See what our clients have to say about our staff and services by reading some of the testimonials they sent. If you like to share your experience in working with us, you are more than welcome to send your testimonials.
See what our clients have to say about our staff and services by reading some of the testimonials they sent. If you like to share your experience in working with us, you are more than welcome to send your testimonials.
I write to provide my very strong and positive recommendation for Jeannie Baclao-Ritson, and her elder in-home care business, Best Health Home Care.
Jeannie and her team provided care for nearly three years for my mother Joanne Perry, who lived with us at our home, suffering from progressive dementia and some physical weakness and lack of balance. Over that time, as my mother’s needs gradually increased, Jeannie was completely attuned to those changes. For much of the time, she and the team covered 24 hours a day, and there is no dimension on which I have a word of criticism or complaint regarding the team’s excellent care, attention, and real affection for my mother.
Jeannie, and all of her team of caregivers, are highly professional. For example, a log book was kept at all times with hour by hour notes regarding my mother and her care, carefully transmitted from one shift to the next. Next stages of need in terms of equipment or routines were always brought to my attention for discussion, and I felt completely secure that I would know of any changes or problems such as incipient illnesses more quickly and knowledgeably than as if I were doing the care myself. All aspects were unfailingly handled smoothly, such as preparation of my mother’s meals, laundry, and acquisition of needed supplies. Even in the last stages of my mother’s time at home with us, the team kept her not only clean (of course), but well groomed and looking ready to receive company at any time—something that would have been important to her, and that reflected their concern for her dignity as well as her physical well being.
“Reliable” does not begin to capture the work of BHHC. Never once was I left without someone to cover when needed, including notably on occasions when I was planning to be there myself with my mother and then suddenly had unrelated emergencies. Jeannie always covered the situation even on two hours notice. One of the team also on a few occasions traveled with my mother, when she still could travel at all, to fly her back from our home in Maine, and to take her to see her sister at my cousin’s home in Houston, caring for her there for several days.
Jeannie is incredibly good at matching team members to clients–and their families. When she introduced new team members to our home and my mother, she watched very Closely to make sure there was a good fit. On the one occasion when there was not, she immediately saw that, and changed personnel again for those time slots.
Perhaps most important. Jeannie and the team all fitted into our home and family as if they belonged there. They improved our lives as well as my mother’s, far from feeling like an intrusion as could be the case in such an arrangement. We were always happy to see them. They were concerned for my well-being as well as my mother’s, clearly realizing the emotional hardship of watching a parent decline in this way. And they really loved my mother, calling her (as she herself liked) “Gaga” as my adult children still do. My mother’s condition became worse and worse, and finally last March we determined that we should move her to a dementia home nearby, in part because of our need to travel. Since then Jeannie and some of the other team members have on their own visited my mother there quite frequently, solely because they want to see her. That exemplifies the kind of care and affection that BHHC provides.
I would be happy to speak with anyone who would like further information or background regarding Jeannie and BHHC. I can be reached at 240-475-4483.
Sincerely
Victoria Perry
When this care giver first came to help me care for my wife–then eight years into Alzheimer’s Disease–I called her former employer for a reference. The fashionable female patient whom she had cared for to the very last was unavailable, but I talked to the son, a noted Washington, DC lawyer, “A dream” he said. “Mother loved her. She could do anything. We thought she’d take a good Secretary of State.”
I thought That was a bit much at first. But not at all! Care giving is really hard, especially when dealing with someone who has mostly lost the power of speech and has forgotten how to do almost everything. In helping my wife through the long day–difficulties with dressing, eating, taking medicine, getting to bed (brushing teeth, washing, going to the bathroom, most of which this AD patient most days has no clue) Jeannie turned out to be a marvel of kindness, patience and humor. No dementia patient, least of all my imperious and beautiful wife, can be ordered, or told to, or in any way forced, to do anything. Yet everything must get done, again and again, day after day. Quite literally, care givers can never take “No” for an answer. The answer Jeannie demonstrated was extreme politeness, reason and sheer charm. A fond will of iron in a velvet glove. This occurred at the highest and most delicate levels of emotional skill—often lost to me these days, to my sorrow.
