When I was a younger man had a time or two when the support of a friend was needed to steady my walk. As memory might have it, those times were close to St. Patrick’s Day, and a couple of others. These days the line, "Lean on me." has a completely different meaning.

Old friends are in need of an arm or a shoulder to lean on while they get themselves straightened out. And it's not because of over celebrating a patron saint day. How grateful I am to know there are still friends around who are just as willing to let me lean on them. How unfortunate that not everyone can claim the same.

That's why I was glad to find there is a company in Novato that offers plenty of good folks to lean on. Hired Hands Inc. was founded in 1994 by mother and son team Lynn & Mark Winter. Lynn is the company CEO and spent over 20-years as a nurse and administrator working in home health care. Her experience was the drive behind forming Hired Hands. Her son Mark is the president of the company and provides the marketing and business expertise needed to manage as many as 75 employees.

"We're glad we found you!" is often the opening line of the many letters and phone calls directed to Hired Hands. According to Mark, "We're family-owned, and provide a much needed service for our clients who are retired, living alone, and not quite able to do all that they used to do."

The staff consists of certified nurse assistants (CNA), caregivers, and companions, all focused on client needs. They offer non-medical, in-home support service that helps clients enjoy their days a little more. It's very cost effective for the clients to be able to stay at home versus living in a convalescent hospital. Winter suggests that most clients are much happier staying at home.

Winter said Hired Hands does a little bit of everything. Some clients need some light housekeeping once a week, or meal preparations, while others require round-the-clock care. Some just need someone to come over a couple days a week to take them out for a walk, or play a game of cards, while others are looking for a ride to the store, the hairdresser or an occasional outing at the opera.

Family members who live away from the area have turned to Hired Hands to drop in on their loved ones. The reaction of many has been filled with positives while reporting noticeable changes in attitudes of loved ones, brighter voices, and clearer communication.

"It's a labor of love" says Mark. "Many of our employees have been with us for five, six, and more years and they find the work very rewarding. Everyone is thoroughly screened so that there's a good match among all."