• About Us
• Our Story
• Our Staff
• Awards & Affiliations
• Become a Caregiver

Trish McKinney, On-Call Supervisor, Client Care Supervisor

What I Do

As client care supervisor I have one of the best jobs at FRHC.  I have the opportunity to meet clients and help them decide what care options best suit their needs.  While listening to the client’s situation, I begin to picture their life with one of our terrific caregivers assisting with their needs.  As the client discloses more information the picture becomes more defined and the right caregiver becomes apparent.  There is nothing better than hearing from a client and a caregiver how wonderful the other is!

Why Home Care

When I was 12 years old my grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. Her disease progressed to a point where my grandfather could no longer manage her care on his own and they decided to relocate to the town where my parents lived. As a family we cared for my grandmother for several years until she needed to go to a skilled nursing facility.

Although I was confused by the disease, I recognized the positive change in my grandmother when she would have company or social interactions. During this time my mother, who was involved in the local Alzheimer’s Association chapter, told me about an adult day care program offered to individuals with dementia. The idea of this fascinated me. During school holidays I volunteered at the center and offered an extra hand visiting with the men and women who participated in the program. Although the degree of dementia varied from individual to individual, I loved interacting with each of them. I was captivated by the memories that stayed with them. These individuals who lost awareness of their current surroundings were so clear about events that occurred decades ago. It made me realize that although the disease was destroying the mind the true essence of the individual remained intact.

Two years ago when the opportunity to work in the home care field presented itself to me, the memories of my time at the adult day care program came flooding back. My professional experience prior to joining FRHC was in the organ and tissue donation field. The idea of combining the skills I gained by working with families at the time of donation with my respect and desire to assist the elderly population seemed like a perfect match. I feel honored to help those in need.

My Favorite Client Story

To me, there is nothing better than listening to the life stories of our clients. They offer an amazing insight on living and loving.

One of my favorite experiences at FRHC was when I met a family whose grandmother had suffered a massive stroke. The grandmother was the rock of the family. The stroke left her completely debilitated to the point where the medical community highly encouraged the family to place her in a skilled nursing facility to live out her remaining days. When I met with the family, they were seeking out resources to make it possible for their grandmother to come home. They knew that her wish was to be home rather than in a medical setting.

At the meeting, everyone was overwhelmed. They were exhausted from the long days and nights at the hospital and the house was cluttered with hospital supplies, paperwork, dishes, and old newspapers. The family and I came up with a plan on how best to utilize resources. We set up a care schedule accommodating family member and caregiver availability.

When I visited the family 3 months into the care, it was as though a huge burden had been lifted from them. The family had found a balance between caregiving and personal time. The grandmother’s living space was in the center of the home. Family and friends visited frequently and homemade get well cards covered the walls. The house was clean and organized and gave a sense of peace. The grandmother continues to thrive and has surpassed her life expectancy. To me, this is what home care is all about!

Other staff members