senior care

Sheets recognized for her continuing efforts to lead the company and the home care industry safely through the COVID-19 pandemic.

SUNRISE, Fla. — Interim HealthCare Inc., the nation’s leading franchise network of home care, senior care, home health and hospice and healthcare staffing services, announced that its CEO and President, Jennifer Sheets, was recognized as one of Next Avenue’s 2020 Influencers in Aging. The sixth-annual Influencers in Aging list acknowledges the twenty people who have been most influential in their work to push beyond traditional boundaries to change society’s understanding of what it means to grow older.

Jennifer Sheets, together with her team, began preparing for the challenges that COVID-19 would bring early in 2020. She quickly channeled her operational, clinical and government relations expertise and creativity to ensure Interim HealthCare’s clinicians could serve home-bound clients, including seniors and other at-risk patients, without the risk of spreading or contracting COVID-19. She also focused on advocating at the federal and state levels for home care clinicians’ “essential” worker status and set up rigorous trainings and new measures to keep staff safe while caring for patients at home.

In addition, Jennifer Sheets led executives across the Caring Brands International organization, the parent company of Interim HealthCare, to ensure clinicians and caregivers had access to personal protective equipment (PPE) like face masks, hand sanitizer, and gowns amid a global shortage. This work extended into spearheading a PPE website available to any home care organization to purchase PPE quickly, at a fair-market price and at scale, so that no one in the industry faced a lack of essential safety equipment. Jennifer Sheets continues to expertly lead Interim HealthCare and its tens of thousands of caregivers across the country to care for patients safely and effectively amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“I’m honored to be recognized with an Influencers in Aging award amid this unprecedented year,” said Jennifer Sheets, CEO and President of Interim HealthCare. “Throughout my healthcare career, I’ve committed my work to impacting people’s lives for the better. I’m proud that our efforts this year have advocated for home care being recognized as an essential service and led to greater awareness and support for the importance of the overall industry in meeting growing healthcare needs.”

Next Avenue, as part of PBS, aims to meet the needs and unleash the potential of older Americans through the power of media. The 2020 Influencers in Aging award recipients represent the fields of health and well-being, caregiving, personal finance, work and purpose, volunteering, arts and entertainment, lifestyle, housing, relationships and technology. Recipients also represent all ages and were eligible to have lived anywhere in the world. To view the full list of 2020 winners, click here.

For more information on Interim HealthCare, please visit www.interimhealthcare.com.

First in Home Care™, Interim HealthCare’s annual franchise owner awards celebrate sales, growth, management and lifetime achievement milestones.

SUNRISE, Fla. — Interim HealthCare Inc., the nation’s leading franchise network of home care, senior care, home health and hospice and healthcare staffing services, announced its 2020 Annual Awards winners at the company’s first-ever-virtual Celebration of Excellence event on Tuesday, October 20. In total, 141 award winners were honored in a variety of categories, including business (annual sales, office growth, management and leadership, lifetime achievement) and care delivery and quality.

Interim Healthcare Inc.’s CEO and President Jennifer Sheets reflected on the challenging year and highlighted how Interim HealthCare teams across the U.S. stepped up and achieved impressive business and clinical results in 2019 and 2020 despite much uncertainty.

Interim HealthCare’s long-running history and track record of excellence is only achievable through the dedication and passion of its independently-owned franchises across the country. Franchise owners and teams continuously exhibit integrity and resilience to support local communities and grow their businesses. As evidenced by this year’s award winners, Interim Healthcare is truly a people-driven business.

“Despite the hurdles handed down this year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, our owners prove that home care was truly made for times like these,” said Sheets. “Our caregivers and franchise owners nationwide consistently adapt to meet new challenges with innovative solutions, and we thank them for their tireless effort in caring for patients. I’m optimistic about the future because of the indomitable spirit and incredible dedication I witness every day.”

Interim HealthCare’s Celebration of Excellence hosted over 400 attendees represented by complete teams and at least 3-4 colleagues. Pre-registrants celebrated with props and Panera e-cards for a built-in catering experience in lieu of the company’s traditional gala.

