QUARTERLY SUMMER 2023 MSRP $19.95 4 Tips On Increasing Profitability For Your Business Why Implementing A Career Ladder Is the Long- Term Solution To Improving Care Outcomes POWER PARTNERS Strategies for Success: Work-Life Wellness For Moms Finding Balance: The Path To Work-Life Integration In-Home Care A Call To Action: Addressing The Challenges in U.S. Home Care Workforce Years: Three Golden Nuggets What Do Veterans Desire In Healthcare? 2 Pictured:RichelleWilkins,Receivesan AwardfromSteve“TheHurricane”The Home Care Millionaire’s Boot Camp Is Back! Scale your business with confidence and immerse yourself with this legendary event! Nov 15-17| San Antonio, Texas. Register NOW! https:homecareevolution.com/bootcamp1228 34 Why Implementing A Career Ladder Is the Long-Term Solution To Improving Care Outcomes Written by: Linda Leekley 4 Tips On Increasing Profitability For Your Business Written by: Steve Weiss Strategies for Success: Work-Life Wellness For Moms Written by: Sandra Glandt Finding Balance: The Path To Work-Life Integration In-Home Care Written by: Leah Kosatsky 18 What Do Veterans Desire In Healthcare? Written by: Joseph Kotora 44 40 A Call To Action: Addressing The Challenges in U.S. Home Care Workforce Written by: Brandi Kurtyka 20 Years: Three Golden Nuggets Written by: Richele Wilkins Power Partners Written by: Julie Visone 06 24 ContentsEvolve. Adapt. Transform. Thrive. Welcome to Issue #6 of Home Care Evolution Quarterly! This is my finest collection of insights gathered thus far. We have featured within these pages a United States Naval Captain, a top recruiting firm CEO, an Assisted Living Executive, and the reigning Mrs. International 2022. The knowledge and insights here will prove invaluable to you. Here are your topics: ● 20 Years: Three Golden Nuggets - Written by: Richele Wilkins ● Why Implementing A Career Ladder Is the Long-Term Solution To Improving Care Outcomes - Written by: Linda Leekley ● What Do Veterans Desire In Healthcare? - Written by: Joseph Kotora ● Power Partners - Written by: Julie Visone ● 4 Tips On Increasing Profitability For Your Business - Written by: Steve Weiss ● Strategies for Success: Work-Life Wellness For Moms - Written by: Sandra Glandt ● Finding Balance: The Path To Work-Life Integration In- Home Care - Written by: Leah Kosatsky ● A Call To Action: Addressing The Challenges in U.S. Home Care Workforce - Written by: Brandi Kurtyka If there is a topic that is important to you that you would like to see in a future issue, please contact me directly. Also, do not miss out on receiving these issues as they are released. Make sure you are subscribed by going to www.homecareevolution. com/magazine or using the QR code on this page. Thank you for following us and I hope you enjoy this publication. Sincerely, Steve “The Hurricane” President and CEO Home Care Evolution steve@homecareevolution.com 848-444-9865 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33 WelcomeThree Golden Nuggets 20 Years Richele Wilkins Richele Wilkins is the owner of Caring Hands Home Health, Inc., a thriving home care agency that has been serving Central North Carolina for over 20 years. With an impressive 28-year career as a nurse, Richele possesses a wealth of knowledge and expertise in caring for the elderly and disabled. Recognizing the importance of passing on her knowledge and experience to the next generation of caregivers, Richele takes great joy in teaching and mentoring new caregivers. Richele’s impact extends beyond her role as a healthcare professional. She is the esteemed host of the AARP-sponsored Talk Show “Inside The House,” where she delves into topics related to aging, caregiving, and overall well-being. Her ability to engage audiences and provide valuable insights has made her a sought-after motivational speaker. Richele specializes in delivering empowering speeches to women and business owners, sharing her own journey and inspiring others to pursue their passions, overcome obstacles, and achieve their goals. As Richele continues to make strides in her career and make a difference in the lives of others, her future shines brightly. https://www.caringhandshhc.com/7 I n today’s rapidly changing business landscape, it is a remarkable achievement for any company to reach the 20-year milestone. However, through visionary leadership, relentless adaptation, and a trust in God’s ultimate plan, Caring Hands Home Health, Inc. has defied the odds and thrives. Caring Hands has successfully weathered economic downturns, administrative and caregiver turnover, and shifting market trends by fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and continuous improvement. As the company celebrates its 20th anniversary, it stands as a testament to the power of perseverance, adaptability, and unwavering commitment to excellence. 