From Hospitals to Homes: Linda’s Caregiving Journey in Homage

Article edited by: Shawna Chan

Linda Stainton is Homage’s in-house Registered Nurse, also known as a Care Specialist. An affable and cheerful individual, Linda has been a wonderful addition to the Homage team. 

Find out more about her story behind her nursing career, why she decided to join Homage, and why she finds so much fulfilment in what she does. 

The daughter they never had

As Homage’s Care Specialist, Linda is primarily responsible for carrying out In-Person Care Assessments (IPCAs) as well as defining and upholding Homage’s service level quality across the board. During an IPCA, Linda will interact with you and your loved one(s) to better understand current routines, discuss any care-related concerns and plan the most suitable care arrangement for you.

Having been in the nursing and caregiving sector for over 40 years, Linda brings years of experience and expertise when providing personalised care to those that she works with.  

Prior to joining Homage as a Care Specialist, Linda spent her time at a not-for-profit organisation where she assisted in monitoring the health of older members in the community, organised Aged Care assessments for the elderly, and scheduled medical appointments, amongst other caregiving services.

“It was like being the daughter they never had,” Linda fondly recalls.  

Being a reliable carer to those in need

Linda had always known that she wanted to help and better the lives of people. Having considered various healthcare specialisations such as Speech Therapy and Pharmacy, she ultimately decided on taking up Nursing, where she is able to spend most of her time being on the ground with the people she cares for. 

She completed her training to become a Registered Nurse in Brisbane, Queensland, before relocating to Melbourne, Victoria where she worked in a wide range of fields including Orthopaedics and General Surgery. She also spent many years working as a School Nurse, where she took care of the well-being and healthcare of students and staff. Following that, Linda decided to go into Home Nursing and Aged Care where she could spend more time building better rapport with individuals and their families. 

“I absolutely loved my time in Aged Care,” Linda recounts. “I’ve always found a great sense of satisfaction when I’m able to make someone feel better. Hearing the life stories of the people under my care was very fascinating as well.”

Since her venture into Aged Care, Linda has never looked back.

“I felt privileged to be able to share their last years with them,” Linda shares with a sentimental smile on her face. “I have not regretted a single minute of choosing this career.”

While being in Aged Care can be a rewarding experience, Linda acknowledges that it also comes with its fair share of challenges. When an individual they have been caring for passes away, it can get emotionally taxing on his/her nurses and caregivers, especially for those who grow emotionally attached. As such, Linda is mindful of the importance of taking good care of healthcare workers and is always on the lookout for the well-being of caregivers as well.  

Joining Homage as a care specialist

“I was excited about joining Homage because it was new to Australia and I would be involved with building a business in an industry that I’m passionate about and have dedicated my career to,” said Linda.

Homage combines curated and trained care professionals with smart technology to manage and provide on-demand home and community-based caregiving to seniors and adults, allowing them to age and recover with grace, control and dignity.

As Homage’s Care Specialist, Linda’s day-to-day work involves visiting families in their homes to assess their care needs and to advise on the best way Homage can assist them.  

“Personally interacting with the families allows me to have a better understanding of their needs and I enjoy building budding relationships with the families under my care,” Linda shares.

Following her assessment, Linda works together with the families to come up with a personalised plan based on their loved one’s health status, care requirements, and preferences. 

“It has been exciting to be the first point of contact with the families,” Linda adds. Being trained as a Nurse equips Linda with the knowledge and experience to make holistic assessments of the health and bodily functions of those under her care, and also to advise on suitable mobility aids and improvements to enhance the safety of the home care environment.

As part of her role, Linda also provides clinical advice to the team and interviews incoming Nurses who are applying to be Homage Care Professionals. Being in a small team initially, there were challenges to overcome along the way, but Linda finds the journey to be interesting and fulfilling, especially when she’s working with other like-minded and dedicated individuals.

“There are several things I love about working at Homage – the culture where everyone cares for each other, the energy that the team brings to work every day, and the simple fact that we are providing care to more people who need it,” Linda shares. 

Love withstands all

There was one particular visit with a couple that struck a chord in Linda and is a memory she will never forget. Richard* had contacted Homage for an In-Person Care Assessment for his wife, who had a Stage 1 pressure area on her sacrum. She had advanced kidney failure, chronic pain, and was left with only six months to live. As his wife’s primary caregiver, Richard needed advice on pressure care and how to make the last few months of his wife’s life as comfortable and painless as possible.

“They were such a lovely and sweet couple,” Linda recounts. “Despite knowing what was to come, they remained strong and loving towards each other and had such a meaningful partnership where they cared for each other deeply. We got along well.”

Knowing the stress that comes with being a full-time caregiver, Linda had also suggested for Richard to consider respite care so that he could have some time away and take care of his health. As part of her assessment, Linda provided care advice not just for his wife, but for Richard as a carer as well.  

“It is such a privilege to be invited into someone’s home to look after them,” Linda adds. “Being able to help people get well, lead better lives, and just being able to put a smile on their faces are things that drive me to be a better nurse and support worker. It is a very rewarding career.”

*Real name has been anonymised due to privacy reasons.

Life outside of nursing

Outside of her professional life, Linda is an active member of her community who enjoys going to the races, catching up with friends, and dining out at restaurants. She also loves going to rugby league matches to support her beloved Melbourne Storm. At home, you can often find her curled up with a good book, or spending time taking care of her cherished pet cat Melody.

Do you need home care support?

Homage has a dedicated team of highly-skilled and compassionate Nurses and Support Workers just like Linda who are ready to support you or a loved one to start leading healthy and independent lives.

Many of our services are covered under various government and private funding options such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Home Care Plan (HCP), and WorkSafe. 

Reach out to Homage’s team of knowledgeable Care Advisors by giving us a call at 0480 093 788 to find out more today!