In 2008 my father was diagnosed with ALS, (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease). By the beginning of 2010 he had been living with us for almost a year and had progressed to the point with his disease that we needed assistance. A neighbor of ours highly recommended Pat Voelkel not only because of the care he gave a loved one of theirs but also because they had known him for many, many years and knew that he was the right fit for us.
For 10 months, Pat provided care for my father. When he first started my father was still about to do a lot of things for himself, we just didn’t feel comfortable leaving him alone. The care that Pat provided was through the evolution of his disease, and Pat excelled in every phase of his care. I think Pat holds a unique quality in that he is able to not only provide aide to the patient but to also provide comfort to the family.
On a technical level, Pat helped my father with aide such as getting to and from the bathroom, transfers to and from a wheelchair as well as to and from a stair lift. Due to the ALS, my father was fed by a feeding tube so pat administered the feedings via a kangaroo bag; this also involved flushing the tube before and after a feeding. Because of Pat’s strength, we always knew that my father would be safe. But more importantly, I knew that my father felt safe in Pat’s care. As his disease progressed to the later stages, Pat was one of the few people who had the strength to transfer him from a bed to a wheelchair.
On a personal level, Pat has a gift of connecting with his patient and creating a true bond. I remember fondly that one day Pat took my father our for a car ride to look at boats. This was at a point where it was getting difficult for other to get him in and out of a car but it was still easy for Pat. Due to the advancement of his ALS my father was unable to speak yet they still had a great time communicating. Many people would have been intimidated caring for a person who was unable to talk, but Pat and my Dad created a friendship, communicating for hours on a white board.
As I mentioned above, not only was Pat a great companion and aide to my father but he also provided comfort to my family. Pat has become a true friend of our family. He has a very un-intrusive way of providing support and a very positive demeanor.
We highly recommend Pat Voelkel as a caretaker for your loved one.
Fondly,
Beth and Bill Owen
My husband, Eddie, suffered with ALS for years and eventually progressed to the point when we needed extra care. Fortunately, a friend referred us to Pat as a caregiver in the local area. We had met with other caregivers previously, but Pat was the only person Eddie really felt comfortable with. From his first day with us, Pat jumped right in to assist in any way he could with Eddie. He would anticipate a need and act on it rather than waiting to be asked.
He helped Eddie in and out of our van and regularly drove around for coffee stops, scenic drives and errands. During these outings, Eddie and Pat had hours to talk and they developed a strong friendship. He could easily transfer Eddie from his wheelchair into and out of bed using our Hoyer lift. He assisted with all other personal needs including feeding, bathroom visits, administering medicine, cleaning the PEG tube, and using our CPAP machine. He always asked to do more as if his availability to help was endless, and it was!
Pat easily blended in with our whole family of five, including three young children and our dog. He is one of the most easy-going and patient people I have ever met. I never once saw him angry, frustrated, or negative in any way. His time with Eddie allowed me to work and accomplish other necessary activities and I always had peace of mind knowing Eddie was comfortable with Pat and well taken care of in my absence. Overall, he was a true gift to our family when we needed it the most. I strongly recommend his services to any patient and family in need.
Tracy McGowan
