I wanted to make a difference...
Zoe Halligan came up with the idea for Zoee Home Support several years ago.
“At the time, I was part of a program that placed volunteers in older people’s homes to provide them with companionship and social support, and to help them stay in their own homes for longer.
“As the health of the person I lived with declined, I helped her arrange in-home support through a large agency.
“Unfortunately, there was a personality clash between the support worker and Wendy. I contacted the agency and asked if there was someone else available.
“I was disgusted when I was told that Wendy was lucky to have got someone and she should just be grateful and put up with it.”
This set Zoe wondering how things could be done differently, and how older people and people with a disability could be treated with respect and dignity while getting the services they need.
Zoe realised that it was all about finding the right match between people, linking people together with similar interests and life experiences, or people who were interested in finding out about others. “A bit like a dating agency,” Zoe laughs.
Zoe then turned her vision into reality and completed an MBA and an MEI which provided her with the necessary skills to set up and run her own business.
By matching the clients with the right support workers, Zoee Home Support ensures that older people and people with disability are central to decision making about the care and support they need.
You can find out how we match clients with support workers on the ‘How it works’ page.