Lori Wengerd was hosting over 20 people on Thanksgiving Day when she received a call that a client needed help. “My staff works so hard that I didn’t want to ask them to choose work over home on this holiday. If I had stopped to think about having to leave my celebrations, I would have felt sorry for myself. So I just told my husband and sons to keep the party going, hopped in my car, and spent the evening with Bob. This was a crotchety man I knew would NOT appreciate my sacrifice, but making sure he had help was the right thing to do.” That is the definition of who Lori is!
After working for 25 years in the communication field, Lori switched careers when she realized her long-time goal was to serve older adults. With the support of her husband, Mark, she founded Home Care Assistance in 2009. “As the premier provider of in-home care for seniors, my company has a lofty mission: to change the way the world ages.” Since opening Home Care Assistance, the company has grown exponentially every month to become the leading home care provider in central Ohio. “In addition to establishing strong business processes and upholding high standards on the service side, I have focused on providing superior care that emphasizes quality over quantity. My company’s dedication to providing the best care in the business has allowed us to develop a loyal base of clients who help the business grow through their heart-felt referrals to friends and family.”
Along with being the owner and president of Home Care Assistance, Lori is on the Board of Trustees of the National Parkinson Foundation Central & Southeast Ohio, on the executive committee of AWARE (women’s group of the Alzheimer’s Association of Central Ohio), a public policy ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Association of Central Ohio, and on the Board of Directors of the Upper Arlington Commission on Aging.
With being involved in so many organizations, how does Lori find time to balance everything? “If ‘balance’ is defined as enjoying many different activities and people, then I am not a good balancer. If ‘balance’ means having control over one’s life, then I’m very good at that. What I am trying to say is that I’m a workaholic. Even my volunteer activities are in the field in which I work. That said, if family or friends need me, I will drop everything to be there for them.”
Lori says that she is inspired by other people who admit their mistakes and shortcomings. “I admire them for saying it aloud, and it makes me realize that personal and professional success does not come from perfection.” Lori also says that she has a couple of ultimate life goals. “I’ve always wanted to have awesome relationships. Check. I’ve always wanted to run a thriving business that is doing good work. Check. I’ve always wanted to be a concert-level pianist and Olympic gymnast. Ummm. Beyond that, I just want to live a life that honors the gifts I’ve been given.”