Today we’d like to introduce you to Toshinna Yancey.
Hi Toshinna, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I ran away from home at 13 years old. My life took a plethora of bad turns which ultimately ended up with me attending and graduating for an alternative high school. By my senior year I didn’t have enough credits to graduate. I was placed in a program through the school that helped us further our education. That program allowed us to attend school during what would have been our normal school hours. We received credits for everyday we attending and full credits if we passed the class. The class was a Certified Nursing Assistants course. I passed successfully without missing one day. Therefore, I was able to graduate as scheduled my senior year. That begin my journey into healthcare. I would later leave healthcare to pursuit my passion for being a hairstylist. During this time I became a mother and didn’t feel like I was being challenged enough with what I was currently doing with my career. I decided to go back to school. I fould local resources that offered free courses in healthcare. I again signed up and successfully completed another CNA course. Still not feeling challenged I made several attempts to further my education by going to nursing school. The year I would set forth to begin, I tragically lost my youngest brother. Just ten days prior the mother of his children passed away in her sleep. They both left behind 7 children separately, but they shared 2 fully handicapped children together. I eventually would decide not to go to school so that I can become the caregiver for my brother’s son. This decision, although necessary would set me back once again. A few years later my nephew feel extremely ill and I understood at that moment that I could not carr for him. The care he needed would have to be 24/7. I had 4 children of my own who were missing out on life due to me having to care for him. I decided to put him in a group home. Covid would soon hit and the healthcare field would take a major turn for the worse. I had learned that home care was being impacted because aides did not want to go outside. I tried to outsource myself to several homecare agencies. They all turned me away and told me I would need to have my own agency if I wanted to work independently. I did some research, made some calls, and learned that I indeed qualified to own and operate my own non-medical in-homecare agency. Relax and Respite LLC came to life 3 years later.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road. I am originally from Connecticut. I relocated my family to South Carolina at the very end of covid, when the world was opening back up. My children were not happy. I was alone without any family. However, due to having such a traumatic past. I knew that if I wanted to be successful I would need to move away from everything that hindered me and kept me held in bondage. They move was necessary but came with many hardships because my children began to rebel. Like every other time I began to get ahead of my troubles, I was now faced with dealing with my children and their problems. I almost decided that it was not a good time to start. I was encouraged by many people to go ahead and start and deal with my children accordingly. I did just that and we are still thriving and business is going smoothly.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are a non-medical in-homecare agency that help elderly people age in place at home. We offer services to special needs children and adults, and post surgical care. Our prime goal is to provide safe, therapeutic self-centered care for everyone.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
As cliche as it sounds. It’s to treat people they way you would want to be treated. We will all need care as some point or another. I pride myself and my business, on giving people exceptional care in a way that I myself would want.
Pricing:
- Sitter:25 an hour
- Personal care:36 and hour
- Overnight care:40 an hour
- Transportation:25 per trip within 5 miles/30 cents a mile after
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Relaxandrespite.org
