Meet Desiree Rossi, community liaison for Key Home Care.
Tell us a little about your business. – We are not a franchise but rather a small, locally owned business that is founded and run by all women with over 30 years of experience. Our business is small enough to care but big enough to handle life’s challenges. We have a lot of experience in quality personal care and hospice. Though Key Home Care (www.keyhomecare.us) is not a hospice agency, our caregivers supplement and support seniors through this journey. Our caregivers can be the primary caregiver for a hospice recipient or come in periodically to allow the primary caregiver a break. Many of our caregivers are certified and all undergo background verification for your safety. We also have compassionate and attentive bedside sitters for companionship and reassurance, whether sitting at the bedside in the hospital setting or helping your family member adjust to the new setting of a nursing home or assisted living. Key Home Care can provide 24-hour care, as well, when an elder needs 24-hour supervision or “hands-on” care.
How did you get started in the business? – I became a CNA while living in Rhode Island and then advanced my career to a medication administrator in Wisconsin. Upon moving to Omaha, I decided it was time to transition into working behind the scenes!
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? – Having to move states due to my husband’s work.
Tell us a little about your family. – My family is large. My husband and I have five children—four boys and one girl. We have our sixth child on the way. We will finally have a second girl!
What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? – Moving to Nebraska and being able to do community outreach to help the disabled and elderly in our community.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – I love to wash my floors with Pine-Sol, light a seasonal candle, and curl up with a good book.
If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? – Passionate.
If you could have a super power, what would it be? – To heal people’s pain.
If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? – I would love to be a writer! I love to read all sorts of books and actually went to school to be a journalist.
What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? – The American Heart Association (AHA). When I was 17 years old, I performed CPR on a man and saved his life. I became a spokesperson for the AHA and helped market their Be The Beat campaign. This campaign reached kids learning CPR, which I believe is super important—adults are not always around!
What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? – The Alex Cross series by James Patterson.
What is your favorite TV show? – Grey’s Anatomy.
What is your favorite local restaurant? – Pasta Amore.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – (402) 909-6349; desireerossi@keyhomecare.us; www.keyhomecare.us.