One Million Hours of Care. A Community That’s One in a Million.
One million hours of care provided in one month. It’s an incredible milestone and one made possible by the people who make SYNERGY HomeCare what it is. Across the country, our caregivers, clients, families, and franchisees come together every day to create meaningful connections, provide compassionate care, and make a difference in the lives of others.
To celebrate this milestone, we’re sharing three Care Stories that highlight the heart of our community. Their stories are a reminder that while one million hours is an impressive number, it’s the people behind those hours who truly make SYNERGY HomeCare one in a million.
The Power of Community: An Arizona Care Story
A Story of Impact as Told by Linda Morales, Vice President of SYNERGY HomeCare in Chandler (AZ)
B.’s greatest wish was to stay in her own home as she aged. She had no family, but two devoted neighbors had stepped in to support her wishes and advocate for her. One served as her POA and the other served as her MPOA. They entrusted our team with providing 24/7 care, and for many years, our caregivers made it possible for her to live safely and comfortably in the place she loved most: her home.
Honoring her wish became a shared mission, and our team was committed to making that happen every single day. The impact of that care extended far beyond our client. Her POA was so grateful for the compassion and dedication of our caregivers that he named his boat “SYNERGY” in our honor.
After B. passed away, her neighbor personally called every member of our office team to thank them. He told us that while it was his responsibility to fulfill her wish to stay at home, it was our caregivers who truly made that wish a reality.
We are united by a shared purpose: to help improve the lives of others. Even though each office is independently owned and serves their own community, we all operate with the same commitment, compassion, and integrity. The willingness of a fellow office to share their ideas, offer guidance, and celebrate one another’s successes creates a true sense of community. The opportunity we have to learn from each other and support one another allows us to continuously raise the standard of home care as a team.
Being a part of the SYNERGY HomeCare community means belonging to a community that believes every client deserves to age with dignity, comfort, and respect, wherever they call home.
Together, the Chandler (AZ) SYNERGY team and B.’s neighbors united to ensure that B. could live her wish of aging comfortably at home. Thank you, Linda, for sharing a story that reminds us how caregiving takes a community and how our care positively impacts clients and the people who love them.
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Comfort in the Final Moments: A Wisconsin Care Story
A Story of Impact as Told by Owner Ruth Busalacchi, Owner of SYNERGY HomeCare in Greater Milwaukee (WI)
“To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.” That’s the type of care you get when April D. is your caregiver. A 13-year employee of SYNERGY HomeCare, April’s adaptable, experienced, funny, fiercely loyal, and the BEST hugger ever! One visit in particular describes the kind of compassion that April displays in a crisis. While on call, April was asked to cover a last minute shift request for “Joan,” who just entered into hospice care. Joan asked for a night shift because she didn’t want to be alone.
When April arrived, Joan collapsed into her arms; overcome with fear about her changing condition. April eased Joan to the floor, then contacted the on-call manager for assistance. As the manager was making a call on another phone to the hospice agency, she overheard April say to Joan, “It’s ok, you can lean up against me.” The manager was struck by April’s awareness that Joan could overhear what was going on, but didn’t want Joan to be more distressed than she already was.
April’s demeanor gave Joan comfort at a time when she was frightened and felt alone. April shared later that Joan said to her, “you seem like a really nice person,” and to have someone like April arrive that night was such a gift. It was not long after the hospice nurse arrived, and April made sure she was comfortable in her bed, that Joan passed away. While Joan’s family may never know this, the final moments of her life were peaceful and with someone who was truly present. To the world, Joan was just one person, but to her caregiver April that night; Joan was the world.
Thank you to Ruth for sharing this tender moment between caregiver and client. This story is an incredible reminder that our works puts us and our teams at the heart of some of life’s most vulnerable moments. Caregivers like April are truly one in a million, bringing comfort when it’s needed most.
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A Friendship That Lasts: An Illinois Care Story
A Story of Impact as Told by Former Caregiver Ginny Mulholland with SYNERGY HomeCare in Schaumburg (IL)
In the words of Franchise Partner Paul Fisher, “Ginny is a former caregiver who now is full-time office staff — she’s the real deal!” We can’t wait to share this extra special care story spotlight with you.
