Brett Ringold, vice president at the Jenkintown, Pennsylvania-based A Long Term Companion, has been named a 2024 Future Leader by Home Health Care News.

To become a Future Leader, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a high-performing employee who is 40 years old or younger, a passionate worker who knows how to put vision into action, and an advocate for seniors, and the committed professionals who ensure their wellbeing.

Ringold sat down with Home Health Care News to discuss his career trajectory and centering home care business around the caregivers.

What drew you to this industry?

I started my career in the home care industry in 2010, but my first experience with home care was as a patient. I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease when I was 12, and during a particularly bad flare-up, my family hired a local home care provider to assist us. 

Fortunately, I’ve been in remission for nearly 20 years. Still, that experience as a patient inspired my passion for home care and shaped our mission to deliver the highest quality of care to families in the region.

What’s your biggest lesson learned since starting work in this industry?

I’ve learned that our professional caregivers are at the core of everything we do.

When I began my career, especially from the perspective of a former patient, I thought our focus was primarily on serving clients and their families. It quickly became apparent that as leaders, our responsibility is just as much about being exceptional employers, because when we support our caregivers, they’re able to provide the outstanding care our clients depend on.

If you could change one thing with an eye toward the future of home care, what would it be?

Better access to care — in terms of having the workforce meet the growing demand for care and ensuring care is available to those who need it.

There’s been a lot of talk lately about an existential caregiver crisis. Many industries face workforce shortages, but few see a growing demand like home care, which only compounds the challenge. Addressing this will require a multi-faceted approach, with workforce development playing a critical role.

Americans are living longer, and especially considering the increasing number of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, many will require significant care throughout their lives. Some of this care will be paid for through Medicaid or privately by families, but funding for home care is a pressing issue that needs to be addressed.

Medicare Advantage has not provided the comprehensive coverage for home care that many hoped for. Expanding elder care tax credits and enhancing veteran benefits will be necessary.

Including home care as a standard benefit in Medicare and private insurance plans might be an aspirational goal, but it would be vital to ensuring better access and affordability.

What do you foresee as being different about the home care industry looking ahead to 2025?

The overall quality of care will continue to rise, not just by raising the ceiling but also by elevating the baseline standard of care. Several key factors drive this, including increased investment in our workforce, stronger collaboration across the health care continuum and a growing emphasis on accreditation and higher standards. We’ll see more consistent, high-quality care as providers embrace these changes.

In a word, how would you describe the future of home care?

Bright.

Our industry has evolved so much since I began my career 15 years ago, and I’m very excited about the advancements we’ll see over the next 15 years.

What quality must all Future Leaders possess?

The ability to innovate while staying true to mission. All Future Leaders must maintain a strong connection to their organization’s core values, even as they embrace new ideas and technologies that will continue to drive our industry forward.

To learn more about the Future Leaders program, visit https://futureleaders.agingmedia.com/. 

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Alex Melugin, president at Springfield, Missouri-based Phoenix Home Care & Hospice, has been named a 2024 Future Leader by Home Health Care News.

To become a Future Leader, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a high-performing employee who is 40 years old or younger, a passionate worker who knows how to put vision into action, and an advocate for seniors, and the committed professionals who ensure their wellbeing.

Melugin sat down with Home Health Care News to discuss his career trajectory and how the home health industry will change in the near-term future.

What drew you to this industry?

The desire to help people while using my business degree and background.

What’s your biggest lesson learned since starting work in this industry?

It’s all about people. Our product is our people, so my job is to create a culture where we can recruit, retain, and inspire the best caregivers, clinicians and leaders within our industry.

If you could change one thing with an eye toward the future of home health care, what would it be?

The over-regulation of our industry.

What do you foresee as being different about the home health care industry looking ahead to 2025?

In the past, many companies only focused on skilled or non-skilled workers. I believe more companies will continue to diversify their service lines and look at offering the full continuum of care. New Day Healthcare and Phoenix Home Care & Hospice have mastered the longitudinal care model by deploying technology throughout our company.

In a word, how would you describe the future of home health care?

Complex.

If you could give advice to yourself looking back to your first day in the industry, what would it be and why?

Outwork everyone!

To learn more about the Future Leaders program, visit https://futureleaders.agingmedia.com/.

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Courtny Brooks, director of home health for the St. Louis-based Lutheran Senior Services, has been named a 2024 Future Leader by Home Health Care News.

