Oklahoma Home Care Philosophy: Ready to Help…

There’s your home and there’s a nursing home. Given the choice, Kathy Cocks, RN, BSN is pretty sure most people would choose the former over the latter. That’s why the nurse at Care Plus Home Care pours so much time and attention into creating programs that will help seniors stay right at home.

A former school nurse, Cocks moved to Oklahoma with her husband and quickly found Care Plus Home Care and owner Kristi Brewer-Campbell a few years ago. She quickly realized she had found the kind of job she always wanted.

Now responsible for overseeing more than 10,000 caregiver hours each month, Cocks makes sure those hours are staffed by dependable, quality caregivers who have the clients’ best interest at heart.

She has instituted more safety training for Care Plus caregivers knowing that helping clients not only feel safe but stay safe in their own homes is what companion care is all about.

Cocks grew up with missionary parents in Southeast Asia. Upon graduating, she worked in intensive care for three years, dialysis for one year, and the hospital nursery for two years. After moving around for her husband’s Air Force assignments, she re-entered the workforce as a school nurse in 2007 staffing flu clinics and managing disabled school children’s medical care.

She joined Care Plus Home Care in 2011 as the supervisory nurse where her duties include initiating the start of care, training certified caregivers and providing informative health talks to the elderly community. She aims to passionately promote the well being and livelihood of the elderly. Care Plus can help by providing care to your loved one in the comfort of their own home for up to 24 hours per day.

Even if you need just a small amount of assistance, Care Plus Home Care can provide services to you with a minimum of only 4 hours.

During that time, services available are:

• companionship
• meal preparation
• medication reminders
• light housekeeping, laundry
• transportation, and errands

If you need a little more assistance, Care Plus Home Care can provide you with Certified Home Health Aides. These caregivers are trained and certified by the Oklahoma State Department of Health and can assist you with your personal care needs.

These carefully screened caregivers will be able to assist you with things such as:

• bathing
• dressing
• personal hygiene
• walking and exercising
• getting in and out of bed
• toileting, incontinence care
• blood pressure monitoring

Cocks is always looking for programs that might help her clients. She says some of her best caregivers are those who can relate to clients.

“I get these ideas and run with them,” said Cocks, who manages a caregiver staff of 70. “We have a high number of caregivers in their 60s and 70s. Some do it for extra income and some just like to be involved in providing care and doing something where they feel like they’re giving back to society.”

Cocks has been a nurse since 1985 and says her current position is one of her most rewarding.

“I like helping people but I’ve always been very analytical,” she said. “I didn’t know how I would use that side of myself. I’ve always loved learning and nursing is one of those deals where you can incorporate that. And it’s nice to feel you’re helping people.”

Care Plus’ clientele has steadily grown. Cocks makes sure her company has the most up-to-date offerings and she does this with a focus on training.

She created a training room at Care Plus that allows caregivers to reinforce the skills needed in the home. In this setting, caregivers can get the skills they need before they ever set foot in a clients’ home.