Interim Healthcare 2020 Annual Award Winners include:

President’s Pinnacle Award is presented to Brandon and Gwen Sayler, Interim HealthCare of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Michael Priddy, Interim HealthCare of Rockville, Maryland. This award is presented to offices that have at least doubled their business over the last two years with minimum annual sales of $2 million at the end of that two-year period.

Transformation Award is presented to Dawn Baker, Robb Baker and Paula Tharp of Interim HealthCare of Charleston, South Carolina. This award is presented to the individual or office that has achieved sales growth over the previous year despite facing significant market segment changes and challenges. The award recognizes strategic thinking and decisive actions to not only survive, but also thrive, in times of change.

Allan C. Sorensen Business Integrity Award is presented to Sharon Collins, Interim HealthCare of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. At the suggestion of the franchise owners, this award bears our co-founder’s name. He has been involved with the company for more than 50 years as President, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and Chairman Emeritus. It is presented to the individual who demonstrates outstanding ethics and business integrity in the routine operation of their business while simultaneously increasing overall market penetration.

Raymond C. Herriges Management Award is presented to the Beck Family, Interim HealthCare of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Raymond Herriges was our first healthcare franchise owner and was instrumental in developing our initial operating policies and procedures. This award is presented to the individual who has achieved the greatest degree of operational excellence combined with outstanding sales growth during the previous year.

Pioneer Award is presented to Nick Mannino, Interim HealthCare of Newcastle, Delaware. This award is presented to the owner whose strategy and results demonstrate pioneering, entrepreneurial spirit and action. This would be demonstrated in being a pioneer in developing new service lines, new service delivery strategies or other activities that lead the way for others.

Sustainability Award is presented to the Zeshonski Family, Interim HealthCare of Scranton, Pennsylvania. A new category, this award recognizes the individual focused on sustainability over the last decade, in the following three achievement areas: A consistent ability to maintain excellence in quality; Pursuit of business line expansion; Year-over-year increases in sales.

Leroy E. Dettman Founder’s Award is presented to Chris Lupo, John Warren Floyd, Jan Childress McCray, Mike McBride, and Paul Shaw of Interim HealthCare of the Upstate (Greenville, South Carolina). In 1946, Roy Dettman founded Labor Pool in Chicago, Illinois. This was the original company out of which Interim HealthCare emerged in 1966. This award is presented to the individual who best personifies the entrepreneurial spirit with the dedication, discipline and direction necessary to consistently achieve profitable growth and expansion from year to year.

Jason Bullard Leadership Excellence Award is presented to Charyl Schroeder, Interim Health of the Upstate. This award recognizes an individual who demonstrates the ability to lead people and organizations to their full potential. By their words and actions, they inspire and empower team members to help build the business and produce outstanding results in sales, customer service and return on investment. This award recognizes leadership as the essential ingredient for long-term success in our business.

Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to Tom DiMarco, The Salo Organization. This esteemed award goes to a franchise leader who exemplifies excellence in business. Year after year, they have successfully grown their business through increased sales and office expansion. They lead by example, with honesty and integrity, fostering positive relationships with their staff and their clients. They are committed to giving back to their community and encourage their staff to strive for excellence.

Ownership Group of the Year Awards are presented to InvestSouth, Interim HealthCare of the Upstate (Tier 1); Jason Byrnes, Interim HealthCare of Binghamton and Syracuse, New York (Tier 2); Aaron Price, Interim HealthCare of Louisville, Kentucky (Tier 3); Jeffrey Danielson, Interim HealthCare of Rochester, Minnesota (Tier 4). These awards are given by tier level based on the owner’s size and revenue achievement.

Office of the Year Exceptional Growth Awards are presented to InvestSouth for Medicare home health; Interim HealthCare of Albuquerque, New Mexico for Medicaid and government home health; Interim HealthCare of Rockville, Maryland for private pay home health, Interim HealthCare of Grand Rapids, Michigan for staffing; InvestSouth for commercial insurance; The Falcon Group and The Stehley Group for hospice. These awards are given to owners representing our individual service lines, including Medicare, Medicaid, private pay, staffing, commercial insurance and hospice. These owners have achieved tremendous growth in each specific service line they represent.

