Built on Relationships: 15 Years of Peace at Homecare

This September, Peace at Homecare celebrates 15 years of serving Central New York. As we reflect on this milestone, we keep coming back to one simple truth: Peace was built on relationships. Relationships with clients, caregivers, referral partners, community organizations, and neighbors who believed in us long before we knew what this journey would become.

Where It All Began

In 2011, our founder, Moira, found herself at a crossroads in her career. She knew she wanted a change but wasn't sure what came next. After considering several different paths, including a boutique children's shoe store (she loves cute kids shoes!), she ultimately landed on homecare.

Looking back, perhaps it wasn't such a surprising choice after all. Growing up as one of eight siblings and spending much of her life caring for others, Moira had always been a caregiver. After researching the homecare industry, she saw a gap in the market and an opportunity to make a difference in the community. Like many entrepreneurs, she also encountered skepticism along the way. Fortunately, she kept going anyway.

Armed with two computers and a YouTube video, Moira built the company's first website herself. She designed the original logo from scratch, longtime followers may remember the bird logo with the slightly cut-off beak, and wrote out rack cards that her father reviewed one by one. She mailed letters to everyone she knew in Fayetteville, hoping someone might respond. "If these 150 letters even get two callbacks, I will be happy with it," she stated to her mentor in an email.

Growing One Relationship at a Time

One of Peace's first clients came through volunteering at Francis House, where Moira met the daughter-in-law of a resident living at Maple Downs. Spending time there led to another client, and then another. Before long, she found herself hiring her first caregiver. In those early days, Moira handled everything herself: collecting handwritten timesheets, visiting client homes, serving as the sole caregiver for the company, and managing every aspect of the business. 

Throughout that process, one lesson became clear: you cannot do it alone. "I always leaned on others and never bit off more than I could chew." From the beginning, Peace relied on the expertise of others including payroll organizations, accountants, attorneys, HR consultants, coaches, and mentors willing to share their knowledge.

That philosophy remains part of who we are today: ask questions, seek expertise, and never be afraid to learn from others.

Staying True to Our Mission

Little by little, the small boutique-style, companion-only agency grew. But one thing never changed: Peace never wanted to become a large franchise or lose the personal touch that made it special. Having experienced homecare herself and witnessing the impact caregivers can have on individuals and families, Moira knew she wanted to preserve the white-glove experience that inspired the company from the beginning. Sometimes, that meant learning how to say no. For Peace, however, saying no has never meant ending the conversation.

Through organizations such as Community Living Advocates and longtime community partners, Peace built a network of trusted resources so families could still find support, even if we weren't the right fit for their needs. "Just because I said no doesn't mean the phone call stopped there." Whether connecting families with care management organizations, advocacy resources, support groups, or community partners, we have always believed in being a resource first and a homecare provider second.

Growing Through Community Need

As the company grew, so did the needs of the families calling for help. Clients began reaching out not only for companion care, but also for help navigating long-term care. Initially, Moira had no plans to expand into that world. Then came Cindy. "Cindy wouldn't take no for an answer, so we made it happen." That conversation ultimately inspired Peace to expand into registry services and helped shape the organization into what it is today.

Over the years, that same pattern has repeated itself: identify a need, learn, adapt, and find a way to help. Sometimes, that meant becoming an advocate. Moira recalls helping a woman appeal an insurance decision denying coverage for hearing aids. The client lived alone, used a wheelchair, and could no longer reliably hear the fire alarms in her building. Moments like that reinforced that homecare is about far more than tasks and schedules. It is about helping people maintain dignity, independence, and safety.

The Heart of Peace

Along the way, another realization became impossible to ignore: the impact extended beyond clients. Moira watched caregivers move out of subsidized housing, purchase homes for the first time, support their families, and build meaningful careers. "They are the heart and soul of what we do." Recognition, support, and listening continue to be central to our culture. Providing caregivers with resources, opportunities for growth, and an ear when they need one remains one of the most important parts of who we are.

Looking Ahead

Fifteen years in business comes with plenty of lessons: You cannot do it all. It will never be perfect. Work-life balance matters in a 24/7 industry. Lean on professionals. You are not going to make everybody happy. Despite the challenges, the work continues to bring joy. "Owning your own business is hard but rewarding."

As Peace looks toward the future, growth for the sake of growth has never been the goal. Our focus is not on becoming the biggest homecare provider in the region, our focus is on becoming better. 

Better systems. Better support for our caregivers. Better experiences for our clients and families. Better service for our community. Fifteen years later, the mission remains remarkably similar to the one that started it all: To help people. To support families. To strengthen our community. And above all else, to build relationships that last.

To our clients, caregivers, referral partners, community organizations, and everyone who has been part of this journey over the past 15 years: thank you for trusting us to be part of your story. We cannot wait to see what the next chapter holds.