When the care you provide is good enough for the families of your staff, friends, and your own kin, you know you’re doing it right. Radius Care founder Brien Cree shares the story that guides Radius Care’s philosophy of ‘Exceptional People, Exceptional Care’.
As for so many of us, my mum was always my rock in life. She taught me how to chase my dreams, how to think independently, and how to stand up for myself. She also taught me through our own personal experiences how important it is to advocate not just for ourselves, but for those we love. Especially our elders. This is the whole reason Radius Care exists, and it underpins the way we operate to this day.
My mother wasn’t expected to survive after she had a severe stroke and spent three weeks in a coma. Although she was left paralysed on the right-hand side of her body and was unable to speak, she defied the odds. After time in rehab, she could make herself understood and get around in an electric wheelchair – but she still needed long term care.
Unfortunately, Mum wasn’t well cared for in her care home. To see her lose her dignity and independence was heartbreaking. The way she was treated was demeaning and traumatic to witness. I used to sit in the car and cry after each visit.
I knew I could improve healthcare for Mum and other aging Kiwis, and so began the hard work to build Radius Care. I started with one care home and today we have 23 locations up and down the country.
My mum spent her last years being looked after at one of our care homes, living with confidence, connection and meaning in the community she knew and loved.
Our residents and their quality of life are at the heart of everything we do. When they can’t speak up for themselves, our staff advocate for them. Caring for our residents is not a job, it is a responsibility, one that we all take incredibly seriously. I love it when I get calls directly from our carers with ideas or requests for new equipment that they believe will make our residents’ lives better.
I know that we’ve got it right when our staff members choose to have their own loved ones in our care. For me, it was a real affirmation of all I’ve worked towards when my brother-in-law chose Radius Care Matua to provide palliative care for my sister in her final days. He knew that our staff would treat her like their own family.
It’s a tale very familiar to us now, with many of our team members having family living within the Radius Care community. We look forward to sharing more of their stories with you soon.