Owner’s Advisory Council (OAC) Recognition is awarded to 8 owners. The purpose of the OAC is to enhance overall communications between Interim HealthCare Inc. and its franchisees, and between the franchisees themselves. Largest Franchise: Tom DiMarco. Personal Care: Michael Priddy. Hospice: David Klaeser. Skilled Homecare: Sharon Collins. Staffing: Mark Peterson. West Region: Cathy Olsen. Central Region: Robin Palmieri. Eastern Region: Nick Mannino.

Eagle Club Recognition is awarded to 29 owner groups. Eagle Club criteria are based on sales results from 2019. Platinum Level: The Salo Organization, The Falcon Group, InvestSouth, The Morris Group, The Ringling Group, Geary & Lamoureaux Organization. Gold Level: Jerry Hess, Rick & Elaine Petersen, Robert & Cindy Seawright and Renee Rand, Jay Stehley & Jill Harrison, the Beck Family, Mat & Pat Gilley, Joe Johnson, Teri Heritage & Sharon Collins, Wendy Olayvar. Silver Level: Lou Byrd, Mitch Davis, David & Kelly Haslup, David Klaeser, Nick Mannino, Jan Wahby & Shawn Griffin, The Zeshonski Family. Bronze Level: Peggy Ray & Sandy Jarnagin, Robert Gaff & Cindy Lavoie, Michael Priddy, Greg & Ken Schultz, Suzanne Smith & Thomas Evans, Joan Sullivan, Bernie Bulger & Michael Sullivan, Steve Alessandro & Jamie Wesner, Christian Miller.

For more information on Interim HealthCare, please visit www.interimhealthcare.com.

Mandeville, Covington and New Orleans communities now have reliable and trusted access to home care services and job opportunities.

NEW ORLEANS — Interim HealthCare Inc. today announced the launch of Interim HealthCare of East Louisiana*, a leading local provider of home care, hospice and healthcare staffing, with Bob and Mandy LaFleur as the new owners and operators. The LaFleurs, both born and raised in southern Louisiana, are expanding Interim HealthCare of East Louisiana’s private duty services to include all of Interim HealthCare Inc.‘s specialty programs, including cognitive care with a focus on dementia, diabetes, heart disease and chronic care which fall under Interim HealthCare’s HomeLife Enrichment® signature standard of care offerings. 

Serving the communities of Mandeville, Covington and New Orleans, the LaFleurs are committed to ensuring that residents, clients and their families have a reliable and trusted partner to meet their home care and hospice needs. Through a new collaboration with Veterans Home Care’s VetAssist Program, Interim HealthCare of East Louisiana is passionately committed to area veterans and caring for their needs as a way of honoring and thanking them for their service. Additionally, Interim HealthCare of East Louisiana will maintain critical relationships with area healthcare facilities, government agencies, schools and other organizations to help meet their growing needs for qualified healthcare professionals. 

Bob and Mandy have spent their combined 50 years of patient care experience in the South Louisiana area. Bob is a dedicated nurse in the community. He was previously the CEO at Memorial Specialty Hospital and prior to that, held director of provider relations and CEO roles at Cornerstone Healthcare Group. At Cornerstone, his leadership was instrumental in the hospital earning Hospital of the Year from 2010-2015 and multiple top employee engagement and patient satisfaction scores by the organization. Mandy spent more than two decades as a healthcare and customer service executive with Cornerstone Healthcare Group and The Veranda Retirement of Graywood. Bob and Mandy’s careers have been focused on providing exceptional and high-quality patient care. Married for 25 years, the LaFleurs have three sons and they enjoy camping, fishing, cooking and spending time with family and friends – core Louisianan traditions.

“My wife and I are thrilled to serve the greater Southeast Louisiana community with compassionate and high-quality home and hospice care solutions and job opportunities,” said Bob LaFleur. “Having been raised, built a career and a family right here in Louisiana, we know what it takes to keep our community close and well cared for. At Interim HealthCare of East Louisiana, we take our role very seriously and believe we can help Louisianans age in place while being active community participants.”

The Interim HealthCare of East Louisiana staffing services will bring more jobs to the region including nurses, therapists, aides, companions and other healthcare professionals.

