The story of Compassionate Caregivers didn’t start with a business plan - but with a simple, powerful observation. Its founder, Debbie DeLuca Ely, RN, BBA, a nurse with over 40 years of advanced clinical experience, noticed that the heart was missing from home care. She saw how easily individuals could be reduced to a list of tasks, their personal stories and unique needs fading into the background.
“People are not checkboxes,” Debbie says, the passion clear in her voice. “They’re human beings. My business degree did not teach me how to assess a client; my nursing degree did!”
This belief was the seed from which Compassionate Caregivers grew. In 2018, Debbie set out to build something different in Central Ohio, a non-medical home care agency with skilled nursing oversight, and commitment to her faith. Debbie readily acknowledges that the Lord is the leader of her business, and she’s committed to honoring him. From the first days of operation (when it was just her and her daughter), to today with an internal team of over 20, they have never missed a Monday morning meeting without prayer for the staff, caregivers, clients, and their families. She envisioned a faith-based business where the highest standards of clinical care would walk hand-in-hand with genuine warmth and respect.
Today, that vision is a reality. When families feel overwhelmed by the challenges of a loved one’s health, they turn to Compassionate Caregivers. They find a team that doesn’t just show up to help, but to connect. They find a company built on the radical idea that the best care comes from treating the whole person, not just a check-off list.
A Philosophy Built on Human Connection
When a caregiver from Compassionate Caregivers steps into a client’s home, they understand they are entering a home filled with memories, routines, and a lifetime of stories. They see the person before them not as a collection of needs or tasks, but as an individual whose history deserves respect, and whose dignity should be honored.
We don’t just show up and start working. We meet with the family, listen to their concerns, and make sure we’re the right fit for their loved one. And if we’re not, we’ll help them find the right resources.
“When we care for someone, we make sure they feel heard and understood,” explains Debbie. “When you provide care in people’s homes, you become part of their lives.”
This simple truth is the heartbeat of the entire organization. It guides how caregivers are trained to listen with patience and empathy, and how families are welcomed into a circle of open, trusting communication. It’s the reason so many families stop thinking of Compassionate Caregivers as a service and begin to see them as something more, a compassionate extension of their own family. Debbie will tell new caregivers during orientation just that, “I can teach you any technical skill, but I cannot teach you to have a heart!”
Raising the Standard of Clinical Oversight
At Compassionate Caregivers, clinical excellence isn’t an afterthought — it’s at the foundation of everything they do. From the very first visit, every client’s care plan is done by a registered nurse. The RNs ensure that the care plan is developed around both the medical needs - and the individual’s personal preferences.
“[Because] our clients get a care team that is trained and overseen by nursing professionals,” Debbie explains. “[the] families get peace of mind, and it means our caregivers always have the guidance they need when complex situations arise.”
This nurse-driven model doesn’t just set Compassionate Caregivers apart — it bridges the gap between hospital discharge, skilled nursing, and comfort at home. As the only agency in Central Ohio accredited by ACHC for both non-medical and skilled nursing care, the company meets rigorous standards that most providers simply can’t deliver. For families, that means in-home care that is clinically sound and backed by best practices.
Comprehensive Services for Clients
Care looks different for every family, and Compassionate Caregivers is dedicated to exceeding the client’s (and family’s) expectations every time! Some clients need a steady hand with daily routines like bathing, meals, or getting dressed. Others require advanced nursing support — wound care, medication management, or help navigating complex conditions like dementia or Parkinson’s.
But services go beyond the home. Through their sister company, Compassionate Care Transportation (for those who have difficulty walking or may be confined to a wheelchair), families know their loved ones can get safely to doctor’s appointments, family gatherings, or social outings. Underlying it all is a simple belief that mobility equals independence, and independence equals dignity.
This is how a client’s total, comprehensive care is managed. They are matched to consistent drivers and caregivers who become familiar, friendly faces; bringing the same level of compassion whether in the home, or on the road!
Preparing Caregivers through Training
Compassionate, professional care doesn’t happen by chance — it’s purposeful, nurtured, and reinforced every day. From the start, every caregiver receives hands-on training led by the nurses who share not only technical skills, but also the human side of care: listening, building trust, and treating each client like family.
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When we care for someone, we make sure they feel heard and understood.
The company has a dedicated training center where caregivers attend multi-day, in-person classes developing those skills, and using the actual healthcare equipment (hospital beds, Hoyer lifts, etc.) found in the field. All caregivers must demonstrate knowledge and proper techniques prior to being staffed in the field.
The result is a team that shows up not only with compassion, but all the necessary expertise! Families feel it. Caregivers know it. It’s part of what makes Compassionate Caregivers more than a service provider — they’re a community of professionals who are dedicated to giving their very best.
Meeting Families at Critical Moments
The first phone call to Compassionate Caregivers is often made with a heavy heart. It comes during life’s most uncertain moments, perhaps in the hurried hours of a hospital discharge or on a quiet afternoon when a family caregiver realizes the weight has become too much to carry alone. The team understands that this is more than a call for help; it’s a search for a steady hand in a storm.
From that very first conversation, their approach is one of gentle guidance and attention to detail.
“We don’t just show up and start working,” says Debbie.
“We meet with the family, listen to their concerns, and make sure we’re the right fit for their loved one.”
This heartfelt promise to find the best path forward, and not just any path, is a source of relief for families. And because their team is uniquely built with nurses at its core, they can seamlessly bridge the gap between clinical instructions and the practical comforts of home. Suddenly, confusing medical terms and day-to-day needs begin to connect, creating a clear, continuous cycle of care that brings not just support, but precious peace of mind.
A Story of Transformation
The true heart of Compassionate Caregivers is found not in a mission statement, but in the quiet, life altering moments that unfold within the homes it serves.
You can find it in the story of a woman who, after a devastating stroke, was given only 48 hours to live. When Debbie first met her at the hospital, the air was heavy with the prognosis; she could no longer speak, or even swallow without choking. Debbie used a nursing technique that helped her swallow safely. By the end of that single visit a flicker of hope appeared, and the client was able to eat again. That small victory grew into a journey of incredible recovery. Over the following months, she regained her voice, and her mobility. The family was so grateful, they sent this message, “The big transition to move mom out of state has gone well. She is set up in her new place, and we all had a meal together. I can truly say you saved her life and given us precious time together! Thanks to you and your team for your passion and commitment to excellence; we became friends with so many of your outstanding staff!”
Growth Grounded in Values
To guide their work, the team at Compassionate Caregivers turns to a simple, heartfelt promise held within a single acronym: WE CARE. For them, Wellness, Excellence, Compassion, Advocacy, Respect, and Empathy are not just words on a wall; they are woven into the fabric of every decision, every training session, and every interaction in a client’s home.
This promise is why the company’s story has spread not through advertising, but through the powerful recommendations of families who have felt its touch. Time and again, they share what it feels like to be truly seen, heard, and supported, creating a circle of trust that continues to widen.
As they look to the future, the team is preparing to bring this unique blend of skill and heart to new communities, always holding on to a path of thoughtful, measured growth that puts people first. Their North Star remains the same: to be a beacon of nurse-driven home care in Ohio.
What began as the vision of one nurse determined to do things differently has blossomed into a community of professionals who carry that mission forward every day. For families navigating the uncertain waters of illness, recovery, or aging, Compassionate Caregivers stands as a comforting reminder that when expertise and empathy join hands, lives are transformed.
