{"id":1879,"date":"2026-01-08T14:01:39","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T19:01:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/assistinghands.com\/143\/?p=1879"},"modified":"2026-01-08T16:02:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T21:02:11","slug":"kristie-sivells-of-assisting-hands-east-charlotte-turning-a-dementia-caregiving-journey-into-a-mission-to-support-families","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/assistinghands.com\/143\/northcarolina\/echarlotte\/blog\/kristie-sivells-of-assisting-hands-east-charlotte-turning-a-dementia-caregiving-journey-into-a-mission-to-support-families\/","title":{"rendered":"Kristie Sivells of Assisting Hands East Charlotte: Turning a Dementia Caregiving Journey into a Mission to Support Families"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Kristie Sivells - Turning a Dementia Caregiving Journey into a Mission to Support Families\" width=\"1500\" height=\"844\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/sEIIc4AdhDg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Opening a home care agency is never \u201cjust business\u201d for the people who do it well. For <strong>Kristie Sivells<\/strong>, Owner of <strong>Assisting Hands Home Care East Charlotte<\/strong>, the work is deeply personal.<\/p>\n<p>In this <strong>Care Across America<\/strong> interview, Kristie shares her family\u2019s story\u2014one that began when her mother was diagnosed with dementia at just <strong>65 years old<\/strong>, shortly after retiring and planning to enjoy the next chapter of life. That diagnosis changed everything, and it ultimately led Kristie and her husband to build a home care agency designed to support families walking the same challenging path.<\/p>\n<p>Assisting Hands East Charlotte launched in <strong>June 2025<\/strong>, and in just over six months, Kristie has already established a reputation for compassionate, relationship-focused care that prioritizes quality of life\u2014for clients <em>and<\/em> caregivers.<\/p>\n<h3>A Dementia Diagnosis That Changed Everything<\/h3>\n<p>Kristie describes her mother as a world traveler who had just retired and planned to continue exploring the world. But dementia altered those plans quickly. Kristie and her husband brought her mother into their home and cared for her while working remotely, successfully managing things for about five years.<\/p>\n<p>As the disease progressed, Kristie\u2019s mother began wandering and experiencing hallucinations. Sleep deprivation and constant worry eventually led Kristie to make the decision to place her mother in a nearby memory care facility.<\/p>\n<p>But almost immediately, Kristie knew it wasn\u2019t right\u2014for her family, or for her mom.<\/p>\n<p>She emphasizes that every family must make the best decision they can, and she offers no judgment\u2014but for her, the institutional setting felt like the wrong ending to her mother\u2019s story. After an incident at the facility, Kristie saw it as a clear sign to bring her mother home.<\/p>\n<p>That turning point led her to something she hadn\u2019t fully understood before: the power of in-home caregivers.<\/p>\n<h3>Discovering Professional Caregivers (and Why It Matters)<\/h3>\n<p>Once Kristie\u2019s mother returned home, Kristie brought in <strong>two trained caregivers<\/strong>. Like many families, the idea of someone coming into the home felt awkward at first. Kristie describes herself as a private person\u2014and allowing unfamiliar people into the home felt vulnerable.<\/p>\n<p>But over time, those caregivers became more than helpers.<\/p>\n<p>They became <strong>extensions of the family.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Kristie says this decision was the best she made for her mother\u2019s care and quality of life. So much so, that when Kristie and her husband opened their own home care agency, one of the caregivers who supported her mother chose to join their agency team.<\/p>\n<p>That experience shaped Kristie\u2019s mission:<br \/>\n\u2705 Help seniors live independently with dignity<br \/>\n\u2705 Help families feel less isolated and overwhelmed<br \/>\n\u2705 Support caregivers who are often overlooked<br \/>\n\u2705 Create a family-like agency built on trust and communication<\/p>\n<h3>Serving East Charlotte with Pride (and a Love for Diversity)<\/h3>\n<p>Assisting Hands East Charlotte serves a broad area including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>parts of Charlotte (starting south of UNC Charlotte)<\/li>\n<li>Mint Hill (where the office is located)<\/li>\n<li>Matthews<\/li>\n<li>Stallings<\/li>\n<li>Indian Trail<br \/>\n\u2026and areas east of East Charlotte such as <strong>Monroe and Midland<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Kristie grew up in Maine, but has lived in the South most of her adult life. She originally hoped for a different territory north of Charlotte\u2014but now says she wouldn\u2019t change her service area for anything.<\/p>\n<p>She describes East Charlotte as diverse, welcoming, and full of people from every walk of life\u2014and says one of her favorite parts of owning the agency is meeting and talking with families in the community.<\/p>\n<h3>The Difference in Kristie\u2019s Approach: Start with What the Client Loves<\/h3>\n<p>When families call for help, many expect the conversation to focus only on activities of daily living\u2014bathing, dressing, meals, medication reminders, mobility assistance.<br \/>\nKristie explains those are important, but they are not the whole story.<\/p>\n<p>Her agency begins with a different question:<br \/>\n<strong><br \/>\n<em>What does the client enjoy doing?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This could be:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>favorite TV shows<\/li>\n<li>gardening and caring for tomato plants<\/li>\n<li>photography<\/li>\n<li>shopping<\/li>\n<li>visiting parks<\/li>\n<li>music, games, hobbies, and routines<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Kristie believes home care should protect and enhance <strong>quality of life<\/strong>, not simply \u201ccheck boxes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That philosophy shapes how her team matches caregivers to clients\u2014and helps seniors maintain independence in a way that still feels personal.