To become a Future Leader, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a high-performing employee who is 40 years old or younger, a passionate worker who knows how to put vision into action, and an advocate for seniors, and the committed professionals who ensure their wellbeing.

Brooks sat down with Home Health Care News to discuss her career trajectory and how the home health industry will change in the near-term future.

What drew you to this industry?

As a hospital and acute rehabilitation nurse, I frequently observed clients being readmitted shortly after discharge. This recurring issue motivated me to seek a more impactful solution, leading me to explore opportunities in home health care.

I provided resources and education to my clients in institutional settings, but I often noticed a disconnect between the information shared in the facility and its application at home. Transitioning to home health care has allowed me to bridge this gap, offering personalized support and guidance to clients within their environments.

What’s your biggest lesson learned since starting work in this industry?

The most significant lesson I have learned is the importance of adaptability. Home health care is a dynamic field that is constantly evolving.

To succeed in this industry, one must be open to change and actively champion it. Adaptability is crucial for effectively addressing the challenges associated with patient care and for ensuring compliance with regulatory changes.

If you could change one thing with an eye toward the future of home health care, what would it be?

If I could change one aspect of the future of home health care, it would be to find innovative ways to leverage technology to alleviate the burden on our health care staff. As regulations continue to increase and reimbursement rates for providing care decrease, it is imperative for agency leaders to identify more efficient methods to comply with these regulations without further straining our staff.

I also envision a future where telehealth is more widely used and accepted in home health care, not as a replacement for in-person visits, but as a means to enhance our monitoring capabilities.

What do you foresee as being different about the home health care industry looking ahead to 2025?

As a home health care leader looking ahead to 2025, I anticipate a significant push to develop new revenue streams in response to ongoing reimbursement reductions and the increasing presence of managed care plans in our markets.

Agencies will likely invest in innovative home care programs and leverage their value-based care data with payers to secure better payment rates. Additionally, I believe we will see an increase in home health acquisitions or joint ventures in 2025 as a way to gain more market share and expand revenue streams.

In a word, how would you describe the future of home health care?

Innovative.

If you could offer advice to your younger self on your first day in the industry, what would it be and why?

Prepare yourself for a dynamic journey filled with growth opportunities.

To learn more about the Future Leaders program, visit https://futureleaders.agingmedia.com/.

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Alex Oosterveen, co-founder and CEO of Miami-based Caribou Health Technologies, has been named a 2024 Future Leader by Home Health Care News.

To become a Future Leader, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a high-performing employee who is 40 years old or younger, a passionate worker who knows how to put vision into action, and an advocate for seniors, and the committed professionals who ensure their wellbeing.

Oosterveen sat down with Home Health Care News to discuss his career trajectory and how home care agencies will attract and retain talent in the future.

What drew you to this industry?

I was drawn to home care because of its significant impact on people’s lives. My mom worked as a caregiver; she and her peers were incredibly dedicated but often underappreciated. 

Agency operators are facing a tough challenge in the home care industry. Thin margins and low reimbursement rates make it incredibly difficult to provide fair pay and adequate staff engagement resources while still turning a profit.

While working on a large home care M&A transaction in my early 20s, I became fascinated with how technology can help agencies attract, retain and motivate fantastic staff.

What’s your biggest lesson learned since starting work in this industry?

Spend time with the frontline caregivers and coordinators. They are the engine of home care. You have to shadow them to appreciate the challenges they face.

If you could change one thing with an eye toward the future of home health care, what would it be?

We can better financially reward caregivers by making them true partners in the health outcomes of their clients.

What do you foresee as being different about the home health care industry looking ahead to 2025?

I foresee more young people pursuing careers in this field, attracted by the sense of meaning and connection.

In a word, how would you describe the future of home health care?

Empowered.

If you could offer advice to your younger self on your first day in the industry, what would it be and why?

Recognize that every home care market is different. When building scalable solutions, it is essential to know when to be flexible and when to rinse and repeat.

To learn more about the Future Leaders program, visit https://futureleaders.agingmedia.com/. 

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Christian Rodriguez, CEO of Hollywood, Florida-based Woundtech, has been named a 2024 Future Leader by Home Health Care News.

To become a Future Leader, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a high-performing employee who is 40 years old or younger, a passionate worker who knows how to put vision into action, and an advocate for seniors, and the committed professionals who ensure their wellbeing.

