CHICAGO—Help at Home, a national provider of in-home personal care services, announced its 50th anniversary, commemorating five decades of enabling individuals to live with dignity and independence in their own homes. What began as a modest office in Evanston, Illinois, has grown into an organization that is "Doing More for More"—more for its 60,000 caregivers, more for its 70,000 clients and more for the communities it serves.
Founded in 1975, Help at Home has evolved from offering in-home care services in Illinois to becoming a trusted personal care services industry provider, delivering 85 million hours of care annually. This growth reflects the company's unwavering commitment to its mission of creating "great days and meaningful moments" for clients, while elevating the role of caregivers with its "culture of caring".
"For half a century, we've compassionately cared for the most vulnerable populations, enabling them to age-in-place independently at home," said Help at Home President Tim O'Rourke. "Celebrating five decades of caring is not only a celebration of our past legacy, but it's a celebration of the foundation we're building upon that's changing the way in-home care services are delivered for the better for our country's current and future generations."
To mark this 50-year occasion, Health Management Association (HMA) released a white paper focused on the current state of caregiving and how Help at Home's 50 years of experience has helped to solidify the company as a recruitment and retention powerhouse, working to improve the caregiving profession. The company's approach serves as a blueprint for addressing the increasing demand for in-home care to address the national caregiver gap. In the report, HMA cites the importance Help at Home places on its caregiver-client matching process using language, demographics, interests and geography—to build strong relationships that last an average of four years. This personalized approach enables improved health outcomes and greater satisfaction for both caregivers and clients.
"Every day, we aim to set a new standard when it comes to caregiving," said Help at Home's Chief Human Resources Officer Michelle Bonfilio. "Our commitment to a culture of caring has cultivated an environment where we've seen our caregiver workforce double over the past few years, with retention rates well above industry averages with hiring ranges of 3-4K per month. When we invest in our caregivers with advanced training, instant payment systems and career advancement opportunities, the impact ripples outward—clients receive more consistent care, families gain peace of mind and communities become stronger. This multiplier effect is one of our secrets to success because we understand that when caregivers thrive, everyone benefits."
Help at Home's achievements have garnered recognition throughout the industry, including being named to Newsweek's Greatest Workplaces for Diversity, Black Americans, Women and Parents and Families, as well as Forbes Best Employer designations across multiple categories.
Help at Home celebrates its rich history while looking forward to the next 50 years, focused on expanding its footprint, growing its care workforce and strengthening partnerships to serve more communities, caregivers and clients across the country—continuing its legacy of redefining home care through compassion, quality and innovation.