Latest / The Inspired Stories Podcast / The Power of Positivity: Ann Garcia's Recipe for Entrepreneurial Success | Nursing Home Series | Senior Care

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The Power of Positivity: Ann Garcia's Recipe for Entrepreneurial Success | Nursing Home Series | Senior Care · The Inspired Stories Podcast

0:04
Welcome to another edition of Inspired Stories where leaders
0:07
share their experiences so we can learn from their successes,
0:10
how they've overcome adversity, and explore current challenges
0:13
they're facing. Welcome to another edition of
0:18
the Inspired Stories podcast where leaders share their
0:21
experiences so we can learn from their successes and be inspired
0:25
by how they've overcome adversity.
0:27
My name is Anthony Kotaspodi and today's guest is Anne Garcia,
0:31
CEO of COM for Care Assisted Living, a network of four
0:36
residential care homes located in Bellaire, TX.
0:40
They provide excellent care, loving attention and support for
0:44
seniors who are no longer able to live alone.
0:47
They also offer complex care for the frail elderly, aged or
0:51
disabled as an alternative to the institutional environment of
0:55
a nursing home. They protect the dignity,
0:57
individuality and privacy of each of their residents while
1:01
striving to support and maintain their independence and highest
1:04
quality of life. Anne herself came to the USA in
1:08
2009 with nothing but a dream to live better and help serve
1:12
others through her profession. She worked as a nurse for a few
1:15
years where taking care of her patients was a source of joy and
1:19
satisfaction. She knew she had found her
1:21
calling and the owner at the time noticed her enthusiasm and
1:25
dedication to senior care and she offered to sell the business
1:28
to Anne in 2018 as she was retiring.
1:32
And we're going to hear a lot more about her journey in just a
1:34
moment. But before we get into all that
1:36
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AD back benefitsagency.com. Now back to our guest today, the
2:09
CEO of COM for Care Assisted Living.
2:11
And Garcia, I appreciate you making the time to Share your
2:13
story today. Thank you, Anthony.
2:16
How are you? I'm doing great, thanks for
2:17
asking. So tell me, what was the journey
2:21
that brought you into the USA to begin with?
2:24
How did that happen? So, you know, I believe in
2:28
timing. You know, there's the perfect
2:31
timing. I was a college student in the
2:34
Philippines, a nursing college student, and I've always wanted
2:38
to be a nurse. And at that time, my dad had a
2:41
pending petition from his, from his sister coming to the USA.
2:47
We weren't sure if we want to do it.
2:49
We just knew that it was an opportunity.
2:51
And so right before, after the age of 21, you're not able to
2:54
come and come with your family. At that point, you're considered
2:58
an adult. And so, you know, six months
3:01
before I turned 21, I graduated nursing and our petition got
3:06
approved. So what are what are the odds
3:08
you know you? Just snuck in before that
3:10
deadline. That's great.
3:12
Yeah, yeah. So that's why my dad, we all
3:15
came as a family, both my dad, my mom and my two siblings, 1 is
3:20
a nurse and one is an accountant and both my parents are
3:23
accountants. And so my parents, they were
3:25
like in their 50s, sixties at that time.
3:27
And so, you know, it was hard for them to find a job that were
3:32
that were in line with their profession, but they worked
3:37
just, you know, just to be able to work and do something and
3:40
not, you know, it wasn't what they really went to school for,
3:43
but that's OK because they did that over the Philippines and,
3:47
and this is the land of, you know, opportunity.
3:49
So I think they did it well. I know they did it for us, for
3:53
the children and and I love my parents for that.
3:56
And how is it that you landed in Texas?
3:59
Why? Why was that where you went?
4:01
My aunt who petitioned my dad lived in Texas.
4:05
OK. And so we just, you know,
4:07
family, Family plus Med center. And so you finished your nursing
4:13
degree in the Philippines when you came to the states where you
4:17
immediately able to get a job as a nurse?
4:19
Or did you have to go through new schooling, new
4:21
certifications? So that's a very good question.
4:25
So we got here around July of 08/09, I think 08, a month after
4:36
I was, so the goal was really to have a job right immediately,
4:39
You know, I was a nurse, I graduated in the Philippines.
4:41
I had, I was a nurse in the Philippines.
4:44
I got my boards over there, never practiced, came to the US
4:48
and I have to take my NCLEX, which is a licensure here in, in
4:53
America for you to practice as a nurse.
4:55
So I was reviewing for that. And two months after we came
5:00
into this beautiful country, my dad had a stroke, a major
5:04
stroke, a type of stroke that if it would have happened in the
5:07
Philippines, he would have been gone.
5:09
And and here at that time there had a certain they had a medical
5:16
intervention that was available, newly FDA approved in Texas.
5:21
And that's what saved his life. I mean, if there's divine
5:24
intervention, that right there is, is, you know, the timing
5:28
again, Anthony? So, so my dad had a very
5:34
terrible stroke. He ended up in the ICU for two
5:37
weeks. I was reviewing for my NCLEX.
5:40
OK. I was reviewing for my NCLEX and
5:42
I was on the verge. He was, he was healing, he was
5:45
getting better. I was on the edge of do I want
5:49
to pursue my nursing career or do I just become a caregiver for
5:52
my dad? And then I was talking and
5:55
praying about it. I'm, I'm, I'm spiritual.
5:57
And so, you know, I have that in me, my mom and I, and then my
6:02
mom said, and if you do not become a nurse, you are just,
6:07
you know, it's a it's a way. I don't think if your dad was
6:09
awake, awake unaware right now, he wants you to do it.
6:12
You know he will. He would want you to take that
6:15
test and and figure out, you know, where you want to go next.
6:18
Don't let this stop you because we're here.
6:20
We're here, You know, so that good family support.
6:23
I took the Anaclex. Well, my dad was recovering at
6:25
the rehab and I was on my way to the hospital.
6:29
My mentor called and said that I passed.
6:33
And I was just crying and crying and crying.
6:36
And I knew from that time that this was what I was meant to do
6:39
was to become a nurse. And, and because I've always
6:42
questioned myself, you know, is this, is this the right
6:45
profession for me? Do I really want to do this?
6:48
Especially when you start reviewing for the boards,
6:50
Anthony, It's, it's pretty, you know, it's pretty tough.
