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My successes.

This career path has helped me understand my worth and realize I’m on the right trajectory. Currently, I’m working as a care manager for a woman in her home who has dementia. I also am supporting families virtually over Zoom with decisions and resources as they navigate new things in their lives. It’s rewarding and fulfilling to work with the families I work with. They are remarkable people who also continue to teach me.

 

What do you do?

Navigating Elderhood guides and advocates end-of-life cycles for clients and their families. through personal care, end-of-life care, and recovery care.  I walk loved ones and their family members through this process whether it’s with recent diagnosis or just the aging process in general. For example, I care for short-term clients such as a post-surgery client in their home, and individuals participating in a medical treatment such as cancer treatment. They need someone not only to take them to the appointments but also to document and chart them at the appointments to share with their adult children. I am the eyes and ears for clients and their loved ones. serving individuals one-on-one with their basic needs.  Part of my offerings is end-of-life doula work. I named my business Navigating Elderhood because there is a lot of navigation when medicine can no longer help.  I support individuals to thrive in their last months, days, weeks, and hours. 

 

What inspired you to start your business?

I’m a previous business owner working as a birth doula with mothers and their partners. That experience inspired me to further my education at St. Kate's University to become a  Registered Nurse. I quickly realized that I wanted to do one-on-one comfort care and serve individuals. Having an advocate like myself is critical, not only to do respite care, but to support the whole system because there’s such heavy grief, and adult children can only do so much.

What's special about your business?

 Serving others and having compassion. I put my whole self into my work and individuals know and love that, and that’s why they work with me. Navigating Elderhood creates a tailored plan for each individual and family we serve. We only take on people who are a good fit. I won’t work for somebody that I don’t want to be around. it becomes a very nice relationship.

What have been the high and low points of being a business owner?

The low is the administrative side for sure. Marketing and selling myself is difficult because that’s not my strong skill set. 

The high is being a trustworthy individual, overseeing the health and daily activities of loved ones.

 

What influenced you to seek help from SCORE?

I have a friend who is an experienced businesswoman and I was getting some advice from her and she suggested getting mentoring support with score. I emailed Deborah at SCORE and ever since I’ve been meeting with her on a regular basis which has been fantastic. I think part of the ease for me is my mentor makes herself available to my busy schedule. I am married and a mother of two children, and as we all know with running our own business there are a lot of components.  I chose a difficult career and am grateful for all the support.

How SCORE helped.

What I do is very unique.  Both the business and my skill set are unique as it serves a niche group. My mentor has helped me normalize it and put it in a business sense so it’s clear and understandable to the people that I’m serving, which has been very helpful.

 

What SCORE services did you use?

It started more general. I asked Deborah some legal questions to make sure I was safe and doing within my legal rights. I found a business lawyer and then I just wanted to get more advice on that. So initially it started with legal support only with the startup of things. I have also done half a dozen of the resource videos,  such as how to take pictures.

 

What advice would you give to someone thinking of starting a small business?

It’s twice as much time as you might think. You have to be open and flexible. I think it’s important to not be set in your ways and to try hard things. Don’t be afraid to fail and make mistakes. Charge what you’re worth and practice what it takes to raise rates every year.

What would you tell a fellow business owner about SCORE?

It’s a gift that keeps giving and I am so grateful. The reliability and accessibility to SCORE have been wonderful. I never imagined it would be so smooth. Everything seems hard nowadays and this is something that doesn’t and it’s lovely.

 

 

What have you learned from your experiences as a business owner?

Knowing my worth has been a beautiful thing to explore.  I’ve learned to put boundaries on my business and capabilities and hire out for what I don’t want to do. At the end of the day, I’m making smarter business choices with other business owners for referrals.

My mentors

Deborah Salerno

I have over 40 years of experience in the securities industry as an investment banker and hedge fund...

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