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Ashleigh Olsker has started a licensed home management company offering in-home support for those with special needs, elder care, childcare, and will be providing respite for existing caregivers.
She calls her company Sage Care.
“My hope is that my new business can reach as many people as possible so I can help those in need in a professional capacity,” Olsker said.
Ash, as she likes to be called, is a registered Nurse’s Aide who completed her training through North Shore Health. She has worked in assisted living facilities and as a private live-in caregiver. Those jobs plus her other work experiences “fostered the realization that there is a severe lack of assistance in place to help people maintaining health, happiness, and comfort while staying in the security of their own homes.”
Olsker will provide childcare or respite care to give the primary caregiver relief from their responsibilities by providing companionship to the supported individual(s). Overnight supervision is available.
Need a ride? Olsker will chauffer individuals on errands or run errands solo if the person doesn’t feel like going out.
“I can accompany clients wherever they desire from a walk in the woods to a picnic on the beach and take recipients to appointments either locally or as far as Duluth.”
Other services she offers include basic cleaning, snow shoveling, trash removal, laundry, in-depth home maintenance etc.
To learn more about SAGECARE please go to sagecare.mn@mail.com.
So, for those that don’t know Ashleigh, here is a bit more about her.
Q- Where were you born and raised?
I was born in Phoenix, Arizona but spent my childhood and teen years in a small town about an hour outside the big city called Surprise, Arizona.
Q- How did you find your way to the Gunflint Trail?
Right out of High School, I started working with people who have special needs while going to night school to get my certifications. After saving up some money I decided that since I was young there was no better time for adventure, so I spent my early twenties doing a considerable amount of traveling while seeking out seasonal jobs in various beautiful places. After spending a few seasons caregiving for an elderly couple in Hawaii and working at a few resorts in Alaska I heard of the Gunflint Trail through a close friend. I was captivated by the abundance of fresh water, the vast wilderness, and the plethora of work to be had. Without a job or housing secured, I embarked on a road trip with the hopes of landing a position for myself amongst the majestic waters of the Northwoods.
Shortly after arriving, I got my start on the Gunflint Trail at what was then known as Cross River Lodge. After a few seasons enjoying the Boundary Waters as a resort employee, I decided it was time to further my skills and once again pursue my passion for helping others. It was then that I decided that I would take advantage of a program offered through North Shore Health and spent a winter getting certified as a Nurse’s Aide. I then shifted my professional focus to once again working with the elderly and people with special needs as an In-Home Support Provider through the Cook County Office of Public Health and Human Services.
Q- When did you become interested in working with kids and older people? Or should I say people in general?
From a very young age, I’ve always felt like I was a “helper”. As soon as I graduated from high school, I got a full-time job at a day program for people with special needs. This was a facility where individuals of all ages could go for the day to have a set and healthy routine including various activities which really fostered a sense of community. There were a number of individuals under my care for whom I was responsible.
This program was about much more than just providing supervision and ensuring a person’s well-being through standard nursing tasks like assisted feeding and ensuring patients’ hygiene. I also provided direct support by helping with their individualized goals to enrich their lives and further their personal growth. I soon found myself genuinely enjoying my time at work and was deeply moved when those under my care began to progress. It was then that I realized I may have a gift for this kind of work, and I wanted to fill my life with more of these special interpersonal connections.
Q- I see you offer a pretty wide range of services, all of which are desperately needed in the county. Can you do this on your own or do you have help?
Right now, it is just me providing the services. If I get enough client requests, there are a number of people I have networked with in the county who are interested in providing services through Sage Care.
Q- What do you want people to know about you and the services that you offer?
Regarding services, I want people to know that I put a lot of focus on individualized care plans. Each person/family’s needs may differ from one to the next and I will accommodate accordingly. Just to recap I provide childcare and respite for the primary caregiver, housekeeping, transportation, and meal preparation. These services are available to anyone.
Beyond the services I provide I really want people to know how passionate about this type of work I am. Starting a business like this is something that I have been thinking about for many years now and Sage Care is the culmination of my lifetime interest in helping others live a more comfortable and satisfying life.
Ultimately, I want to help make people’s lives better.
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