20 YEARS: THREE GOLDEN NUGGETS They say the days are long, but the years are short. I find that to be so true, as I look back on over 20 years in the home care industry. I have watched countless businesses come and go. I narrowly escaped being one of those that did not make it myself. I started my nursing career with a short stint in the hospital, but I quickly realized that was not the healthcare genre for me. My next position was as an assessment nurse in a nursing home. I fell in love instantly. I had found my niche...caring for the elderly and disabled. After four years and several promotions, I became Unit Director of Nursing of the largest nursing home in Greensboro, NC. I felt accomplished, but now I was struggling with watching residents deteriorating quickly upon admission, and many of them constantly lamenting about wanting to be home. After a few phone calls to the state and many I’s dotted and t’s crossed, in 2002, Caring Hands Home Health, Inc. was born. As a business owner of a home care agency, now I had not only found my niche, but I had found my passion. I started Caring Hands, focusing on caring for veterans and Medicaid clients. We grew very quickly and by 2008 revenue was 1.5 million, but we had little profit. By all standards, I knew I had a great and viable business, but it was stagnant. Then in 2012, now at 250 clients, 200 employees, and 2.5 in revenue, the bottom fell out. One of my Medicaid payments completely stopped, and I found myself quickly in debt, unable to pay my employees, AND in tax trouble. This is the backdrop to the three golden nuggets I want to share with you. Three pillars that I stand on and that I believe got me through the most challenging of times.8 GOLDEN NUGGET #1 - YOU MUST HAVE A MINDSET OF EVOLUTION For the first 12 years of my business, I relied solely on Medicaid, placing all my eggs in one basket. On top of that, our administrative team was not operating at its maximum capacity, and we lacked clear objectives. To paint a clearer picture, we found ourselves stagnant, struggling financially, and trapped in a limited mindset. These obstacles and a sudden financial crisis created a scenario where Caring Hands faced the risk of perishing. By 2016 I thought all hope was lost when I was led to watch “A Drink with the Hurricane.” Watching those videos sparked a spirit of evolution in me for the reinvention of Caring Hands. The initial phase of Caring Hands’ evolution involved diversification as a strategic move. It was time to mitigate our risk by incorporating new payer sources, particularly private pay clients. Additionally, we strengthened our business stability by offering caregiver training to develop a capable and caring workforce. By focusing on these two aspects of growth, our agency experienced a comeback that was better than I could have ever expected, and we quickly regained our financial stability. However, these were just a couple of the significant changes we implemented. By embracing continuous improvement, we increased our opportunities to take advantage of new trends, expand into new markets, and adopt innovative technologies, positioning ourselves for long-term progress and success. Take the time to build a strong team. As your business grows, you’ll need to hire and manage a capable team of caregivers and administrative staff. Learn effective hiring and team- building strategies to ensure you have a competent and compassionate workforce. Develop leadership skills and create a positive work culture that fosters growth, motivation, and collaboration among your team members. It’s important to have a clear vision of where you want your home care business to go. Set specific goals and objectives for your business, both short-term and long- term. Regularly review and revise these goals as you progress and gain new insight. You will never become. You are always becoming. Stay fluid and ready for change and evolution. 9 Professionally and personally, your evolution is an ongoing process. You are constantly adapting, learning, and growing to meet the changing needs of your business, clients, and industry. NUGGET #2 - GET AND STAY CONNECTED A wise man once told me, “Why reinvent the wheel when you can copy genius.” (Steve The Hurricane) The blueprint for how to run a successful home care agency was created by many who have come before us. We simply need to tap into and get connected to the source of the wisdom, knowledge, and experience that can show us the way. I remember the day I finally made the decision to go all in, to get connected. I hired a marketer, signed up for coaching with Hurricane Marketing Enterprises (HME), and so our journey began. Getting connected meant in-depth training and one on one coaching. With our coach’s direction, we created an action plan that outlined the steps needed to reach our desired outcomes. Breaking down goals into smaller, manageable tasks made it easier for us to take action and maintain accountability for progress. To stay on track, we had weekly sessions to review progress, discuss challenges, and celebrate achievements. Getting connected also brought accountability. I truly believe that accountability was the game changer. Whenever I reflect upon my past achievements in attaining a state of improved well-being and shedding excess weight, I realize that the presence of an accountability partner accompanied every instance of genuine success. Our coach/ accountability partner introduced tracking tools and other techniques to help monitor our progress. Having tangible evidence of our efforts kept us accountable and motivated. Our coach’s industry expertise helped us save time and resources by helping us avoid common pitfalls and make informed decisions. Staying connected added a value that cannot be matched. You are not alone. There are many ways to tap into established networks of experienced entrepreneurs, even those specific to home care. Leveraging these networks can help you establish valuable connections, find reliable partners, and reach potential customers more Next >