Life in the Flats – Sponsor Spotlight

Helping People Age In Place

Dave Tasto was in Minnesota for his grandmother’s funeral when his life was completely rerouted by an encounter with a small group of people he had never met before. Dave’s mother, who had been his grandmother’s sole caregiver as she progressed through the phases of dementia, was impressed with the care provided by her mother’s hospice caregivers, and realized how much easier it would have been if she had known that kind of care existed earlier. After meeting those same caregivers at his grandmother’s funeral, and hearing their stories of the small thoughtful ways they were able to make his grandmother smile, Dave was inspired to make a difference in people’s lives. Thanks to those caregivers, Dave left Minnesota with happy images of his grandmother, and the inspiration to start a business that provides the highest level of care – just as his grandmother received.

As Dave researched home care options, he opted to start fresh with a new business instead of purchasing an existing one. Assisting Hands Home Care, a national franchise established in Florida in 2007, now with more than sixty offices nationwide, afforded Dave the freedom to establish a strong brand yet still have access to over a decade’s worth of experience. With his grandmother in mind, Dave built his home care business on the premise that the care provided would be the quality of care you would want your own family to have. In order to do this, Dave began the process of selecting a team of the very best caregivers and office staff.

David Volovick and Donny Desrosiers, two members of Dave’s team, are the gatekeepers of Assisting Hands and are responsible for the stringent screening process that singles out top-notch caregivers. Before the caregiver is even considered for an in-person interview, they must pass a phone screen and score 90 or above on a 104-point competency exam that tests the recruit’s knowledge of both clinical and practical situations. They use a matrix to match clients’ and caregivers’ skill sets and personalities, as well as many other attributes critical when matching clients.

“We take pride in finding caregivers who we would trust with our mom, and then making great matches. We trade notes, and we really think through how to match a caregiver with a client so that we get that perfect match right out of the gate. Our caregivers are a representation of our company, and we want to make that first impression the best,” says Dave.

David, who has managed Certified Nursing Assistants, nurses, and therapists for twenty years as a nursing home administrator, knows how to build a team of amazing caregivers. “It’s a pleasure to be able to screen them appropriately and follow Dave’s mission to hire the most caring individuals for our team. Our philosophy is we want the caregivers who will treat our clients like their own family. As a business, we are only as good as the people who work for us. Dave fosters a great environment that way, and it really is a positive work environment. Since October, we have come such a long way. We can sleep well at night knowing our clients are in great hands.”

When Maaria Olander looked into care for her 89-year-old mother, who had broken her hip and was being released from rehab, Assisting Hands was the first agency she called, and she was so pleased with the company that it turned out to be the last.

“Dave is such an amazing and caring person and they do such a wonderful job with their caregivers at Assisting Hands. Dave and Tracy are completely responsive, proactive, and reliable – they are the most reliable people I have ever met. When I go away, I don’t even have to call and check. She is perfectly fine – actually she’s more than fine, she is happy. She has a good time and looks forward to a visit from her caregivers.”

Tracy Gallo, their in-house nurse, uses her twenty-five years of nursing experience to train the caregivers and conducts regular supervisory visits. As a private concierge nurse prior to joining Assisting Hands, Tracy witnessed all types of caregivers and wasn’t always impressed with what she saw.

“I kept seeing the same thing – caregivers on their phones, and other things that you dread seeing. Then I met Dave and it was appealing to play a key role in training and matching caregivers to clients.”

Tracy is with her clients through every step of the way, continually providing high-touch care by assessing the client and learning about the client’s medical history. She checks in on clients regularly, encouraging them to contact her with questions at any time.

Home care agencies are not required to have a nurse on staff and, in fact, many agencies don’t. Assisting Hands does many things beyond what regulations require. “We do all of this because of our high standards,” says Dave.

This includes researching their caregivers and running background and reference checks. They train with tools that are often only found at facilities – like the Hoyer Lift, which is used for transferring clients who are bedbound and need assistance moving from bed to wheelchair – enabling clients to stay at home to get the care they need. They partner with companies that do skilled nursing and medical care, so Assisting Hands can coordinate that extra level of care for those clients who need it. On the administrative side, their paperless office keeps everything private and efficient, which also makes it easier for out-of-town family members.

“At Assisting Hands, we feel like we are wish granters. Everyone wants to age in place, and we are granting that wish – allowing folks to live independently and have the freedom they desire,” says Dave.