TESTIMONIALS
Great experience and service from The
Good Companion. After losing her ability to drive, we
wanted to provide our mother with the flexibility of
being able to go out to places and have regular social
contact with a companion, and not being solely reliant
on family members. After registering our interest with
TGC online, we were contacted quickly by email and phone
to discuss our mother's needs in more detail, then an
in-home introduction visit with our mother was organised,
with my sister present. Before that could be held our
mother had a fall and the visit was easily deferred
until she was back on her feet again. Despite our concerns
that she might resist a 'stranger' supporting her, she
very much enjoyed the first 2-hour outing, and looks
forward to planning where she will go with her Companion
each week. It's given her someone new to talk to, and
a greater level of independence and interest, now that
her driving days are behind her. In hindsight we should
have signed up with TGC for the regular additonal contact
and outings even when our mother was still able to drive,
but this was the trigger for making the move. Very happy
to endorse and recommend The Good Companion to other
families.
June 2023
What an amazing person Barbara is.
She has been instrumental in assisting both Jenny and
her friends organise Jenny's move North today. Her dedication
to her role and to being there for Jenny has been nothing
but inspirational.
My family here in Australia, and myself, are so very
appreciative and as such we would like to send Barbara
some flowers as a gesture of our appreciation. She is
an amazing and valuable ambassador for your wonderful
organisation.
October 2020
I wanted to drop a special thank you
to you and your team for helping us through dads last
days.
You were so helpful from the get go!
Aunty Vicky and Aunty Val were both amazing and a great
support to us as well as dad.
Vicky was excellent with dad, especially in the early
days when he was still semi mobile. She is easy going
and just went with whatever dad wanted to do.
Val was also amazing, more so in the latter days dad
went downhill. Her medical knowledge, ability to talk
to the doctor and nurses was a real help.
I would recommend them both and also the Good companion
service to anyone, and have done! Even Hospice have
asked for your details as they found both of the girls
great to work with.
Thank you once again for being there in our time of
need.
August 2020
Thanks Di. You’re just brilliant
- it’s so so clear this is so much more to a job
to you.
Yes, the real issue at the end of the day is being 88
years old ... Mum is just frail enough to not be able
to do stuff herself, and still smart enough to be aware
of the situation.
Without distractions it must be bloody hard having all
that time every day to contemplate your own decrepitude
:-/
Good to know her immune system seems to still be working.
You guys don’t really need me to tell you what
to do - it seems to me you’re very on to it.
Really must make time to meet when I’m up next
- hopefully in a few weeks’ time.
September 2019
We found Good Companion service was
attentive to the start. They listened to our needs and
sought to understand the family well; and were very
keen to meet with us and our grandmother to assess the
level of care required. Their service was so efficient
to find someone so promptly that was very experienced
and could fit in well. Communication during care is
so important and the carer and Good Companion keep this
communication flowing regularly.
Feedback on Carol: From what we’ve
heard from our Grandmother, Carol was so respectful
of the very particular way Jane wanted things and how
she kept her home. She was attentive to what Jane wanted
and what Jane communicated. We also appreciated Carol’s
approach to finances, showing attention to value for
money with Mum at the supermarket. We also felt Carol
had genuine care for Jane and wanted to see her well.
At the end of the two weeks, the physical and mental
improvement was not lost on any of us! Grandma walked
down the stairs and did some work in the garden, which
she hadn’t done for a long time.
July 2019
I would like to thank The Good Companion for providing
us with a lovely lady Mary, who has been so professional
in her job, caring, kind, helpful and giving advice
for my Dad and myself. Dad is now in a rest home as
he was having trouble walking and balance. Mary has
done a wonderful job, I hope you look after her in the
future, she is a asset to your company.
Please past this message onto your Boss and anyone else
concerned. (Daughter)
May 2019
I would like to express my gratitude
for the care, support and love that Shireen has given
our family over this extremely tough time. She went
above and beyond what was needed. Everything she did
was out of love even though she only knew us for a short
amount of time.
Mar 2019
Thank you very much. You have no
idea how much I appreciate the service you provide and
at such short notice. There is no one else like you!!...NO
STRESS!! Jessica rang me this evening to introduce herself
and I feel totally at ease with her being with Mum overnight.
Mar 2019
I met Susan on one of my visits to
my Aunty Danielle. We shared contact details at that
time, and Susan has been in touch with me every two
or three days to keep me up to date with Danielle’s
progress. I have found Susan to be a very caring and
compassionate women. Over the last few weeks she has
kept me up to date with the many things, that she and
my niece Mary have done. Between my Niece and Susan,
they made my Aunts life a happy and special time. As
a family, we were dead against the Rest Home option,
as that was not Danielle’s desire, and she was
most unhappy there. It relieved us all to receive from
Susan regular photos of Danielle. As a family, we thank
your organisation for being there, to help Danielle
have her wish to be in her own home, with her cat honey,
by her side.