“We are delighted to have Bob and Mandy in the Interim HealthCare network of franchisees,” said Jennifer Sheets, Interim HealthCare Inc. president and CEO. “With decades of combined experience in healthcare leadership, community engagement and business management, the LaFleurs are positioned as ideal representatives of our mission to provide whole-person, individualized care for each patient and family. The Southern Louisiana community is in exceptional hands with Bobby, Mandy and their team.”

Prepared to Keep People Safe at Home

Nurses, clinicians and caregivers employed by Interim HealthCare of East Louisiana are prepared to meet the comprehensive needs of every patient in the setting they prefer. Through its HomeLife Enrichment® signature standard of care, that encompasses the mind, body, spirit and family, Interim HealthCare of East Louisiana’s qualified caregivers strive to improve the overall health and wellbeing of their patients and those around them.

All Interim HealthCare franchise locations have extended their HomeLife Enrichment signature standard of care to meet the comprehensive needs of COVID-19 patients at home, and to support families with educational tools and resources.

Southern Louisiana area residents seeking care for themselves or a loved one can visit here, https://www.interimhealthcare.com/mandevillela, for a list of services. Prospective home care employees should visit here, https://www.interimhealthcare.com/mandevillela/careers/, to learn more about job openings at Interim HealthCare of East Louisiana.  

*Interim Healthcare Hospice of East Louisiana to be dba Interim HealthCare of East Louisiana.

In honor of Alzheimer’s and Brain Health Awareness Month, Interim HealthCare is committed to helping family caregivers navigate the complexities of dementia patient needs.

SUNRISE, Fla. — Interim HealthCare Inc., the nation’s leading franchise network of home care, senior care, home health and hospice and healthcare staffing services, today launched a free Dementia Caregiver’s Guide to provide valuable insight, resources and advice to those caring for a loved one living with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

The prevalence of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease is rapidly growing in the United States. Currently, there are an estimated 5.6 million people living with age-based dementias and nearly 16 million people caring for them in the U.S. Meanwhile, the number of people with Alzheimer’s disease alone is expected to nearly triple by 2050, as the overall population continues to age.

“We hope that our Dementia Caregiver’s Guide will offer support for the countless family members who tirelessly give their empathy, time and resources to care for loved ones facing memory care diseases,” said Jennifer Sheets, Interim HealthCare Inc. president and CEO. “During Alzheimer’s and Brain Health Awareness Month and throughout the year, Interim HealthCare is committed to supporting the well-being of family members and our patients, while delivering comprehensive and compassionate care for cognitive conditions in the home.”

The Interim HealthCare Dementia Caregiver’s Guide was developed in partnership with Teepa Snow, one of the world’s leading educators on dementia and the founder of the Positive Approach® to Care (PAC™). This resource provides information for recognizing the signs and stages of dementia, and how to provide positive care to a loved one following the proven Teepa Snow PAC methodology. The guide was designed to help family caregivers:

• Gain the specialized knowledge needed to care for loved ones with dementia.
• Understand how dementia can affect themselves and their family member.
• Learn practical steps to navigate the progressing stages of dementia, and how to manage their role as a caregiver.

In addition to providing this new family caregiving resource, Interim HealthCare offers a specialized patient-centered Cognitive Care Program with a focus on dementia. Utilizing a science-backed approach to dementia care, Interim HealthCare’s clinicians are specifically trained to better understand how a patient’s brain is changing at each stage of disease progression and how to respond with safe, comfortable and meaningful home care.

This specialized Cognitive Care program is also a part of the Interim HealthCare’s HomeLife Enrichment® signature standard of care, that encompasses the mind, body, spirit and family, to improve the overall health and wellbeing of its patients and those around them.

“I applaud Interim HealthCare’s commitment to meeting the specific needs of those living with dementia by using the Positive Approach to Care,” said Teepa Snow, founder of the PAC and a dementia care expert. “The company’s new guide will provide family caregivers with dementia knowledge, resources and tips to support their loved one, and to care for themselves as the stress of caregiving can really take a toll.”

Download the free Dementia Caregiver’s Guide here, and learn more about Interim HealthCare’s Cognitive Care Program here.

Interim HealthCare executives and owners reflect on their life-changing moments as nurses; company launches history of Florence Nightingale remote learning lesson plan for K-5 children.