6:53
And so I, I went ahead and I passed and I went to the
6:57
hospital and I cried and I offered it to my dad and I told
7:01
him, this is all for you. And guess what?
7:05
Because I don't have an experience here in the US,
7:08
right? So it's hard for me to find a
7:09
job. I don't know the culture.
7:12
I only know like what I watch on the TV.
7:15
And I don't know, you know, I grew up in the Philippines.
7:18
And so when I came here, I have to learn the culture.
7:21
You want to work, you want to work in America, you have to
7:24
learn the culture, you have to, you have to join and at least,
7:27
you know, understand how they do things over here.
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And, and I came from 00, even my accent was not like this.
7:35
I had to practice. I had to practice to be able to
7:37
talk like this. People always ask me, did you
7:39
grow up here? You don't talk like one.
7:41
No, I didn't, but I did practice because it is very important,
7:45
especially in this career. And, and anyway, so I went ahead
7:50
and started my first job at the hospital where my dad got
7:56
admitted. And, and it's so funny because
7:58
it's one of the major hospitals here in Texas.
8:01
They never accept new grants, especially me.
8:03
Like I had the accent, I knew nothing.
8:06
I have no experience. You know, Anthony, when I went
8:09
there, when I walked into the HR, all I said was my dad is
8:13
here. He's a, he is a he is I just I
8:17
just passed my unclex. My dad is a patient here and I
8:20
one day want to become like one of those nurses that's carrying
8:23
care for him. And and that got me the job.
8:27
My manager said I was crying here listening to you and you
8:32
already got the job. You were just talking.
8:34
I was already signing your offering, you know, being
8:38
vulnerable and just just telling your heart out.
8:42
So do you think sharing that story is what helped to get you
8:45
the job or or had that decision already been made?
8:49
That helped, that helped, that helped.
8:50
Because really, I don't know anything.
8:52
But I told her I was willing to learn.
8:55
I have. I have the heart.
8:57
I saw those nurses that are taking care of my dad and I want
9:00
to be like them. So, and can you give us a
9:02
specific example of something that in the American culture
9:08
that you had to get accustomed to, that you had to learn?
9:14
First of all, an example is lunchtime, like lunchtime, OK,
9:22
you know, they all, you know, we all have different schedules.
9:26
And so one day I brought this is like a funny story.
9:30
I find it, it wasn't offensive at all, but I brought fish
9:33
because I'm used to that, you know, and so you don't do that.
9:37
You don't you don't bring fish to the break room.
9:40
And I got a little, I got a little offended.
9:42
I was like, why, why, why are they judging me?
9:44
Like, what is? And then my friend, she said,
9:46
Anne, you know that we don't do that here.
9:49
You know, I understand that's how it is over in the
9:51
Philippines. But here you eat the smell, you
9:54
have to respect. And I was like, Oh my gosh, I'm
9:56
so sorry. Because in the Philippines we
9:57
bring fish for lunch, you know, not a problem.
10:00
But here you have the small break room.
10:02
You have to be. You have to be.
10:05
You have to. Be a good neighbor to your Co
10:08
workers. Right, right.
10:09
You have to be mindful about that, that and then, you know,
10:13
the teamwork that they have here, you know, some people will
10:16
say, oh, Oh yeah, just just different, just just different
10:20
cultures, different approach, all that.
10:24
I had to adjust and I had to learn.
10:26
So how is it that you went from this hospital to landing at
10:31
Comfort Care Assisted Living? So when I was working, I worked
10:35
at the hospital for 10 years. I just knew growing up I had my
10:39
parents, my both my parents were entrepreneurs.
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So we would wake up on the breakfast table and they will
10:45
start talking about business. They will start talking about
10:48
casual, you know, how's this going?
10:50
How's this, how's the rentals going on this one?
10:52
How's the farm doing, blah, blah, blah.
10:55
So that was a normal day for us and my mom would start talking
10:59
about money and you know, how to deal people, people how to treat
11:03
staff. And that was just the we were
11:06
just used to that. So when I was working for more
11:09
Herman, that hospital where I work for, I always knew that I
11:13
could do better. I could do more.
11:15
Deep inside me, I always wanted an exit to where I'd be able to
11:21
help others and at the same time have the control my time be be
11:27
an entrepreneur. You know, there's no so much
11:29
more to nursing than be working at the bedside.
11:34
And when I was working at the hospital, all my colleagues
11:37
already had plan B's. You know, to be honest, it's,
11:40
it's a very hard job and you'd get burned out.
11:44
So either they would go back to school or moving out or doing
11:48
something different. My, my route was just different
11:51
from everybody else. And it was one of the routes
11:54
that a lot of people want to go. But at the same time, it's very
11:58
challenging, you know, being an entrepreneur and nurse
12:01
entrepreneur, because it is now 24/7 compared when you're
12:05
working for a, for a hospital, which is like 12 hour shifts,
12:08
you know, you clock out, you're out, you know, you're not
12:11
bothered. You're, you're, you're out, your
12:13
hands are clean, you've done your job, you go home.
12:16
But when you're an entrepreneur, you go home and you might still
12:20
need to work, you know, although the fruits, the labor are very
12:25
sweet, but it's not something that majority or a lot of people
12:28
that I know at least wants to dive in.
12:31
So you were working at the hospital for 10 years.
12:34
You're like, OK, I, I want something else.
12:36
I, I want to try something new. And so you found your way to
12:40
come for care, assisted Living and.
12:43
Yeah, so let me tell you that story, my friend, girlfriends,
12:48
we've talked about it. We all work in different
12:50
hospitals where nurses, we all different hospital, different
12:52
fields of nursing. So I said one day I'll be able,
12:56
I always just put it out there. One day I'll I'll be an
12:58
entrepreneur, I'll own my own assisted living.
13:00
I I said that to my, you know, which is casual.
13:03
And she said, oh, Oh yeah, I worked for one.
13:06
You might want to come visit and, and meet the owner just to
13:09
tour, just to see. And I had a six month old baby,
13:12
my eldest at that time. And I said, sure, why don't you
13:15
introduce me to her? You know, it won't hurt.
13:17
You know it won't hurt. I just want to see what the
13:19
whole concept is all about and see if that's something that I
13:21
want to do because I've never met.
13:23
I read about it, about this industry, but I've never met
13:26
anybody that's actually doing it.
13:29
So I called and we had an appointment.
