We all know what it is like to be cooped up in the house when the weather is bad, or when we – or a family member is sick. When the only environment you see for days on end is the same four walls, it can start to make you feel a little crazy.  Everyone needs a change in their surroundings once in a while. This is especially true for homebound seniors, particularly those who are no longer mobile. Still, for a caregiver, the thought of taking their client on an outing may be daunting. But with some thought and preparation, the change in routine can be energizing and enjoyable for both senior and caregiver alike. 

A successful outing with a senior, such as those we serve at Family Resource Home Care, starts with a little planning. Two key points our caregivers will consider are their client’s interests and physical abilities. Before a destination is selected it is helpful to know if there is any walking involved; whether there is parking nearby, or wheelchair access and appropriate toilet facilities. Outings can range from a visit to an art museum, going to a concert or a movie, taking a walk in a park, visiting a shopping center, or going out to a restaurant. Each of these activities, given the senior’s interests, can restore, even briefly, a sense of freedom and connection to the world around them.

Outings can be fun and being prepared for surprises can keep the enjoyment going.  All our caregivers are expected to carry a first aid kit in their car.  Hopefully it won’t be needed but having a charged cell phone, a phone list of key contacts and a list of the client’s medications is just a good idea. Snacks, water, and sunscreen may also be a good idea, especially if the outing is outdoors. It also makes sense to check the weather report to ensure the senior is dressed in appropriate clothing for the outing.

Sometimes just getting out of the house may feel like a bigger deal than going on the outing itself. But once caregiver and client are ready and on the road ― or walking to the park ― any effort that was required to make the outing happen, dims when we see the pleasure reflected on our client’s face. 

Home Care Insight
By David Lawrence, CEO

Living - and Working - our Values

Values are the foundation upon which rests all that we do, think, believe, and accomplish.  They represent our most deep and basic beliefs. When we live according to our values, those values help guide the choices that we make in life.  They become a major driving force behind our actions and identity. 


Successful businesses also identify and establish core values that are fundamental to the mission of the organization.  When these values are lived by managers, all employees come to understand them as shared values, integral to the character of the organization.  It is the active participation of all members of the organization, combined with the development of value-based company-wide systems and processes that will ensure an authentic, understood, shared culture.

“Commitment and kindness” are the two core values of Family Resource Home Care.  They guide the way we operate, and influence all that we do, from making hiring and policy and procedure decisions, to the appreciation and caring we show our caregivers, the expectations we have of the service we provide to our clients, and the way we interface with families and others in the elder care community. When a caregiver arrives on time for their shift, that’s commitment.  When a caregiver reports a health concern, and a supervisor or nurse follows-up with phone calls and visits, that’s commitment. And when we get to know our caregivers and clients so that we can make the best match possible for all those involved in the care plan, that’s commitment. And when we do all these things ― and more ― with caring and a smile, that’s kindness.

We use the words commitment and kindness in our literature and materials to remind ourselves of their importance. However,  they are not are only values we talk about and try to live by; responsiveness, dependability, integrity, and flixibility round out the list. 

In a work setting, as in a family. every person  wants to be known, appreciated and understood. We get to know our caregivers and show our appreciation to those whose work exemplifies our values Each month our company newsletter includes a profile of one special caregiver. Very often, the interview will end with a statement like that of caregiver Rosemary Agnik, who this past March said, “…when I call the office, whoever I speak to is so happy to assist.  And…. the staff there makes me feel like I am a person of value.” The feedback we get from clients too show that “commitment and kindness” (and the other values we live by) are not just empty words, they’re at the core of what makes us successful.

Caregiver Profile: Selam Tsadwa