Helena, Mont.—The newest in-home care agency to Helena is looking to bring much-needed care to aging seniors and individuals with disabilities all across Lewis and Clark County. EPAGA Home Care, which began serving families in 2007 in Kalispell, has brought on healthcare veterans, James (center) and Michelle Olson (left). These long-time Helena residents know first-hand how important it is to keep families together in the safety of their homes.
In the world of home care, the way that we live our lives, go about our work, and operate within the framework of our company is deeply rooted in community. From the very beginning, when EPAGA was only the makings of a dream, and much less a full-fledged, fulfilled reality, our mission was always people-oriented, laser focused on caring for those in need. Today, though we continue to expand and grow, our mission remains the same: to provide care and bring joy to the people within our sphere of influence.
At EPAGA, we’re well aware that our understanding of context often determines how deeply we can understand and care for our clientele. That’s why on-the-job training, in conjunction with the State of Montana, is a primary element of the program. As individuals become well-acquainted with the different phases of their skilled occupation, they become adaptable to the contexts and situations in which they will find themselves in their careers. Throughout the course of the program, classroom instruction is paired with real-life experience, and as a result, apprentice candidates are equipped with the necessary skill set required of care providers.
When considering the chance to build something new, Julie asked Inga: “Can I do this on my own?” to which Inga replied, “Not without me!” From that point forward, they jumped off into the unknown, and they’ve been in it together ever since.
Julie is thankful that Jesus came as a servant, and asked us to do the same. He served those around Him on the basis of agapé love, and as Julie said: “If you don't have a love for people, you can’t be an effective caregiver.”
Kevin currently holds the title of President of EPAGA Home Care, in addition to working in billing and receiving for the company. While he officially came onto the staff three years ago, he has undoubtedly been a constant source of support and encouragement from the very beginning of the company’s founding in 2007.
At EPAGA Home Care, we find ourselves in an ever-changing, ever-evolving environment—one that requires us to be highly-adaptable and thoroughly committed. Our staff is here to provide multi-faceted care in a variety of different ways to your loved ones, and to assist your family holistically as you navigate the different seasons of life. To serve our community in the most excellent, constructive way, we ground ourselves in our faith, the development of our staff, and the high caliber of our ethic.
Inga has been part of the EPAGA family since the company’s founding date in 2007, and while she’s one of the owners, she also operates in the role of CFO. Similarly to many of her fellow staff, her passion for home care is derived from a personal narrative and experience. In our own conversation she reflected back on the season in her life when her grandfather fell ill, and it was important to both him and his family that he was at home during a difficult season of life. In light of this, Inga was given a front row seat to the harsh reality of just how hard it is to find an adequate care provider, and an excellent one at that. Because of her grandfather’s situation, she began to learn what home care was, and began to realize the exponential need for quality care provision.
