HomeWell Care Services Honors Caregiver with 2026 Heart of HomeWell Award

May 14, 2026 // Franchising.com // Arlington, Texas — HomeWell Care Services announced that Soonhee Phillips, a caregiver from HomeWell Care Services in Anchorage, Alaska, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Heart of HomeWell Award—the award presented annually to a caregiver across its national franchise network. Phillips received the award during HomeWell’s 2026 national conference, held last month at Live! by Loews in Arlington, Texas.

“Caregivers like Soonhee represent the very best of HomeWell,” said Crystal Franz, CEO of HomeWell Franchising LLC, the franchisor of HomeWell Care Services. “The Heart of HomeWell isn’t just about what our caregivers do—it’s about who they are. It’s about the way they show up in life’s most vulnerable moments—when families are overwhelmed, when a diagnosis changes everything, or when someone simply needs to know they’re not alone.”

A caregiver for more than a decade, Soonhee was recognized for her exceptional compassion, consistency, and unwavering commitment to the clients and families she serves. Throughout her time with HomeWell, Soonhee has consistently gone beyond expectations, advocating for clients across care settings, supporting families through emotionally difficult moments, and delivering care with dignity, empathy, and respect. She is also known for elevating those around her, serving as a trusted leader and role model among fellow caregivers.

As noted during the conference awards presentation, Soonhee’s influence was first recognized when she was matched with an elderly client living with advanced dementia. This client had been referred through Adult Protective Services and was experiencing significant behavioral challenges. Previous caregivers had struggled to connect with the client, but through patience, cultural understanding, and a calm, steady presence, Soonhee built trust and helped significantly improve the client’s quality of life.

Reflecting on this story and others, Josh Frommer, owner of HomeWell Care Services in Anchorage, shared, “The cases that Soonhee works tend to be high-need clients. When she’s part of the care team, everyone around her does better work because she’s there. She’s the captain of the team, and the other caregivers respect her.”

Frommer added, “My greatest takeaway from this experience is seeing Soonhee win an award that I know she deserves and that was a long time coming.”

Soonhee also reflected on her caregiving experience at the awards ceremony, stating, “Fourteen years I’ve worked at HomeWell, and still, when they give me a tough client—I’m excited,” said Soonhee. “I like the challenge, and I try to be my best.”

Speaking about the clients she has served over the years, Soonhee shared, “I learned so much from them—it’s not that only I gave something to them; they gave something to me.”

Soonhee was selected among top finalists recognized during the awards ceremony, alongside Cynthia Thomas of HomeWell Care Services in Evans, Georgia, and Leekyra Demostene of HomeWell Care Services in Carmel, Indiana. Both caregivers were honored for their extraordinary compassion, dedication, and impact within their local communities.

“Each of these women is deserving of this recognition” commented CEO Franz. “In fact, this was the closest vote we’ve ever had with Soonhee winning by one vote. The stories shared through this year’s nominations were deeply moving and each is a powerful reminder of why this award means so much.”

SOURCE HomeWell Care Services®

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