Always There Home Health Care offers many services

Kindness to a customer back in Patricia McMichael's days working in a gas station paid off for the new owner of Always There Home Health Care.

McMichael used to regularly take a newspaper out to one of the elderly customers of the gas station. He liked her helpfulness and suggested she work for him and his wife, providing care in their homes. McMichael, who had cared for elderly people in her family in the past and liked working with them, agreed.

The man then paid for her to receive the education she needed to obtain her degree as a Certified Nurse Assistant. A new career was launched.

"I found my passion," McMichaels says. "It took me 40 years, but I found it."

Recently, the man and his wife passed away. McMichaels decided to create a business using the skills she had developed. Always There HHC now provides home health care services such as meal preparation, medication reminders, grooming guidance, and respite care services.

In emergency situations, 24 hour service is provided. That's the reason behind the name "Always There," McMichaels says.

She recently became a partner with the Area Agency on Aging and is looking forward to working with those who otherwise could not afford to home health care.

Since opening, McMichaels has been able to employ five individuals and she hopes to hire additional staff as the Niles-based business grows.

"My goal is to help people stay in their homes as long as possible," McMichaels says.

• For more information on Always There HHC, send email or call 574-298-7866. Hours of operations are 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. except in cases of emergency.

Writer: Kathy Jennings, Second Wave Media
Source: Patricia McMichael, Always There HHC