Rodriguez sat down with Home Health Care News to discuss her career trajectory and the ways the industry is evolving due to market and regulatory forces.

What drew you to this industry?

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, I came from a humble background. I was deeply influenced by the resilience and discipline instilled in me by my single mother. She always encouraged me not to let my environment define my future. From a young age, I decided it would be my mission to make a difference in the world.

My passion for health care, particularly care delivery, was ignited by a very personal experience. I’ve witnessed firsthand how inadequate health care can drastically affect lives. One poignant example was my uncle, who, despite having access to care, faced a preventable diabetes complication that led to an amputation. This experience highlighted the critical importance of timely and preventive care.

For over 20 years, I have dedicated my career to this purpose. Under my leadership at Woundtech, we have significantly expanded our patient base each year, and our commitment to our social mission of improved access continues. We are developing new pathways to enhance the efficiency of our care model, ensuring that patients receive the highest-quality care.

What’s your biggest lesson learned since starting work in this industry?

One of the most profound lessons I’ve learned is the critical role of preventive care in optimizing patient outcomes. While reactive treatment often dominates the health care landscape, it is clear that proactive measures, such as early disease detection and early disease intervention, are essential in preventing diseases and improving overall health.

A personal experience solidified this understanding. Several years ago, a close friend, despite having no family history of heart disease, suffered a sudden cardiac event. It was a stark reminder that seemingly healthy individuals can be vulnerable to unforeseen health challenges. Had my friend been more engaged in preventive care, including regular check-ups and screenings, we might have been able to identify potential risk factors and intervene earlier, potentially preventing this tragic event.

This experience reinforced my commitment to promoting preventive care and advocating for its integration into health care systems. I believe that by empowering individuals to take ownership of their health and investing in proactive measures, we can significantly reduce the burden of disease, enhance the quality of life, and create a healthier society.

If you could change one thing with an eye toward the future of home health care, what would it be?

If I could change one thing about the future of home health care, it would be to increase the integration of technology. While technology has made significant strides in this field, I believe there’s untapped potential to revolutionize patient care.

Specifically, I envision a future where:

• Remote patient monitoring is being more widely adopted. It enables real-time tracking of vital signs and early detection of health changes
• Artificial intelligence is used to personalize care plans, predict patient needs and optimize resource allocation
• Virtual reality is leveraged for therapeutic interventions, such as rehabilitation exercises and pain management
• Telehealth will become the norm, providing convenient access to health care services, especially for those in rural or underserved areas

By embracing these technological advancements, we can enhance patient outcomes, improve efficiency, and make home health care even more accessible and effective.

What do you foresee as being different about the home health care industry looking ahead to 2025?

The home health care industry will undergo significant transformation driven by technological innovation, personalized care and the growing emphasis on value-based health care. We’ll likely see a shift from reactive to proactive care models, where predictive analytics and data-driven insights play a crucial role in anticipating patient needs and preventing complications before they arise.

Telehealth and remote monitoring will become even more integrated into care delivery, allowing patients to receive high-quality care in the comfort of their homes while enabling providers to make informed decisions with real-time data.

Additionally, the focus on patient-centered care will become more pronounced, with customized care plans tailored to individual patient needs, leading to better outcomes and improved patient satisfaction.

Furthermore, I expect an increased collaboration across various sectors – health care providers, technology companies and insurance providers —to create a more cohesive and efficient care ecosystem. This collaboration will enhance the quality of care and make it more accessible and affordable for a broader population.

In a word, how would you describe the future of home health care?

Innovation will be the driving force behind the health care industry’s evolution, and home health care is particularly poised to benefit from this. Leaders in home health who embrace technology, personalized care and value-based models will be best positioned for the future.

At Woundtech, for example, we are harnessing the power of predictive analytics, developing specialized care pathways and prioritizing patient-centric wound care approaches. These innovations transform care delivery, allowing our providers to make informed decisions that prevent infection, reduce costs and reduce downstream complications.

If you could offer advice to your younger self on your first day in the industry, what would it be and why?

I would advise myself to remember that your greatest strength lies in the team around you and the level of collaboration you foster. Success is never achieved in isolation. By supporting the growth of others and learning from the diversity within your team, you and your team will pave a sustainable path of success.

True change in our industry comes from embracing each other’s strengths and committing to collective growth. Every patient we treat and every life we improve is a testament to the power of teamwork.

To learn more about the Future Leaders program, visit https://futureleaders.agingmedia.com/.

