ALTRU Academy
How we prepare every Telford Loving Care caregiver before they walk into a home.
ALTRU comes from altruism: care for someone else for their own sake. It started as autrui, the French word for other people, which nobody could pronounce, so we kept the idea and shortened the word. Every caregiver we hire trains here before they walk into a home.
Preparation with a purpose.
Compassion is the heart of caregiving. Practical training helps caregivers act on it well. ALTRU Academy prepares our team for the moments that matter most in the home:
- Personalized support: Respecting each person's routines, preferences, abilities and independence.
- Dementia care: Using patience, reassurance and meaningful connection.
- Hospice companionship: Prioritizing comfort, supporting families, and knowing when to call the hospice team.
- Everyday awareness: Noticing changes in appetite, behavior, mobility or routine, and reporting them promptly.
- Clear communication: Sharing useful observations so families stay informed.
- Dignity and choice: Offering help with sensitivity while preserving independence.
Working alongside hospice
When a client is receiving hospice care, our caregivers follow the established care plan, watch for signs of discomfort, report concerns to the family and hospice team, and honor the person’s wishes. TLC does not provide medical treatment. Symptom management and clinical care stay with the hospice and healthcare providers.
Led by our RN of Record
Meet Melanie Honeycutt ( Casanova, RN, BSN, CHPN, CCM, CDP ) RN of Record and creator of ALTRU Academy. Melanie is a registered nurse with 6 years of experience in hospice, nursing leadership and care coordination. She is a Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse, a Certified Case Manager, a Certified Dementia Practitioner, and an American Heart Association CPR instructor.
At TLC she develops caregiver training, guides care practices, and helps caregivers recognize and communicate concerns. Her approach starts with knowing the person: their routines, relationships, and what helps them feel safe and respected. Melanie provides nursing guidance for TLC’s non-medical services; our caregivers support clients alongside their healthcare and hospice providers.
Let's talk about your family.
Tell us what is going on, and we will have a conversation. No visit, no pressure, no script. We are preparing to launch in North Fulton, and the families who talk with us now are the ones we build around.