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Fate casts actor in role of caregiver
Services: Nick Arquette moved to the South Bay to become a star.
Now, he’s a star to seniors in need of help.
By Muhammed El-Hasan
September 26,2006
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He started the business about a year ago. His official title is “Chief of Client Glee.” His partners and co-founders are Pamela Penson and Denise Young.
Arquette also runs a side business where he helps television and movie producers secure locations for shoots.
In addition, he runs a nonprofit counseling program that matches children who have lost a parent to cancer with adults who have gone through the same experience. The program is called Walk With Sally, named after Arquette’s mother, who died of cancer when he was 16.
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Adia founder Nick Arquette, right, and caregiver Autumn Carreon meet with client Dru Harris’ Torrance home. Arquette started the in-home care business about a year ago. “A lot of my work is walking families through the process,” he said. “I’m mostly interested in creating happiness.”
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What does your job entail?
I’m on the phone with clients late in the evening, and I’m meeting with clients early in the morning. A lot of my work is walking the families through the process. I go in and meet with families to talk about what could be possible. We set goals for each family. I ask them , “What would you want to do if you had this friendship?” Later, I show up with a caregiver and hand them off. I want to make sure everybody is connected.
What’s the range of your services?
Ninety percent of what (clients) need is nonmedical. We hae people who just need transportation, all the way up to 24/7 live-in care. It really is giving people an option. We have a three-hour minimum per week. We have a client who gets a ride to the doctor each week and it lasts for an hour. And she wants to spend the rest of the time joyriding. So, she gets to go up the coast.
Who seeks your care other than the elderly?
We’ve got people who had surgery who need us for two weeks. Pregnant moms on bed rest who need to stay off their feet. Also post-op. We’ve had people who had plastic surgery and are wrapped in bandages.
Why is your title ‘Chief of Client Glee”?
When I greet them, I have a funny title. Grandmas love warm and fuzzy things, and Chief of Client Glee was a way to soften who we are. It was to let people know who I was, in that I’m mostly interested in creating happiness. It’s just funny, and it’s a fun ice breaker.
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Dru Harris, left, and Adia caregiver Autumn Carreon share a laugh as they head off to Harris’ hair styling appointment. Through the service, Carreon and other caregivers assist Adia clients with transporation and companionship, escorting them to medical appointments, errands or simply taking them for a drive up the coast.
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What’s the best part of your job?
Creating friendships.
What’s the worst part?
It’s dealing with expectations. I put so much heart into what we do, and there’s still that human aspect of people being late of not doing what they need to do. Every business owner has to deal with employees who do not have the same commitment that you do.
Does your work ever make you cry?
What hits me is as a young man, I see the reality of again, of what families go through to give dignity to a loved one. When you see a man who was completely active, walking 5 miles to the beach, and now is like a 2-year-old…
Do you still do acting jobs?
Yes. It’s become a hobby for me. It’s something that I’ll continue to do. I hope to be able to produce and star in something. About three years ago I did a Hertz commercial that ran nationally. I did a play in Santa Monica two years ago that ran for 14 weeks. It was called “Minding Goodman.”
Tell me a movie you’ve been in?
I had a small think in “Forest Gump.” I played a member of his football team in Alabama. |
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