You are ACE! spotlights

“When I was invited to join the team at Pearl Home Care, I jumped at the opportunity because the values of the organisation align with my own,” said Jodie.

“The business owners Peter and Jen Frendin are committed to a face-to-face approach to care, where clients and families have input into the service we provide.

“We have a Client Advisory & Support Committee that meets monthly, and an open-door policy where clients or family members pop into the office every day, because we make them feel welcome and heard. To me it’s very important that older people feel seen.”

Jodie was the first senior care coordinator to be appointed and has set a very high standard. She is now one of four senior care coordinators who work across the regions of Ballina, Lismore, Grafton and the Tweed, managing care for about 150 clients, many of whom live in isolated areas or without a lot of social interaction, particularly after COVID-19.

“One thing I noticed is older people can feel very lonely, so I started a Picnic in the Park group for our clients to get out of the house and meet one another,” said Jodie.

The monthly event, which she developed with her assistant care coordinator Natalie Curran, proved very popular and despite bad weather moving it to the Green Coast Café, which is next door to Pearl Home Care’s Ballina office, clients have kept coming. Even better, they are exchanging phone numbers and meeting up at other times, too.

“Jodie has a huge heart for older people,” said Terri Irwin, human resources manager at Pearl Home Care. “She goes above and beyond to provide support, even putting out the garbage for clients on her way home or assisting them with pets.

“Nothing is a problem for Jodie, if there is a job that needs to be done, she is happy to do it, whether that fits in with her role as manager, or not.”

Rick Eggins, Pearl Home Care’s director of service operations, agrees.

“If staff members call in sick and there are not enough people to carry out the day’s client services, Jodie will pitch in to help,” said Rick.

“It’s rare that we don’t meet our service commitments in Ballina, largely due to Jodie’s commitment to ensure we meet the needs of every client, every day.”

This enthusiasm is reflected in Pearl Home Care’s culture of open communication, with old fashioned values meaning no one waits too long for a call back and client input is valued.

“We employ people who care, because caring for others is why we exist,” said Rick.

“We avoid use of contract staff and even our gardener travels across the entire region, performing not just gardening services but also being a second set of eyes on our clients.”

For Jodie, being part of a team that cares is why she love her job.

“We want to have the personal, friendly approach that you only get with regular face-to-face contact,” she said.

“I’m in regular contact with all my staff, so I know how our clients are going, and if there are any concerns then I can act on them straight away.

“Communication with staff, clients and families is key to a successful service, particularly in regional and rural areas such as ours where isolation can be a real issue. The people I pick to be on my team share my commitment to our clients.”

For Peter, Jodie reflects the ethos of the business. “Jodie’s nomination through You Are ACE! is well deserved. Her commitment and passion has been an integral part of our success and we are very lucky to have her in our team,” he said.