Nov 2018
I just wanted to send an email to
say how absolutely wonderful Jane and Rose have been
in their care for Caroline over these past weeks. They
have gone way beyond our expectations and we couldn’t
have got through this without them. Rose has been an
angel for not only Caroline but all of us in the family
too. She has become a friend, a shoulder to cry on at
this tough time and a true professional throughout.
Jane was only with Caroline for a short time but she
also showed such care and compassion, we appreciated
it very much. Please accept our deep gratitude and appreciation
for these wonderful carers you have on the team. Daughter.
Nov 2018
I write now, to say thank you and your
team for the absolutely outstanding support and care
of Mum for the last few years and - in the last two
years of his life - also for my father.
Almost without exception, all of the
Companions who worked with Mum were overwhelmingly kind,
patient, caring and very professional. They are in fact,
a group of extraordinary women who all give over and
above their expected remit. Over the years, they became
almost part of our family. When my father also became
quite unwell, we were so very, very grateful that the
Companions extended themselves to also care for him
too, in addition to Mum. It was a very challenging time
for us and all of the carers and we are indebted to
Good Companions for going the extra mile during that
period.
We also wanted to comment about the
service generally. Pam does a superb job of coordinating
it. Her personal service and her obvious concern for
the clients is impressive. She often went out of her
way to support us and to sort out problems. Despite
the many clients I know that you have, she always made
us feel special and unique. I can highly recommend this
service. We are lucky to have access to it.
July 2018
We have had the pleasure of using The
Good Companion service from the end of November until
the beginning of March.
Communication was easy and efficient with excellent
flexibility. John has made great recovery from his stroke
so we are now looking to the future and what he may
need. We would not hesitate to recommend The Good Companion.
Mar 2018
Daughter’s feedback about her
Mother’s care. my thanks on behalf of the family
for the excellent service your agency provided for Mum
in often challenging circumstances.
In particular I would like to mention
Gael. Gael has a way about her that made Mum comfortable,
and it was through Gael’s care and attention that
we managed to keep Mum in her own home for the last
3 months.
Feb 2018
I am the youngest daughter of Kate.
Andy was my mother’s caregiver for the last year
of her life. I wanted to write to you as your company
assigned her to my mother’s care. It is important
to my father and I that we submit something that attests
to Andy’s competency and compassion.
When a person is chronically ill people
often define them by their disabilities. Their names
become attached with conditions and care management.
Andy treated my mother with respect. She recognised
that we wanted to protect my mum’s dignity. She
had the ability of bringing a smile to my mother’s
face which was often shrouded in pain. She worked tirelessly
to attend to her and aspects of our home.
I have worked in youth and adult development
for 23 years as a health social worker, programme developer,
programme and personal development manager. I am also
a university educator and clinical supervisor. I have
observed many practitioners attend to clients. Andy’s
sensitivity and sincerity was so appreciated.
I lived with my mother for 33 years.
She was the most influential person in my life and as
such I was highly protective of her. My father and I
were able to fulfil our employment responsibilities
knowing that mum would be holistically cared for.
Please pass on our best wishes to her
and our thanks for honouring the most magnificent women
we have ever encountered.
Feb 2017
"The Good Companions have been with Mum for over
a year now and her care over this time has been wonderful.
The service provided is very reliable and to an excellent
standard. Pam has put together and maintains a really
good team of staff and really seems to understand the
needs of her clients. All the Good Companions are doing
a marvellous job in every aspect - in so many big and
little ways. Mum often tells me she is happy, contented
and I can really see that the care and attention, she
receives has made a big difference to her health and
happiness. Mum and I both feel that the Good Companions
have her best interests at heart. Mum’s pet dog
is also very well looked after and the house is spotless,
and feels like a home. Thank you to everyone for such
a professional and caring service that has enabled Mum
to stay in her own home comfortably and safely. Both
Mum and I have no hesitation in recommending the Good
Companions Service."
Anne (daughter)
"The Good Companion has provided
care for my Mum since July 2015. The Companions who
look after her on a 24 hour basis fully understand her
needs. They are also a source of company for my Mum
and take her out for shopping and social activities.
This has enabled her to continue to remain in her own
home."
S Phillips
" We would be delighted to endorse
your services. It has made such a difference for all
of us. We were struggling after Dad's passing to manage
Mum's re-engagement in living on her own. The companions
have provided a much needed support and reassurance
for us all. Mum really looks forward to your visits;
you are warm and engaging and she has come to know and
trust you well."
J.Florkowski, Christchurch
"Towards the end our mother was
completely bed ridden, suffering from bouts of dementia,
and they coped marvelously; she always looked immaculate
and happy. In fact they gave her the love and care that
usually only family members are capable of."
M.Anderson, Auckland
The girls have been so excellent and
have added so much enjoyment to mother’s daily
life... they have changed her life from existing to
living.
Polly Warren, Lincoln.
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