I had the luxury of befriending my 75-year-old “twin.” Her name is K., and the fact that we’re almost 20 years apart made no difference to either one of us. At first, Mrs. K. was shy and soft-spoken. Not to mention that caregiving was being introduced to her by other family members, and she really didn’t feel it was needed. In fact, she was opposed to this idea altogether. She had a spouse who lived in a different state, a daughter who lived in a whole different country, and a niece who lived on the other side of the United States.
Mrs. K. loved the home that she had been living in for several years. The location was in a nice neighborhood. It was calm and peaceful, with a big backyard for her beloved dog.
All was well in Mrs. K’s world until the day that her neurologist delivered the news of her Alzheimer’s diagnosis. With the family being “everywhere else but home,” they went into a complete panic and didn’t feel comfortable “allowing” her to live alone. The only reasonable compromise was to hire a caregiver to visit on a regular basis and be the spokesperson who can consistently update the family on how Mrs. K. was feeling, get her to her much-needed medical appointments, provide nutritious meals for her tummy and companionship for her soul.
We didn’t just go to medical appointments. Grocery and vet appointments became part of our routine, along with going out for breakfast, enjoying Chinese food, and ordering pizza in. Our “tasks” included laundry, groceries, organizing the garage, consolidating the home for items no longer needed that could be donated to the thrift store.
Mrs. K. would have me call and schedule all of her medical appointments and communicate with any other company or person needed to facilitate a plan for her health, life and daily activities. Sometimes, Mrs. K. would call me, and before I knew it, over an hour had gone by on the phone. This woman is funny, kind, smart, and sensitive. She became my sister, friend, aunt…I didn’t treat her like a baby or an imposition, and she didn’t treat me like the “hired help.”
Many seasons came and went. And then, one day we actually had a very short phone call (for the very first time). I called on our regular day to find out what our plans would be for the day. In a very sad voice, she replied, “I meant to call you, but I didn’t quite know what to say. My family has decided that it is best for me to move into a senior facility.“
We both knew this day would come. She sounded sad, and I took two days to mourn the loss of this version of my friend. I will always be there for her, whenever she needs me. I emailed Mrs. K.’s family just to get the accurate details of what was happening, and I was told that they still would like to use me as an emergency contact, that there would still be visits to Mrs. K. at the nursing home, and that I am invited any time.
There were still going to be errands that needed to be run and possibly more appointments to be had. She was also in need of some shopping and dining adventures, socialization, and just the ability to get fresh air.
While our time together has definitely changed, there will always be a place in my heart and fond memories of our time together! She opened up to me, shared her frustrations and fears. She learned to laugh and express herself again. We talked about politics, art, fashion and skin care. We fought over her dog and whether or not I could sneak it home in my SYNERGY Mobile without her noticing. Also, her dog is part pit bull, and I used to be terrified of pit bulls. Now, that dog and I are so close that she has stated that if anything ever happened to her, the dog would come live with me. I am so very grateful to be a caregiver for SYNERGY HomeCare, and this is just one of a million reasons why.
Thank you to Ginny, and to Franchise Partner Paul Fisher, for sharing this powerful story with us. SYNERGY’s caregivers are the heartbeat of our mission, and Ginny’s connection with Mrs. K. reflects the unmatched level of dedication and companionship our teams provide. We enrich the lives of those we serve, and often times, those we serve change our lives too.
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Thank you to everyone across the SYNERGY HomeCare community who makes these moments possible every day. These stories are just a glimpse of the compassion, connection, and dedication that make our community one in a million. Stay tuned for more inspiring Care Stories from SYNERGY HomeCare locations across the country!
To learn more about how SYNERGY HomeCare can support you or your loved one’s total well-being, read our Total Well-Being Guide or call (877) 432-2692.
SYNERGY HomeCare offers no obligation home assessments. Find a location near you or contact us to learn how we can provide additional support to you and your loved ones.
