Sihar Tambunan, CNA
2024 Caregiver of the Year Awards: Home Care, West

Sihar Tambunan, CNA

CA-Santa Barbara
Terry describes Sihar Tambunan as reliable, cheerful and compassionate – a true professional who cares about each client. Previously worried about leaving Terry with a caregiver, his wife now knows that he’s “in good hands” with Sihar and she can confidently run errands. Learn more about Sihar’s impact on Terry’s life.

Nomination Letter

Written by the client, Terry

I would like to nominate Sihar Tambunan for “BrightStar Care Best and Brightest.” I am not able to walk or talk anymore – but I can still communicate! So here I am on my computer because I want to write and tell you about Sihar. He is caring, compassionate, and calm. He constantly exceeds my expectations! He is the best caregiver that I have had in over a decade.

You can’t teach the fine qualities that Sihar exhibits every day. He is amazing and was apparently born with the passion to serve others. His reliability is comforting. I feel like he's the same with every client. I was pleasantly surprised when I switched to BrightStar Care several years ago. The level of professionalism is through the roof! They have never missed a single day of care. He arrives every weekday morning on time and he greets me cheerfully. He follows the guidelines that BrightStar Care designates. He goes above and beyond every single day by asking me, “Is there anything else that you would like me to do?”

Sihar and the whole team in Santa Barbara simply takes care of me. I think they really “get it” when they consistently provide care. BrightStar Care tried out several caregivers at my house, but I really clicked with Sihar. I think he is the best of the best! He is attentive, he is kind-hearted, he is efficient, and he has exceeded my expectations since Day One.

Due to a medical diagnosis in 2009, I went into a wheelchair in 2011, and lost the ability to speak in 2015. All of that means that I need hands-on everything, every day. It also means that I have to keep a routine with eating and medications. Sihar is here to do that, but he does so much more.

Sihar knows what to do and when to do it. He isn’t here to just go through a list of things to do and cross each item off. He actually foresees my needs and knows how to meet them. When Sihar first began working with me, my wife was not entirely comfortable. She had not left me with a stranger before and did not want to go out. But I knew she needed a break, even to just run errands without hurrying. Once she saw the connection that Sihar and I had made, she was so relieved and happy, and able to take some breathing time.

Thank you very much for the services that you provide for the community! You make a positive difference. I hope you, BrightStar Care, have 100 Sihars. He has made all the difference in my life. People with my condition typically have a lifespan of two to five years after diagnosis…and here it is 2024, so I have gone 15 years! I can certainly assign some of the credit to Sihar.

I am very happy with BrightStar Care. Michael and Sharon have built a great agency! I know they couldn’t have done it without great people working with them. Sihar represents Brightstar Care of Santa Barbara County in the best possible way! Here’s to Sihar for Caregiver of the Year 2024!