The people behind our home care
PROPELLING LIVES FORWARD
If you’ve been searching for a home care agency for your care or your loved one’s care, then you know there is a sea of sameness in the dozens of home care choices, making it difficult to actually choose one. And we know that can be frustrating.
Jim and Gaye Aaberg, Owners
[email protected]
[email protected]
Jim and Gaye Aaberg, OwnersMarried for 36 years, while working together that entire time, Gaye and Jim Aaberg have developed one of the leading Synergy HomeCare Agencies in the entire United States out of necessity derived from their personal experiences.
In 2010, Gaye and Jim were caring for a terminally ill sister, four parents that could not sustain without assistance, an employee bed ridden from ALS, a friend who fell and became paralyzed; all while trying to raise teenage boys heavily involved in sports.
What they learned was that they were no longer having relationships with their loved ones, but they had relationships with their illnesses. Neither party thrived.
Often referred to as the “sandwich generation” Gaye and Jim found themselves trying to work full-time, raise two boys and care for loved ones who no longer could care for themselves. To an outsider this is an obvious recipe for failure but for caring people you believe it is your honor to help the people in your life.
For Gaye and Jim, they realized this is not what the people in their life wanted for them. They needed help but not at the sacrifice of loosing their relationships. Gaye and Jim needed to stop being caregivers and get back to being a son, daughter, and friend to the people they loved. While searching for help they discovered Synergy HomeCare in 2013.
As of mid-year 2022, Synergy HomeCare of Central Illinois now employs over 400 caregivers and staff to help people help their loved ones stay independent wherever they call home by focusing on relationship between clients, family and their health care providers.
Kam Pollett, Vice President
[email protected]
Kam, Vice President, has been with SYNERGY HomeCare of Central IL since 2017. She is very passionate about homecare and the roles caregivers play in the lives of clients. Her mother received homecare services for 24 years and because of her wonderful caregivers, she was able to remain in her home and have a fantastic quality of life. Kam and her husband live in Normal and stay busy with their two children.
Amy Gould, Director of Operations
[email protected]
Amy was raised in Island Lake, Illinois. While she attended Eastern Illinois University, she began her career as a Direct Support Professional. Her experience caring for her grandparents taught her that her passion was caring for others, particularly the elderly. She began working as a caregiver for Synergy in 2014. Since 2017, she has served as Client Care Supervisor, Office Manager, Assistant Director of Operations, and now Director of Operations, with the goal of expanding our current territories and assisting as many people as possible.
Grant Aaberg, Director Business Development
[email protected]
Grant had the unique opportunity to witness the impact Synergy has on those they care for from a young age. He knew he was passionate about making a difference and having a positive impact on people’s lives when deciding what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. That passion has grown even stronger during his time with Synergy, and in his spare time he volunteers as an assistant wrestling coach at Rochester High School. He considers himself fortunate to be able to share his passion with others and is looking forward to continuing his journey with Synergy HomeCare of Central Illinois.
Shelby Webber, Director of Human Resources
[email protected]
Shelby was born and raised in Hudson, Illinois. She received her CNA certification in 2010 and began working with SYNERGY in 2016. Shelby joined Synergy HomeCare as an on-call manager and is currently the director of HR. She enjoys spending time with her family and being outdoors. She resides outside of Bloomington with her husband and nine-year-old son.
MJ Wilson, Director of Accounts
[email protected]
MJ, who resides in Bloomington and has a spouse and two sons, was approached about working as an Account Assistant in the Synergy administrative office after spending 30 years working for the IRS. She was all too familiar with caring for elderly/ill loved ones because she lost her mother to cancer when she was 17, her father to COPD when she was 22, and her mother-in-law to dementia in 2014. Before taking the position as an accounts manager, MJ spent two years as an account assistant. She recently received a promotion to Director of Accounts, and she is looking forward to starting a new chapter while working for such a compassionate organization. Synergy HomeCare is the ideal fit.
Jenn Ziemer, Account Manager
[email protected]
In June 2021, Jenn began working with our company as a caregiver. Later that year, she made a swift transition to the accounting division and is currently our Manager of Accounts. Before joining Synergy, she worked with the elderly population at a nearby nursing facility. Living in Normal, Jenn and her husband accompany their daughter while she plays volleyball.
Amber Johnson, Office Manager
[email protected]
Amber Johnson, Office ManagerAmber began working at SYNERGY in 2021 after 8 years as a DSP. Amber began working as a caregiver but was soon elevated to the position of Client Care Supervisor. She enjoys being kind to people and brightening their days. Amber is a mother of five who enjoys spending time with her loved ones.
Elizabeth Sullard, Regional Community Liason
[email protected]
Elizabeth Sullard, Regional Community LiasonLiz is a nurse, and she is passionate about assisting others with their medical needs. Since she started working in home care in 2014, she has taken great delight in seeing people she cares about live happily and age in place. Liz has served on the boards of the Young Professionals of Champaign Urbana, The Walk to End Alzheimer’s, Committee on Aging, Senior Task Force, and the Executive Club of Champaign County. She is an enthusiastic supporter of the community and seniors. Along with 40 Under 40, The Outstanding Young Professional, and Athena Young Professional awards, she has also had the distinction of receiving them.
