River Valley Chamber of Commerse

Darlenes Home Care

Darlenes Home Care   

Remember the movie ‘The Wizard of Oz’ when Dorothy, who just wanted to return to her Auntie Em and Uncle Henry, would close her eyes, click her heels together and repeat ‘There’s no place like home’...?

But outside that fairy tale wish is the present day, stark reality, of an aging population and those in need of 24-hour support assistance in a stressed-out health care system. To take care of themselves and feel better, most people want to be in their home - cared for and dignified - with the aid of some support.

Darlene Reicker grew up on the Belleisle that holds many fond memories for her, but the rural areas can hamper the home care support worker. She had a friend in the community who was a home care worker in Rothesay, and to supplement her income (in what she thought would be for just short period of time!) she accepted the position of caring for an elderly couple in their home for 48 hours from Friday to Sunday evening while she was furthering her education.

In 1987 Darlene began a lasting career in the home care industry and in 1995 she and a business partner began their own home care business in Grand Bay-Westfield. After eight years she incorporated herself as the sole proprietor of Darlene’s Home Support Services Inc. and moved the business to her property on the Kingston Peninsula. Now, after 22 years in the industry, she has been servicing clients with her team of dedicated home care workers. Shown here is Monique Higgins, who has been with Darlene for over ten years, with her client Rosalind Armstrong.

“We care for individuals and provide personal care assistance, meals, light cleaning, but there’s so much more for those who are incapacitated by an illness as well as providing support to families that need some help” comments Darlene.

“I love living here. Anybody living and working in Grand Bay-Westfield is so lucky - there’s everything here you could need. Except maybe more shops for clothes!” (Darlene is a very saavy dresser!)

“Being rural does have its obstacles. The distances. The conditions. Our workers have more than one client on any day and the commodity of travel is so under recognized. It makes for a long day.

“Looking towards the future, I’d like to see there be more home care for seniors, better transportion, complexes; more stuff for seniors. But to do that I’d really like to see more people entering the home care industry and for it to get the recognition and value it so deserves.”

We live in a community not just now, but to make a place for the future and supporting your business community makes for a better future.

“That’s why it’s so important to me to give back to the community by focusing my business on the Peninsula and Grand Bay-Westfield - these are hard to reach places that not every home care business can include - but it definitely shouldn’t exclude them.”

You have to ask yourself why someone would want to pursue this career choice. Monique can answer that. “I love animals and caring for people, but there’s so much to learn from my clients like history and listening to the stories that you just don’t get in books.”

To understand Darlene’s business philosophy - “Because there’s no place like home” - is to really understand why these people, like Monique, do what they do. ‘Home is where the heart is’ and Darlene, with her team of home care workers, have that kind of heart.

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