Choosing a homecare provider can be overwhelming, particularly with so many options in the greater Toronto area. It is a significant decision, and you probably have more questions than answers when starting out. After all, you want the best for your aging loved ones, and must ensure that they will be treated with great care and respect.
Skill and experience are critical, but there needs to be more: kindness, compassion, patience, and the ability to approach anything with a positive attitude. We have said it before, and we will say it again: our people are what make the difference. In that spirit, we would like to help you get to know our team better in the coming weeks. Please take a moment to read this Q&A with Pauline Lyons, Managing Director of Living Assistance Services in Toronto.
When did you join Living Assistance Services, and what do you like about working with this team?
I joined in 2017 and what I love most about Living Assistance Services is that it is a team effort. Everyone in our office is 100% committed to the care of our clients. We receive positive feedback from family members and from our clients themselves, so we know that we are contributing something very positive to their lives.
What made you want to work with seniors?
I have worked in client services for more than two decades, so I possess a strong customer service background. I’ve been told that I am good with people, and I enjoy learning new things and sharing my experiences with them—it is very much who I am.
In my experience, people of advanced age have remarkable stories to tell, and you can learn a lot from them. You always feel like you come away from an experience with seniors a little more knowledgeable than you went into it.
What is the benefit of homecare?
First and foremost, it is the ability to stay in your own home with the people, pets and personal possessions that are important to you, in a setting you are familiar with. You spend a lot of your lifetime creating memories in your home, and all those memories are lost if you are not in your own home. Living Assistance Services offers clients the opportunity to customize their homecare services. No two experiences are the same.
What sets your caregivers apart from other homecare agencies?
Well, our hiring process is very stringent. We reject a considerable number of caregivers before we make a final selection based on skill, experience, and compassion. I would say for every ten individuals we interview, we only hire one.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
It is extremely rewarding to give seniors a better quality of life. Also, homecare gives families an opportunity to continue living their life and taking advantage of all the things that make life special while we assist them with taking care of their parents.
Outside of work, what can you tell us about yourself?
I am very curious about everything. I seek out new experiences and information. I also have wanderlust and therefore love to travel. My interest lies in visiting places where I can experience cultures quite different from my own.