Home Caregiver Recognitions
Our Case Managers meet to choose a Caregiver for Angel of the Month. A Case Manager will generally nominate someone with an explanation as to why this person is chosen. The Caregiver is notified that they have been selected and comes into the office for a full celebration. This person is honored with treats, a certificate, gift card and the Case Manager that selected them will read a full write-up about why they were chosen. The Caregiver is interviewed and then featured in the monthly newsletter as well as on Facebook. Visiting Angels Newton/Canton has the most amazing team of people to care for our Clients. Our Caregivers work tirelessly with their Case Managers to ensure top-quality care.
Angel of the Month
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Victoria Soto
November 2024
Victoria Soto, stand up and take a bow. It is with resounding applause, appreciation, and thankfulness that we name you our Angel of the Month for November 2024! In just a little more than a year, your boundless energy and enthusiasm have warmed the hearts of 18 different clients. Perhaps it’s your smile, or perhaps it’s your ability to simply laugh a bit when things get tough. Whatever it is, we know our clients can always count on you to bring happiness and joy into their homes, long after the last of the colorful autumn leaves have fallen from the trees.When asked what her magic trick is, Victoria couldn’t help but smile. “I’m always just attentive and kind to my clients,” she said. “I’m never mad, and I’m always in a good mood, no matter what. I always try to laugh, and they love that about me.”
Victoria’s first memories taking care of a senior are from when she was just a little girl growing up in the Dominican Republic. Despite being so young, she remembers helping her grandmother with everything from cooking and cleaning to grocery shopping or going to the pharmacy. Things were very different than they are now, she explained. One thing that didn’t change, though, was Victoria’s passion for taking care of seniors. Even after studying criminal justice in college and working as a paralegal in the Boston Immigration Office, she still found herself drawn to nursing.
“While I was working in the immigration office, I was also working at MGH as a patient observer and for Visiting Nurses of Boston as a nursing assistant,” Victoria explained. While it was an extremely busy time of her life, she would not have changed a thing. “Some people have family members to take care of them, but others don’t, and that’s sad—so it made me care about them even more, and I’ve been doing it for 21 years now,” she said with pride.
In the years that followed, Victoria worked with multiple homecare agencies, developing into the care professional she is today. Thankfully in the summer of 2023, she applied to work with us here at Visiting Angels Newton / Canton. Office and Staffing Coordinator, Ryan Allen, recalled a heartwarming story she shared in her interview.
“Victoria told me there was this nice older woman who lived down the road from her years ago, and after a while, she noticed there was no family around to help her with anything. So, Victoria just started cooking and cleaning for her,” Ryan shared. “After a few weeks of helping her out, that same woman urged Victoria to get her CNA.” And that’s exactly what Victoria did, receiving her CNA license in August 2003 from the American Red Cross.
Since joining the team, Victoria has made an indelible impression on our case management team. Perhaps that’s why every client she visits doesn’t ever want her to leave! “Our clients and their families instantly feel at ease when they meet her and know that they or their loved ones are in good hands when she’s around,” Director of Client Services Julie McBain said.
Case Manager Michel Albrecht has received similar feedback from clients and families, citing specifically Victoria’s positive and uplifting nature. “Even with last minute coverage, if Victoria can do it, she’ll do it with a smile and make it sound like the easiest thing in the world. It’s no different than the way she communicates with our clients,” Michael said. Victoria simply enjoys helping others no matter what, whether it’s our case managers or her clients.
It's easy to pick shifts up on a whim, Victoria says, because she feels so supported by the office. “You’re all so nice and kind when I call for anything, even if it’s just a simple question,” she explained. As for the clients, she said she appreciates all their stories about their families and what they did for work. In her opinion, smiling and laughing is easy when they share so much of their lives with you.
Senior Case Manager Elizabeth Quagraine, too, appreciates Victoria’s relentlessly positive outlook. “She doesn’t get rattled or upset when things get difficult because she’s got the kind of confidence we like to see in our care professionals,” Elizabeth said. She knows we always have her back if something comes up where she needs help. But even then, she’s still smiling and finding ways to make the situation a little easier.”
In those moments, Victoria very much takes the “you have to do what you have to do” approach, admitting that she hates to have to call the office when she’s truly at an impasse with the client. “I always want to try and figure it out on my own first, but communication is always first with me, and the case managers need to know when things happen,” Victoria explained. “When it comes to my clients, though, sometimes they don’t want to take a shower or eat, and you can’t force them. So, I just give them their space, and after a few minutes when they calm down, I’ll try again.”
Case Manager Patrick Murray, like his colleagues, praised Victoria for her affable nature and reliability saying, “She’s a true pleasure to work with and we’re lucky to have Victoria as part of the team. Most importantly, though, my clients always tell me how much they enjoy having her visit, and I can tell you with confidence that we feel the same way and are thrilled to congratulate her on being named Angel of the Month!”
Victoria, thank you for all that you do and for being such an outstanding care professional to our clients. Although it doesn’t seem all that long ago you started with us, you’ve quickly become a model angel. Your undeniable joy and enthusiasm for taking care of seniors will no doubt continue to bring you success for years to come. Please don’t let those angel wings take you too far this winter. The birds may be flying to warmer places, but angels like you belong right here as part of Visiting Angels Newton/Canton’s care team!
Victoria Soto-AOM November-2024.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Fatmata Kemokai
October 2024
Fatmata Kemokai - AOM October-2024.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Ndaka Chigariro
August 2024
Ndaka Chigariro-AOM August 2024.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | G.Quaye
July 2024
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Nerlande R.
