Visiting Angels Care Support

2nd October 2025 Visiting Angels Care Support – Kya Safari and Sue Thacker

Rob reminded us of the ‘Memory Café’ event with Edwalton Manor Care Home on the 6^th November, a few volunteers required. Mary followed up with her ‘Shoe Box’ project with Africa, so any soft toys, drawing books, hats gloves etc could be brought to next week’s meeting.

Kaya (MD)then started their presentation, explaining that they were based in Upper Saxondale and one of 40 franchise offices set up in the UK for American company Consa Ltd., who have been operating over 20 years She asked members what words they would associate with care for the elderly: empathy, nurturing, helpful, mediation and fulfilling were offered. But she then gave her story of how in 2018, when pregnant with her son, her younger brother was diagnosed with cancer, so she volunteered to become his carer. As her pregnancy progressed, she needed to get help and engaged some carers, but issues occurred with random start times between 8 and 11 and different people attending, who may have been empathetic, but somewhat unsettling for her brother.

The main difference with Visiting Angels is that they really care about their own ‘care givers’. Jane has been involved with care over the last 30 years, as a Care Home manager and also training new carers for the NVQ qualifications, so an ideal person to establish this new operation in 2016, with an aim to become Employer of Choice by 2030, a heavily regulated industry. With the back-up of Consa, who also operate in Canada, Mexico and S. Korea.

They raised the issue of forward planning for care as one gets older, a difficult subject to discuss with family and loved ones with only about 3% of people who have a documented advance care plan, that ensures your wishes are followed, although no legal standing. The choices are: hospital care; Care Home; Home Care. They outlined the pros and cons of the alternatives, but feel most individuals want to stay in their own homes, so Visiting Angels focus on finding out about the needs and circumstances of the potential clients.

Questions followed about their interaction with Social Services, Social workers and why their carer staff are better, which were easily handled by the pair.

Alan F gave the vote of Thanks explain that he found the talk stimulating, whilst digesting the personal questions and impressed with their structured approach and focus on looking after their own ‘care givers’ and considering that Insurance is available for one’s house and car, but not readily available for Advance Care plans, considering the financial aspects. He asked member to join him in the usual warm round of appreciation.         AR