A shrinking social circle, constant gaps in caregiver schedules and strange faces showing up in her house. This was the experience Danny Birch’s 93-year-old grandmother went through when trying to receive much-needed care at home.
Birch knew there had to be a better way for his grandmother to live out her golden years with independence, grace and peace of mind, not just for herself, but the entire extended family.
Determined to find a better way, he founded, with his business partner and registered nurse Elizabeth Rose, Hero Home Care, built on the belief that seniors and their families deserve more.
Compassionate care at home
Since 2008, Hero Home Care has proudly provided more than 1,000,000 hours of in-home care to 3,000-plus families in need across the North Shore, Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey and the Fraser Valley.
With a team consisting of more than 300 healthcare professionals, Hero Home Care helps seniors who want to live independently and in the comfort of their own homes with services that range from companionship to 24-hour nursing care and everything in between.
“Too often, we hear people say, ‘I feel alone and isolated,’” says Birch, co-founder and CEO of Hero Home Care. “When we first connect with a family, we work to understand what’s prompting the need for support — whether it’s help with housekeeping, companionship or medical care. A big part of what we do is making the right match between the client and their caregiver team, so we can build trust, foster connection and ultimately help create more moments that matter in their lives with their loved ones and friends.”
Aging with dignity at home
Research shows that seniors who stay in their homes often enjoy better physical health, fewer hospitalizations, slower cognitive decline and greater emotional resilience. The comfort and familiarity of home can offer a sense of safety, stability and connection.
Birch’s entire team is aligned under one core principle: that aging at home is not just a dream, it is an achievable reality.
The Hero Home Care ethos is that helping people age in place is about more than just healthcare. It is about protecting the little things that give life meaning: morning coffee in your own kitchen, visits with loved ones, a familiar neighbourhood walk and the sense of dignity and independence that comes from living life on your own terms.
And what those terms look like can take on virtually any need – case in point, Birch’s team has even accompanied a family on vacation to care for their senior in need.
Getting that peace of mind for clients and their families begins with an in-home care consult with a Hero Home Care nurse care manager, the individual and their family complete a full health and wellness assessment and design a personalized home care solution.
These conversations can inevitably be stressful or difficult.
“It's an art form but our managers are really good at having a feel for the room,” Birch explains. “The goal is to have everyone involved and we help bring it all together to help make sure mom's safe, there's food in the fridge, laundry is done and there's some companionship on top of that.”
As the age-old adage goes, time is undefeated. But Birch believes how and where we age is something that can be shaped with the right support, knowledge and care.
“At the heart of everything we do at Hero Home Care is a simple but powerful mission: to create more moments that matter,” Birch says.
Learn more about how Hero Home Care can support your family by visiting www.herohomecare.ca.