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Annamary Soller-Johnson, president of Oklahoma City-based Principle Choice Home Healthcare, has been named a 2024 Future Leader by Home Health Care News.

To become a Future Leader, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a high-performing employee who is 40 years old or younger, a passionate worker who knows how to put vision into action, and an advocate for seniors, and the committed professionals who ensure their wellbeing.

Soller-Johnson sat down with Home Health Care News to discuss her career trajectory and the ways the industry is evolving due to market and regulatory forces.

What drew you to this industry?

I was drawn to the health care industry by my profound love for patient care and a deep-seated desire to make a meaningful impact in people’s lives. My interest in the home health industry stems not only from this passion, but also from a commitment to support and enhance the lives of clinicians.

I aspire to be part of a solution that ensures clinicians feel valued and cared for, enabling them to extend the same level of compassion and support to their patients.

What’s your biggest lesson learned since starting to work in this industry?

The most significant lesson I’ve learned is that, despite a strong drive to implement substantial changes within the industry, one must constantly navigate an array of industry and legislative challenges. Therefore, staying informed and educated on the latest trends and developments is paramount to the continuity of outstanding patient care.

If you could change one thing with an eye toward the future of home health care, what would it be?

I would focus on enhancing the continuity of care. In today’s world, individuals increasingly prefer to stay at home rather than in hospitals or long-term care facilities. They desire to experience both health and illness in the comfort of their own homes. To facilitate this, it is crucial to streamline communication between primary care providers, case managers and social workers within the community, all in the best interest of patients and their families.

Additionally, educational resources for both patients and caregivers are essential. The industry must embrace and address this responsibility proactively to ensure everyone has access to the necessary resources. I am thrilled to be a part of this transformative journey.

What do you foresee as being different about the home health care industry looking ahead to 2025?

I anticipate that, by 2025, we will witness a significant increase in the availability of acute nursing services, hospital-at-home programs, telehealth, and palliative and hospice care directly within the home setting.

The industry will likely see a shift toward comprehensive home health care models, with companies striving to offer a full spectrum of services under one roof.

In a word, how would you describe the future of home health care?

Growth.

If you could give advice to yourself looking back to your first day in the industry, what would it be and why?

On my first day in the industry, I would advise myself to forge more connections immediately. The industry is filled with remarkable leaders whose knowledge and experience are invaluable. Reach out, connect, ask questions, and never cease striving to learn from those who have paved the way.

To learn more about the Future Leaders program, visit https://futureleaders.agingmedia.com/.

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Emily Undajon, the senior vice president of strategic operations at Right at Home, has been named a 2023 Future Leader by Home Health Care News.

To become a Future Leader, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a high-performing employee who is 40 years old or younger, a passionate worker who knows how to put vision into action, an advocate for seniors and a committed professional who ensures their well-being.

Undajon sat down with HHCN to talk about the worth of a good caregiver, how education and advocacy will play a role in the future of home care and more.

HHCN: What drew you to this industry?

Undajon: I was inspired to join the home care industry after serving as a family caregiver for my late grandmother. I took care of her a few days a week, helping my grandfather.

Toward the end of her life, we brought in home care. Just seeing the difference it not only made in my grandma’s life but also how it offset the family caregiver burden, inspired me to want to be able to deliver that vision and mission to others across the globe.

What’s your biggest lesson learned since starting to work in this industry?

I would say one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned being in home care for 10 years now is the education and advocacy we still need to do. I think a lot of people understand home health and hospice, but don’t realize home care can collaborate with both of those business partners or referrals to provide holistic care to an individual.

I think what stood out to me is the opportunities we have in front of us to better educate families and payer sources on all care models that can help that person-centered care in the home.

If you could change one thing with an eye toward the future of home-based care, what would it be?

Professionalizing the caregiver role and showcasing young individuals — and even people who may be early retirees — that caregiving can still be a role for them. And truly highlighting it.

Unless you’ve experienced being a family caregiver, I don’t know that everyone truly sees it as a profession.

I’d also like to see how we best leverage technology in the home to offset some of the burden on the caregiver model. With the demand we’re seeing in the aging industry, how do we make sure that we’re still able to deliver care in the home — but maybe in a more efficient manner than the traditional care model.

What do you foresee as being different about the industry looking ahead to 2024?

