Supporting Seniors through All Seasons - Guest Post with Harrison Funk

This month we're pleased to hear from Harrison Funk of 4 Seasons Home Care based in Marietta, GA. Home care can be a wonderful option for those wanting to age in place, meaning stay in their own or a family member's home rather than transition to a residential care facility such as a senior living community. Harrison is passionate about not just providing quality care but also meeting families where they're at and really listening to their needs. Please enjoy reading his story and learning more about home care from this expert!

Introduce yourself and share about your background. How did you come to be a part of the home care industry?
Thanks for allowing me to share my story and learn more about your vision. I’m Harrison Funk, originally from Lawrenceville, with family spread across middle and north Georgia. 

I'm very close with my family, and I came to work in the home care industry by witnessing their unfortunate experiences with home care. We had situations where caregivers did not show up when they were scheduled to provide care for my grandparents, and we had to scramble to cover their care needs with family members. There were also instances where suboptimal care was provided. 

My grandparents’ experience affected me deeply and changed my career trajectory because I became determined to do better for seniors and others in our local communities who need our help.

What are you passionate about? How did your caregiving journey or experience change your outlook on life?
I’m passionate about doing right by our seniors who have been caring for their families their whole lives — because now, it’s time to ensure we care for them.  They deserve it, and we are here to do all we can for folks who cannot rely on an easy-to-navigate, comprehensive healthcare system.

When talking with families, I endeavor to be the person I would need if I were in their situation.  I do a lot of outreach and education for families on available resources, both within 4 Seasons Home Care and beyond, to local home healthcare companies, hospice companies, senior services in the local community, and more.

I’ve always wanted to effect positive change in the world, and watching what my loved ones went through within the home care industry clarified how I could begin to do that.

What resources or support do you point family caregivers to? Or, phrased another way: What's your message to family caregivers?
When I talk to families about their search for home care services, they often feel quite overwhelmed, and I always offer to meet with them in person to develop a plan. I see the time I spend talking to families as a service I’ll gladly dedicate my time and effort to, regardless of the outcome. 

Often, families have never had home care and don’t know where to start, or they have had poor experiences with home care. 

We meet people where they are and communicate with them in any helpful way, whether that’s a phone conversation, in-person meeting, written materials, articles on timely topics posted on our website, or all of the above.

My message to family caregivers is that I see you and that we step in at 4 Seasons Home Care so families can focus on their relationships with each other.

People often come to us feeling devastated because they’ve been the sole caretaker for their family members and they are exhausted and overwhelmed.  No one needs to suffer from not being able to do it all. 

Much of what we do allows families to rebuild and focus on the memories they want to continue to make with their loved ones for as long as possible.

Tell us about 4 Seasons Home Care and how you are making a difference in people’s lives.
4 Seasons Home Care is changing how we care for our loved ones.  We are an independently-owned local home care company serving the metro Atlanta area. 

We started with a location in Marietta and expanded to Stockbridge, Dunwoody, and most recently, Buckhead. 

Our growth has been incredibly exciting because we can serve many more people through our dedicated teams of caregivers. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we were experiencing a supply-and-demand crisis for professional caregivers, but we persevered and placed a heavy emphasis on developing and defining our team culture. 

We show our appreciation for our caregiving teams in innumerable ways and enjoy a much higher-than-average level of retention, which benefits everyone, not the least of whom are the families we serve.

What services do you offer and how can folks get in touch with you?
4 Seasons Home Care offers a proactive wellness program that focuses on physical, mental, social, and nutritional health. Elements under each category of wellness may include assistance with prescribed exercise plans (physical), customized exercises to promote brain health (mental), planned social activities and family communication support (social), and whole-food planning and proper hydration techniques (nutritional).

We provide a full suite of personal and companion care services tailored to the individual’s needs. Each service starts with an in-person nursing assessment by our Registered Nurse. 

We assist with activities of daily living so people can live safely and comfortably in their homes for as long as they desire. 

Folks can contact us through the Book a Consultation feature on the 4 Seasons Home Care website or by calling (678) 855-8901.