FirstLight Home Care

June 21st: The day with the most light is the day we fight

CINCINNATI — On June 21, FirstLight® Home Care will raise funds and awareness to advance the Alzheimer’s Association’s care, support and research programs for The Longest Day®. The home care company has created a Global Team and invited its franchise locations across the country to join in the fight to end Alzheimer’s.

“FirstLight Home Care is honored to support the Alzheimer’s Association’s efforts to raise awareness and funds in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease,” said Rebecca Rushing BSN, RN, Director of Client Care Services for FirstLight. “Several of our employees have been affected by this devastating disease. We also take care of many clients and families who are living with Alzheimer’s. We recognize the importance of participating in activities such as The Longest Day that help bring the disease out of the shadows.”

The Longest Day is held on June 21 – the summer solstice and the day with the most light. Thousands of participants across the world will come together to fight the darkness of Alzheimer’s through an activity of their choice. FirstLight Home Care offices in the company’s more than 175 markets across the U.S. will participate in a variety of activities and events to shine a light on the 5.7 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease and the more than 16 million family members and friends providing care and support.

FirstLight teams will raise funds through events and activities in their local markets, such as bake sales, chili cook-offs, health fairs and more. Some will also hold Ageless Grace fitness classes that are open to the public. Ageless Grace is a fitness and wellness program that seeks to improve health and well-being, reduce stress, keep the brain agile and keep the body responsive. The nominal class registration fee from each event will be donated to The Longest Day.

“We are thrilled to partner with Ageless Grace on The Longest Day,” added Rushing. “Last year, we began offering Ageless Grace training to our franchise owners and managers who, in turn, have trained their caregivers. The customized curriculum was developed by Denise Medved, founder and creator of Ageless Grace, specifically for FirstLight Home Care. The program has been wonderful for our clients who are experiencing cognitive decline.”

Key facts about Alzheimer’s include:

• Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States.
• More than 5 million Americans are living with the disease.
• 16 million family and friends provide unpaid care to people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias in the United States.
• Every 65 seconds, someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s.
• In 2018, more than 16 million caregivers of people living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias provided an estimated 18.5 billion hours of unpaid care, a contribution to the nation valued at nearly $234 billion.
• In 2019, Alzheimer’s disease will cost the United States $290 billion. This number is projected to rise to more than $1.1 trillion in 2050.

The FirstLight Home Office Headquarters in Cincinnati will be holding several fundraising events as well from June 21 through August all in support of The Longest Day. For more information about Alzheimer’s disease, visit the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org.

Leading non-medical home care provider offers training, seminars and awards during three-day event

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — FirstLight Home Care, an award-winning provider of non-medical home care, hosted franchise owners and caregivers from across the country at its annual national conference this past weekend.

The conference, held at the InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza, included educational seminars and workshops, specialized training and networking, and was capped off by an awards dinner honoring multiple franchisees at the historic Midland Theatre.

“We began FirstLight Home Care nearly a decade ago, and it’s been a wonderful journey,” said Jeff Bevis, co-founder and CEO of FirstLight Home Care. “Each year, the annual conference gives the FirstLight family an opportunity to come together as we celebrate the previous year’s accomplishments, continued growth and innovation. FirstLight is constantly finding new ways to better serve our clients and caregivers, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds.”

The 2019 conference theme was “Fundamentals and All That Jazz,” which focused on getting back to the basics, including the fundamentals of business and the Culture of Care that is the foundation of FirstLight’s service to others.

Franchise owners also had the opportunity to participate in a two-day Ageless Grace training session. Ageless Grace is an innovative fitness program that offers exercise for the body while stimulating the mind. The class taught attendees the 21 tools for brain health and why they are so effective as well as prepared them to take Ageless Grace back to their own communities.

Keynote speakers included Teepa Snow, a world-renowned advocate and educator for those living dementia, and Greg Hawks, a corporate culture specialist whose focuses include ownership, leadership, accountability, trust and culture.

FirstLight Home Care recognized its top-performing franchise owners for growth, improvement and overall performance at the April 27 award dinner, including:

• Caregiver of the Year: Cynthia English, Woodbridge, Virginia
• Franchisee of the Year: Jeremy Fellows, Don Fellows and Jeff Lamborne, Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Rookie of the Year: Paul Terpeluk, South Placer County, California
• Top Single Office Leader: Perry Ciambella, East Buffalo, New York
• Top Multi-Office Leader: Judy DeVincentis, Grand Junction, Colo., and Pueblo, Colorado
• Client Satisfaction/Quality Assurance:
  • Don and Craig Randall, Charleston, South Carolina
  • Vincent McMahon, Westchester County, New York
  • Annette and Phil Smith, Chardon, Ohio

“This event is all about our franchise owners, and it has three main components,” Bevis said. “It’s about showing appreciation for our franchise owners, honoring our top performers and providing continuing education for everyone. It’s a three-day period that offers a wealth of knowledge from training, brainstorming, discussions and simple camaraderie.”

Since opening its first franchise location in 2010, FirstLight Home Care has experienced steady growth and is now serving more than 5,000 clients in 173 markets throughout the U.S.

For more information on FirstLight Home Care and franchise ownership opportunities, visit www.firstlightfranchise.com.

National non-medical home care provider to open first Idaho location

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — FirstLight Home Care, an award-winning provider of non-medical home care, announced today it will open a new location in the Coeur d’Alene area in 2019. The office will be owned and operated by local entrepreneurs Matt Zastrow and Brad Leggat and will be the first in the state.

“Matt and Brad are experienced business owners who will represent FirstLight excellently in this new territory,” said Jeff Bevis, FirstLight Home Care co-founder and CEO. “Idaho has seen a growing population of retirees over the last decade, and we are eager for this expansion to extend FirstLight’s culture of care to meet the growing need for home care services in the area.”

The new FirstLight Home Care will serve the greater Coeur d’Alene area, including Spokane Valley, Hayden, Rathdrum, and Post Falls. Qualified caregivers — home health aides and CNAs — interested in FirstLight career opportunities are encouraged to email mzastrow@firstlighthomecare.com.

FirstLight serves seniors, adults with disabilities, new mothers, veterans, those recovering from surgery and other adults in need of assistance. Their caregivers help with many needs – from personal hygiene and household duties, such as cooking, cleaning and running errands, to mobility assistance and dementia care.

Since opening its first franchise location in 2010, FirstLight Home Care has experienced steady growth and is now operating more than 250 locations in 34 states throughout the U.S.

Award-winning provider of non-medical home care ranked No. 100 on Entrepreneur list

National non-medical home care provider announces new Atlanta-area location

ATLANTA — FirstLight Home Care, an award-winning provider of non-medical home care, announced today it will open a new location in the Atlanta area in Decatur, Georgia, in 2019.

FirstLight serves seniors, adults with disabilities, new mothers, veterans, those recovering from surgery and other adults in need of assistance. Their caregivers help with many needs – from personal hygiene and household duties such as cooking, cleaning and running errands to mobility assistance and dementia care.

“The Decatur-Druid Hills area office allows us to expand our services further into the Atlanta area,” said Jeff Bevis, FirstLight Home Care co-founder and CEO. “FirstLight provides compassionate care that is vital to a population choosing to age at home, which is happening more frequently around the country, including metro Atlanta.”

Since opening its first franchise location in 2010, FirstLight Home Care has experienced steady growth and is now operating more than 250 locations in 34 states throughout the U.S.