Professional Home Care LLC: Helping Seniors Stay Safely in Their Homes

Local Care Provider Offers Personalized Support for Harlan's Elderly Residents

In a time when many elderly residents face difficult decisions about their living situations, Ann Conrad of Professional Home Care LLC offers a valuable alternative: professional, compassionate care that allows seniors to remain in the comfort of their own homes. With deep roots in Shelby County and years of healthcare experience, Conrad's business addresses a crucial need in our community.

From Caregiver to Business Owner

Ann Conrad's journey into home care services began with a deeply personal experience. After her father passed away two years ago, she experienced firsthand the challenges families face during difficult times.

"What really happened was, I wanted to be able to care for him, but I had a different job," Conrad explains. "That's kind of the inspiration behind this. When you're losing a loved one, it's hard. And it's especially hard when you're the caregiver to the family."

That experience, combined with her extensive background in senior care since 2012, led to a conversation with her husband Justin that would change her professional path.

"My husband said, 'Well, why don't you do that for a job?'" Conrad recalls. "I didn't take him seriously at first. I was like, 'I can't do this.' But then I decided, we'll give it a try. If it works, it works. If it doesn't, well, you still got a job to fall back on."

In February 2023, Professional Home Care LLC was born. Now celebrating its first anniversary, the business has grown from a single client to serving multiple residents throughout the Harlan area.

Comprehensive Care Services

As a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) with experience in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and various aspects of senior care, Conrad brings professional expertise to every home she visits. Her services are designed to address both practical needs and emotional wellbeing.

Professional Home Care LLC offers a range of non-medical services, including:

• Companion Care: "We sit with the client, do activities, play cards, just talk, just see how they're doing," Conrad explains. "Especially right now in the winter months, depression really sets in. Sometimes they just want somebody to come sit with them and help break up the day."
• Respite Care: Providing relief for primary caregivers who need to work or attend to other responsibilities. "Say their primary caretaker has to go to work during the day. We would sit with their parent or their brother and just be with them, so they don't feel like they're alone."
• Transportation Services: Taking clients to medical appointments, church services, shopping trips, and even grandchildren's sporting events. With spring approaching, Conrad notes she can provide transportation "to grandkids' ballgames, church, or just go to Walmart."
• Light Housekeeping: Assistance with dusting, vacuuming, dishes, and laundry. "That's a big one," says Conrad. "Just little stuff like that."
• Meal Preparation: "Sometimes you just like having somebody else fix you a meal," Conrad notes.
• Personal Care: Including shower assistance, a particularly important service. "Showers are the number one fall in the home," Conrad explains. "We want you to be safe in your home."

Local Connections Make a Difference

Having grown up in Shelby County, Conrad believes her local roots allow her to provide more personalized care to clients.

"I feel like I know my clients on a community basis because we're very active in the church. My whole family was active in sports," she says. "Some of these people I have known through previous employments, and they requested me when they went home, back to their homes."

This local knowledge enables Conrad to better connect with clients about community events, seasonal activities, and local restaurants they might enjoy visiting. "I feel like I can relate to them better," she explains.

The personal connections extend to how Conrad measures her business's success. Rather than focusing solely on client numbers, she defines growth by "my impact on my clients' lives."

"The ones I do have, they are happy with my work. They're satisfied," Conrad says. "They refer me to a couple of their friends, their family members, and so that's how I define our success."

Making a Meaningful Difference

For Conrad, the most rewarding aspect of her work comes from the relationships she builds with clients and knowing she's making a positive impact on their lives.

"My favorite thing is hearing comments saying how I've had such an impact on them. How they look forward to me coming to their house," Conrad shares. "They look forward to visiting with me, helping them with meals and stuff or just somebody to talk to during the day, go for a drive because it's getting nice now."

One client specifically mentioned how Conrad "has a tendency to spoil us because you open up seven-ups for us." It's these small, thoughtful gestures that reflect her commitment to going above and beyond for the people she serves.

"When they tell me how much they look forward to seeing me, that really means a lot to me," Conrad says. "It means I'm doing a good job. And that's really what this business is. I just want to keep people happy. I want to help them."

Looking Forward

As Professional Home Care LLC enters its second year of operation, Conrad is optimistic about continued growth while maintaining the personalized approach that sets her business apart.

"This is going to be a good year for this company," she says. "We're going to grow and we're just going to be able to help people wherever they need."

To learn more about Professional Home Care LLC or to inquire about services, call Ann Conrad at 712-579-8861. Business cards can be found throughout Shelby County, and the business maintains a Facebook. Conrad encourages prospective clients to reach out: "Give us a call and we will do our best to work you in... Give us a try and see how we can help you."