13:32
I walked in and this two older ladies, the owners, they are in
13:36
their 60s at that time, sixties, 70s, not, you know, I mean, not
13:41
really old, but they were they were there, they were cute, they
13:44
were loving, they were doing what they were supposed to be
13:46
doing. And I walk in with my six month
13:48
old baby and I said hi. And I'm Anne and I'm, I'm here
13:53
to see to tour the facility. And she looked at me like, OK,
13:58
and you know, go ahead and tour. And I said, well, OK, well let
14:02
me go see, you know, just went there, walked around and she
14:05
said, you know what, sweetie, we need a nurse.
14:08
Would you like to come and work for us?
14:11
And I thought about it. I had a job.
14:12
I had a full time job, night shifts, working at a critical
14:16
care unit and a six month old baby Anthony.
14:19
And she wanted to offer me a job.
14:22
So. But you know what?
14:23
I had my mom with me at that time.
14:26
So my mom was said, Oh well, let me think about it.
14:29
I said OK, sure. I'll your mom said that me.
14:32
Oh, you. Said that because I instead of
14:34
saying no, because I know my mom was already listening instead of
14:38
saying no, but in my mind I was like, there's no way.
14:40
There is no way I'm working a full time job with a baby and
14:43
coming over here to do this. But I, I took, I was a nice, I
14:47
was a nice lady. I took the application and I
14:50
said, OK, well, I have your number, I'll call you.
14:51
So I went to the call. My mom said, I said, you're
14:54
going to get that job right? I said, mom, mom, how am I going
14:57
to do that job? She said, I'm here, I'll help
14:58
you with the baby, you know, And I said, but mom, do I really
15:02
need the money? I mean, I don't need she's.
15:03
And she goes, you're not here for the money.
15:06
You're here to learn. And this is the best way to do
15:08
it. Mom's wise.
15:12
You know what when they when people say listen to your mom,
15:14
mother knows best. I now own and operate the
15:19
businesses. So you took a job there.
15:23
You're working there for several years.
15:24
The owner at the time, she notices your passion, she
15:27
notices how good you are with the patients.
15:30
She sees you've got a good head on your shoulders.
15:32
And it's. So at some point she comes to
15:34
you and she says what? She comes to me.
15:37
Well, I don't know if you've heard of, of Harvey, the big
15:40
storm that hit Houston. Yeah, I think that was what, 7
15:44
years ago? Yeah.
15:47
The, the owner's house got hit really bad.
15:49
And she was not, you know, she was dealing with a lot of stuff
15:53
at that time. And I've noticed that.
15:55
And she, I, I actually sat with her and said, when you're ready
16:00
to sell, you know, I'm here, let me know.
16:06
And at that time, me and me and Charles, my husband, we were
16:09
just, we didn't know what to do. We, we love California.
16:13
Who doesn't nurses love California.
16:16
So we said, let's go to California, Let's work, let's
16:19
get a job. Just let's save up.
16:22
Because then it was time for us to buy a house and, and all that
16:24
and, and earn that money. So let's go to California.
16:27
We're both nurses and and sign up for a contract and come back
16:31
to Texas. That's what most sources do.
16:33
Anthony, FYI, we go to California, we work at the Bay
16:37
Area and then we come back. Why specifically the Bay Area
16:40
They. They pay a lot over there.
16:43
Right. Cost of living is high there, so
16:44
they have to pay more, right? You, you go there for a little
16:48
while, you, you, you can put some money in your savings
16:50
account and then you come back to lower cost of living.
16:53
Yeah. Correct, correct.
16:54
That's that's one of our techniques as nurses.
16:58
So we had that contract laid out, Anthony laid out, ready to
17:02
sign, right. We talked about it and here
17:05
comes the owner calling me saying, Annie, I'm ready to sell
17:08
my business. I'm offering you this.
17:11
If you don't buy it, I'm shutting it down.
17:15
I'm not going to sell it to any corporate.
17:22
Why? What?
17:23
I mean what? Why was it Anne or bust?
17:26
What? Why was why were there no other
17:27
options in her mind? Because she knew that this is
17:31
her word, she said. I, I'm not.
17:32
I don't want you to answer right now.
17:34
I'm calling you to tell you what my offer is.
17:37
This is my offer. Talk to your husband, talk to
17:39
your mom. She said, talk to your family
17:42
because you're going to need support.
17:43
And I do, you know, with the kids and, and, and, and learning
17:47
the business, you know, I'm going to cut hours on my job.
17:50
I'm going to have to be there. I'm going to need all the
17:52
support. She said talk to your husband
17:54
and she said Annie and I said, miss, what if, what if I don't
17:56
like she said, I'm going to shut it down because her her reasons
18:00
why Anthony, this business is successful because of the
18:03
caregivers. I haven't mentioned them, but we
18:06
have 35 employees total. The caregivers have been there
18:09
18 years, 20 years, 15 years, longevity.
18:13
And when you're taking care of the elderly, the seniors, the
18:16
frail ones, those that are gonna talk, those that have dementia,
18:18
you want somebody family like that when you come in, you know
18:22
that Mr. Smith is the way Mr. Smith was before.
18:26
Because you know, it's very important that you catch.
18:29
If they have a little bit of UTI, a little bit of condition
18:31
change, you can report that to the nurse and you can address it
18:35
immediately. And that's what helps them
18:37
become comfortable. So anyway, when she offered me
18:41
the business, she told me that if you are not going to buy this
18:44
business, I'm going to shut it down.
18:46
And I said, wow, you know, for what reason?
18:50
Because I just know that the caregivers will be safe with
18:53
you. Can you, I mean, you know, like
18:56
I, I was like, OK, Mother Teresa.
19:01
What a compliment. Mother Teresa just giving me
19:04
that goosebumps. And this was 2018.
19:08
Guess what happened in 2019? COVID hit.
19:11
COVID hit. 20/19/22 COVID hit. So you're just kind of getting
19:15
your feet on the ground, kind of learning the business, taking
19:17
things over, and then this tsunami of a virus sweeps in.
19:21
Yeah. Tell what was that like?
19:23
Yes, terrible. But guess what?
19:27
That's where I learned all my skills.
19:29
Communication skills, you know, thinking out-of-the-box scales,
19:35
just learning more about this business, that challenging event
19:39
or period. Just I feel like sharpen me as
19:44
to do better and to, you know, excel in this industry because
19:48
because if you go through that and you survive that tsunami, I
19:52
mean, you can do whatever you can do anything.
