Senior Home Care by Angels Cambridge & Guelph was established in 2007, in a pre-COVID world with perhaps less discussion about elder care. But the organization has been focused on quality care for all of its 18 years.
The home care service, which recently won a CambridgeToday Reader Favourite award in the Home Health Services category, was started at a time when owner Marcia Renner’s own parents needed support to stay in their home. Her mother had dementia and the family needed a caregiver to help the couple with laundry, meal prep, errands, and general safety in the home, as well as with her mother’s general presentation. "She was a very proud woman,” says Marcia.
Marcia’s niece, Mary Quinlan, is an RN who has worked in hospitals and out-patient services for over 22 years. She joined her aunt at Senior Home Care this year in a community liaison role. The two women emphasize the importance of the relationship between caregiver and client, something that is reflected in the staff’s caretaking style. “They go above and beyond. This is not just a job for them, these are relationships,” says Marcia. “It’s imperative that we put the right caregiver with our client.”
Mary’s background means she’s able to help clients navigate the medical system and understand their options. She is happy to answer any questions that family and clients may have. The organization also works with clients to set care hours that work for them, rather than telling clients when a caregiver will be coming and going. “We’re providing care that we would want for ourselves,” Mary says.
When you look up Senior Home Care by Angels Cambridge & Guelph online, you’re met with glowing reviews. Family members often tell the staff how helpful they are at such a stressful time, and that the caregivers are wonderful people who genuinely care.
It’s meaningful work for Mary and Marcia, getting to provide seniors with not just basic care, but also conversation and friendship. “It’s a really fulfilling thing to be able to provide people with really good quality help that they can rely on and feel good about,” says Mary.
Both women were born in Cambridge, and while Mary now lives in Guelph, Marcia still lives in town. Marcia says that she still thinks of Cambridge as a small town, and that their family has been there long enough that they often find connections between people they meet.
This familiarity with the community comes across to clients and their family members. “We’re not a fly-by-night agency,” says Marcia.
Marcia, Mary and the staff were grateful to hear about being voted a Reader Favourite by their local community. They say that they work hard to provide the best possible care for people’s loved ones, and that it’s gratifying to hear that they’re achieving their goals.
“We’re very grateful to our community for their support. It’s really nice to be recognized for what we’re doing,” says Mary.
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This article was sponsored by Senior Home Care by Angels Cambridge & Guelph, a 2024 CambridgeToday Reader Favourite.