Manalapan Woman Finds Comfort in Helping Others through Home Healthcare

Eileen Appelblatt has suffered many hardships in her life, but has finally found solace in running FirstLight HomeCare out of her Manalapan residence, where she has lived for 23 years.

Appelblatt worked as a client relationship manager at a brokerage house in New York for over 30 years where she commuted over two hours each way by bus. Twelve years ago, Appelblatt became a single mother of three when her husband died, but she continued working in New York in order to support her family.

Four years ago, Appelblatt’s eldest son, Jeff, was robbed at gunpoint and shot while working late at Weaser’s Ices truck in Freehold. Jeff, 22-years-old at the time, was taken to the Jersey Shore Medical Trauma Unit and nursed back to health. Luckily, the bullet went into his back, through his lungs, and came out the other side. To add insult to injury, one year after the shooting, Jeff was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, a cause which Appelblatt now wholeheartedly supports in many capacities.

Due to the failing economy, Appelblatt was laid off from her New York job last year. Once unemployed, Appelblatt met with some franchise consultants to see what businesses she could manage from home, so that she did not have to spend half of her day commuting. Appeleblatt’s client-relationship expertise and her love of people helped her choose the home healthcare field.

When Appelblatt’s mother became ill around the same time, she realized how difficult it was to try and find a home healthcare provider. Appelblatt’s mother lived in her Brooklyn home for 45 years and wanted to remain independent, so she hired a home healthcare worker who comes once a day for several hours.

Appelblatt also said she saw first-hand how her aunt has become disoriented since moving into a senior development, which was another motivation into entering the home healthcare field.

FirstLight HomeCare provides professional, non-medical hourly and live-in care services for anyone over the age of 18 who needs assistance in daily tasks, personal care, and companion care. FirstLight caregivers can work out of private residences, assisted living facilities, retirement communities, nursing homes, skilled-nursing facilities, or adult family or group homes, according to the company.

The company is franchised with 32 locations across 17 states and was founded in December of 2009 in Ohio; Appelblatt opened FirstLight HomeCare, the first franchise to be opened in New Jersey, this past January.

All employees hired by Appelblatt undergo criminal background checks and drug tests. As non-medical workers, the aides cannot dispense medicine to individuals, but only remind the clients to take their medicine, however. Every employee is given a pin number that the have to call in from the client’s home when they arrive and when they leave to ensure those paying for the caregiver are not being charged for more time than the caregiver is actually there.

"I really wanted to make a difference," Appelblatt said of choosing a new career path. And her triumphs over her past struggles, her desire to work with people and give back to others, and becoming an entrepreneur is nothing short of inspiring.