Morristown This Week.com – 2009 Loving care at home
Business name: Claddagh Home Care

Registered Nurse Janine Davis, left, is the founder, owner and President of Claddagh Home Care in Morristown.  With her is Director of Operations Toniann Ruja.

Registered Nurse Janine Davis, left, is the founder, owner and President of Claddagh Home Care in Morristown.
With her is Director of Operations Toniann Ruja.

Type of business: Providing hourly and live-in home health care to the elderly.
Owners: Janine Davis
Address: 161 Washington St., Morristown
Phone: (973) 598-9730
Web site: www.claddaghhomecare.com
Hours of operation: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday; on call 24 hours a day
Founded: 2003

Why did you start the business?

While obtaining my bachelor’s degree in nursing, the curriculum required every student to perform various nursing roles in the community. My time with the elderly during those years at school helped me realize how much I enjoy spending time with seniors. There are various nursing jobs that provide an opportunity to work with the elderly, but home care appealed to me because many people I worked with had a strong desire to remain in their home whenever possible. In fact, the AARP recently released a study that 87 percent of Americans ages 50 or older in need of care prefer to receive that care in their home. So I am happy that Claddagh Home Care has helped many seniors make that possible.

If you could do it again, what would you do differently?

As a registered nurse, my education focused on medicine, so the business aspects of running an agency created new challenges for me. If I could do things differently, it would be related to business issues like marketing and office operations. Overall, it has been an incredible experience and I am a better nurse and busi- nessperson because of the lessons learned.

What’s the best business advice your parents gave?

Both of my parents had a huge effect on the person I am today. They both lost battles with cancer, which showed me how important quality care with kindness is to the ill and their families. My mom had a 12-year battle with breast cancer and was always grateful for the time she had with her family, which helps remind me what’s important in life. My dad always encouraged me to work for myself, and I took that advice.

What personality trait helps you the most?

I am compassionate, which makes it easier for me to put the client above the business. This also helps me to have close relationships with my clients and staff. Having a good rapport with both parties enables me to ensure I am providing quality care.

What’s the hardest part of the job?

As a working mother, finding balance between the demands of my family and business is a daily challenge. Part of my business strategy is to hire quality staff, which helps to keep things running smooth at work. I also have great support at home, so striking a balance isn’t impossible, but is challenging. The easiest? I enjoy visiting with clients and hearing the stories about what jobs they had, or what it was like growing up in the “good old days,” and what their family life was like. So making client visits is the easiest part of my job.

What’s your least (most) expensive product or service?

The cost of home-care service is directly related to the amount of time required to provide adequate care. Hourly services can be less expensive if you need assistance for a short time, but most agencies have hourly minimums. If you need assistance for several hours a day, it could actually be less expensive to use live-in care.

Describe your most unusual customer, job or work experience.

One of my first clients was named Madeline. She was a client for several years, and we built a strong bond during that time. She lived to be 101 years old. She lived in the area for years and had several friends in the community. She was a schoolteacher and raised a son here in New Jersey. I enjoyed her stories about old times, her quick wit, and her outlook on life.
When you leave the business, what will you do?

I plan on continuing this career path until I retire, but I guess I would like to travel and see more of the United States and Ireland.

In one sentence, tell us why customers should shop here.

Claddagh Home Care is owned and operated by a registered nurse, which guarantees you will get hands on attention by a well-qualified person, and we always make the health and safety of our clients the primary concern.