Compassion in Action: Sonata Tomkevičienė’s Journey to Innovation and Support for Caregivers

Would you like to tell us a bit about yourself and your interests outside of work?

In my free time, I enjoy immersing myself in the world of books, especially works of literary classics. Books teach me to appreciate the simplicity and grandeur of life simultaneously.

Could you tell us briefly about your background as a nurse and what drew you to nursing?

I am a nurse with 5 years of work experience, holding certifications in anesthesia and intensive care nursing. Although my career in nursing is still relatively short, during this time I have worked in various fields: I started with family doctors in primary healthcare, later joining the COVID department team. Currently, I work in post-anesthesia care wards, where I take care of children and women after obstetric and gynecological surgeries.

Career Choice: Since childhood, I have had a concern for others in my heart. I remember playing with dolls, nursing and healing them. As a teenager, during summers, I always had my little pharmacy in the yard – I kept bandages, ointments, and other simple "medicines," which I used for friends if they got hurt during play. Perhaps my subconscious made this decision on its own, as it has accompanied me since early childhood, and it seems I always knew I wanted to be a nurse.

Could you share any specific moments or experiences that shaped the development of your winning idea?

I believe the foundation of my success was my participation last year in the Health Tech Accelerator’24 health innovation program, where I reached the finals by presenting another one of my ideas. The 7-week training provided a solid foundation for idea development, and my existing experience allowed me to achieve this result. Equally contributing were my master's studies in nursing leadership, during which we learned extensively about innovations in healthcare.

What motivated you to create a free phone-based support system for caregivers of seriously ill relatives?

To understand the problems faced by caregivers, I have been part of various Facebook groups for some time now, where people share their concerns about caring for their loved ones. There, I noticed that many caregivers complain about the lack of someone to share their caregiving burdens with, feeling exhausted and powerless. I observed that such expressions of distress often occur during the night when the burdens become even heavier. I myself have had very similar experiences while caring for my great-grandmother, who suffered from dementia. Therefore, I understand how relatives feel, and the surveys conducted have once again shown that such a helpline is needed. "Every day, relatives care for those who cannot take care of themselves. But who takes care of them...?" Hence, the idea emerged. We cannot talk about quality care if relatives are emotionally broken, feeling lonely and lost. It is essential first to provide support to relatives so that they can subsequently provide quality care for their loved ones.

Can you describe the process and key findings from the surveys you conducted with caregivers and nurses that shaped your solution?

I surveyed 100 nurses to learn about their views on the helpline and working within it. The results delighted me – 63% of nurses stated that they would find it interesting and meaningful to work on such a helpline, providing both practical nursing advice and emotional support. Additionally, 86% of nurses believe that such a project could positively impact the prestige of the nursing profession and the public's understanding of the importance of nursing. I am particularly pleased that even 76% of nurses see the value in working on this helpline because they want to help people and provide emotional support.

I also surveyed 100 people who care for their seriously ill loved ones. My survey revealed a significant need for such a helpline. As many as 63% of respondents said they often or very often feel the need to talk about the difficulties related to caregiving for their loved one but have no one to talk to. 78% of respondents believe that such a helpline would help reduce their stress and exhaustion. 57% of respondents rate their emotional health as poor while caring for a seriously ill loved one, and 83% believe that people caring for relatives need emotional support. In response to open-ended questions, many stated that such a helpline would be a lifeline, helping them not to feel lonely or hopeless, providing hope and a moment of respite.

What steps have you taken to secure support and partnerships for your idea, and what kind of assistance are you seeking moving forward?

Firstly, I sent letters to organizations and companies that work in the field of nursing, provide emotional support, or already have active helplines. The letters received positive responses from several partners, and after the competition, even more people expressed interest in learning about the vision of the idea and how they could contribute. In the future, I aim to find support that will help refine the idea, and I am looking for individuals with experience working with similar helplines to gain knowledge and ensure the project's success.

What impact do you hope your initiative will have on caregivers and their families, and how do you plan to measure its success?

I hope that this initiative will have a significant positive impact on caregivers and their families. The main goal is to provide caregivers with both emotional support and practical advice, helping to reduce daily stress and exhaustion. This will allow them to feel less lonely and provide an opportunity to talk, enabling them to care for their loved ones more effectively. I hope that this helpline will not only provide assistance but also strengthen caregivers' confidence in their ability to deliver better care and contribute to their emotional well-being.

In the future, to assess the impact of the service and ensure its effectiveness, we plan to continuously collect feedback and conduct surveys among service users. This will provide us with valuable insights into their needs and expectations, allowing us to better tailor and improve the services. Such ongoing feedback collection will help ensure that the service is continually enhanced, meets the true needs of caregivers, and remains effective in the long term.

What does winning the QSNA mean to you personally and professionally?

First of all, I am very pleased that my idea has received such high recognition. Winning the QSNA is a significant commitment and motivation for me to continue developing this idea. It is a confirmation that my efforts and ideas are valued and have the potential to transform the healthcare system. Professionally, it provides me with the opportunity to share my innovative solutions with a broader audience, gain new knowledge, and establish connections with other healthcare professionals and innovators. This award also strengthens my motivation to continue my work and strive for my ideas to genuinely contribute to the improvement of the nursing field and patient well-being.

What are your expectations for your year as a QSNA winner?

My expectations for this year are to contribute to enhancing the prestige of the nursing profession, encourage colleagues to take initiative, and actively participate in creating innovative solutions in the healthcare sector. I aim to inspire nurses to become leaders who boldly change their working environments and improve conditions for both patients and their families. I believe that the nursing profession can become a key part of innovation, and my activities this year are focused on realizing this vision.

What advice would you give to other healthcare professionals who want to innovate in elderly care?

My advice to other healthcare professionals who wish to create innovations in the care of the elderly is first and foremost to listen to the needs of patients and their families. They are a valuable source of knowledge, and only by carefully listening to their expectations can we understand how best to contribute to improving their quality of life and healthcare. I also encourage professionals to develop their soft skills – empathy, communication, and collaboration – as these qualities are essential when working with people. Additionally, it is important to be interested in innovations, continuously expand one’s knowledge and skills, and bravely seek ways to apply new ideas in practice. Only by continuously growing and improving can we ensure that the assistance provided is not only of high quality but also modern.