19:55
There was always going to be changes.
19:56
I took over and I said you're so smart.
19:58
You told me the business you knew COVID was coming because we
20:01
would. This lady says 2 partner nurses,
20:03
they're retired nurses. The previous owner, we would
20:05
have Margarita once a month and just chit chat over at Mexican
20:09
small Mexican restaurant down the street and we would chit
20:12
chat and update each other about about about comfort care.
20:17
About, about our lives, you know, they have friends because
20:21
they're, they're, they're in their 80s.
20:22
They have friends that they recommend to me and they, they
20:25
send to comfort care, which is so nice.
20:28
And we would talk about it and we would always, they would
20:30
always tell me that they're so proud and they're so happy and
20:35
they feel like that they've really given that hard work and,
20:38
and, and commitment that they've done all those years to somebody
20:41
that they know, you know, that they, they've made a good
20:45
decision. They feel good about passing on
20:47
to me the business because I I don't feel like it was really
20:50
what I felt like it was passed on.
20:53
That's that's a really neat story.
20:54
You said something there that's interesting about how long most
20:59
of the caregivers have been there.
21:01
You know, I talked to a lot of business owners because my
21:04
business and the podcast and I hear from just about everybody
21:08
how tight the labor market is. It's really hard to find good
21:13
folks, and even once you find them, it's just as hard to hold
21:17
on to them. What is it that you're doing
21:20
differently there at com for Care Assisted Living that is
21:25
creating this environment where people come and they stay?
21:30
Because my dad always told you treat.
21:34
I remember this very clearly and this is what sticks to me is
21:38
that you treat others how you want to be treated.
21:42
You know, they are there to help you.
21:43
They're not there to, they're there to work with you and work.
21:48
They work for you, but they, you also, you have to work.
21:52
They have to see you work. And I treat them as family.
21:56
I treat them as how I want to be treated.
21:58
And I, and here's one thing that my dad really told me, you, you
22:03
understand them, you listen to them.
22:05
You listen to why is it that they, what is the reason why
22:08
they really why, why they're working?
22:11
Is it for their children? Is it to put food on the table?
22:14
Is it for them to buy a house? You listen to that and you take
22:17
note of that. It's the golden rule.
22:20
Treat others that you want to be treated right.
22:22
There you go. Yeah, there you go.
22:23
I like it. We, we got to talk a little bit
22:28
in the, the pre interview and there, there were a few things
22:32
you said I kind of want to touch on here.
22:36
And if it hasn't come across already, I think as we get
22:39
further into the interview it will.
22:41
But I picked up on it right away when we first said hello.
22:45
There's this drive towards positivity that seems to emanate
22:51
throughout your system. You go through hard things, hard
22:56
times getting into the country. Once you're here, your dad has a
23:00
massive stroke, you're having trouble finding a job, you take
23:05
over a new business. COVID hits like there's a lot of
23:09
big obstacles along the way. And yet somehow through it all,
23:14
you persevere. You keep a positive attitude and
23:19
it's one thing to say, oh, be positive, just, you know, 1 foot
23:24
in front of the other. But it's a lot harder to put
23:26
into practice when you keep getting thrown curveballs in
23:30
life. Where does your drive Anne
23:33
Garcia come from this drive towards positivity?
23:41
So it was it. It's a skill.
23:46
I believe it's a skill. It's a training.
23:48
It's, it's a mindset that was taught to me by my mother and
23:53
also growing up in the Philippines.
23:55
It's, you know, it's, it's a very Catholic country.
23:58
I'm not saying I'll, you know, but just having faith that
24:04
there's somebody out there who has more control or actually is
24:08
controlling everything 'cause I can't control it.
24:11
You can't control. Nobody knows what's gonna
24:13
happen. But if you believe that there's
24:15
somebody out there that even the bad things that are happening is
24:19
a pathway to where you really your journey will start or
24:23
something big. But there's a purpose behind
24:25
hard things and suffering. There you go.
24:28
Yes. If you believe in that purpose,
24:30
If you believe that that is just enough, that is just something
24:33
to make you stronger. That's where I pull strength
24:37
from every time. Every time I focus on the
24:40
positive. Like an example is last week one
24:43
of my facilities had a water leak and I had to had to move
24:49
all the residents. That was very challenging.
24:51
This is the first time I've done it.
24:53
I never moved my residence during COVID.
24:55
We, we all sheltered in place and, and you know, but this time
24:59
this, this was big and I've never done that.
25:01
But you know what the good thing is insurance is going to cover
25:04
it and we're going to have a new, new facility.
25:08
So you focus on that. Wow.
25:10
So let's talk a little bit more about this.
25:11
You moved them. Where did you move them to?
25:14
Because I have 4 facilities, I have 4 houses, so I was able to
25:19
move them around the other houses that I had
25:22
availabilities. You weren't at capacity at some
25:25
of the other facilities and so you had some space to move folks
25:28
around. OK, But still a challenging
25:31
thing to do with people who are older, some health concerns.
25:35
You know, it's it's a bit of a process.
25:37
Right, right. And having a change of
25:39
environment that affects somebody with dementia, that's
25:41
not easy. So full force, you know, all the
25:44
team, the caregivers came out even on their days off when that
25:49
happened, they came out, they helped.
25:52
I mean teamwork. I just, I couldn't, I just
25:55
applaud them for showing off and, and helping out because I
26:00
otherwise there was no way we were going to move that quickly.
26:03
And anyway, just they were, they were very concerned.
26:06
Yeah, teamwork makes the dream work, right, Anne?
26:09
Yeah. True.
26:12
You said something else in our pre interview.
26:14
You sink or swim and the other one I really liked is you choose
26:17
your hard. What do you mean by that?
26:19
You choose your hard. Yeah, you choose your hard
26:22
because a lot of people come to me.
26:25
Most of them are some colleagues of mine and they say how did you
26:30
do it? Or, or just some some strangers
26:35
or I want to say, you know, friends, friend of friends who
26:40
find me on Instagram or or YouTube or they they see me and
26:45
they are also working at the bedside or at the hospital.
