My mom stayed at Lawlis Family Hospice at the end of her treatment for Stage 4 Colon Cancer, and had been sick for 8 years. The care she was given here opened my eyes to how well they take care of their patients and how “homey” it feels, even as a family member. It’s the best care I’ve seen given to patients in all of the hospitals I’ve been in through all of her treatments. We felt very welcomed and cared for.

I realized I wanted to be part of this work as soon as my Mom stayed here. I’ve always wanted to be a nurse and I was getting my CNA license. I was at school and saw there were openings here, and I got so excited and immediately applied cuz I just knew the environment here was so good and I wanted to be a part of it.

To support families through the same thing I went through makes me feel closer to my Mom, and closer to those moments that I had with her. Seeing the different ways family react to things and the things they go through, it really feels nice to be a part of the good parts when it’s such a difficult experience. It’s one of the things they’ll look back on and be grateful for.

As a Health Aide in Home Care, Ayisha is so grateful for the one-on-one time she has with patients. She wasn’t used to that when she worked all day in a facility setting. “My job is about building relationships and getting to know patients and their families. I give them my attention, my ear, and my advice.” Ayisha always finds a way to laugh with her patients, too. “I love what I do.”

Working as a Home Health Aide in Horizon’s Supportive Home Care program is a role that Annette says “goes beyond caregiving.” As a Private Duty Home Health Aide, she gives her undivided attention to one patient, over a longer period. “I spend time in their space, and experience how they live. I sense right away when something is wrong. Knowing someone so well takes my care to another level.”

Annette loves knowing that her coworkers are creating bonds and providing loving care just like she is, all over the community. “At Horizon, I’m a part of something bigger. I’m proud to wear the purple.”

What does a Homemaker Companion do? “Make life better,” says Susan, who's been with Horizon for over four years. Whether it’s helping a patient with tasks so that they can continue to live independently in their own home, or even serving as a confidante with whom a patient can share their thoughts and feelings, Susan makes an impact on the job every day. And the best part is, she knows that the rest of the care team has her back. “You’re never alone—everyone is so good about helping each other out. There’s a real sense of cohesion,” she says, “and I feel the camaraderie.”

For Milwaukee RN Case Manager Margaret, working at Horizon Home Care & Hospice is a family affair. Her mom is a retired Horizon nurse, and her daughter is a current Horizon nurse. All three of them truly appreciate the undivided attention they can provide patients in a one-on-one home setting. “You’re reaching someone who might not seek care otherwise. And, without any distractions, we can work on a plan of care together.”

It was always her dream to earn her Masters in the Science of Nursing and obtain her family nurse practitioner license, and working at Horizon helped her do just that. "I can say with 100% certainty that without Horizon as my employer, this would not have been possible. Horizon allowed me the flexibility to change my hours and position several times over the course of obtaining my degree to remain full-time to support my family and also graduate on time."

"Horizon recognizes that we all need work/life balance, and they work hard to help us achieve it."

Many Horizon employees know firsthand what it’s like to have a loved one in home care or hospice. Mai See was inspired to pursue a career in healthcare after her grandfather passed. She has been a Horizon Hospice Visit Nurse for four years.

“I love that I get to help so many people in their own home,” she says, and she’s most proud of being able to make patients comfortable during their end-of-life journey.

Along the way, her supervisors and colleagues are her support system. “Horizon is like family.”

For Coral, being a Physical Therapist with Horizon means lifting people out of crisis in various ways. There’s the actual physical therapy and rehab, but there are also emotional support and preventive education components to her job that keep her interested and engaged. “I thrive on doing different things, and being out and about. That’s why, for me, Horizon was ‘meant to be’. I’ve never left, and never will.”

Heather thrives in Horizon’s tight-knit culture. “As big as we are as a company, we still feel like a family.”

In fact, her positive attitude does a great deal to shape that culture. “I make it a point to meet everyone and make them feel welcome,” adding, “I really love helping my coworkers as much as I can.”

We thank Heather and all of our staff for making Horizon the great place to work that it is!