Must Love Seniors (MLS), a home care business that was established in the West End in 2023, is at a crossroads. Owner and operator Diana Conner has a small office in the Bachman Building in Naturita, but finding and keep employees has been a challenge.
She has the ability to pay someone about 40 hours per week, but admitted she can only pay them based on the Medicaid reimbursements, which is about $18 an hour. Still, employees with Must Love Seniors get travel time, paid time for traveling from one client to the next in 15-minute increments. And, there’s a $30 fuel reimbursement weekly too.
Conner said there’s a way the employee could see Nucla clients one day, Naturita the next, and then Bedrock the last day. Some office work is involved.
She said she could also use two employees, if two people wanted to work part-time. While she’s had a few good employees in the last year, one left due to having a baby and one moved. Now, she’s not getting any applicants.
Conner is contemplating closing the doors of her office, something she doesn’t want to do. There are folks living in local communities who need support in the form of housekeeping and some personal care; she wants to serve them.
She’s talked with representatives from Region 10, Basin Clinic, UMC and more, but she’s not sure how to network and find the right people with the territory being so spread out.
“If we can’t serve that area, we can’t do it … but I hate giving up,” she said. “It’s not in my DNA. I’ve met those clients personally, and I hate the thought that they’re going without care.”
What does an applicant need to be hired?
They must have a drivers license, car insurance, the ability to pass a drug test and work independently, and they must have a desire to work with others who need help. Compassion is a requirement.
The West End office is managed out of Delta at this point. Victoria Olivas manages Montrose, Delta and the West End. She’s bilingual and can support anyone applying who speaks Spanish. For applications and more information, applicants can email v.olivas@mlsseniorcare.com or call 970-399-1001.
Olivas and Conner travel to the West End about every two weeks, check in and take employees to lunch. They like to see what the current needs are.
Conner said some of the perks are setting one’s own schedule, getting a a 401k at 3 percent after the first year, receiving life insurance, and maybe health insurance in the future. And, it’s a W-2 paycheck, not a 1099.
“In a perfect world, we’d have a worker bee who sees clients and gives them the best service — and a gung ho office employee who wants to meet the needs of the community,” she said.
No experience is needed; neither are credentials. Conner just wants someone with a good heart to take the reins in the West End. Conner said the next few weeks will be telling. She may indeed close the doors of Must Love Seniors.
“There’s no sense in keeping an office if I can’t serve the community,” she said. “I’m just sad, because I really want to serve those residents there. I had hope it would be a good opportunity to offer services to those who really need them.”