26:48
They want to do what I do and they reach out to me and and
26:52
they talk to me about how you know, their plans and they have
26:55
this and that. And I just tell them, you know,
26:58
it's hard. I know, I know you want to exit
27:00
because it's hard, but it's also Hard Out Here.
27:04
And like what I'm saying is that for me, I, I told myself if I'm
27:08
going to leave my comfort, my comfort job, which is, which is
27:14
working at the hospital because it's 12 hours, 12 hours, you
27:16
clock in, you clock out. You know, I got comfortable, 10
27:19
years of doing it, I got comfortable.
27:21
But when you're out here running your own business, you're on
27:23
call 24/7. And a lot of people doesn't like
27:26
that when they hear that 2470, I don't want to.
27:29
It's 24/7. Yes, it is, but you haven't seen
27:33
the other side of it. Wait till you see the other side
27:35
of it. Then you're going to say, Oh
27:36
yeah, it's 24/7 and. What does that mean?
27:40
What what's what's the positive side of it?
27:42
It's 24/7. The positive side of it is that
27:44
you grow. You grow.
27:46
Really. What I want, what I like about,
27:48
what my job is, I've grown. I've grown the way I talk.
27:52
I talk to different types of people from all walks of life.
27:55
You know, they all want the same thing.
27:57
It's for their loved one to be taken cared for.
28:00
And that's what I tell them. You know, I'm also realistic.
28:02
I don't promise anything that I cannot give.
28:05
However, I try to explain myself and say this is, this is what I
28:09
think confidently, you know, and these are my recommendations
28:15
and, and they listen and I feel like, you know, the experience
28:17
that I've had combining the hospital and also doing this in
28:21
the community out out from the hospital has allowed me to be
28:27
able to have this type of skill is, you know, talking, talking
28:32
to different people from all walks of life, dealing with
28:36
dealing with situations that are unexpected, you know,
28:39
management, just management, dealing with your staff, dealing
28:45
with families. And on top of that, you have
28:47
your own family that you have to tend to, you know, your kids, my
28:50
kids, my schedule, their activities after school.
28:53
I have to be, you know, present as much as I can, although
28:57
trying. But I try to put that and I try
29:00
to prioritize that because sometimes when I get burned out
29:03
also, Anthony, I I tell myself, why am I doing this?
29:07
You know what? Why am I here?
29:09
You, you understand your why, you listen to your why, and then
29:12
you choose your heart. Yeah, it's hard to be in the
29:14
hospital, but it's also harder if I'm in the hospital because
29:17
then I won't be able to get out there whenever I want to or
29:21
whenever, you know, my time is not flexible for me to be able
29:24
to be present for my, which is my why for my family.
29:28
Which is my why and I want to draw people's attention to your
29:32
website, which is com for careassistedliving.com.
29:36
And as I'm looking at your website here, and I know because
29:39
we've talked, your model is a little bit different than what
29:43
probably a lot of people think of when they think of senior
29:46
living. You know, a lot of people think
29:47
like big facilities, big companies that are providing
29:51
these services. Your model's a bit different.
29:53
You have 4 smaller locations, so 10, roughly 10 beds apiece.
29:58
What's the thinking behind and the advantages to having those
30:03
smaller facilities as opposed to one bigger one?
30:06
So, you know, bigger is not always better in this type of
30:12
population. They're more frail.
30:15
They're they're disabled seniors.
30:16
They want love. They need love and attention.
30:21
And when you're in a bigger box, it's just so difficult when you
30:25
have X number of patients for one caregiver, when you're in a
30:31
smaller community like us, our caregivers that are consistent
30:35
are able to know even your clothes, like they know this is
30:40
not Mr. Smith's, you know, and that alone makes a huge
30:44
difference. And that allows us to be able to
30:46
provide a better care for our residents, for our patients.
30:50
And one of the goals why this business is really successful is
30:54
that when people hear nursing home, you know, people hear
30:58
nursing. It's just, it had sad to say,
31:01
but it had that little taboo or, or, you know, I don't want to
31:05
die in a nursing home, like, Oh, it's awful nursing home, you
31:08
know, it's just had, it's so sad.
31:10
It's just had that kind of like thought from people that when
31:14
you hear that, oh, this is it, this is the end, my mom going to
31:16
die or, you know, the Terra care is terrible.
31:19
We we are an alternative to a nursing home.
31:22
We are a smaller facility. We can take care of more frail
31:26
patients because I'm a nurse and and, you know, we have
31:29
caregivers that are have been there for years who have seen
31:32
and done, you know, think of whatever you think of.
31:35
Yeah, they've seen it. They've done it, of course,
31:38
according to what they're trained for.
31:40
But when you're in a smaller facility, it's about family.
31:45
And when when you have that love and attention, it just makes so
31:50
much difference. When you walk in, you haven't
31:52
seen mom in months. Let's say you were in a business
31:56
trip, Europe or whatever, and have clients like that.
31:58
They walk in and they're just amazed that mom is clean, Mom is
32:03
happy, Mom is smiling. You know, they don't come in and
32:07
say what happened, You know, why is it?
32:11
Who are you? No.
32:12
Right. The families get to know the
32:13
caregivers. The caregivers, rather than
32:16
being assigned to, you know, one of 100 different people and, you
32:19
know, constantly moving around. There's only 10 folks that live
32:23
there, and they're going to get to know all of them over time.
32:26
And that continuity of care is, you know, it's helpful for the
32:29
employees for sure. They appreciate that, you know,
32:31
they know what's going on with everybody.
32:33
It's really good for the residents themselves.
32:37
And the families feel a lot more comfortable with it as well.
32:40
Right. Yeah, absolutely.
32:42
That's the whole, that's the whole key to this is that having
32:45
that continuity of care and consistent staff, consistent
32:50
people around you. You know, as a business owner
32:52
myself and having talked with lots of business owners before,
32:54
I know, yeah, business is hard. And one of the things that can
32:59
be really helpful is if you can find a, a network or a
33:03
mastermind services group of like minded folks where you can
33:08
get together and support each other, you know, compare notes,
33:13
talk about what's going on in the industry.
33:15
And I think the neat thing is that I actually interviewed
33:20
another, a person that, you know, through one of these
33:24
support groups or not support groups.
33:26
What, what would be the right term for it?
33:27
An industry group? Yeah, an industry organization.
33:30
Yeah. Talk talk a little bit about
33:32
John Darby in in the Torch group and how that's helpful for you.
