The power of home simply cannot be quantified. It is where people go to rest, to heal, and to be around family and close friends. Familiar settings can and do play a huge role in both mental and physical recovery, just as applying a personal touch to clinical problems can make a world of difference when treating illnesses and conditions.
“There’s a reason people say ‘There’s no place like home,’” said Michael Pate, director of home health services at Conway Regional Health System. “We believe healing happens best in the comfort of familiar surroundings.”
Such an approach is doubly important when working with the elderly. Having an opportunity to stay in a known and familiar setting while receiving professional care and rehabilitation can make a massive difference both physically and psychologically.
On the same side of the coin, inpatient care facilities that strive to create a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere generally have better outcomes. As such, projections from Fortune Business Insights predict the American home healthcare industry to generate a value of $176.30 billion by 2032. As technology and access improve, more and more families are looking for homecare services for their loved ones.
As the industry grows, so does the menu of available services. Common medical issues facing seniors can include cardiac events, falls, orthopedic injuries, infections and respiratory problems. They are not conditions that can be fixed in one day, and more to the point, they are not necessarily handled by a single healthcare specialist. Increasingly, care services rely on skilled nurses or other professionals who can manage and monitor multiple health conditions at the same time. If all of those conditions can be addressed either in the home or in a home-like facility, the outlook stands a better chance of improving.
“For many older adults, staying at home is about much more than convenience,” Pate said. “It’s about preserving dignity, confidence and quality of life.”
To that end, Conway Regional’s Home Health Service offers a robust selection of care for homebound seniors, care that enables them to get better while in their own environment. Qualified patients can be seen by physicians, therapists, nurses and other specialists — all in the comfort of where they live.
“Our physical, occupational and speech therapists can identify challenges that simply aren’t visible in a clinic setting,” Pate said.
Bailey Smith understands that from both a personal and professional level. As owner and chief operating officer at Executive Home Care in Conway, Smith had already experienced life as a caregiver due to her parents’ battles with multiple sclerosis and ALS.
“This business is deeply personal to all of us because Executive Home Care is a true family-owned business built on lived experience,” said Smith, who shares administrative duties with her husband, Chase, and sister Jessica. “We didn’t just stumble into home care — we were called to it through our own journeys of caring for the people we love most. We have all been in the trenches, balancing the immense responsibilities of meeting our parents’ every need while simultaneously raising and caring for our own families.”
That means the relationships built with a patient’s family are also of critical importance, Smith said. From assessment to planning to the whole aspect of making sure a patient feels comfortable, no corners are cut.
“Our services range from assistance with daily living activities such as bathing, grooming and meal preparation to specialized care, companionship and medication reminders,” Smith said. “We pride ourselves on creating personalized care plans that evolve with each client’s unique needs, ensuring they receive the highest standard of support.”
That process begins with an in-home assessment, but it goes well beyond simply examining the patient and crunching clinical data. The initial visit also serves as the beginnings of a relationship.
“This isn’t just about checking boxes,” Smith said. “It’s about understanding the individual. We sit down with the senior and their family to listen to their story, understand their health history and identify their specific goals. From there, we work together to build a custom care plan that is responsive to their daily life.”
All that said, the fact remains that inpatient care is sometimes necessary, although as more and more service providers demonstrate, it does not have to feel like being stuck in a hospital. Based in Conway, Superior Health & Rehab offers both short- and long-term care plus on-site rehabilitation services. It all takes place in a warm and inviting two-story building that includes a courtyard, a library and even a beauty shop. Patients can enjoy furnished private rooms, a recreation area and, for the musically inclined, a piano room.
All those amenities are not just window dressing or a token bonus but play a vital role in the healing and treatment process.
“When someone comes to Superior, they are often going through one of the most difficult transitions in their life,” said Executive Director Vickey Kirkemier. “They may be recovering from an illness, surgery, injury or hospitalization, or they may be making a longer-term transition in their care.”
Count Kirkemier among the many believers when it comes to the mental and emotional aspects of senior care. There are plenty of places that can simply provide medical diagnosis and treatment, and the importance of that cannot be overstated. However, holistic approaches, whether in the home or in a care facility, make a huge difference.
“We want Superior to feel less like a healthcare facility and more like a place where people feel safe, respected, welcomed and at home,” Kirkemier said. “The environment matters, but more important is how our staff makes people feel.
“Our goal is for every resident and family member who walks through our doors to know they are more than a diagnosis or a room number. They are a person with a history, a family, preferences, goals and a story.”
SEE THE FEATURE BELOW AND IN OUR SEPTEMBER 2026 ISSUE OF AY MAGAZINE
