A Helping Hand

by | Oct 15, 2020 | Nonprofits, Pender County

New Hampstead business New Estuary Home Care is leading a local food drive from October 19 to 23.

New Estuary Home Care is brand new in Hampstead. Owner and director Jessica Puttbach just opened the business, which offers three basic home care programs: 24/7 care, assistance with daily living and Alzheimer’s care.

What is also new is Puttbach’s approach to home care. Having managed a home care company previously, she is “very familiar with the industry and all its challenges, so we do things a little differently,” Puttbach says. “I personally do all the recruiting because I want to ensure that we hire the best caregivers possible. We’re looking for experienced, reliable professionals who truly have the compassion to care for others.”

Licensed in and serving clients in New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender, and Onslow counties, New Estuary Home Care sets itself apart by caring for caregivers so they can give your family the care they need. For example, New Estuary pays its caregivers more compared to similar home care organizations, which has allowed them to handpick the area’s best caregivers.

Not to be confused with a home healthcare company, New Estuary provides non-medical home care services to their clients through companionship and personal care services. This includes anything from meal preparation, shopping and running errands to assisting clients with bathing and many other services.

“We do have a registered nurse on staff who oversees our clients and our aides, and she is wonderful,” Puttbach says.

Opening a home care agency during a pandemic is not without its challenges. But the timing was crucial. “Our clients need safe, reliable care now more than ever,” Puttbach says.

New Estuary caregivers participate in continuing education courses led by their nurse to ensure that they are up to date with and following the latest public health information and recommendations, including for Alzheimer’s and dementia clients.

Beginning October 19 and running through October 23, New Estuary is participating in its first Pender County Fall Food Drive. Puttbach, who volunteers with local Meals on Wheels programs, is very “familiar with the needs of our local seniors and how hunger is a very real problem for many in our community,” she says. “We’ll definitely be doing this every year!”

New Estuary is partnering with two other local businesses, Matter More Coffee in Hampstead and the New York Corner Deli in Surf City, which have both volunteered to be drop-off locations. New Estuary will be accepting donations at Kiwanis Park on October 19, 20 and 21 from 5 to 7 pm.

All items donated are going to the 4Cs Food Pantry in Hampstead and PCCS in Burgaw, both of which do so much in the county to provide for those in need. In 2019 Pender County Christian Services (PCCS) distributed more than 176,000 pounds of food to the community. They served more than 53,000 individual clients, half of which were seniors.

Last year 4Cs (Christian Community Caring Centers) served approximately five client families a day. This year they serve 10 to 15 client families a day, sometimes as many as 30 client families a day, half of them seniors.

For more information, call New Estuary Home Care at (910) 541-1160 or visit their Facebook page @newestuaryhomecare.

About the author

Melissa Slaven Warren

Melissa Slaven Warren

Melissa Slaven Warren is a freelance writer who lives in Southeastern North Carolina. She earned her BA in English from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and is currently pursuing her Masters in Liberal Studies from UNCW. She’s been a freelance business writer, feature article author, non-fiction essayist, technical editor, entrepreneur, product and brand manager. Her work has appeared in Our State magazine and she is a regular contributor to local publications. In her spare time Melissa enjoys water sports and coastal living with her husband Bill and 110 lb. rescue dog, aptly named Bear. Visit her website at www.melissaslavenwarren.com.