33:35
Yeah, Torch has helped me a lot during COVID.
33:38
That was one of the most devastating time in the in our
33:42
industry. And guess what?
33:44
Torch was an organization you never want to be left behind
33:48
with if you were in this industry at that time.
33:51
Torch really wants to help others.
33:54
John is an amazing human being. He guided all of us as to what
33:59
to do next. There was always changes in
34:02
there was always changes in the rules, changes on how we should
34:05
do things per protocol, per policy, per HHSC recommendation,
34:10
CDC, all of that. Even even the PPP loan, You
34:15
know, who had time for that? I mean, yeah, we hear in the
34:18
news, but do we qualify for that?
34:20
I didn't know. I mean, most of my colleagues
34:22
didn't, but torch was the one, you know, hey, get on this zoom
34:27
meeting. Hey, get on this zoom meeting.
34:28
This is what we're going to do. This is where we're at.
34:31
And then everybody from all over the state would just show up
34:35
there and we would all discuss about the challenges that we
34:38
were having. And that for me was comfort.
34:40
You know that was real meaning of support and and just having
34:45
that army of like minded individuals going through the
34:48
same difficult times with you and understands what you
34:54
understand what you were going through.
34:55
Because remind me, Torch is Texas organization of
34:59
residential care homes, is that right?
35:01
Yeah, yeah. So these are other care
35:04
facilities throughout the state of Texas who are similar minded
35:08
in not doing sort of the the big giant care facilities.
35:13
They take a a similar approach of they believe that the smaller
35:16
care facilities are the way to go.
35:18
Right, right. That's that's what it's all
35:20
about 16 bed or less is considered a small facility and
35:24
that and yeah, all of the owner, all of the members are, are in
35:28
Texas and we follow, you know, we are guided by torch as to
35:34
what changes there has been made over the by the state, what new
35:39
rules or things that we have to do, what has helped others.
35:43
Just overall, we meet once a year conference and just see
35:47
each other in person and kind of innovate our business into, you
35:53
know, catching up with times to changes and and what what others
35:57
are doing that are helping them, you know, just sharing that.
36:00
So it's a very good organization.
36:02
And do you see future growth for your business, additional
36:08
facilities or I don't know, branching into other services?
36:11
Where does the business go from here?
36:14
Of course, there's always room for growth.
36:17
However, as much as I want to speed up that growth, I also
36:20
don't want to overwhelm myself because, you know, I have young
36:25
children and I feel like if I, if I overdo it, I'll, I'll get
36:30
burned out and then I won't have that.
36:33
You know, when they say feel your cup, feel like my cup will
36:35
easily be empty and you can't pull it from Antico.
36:40
Yeah, Yeah. So, so yeah, there's always
36:44
that. It's in the works.
36:45
It's, I have that written down. It's gonna come.
36:48
And I think timing again, Anthony, like I said, is a very
36:50
big deal. It comes actually right now we
36:54
have our, our Hospice company, which I, I never thought I would
36:59
be doing this, but we've started our own Hospice company,
37:03
Jenncare Hospice. And also we might start another
37:08
facility soon, maybe in two years.
37:12
You mentioned that you're moving into a a new facility because of
37:16
the the recent flood. No.
37:19
So we had a water leak and it's gonna be repaired.
37:23
OK. So when you say new facility,
37:25
you just mean like it, it'll look new inside, but it's not a
37:28
new physical location. And and tell me about Gen.
37:30
Care Hospice. So Gencare Hospice is a Medicare
37:35
certified Hospice company, palliative care and Hospice
37:38
company that offers care to the residents that we currently have
37:44
at Comfort Care. So it helps each other.
37:47
Comfort care patients becomes Gencare Hospice patients when
37:51
they qualify because here's one of the reasons why and This is
37:56
why I started when we started Jen Care Hospice is because
38:00
we've seen that a lot of Hospice companies, not all of them have
38:04
the same goal as us. Sometimes when we need help and
38:07
support, it takes a little bit more time for them to show up
38:10
and you know, there's a lot of reasons and and they want to do
38:13
their best. However, if we and I, I thought
38:17
to myself, if we have this service in house, guess what,
38:21
it's gonna offer the care quicker, which is very crucial,
38:26
you know, for the comfort of the resident, for the safety of the
38:30
residents. It's just gonna make everything
38:32
better. If it's in house.
38:33
It's like we just focus on our residents.
38:35
We're not all over because Hospice is a, is a, is a program
38:38
where you can go all over town, you know, and when, if you have
38:42
one nurse and eight patients to see in one day, guess what?
38:46
If patient #1 needs something that one nurse is still stuck at
38:50
patient #8 there's going to be a delay of care.
38:55
You know, although there are things provided for them to be
38:59
able to help themselves, at least, you know, they don't need
39:03
a nurse to be there 24/7. I just in my own experience
39:07
found that if we had somebody in house it, it gives us a really
39:12
good edge as to providing so. Gen. care Hospice is set up
39:16
specifically to provide Hospice care to to com for care assisted
39:20
living. You're not taking outside
39:22
clients. We are, you are, we can, but our
39:26
goal is really just to focus on comfort care.
39:29
There's no rule to that. Just for me, I, I started, we
39:34
started Gen. care because of comfort care and that's where I
39:37
want to focus on maybe later we'll go venture out.
39:41
We can if we want to, but for now, that's not the focus.
39:44
Wonderful. That's not.
39:45
That's not how we want. It you know, and as a business
39:49
owner, I mean, you're, you're a nurse first, a caregiver first.
39:54
You care about your patients, you care about your employees in
39:57
order to keep the doors open, you've got to make sure that the
39:59
bottom line looks healthy, right?
40:01
Can't can't run a charity. The the profit and loss has to
40:04
look good. So as a business owner.
40:07
You know, we've got two ways to sort of think about moving that
40:10
number and one is, you know how do we increase sales?
40:13
Another one is how do we control or lower expenses.
40:18
I'm curious in your career, have you found something sort of
40:22
creative to on either one of those levers to pull that would
40:25
be interesting to share? Well, if you have one of the
40:32
things really the highest expense, at least in my
40:39
experience, and I know majority agree, is labor, you know,
40:43
you're caregivers and if you have high turnover of
40:47
caregivers, you're always training, you're always, you
40:51
know, and there's no, there's no guarantee.