She meticulously handled giving and keeping track of pills, carefully writing up daily medical notes, recording any phone calls when I was away. Eventually she kept track of shopping (what I need to get at the Safeway or elsewhere, prescription refills, doctor visits). Linen closets, my wife’s wardrobe and chest of drawers which under my care had fallen into disorder, instantly became neat and organized. Jeannie had run a fancy boutique in the Philippines before her husband died suddenly and she set out for America. She understood what clothes would appeal to her patient. Lovingly and skillfully she did my wife’s hair and make-up. Managed the miracle of getting her to take–and giving her–baths. Sometimes bubble bath! Gradually she took over light meals for Mrs. Foote, a great help to my wife’s appetite and to me. She simply saw what needed to be done and unobtrusively did it. The jumble in the fridge suddenly made sense. The Britta was always filled. The paper towels never ran out.
The above may make her seem like some officious, Nannyish person. Not so. Alzheimer’s does not proceed steadily day-by-day, hour by hour, but in jigs and jags. Even when cognition appears to be most totally out to lunch, special qualities of mind and feeling can show themselves. Mrs. Foote still has a sense of humor. And Ms. Baclao-Ritson knows how to appeal to it.. Sometimes they seem like two sisters enjoying a joke. Appearing with a perfect small gift, a wonderful fruit or a witty musical greeting card she creates an instant sense of social joy, makes an occasion of a lonely anniversary, lightening up my wife’s Alzheimer world (and my own), while sensitive to signs of discomfort or pain, and steadily providing encouragements to brush teeth, eat, listen to records.
The amount of energy that Jeannie expends each day on her patient–in kindness, care and love–would light the entire city of Seattle for a year. Where she gets it is a blessed mystery. But it has kept my wife—and me—in the land of the living for four years.
We like to refer to her as our saint and genius. She demurs—properly embarrassed. But anyone lucky enough to have her as care giver will understand how right we are. Secretary of State isn’t the half of it.
Timothy Foote, 3045 Aberfoyle P1. NW, Washington, DC.
I was finally able to see your website. Looks very nice.
Tel: 240-281-8376
To Whom it may Concern:
I have known Jeannie Baclao-Ritson for about five years. We were introduced by a Social work colleague of mine on the occasion of my requiring major abdominal surgery. Jeannie care of me in my home for several weeks after that surgery and I have never experienced Such expert and sympathetic professional care in my life.
Once my recovery was complete I wondered who among my friends could benefit from this. Superior person’s excellent care and thought of my friends Audrey and Timothy Foote. The referral was made and Jeannie has been employed full time in their household for the past four years. Since Audrey and I knew each other since college days I was a frequent visitor to the Footes’ home and, therefore, could observe first-hand the quality of care Jeannie offered the Footes.
Let me begin by saying the care Jeannie gave was in all respects excellent. I never heard a word of complaint about her from anyone in the extended family, only the highest praise. Jeannie’s high intelli gence allows her to quickly appraise what needs to be done and how to do it, not only expeditiously but with great sensitivity. She managed to keep her patient serene through truly difficult years of deterioration. Audrey was always clean and beautifully groomed throughout those years as well as engaged in appropriate activities, giving her, right up to the end of her life, the maximam opportunities for choices, so that she could hold on to her sense of self with dignity. Her nutri tional needs were always met with imagination.
All of this professional caretaking was done to harmonize with Mr. Foote, her employer’s life style. I never felt she was either intrusive or bossy, yet every aspect of the household van in an orderly, smooth way. Jeannie exhibited a great respect for these indi viduals’ privacy. Her work was always performed with dignity and at the same time with a great sense of humor. Jeanie has been absolutely faithful in her attendance, discreet and loyal to the family and exquisi tively attuned to everyone’s needs, even anticipating them. Her good health, driving skills and willingness to do anything asked of her are only surpassed by her generous, cheerful and loving disposition. Anyone who hires Jeannie will quickly discover what an intelligent, resourceful and caring treasure they have. I am also confident that she has all the requisite skills to ran an agency of caretakers that will provide services that will benefit her community.
Sincerely,
Valerie R Lyun
A.C.S.W. (retired)
Apt. 060
6251, Old Dominion Drive
Mclean, VA 22101
Tel: 703-851-0701
I can’t say enough good things about Jeannie and her team of caring professionals. Their kindness, gentle loving support, and extensive experience elevate their care to the most compassionate and perfectly supportive level I can imagine. The remarks of others really sums up how remarkable and rare they are. Having employed others before, I would never choose another agency after having enjoyed the care of this group. I encourage you to check them out and see what a difference it can make to have people caring for you or your loved ones who really love their work and excel at it! I’m happy to provide a reference for anyone who wants it. You can not go wrong by allowing yourself to benefit from the empathic, tender care of this team.
With best regards,
Adam