June 2024
Nerlande R. - AOM June 2024.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Rosemary Atieno
May 2024
Rosemary Atieno - AOM May 2024.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Sallay Mboyawa
April 2024
Sallay Mboyawa - AOM April 2024.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Marie Ketsia Daille
March 2024
Marie Ketsia Daille - AOM March 2024.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Maliza
February 2024
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Ruth Ellis
January 2024
Ruth Ellis AOM January 2024.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Andell Sylvester
October 2023
Andell Sylvester AOM November 2023.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Dawna Nogueira
September 2023
Dawna-Nogueira-AOM-September-2023.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Kettly Aurelus
August 2023
Kettly-Aurelus-AOM-August-2023.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Eileen Duggan
July 2023
Eileen-Duggan-AOM-July-2023.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Pat Durrant-Campbell
June 2023
Pat-Durrant-Campbell-AOM-June-2023.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Sheila Small
May 2023
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Sandy Souza
April 2023
Sandy-Souza-AOM-April-2023.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Glorieuse Antoine
March 2023
Glorieuse-Antoine-AOM-March-2023
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Leonie Benson
February 2023
Leonie-Benson-AOM-February-2023.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Raxanne Wright
January 2023
Raxanne-Wright-AOM-January-2023.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Karen Breen
December 2022
Karen-Breen-AOM-December-2022.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Nadya Harriet
November 2022
Nadya-Harriet-AOM-November-2022.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Betie Mondestin
October 2022
Betie-Mondestin-AOM-October-2022.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Marie Bellefleur-Raymond
September 2022
MarieBellefleur-Raymond_AOM_September2022
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Paul Geneus
July 2022
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Nosa Ogbebor
June 2022
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Kettlie Juste
May 2022
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Williams Ejimonyeabala
April 2022
newton-WilliamsEjimonyeabala_AOM_APRIL2022.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Rody Fils-Aime
March 2022
newton-RodyFils-Aime_AOM_MARCH2022.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH | Mirla Joseph
January 2022
newton-MirlaJoseph_AOM_JANUARY2022.pdf
ANGEL OF THE MONTH 2021 Awardees
ANGEL OF THE MONTH 2020 Awardees
ANGEL OF THE MONTH 2019 Awardees
ANGEL OF THE MONTH 2018 Awardees
Special Recognitions
Timeless Gratitude to Alice Kimani
No, this is not a new award we’re giving, but a special commendation to Alice Kimani, who gave live-in care to one of our clients. One night in November 2016, she was awakened by the smell of smoke. There was a fire in the garage, which quickly spread to the rest of the house - but not before Alice successfully evacuated the senior whom she was caring for, as well as the adult son. The house was burned to the ground, fed by a full tank of heating oil. Two cars in the driveway, one of them Alice’s, were melted. But thanks to Alice’s heroism, nobody was injured, except for the senior’s pet cat, which unfortunately perished. Alice, we think that you are wonderful!
Tama Lewis – Massachusetts Home Care Alliance 2009 Aide of the Year
The HCA has 150 member agencies employing over 19,000 home health aides, and one of our very own was chosen as the 2009 Home Care Star Award Aide of the Year. Tama embodies the essence of what every family wants in a home care aide: skill, good judgment, compassion, integrity, kindness, reliability, good humor, caring, wisdom, dedication, warmth and respect in dealing with seniors. She has been with Visiting Angels for five years, but like all our caregivers, she came to us with years of experience in giving care to seniors.
For four years she was the lead caregiver to a man named Joe, who had no family or friends to help in his declining years. Although he had Alzheimer's disease, diabetes and high blood pressure, with Tama's care he was able to remain at home, where he wanted to be. When she came on the case, his health was declining rapidly despite ongoing medical attention. Soon Joe's deteriorating health began to improve as Tama made sure that he got a healthy diet and took his medications. His home got cleaner, and his appearance improved. Eventually Tama was joined by other caregivers, but she remained the lead person of the team that organized his life, did the shopping, got him to medical appointments, cleaned his house, prepared meals and kept him clean. With help from Tama and the rest of our team, Joe attended his Masons meetings, continued his treasured Saturday evening buffet at the Marriott, and visited places where he had spent his youth. When he developed pancreatic cancer, he died at home with Tama by his side. She was the closest thing to family that he had.
At Visiting Angels of Newton & Canton, we are proud of our reputation with our many referral sources and clients who note the excellence of our services and the quality of the people that we employ. That reputation rests on providing home care with men and women like Tama Lewis since 2004. As deserving as she is of the award, Visiting Angels has many other caregivers who are just as dedicated, give just as much of themselves, and who deserve their own awards. We salute Tama and all of the fine caregivers who work for us and allow seniors the joy of remaining at home where they want to be.
Visiting Angels Newton/Canton is an award-winning accredited home care agency that provides elder care services in Brookline, Newton, Needham, Brookline, Chestnut Hill, Canton, Westwood, Dedham, Watertown, Natick, Wellesley, Stoughton, Roslindale, Norwood and nearby areas. If you aspire to be the best caregiver you can be, contact us at 617-795-2727 or fill out the form on our home care careers page.
If you are looking for the best home care services in the Newton/Canton area, contact us at 617-795-2727 or click the button below to tell us about your case. We're ready to help you!
Serving Brookline, Canton, Dedham, Natick, Needham, Newton, Norwood, Stoughton, Watertown, Wellesley and Westwood
Visiting Angels NEWTON/CANTON, MA
29 Crafts St #320Newton, MA 02458
Phone: 617-795-2727
Fax: 617-244-0260