Episode 245-Maria Santiago on the Need for Compassion-with Lois Sonstegard,PHD

Welcome to Episode 245 of Building My Legacy.

In this podcast Maria Santiago, Founder and Director of the Home Health Aide Training Institute, talks about compassion. Although Maria’s focus — through her organization’s role in training home health aides — is on the need for compassion when caring for the elderly and disabled, her message is important for all of us. It will be particular value for organizations that need to hire health care aides and for anyone who has ever tried to find help for an elderly or disabled family member. Maria talks about the type of training that’s needed for today’s home health aides, how it is possible to train for compassion, and the current struggle of home health care workers for equitable compensation.

So if you want to know:

– About the importance of building trust — in home health care and in business in general

– How compassionate caring can help seniors maintain their dignity

– The challenges today’s home health aides face

– About career opportunities for compassionate home health aides

– The effect the pandemic has had on the home health care industry


About Maria Santiago

Maria Santiago learned about compassion for the elderly firsthand growing up in Trinidad and Tobago where she enjoyed talking with her older neighbors. This experience taught her the importance of companionship for seniors, and she founded the Home Health Aide Training Institute to “put the care back into healthcare.” In addition to practical skills, her students — who come from all around the world — learn compassion, empathy and mindful service and often use their training and experience as a stepping stone to careers in nursing and other health care professions. She has been featured in New York Weekly and Healthcare Business Today and recently received The Presidential Tribute of Excellence Award from President Joe Biden for caring for the community and the world. More information is ava