I Am Visiting Angels: Michelle Kuehn
When a friend mentioned Visiting Angels as a potential career opportunity to Michelle Kuehn, she was intrigued. Michelle had worked in healthcare and had a strong desire to care for people of all ages. She’d also served as a live-in caregiver for her aging grandparents and had always enjoyed spending time with elderly neighbors and friends.
When she met local franchise owner, Nate Stokes, Michelle knew she’d found a like-minded person and an organization that shared her Christian values. “When we prayed about the possibility of a partnership at our initial meeting, that sealed the deal for me,” she said.
Michelle joined the Visiting Angels team as Chief Operating Officer. She leads the Visiting Angels teams at our southwest Missouri locations in Carthage, Joplin, Springfield, and Branson. From managing budgets to making marketing decisions, Michelle oversees the business side of Visiting Angels on a daily basis. Her job also involves spending a significant amount of time visiting client homes and building relationships.
A typical day for Michelle might start with a team meeting about the needs of different homes and caregivers, along with a brainstorming session to solve those issues. She’ll check emails and answer phone calls, handling both administrative issues and homecare questions. The day might include meetings with new families to discuss how Visiting Angels can serve their loved ones or conversations with families we already serve to ensure their care plans are meeting their needs. Before she clocks out, she’ll probably spend time training new caregivers, visiting client homes, and doing whatever else it takes to support every Visiting Angel caregiver and home.
Another important aspect of Michelle’s job involves equipping families to navigate the changes ahead. “The educational piece is a big passion of mine, “ she says. “Helping families understand what’s coming next and giving them peace of mind or helpful information is so important.” Until their elderly relatives need services, most people are unaware of the complexities of the healthcare system and the resources that may be available to them. Difficult questions about where loved ones should live, what kind of care they need, and how to financially support those choices are where Michelle is able to offer valuable assistance.
While her daily work includes administrative tasks and business strategizing, Michelle shares the same fundamental calling that every employee of Visiting Angels feels: to care for others. She says that ultimately, her job is about caregiving at every level. “I’m always asking - are all our homes taken care of? Are our families taken care of? Are our caregivers take care of? I want to nurture all of these people and give them what they need to flourish.”
That’s the most fulfilling part of her job — putting a smile on someone’s face, whether that person is a client, caregiver, or family member. It’s satisfying to know that she’s helping clients age with dignity and helping caregivers bring the best possible service to their homes.
For her, a great day at work is a day when all the teams she serves are successful. She knows that’s happening when a client tells her their family life has been improved because of the services Visiting Angels provides. It’s happening when caregivers say they are thankful to have steady work and jobs they love. And it’s happening when a client says his caregiver is his new best friend. Michelle loves knowing that every person who’s part of Visiting Angels has been supported. “When we all end the day laughing and smiling as we go home to our families, that’s a good day.”
It’s a workplace environment that is truly remarkable. One of the reasons Michelle loves working for Visiting Angels is that it’s a place where not only clients’ and their families’ needs are met, but where caregivers also receive the support and love they need. Being a leader at Visiting Angels means helping employees flourish in their lives as well as their jobs.
“Visiting Angels cares so much about me as an employee and I have the freedom to make sure everyone who works with me is cared for. They give me tools to grow so that I become a better leader and a better person overall.” From training resources to personal mentorship, Michelle has been equipped to lead her team well and supported all along the way. She’s been impressed by the humble leadership she sees at Visiting Angels. “The whole team is part of making decisions about how we grow. Everyone has to feel connected in order for that to happen, and we do.”
Joining Visiting Angels means joining a group of people who experience genuine connections as they care for others. Michelle hopes to create that kind of work environment for everyone because that’s the kind of environment it’s been for her. Years ago, the friend who steered her toward Visiting Angels thought it would be an opportunity for Michelle to grow in leadership opportunities. She says her time here has been all that and more.
As a leader and co-worker, Michelle is one of the reasons Visiting Angels has a reputation for excellent care. Whether you’re looking at homecare options for a loved one or whether you’re a caregiver who shares our commitment to serving others, we’d love to talk more.