Your Career as a Caregiver

We are spotlighting Meghan Pelchat. Since joining the Right at Home team in July 2023,  She has been reliable, an excellent communicator and she has consistently demonstrates a calm demeanor while tending to even the most challenging of clients. Meghan is engaging and encourages her clients to do activities out of their comfort zones.  Meghan loves trying new baking recipes with her client, and we have received wonderful feedback from the clients about Meghan’s care.  Client engagement is often challenging for many of our caregivers, but Meghan takes the time to listen to the clients’ stories, really takes a person-centered care approach, discovers more about the client, their past life and occupation and hobbies and finds activities that the client would enjoy. One of the clients that she is working with was very resistant of having services in her home. She wanted to remain independent, but the client’s family was nervous for her being alone.  Meghan has made the client and the family so at ease with having a caregiver in the home that the family has requested that they only would like Meghan and if Meghan cannot work, they will go without care. We are so fortunate to have Meghan on our team and we look forward to what the future holds for Meghan here at Right at Home. Our hopes is that she can grow to be a direct care manager and model best practices for other caregivers.   

• When I am not working I love to spend time with my kids. I’ve also just started working on 1000+ piece puzzles every week, knitting chunky blankets on my down time and thanks to one of my very special clients who taught me how to bake, (esp brownies!) my kids and I have been baking something different every weekend!
• My perfect weekend consists of spending time with my family and friends, making as many memories as possible!
• My favorite snack is chips and salsa! 
• One of my favorite moments as a Right at home caregiver… oh boy there’s a lot! The one that I always think aboutwould be my first time baking with one of my clients! I have never baked something that actually came out “edible”, we gathered all the ingredients, sat down and mixed them all, unfortunately the pan I found, was not the right one, when the brownies came out, let’s just say, her husband did not even want any.  But we blamed it on the pan, and had a good laugh every time I would go see her (still do!)
• I would say my grandfather has definitely inspired me to do what I do in my job, he always believed in me, especially in all the times I changed what I wanted to do in life career wise. Once I finished my course at the Red Cross for CNA, my grandfather was very sick, and even though he could not stand or be alone, he still made it to my graduation because “he wouldn’t miss it for the world”. It wasn’t until he went on hospice, I grew very attached to always wanting to help. I took everything I learned and was always there to make sure he felt comfortable through the whole process.
• My advice to any new caregiver or anyone wanting to start is to grow a caregiver/client bond where they feel comfortable, always remain compassionate and understanding. a lot of the clients you will go in and care for  have lost close friends, their husband/wife, family, and contact with people they used to be close with so sometimes you are their only outlet. There is no better feeling than walking into your clients house and they light up with excitement that you are there!
• One thing I have learned since working at Right at Home is you will always feel valued, from the office staff to your clients, if there is ever a problem that arises, or if you are unsure of what needs to be done, the staff is there immediately to address it with compassion and respect. I have also learned that no matter how you feel that day, you will always leave your clients with a sense of pride and joy! And that is why I love my job!