Family & Nursing Care is proud to announce that Elnaz Safavieh, Director of Caregiver Services, has been named to WTWH Healthcare’s Future Leaders Class of 2026. The recognition honors emerging leaders who are shaping the future of aging services through innovation, leadership, and meaningful impact within their organizations and the communities they serve.

Elnaz’s recognition reflects her dedication to supporting caregivers, strengthening operations, and helping ensure clients receive high-quality, personalized care. Since joining Family & Nursing Care in 2020 and later advancing to her current position, she has played a key role in enhancing caregiver engagement, training, and support across multiple states.

Supporting Caregivers Through Innovation and Connection

Under Elnaz’s leadership, Family & Nursing Care Select expanded and strengthened its caregiver training and support programs. She helped develop a comprehensive training curriculum that includes professionalism and soft-skills education, hands-on skills training led by nurses, flexible virtual learning opportunities, and recorded educational resources designed to fit caregivers’ schedules. She also introduced caregiver “Meet & Greet” events that foster communication, learning, and connection within the Family & Nursing Care caregiver community.

“Caregivers are at the heart of everything we do,” said Safavieh. “Supporting them with training, resources, and a strong sense of community ultimately helps ensure clients receive the high-quality, person-centered care they deserve.”

Leading with Compassion

In addition to operational leadership, Elnaz has been instrumental in strengthening caregiver recognition and support efforts throughout the organization. She oversees Family & Nursing Care’s Goodwill Committee, which provides emotional and financial assistance to caregivers facing personal hardships such as medical emergencies, family loss, or housing crises.

Her work also includes connecting caregivers with important community and financial resources, including childcare assistance, insurance information, retirement planning resources, and utility support programs.

“Elnaz leads with both empathy and strategic focus,” said Sherry Peach-Walker, Vice President of Human Resources at Family & Nursing Care, who nominated Elnaz for the award. “She understands that supporting caregivers directly impacts the quality of care clients receive, and she consistently brings dedication, innovation, and excellence to her work.”

Advancing Excellence in Home Care

Beyond caregiver support, Elnaz has contributed significantly to operational growth and compliance efforts across Family & Nursing Care’s expanding markets. Her leadership has helped strengthen onboarding processes, improve documentation and training materials, and support consistency across multiple states during periods of rapid growth and regulatory change.

Her recognition as a Future Leader reflects not only her individual accomplishments, but also Family & Nursing Care’s broader commitment to excellence, innovation, and person-centered care.

Looking Ahead

At Family & Nursing Care, we are proud to celebrate employees who make a meaningful difference for caregivers, clients, and families every day. Elnaz’s recognition underscores the value of investing in leaders who help shape the future of home care.

To learn more about Family & Nursing Care’s commitment to exceptional care and caregiver support, visit our Why Us? webpage.

After a joyous holiday season, Family & Nursing Care is excited to continue the celebrations into the new year by announcing a significant milestone: for the 10^th time, our company has earned the distinction of “Best In-Home Care Service” in Bethesda Magazine’s annual Best of Bethesda Readers’ Poll! For us, this award is especially meaningful because it was voted on by people in our community.

“At Family & Nursing Care, nothing is more important to us than the positive experiences of our clients, and this award reflects our enduring commitment to enhancing the quality of life of older adults,” said Jeff Zukerman, President of Family & Nursing Care. “We’re proud to offer access to compassionate and reliable home care services year after year, and our gratitude goes out to the families who continue to place their trust in our team to take care of them and their loved ones.”

From things to do and places to eat to service providers and more, each year local feature and lifestyle publication Bethesda Magazine encourages readers to identify the best of all that Bethesda and its surrounding areas have to offer. The Best of Bethesda awards allow locals to highlight companies within the community that are benefiting the local economy, offering quality customer experiences to neighbors, and continuing to make Montgomery County a beautiful, quality place to call home.

For more than 56 years, Family & Nursing Care has helped tens of thousands of families by providing access to caregivers who assist older adults with their needs – whether it’s daily living support, companionship, mobility assistance, disease-specific care, and more. Clients like Phyllis Ross know firsthand the difference this care makes. “My caregiver knows when I need an arm around my shoulder or when I need to be alone listening to music or reading a book – she truly has wonderful instincts and feels like a member of my family,” said Phyllis.

As we celebrate this incredible achievement, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to clients, caregivers, and professional partners for allowing our team to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve each year!

On May 14, 2024, during the Maryland-National Capital Homecare Association (MNCHA) Annual Conference held at the Maritime Conference Center in Linthicum Heights, Maryland, Family & Nursing Care’s Gwendolyn Morris-Smith was honored with the prestigious Caregiver of the Year Award. Celebrating caregivers who consistently exceed expectations, Gwendolyn received this award for her dedication, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to meeting her client’s needs.

The ceremony, attended by her daughter, daughter-in-law, and sister, was an overwhelmingly positive experience for Gwendolyn. “It was a feeling I’ve never felt before. It was truly amazing,” she said when reflecting on the emotional impact of the event. Gwendolyn shared her profound gratitude for receiving the award, “The award means a lot to me. Knowing I’m appreciated and recognized brings me great joy and shows I’m making a difference.”

Gwendolyn’s journey into the caregiving profession began with an interest in assisting vulnerable people. “I’ve always had a passion for helping others, and becoming a caregiver allowed me to make a positive impact in people’s lives,” she said. Her clients frequently praise her dedication, which fills her with a deep sense of accomplishment. “It makes me feel fulfilled just knowing I can help do things for them that they no longer may be able to do themselves.”

Gwendolyn’s career with Family & Nursing Care Select began in 2009 when she sought employment with a reputable com

pany upon receiving her permanent resident status in the U.S. “The reputation of the company and the positive feedback I heard from other employees drew me to Family & Nursing Care,” she recalled. Her tenure with the company has been marked by numerous cherished memories, including helping a client experience the joy of dancing for the first time in her life.

Having worked in the industry for over 20 years, Gwendolyn attributes her success to essential qualities, such as compassion, empathy, patience, respect, reliability, and presence. The most rewarding part of her career, Gwendolyn shared, is making a difference in people’s lives. “That’s why I do what I do,” she stated. Her advice to fellow Caregivers is to treat clients with the same respect and care they would want for their own loved ones.

Since starting her career in 2003, Gwendolyn has consistently demonstrated kindness, patience, and a gentle demeanor. Her ability to connect with clients, even those whose families are far away, and her attentiveness to their needs have made her an indispensable part of their lives.

One standout instance of her expertise involved identifying an emergency situation early on that led to life-saving treatment for a client. Her proactive approach, arriving on time and ready for every shift, and her dedication during the COVID-19 pandemic, have all earned her high praise. A client’s family member said of her, “Gwendolyn has been an amazing help during this time, and I can’t thank her enough for everything she has done for both of my parents and especially my mother right now. COVID-19 has made this whole process challenging, and knowing Gwendolyn is there with my mom gives us all great comfort.”

Allison Bates, Director of Care Coordinating for Family & Nursing Care Select, summed up Gwendolyn’s impact by stating, “From day one, Gwendolyn has been dedicated, nurturing, kind, positive, and loving with every client. She is a one-of-a-kind Caregiver who consistently goes above and beyond what is expected. She always makes the best decisions for her clients and truly treats them as if they were her own family.”

Please join us in congratulating Gwendolyn on this incredibly well-deserved honor!