by COLUMBUS, Ohio — Kara Clark has a heart for serving others.
“Healthcare is my passion and, more importantly, people are my love,” said Clark, owner of Purple Hearts Home Health.
Inspired by the military who give their lives to serve their country and earn a purple heart, Clark’s Purple Hearts Home Health Agency is all about serving others in the comfort of their home.
“The goal is to keep people at home so they can live their golden years at home because, you know, it changes things once you go into a nursing home, you don’t have the same rights, you don’t have that.” I don’t have the same freedom,” Clark said.
She worked in healthcare for years, but after being laid off from her job, she decided to open her own agency in 2020.
“I know this is my goal. I know this proposal is doable. I have to serve people. And that doesn’t mean just one way. There are many different ways to serve people,” Clark said.
As an owner, this mother of four sends home care aides to various clients in Franklin County to help them with all their non-medical needs.
“So we’re sending health aides home to help people with maybe transportation to the store, helping them with cleaning, maybe helping them in the shower, and medication reminders,” Clark said.
Melissa Gualtieri of the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging said the need for this type of work is critical.
“The nurse shortage in Ohio is exponential, especially in the home health care field. Home care nurses earn less money. They have to travel between houses. Often they travel long distances and don’t get mileage reimbursement,” said Melissa Gualtieri, director of clinical innovation for the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging.
And while Clark doesn’t work with registered nurses, Gualtieri is happy to hear that Clark is taking initiative and starting her own business to help with the need for home care.
“It is something that is desperately needed. You know, we have to be innovative and think about how we’re going to close the gaps in care,” Gualtieri said.
‘I am blessed. I have a great support team. I have a support system of people who help me, my family and a few friends who help with my children when I need them. My children understand very well what mom does,” says Clark.
Clark says Purple Hearts Home Health is all about accommodations and flexibility because life is different for all of us, especially when it comes to finances.
“I try to make it cost-effective for the family. I try to do it based on what they feel comfortable with because everyone can’t afford the type of services that someone needs,” Clark said.
For more information about Purple Hearts Home Health, click here.
