Vermonter of the Month: Mohamed Basha

This is a monthly series in which the Attorney General will feature a Vermonter doing exemplary work in their community. Have someone you think should be featured? Email AGO.CAP@vermont.gov.

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Mohamed Basha is the President, CEO and IT Person of TLC Homecare & Nursing. After moving from Chennai, India as a young child, he lived in New York City and New Orleans for a year. He finally settled in Vermont, where he grew up in Burlington.

Mohamed founded TLC in 2006 because he saw a need for a homecare provider who took a holistic approach in providing care and there was no other organization that offered supportive staffing services to local healthcare providers.

After numerous side jobs (such as working in the IT department of two small businesses, driving a taxi on weekends, and waiting/catering during the summer) Mohamed decided to pursue a Nursing Degree from Castleton State College. He also holds a B.A. in Health Science from Castleton and an Associate Degree in Liberal Studies from Community College of Vermont.

When Mohamed is not hard at work running TLC, he can be found spending time with his wife, Allyson, and two children, Nina and Zane. He also enjoys long walks in the summer and riding his motorcycle while enjoying the beauty that Vermont has to offer. He graciously took the time from his busy schedule to answer a few of our questions:

What inspires your work with TLC?

After graduating from nursing school, and working in various healthcare setting, I saw a dire need for home care providers to help seniors age in place.  I further saw a need for flexible staffing providers to help healthcare facilities staff their needs without burning out their own staff.


What impact has TLC had on your community? 

Currently we serve over 200 older adults throughout Vermont and in Upper Valley area.  Out of which, and I am proud to say this, we serve over 70 Veterans in this region.  Furthermore, we are quite active nationally and locally in helping the causes that affect majority of our seniors.  For over four years, we have sent TLC staff to Washington DC and Montpelier to advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association and raise awareness of its impact in our community.  We help raise money, through Golfing 4 Life and other activities, for Cancer Patient Support Services.  We assist with delivering Meals on Wheels at least once a month.  We also partake in various walks, runs, and fundraising events to give back to our community.

What have you learned from your work at TLC?

No two days are ever alike.  Every day brings a set of new challenges and I am always learning something new each day from my staff and the people that we serve.  Nevertheless, it is the stories from seniors who survived the Great Depression and World War II that comes to mind whenever I am asked this question.  Their ability to face adversity and overcome severe obstacles serves as a reminder that we can achieve anything we want if we are persistent and willing to work hard.

What advice do you have for others looking to impact their community?

Giving back to the community can be as little as picking up the trash around your neighborhood to spending countless hours volunteering for other organizations.  However, it is the intention and the willingness to want something better for others is what counts at the end of the day.  So do not be afraid to do even a small part, they all add up to making a bigger impact in our community.

Stay Safe Online

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month and next Tuesday is National Clean Your Virtual Desktop Day. Now is a good time to check-in on your computer use and internet safety. To the average computer user, the tasks required to be secure can be overwhelming. But, StaySafeOnline.org allows you to find all the information you need in one place.

You can search StaySafeOnline.org by area of interest. Learn how to:

With the site’s easy to follow tips and resources, your computer and internet experience can be safer. Having trouble with the above list?  Get started with the below tips:

Passwords – Make sure they are secure.  A combination of numbers, letters, and symbols is best.  Use a unique password for every account.

Antivirus Protection – Don’t use a machine (computer, mobile phone, etc.) that does not have virus protection.

Unsecured Wireless Networks – Use them cautiously.  Tapping into a free hotspot may be tempting when traveling, but depending on who is watching (and you never know who is), you could be putting your information at risk.  Never login to your personal accounts when using free wireless.  If you do, you might be giving all your information to a scammer.

Securing Your Internet – This task is simple.  If you have an online account with your internet provider, login to change the router’s name and the pre-set password.  Having trouble doing it on your own?  Just call the company for help.

Scams – For most, using the internet is virtually free.  So, many scams start online.  The Computer Tech Support scam can start with a pop-up message that claims your computer is at risk for viruses, advising of a phone number to call to rectify the issue.  Email scams often conform to a phishing scam, claiming to be a financial institution that says you need to reset your password.  Other forms of email scams include attachments or links that, when downloaded, infect your computer with viruses. Click here to sign up for our office’s scam alerts.

Failing to take precautions regarding computer and internet safety is like keeping your front door wide open to a neighborhood thief. Don’t do it.  Be smart about your computer use.  Take precautions to combat scammers before they target you.

Do you own a small business and have concerns about data security? Join us at Tech Jam on October 20th for information – details and registration can be found here.

Contributing Writer:  Crystal Baldwin

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