I think we’ll continue to see regulatory changes and pressures put on the industry. But I see that as an opportunity. How do we continue to stay nimble amongst the regulatory pressures?

Thinking about it from the franchisor’s perspective: continuing to provide the resources so that our franchisees can deliver the mission in a market and still make a profitable business. So that there aren’t too many pressures that squeeze the model so that it’s not profitable.

In a word, how would you describe the future of home-based care?

Opportunistic is the first word that came to mind.

There’s so much opportunity for us to continue to pave the way in the home care industry and elevate the overall quality experience. We have an opportunity to help people gracefully age wherever they call home.

Looking back to your first day in the industry, if you could give yourself advice, what would it be and why?

If I could give myself advice 10 years ago, it would be to not underestimate the value of walking in the shoes of a caregiver.

I had an opportunity to serve as a family caregiver, but my family dynamics don’t do it justice for all that the caregivers endure on a day-to-day basis in this line of profession. Caregivers are the product in this industry, and without them, we wouldn’t be successful.

To learn more about the Future Leaders program, visit https://futureleaders.agingmedia.com/.

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Jordan Kunkel, clinical supervisor at the Texas-based Healing Hands Healthcare, has been named a 2023 Future Leader by Home Health Care News.

To become a Future Leader, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a high-performing employee who is 40-years-old or younger, a passionate worker who knows how to put vision into action, and an advocate for seniors, and the committed professionals who ensure their well-being.

Kunkel sat down with HHCN to talk about: how mistakes can lead to growth, why home health patients need more resources and the impact payment cuts could have on care delivery.

HHCN: What drew you to this industry?

I’ve always loved to take care of people. I’ve always had a big heart for people who are sick. I knew that being a nurse, you had to have a big heart, and to make sure that your patients are well taken care of.

What’s your biggest lesson learned since starting to work in this industry?

The thing that I’ve learned is that not everything goes the way it should. Every good, bad, or failed situation is a learning opportunity.

If you could change one thing with an eye toward the future of home health, what would it be?

I would love to see a change in the resources that could be readily available for patients.

We have seen patients who have had medicine called in – or supplies that they need just so they could be at home – called in, and their insurance doesn’t cover all of it, or their insurance isn’t able to cover it at all. They don’t have the funds to get the supplies that they need, or for a 24-hour caregiver. Then they aren’t able to go home from the hospital, or rehab facility. I would love to see just resources available for patients in this situation.

What do you foresee as being different about the home health industry looking ahead to 2024 and beyond?

I see an increased need for home health. During COVID, we implemented a hospital-at-home program to try and keep the patient home because the hospitals were overflowing. Studies show that patients feel better and heal faster at home because they’re not anxious, they’re in the comfort of their own home.

With the potential of the passing of Medicare cuts to home health payments, this would be very difficult. If there are cuts, patients aren’t able to receive the appropriate care because home health won’t be able to staff appropriately.

In a word, how would you describe the future of home health?

Growing.

If you could give advice to yourself looking back to your first day in the industry, what would it be and why?

I would tell myself: breathe, you’ve got this. You’re not perfect and you will make mistakes, but learn from those mistakes to be better for, not only yourself, but for your co-workers and the patients you care for. You are strong and just believe in yourself.

I’ve learned that making mistakes helped me not only learn, but also grow from those mistakes to be a better leader for my team and co-workers.

To learn more about the Future Leaders program, visit https://futureleaders.agingmedia.com/.

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Jeffrey Briggs, the director of intake at the Maryland-based Family & Nursing Care, has been named a 2023 Future Leader by Home Health Care News.

To become a Future Leader, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a high-performing employee who is 40-years-old or younger, a passionate worker who knows how to put vision into action, and an advocate for seniors, and the committed professionals who ensure their well-being.

Briggs sat down with HHCN to talk about: how summer camp led him to home care, the importance of empathy while working in the space and ways to make care more affordable for those who need it.

HHCN: What drew you to this industry?

My wife also works for the same home care agency — Family & Nursing Care. Before I started working for the agency, I was working in education, as a teacher, and just looking for a change. There was an opening and I applied.

One connection with my past experiences was that in college, for a few summers, I worked at a camp for kids with chronic illnesses and diseases. A lot of the role as a counselor was providing personal care — helping them with bathing, dressing, toileting and things of that nature. I really made that connection with what our home care agency does, what our caregivers do every day but with a different population, the geriatric population.

What’s your biggest lesson learned since starting to work in this industry?

