November Aide of the Month Diane Tornquist (center) with FCS Client Care Coordinator Lois Gidaro (left) and Director of Nursing Linda Mac Pherson

Diane Torquist has been a Certified Home Health Aide (CHHA) with Family & Children’s Service (FCS) Home Care Services for more than two decades. She trained with the agency in 1996 right after graduating from high school. At that time, Diane thought she would work as an aide for a few years, but to her surprise, she fell in love with the work.

“I enjoy helping people,” Diane says. “Whether it’s preparing a meal or getting someone bathed and dressed, I really make a difference in the lives of my clients. That’s a great feeling.”

This month, Diane was named FCS Home Care Services Aide of the Month for November for her outstanding commitment to the agency and the clients she serves.

“Diane and all of our aides are on the front lines,” Linda Mac Pherson R.N., Director of FCS Home Care Services explains. “They our eyes and ears, our bread and butter. We really recognize and appreciate their dedication and hard work.”

Since 1958, FCS has provided Home Care Services throughout Monmouth County for elderly, frail and disabled individuals.  The agency currently employees 75 CHHAs and supportive care aides who care for over 169 clients, a majority of whom qualify for home care grant assistance.

All CHHAs work under the guidance and direction of a Registered Nurse and must undergo training in personal care skills, including bathing, dressing, shopping, meal preparation, Range of Motion assistance and a variety of other tasks. The NJ Division of Consumer Affairs requires that all who provide hands-on personal care services be certified.

Diane says she stayed with FCS for so long because of the friendly, family atmosphere.

“I have two daughters, now grown,” Diane says. “When they were little, the staff always accommodated me if one of them was sick and I needed to be home. Flexible scheduling is important when you are raising a family.”

On the other hand, Diane insists the one characteristic that makes a great CHHA is dependability. “Your clients depend on you for so much. You can’t let them down.

Congratulations Diane on being named November Aide of the Month!