The Kansas Small Business Development Center (Kansas SBDC) statewide network has announced the 2015 Existing and Emerging Businesses of the Year. Each of the eight Kansas SBDC regional centers selected one emerging and one existing business for the award. Enhanced HomeCare, LLC, owned by Randy Block and Cindy Singer, was chosen Existing Business of the Year for the Johnson County Region.
“We are so honored to be named 2015 Business of the Year by the Kansas Small Business Development Center,” Singer said.
Enhanced HomeCare was recognized in both the Kansas House and Senate on Tuesday, March 10. {mprestriction ids="1,3"}According to their Kansas SBDC Consultant Elisa Waldman, “Enhanced HomeCare was selected because of their reputation for providing outstanding care, for their emphasis on old-fashioned customer service, and for their talent in managing business growth and development.”
Singer credited Waldman, who is Jewish and a member of Congregation Beth Torah, for “being a fabulous sounding board and helping them resolve challenging issues specific to their industry.”
Enhanced HomeCare, a company specializing in the highest quality of senior in-home care, was established almost six years ago by the brother and sister team of Block and Singer, after they continually heard from their friends how hard it was to find really good care and support for their aging parents.
Block said Enhanced HomeCare differentiates itself from the competition by hiring only highly qualified and experienced caregivers, and ensuring that each client is carefully matched with the best caregiver for their unique needs and keeping that match in place over time.
Both owners of Enhanced HomeCare are active members of the Jewish community. Their company now boasts a team of approximately 100 caregivers as well as five and a half full-time staff members. Since its inception, the company has served more than 400 clients and their families.
Since starting the business, Block and Singer’s experiences have been diverse and extremely educational. Singer said four things stick out in their minds the most when it comes to advising people how to maintain their health and independence.
“First, people should try to maintain good core strength, with flexibility and balance, if they don’t want to spend their golden years in a chair and have to hire a company like Enhanced HomeCare,” Singer noted.
Her next piece of advice involves driving.
“Everyone should agree to accept their physician’s recommendation that they give up their car keys when it is ‘prescribed.’ There are many good options for transportation in Kansas City now, and nobody should have to be isolated or miss out on the activities they enjoy.”
Because the healthcare system is so complicated now, Singer said most people would really benefit from a navigator or advocate, especially if they don’t have strong or available support system.
“This is really important when receiving a complex diagnosis or when admitted to the hospital unexpectedly. There are options and benefits that are not always apparent to patients who are ailing and new to the system,” said Singer, noting Enhanced HomeCare can provide those services as well.
Finally, individuals should pay strict attention to their medications.
“Medication issues are the cause of many unnecessary hospital visits. They are the cause of many unnecessary hospital re-admissions as well, especially when a patient receives more than one new prescription. Patients should always make sure they understand why and how to take new medicines and double-check the instructions for the old ones as well,” Singer said.
Waldman said the KSBDC provides free and confidential business consulting services and training to existing small business owners and those interested in opening a new business.
To learn more about Enhanced HomeCare, visit its website at www.enhancedhc.com or call 913-327-0000; for more information about KSBDC, go to www.jccc.edu/ksbdc.{/mprestriction}