<\/p>\n<h3>Clinical Support and Fast Start Times<\/h3>\n<p>Once a family decides to move forward, Kristie explains that a nurse on staff\u2014an experienced professional with nearly 30 years in nursing\u2014conducts a <strong>free in-home assessment<\/strong>. This visit includes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>home safety evaluation<\/li>\n<li>medication review<\/li>\n<li>health history<\/li>\n<li>care plan development<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In most cases, care can begin within <strong>48 hours,<\/strong> and sooner when situations are urgent.<\/p>\n<p>Even during the assessment process, Kristie is often already thinking about caregiver matches and checking availability so services can begin as smoothly as possible.<\/p>\n<h3>A Personalized Introduction: Why First Impressions Matter<\/h3>\n<p>Kristie also shares a key detail that families appreciate: she prefers that either she or the nurse personally introduces the caregiver to the client.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Why?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Because walking into a home for the first time can feel awkward for both client and caregiver. An introduction creates comfort and connection right from the start\u2014setting the stage for trust.<\/p>\n<h3>Hiring Caregivers: \u201cWould I Trust You with My Mother?\u201d<\/h3>\n<p>One of the most powerful moments in the interview is when Kristie describes what she looks for when hiring caregivers. Her first thought during interviews is simple:<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Would I trust this person with my mother?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Kristie wants caregivers who aren\u2019t just \u201cthere for a shift,\u201d but who feel called to caregiving\u2014and who will build relationships, not just complete tasks.<\/p>\n<p>She values caregivers who:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>create connection<\/li>\n<li>engage clients in conversation and activities<\/li>\n<li>play games<\/li>\n<li>listen to music together<\/li>\n<li>stay present (not distracted or disengaged)<\/li>\n<li>genuinely care<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As she explains, skills can be taught\u2014but compassion cannot.<\/p>\n<h3>Supporting Caregivers Like Family<\/h3>\n<p>Kristie also emphasizes what makes her agency feel different for caregivers: communication and accessibility.<\/p>\n<p>Assisting Hands East Charlotte is <strong>family-owned and operated:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Kristie and her husband own the agency<\/li>\n<li>their daughter is the care coordinator<\/li>\n<li>their daughter is also a CNA and can cover shifts when needed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Caregivers have easy access to leadership and are encouraged to communicate, share updates, and ask questions. Kristie notes that many caregivers say communication is what they want most\u2014because it helps them feel appreciated and supported, not like \u201cjust a body filling a shift.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>A Helpful Tool for Long-Distance Families: Daily Care Notes<\/h3>\n<p>Kristie points out one feature families love\u2014especially adult children who live far away:<\/p>\n<p>A system that allows family members to log in and review caregiver notes each day.<br \/>\nThis provides reassurance and clarity, helping families track what\u2019s happening even if they can\u2019t be physically present. For many families, that transparency is \u201cworth a million bucks.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>A Heartfelt Mission for 2026 and Beyond<\/h3>\n<p>Kristie\u2019s story is a reminder that home care is often built by people who\u2019ve lived the caregiving experience themselves.<\/p>\n<p>Her journey\u2014from caring for her mother at home to building an agency that supports other families\u2014reflects her commitment to dignity, compassion, quality of life, and caregiver support.<\/p>\n<p>As Assisting Hands East Charlotte enters 2026, the community is gaining a home care resource rooted in empathy and real-life experience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From family caregiving to agency owner, Kristie Sivells shares how Assisting Hands East Charlotte supports seniors, families, and caregivers with heart.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":267,"featured_media":1882,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1879","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-company-news-and-announcements"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/assistinghands.com\/143\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1879","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/assistinghands.com\/143\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/assistinghands.com\/143\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/assistinghands.com\/143\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/267"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/assistinghands.com\/143\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1879"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/assistinghands.com\/143\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1879\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1890,"href":"https:\/\/assistinghands.com\/143\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1879\/revisions\/1890"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/assistinghands.com\/143\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1882"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/assistinghands.com\/143\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1879"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/assistinghands.com\/143\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1879"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/assistinghands.com\/143\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1879"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}