SUNRISE, Fla. — Interim HealthCare Inc., the nation’s leading franchise network of home care, senior care, home health and hospice and healthcare staffing services, announced today the launch of “The Year of Us,” a campaign to unify messages of support and gratitude toward the nation’s nurses, including employees of Interim HealthCare and especially those fighting on the front line against COVID-19.

In times of immense gratitude for nurses nationwide, the campaign celebrates and marks National Nurses Week, May 6-12, 2020. To honor the legacy of Florence Nightingale, Interim HealthCare has also launched a remote learning mini lesson plan for parents and educators to leverage with school-aged children.

Interim HealthCare believes the indelible influence left by Florence Nightingale is now timelier than ever as she envisioned the future of healthcare being at home. A trailblazer in the nursing profession, Florence Nightingale’s work set the standards for modern nursing by campaigning for better public health practices, including innovative hygiene, safety and social distancing techniques. She believed in leveraging data and statistics to advocate and advance the science of nursing and helped promote the importance of supplies and what would later include items considered personal protective equipment (PPE). In 1870, Florence Nightingale was quoted saying, “It will take 150 years for the world to see the kind of nursing I envision.” – and here we are, living amid a global pandemic where her vision has become reality.

“As healthcare’s brightest guiding lights, we celebrate the work of nurses throughout the ages and advocate for their profession and their safety on the job,” said Jennifer Sheets, Interim HealthCare Inc. president and CEO. “When patients look into the eyes of a nurse, they often seek comfort, a spark of hope. It is in those exchanges, the hands held and the tears shed, that bring them back to their jobs every day. As a nurse, I know what it is like to have these moments, and they are my motivation to do the best for the healthcare industry to this very day.”

To celebrate the launch of “The Year of Us,” Interim HealthCare is asking nurses, “What’s your #FloMent?” – the defining moment in a nursing career inspired by Florence Nightingale, a time when their career embodied the character, convictions and vision that made Florence Nightingale extraordinary. As a leader in home care services, Interim HealthCare is proud to have a leadership team with more former nurses than any other franchise or home healthcare team across the country. Several of them reflect and share their #FloMents as a deep and heart-felt thank you for nurses, by nurses:

• Darlyn Baker, RN and owner of Interim HealthCare of Bakersfield: “My #FloMent was in 1993. Being a hospital bedside nurse was like a hobby for me. It never seemed like a job. When I realized patients were leaving sicker and quicker and needing to be cared for by their families, I knew I could make a difference. I didn’t know a thing about home health care. I just knew that’s where I needed to be. That is why I established Interim HealthCare in Bakersfield.”
• Jane Hinton, RN, CFE and Chief Clinical Officer at Interim HealthCare Inc.: “My #FloMent is tied to learning and growing and taking on a leadership role in nursing. That’s what Florence Nightingale embodied—she was a nursing leader. Throughout my career, I’ve looked to her as the model for what leadership in nursing should be and I’ve tried to emulate it through nursing education, leadership and advocacy.”
• Sharon Collins, RN, CHPN and Chief Operating Officer of Interim HealthCare of Oklahoma City: “My #FloMent was in a local store, believe it or not. A woman whose father I had cared for recognized me, walked right up to me and hugged me. I sat with her father as he passed away, about five or six years prior. We proceeded to talk about her father, what he meant to her and how much the care meant to her family. As a nurse, I sat with many patients as they transitioned from this life to the next, and it was always special, always intimate. But, something in that moment made a lasting impression on her. It was a beautiful moment to know that something I did meant so much to her family. I remember thinking, ‘Wow, this is good.’ This is what I was supposed to do.”

Please join Interim HealthCare in expressing our collective gratitude and honoring the nurses who support our communities and the amazing contributions of nurses like Florence Nightingale have given the world. Nurses across the healthcare system are invited to define a moment in their nursing career that was inspired by Florence Nightingale – a time when they were empowered as a nurse, or felt that drive to make a real difference in healthcare using the social media hashtag #FloMent.

Among the many interactive activities planned for the week, nurses may also enter win multiple “The Year of Us” 2020 Nurses Week prizes including a care package with Hand & Stone gift cards for future spa treatments, sweet treats from Nothing Bundt Cakes as well as gear fit for nurses such as industry leading foot wear, a professional nursing bag and other equipment. Please visit www.2020ihcnursesweek.com to enter.