Taylor Stevens, Regional Community Liaison
[email protected]
Taylor Stevens, Regional Community LiaisonTaylor began this journey after spending two years as a Legislative Assistant for the State of Illinois. Synergy HomeCare had just opened their doors when Taylor joined the team at the beginning of 2020. She will tell you that she has always had a passion for helping people. She used to ride her bike about Divernon when she was a young child, around age 10, and knock on doors to check if anyone needed assistance. So, when she heard about the opportunity to move into a sector where she could grow and help people directly, she seized that opportunity. Her quest to keep building her skillset is obvious as she is a graduate of Leadership Springfield, a 40 under 40 Recipient, Chamber of Commerce President’s Award Recipient and an Athena Award Nominee. She serves on the Board for Local First, RISE, and is a Team Captain for the Springfield Chamber of Commerce. Taylor has a beautiful daughter, Eleyna Rose, who is so excited to someday join the Synergy team!
Jessica McConnell, Client Care Manager
[email protected]
Jessica McConnell, Client Care ManagerWorking at an assisted living facility in 2021 was Jessica’s entry point into the industry. She became more passionate in assisting seniors as a result of that community. Working with them and providing for their needs is something she genuinely appreciates. Jessica just got married, and she is eager to grow both at Synergy HomeCare and in her family. With her husband, two dogs, and plants in her garden, Jessica enjoys spending time outdoors. As a result of our company’s emphasis on family, she enjoys coming to work every day.
Melana Reifsteck, Client Care Supervisor
[email protected]
Melana Reifsteck, Client Care SupervisorIn 2021, Melana joined our Champaign staff. Five years have passed since Melana started working in long-term care. She discovered after working as a social worker that she loved helping people and had a passion for working with Alzheimer’s patients. Her objective is to carry on helping clients and working in a profession she enjoys.
Awards and Recognitions
2018 McLean County Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Finalist
2019 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Winner
Home Care Pulse Provider of Choice 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Reader’s Choice Winners in The Pantagraph, Decatur Herald & Review, Champaign News Gazette, Springfield Journal Star Finalist
Active members of:
Home Care Association of America Illinois – https://www.hcaoa.org/illinois.html
Home Care Association of America –https://www.hcaoa.org/
McLean County Chamber of Commerce – https://www.mcleancochamber.org/
Decatur County Chamber of Commerce – https://www.decaturchamber.com/
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce – https://www.champaigncounty.org/
Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce – https://www.gscc.org/
Mt. Zion Chamber of Commerce – https://www.mtzionchamber.org/
Our promise to you: care that moves you
Life is in constant motion. From the time we smile our first smile, ride our first bike, find our first home or embrace our first grandchild, it just keeps moving. And a moving life is a full one. But sometimes, life can take a turn that slows us down, or even stops us in our tracks. That’s where SYNERGY HomeCare comes in. To keep the basic needs of your life effortlessly moving forward. So you can focus on what moves you and get the most out of every day.
We guide with purpose
We take a strong lead with a kind hand in what can be a stressful, uncertain time in your life. By charting an assured course and making certain that you and your family members understand what’s happening, we can keep you comfortable every step of the way.
Great care comes from confidence, and confidence is contagious. We know what we’re doing and we’re always striving to do it better. One of the things we do best is relate to people on a personal level. And when you do something well, it breeds confidence. In you, and everyone around you. That’s why our clients, employees and franchise owners are so confident, too.
How we do it:
- We serve beyond the job description.
- We approach the job with a sense of adventure and purpose.
- We take ownership and responsibility over results.
- We quickly spot new opportunities for improvement and act on them.
We know individual people have individual needs
What we do:
We listen and ask questions. That’s the best way to learn how to impact an individual’s life. That’s how we do it. And that’s why we are recognized as an organization that shows an unwavering commitment to understanding people’s needs and providing the care option that best adapts to those needs. This is how we keep you and your life moving forward by being intuitively personal.
How we do it:
- We approach every encounter with compassion, personality and positive energy.
- We inspire others through words.
- We are curious. We ask questions and listen to what’s unspoken.
- We help you set goals. We make you feel as though we are walking with you on your care journey.
Life moves in one direction – forward. No matter your circumstances, SYNERGY HomeCare steps in with effective, comforting, life-affirming care that moves people emotionally and physically forward, from personal assistance and companionship to live-in and even family caregiver respite. We provide full support for fuller lives. Ultimately, we create a feeling of forward momentum, not just in lives but also in the home care industry.
Whether you’re a high-octane octogenarian who just needs a hand, someone confined to bed who needs a little more help, or a person dealing with lifelong disabilities who needs someone to walk beside them on their journey, we’re here to care with whole hearts and open arms.
We know you have questions. And we have answers. When the time is right for you, we would be honored to speak with you. We listen!