I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned is just how important compassion and empathy are.

Every day we’re dealing with and talking to families who really are in crisis situations, whether it’s a family member coming home from the hospital, or trying to support a loved one who has dementia. People are really calling us with difficult situations, and it’s so important to try to understand their unique needs.

If you could change one thing with an eye toward the future of home care, what would it be?

Over the past few years, I feel like especially through COVID, agencies have had to raise their wage rates in order to pay their caregivers more, which I think is so important. Caregivers are out there providing the care to our clients. They are doing a thankless job — in many cases, hard work and long hours. It’s important that they get paid a fair wage, and they deserve every penny they make.

What that means, though, is that our rates go up, so that we can pay our caregivers more. There are some people who can continue to afford our services, but there are many people that struggle. One thing I would want to change is just looking at ways to make home care more affordable for more people, whether that’s through Medicare, covering home care expenses, or people being able to tap into their HSA accounts.

What do you foresee as being different about the home care industry looking ahead to 2024 and beyond?

As more people are wanting to age in place and stay in their home, there is a need for more collaboration from different stakeholders in the health care and home-based care field — home health, home care and hospice agencies.

We’re a part of a program where we’re partnering with home health agencies. Instead of people going to rehab in this program, they’re going home, with support from physical therapists and occupational therapists, and then also our agency is providing the certified nursing assistants.

In a word, how would you describe the future of home care?

Evolving.

What quality must all future leaders possess?

Empathy — it’s so important to be able to put ourselves in other shoes.

To learn more about the Future Leaders program, visit https://futureleaders.agingmedia.com/.

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Kristen Duell, the executive vice president of experience and innovation at the Cincinnati-based FirstLight Home Care, has been named a 2023 Future Leader by Home Health Care News.

To become a Future Leader, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a high-performing employee who is 40-years-old or younger, a passionate worker who knows how to put vision into action, and an advocate for seniors, and the committed professionals who ensure their well-being.

Duell sat down with HHCN to talk about: why home care is in a transformative state; the exact moment she knew home-based care would be a driving force in her career; and the importance of strategically investing in technology.

HHCN: What drew you to this industry?

Duell: I started out as a hospital volunteer and then became a unit assistant when I could get a full-time job.

I knew from those days of working in the hospital — and seeing readmissions, and just some of the challenges that come from the health care perspective on the acute care side — that I would find my forever home in health care. After working for Integrity Home Care + Hospice, it cemented that my passion was going to be for our industry which is delivering care in people’s homes. I saw the power and importance of it. It meant so much to me to get to be a part of their lives like that. I think that’s when I knew.

What’s your biggest lesson learned since starting to work in this industry?

Although the opportunity in our industry is huge, it is a very small industry. You should never burn bridges. That can go both ways. You should protect your reputation because at the end of the day, no one can take that away from you. That goes with you everywhere you go.

If you could change one thing with an eye toward the future of home care, what would it be?

The strategy around investments into technology would be an area that I would really like to see focused and honed in on.

It would be great if the investments were actually focused on accelerating the provider’s ability to properly streamline and actually create efficiencies, rather than compounding problems through M&A, with no actual symmetry being done between the solutions. I think it’s done haphazardly at this point. I think if we were to look at somewhere where we needed to invest a stronger strategies model, it would be in that area.

What do you foresee as being different about the home care industry looking ahead to 2024 and beyond?

I’m really excited about some of the newer technologies that are coming out right now, and what that could mean for the industry.

We’re still wrapping our arms around, what does AI look like? How do you leverage solutions like ChatGPT? How do you leverage predictive models within technology, so that it actually makes your systems more streamlined?

When you look to 2024, and even throughout the rest of this year, you’re gonna see more businesses taking that and leveraging those models to deliver more potent solutions.

In a word, how would you describe the future of home care?

Transformative — I think we’re in a transformative state. People would say that we’ve been in a transformative state, but I don’t think we actually were. I think COVID and the things that we’ve experienced in the last few years have accelerated it, and now technology is finally catching up in the health care industry.

If you could give advice to yourself looking back to your first day in the industry, what would it be and why?

You have to be resilient. I think if I was going to talk to myself, in my younger years, [my advice] would be to be more kind to yourself, and develop resilience even faster. You are so much more powerful than you give yourself credit for.

To learn more about the Future Leaders program, visit https://futureleaders.agingmedia.com/.

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