As the U.S. population ages at an unprecedented pace, the senior home care sector is experiencing a transformation that extends far beyond basic support services. For Comfort Keepers®, the opportunity lies not only in meeting rising demand but in reshaping how aging is perceived. By Rose Mango
After 32 years of owning his consulting firm, Randy Casey was looking for an opportunity to go into business with his daughter, Kayla Casey, who had been working as a bedside nurse and had experience in the health field. Randy had previous experience franchising with a real estate model in the past and loved the support that came from collaborating with other owners. By Kelsi Trinidad
Home Helpers® Home Care has been named among Entrepreneur’s Top 500 Franchises for 2024, an honor the brand has now earned for four consecutive years. By Patty Horansky
Rob Dezso and his wife, Amanda, own and operate three BrightStar Care® locations in Melbourne, Kissimmee and Vero Beach, Florida, and recently celebrated five years with the business. BrightStar Care’s commitment to going the extra mile is what inspired Dezso from the start. By Lizzy Yeserski
Because of an aging U.S. population, the need for quality home care services is going to continue to grow in the coming years. Fortunately, One You Love Homecare is empowering aspiring entrepreneurs to make an impact in the lives of seniors across the country with a proven business model that’s elevating the quality of care seniors receive. By Shelby Green
FirstLight’s President and CEO surprised the winning caregiver in Southbury, CT
SOUTHBURY, Conn. — FirstLight Home Care, an award-winning provider of home care services, has named Susanne DiDonato as its National Caregiver of the Year.
Susanne was presented with the honor this week during a caregiver appreciation event at FirstLight Home Care’s Southbury, CT, office. She was nominated by our franchisees from Fairfield, Litchfield and New Haven, John and Wenjun Richards.
“Sue has a profound ability to connect with every client she works with,” said John Richards. “She isn’t just a caregiver. We and her clients consider her family. Sue is also a true problem solver who consistently displays dignity and respect. Her warmth, patience, and how she engages with every client set her apart. This is not just a job for Sue, it is a calling.”
Caregiver of the Year nominations were received from FirstLight offices nationwide. Sue was selected from more than 7,000 caregivers employed by the FirstLight Home Care franchise system. Nominees were evaluated on service excellence, quality of caregiving skills and bringing the FirstLight culture to life. Susanne was one of three finalists this year.
FirstLight’s President and CEO, Glee McAnanly, traveled to the office in Connecticut to surprise Sue and present the prestigious award.
Franchise owners John Richards and Wenjun Richards and their dedicated care team have provided in-home care to adults in their community for nearly a decade. For more information, visit Southbury.FirstLightHomeCare.com.
About FirstLight Home Care
FirstLight Home Care, a leading provider of home care services, is a lifeline for seniors, veterans, adults living with dementia, and anyone 18 and older who needs care in the place they call home. FirstLight exists to help people have their best day, every day. The company’s mission is to provide compassionate home care so that all families who are served have peace of mind knowing their loved ones are receiving the support they need to enjoy the quality of life they deserve. FirstLight’s network of professional caregivers is passionate about creating meaningful relationships and making a difference in the lives of others. The franchise system includes nearly 200 independently owned and operated home care locations throughout the United States. To learn more, or to find a local office, visit FirstLightHomeCare.com.
Annual event offers a wealth of education, networking, camaraderie and celebration
CINCINNATI — FirstLight Home Care recently honored franchisees, caregivers and team members at its annual conference in Orlando, FL. This year’s theme was “Living Our Values,” a message intended to highlight the core values the company lives every day, without compromise.
“We love coming together to help guide our franchisees and their businesses into the future and to celebrate all that they’ve done throughout the year for their clients, caregivers and communities,” said FirstLight President and CEO Glee McAnanly. “This was an incredible event with outstanding engagement among our franchisees and team members.”
The event provided opportunities for FirstLight franchise teams to strengthen relationships, build connections and share best practices through expert industry and franchisee panels and special sessions focused on helping franchisees own their communities and make the company’s core values actionable in their business.
Franchisees, team members recognized
Marketa “Kitti” Tikander, FirstLight Home Care of Southern Maine, was recognized as FirstLight’s National Caregiver of the Year for her compassion, integrity and genuine kindness.
FirstLight honored Franchisee of the Year, Mark Paretchan, owner of FirstLight Home Care of Marin County and Sonoma County for outstanding client satisfaction, quality of service, caregiver retention and year-over-year revenue growth.
Dan Paluga of Greater Ann Arbor and Canton, MI, received Rookie of the Year, an award given to a first-time franchise owner who achieves the highest hours per week of care within their first 12 months of operation.
The company’s inaugural Founders’ Award honored Judy DeVincentis of Pueblo, CO, for her ongoing dedication to the mission and values that have made FirstLight what it is today.
