This is Just One Way We Humanize Healthcare
Nothing better communicates our services than sharing real life stories of working with our clients
I got a call that an aging adult had recently moved to independent living, and quickly it became apparent she had no social support.
She was an aging adult taking on the world on her own. Independent, fierce, and a former social worker who helped hundreds of folks navigate the complications of the world.
When we met, we instantly hit it off. As someone who’s worked in social services my entire career, I could feel what her shoes may fit like.
She’s used to helping everyone else, and now she needs help.
We started our work together slowly. We identified priorities, talked about to-dos, and timelines.
The more we talked, the more I realized her health and physical condition were the least of her worries — for her it was about her home and her belongings.
She had heirlooms from family members long passed, and items that served as memories of all her travels. Her belongings told her story. But now she was in a tiny two-bedroom apartment.
While some folks would have said “your stuff is not important, your health, your falls, and your function need to be prioritized,” I put her belongings at the top of the priority list.
We’d spend time at her home going through everything and even hired professional organizers. Together we decided what to take to the new apartment and what to leave behind.
Eventually we hired a professional Estate Sales company.
Overtime we started to directly talk about how she didn’t need the house. The house needed overwhelming attention that it wasn’t getting.
She made the decision to sell the home she’d lived in since the 1950s. The home she raised kids in, the home she’d settle into after a long day, the home she supported her aging mother in.
It wasn’t just a home, it wasn’t just stuff, it was her life, stories, and memories.
We partnered with a wonderfully talented real estate agent in town and the property was sold.
This entire process took over a year. A year some may not have taken if they didn’t stop to think about the human and the stories behind all the belongings. A year some may have tried to speed up with “come on, it’s just stuff,” or “come on, you’re paying for this.” But to her it was a year of grief and slowly letting go that she needed.
She’s now settled into her apartment where we are able to support her health needs and help her manage her finances.
Before we could do that, we prioritized her needs for her heart and for her soul.
This is just one example of how we’re able to get to know our clients in ways that other caregivers can’t and won’t.
– Janie
Are you ready to humanize healthcare for your loved one?
We can get started in our free Clarity Call.
