By Mary Ann Hutcheson

One of the leading in-home care franchises in Lexington County, Assisting Hands® Home Care, was created by Tom and Jayne Falk in 2012 with a foundational model of providing care, compassion, integrity, and support for those in need. This is reiterated in their mission statement which, in part, promises “…to offer our clients personalized non-medical support services in their homes, assisting the elderly, disabled, and others needing assistance to maintain quality of life. Our services support the individual’s choices and preferences to maintain their dignity and independence.” For Tom, the family business is deeply personal.

Team Jayne

Tom’s wife, Jayne, bravely faces the ongoing challenges of Multiple Sclerosis, an auto-immune disease affecting the central nervous system for which there is no cure. Tom’s personal journey, which originally initiated from ensuring Jayne’s well-being, is the core from which the entire program at Assisting Hands® Home Care emerged; it is his desire to extend that same level of care to others facing similar struggles and their families.

Building the program, securing necessary licenses, maintaining qualified staff, acquiring medical equipment, and undergoing continuous training certifications is a slow, but steady and evolving process, Tom explains. “You’re dealing with families who need care for their loved ones, and you have to establish a reputation in the community. No one really knew who we were, and the corporate franchise was still in its infancy,” he continues. “We had to brand everything ourselves; there were a lot of speed bumps along the way. Thirteen years later, and we’re still kicking,” he says. The name of their corporation is Team Jayne.

Jayne was born in the small, southwest town of Opelousas, Louisiana and graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now University of Louisiana at Lafayette). She was diagnosed with MS in the late 1980s. Her rich culinary Cajun background contributed to her love for cooking good food, vibrant Cajun music, and growing up in a close-knit community. The couple married in 1999; both parties were fully aware of what the commitment entailed. “In the beginning,” Tom says, “she danced at our wedding; everything was fine. About the time we moved here in 2008, she started having some falls, eventually navigating through the progression of a cane, the walker, and now, the wheelchair.” She retired from her 25-year occupation as a paralegal in 2008.

A wheelchair friendly home has immensely contributed to Jayne becoming more independent while Tom is at work. Conversely, limited public wheelchair accessibility and the intricate transfer process from home to destination have curtailed activities for the couple. Accustomed to it, Tom says, “It’s become a part of our lives; we lead a simple life.” One that includes their 60-pound rescue dog, Bubby. Not wanting to be an enduring burden to her husband, Jayne is determined to do as much as she can and emphasizes how much Tom has learned about caregiving through their journey.

An Extension Of Love

As you can imagine, there is a great deal of understanding, patience, and love between Jayne and Tom. Those same components, along with strength, determination, and knowledge, have naturally overflowed to their thriving business. In the caregiving world, there is an invisible, delicate balance that must be protected above all else, as Tom agrees, “We always have to have enough caregivers to maintain a client base, and enough clients to keep caregivers happy and employed.”

Creating a comfortable, inviting, friendly, family environment within company structure is essential for Tom, who says, “It truly takes a village.” The team of 35 Assisting Hands® Home Care employees are very well taken care of financially and educationally and are treated with integrity and respect resulting in long term caregiver retention. Caregivers are licensed, bonded and insured, ranging in age from 19 to 85, with skill sets ranging from companionship care to full, certified nursing assistance. Each employee undergoes a thorough background check, is subjected to drug screenings, and has extensive training along with required CPR/First Aid certifications and DHEC certifications. For nursing students and CNAs who need continuing education credits, training is provided to qualify for Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

Regardless of extenuating circumstances, each stage of the program is professionally and strategically executed. Before sending a caregiver, a staff member visits the home to perform a thorough initial assessment and a home safety evaluation. As protocol is reviewed and information is recorded and confirmed, the family is assured that they will receive a qualified caregiver to handle the particular issues at hand, specific to the elderly client. Communication is crucial, and one of the most popular features of Assisting Hands® Home Care for clients and employees is the amazing electronic portal. This portal not only facilitates transparency, but it includes a schedule, assigned tasks and appointments, case history, and a profile image of the assigned caregiver. Caregivers and family members can record (in real time) any concerns/issues that arise or require attention. This software not only tracks the client’s progress and responses to care, it chronicles the employee’s service from the time that they apply until the time that they leave the company.

A Continuing Legacy

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, one in three Americans provide unpaid informal care every year to their ill or disabled family members or friends. This is a critical need and it is Tom and Jayne’s desire that Assisting Hands® Home Care serves the community as a complete public resource. “There are many things that people don’t know until it’s too late. With over 13 years of experience, we can help guide them through the process of caring for their loved one.” Gently used equipment and materials are often donated to the agency, and they pay it forward when possible. Their program is accredited by the VA with ninety percent of funding being private; long-term care benefits are also accepted, and specific government vouchers are accepted upon approval.

Tom remarks that the biggest compliment he can get sometimes is, “Hey, you’ve done a great job, we don’t need you anymore.” More often than not the same client will need help at a later date, and Assisting Hands® Home Care will be there in more ways than one. It is Tom’s ultimate goal to continue to improve and expand the business, resulting in a beautiful legacy before his retirement. In addition to their Lexington location, the projected plan is to open an additional Columbia office in the near future.

Assisting Hands® Home Care

104 Hamilton St., Lexington, SC 29072 AssistingHands.com/Midlands 803-661-7557