Chuck Terlesky has met hundreds of families in his years as General Manager of TheKey Calgary. From initial phone calls about potential services to ongoing communications around a senior’s wellbeing, he’s gained a strong sense of what matters most to local families. With that in mind, Terlesky’s pinpointed three great questions families should ask on the caregiving journey:
- Our family doesn’t live in Calgary. How will caregivers communicate with us from afar about our loved one?
Open communication makes a huge difference in the quality of in-home care. That goes for the caregiving team internally, as well as for lines of communication between caregivers on the ground and a client’s family. “A lot of our clients are seniors who live here in Calgary, but their adult children have moved to other parts of Canada,” explains Terlesky. “No matter where a family is located, we have processes in place to share reports by email and have regular phone conversations. We’re also available any time a family member has a question or concern. We share information internally to support one another within our group, too. All of this adds up to reliable, supportive caregiving that families can count on. We know that families want to hear how their mother or father’s day went, how they’re feeling and what’s going on. We’re committed to keeping everyone on the same page and providing peace of mind—no matter where family is located.”
- Is it possible for someone to age in place outside of the city?
Not all homecare is created equal. Many providers focus on Calgary. But, there’s a real need for senior caregiving in communities like Airdrie, Cochrane, Chestermere, Okotoks and beyond. Terlesky says it’s important to choose a provider that has local caregiving abilities right where a senior is based: “You want to make sure you’re getting meaningful caregiving no matter where you’re located. That means caregivers are present and have time to go beyond the transactional aspects of daily living. You want to work with a caregiver and a team that knows your area and is ready to help a senior make the most of life at home.”
- How do you pair caregivers with clients?
Fit is one of the most important aspects of successful caregiving relationships. At TheKey Calgary, Terlesky’s team considers a range of different factors. Medical and health are pieces of that puzzle. But his team also goes beyond to consider personality, interests, likes and dislikes. With that intel, Terlesky says his team matches caregivers and seniors based on what they like to do during the day, how much support is required, what language the senior speaks at home and more. “This alignment is everything. When we have the right match, caregivers become companions to their clients, helping them find purpose and meaning from one day to the next. They take care of their clients while bringing fun and good conversation. We invest a lot of time pairing people up so they can enjoy one another’s company beyond simply handling activities of daily living.”