Today we’d like to introduce you to Morgan Jenkins
Hi Morgan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started my career working with older adults in 2010. First, in the area of Home Health and then Hospitals. I quickly learned about the ever changing landscape of healthcare and how confusing it could be.
Meanwhile, I met connections in all industries and made long time partners and friends. I intentionally learned their roles and how I could utilize the skills and information to help patients at home and in the hospital reach the vetted resources they needed to recover. I shadowed doctors, case managers, nurses, discharge planners, social workers, insurance pro’s and more. I was a sponge, learning their roles and how decisions at any level could affect the outcome for a particular patient.
I also learned that chasing a “census” or having “numbers to hit” did not motivate me. I was happiest in my work, one on one, with as much time as was needed to help the person get to the next step in their recovery. When I was ready for the next challenge, the universe answered by call.
Maintain Me came into my life in 2016 as contract work providing placement and referral resources for clients. Most of the referrals were from individuals or family members seeking help because the current home situation was no longer safe or met their needs.
My previous role(s) perfectly prepared me to take the leap into Maintain Me. It did not prepare me for all that it meant to become a entrepreneur! I knew though, I was helping people now, in a way that was much more authentic. The road to being an entrepreneur is not easy. It has been humbling, rewarding, and challenging in many ways. Punching the clock was never my thing- and there’s no looking back now.
I love the work I do! I say this and my clients often say back, “we can tell!” In addition to working with people looking for services; I began making more and more connections with other passionate professionals who were ready to serve my clients and help them “Maintain” who they were no matter where they were at in the aging process. And I was fortunate to find a really great professional coach, Nigel, who helps me operate my business from my most authentic place. My clients reap the benefits and I remain happy and engaged in serving them.
After 8 years of hard work and dedication, I was in a position to take over ownership at Maintain Me.
I have been owner/operator for about half a year now, and I couldn’t be happier. I have the utmost humility and respect for my friend and founder of Maintain Me, Chelsea Sweeney. She is an incredible mentor and leader, and together we made the business what it is today.
Now with the support of 8 years of experience with Maintain Me and 14 total years of experience working with older adults, I am better than ever for my clients.
Together, we navigate some of the hardest times in life, and I still, love what I do. I have also learned, that I will never know it all! I am grateful for a career that allows me to learn and grow and do better, the longer I stick with it. Experience is the greatest teacher.
I love working with older adults because they have the most experience and teach me something new daily. When we respect and cherish our elders, everyone in our society benefits.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I never liked a smooth road, so boring! And yes, I have had plenty of bumps along the way.
For starters, I had to learn how to manage my work flow, and help people know Maintain Me existed in a complicated and confusing landscape. Still even harder, gain a solid reputation for doing the right thing, so people would feel confident in referring to us. Without referrals, Maintain Me would not exist. Important to mention here too, the people I am working with are often in a terrible way in their life, confused, upset and feeling hopeless. This is something else that is important to manage. If you don’t take care of yourself and find ways to “leave work at the door” it weighs you down to the ground.
By year 4, Maintain Me was growing, and developing new ways to support our clients with better programs. We had consistent referral sources and our reputation was strong.
Then, I am sure everyone says this but, COVID. Our business stopped- we could not operate. I even found myself on unemployment to make ends meet for two months. It was humbling. Yet, it was nothing compared to what our clients where suffering through. Fear of the unknown, of dying, of never seeing their families again, some never did. It was awful in ways I don’t even want to recount.
Maintain Me was still getting calls though. Families and elders asking “what do we do?” We developed our consulting program as a result. We could offer a low-fee virtual professional resource to talk though options, sort through fears and unknowns, and develop a plan.
We evolved as a result of COVID, and we are back stronger than ever now. We saw how our partners stepped up, and we developed even stronger relationships to better serve.
I know the struggles will always be there, that’s life! Change is the only constant, and getting comfortable with change keeps you ready to handle anything that might come along, because you just never know.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Maintain Me Senior Services ?
We specialize in being advocates for older adults when they are searching for care or making an aging-in-place plan. Both scenarios are as unique as the individual. One size does not fit all; it helps to have someone you trust to be able to ask.
We help our clients starting with a Basic Needs Assessment and a visit in their home. Meeting one on one helps us determine what would make life easier, safer, or more comfortable.
We look at what they can afford, or what programs might be available to help them afford the care they need.
Examples may be: care or therapy in the home, help with home maintenance, or making sure they are taking their medications.
Sometimes a person remaining in their current home is not safe or sustainable. In which cases, we help our clients find Independent Living, Assisted Living, or Memory Care Assisted Living that meets their specific care concerns and wishes.
We call this our Transition Program! We are paid by the community the client chooses making this program free to the those we are working with.
Medicare does not cover long term care expenses like living in an assisted living. Most people don’t know this!
Making your late-age-plan is often overlooked when thinking about the future. We are all living a lot longer these days, and this increases the likelihood that we may need long term care at some time in our lives.
If something happens, and one is not prepared with any plans or wishes, family or friends may inherit the responsibility to help put care into place. This could happen at any time really!
Maintain Me can help with all of this.
We offer value based consulting services to solve problems, make a plan, and connect our clients with vetted resources. Our services are offered either virtual or in-person. We meet our clients where they are at with our variety of programs, years of experience, and a massive database of vetted care partners to help with everything on the list.
Maintain Me prides itself on our reputation, and our determination to serve every client as if they were our own loved person. The frequency in which our clients refer their friends and family helps reaffirm that we are taking good care of the people we are lucky enough to be able to help.
Our wish would be that more people know about the advocacy services available to our elderly, like Maintain Me!
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Experience. You can’t fake it! Once you make a big mistake, the lesson ideally learned will help clients for the rest of the time you are doing business. We don’t know what we don’t know right?! Lived experience teaches us so much.
Compassion. Take your worst day and how you felt and then add the feeling you are losing your ability to make decisions, have independence, or even live the life you want. Many of our clients are facing this, compassion and understanding are required. In order to have the hard conversations and to be able to provide some hope for the future- you need compassion.
Motivation to do the right thing. Motivation to help others, even if it means helping for free.
Pricing:
- Free for Transition Program
- Starting at $75/hour for consulting. Flat fee packages available for greater savings.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.maintain-me.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaintainMeSeniorPlacementServices
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MaintainMe
