Gardens of Western Reserve Home Care & Hospice puts the focus your loved ones by elevating their comfort and dignity—at home
By Mary Malik
If there’s one thing Rich Piekarski and Hanna Schindley have learned after more than 70 years of combined experience with all levels of elder care, it’s the importance of having empathy and compassion.
“We never know what the future will bring for the care of our loved ones, it’s a great comfort knowing that when the time comes for help, we know exactly where to turn,” Hanna says. “At Gardens of Western Reserve Home Care & Hospice, we provide caregivers whether help is needed 24-hours-a-day or a minimum of a four hour shift. You can live your life on your own schedule, right in your own home.”
Starting a career in eldercare right after college, Rich worked all over the country before settling in the Northeast Ohio area to work for a large senior care company. Later, in 1999, he designed and constructed the first of two assisted living facilities. Hanna joined Rich as director of nursing and then as administrator. Rich and Hanna later became partners in developing Gardens of Western Reserve Home Care & Hospice in 2014.
“With the assisted living facilities, our goal was to offer a place where residents could stay until end of life,” Rich says. “After 20 years, we eventually decided to sell the facilities and focus exclusively on home care and hospice services.”
Rich and Hanna understand that truly caring for people meant fulfilling not just their personal daily living, but also keeping their dignity at home. This meant making it possible for clients to remain in their homes while receiving all levels of care, including hospice services.
Along with Rich and Hanna, Rich’s son, Richie, joined the business three years ago. Richie says, “Often people are afraid to admit they need help for fear of having to give up their home. We take that fear away and help clients navigate through this difficult time. Our advice to families is to start early. Whether it’s just a few days or a shift a week to help with chores, transportation or all the way to full-time care, including hospice.” Rich, Hanna and Richie see the benefits of home care and how it results in a longer, healthier and improved quality of life.
“Taking the burdens of daily living away by having someone check in and monitor any health issues along with assisting with medication management and nutrition lessens stress,” Hanna says. “The sooner people get the support they need and form relationships with caregivers, the smoother the transition will be. It’s a program that keeps you living longer and extends one’s quality of life.”
Gardens of Western Reserve care begins with a meeting to assess loved ones’ needs and discuss options to personalize their care.
“We are experts in companion care, full-time 24/7 nursing care and everything in between,” Rich says. “We’ll guide you and your family by developing a personalized care plan for the best outcome. We know things can change quickly, and we are prepared to make those care changes as needed with the input from the client or family.”
Most of the caregivers at Gardens of Western Reserve have nursing home or assisted living care experience and are placed with clients based on needs and personalities.
“This is a very personal business,” Richie says. “We take great care when matching caregivers with clients. This is a relationship that requires thought, and we are very good at finding the right caregivers for our clients and then continuously following up to make sure everyone is satisfied. We respect the client’s home and we staff as few caregivers to minimize traffic in their home.”
Growing up around the home healthcare industry, Richie has experienced his father’s lifelong dedication to clients.
“This career was a natural progression for me,” Richie says. “I remember one Christmas morning as a child when my family and I were opening gifts and celebrating the holiday when the phone rang. One of dad’s home care clients had a caregiver who couldn’t make their Christmas Day shift. So, they packed us all up still in our pajamas and we went over to the house and covered that shift as a family. I’ve watched my dad and Hanna care for people like family since my childhood, and now I’m proud to be part of it.”
Gardens of Western Reserve Home Care & Hospice is located at 3792 State Road in Cuyahoga Falls. For more information call 216-916-1110, email hanna@gardensofwesternreservehospice.com or check the website TheGardensOfWesternReserve.com.