BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Tuesday for a senior care company that helps aging elders in the comfort of their own homes.

What You Need To Know

  • Home Instead held a ribbon cutting in Bowling Green this week

  • The company provides care for seniors at their home rather than a nursing home

  • Employees bake sweet treats every morning for visitors

The purpose of Home Instead is to provide care for aging seniors in the comfort of their own home, rather than face them to live in a nursing home.

“Home is where the heart is,” Vice President of We Care Senior Care Jason Hiles said. “Home is where you wanna be. I know it’s one of my favorite places when I walk in every night and see my family.”

However, when people come into their building for care, Home Instead employees make sure empathy, love and comfort are is present. The employees bake sweet treats every morning, as well as the arrange the inside of the building to give it a home-like physique.

“We make fresh cookies every morning. It doesn’t do much for the waste line, but it is an aroma for thinking about: How does this place feel homey? How do we welcome people?” Hiles said.

“We have snacks they could eat, we have a fridge full of drinks for ‘em, and we keep this all stocked,” General Manager Vicki Decker said.

But for Hiles, his work isn’t just for a paycheck. His passion stems from his relationship with his 10-year-old daughter, Addy.

“She was diagnosed with something called Aicardi syndrome. It’s a very rare epilepsy, basically means she seizes. Could be hundreds of times a day,” Hiles said.

And because of Addy’s diagnosis, doctors believed she was never going to walk again.

“We were told that her life span would be cut short, that the average life span is about 18. We were told that she would probably never walk or talk, but she’s kind of a miracle,” Hiles said.

Addy now walks, speaks well and “loves life,” Hiles added. And that reason alone is why Hiles joined the profession he’s in today.

“One of the fundamentals for our company is that we believe in something called the growth mindset,” Hiles said. “It’s really kinda a persevering mindset, right? You just keep going, you figure things out.”

“If she fights to live another day, I can certainly advocate on behalf of seniors and work for a company that has a passion for taking care of people.”

The first Home Instead location opened back in 1994. The company operates locations throughout the South and Midwest, including one in Frankfort.