Welcome to Home Companions!

Karen Horgen • 15 February 2025

It's finally time for our introductions..... I've been working on creating the perfect team for five years, now I'd like to introduce you. 

Good evening! I wanted to take some time to introduce myself, my passions in life and why we do what we do.

 My name is Karen Horgen, I am the owner of Home Companions and I have lived here in the city of Eau Claire going on 3 years now. I grew up locally and have spent most of my adult life within Eau Claire county. I am married and a mom to three wonderful children who are now grown adults and having weddings of their own.
I began my journey into caregiving twenty-five years ago, when I answered an employment ad in the local newspaper. The job was to take care of an elderly man with Alzheimer’s. For those of you who are unaware of what Alzheimer’s is, Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest of tasks. The job sent me to his house daily to help him get ready for the day. I’d also help him with cleaning the house, taking him grocery shopping, and taking him somewhere local for entertainment. I came back each evening to help him with dinner and help him get ready for bed. Throughout my time caring for him I learned just how interesting of a man he truly was, He talked about his adventures in the military and landing on the beaches of Normandy. His intense love for golf and how he owned 5 golf shops in Chicago. He loved to talk about his most interesting and favorite clients, which just happened to be the mafia! (Hard to believe I know, but, this isn't going to be the craziest thing you ever hear when you take the time to just listen.) There was not a moment spent with him that I didn’t learn or spend in awe of all he had accomplished in his lifetime.
I fell in love with my job and quickly understood that THIS is what I was created to do! I loved that I was able to care for him and, have a wonderful time with him when most people in his life had a difficult time helping him, if they could get him to cooperate with them in any way. My time caring for him shaped who I am today and pointed me in the direction I needed to go.

When my time with him ended, I went to school at Madison Area Technical College to get my CNA Certificate. After I received my CNA Certificate I then worked at Divine Savior in Portage, WI. After a few years I went to work at Columbia Health Care Center, where I worked another couple of years.

Life took on a whole new twist when my own grandfather needed help and could no longer live on his own. With all the training and a few years of experience under my belt, I had the confidence to invite him to come live with us. I knew then that keeping our loved ones home was a passion of mine, so as we were raising our three children we took care of my grandpa. Those three years also ended up being the last 3 years of his life.

In 2017 I took a position at an Assisted Living center in the area where I had the title of Life Enrichment Coordinator, which is a leadership position. While working there, I became aware that the waiting list for potential residents to move in was at minimum two years. I also knew that while those in their care were taken care of, there was still a large percentage of people waiting to get in and those people were in very serious circumstances. Loved ones still needed to be cared for and there just wasn’t enough support in our communities to help them. In even more dire situations were those with dementia, or Alzheimer's at any stage. Knowing these facts changed everything for me and I could no longer work there. I took the leap of faith and started my own In-Home Care company.
 
So, after a lot of work, and even more heart We are Home Companions LLC.

I started this company in July of 2019 with just myself and a desire to help people stay in their homes longer, where they can have a better quality of life in the place they feel most comfortable! It’s now 2025 and I have just celebrated five years, and I am amazed at how much we have grown every year! We are now up to 16 employees and 30 clients.

Based on my experience in the industry the common issues I saw that turned the best people away from caring for our loved ones was a lack of support. In my five years of business I have pursued my vision of creating an environment that nurtures and supports the best of the best. Allowing them to get better with each day. In turn that means that our patients, clients and friends receive only the best.
Remember the movie “The Titanic”? Albeit the tragic ending, I could never get over the level of personalization and how everyone on it received the best of the best. So, that’s my model. Only the best will do. I personally meet with and vet each of our care team members, and I personally meet and get to know each of our patients.  
It has been more than important to me that each of our patients and caretakers get the support they need in life, work, and emotions. I have worked so hard to create that environment for everyone who works with us on either side.
I have started this blog as a way to bring you along on my journey, the journey of my staff, and to share the ups and downs of caring for loved ones all across Wisconsin.

Until the next Blog, 
Yours,
Karen

Just a little more about US.

by Karen Horgen • 3 March 2025
Good Morning, Karen here with another introduction to our ever-growing team of amazing people. Keeping you informed and providing a great customer experience is very important to us. I would like to introduce you to some of the people that have joined my team, and have helped me provide all the amazing support and work that we do each day. First, I would like to introduce you to Meghan Beaver. She is our Administrative Liaison. Meghan joined our team to help us out with invoicing, H.R and the million other things we need help with daily. She will be answering any questions you may have regarding your invoices and policies. She has been a wonderful addition to our team. Here is a little bit about Meghan: Hi! My name's Meghan Beaver. I'm originally from Central Florida but moved up to Eau Claire in July of 2007 after I met my husband. I've been married to Matt, who also works with Home Companions for thirteen years. We have two fur babies and a ton of nieces and nephews. We both serve at our local church, working with young adults and others in a variety of areas. I have expertise in this area as that was one of my main focuses while I lived in Florida. I have been able to transfer my love of working with teens and young adults into a new love of working with the elderly and disabled. I have an extensive background in behavioral health, consisting of crisis management, de-escalation tactics, support and counsel, and problem solving. I've worked at various ministries in management positions overseeing teams, helped develop and implement policies and procedures, and I excel in helping organizations to plan, organize, implement, and achieve their goals. I believe one of the keys to having a successful business is to help ensure everyone has a positive atmosphere to work in, and staff and clients feel supported and heard. This is one of the driving forces in my decision to work for and with Karen. It is my honor to come alongside you with our team to help serve you and your family during these difficult seasons of life. We will do whatever it takes to make sure your loved one feels respected, given the dignity they deserve, and cared for as if they were our own family member. -Meghan Next, I would like to introduce you to another member of our team, Nicolette Johnson. She is our Support Liaison Nicolette has joined our team to help us bring new clients and employees on board. She will be able to answer any of your questions or concerns regarding scheduling and your care. She too has been a wonderful addition, with her vast experience as a C.N.A, problem solving skills, and ability to focus on the people we have the pleasure of working with. Here is a little bit about Nicolette: Hello, my name is Nicolette Johnson! I am the Support Liaison for Home Companions. I have 19 years of experience in the healthcare field. I started out as a CNA, where I worked in skilled nursing, assisted living, memory care, in home care and clinics. I earned my Associate of Applied Sciences in Medical Assisting degree and used that during my 6 years of being a Wellness Director in an Assisted Living and Memory Care community. I have an extensive background including customer service, assessing and creating care plans, patient care, scheduling, payroll, leadership, and human resources. I have a 17 year old son, and soon to be a brand new addition to our small family. My oldest keeps me busy with his three sports, baseball, basketball, and football! When we aren't at sports games, we enjoy the outdoors and spending time with family. I enjoy gardening, listening to music and traveling. I am happy to start my new chapter in life with Home Companions and continue to pursue my passion for helping others. -Nicolette Thank you for your continued support! Your business is greatly appreciated!! We are honored to serve you!! Karen Horgen
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