Other awards included:
Quality Assurance
Top Single Territory
Top Multi-Unit Territory
About FirstLight Home Care
FirstLight Home Care, a leading provider of home care services, is a lifeline for seniors, veterans, adults living with dementia, and anyone 18 and older who needs care where they call home. FirstLight exists to help people have their best day, every day. The company’s mission is to provide compassionate home care so that all families served have peace of mind knowing their loved ones receive the support they need to enjoy the quality of life they deserve. FirstLight’s network of professional caregivers is passionate about creating meaningful relationships and making a difference in the lives of others. The franchise system includes nearly 200 independently owned and operated home care locations throughout the United States. To learn more, or to find a local office, visit FirstLightHomeCare.com.
Promoted from VP of Strategy to CGO ensures holistic and intentional focus on growth.
CINCINNATI — FirstLight Home Care, a leading provider of home care services, today announced the promotion of Kerri Pendley to Chief Growth Officer.
In this role, Pendley will focus on driving business growth by opening up new paths to revenue and building the mechanisms to get there. This includes aligning teams around shared goals, improving the processes that generate revenue, and planning for the future.
“Kerri is data-driven and lives for predictability and scalability,” said Glee McAnanly, President and CEO at FirstLight Home Care. “In her previous position, Kerri successfully built and developed FirstLight’s National Accounts department and led the expansion of service offerings to include skilled care. Her knack for connecting different parts of the business and getting everyone to row in the same direction will help us maintain our plan for steady growth.”
Pendley joined FirstLight Home Care in 2018 as Director of Healthcare Strategy and National Alliances. Two years later, she was promoted to Vice President of Strategy and has since been leading strategic planning and industry positioning for the entire FirstLight organization. She has also overseen the company’s national accounts and clinical and compliance departments.
With over 22 years of experience in healthcare operations and business development, Pendley brings valuable knowledge across multiple payer mixes, including managed care, Medicaid, Medicare, VA, grants, and private pay. She serves on the Home Care Association of America’s Board of Directors.
“I am incredibly honored and thrilled to step into the role of Chief Growth Officer at FirstLight,” said Pendley. “My passion has always been in the home-based care industry. Since joining the company, I have had the opportunity to be a part of our ongoing mission of helping others have their best day every day through a world-class care delivery model and strategic partnerships. In this new role, I aim to accelerate growth by enabling our owners, employees and care heroes to further deliver on that mission.”
FirstLight Home Care delivers various companion, personal care, and skilled nursing services to seniors, veterans, people recovering from illness, injury, surgery, and those with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Professional caregivers help any adult needing assistance with personal care and household duties such as cooking, cleaning, and running errands while providing support and peace of mind.
About FirstLight Home Care
FirstLight Home Care, a leading provider of home care services, is a lifeline for seniors, veterans, adults living with dementia, and anyone 18 and older who needs care where they call home. FirstLight exists to help people have their best day, every day. The company’s mission is to provide compassionate home care so that all families served have peace of mind knowing their loved ones receive the support they need to enjoy the quality of life they deserve. FirstLight’s network of professional caregivers is passionate about creating meaningful relationships and making a difference in the lives of others. The franchise system includes nearly 200 independently owned and operated home care locations throughout the United States. To learn more, or to find a local office, visit FirstLightHomeCare.com.
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. — Boost Home Healthcare, a home health company which provides superior in-home nursing, therapy, and home care services, announced Larry Blacker as brand president. Bringing over 20 years of home care industry experience to the position, Blacker will oversee Boost Home Healthcare operations and procedures as the home health brand continues to expand across the country.
“Larry comes to us with an extensive background in the home care industry,” said J.J. Sorrenti, CEO of Best Life Brands, the parent organization of Boost Home Healthcare. “His experience will play a key role in continuing to scale the business across the country, allowing us to bring Boost Home Health services to more people. With his background and leadership and our desire to continue to grow Boost, it’s an ideal fit.”
Prior to joining Boost, Blacker served in several executive roles, including most recently as home care administrator for Seabrook Village in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, where he oversaw the complete integration of two standalone home care agencies into a single home care department. Before that, he was executive director at GrayHawk Home Care, where he managed the complete multi-site home care business covering the 5-county Philadelphia region which included 300+ employees. He has also held positions at Home Instead Senior Care Agency and served as a franchise business broker and consultant helping home care businesses with services geared toward growing their business.
“I’m honored to be part of Best Life Brands, as I have a deep appreciation for their mission to help seniors live their best life possible,” Blacker said. “I look forward to overseeing the growth of Boost and the important work of providing a personalized and safe environment for patients to maintain their independence while receiving the care they need.”
To learn more about Boost Home Healthcare, visit https://www.boosthomehealth.com/.
About Boost Home Healthcare:
Boost Home Healthcare is a home health company which provides superior in-home nursing, therapy, and home care services. Founded in 2021, Boost Home Healthcare was acquired by private equity firm The Riverside Company in 2021 and is now part of Best Life Brands, which has plans for continued expansion of service brands across the continuum of care for aging adults. For more information, visit http://www.boosthomehealth.com.
Racking up multiple awards since 2007, Assisting Hands® Home Care is an in-home care franchise with a leadership team that is unparalleled. By Nancy E. Williams