Amy Harink's heart is set on filling a need in Salmon Arm for home care with a holistic approach.
For more than a decade the former Vernon resident, who has called Ranchero home for the past two years, has dedicated herself to providing care for others, from working as a caregiver, to managing residential homes, to working in social services and helping people within the community. Through these experiences she discovered a service gap when it comes to at-home compassionate care that goes beyond medical treatments/appointments.
On April 1, Harink started her business, Guided Heart Home Care, with a mission to provide "exceptional, consistent, person-centered and holistic home care services that empowers seniors and adults鈥� to live independently with dignity and respect."
Describing herself as a caregiver by nature and profession, Harink said she is inspired by her grandmother who passed away in 2022. Harink said her grandmother was a psychiatric nurse who "always helped others and was a strong independent women."
"She raised me along with my mom," said Harink. "After she passed, my vision really came about for creating a company that can help others the way my nana helped so many. After managing the residential homes and working directly with community members for over 12 years, I witnessed a lot of struggles and service gaps within the health system. I know that what I am building for the community comes from a motivation to make a meaningful difference in people's lives and from a kind compassionate heart."
Guided Heart's services, provided to seniors, persons with disabilities, or those recovering from illness or surgery, include: end-of-life care, mobility assistance, medication assistance, respite, companionship, technology support, support after hospital discharge and during recovery; support with documentation and navigating the health system and more.
To determine if Guided Heart's services are what you're looking for, Harink begins with a free phone consultation "to find out what they need, if I can help them and answer any questions they have." This is followed by a free at-home assessment.
"After that, we set up an assessment, then go from there where I鈥檇 go into their home and meet them, they can learn about me and I can learn about them an see their place and go over what their needs are," said Harink. "After the assessment, if we agree to start services then we would pick proper scheduled times throughout the week or when they're needed."
Flexibility and consistency are important to Harink in the delivery quality, personalized care that fosters a meaningful connection and nurtures physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.
"For me鈥� this is being able to really help people in the community who need the help where there鈥檚 a lack of services," said Harink.
For more information, visit guidedhearthomecare.ca.