40:53
You know, you're training, they leave, you're training, you
40:56
know, you're, they're not even done with training.
40:59
They're already gone. I mean you and you just, you're,
41:01
you're, you're just spending so much money on that.
41:06
Really what I find that works for me is to really take care of
41:11
your, of your caregivers. When you take care of them the
41:16
way that you want to be treated, they stay.
41:19
When they stay, you're happy, they're happy.
41:23
Your business is happy, your clients are happy, You know, and
41:28
I think that's one of the, that's one of the things that
41:30
I've done to keep my numbers healthy.
41:35
That makes a lot of sense. And yeah, you've kind of shared
41:38
that already. Just talking about the golden
41:40
rule and wanting to make sure that you treat your employees
41:42
the same way that you would want to be treated and the fact that
41:45
they stick around 10/12/15 years I mean.
41:48
Unheard of. I've heard of.
41:50
Yeah, unheard of. And they they're there.
41:54
So and we've talked about a handful of challenges already
41:59
that you've overcome. Maybe we can pick one that we've
42:02
already talked about or maybe pick a new one and go a little
42:04
bit deeper into it. Something personal, something
42:08
professional, maybe a combination of the two, how you
42:11
got through it and some of the lessons that you learned coming
42:13
out the other side. So personal, I want to say work
42:25
life balance as a young, you know, I don't want to say young
42:31
entrepreneur, but I started when I was, you know, I had babies, I
42:34
had my daughter was six months old.
42:36
It was very challenging and I would always question myself,
42:41
why am I doing this? You know, is it worth it?
42:45
Is this worth it? This is an opportunity of a
42:48
lifetime. However, I would just write it
42:51
down and focus on the positive, you know, focus on the positive
42:58
to a point now where you know, 01 day at a time.
43:03
Another thing that I want to share, one of my techniques, at
43:06
least for me, it works for me, is to take one day at a time.
43:10
Because if you overwhelm yourself thinking about the
43:13
future, you know, anxiety will, anxiety will take over and it'll
43:19
eat you up. So I take it one day at a time,
43:22
you know, gratitude. Have a heart of gratitude.
43:25
How are you? I'm OK, I'm happy, I'm
43:28
breathing. We're alive.
43:29
You know, focus on that. That's how we started our
43:31
conversation today. I asked how are you doing?
43:34
You gave me exactly that answer. Sorry.
43:36
Go ahead. Yeah.
43:37
So you, you, you actually focus on that.
43:39
Those are little things that'll make you feel good.
43:42
If you, if you tell yourself that, if you have that written
43:45
down and you read about it, guess what?
43:47
There's something to be happy, you know, don't worry about
43:50
later. Don't worry, worry about all
43:51
that task that you need to do. Yes, it's there, yes, it's
43:54
written down. But right now focus on what
43:57
you're, you're having a cup of coffee, a warm cup of coffee.
43:59
You know, how many people right now doesn't have what you have
44:03
and would, you know, would go above and beyond to be where you
44:07
are being grateful, having that grateful gratitude, it opens up
44:13
your heart and I think it opens up to a lot of opportunities and
44:16
positive when you have that kind of mindset.
44:18
I always share this even to my closest friends and you have
44:23
that mindset. It's just you attract abundance,
44:27
you attract, you're attracted. And I believe in that.
44:30
You know, right now, Anthony, my husband, who was working for a
44:34
big, he's also a nurse. And while I was starting the
44:38
business and, and learning the business, mastering the art of
44:41
this industry, my husband was working at at hospital because
44:44
he was, he was the study provider.
44:47
You know, we were, I don't know what's going to happen to me,
44:50
but my husband was the one that was really paying, you know, the
44:54
the to keep us to survive, for survival.
44:57
But March of this year, he stopped.
45:01
We were able to talk about it, sit down and said, I don't think
45:04
you need to work anymore. I think you need to come join
45:06
our business, our business because I need you now.
45:11
And that was hard. That was hard because it was a
45:13
big change. But at the same time it was a
45:17
change that needed to happen. And, and now we're both
45:21
comfortable. You know, we've gotten to a
45:23
point, but in the beginning it was difficult because it was an
45:27
adjustment. It was.
45:28
An adjustment. What a great milestone to be
45:29
able to get to. But yeah, I have to imagine that
45:32
that transition is pretty difficult.
45:34
He's used to one work environment and what he's doing
45:37
and who he's reporting to now, I mean, he's bringing the same
45:41
kinds of skills, but it's a completely different
45:43
environment. You know, he's got different
45:46
skills, different responsibilities.
45:48
Now how do the two of you sort of balance and manage the the
45:53
different responsibilities each of you have in the business?
45:57
So we, we, we made it very clear that this is going to be your
46:03
responsibilities and this is going to be my responsibilities.
46:07
If you have questions, you know, I, you can always ask me.
46:11
I'm always here, I'm always available.
46:12
I really try myself, You know, when you're so used to doing
46:16
things, you're like kind of just grab it and let me do it, you
46:18
know, and and it's your husband. So he was like, honey, you know,
46:23
I got this, but I had to hold off.
46:25
I had to like put myself down and be like, OK, here, here's
46:29
what I would do, you know, here's what I would do.
46:32
It's up to you, but here's what I would do.
46:35
And, and it's always worked. And now he has his way of doing
46:38
things, his establish relationship report to the
46:43
families and to our caregivers. And we all we both have a
46:47
different strengths. And I think that just added to
46:51
to our growth and, and so much potential, you know, being in
46:56
this in this business together as a couple, although it has its
46:59
challenges. But, you know, again, sit down,
47:04
talk, watch TV. At the end of the day, we're
47:06
still we're still the husband and wife, you know, eat popcorns
47:10
and drink wine together and all that.
47:12
And just, yeah, you know, just have that kind of mindset.
47:15
What advice would you give someone who is considering
47:19
starting a new business? Just getting started in business
47:23
and they're finding the facts of life that it's really hard.
47:27
What advice can you offer? If you've, if you've come this
47:34
far, if you've already made the first step, just keep going.
47:39
You know, keep going. Listen, listen to your heart,
47:43
you know, listen to your wise. Write it down.
47:46
Why are you doing this again? Why are you doing this?
47:49
Nobody said it was going to be easy.
47:51
You know, the beginnings are always the first five years is
47:53
always the challenging is always we're going to be very
47:56
challenging reward. Focus on the reward.
