunteers at heart” and “true helpers at heart.”
The caregivers may help with preparing meals, and they may also eat meals with their clients.
“A lot of times when seniors are living on their own, they don’t eat because it’s not fun to eat by yourself. It’s just as simple as that. They would like someone to come over and play cards with them. They would like someone to come over to do a little bit of light housekeeping that they can’t get done.”
Caregivers may also take clients to the store or to doctor’s appointments.
According to Attard, she had to do a great deal of research before launching her business. She contacted Catholic Charities and other organizations to see what types of resources they provide.
Attard said caregivers need to be responsible, but most of the skills can be taught. However, it’s their heart that must be at the right place.
Most of these caregivers are in their 60s or 70s, according to Seniors Helping Seniors Franchise Consultant Dave Wagner. These caregivers are blessed to be much healthier and more mobile than some other members of the senior citizen population.
“It’s truly unique when you can match a caregiver and a client who have had similar life experiences and lived through the same periods of time. It just really helps to build the relationship, and to be able to provide that care and build that confidence is so important when you’re building a home care agency.”
Senior Helping Seniors Caregiver Cammie Cantell is a Flint resident. Cantell is also a widow. She told the Courier she was bored one day and starting looking on Craigslist when she saw a listing for a position she knew would be perfect for her, which she said she would be starting soon.
“I took care of my husband for eight years while he battled cancer,” Cantell said. “I took care of my stepdad before he passed. I take care of my mom, and I miss taking care of somebody. I find joy in that, knowing that they know that there’s somebody out there that can help them. It makes their life a lot easier….I took care of my stepdad when my mom wasn’t able to, and I saw the smile on her face. I don’t have anyone that I need to take of like I did for my dad and my stepdad now. I find great joy in knowing and seeing relief on someone’s face that they have got the help that they need to continue to live on their own on a daily basis…I hope I can make a huge difference in somebody’s life.”
