HELP AT HOME: “We are set apart from other care services because we are local, and not a franchise. We take time to match caregivers and clients, and we customize our care to each client’s needs.” Robin Williams, executive director of Akin Care Senior Services, is shown at a recent event at the Center for Modern Aging Princeton.
By Jean Stratton
Peace of mind.
As the population ages, and more and more people face the inevitability of more yesterdays than tomorrows, questions about health, safety, and comfort arise.
Even as their health declines, many people wish to remain in their homes. Independence is important to them, but safety is an increasingly important issue too. They may need additional help to maintain that independence, and at the same time enjoy the peace of mind everyone wishes to experience.
Akin Care Senior Services is there for those who need support services for health issues of many kinds. Founded 11 years ago by Ann King, it is currently owned by Gyan Singh, and located at 601 Ewing Street, Suite A-12.
Private Service
As its mission statement reports, “Our goal is to promote the well-being and independence of seniors by matching them with compassionate and highly trained caregivers.”
“We are a private service, and have a well-established team of caregivers,” adds Akin Executive Director Robin Williams. “The caregivers are licensed, certified home health aides, and we do thorough, extensive background checks. In addition, we try very hard to make a good match for the caregiver and client. We want both to be comfortable.”
“In fact,” she continues, “I compare it to a blind date. You try to find a good match for both parties, based on personalities and interests.”
As executive director, Williams oversees the overall operations and meets with clients and caregivers, as well as with health care professionals in related organizations and hospitals.
“During the initial meeting with a client, I’ll explain our services and find out the client’s needs. If they want to go forward, our registered nurse will visit and make a complete medical assessment. Then, she will create a customized care plan based on the client’s condition and situation.
“The nurse will contact the client in 30 days and make another in-person visit in 60 days. In addition, the client can reach out to the nurse at any time.
Scheduling Needs
“We are very flexible,” she adds, “and this sets us apart too. For example, we are very flexible regarding scheduling our caregivers to meet the client’s scheduling needs.
“We have a care coordinator who deals specifically with scheduling our care-givers every day and is able to send a replacement very quickly if the original caregiver has an emergency and is unable to come.”
Most clients live in their own home, but Akin also cares for clients in assisted living and long-term facilities, and hospitals, adds Williams.
The amount of time aides spend with a client varies depending on the individual’s needs. It can be a few hours a day or a live-in arrangement 24/7. Akin also offers respite care for family caregivers who need to travel or just need a break.
In addition, end of life care is available with caregivers specifically trained in hospice care, who provide the very special care for those “navigating life’s final chapter.”
In all situations, the goal is always to provide care and safety while trying to maintain a person’s sense of control and dignity. “Most people prefer to stay in their home as long as they are able, and we want to help them in every way we can to accomplish that,” emphasizes Williams.
“The majority of our clients are seniors, often with age-related conditions, and some may have had a stroke or heart attack. We also have younger clients, who may be recovering from surgery or are just out of rehab, etc. We also care for younger clients who are facing the difficulty of early onset dementia.”
Adult Children
In some cases, the clients are couples or widows or widowers living with adult children. If the adult children work, the parent may need help during the day.
Services include a wide range of care, from personal hygiene to light housekeeping, including preparing meals, doing laundry, and also taking clients to appointments, or even out to lunch, if they are able. Companionship is a welcome part of the service, offering socialization by sharing activities, such as watching a favorite TV show, playing Scrabble, doing puzzles, listening to music, and so on.
“It’s everything, including assisting with bathing, dressing, reminding about medications, and just seeing to the client’s daily needs. Aides can also help with mobility and balance issues — problems for many clients as they age. They can remind the client about relevant exercises, and oversee them,” reports Williams.
Caregivers are there, really, to help in every way they can. Clients may have hearing and vision problems. If a hearing aid or glasses are missing, aides can retrieve them, and keep track of phones, remotes, and more.
Williams points out that caregivers almost become part of the family, especially those who have been with a client for a number of years. The relationship in these cases can be especially meaningful.
“Some of our aides have been with their client for seven or eight years. Sometimes, during this period, a spouse may have died, and the caregiver can become extremely important to the widow or widower. They have seen what happened firsthand and understand what the client has been through.”
Cognition Issues
“Our caregivers also care for clients who have cognitive problems. In fact, one third of our clients have varying degrees of cognition issues,” says Williams. “Their caregivers have special training and must be patient and understanding in helping these clients.”
While most of these clients can stay at home, others are often in a memory care facility or in the hospital, she adds. “In the past, we had one case in which a husband wanted an aide to be with his wife who was suffering from dementia. He wanted the caregiver at his wife’s side every day in the memory care facility.”
Helping clients with age-related health conditions can be challenging for everyone, explains Williams. “As parents age, it’s hard for people to switch roles. Adult children take on the role of parent, and it can be difficult for all involved. In these cases, we try to take the hard part and allow the adult children to maintain their normal relationship as much as possible.”
In addition, she points out, “It is hard for some people to accept help, especially women. They are used to being the caregivers.”
Akin’s clients are from Princeton and the area, including much of Mercer and Middlesex counties.
Helping People
Akin accepts long-term care insurance, and pricing is based on the specific care needs and number of service hours required.
Williams has been with Akin since November, and throughout her previous career assignments, she has focused on helping people.
As she says, “I have always felt a deep calling to this type of work. At Akin, our mission is to help others, and that’s what makes it so meaningful. Being able to support people and truly make a difference in their lives is incredibly rewarding.
“All of our staff share this same commitment to helping others, and it shows in the care we provide every day. Whether it’s someone recovering from a health challenge or someone needing help with daily care, we are here to help them live life fully and with dignity, supported by care they trust at home. Serving our clients with kindness and compassion is at the heart of everything we do at Akin. Every day brings something new, and I genuinely look forward to coming to work.”
For further information, call (609) 994-5320, Visit the website at AkinCare.com.