If you didn’t already know, I’m not the only pet therapy pooch trying to make a difference in aging humans’ lives! Meet Kozzy (pronounced “cozy”), my new puppy pal and first professional colleague. His mom ran into my boss at a conference a couple weeks ago, and they figured we would get along great. Kozzy lives in Missouri and has been helping others through Nurses & Company for over six months. Since he’s such a pro, I figure he’ll be a great canine to call when I need some advice!

Kozzy visits people in hospice and gives them a little added love and care when they need it most. He is also pet therapy certified through Therapy Dogs International, which is where I will get my certification in the next few weeks. Maybe I can “chase” a few tips out of him! Like Kozzy, I love bringing joy and laughter to others – especially by cuddling and comforting the people I meet. I am really excited to have a new friend in the field, and hopefully one day we will be able to play some fetch together!

For the fifth year in a row, Bob Roth, managing partner of Cypress HomeCare Solutions, will be attending the National Association of Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) 2012 Strategic Planning Congress (Congress) in Orlando, Fla. Feb. 2 and 3. The invitation-only event is reserved for influential leaders in the home care and hospice community. Bob will be joined by approximately 150 home care and hospice industry visionaries to create and discuss the 2012 Strategic Action Plan that will be a reference for all NAHC members for the coming year.

Founded in 1982, NAHC is the oldest, largest and most respected trade association in the industry, and hosts a number of conferences each year for its member agencies and individuals. The primary function of NAHC is to represent home care and hospice agencies in an effort to ensure all Americans have access to the benefits of home care, so far as this is possible. NAHC actively advocates for legislation pertaining to the field with the focus of delivering the highest standards of performance in care.

Bob and the other invitees have been tasked with the responsibility of establishing united goals for the home care and hospice community for 2012. Attendees will review the issues and priorities from 2011, identify and discuss potential obstacles and threats to achieving success, and prioritize key strategies for facilitating achievement of goals in 2012. The Congress will focus on the shifting political and environmental landscape occurring within the home care and hospice community, with a plan to appropriately and effectively respond to potential legislative changes.

Here at Cypress, we are proud of Bob and his invitation to this influential meeting, and we are looking forward to adopting and enacting the revolutionary goals established at the Congress.

Woof! Yes, that is a bark of excitement….because…. I passed the American Kennel Club Good Citizen Test! And boy, was it a doozie. I had to pay attention and follow all of these commands and ignore all of the distractions, including the talking bird. No joke.

With my dogged focus and determination, I aced each part of the test without a hitch. I will admit, though, that the hardest obstacle was ignoring my fetching friend Toby, my trainer’s dashing Border Collie. I really wanted to run around with him, but I just sniffed him a bit and kept my cool (he didn’t seem that interested anyway). I knew it was important for me to pass, but I just couldn’t help my snout curiosity! Overall, even though it WAS a test (and I did study!), I had a ton of fun with my trainer, owner and puppy pals.

Coral with her cat Julie

What does it mean to be solutions–driven? Just ask the dedicated schedulers in our office. Regardless of the situation, our team excels at finding the right solution, every time.

Take, for instance, a recent call to our office from a distressed cat owner who was experiencing trouble handling her pet. As a non-medical homecare agency, this most definitely fell out of our typical scope. However, our feline-friendly scheduler Coral took the time to listen and provide resources to help the owner of the crazed kitty. With her extensive cat knowledge, Coral was able to suggest a new, outdoor living arrangement for the cat; and, in line with Cypress expectations, a follow-up call is scheduled for the next few weeks.

At Cypress, we value our approach to problem solving, even when it seems like the solution is out of our reach. We actively refer to outside sources to ensure that people get the help they need. We recognize the power of compassionate understanding, and we make sure to go above and beyond to make a positive difference with any situation. Now if that isn’t solutions–driven business, we don’t know what is.