In 1946, 3.4 million babies were born. Of those, 2.8 million are still alive including George and Laura Bush, Bill Clinton, Donald Trump and my parents! By 2030 when the first baby boomers reach 84, the number of Americans over 65 will increase 75% to 69 million. That means 20% of our population will be over 65 compared to 13% today. Have you cared for a loved one? You know the physical and emotional exhaustion that only a caregiver experiences. If you haven't played the role of caregiver thus far, you will at some point. When Rick had his automobile accident in 1991 and ended up in a wheelchair with 3rd degree burns, he was fortunate to spend most of his time recuperating at home. His home health nurse came to his home and cleaned his burns; a process called skin debridement where dead skin tissue is removed to promote wound healing. To this day and after 14 surgeries Rick will tell you that skin debridement was the worse thing he has ever experienced. Being at home made the process easier to tolerate. Fast forward to 25 years later and having completed an Ironman, Rick can now personally say that he knows firsthand the importance of resting in the comfort of your own home. For that reason, we want to help as many people as possible remain in their own home and age or recuperate where they are most comfortable. A home can be an assisted living community or independent living. Regardless, having an extra set of hands to help keep you safe and independent is our purpose. I want to personally thank the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, our community partners, friends and employees for celebrating alongside BrightStar Care at today's ribbon cutting! This is our 4th year in business and we continue to grow. I cannot end this blog without also thanking you, the reader, because you understand why we exist as a business. Without your support we wouldn't be where we are today! Best, Amy
