Passion
A passion to pursue a career in business, but maintain a connection to caring for the elderly and vulnerable was the catalyst for Adelaide twins Meg and Chris to start out in private home care in early 2015.
Family
Now nearly 3 years on, they are certain that their decision to continue their nursing careers within private homes was the right one. “Like all twins, Chris and I have always been really close – and when the opportunity presented itself to enter the home nursing market, we thought it would be a great chance to work together”, says Meg Paech, Yellow Door’s General Manager.
Competence
As it happens, it’s not the first time the twins had attempted to operate their own business, having made a foray into the wedding registry business in Melbourne in 2000. “We actually established a business from scratch and successfully managed a few weddings before we realised it just wasn’t our passion. – nor did it leverage our skills as career nurses” adds twin sister Chris Kelly.
Experience
A decade later, they tried again and this time they have certainly found their niche.
Success
Yellow Door has now established itself as one of Adelaide’s leading private home care providers.
Individualised
“I think it’s the personal touch that has been the secret to our success” says Meg. “You will never receive an automated machine when you call us, and both Chris and I regularly work shifts to maintain the client contact and ensure that we get open feedback from those we care for.” “Our staff also have a direct line to us so that we can provide them with guidance when faced with any tricky situations”, adds Chris.
Compassion
While they say it has been hugely rewarding to watch the business grow and continue to employ new staff over the past few years- it is working with the families and friends at the end of life that has touched them the most. Yellow Door is often called upon to care for those in a palliative state and this can mean preparing family and friends for the death of a loved one, as well as ensuring their final days are as fulfilling and comfortable as possible. “This is a hugely confronting time for all parties, and emotions often run high.” Meg explains “We do our best to use our experience and compassion so our clients can die with dignity and their loved ones can navigate their grief. It can be quiet exhausting at the time, but the gratitude we receive from families continues to overwhelm us and keeps us energised to continue delivering care”.
Yellow Door also wants to promote a broader conversation about end of life and posts a regular blog on topics such as dealing with grief and confronting dementia in a loved ones.
Empathy
“We find that people feel extremely isolated when faced with terminal illness or deteriorating mental health and don’t know where to turn for guidance and information. Even though it continues to grow as an issue facing many Australians, there is still little public discussion on these important issues and how as a community we can better address them”, says Meg. “Our resident blogger Erica, is such a beautiful soul- and has a wonderful way with words which helps tackle sensitive issues and provide some guidance on how to cope when faced with difficult and unfamiliar territory”.
NDIS and My Aged Care
It has been big year for Yellow Door having obtained registration with both the NDIS and My Aged Care. “We have worked hard to demonstrate to the authorities that we have the systems and standards so that our clients can access Commonwealth assistance where eligible. Getting their stamp of approval was very important to us and has the potential to really help those clients that may not be able to fully fund their own home care”. Says Meg.
Home
Addressing the needs of elderly Australians will continue to be a key issue for all future governments and encouraging some to stay at home will have to be part of the solution. It is no secret that Australia and Adelaide in particular, has an ageing population and when those in our community can no longer live independently – more and more people are choosing not to move into a nursing home.
Choice
“With the right care and assistance, we help people stay in the environment in which they feel safest and most comfortable – their own home” says Meg. “A home is often full of a lifetime of precious memories, and leaving it can create huge anxiety and a sense of loss.” Chris adds, “Meg and I love to be part of a solution to keep people at home. From the early days of minor assistance with basic home duties to creating a hospital in the home at the end of life, we do it all. Our clients are often surprised at what can be achieved from assessing their needs and designing a care plan to maximise life’s simple joys. Whether it is attending a special family function or playing bridge with friends, we find ways to enjoy life [until the very end].”
Creativity
So why “Yellow Door“? Meg explains that they wanted a name and logo that symbolised the home and the comfort and security it offers behind the door. “We do sometimes get asked why, but generally people like the name and that it represents something a bit different”. We hope that with continued hard work it will become synonymous in Adelaide with the best possible home care when independent living has become too much of a challenge”.
When asked if Yellow Door will go national, Meg is typically cautious with her response. “At the moment, we love the fact we can grow the business in our home town and maintain the personal touch. Maybe we’ll expand interstate one day, but only if we can deliver a service that feels local and personalised”.
Control
Fortunately for those looking to receive care at home in Adelaide, they need only knock on the Yellow Door.
