ComForcare News Release
Silver Torch Award

First Annual Silver Torch Award Winner

 The Better Business Bureau Consumer Foundation presented the First Annual Silver Torch Award to ComForcare Senior Services of Charlotte. The 2007 Silver Torch Award was designed to recognize outstanding companies in the Charlotte and surrounding areas who provide service excellence within the older adult community. Maryanne P. Dailey, MA, Director of the Better Business Bureau Consumer Foundation said, "The winner was selected by an independent panel of judges comprised of educators and state representatives specializing in the older adult community. We are very proud to have such high caliber of companies serving this special population." The winner was announced at the Award Ceremony on Thursday, October 11, 2007 in conjunction with the 3rd Annual Charlotte Metro Social Worker and Case Manager Appreciation Luncheon held at Centerstage @ NoDa.

Phil Koch is all about a good night's sleep. Not just for himself, but for the couple hundred of clients, and their families, he currently is working with. For them, a good nights sleep is one factor in helping to improve their quality of life.   Phil, and his wife Lisa, are in the business of helping people. They are co-owners of ComForcare Senior Services - a home care service provider for, primarily, the elderly in their homes or in senior communities. In just a few years, they have seen their business grow from servicing a four county area to a ten county area within the Charlotte region including upstate SC..  ComForcare's surge in growth within the area's home care industry is a result of a combination of hard work and dedication. However, the foundation in which ComForcare is built upon is integrity and customer service. "Our company puts integrity and customer service at the forefront of everything we do with our clients and their families," Phil Koch said. "Our clients and their families entrust us personally with guiding them through very difficult and emotional times that, as a result, can often touch family dynamics." It has been said that business integrity is the heart and soul of a company's culture. The Koch's make sure it starts with them and trickles down to both office staff and the caregivers they employ.

Phil and Lisa Koch presented with the First Annual Silver Torch Award

 "Integrity is vital in this industry," Phil Koch said. "These seniors are reliant upon us, and under no circumstances should they be mistreated or taken advantage of."

 The services that ComForcare provides areas is predicated on matching the right caregiver with the client. "Our services are generally one-on-one", said Koch. "To us, it's much more than just business. It's personal too. It is our job to put a personal, trusting, and reliable face to the service we provide. Ultimately, our product is the trust and relationship that is built between the caregiver and the client."

 Gerard McDonough, CEO of Leadfirst Leadership Development in Charlotte, arranged for ComForcare to assist his mother in her relocation from Williamsburg, VA to Charlotte, NC. He was impressed how ComForcare went the extra mile to ensure as smooth a transition as possible.

 "Frequent changes in my mother's condition required a great deal of flexibility on [ComForcare's] part," said McDonough. "I couldn't have been more pleased with ComForcare's ability to flex with, and even anticipate, our needs."

 On October 11, 2007, ComForcare Senior Services was named the inaugural winner of the Silver Torch Award. This award, given to one company each year, was sponsored by the Better Business Bureau Consumer Foundation. It, was designed to recognize outstanding companies in the Charlotte and surrounding areas who provide service excellence within the older adult community.

 Phil Koch feels this honor will continue to raise the image and profile of ComForcare in the region. "We are thrilled to be the winner of the Silver Torch award," Koch said. "For a new company with only a few years under our belt, this award confirms to me that we are on the right path. It's nice to see that our work ethic, morals, and dedication to service are beginning to be recognized within the industry."

 The Koch's experienced the need for home health assistance back in 200X. Lisa's father, Maurice, fell ill with osteoporosis. However, his illness wasn't severe enough to warrant full-time nursing care. As a result, this meant that Lisa's mother, Shirley had to take on the role of the caregiver.

 As the stress of the situation began to mount, Phil and Lisa could see the strain it was placing on Shirley. Her social life and activities were suffering, and she was beginning to lose weight. This caused concern for Lisa and her sisters. Now they began worrying about their mother. In just a short period of time, the entire family, in one form or another, became caregivers.

 The Koch's sought advice and support for their dilemma. They discovered that the need for a part-time home care giver was just the solution they were looking for. This way, Maurice's needs were taken care of, enabling Shirley to resume her day-to-day activities and return to somewhat of a normal schedule. This situation opened their eyes about the need and the future demand for home care in this country.

 With this new found perspective, the Koch's look at their clients in a new way. "The question that we continually ask ourselves in providing our service is how you would I want my your mother and father taken care of," Phil Koch explained. "We have been there, and have some understanding of what our clients and their families are going through." And that makes them proud. "This is about providing care in someone's home, apartment, or retirement community to ease both the work load and stress of the client, but equally that of the family and friends that are also caregivers."

 "At the end of the day, we can both sleep well at night knowing, that through our actions at home and our company, we are doing the right thing," he added.