Today we’d like to introduce you to Maya German.
Hi Maya, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Thanks for having me! My name is a Maya German and I’m the owner of Aloha Senior Home Care. Although I’ve been living in San Diego for the past 25 years, I was born and raised in the Republic of Georgia, also known as the former Soviet Union. To give you an idea of who I am, I think it’s important to share some backstory, so here’s mine.
When I was graduating from high school, the USSR was falling apart. As a young adult, it was extremely confusing. Overnight, there was no electricity or hot water; grocery stores were empty, there were no jobs available, and the Russian Ruble had crumbled to coupons – and you needed a lot of coupons just to buy some bread.
Speaking of bread, we had to get up very early in the morning to stand in line for it. Each family was limited to one or two loafs of bread per day. Cheese, butter, and meat was a luxury, so we mostly ate pasta, corn, potatoes, and whatever we grew in our garden. My family also collected scraps of what was left over in the fields after they were plowed. We didn’t know who the land belonged to, but we would go in and collect any spare onions and potatoes. There were many times that I was left hungry.
These challenges made me develop a scarcity mindset, and I was terrified of the future. But by a happy stroke of luck, or perhaps just destiny, I immigrated to the United States at age 23. I knew very limited English, but it didn’t matter because for the first time in a long time, things were looking up.
Once I moved to the United States, I learned that I could go back to school and get a higher education. I was thrilled. I first went to Cuyamaca Community College and transferred to the SDSU nursing program.
I would cry every night in nursing school because it was twice as hard due to the language barrier. So, every day I would learn English while also learning medical terminology. It was like learning two foreign languages at the same time. I didn’t give up though, and I was able to graduate with my cohort without skipping a beat.
After that, I worked at the VA Medical Center in San Diego. I loved working with the veteran population, and it inspired me to get my master’s degree as a Clinical Nurse Specialist. I thought getting a higher level of education would make me happy. I was decorated with degrees, but inside something was still missing. I knew I wanted to work with elderly people, and during my time at the hospital, I saw firsthand how many hospital admission were preventable. 14 years later I decided I wanted to help elderly people age gracefully in the comfort of their own home and that’s how Aloha Senior Home Care was born.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When the work is done, and especially if you are good at what you are doing, people think it’s easy. But it has not been an easy road. Starting any business will test your limits physically, mentally, and emotionally – and even that’s an understatement. My journey has been filled with “blood, sweat, and sardines.” You may be asking, why sardines? It’s because when you are buried in novelty, you don’t have time to concentrate on nutrition. So, they’ve helped keep me going during my late nights at the office.
So many times, I’ve asked myself, is this all worth it? Is it worth it to sacrifice time with your friends and family? Is it worth it to work weekends and late nights when your peers are going on nice vacations and having the time of their lives? Would I have done it any other way? I’ve asked myself these questions many times. But when I take my dog for a walk or spend a quiet morning to myself, I remember that I am positively affecting people’s lives. I provide jobs for people so they can take care of their families. I report to families that trust me with their loved ones. I think of the community I’m building and the vision of the future, and in the end, it makes it all worth it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Aloha Senior Home Care is a non-medical home care agency that specializes in helping seniors maintain their well-being at home by providing assistance with bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, cooking, laundry, and more. Our caregivers are trained to recognize signs of trouble before they arise and are able to take preventative measures to avoid ER trips.
What sets us apart from others is the level of care and attention we provide. Our caregivers are vigilant and able to communicate their concerns with me freely. As a team, we manage challenges together. I am proud that our company gets most of our clients and caregivers by word of mouth. We still get out in the community and let them know what we do, but most of our traction is from referral sources. This is a testament to the quality of care and service we provide.
We believe that there are resources and ways for seniors to age in place, and we offer free consultations for anyone interested. We encourage people not to wait until an emergency happens but to explore and be prepared with knowledge. We believe that knowing where to get information is key, and we are here to help.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
One day, I want to start another business making Georgian wool-stuffed blankets, and I want to get my family in Georgia involved in their development. I grew up with these blankets, and they remind me of home, and they’re not only incredibly warm but also hypoallergenic and biodegradable.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://alohaseniorhomecare.com/
- Instagram: @alohaseniorhomecare
- Facebook: HYPERLINK “https://www.facebook.com/AlohaSeniorHomeCare/” \t “_blank” Aloha Senior Home Care
Image Credits
Dr. P
Eileen
