Meet Andrew Carlson, managing partner of Home Care Partners.
Tell us a little about your business. – The caregiving services we provide help seniors maintain independence and give their families peace of mind. We support seniors in independent residences, assisted living, long-term care, and hospice. Seventy percent of working family caregivers suffer work-related difficulties due to their dual roles. Many caregivers feel they have no choice about taking on caregiving responsibilities. Thirty-nine percent of family caregivers leave their job to have more time to care for a loved one. We allow family members to maintain a parent/child relationship. Everyone is very busy. I feel it is very valuable to spend quality time with someone that is experiencing declining health and allowing professional caregivers to help with the daily tasks and personal care needs.
How did you get started in the business? – My own family experience of being the caregivers for my aging grandparents showed me how much stress was reduced when we hired a professional caregiving team for my grandmother after she had a fall and she was completing her therapy in her home. The caregiver was with my grandmother to help her with her daily tasks including meal prep, reminding her to take medications, and bathing and dressing. This help allowed my parents to continue to run their business and raise their young children while having the peace of mind that my grandmother was safe and cared for. I have worked in healthcare for the last decade. I have focused on helping hospitals and health systems to improve their patient-centered care. We saw the need in Lincoln to provide senior care with a higher level of customer service, person-centered care, and care management oversight.
What has been your most important achievement professionally? – It has been an honor for our team to be recognized locally the last several years with awards for being one of the best home healthcare providers. Our company is a locally owned small business that has thrived during difficult times.
Tell us a little about your family. – My wife Kristin is a CPA and works at Labenz & Associates accounting firm. We have a nine-year-old daughter named Addison and a four-year-old son named Ethan. We moved to Lincoln about 20 years ago and have made our home here.
What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? – Taking the leap to start a business. There are many entrepreneurs in Lincoln that have been helpful to us and have provided mentorship along the way.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – I am a member of a few European car clubs. I really enjoy talking to others that have a passion for keeping these older cars on the road. We have a few scenic drives annually, and I make a few trips with family and friends. I bring my kids on trips to go find a rare car, and it is fun for me to involve them to try and raise another generation of car enthusiasts.
What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? – “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” – Franklin Roosevelt
If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be? – Warren Buffett. I relate to his long-term thinking of running a business, and he has been a great steward with all that he has been entrusted with.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – (402) 780-1211; andrew@homecarepartnersofnebraska.com; www.homecarepartnersofnebraska.com.