Over 50 Years of History
Click here to view the 50th Anniversary booklet.
The “Homemaker Service of the National Capital Area” was formally established on November 7, 1957. “Homemaker Service” was established as an organization for the “supervised placement of trained women in homes that otherwise might be broken up because of the absence or disability of the normal homemaker.” With an annual operating budget of $40,000, and salaries for full time homemakers approaching $50/ week, the agency that would eventually become Home Care Partners was born.
Although many of our early clients were families with children, the majority of our clients today are frail elders and individuals with disabilities. Special programs have been developed for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory problems. Home Care Partners’ emphasis has expanded to include not only the recipient of services but also the family members who care for them through our “caregiver support” programs. In addition, our well regarded Home Care Aide training program matured into a formal training school with licensure from the District of Columbia’s State Education office.
In 1972, the agency became one of the first two agencies in the United States to be accredited by the National Council for Homemaker Home Health Aide Services, (today the National Association for Home Care and Hospice). Today, Home Care Partners is accredited by JCAHO, the Joint Commission, one of the standard setting bodies in the field of personal care and health care.
In 2007, Home Care Partners was honored as a finalist in The Washington Post’s 2007 Excellence in Nonprofit Management award competition. This was quite a fitting tribute to our agency in its 50th year! A gala 50th anniversary luncheon was held on December 5, 2007 with music, inspirational speakers, and excellent food. Most importantly, many of our staff and important friends were there to honor our 50 years of history and the promising future ahead of us!