For parents and educators in need of engaging lessons for students (especially for those teaching remote learners), the team at Interim HealthCare developed a mini-lesson plan on the life, work and impact of Florence Nightingale. Her story, particularly relevant for those interested in science, math, and healthcare and for those who want to learn more about role model female leaders, is excellent content to integrate in this week or next week’s learning modules. Easy-to-do and manage-at-home activities include a short biography and video of Florence Nightingale, a discussion guide, ideas for scavenger hunts, games, coloring pages, and more. Materials will be available on the Interim HealthCare Nurses Week website.

For more information on Interim HealthCare’s celebration of Nurses Week, please visit www.2020ihcnursesweek.com.

Home healthcare leader prepares for surge in discharged COVID-19 patients seeking whole-person, individualized care at home.

SUNRISE, Fla. — Interim HealthCare Inc., the nation’s leading franchise network of home care, senior care, home health and hospice and healthcare staffing services, today announced the extension of its HomeLife Enrichment® signature standard of care to meet the comprehensive needs of COVID-19 patients at home, and to support families with educational tools and resources.

As a surge of COVID-19 patients are released from hospitals to recover at home, Interim HealthCare nurses, clinicians and caregivers are prepared to meet their comprehensive needs in the setting they prefer. Through its HomeLife Enrichment® signature standard of care, that encompasses the mind, body, spirit and family, Interim HealthCare strives to improve the overall health and wellbeing of its patients and those around them.

“The home is the safest place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to support continued patient recovery,” said Jennifer Sheets, Interim HealthCare Inc. president and CEO. “With this pandemic, the need to create customized, patient-centered care has never been more important. By working to help boost emotional health, mental acuity and involving the family in care plans for COVID-19 diagnosed individuals, patients benefit from improved wellbeing. We recognize that care is not just about treating a diagnosis and our goal is to heal the whole person inside and out. Our HomeLife Enrichment signature standard of care incorporates all the factors that can improve a person’s health.”

The Interim HealthCare COVID-19 HomeLife Enrichment signature standard of care combines the following areas and best practices to improve mental, emotional and physical health:

• Mind: Providing tools to educate caregivers and families on how to prevent the spread of and recognize the signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Leading with current recommendations and evolving CDC and local and state health department’s guidance.
• Body: From using personal protective equipment (PPE) to facilitating early COVID-19 screening and following best practices to prevent transmission for caregivers, patients and their families, home care clinicians are helping to flatten the curve. As researchers uncover post-recovery side-effects, the program will further evolve to support a full continuum of anticipated specialty areas, including respiratory, rehabilitation (including physical and occupational therapies) and other yet-to-be-determined therapies.
• Spirit: Maintaining an upbeat attitude has many health and recovery benefits. With such a socially isolating virus, by helping patients connect with loved ones virtually, listen to music, play recreational games or participate in artistic activities, caregivers can use an array of tools to increase mental acuity and emotional health in the recovery process.
• Family: For the best outcomes, family members are actively integrated into care plans. Interim HealthCare partners with the family at the center of its care model by sharing educational COVID-19 resources, maintaining communication, supporting emergency response, managing household functions, risk assessment and contingency planning.

As hospitals and emergency departments look for reliable ways to divert patients with less intense symptoms to avoid overcrowding, having an extended continuum of care in the home becomes incredibly valuable. By helping to transition COVID-19 patients that are ready or who could be monitored in the home, Interim HealthCare will use its HomeLife Enrichment signature standard of care to provide the comprehensive services needed to improve their overall health and wellbeing.

In addition to helping to prevent the spread and treating patients for COVID-19, all Interim HealthCare specialty programs, including cognitive care with a focus on dementia, diabetes, heart disease and chronic care fall under its HomeLife Enrichment signature standard of care offerings.

Caregivers are trained to find ways to empower patients at home, regardless of their age, health or disability. This whole-person standard of care helps people live safe and independently, while improving their dignity, purpose and self-worth.

For more information about the Interim HealthCare HomeLife Enrichment approach, visit: https://www.interimhealthcare.com/education-center/homelife-enrichment