The election for HCAOA’s 2024 Board of Directors is underway, and each agency/office location has a vote. The primary contact for each agency receives the ballot via email. Meet the candidates who could lead YOUR association.

HCAOA announced the 2023 National Caregiver of the Year last week at the National Home Care Conference in Chicago. Eulodia Ortiz, a dedicated caregiver from Visiting Angels in Matawan, NJ, was recognized in front of more than 700 industry leaders. Eulodia's exceptional commitment to her clients and their families stood out among more than 500 nominees from across nearly all 50 states.

Holly Haringa has joined HCAOA Associate Member Corcoran Consulting Group LLC as Director of Operations and Consultant. She oversees the group’s marketing efforts, client and consultant coordination, and administrative support functions, collaborates with Corcoran team members, and supports the goals of its home care agency clients. Haringa’s operational experience includes business analytics, optimization of workflows, the management of gross margins, and the improvement of revenue, all leading to increased profitability.

Corcoran Consulting Group LLC welcomed Guy Tommasi to their team as Senior Vice President and Managing Consultant for Home Care Services. In this role, Tommasi will provide strategic guidance to Corcoran's home care agency clients, helping them optimize their operations, expand their client base, strengthen their caregiving teams, and demonstrate their value to payers in the continually evolving home care landscape.

The deadline to submit a nomination for the HCAOA Board of Directors is THIS FRIDAY, September 29! There are nine open seats - six for independent agency members and three for corporate member representatives.

​The following minimum criteria will be in effect for all candidates:

​HCAOA is proud to announce the Top 16 Finalists for the 2023 Caregiver of the Year Award.  The overall Caregiver of the Year will be announced during the 2023 National Home Care Conference [https://www.hcaoa.org/national-home-care-conference.html] on October 24, 2023. The Caregiver of the Year will receive a $2,000 cash award and an all-expenses paid trip to Chicago for the conference to be recognized in front of industry leaders.

Nominations are now being accepted for nine open seats on the HCAOA Board of Directors - six for independent agency members and three for a corporate member representative. Nominations are due next Friday, September 29, 2023. Support the home care industry and affect the future of home care by applying to serve on the Board, which includes corporate and independent home care industry leaders to best represent the membership. The Board guides and influences the national conversation about home care, industry standards, workforce shortage solutions, affordability, and financing care.

​HCAOA member Legally Nanny, a leading law firm representing home care agencies, nanny agencies and family employers, is celebrating 20 years in business this year. Attorney and former HCAOA Board Member Bob King started the firm as a part-time law practice helping California families hire nannies. Shortly thereafter, people started contacting him seeking help with home care issues, and now the firm represents thousands of home care agencies throughout the U.S. Bob has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal and CNN, interviewed on Entertainment Tonight, and speaks and writes about home care legal issues. We hope you can join him and say hello at his upcoming speech at HCAOA's conference next month. Congratulations Legally Nanny!

HCAOA is proud to announce Jason R. Lee as the new Chief Executive Officer, effective October 2, 2023. Lee will succeed Vicki Hoak, HCAOA CEO for the past four years, who will continue to contribute her expertise as CEO Emeritus through the end of October.

​​Lee brings over 20 years of experience in advocacy and nonprofit management. His background includes a tenure as Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to the President at the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), where he played a pivotal role in helping to guide the $30 million national organization representing academic dentistry and shape the association's strategic direction. Additionally, Lee served as Chief Advocacy and Strategy Officer at the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) in Arlington, VA. While at AFP, he also held positions as Interim President and CEO, General Counsel, and Director of Government Relations. Before joining AFP, Jason was a lobbyist for Alcalde & Fay and held legislative positions with Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX).

Jonah C. Francis, CDP, CSHSS, President of Pansy Homecare Service LLC in West Hartford, Conn., and vice chair of the HCAOA Connecticut Chapter, was recognized recently by the Hartford Business Journal (HBJ) with its prestigious 2023 40 Under Forty annual award. Mr. Francis also chairs the Chapter’s legislative and public policy committee.

As a caregiver, it is important to ensure the safety of seniors at home during various weather emergencies like hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes. Always Best Care Senior Services provides helpful tips for seniors and their caregivers to keep in mind for weather emergencies. They recommend keeping the home care agency's number readily available, creating emergency kits that include special considerations for seniors, notifying power companies about reliance on electric-powered medical equipment, and having essentials like flashlights, batteries, and medical supplies on hand. Removing trip hazards in the home and maintaining a week's worth of medication, water, non-perishable food, and important documents are also suggested. The company highlights that such measures significantly reduce injury risks and improve seniors' comfort during power outages and emergencies.

Software provider Rosemark has announced a new partnership with Paradigm, which helps agencies interact with third-party payors, such as VA and Medicaid. The partnership aims to streamline operations, support billing to various payors, and improve efficiency for home care agencies.

Helper Bees’ general manager, Daniel Murphy, has been appointed to serve on the federal Family Caregiving Advisory Council. Murphy, an Army veteran who has over 25 years of leadership experience in the aging services industry, will serve on the Council from 2023 to 2026. In this role, he will recommend to the Administration for Community Living ways to improve support for family caregivers across the country.

FirstLight Home Care has promoted Kerri Pendley, a member of the HCAOA’s Board of Directors, to the position of Chief Growth Officer. Her primary focus as the Chief Growth Officer will be driving business growth by identifying new avenues for revenue and establishing the necessary mechanisms to achieve those goals. She is known for her data-driven approach, predictability, and scalability, which she previously demonstrated by successfully developing the National Accounts department and expanding service offerings, including skilled care, at FirstLight.

Family Resource Home Care has recently completed the acquisition of Companion Care, inc., a home care agency based in Woodinville, WA. The move is in line with Family Resource's strategic expansion plan to cover a substantial portion of the aging population in the Pacific Northwest. The acquisition adds to Family Resource's presence in the Puget Sound region, bringing their total locations to seven in that area and 29 across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
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