48:00
Focus on the on the on the achievements or the success that
48:05
you plan. Success actually is is different
48:07
per person. You know, you define your own
48:09
success. I always tell everybody that
48:12
that being in the business, you know, for me, my definition of
48:16
success before up to now is just being flexible, having that time
48:20
to myself, being able to do, you know, things on my own and not
48:23
having to report to somebody, being able to pick up my kids
48:26
when I have to. That's right, me right there is
48:29
success. Keep going, you know, keep
48:33
going. It's, it's not going to be easy,
48:35
but it's definitely going to be worth it.
48:39
Have a positive mindset when things fall apart, focus, have
48:43
gratitude in your heart. Focus on the positive.
48:47
I mean, I know it's easy to say, but there's always something to
48:49
be thankful for. Those two things, gratitude,
48:53
positivity and you know, take one day at a time.
48:58
Today it's going to be different from yesterday.
48:59
It's going to be different from tomorrow.
49:01
Focus on today. What can you do today that'll
49:05
make things better? Good advice for anyone, whether
49:08
they're in an entrepreneur or not.
49:11
And shifting gears a little bit, what is something fun or
49:13
interesting that most people wouldn't know about you?
49:19
I like to joke a lot. I'm funny.
49:21
I feel like I like to. I like to make people happy and
49:28
good and, and I like to talk in a way where they will feel
49:33
comfortable. You know, one thing that is
49:39
interesting about me is that what's interesting about me, I
49:46
mean, I have, I have friends, I have my two best friends who
49:49
doesn't live here. We're we're miles apart.
49:53
And so we're always texting or sending memes on social media
50:01
and I'll be laughing by myself just, they're so funny too.
50:04
I mean, they'll, they keep me alive, you know, And I, I think
50:08
that's, I think that for me is, is a simple, just description of
50:12
how I'm, you know, I'm your typical girl.
50:15
I'm just your typical, I don't know, I'm not very strict on
50:21
myself. I just, I, I, I could care less.
50:24
I could care less. And any particular books,
50:29
mentors, different kinds of experiences that have been
50:32
helpful in shaping you and your career?
50:37
Yeah, You know, there's this book that I've been reading and
50:44
it's about, it's about hold on, let me see.
50:51
I forgot what the title is, but it's about really changing,
50:58
changing yourself to how you want yourself to be.
51:05
It's it's a very awakening book for me because, you know, I
51:10
never thought I would be. I never thought I would be here
51:13
where I am today. But that book has just given me
51:16
a lot of insights and encouragement.
51:19
Hold on, let me see. Let me see here.
51:24
Is it one that you're actively reading or you've read multiple
51:27
times in the past? I've read it 2 times but I it's
51:31
been a while since I and and just life has been so busy for
51:35
me over here I haven't even had a chance.
51:46
Well, it's the subtle art. The subtle art, yeah.
51:51
That's the subtle art. That's not one I'm familiar
51:54
with. All right, I'm going to add that
51:55
to my list. Well, that's that, and then
51:59
there's a hold on there. Where's the other one?
52:03
The power there's there's additional parts of the.
52:07
Of the title, Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
52:09
The subtle art of not giving a a care.
52:12
That one. And you can connect the dots
52:14
there. I can connect, you can connect
52:16
it as and the power of now. Oh, Eckhart Tolle.
52:19
Yeah, great book. OK.
52:22
And I've just got one more question for you today.
52:24
But before I ask it, I want to do 2 things for those listening
52:27
today. If you like today's content,
52:29
please hit the like, share or Subscribe button on your
52:31
favorite podcast app. And I also want to tell people
52:34
the best way to get in touch with you.
52:36
What would that be? You can e-mail me at my e-mail
52:42
address, Ann Garcia Garcia at cfcassistedliving.info.
52:51
That is my work e-mail. You can also call or text my
52:57
work number, 713-664-4677. I'm always available.
53:03
I'm always looking at that. And also check out my social
53:07
media Ann under score, Garcia GIGARCIA under score.
53:13
You'll see a lot of a lot of fun little clips of me and and some
53:22
some of my personal glimpse of my personal life over there and
53:25
also my work and how I I join combine the two things you know,
53:31
for for my friends and and friends and social media and.
53:35
That was your Instagram handle that you just gave out.
53:38
Yeah, that was my Instagram handle.
53:40
That's, that's actually how I, I show them my how you know how I
53:44
balance things as an entrepreneur and as a mom.
53:48
And it's, it's one, yeah. Great.
53:50
We'll put all those links in the show notes for those people who
53:54
want to reference back to them. But last question for you, Ann.
53:56
I'm curious how you see your industry evolving in the next
53:59
few years. What do you think are the big
54:02
changes that are coming? Honestly, it's, it's, it's going
54:07
to be massive there. We have a lot of baby boomers
54:11
coming out. If not, they've already come
54:13
out. I've had clients that used to be
54:17
my mom's friends at church. They're now they're now with me
54:22
getting care. Smaller environments are are
54:27
good because they're they're not affordable for anyone price
54:31
wise. Let's talk about this.
54:33
But for those who have saved up for their compared to the other
54:40
facilities, it's very reasonable.
54:42
It's it's about mid range for the care that you get.
54:45
That's actually the type of care that you want.
54:49
It's very reasonable. It's very affordable compared to
54:52
the other ones. And for the majority and a lot
54:56
of baby boomers are coming out. The state regulations have been
55:01
very considerate as well, although strict, but, but very
55:05
reasonable. And I think there's going to be
55:09
a lot of opportunities and I it's just a matter of time that
55:13
most people want to jump into this industry.
55:16
But you know what I can tell people at the end of the day, do
55:20
you know, do it with your heart. You can't just do this for, for
55:24
money. This is not the industry.
55:25
If you're here for the money alone, get out because this is
55:29
this a very hard job. You do this for, for, for the
55:34
main reason of caring for others and and being compassionate to
55:38
others and it'll come back. It'll come back to you.
55:42
That's terrific, and I want to be the first to thank you for
55:45
sharing both your time and your story with us today.
55:47
I really appreciate it. Thank you, Anthony.
55:50
Thank you for having me here. It's.
55:52
My pleasure, folks. That's a wrap on another episode
55:55
of the Inspired Stories podcast. Thanks for learning with us
55:58
today.