9: Non-Medical Home Care with BrightStar

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In this episode of Healthcare Redefined: Advocating for Aging Adults and Their Families, hosts Pam Dunwald and Linda Kritikos welcome Diane Vitolka, MSN, RN, owner, president, and Director of Nursing at BrightStar Care of Central DuPage-Wheaton, for a practical conversation about aging in place and non-medical home care. For many aging adults, staying at home means maintaining independence, familiar routines, social connections, and quality of life. But as needs change, family caregivers may find themselves trying to manage work, children, appointments, medications, meals, personal care, and safety concerns all at once. Diane explains how professional home care can work with families to provide the extra support an aging loved one needs without taking away their independence.

Pam, Linda, and Diane break down the difference between non-medical home care and Medicare-covered home health, signs that it may be time to bring additional help into the home, and why families should explore caregiving support before a crisis occurs. They also discuss caregiver burnout, fall prevention, dementia care, caregiver continuity, and what families should look for when choosing a home care agency. Diane shares how even a few hours of support can give family caregivers peace of mind and help an aging parent become comfortable accepting more assistance. Most importantly, families are reminded that asking for help does not mean giving up on caring for someone you love. The right home care support can make it possible for family members to remain a daughter, son, spouse, or loved one while helping the aging adult stay safe and comfortable wherever they call home.

Key Moments:

00:00 — Aging in Place with Safety, Dignity, and Support
Pam and Linda introduce how non-medical home care can help aging adults remain safely and comfortably at home.


02:07 — Meet Diane Vitolka, MSN, RN
Diane shares her 38 years of nursing experience, background in home care, and journey to becoming an owner of BrightStar Care.


03:43 — Why Aging in Place Matters to Older Adults
Familiar surroundings, routines, independence, neighbors, and memories can make remaining at home deeply important.


05:43 — Home Care Doesn’t Mean Losing Independence
Diane explains how caregivers work alongside aging adults rather than taking over their routines or decisions.


08:25 — Non-Medical Home Care vs. Home Health
Learn the important difference between ongoing non-medical home care and episodic, skilled home health services.


11:26 — Reducing Family Caregiver Stress and Burnout
Home care can provide family caregivers with practical support, respite, and peace of mind when they cannot be there.

13:28 — Don’t Wait for a Caregiving Crisis
Families often call from the emergency room, but starting conversations about home care earlier can make the transition easier.

16:26 — Why Caregiver Consistency Matters
Continuity of care, communication, and warm introductions can help aging adults become comfortable with caregivers in their homes.

20:31 — Signs Your Aging Parent May Need Help at Home
Falls, hospitalizations, poor hygiene, weight loss, missed medications, memory changes, and loneliness can signal a need for additional support.

23:00 — The Risks of Waiting Too Long for Help
Waiting until safety or dementia concerns become severe can make accepting home care more difficult and limit your family’s options.

25:11 — How to Talk to Your Parent About Home Care
Approaching the conversation with concern, respect, and honesty can help an aging parent understand why additional support benefits the whole family.

26:42 — What to Look for in a Home Care Agency
Diane discusses nurse oversight, caregiver training, responsiveness, reliability, safety standards, communication, and quality of care.

35:31 — Supporting Aging Adults Living with Dementia
Consistent routines, individualized care plans, caregiver education, and dementia training can make home care safer and less stressful.

40:12 — Caregiver Guilt and Asking for Help
Family caregivers need care, too, and bringing in outside support can help prevent exhaustion and preserve the family relationship.


43:01 — Making Aging in Place Work for Your Family
Home can mean a private residence, a family member’s house, or assisted living, and flexible support can help fill caregiving gaps wherever your loved one lives.


About Diane Vitolka:

President & CEO | Director of Nursing & Compliance

Prior to arriving at BrightStar in 2013, Diane served in multiple management roles both in the hospital and home setting over her 33 years in Nursing. She previously served as BrightStar Care Director of Compliance, responsible for departmental analysis related to productivity, staff process improvement, and client satisfaction, resulting in improved patient outcomes.  This required a restructuring of all internal processes and direct involvement in process improvement initiatives to increase Home Health Compare, Staff and Customer Satisfaction Scores.  Diane then moved into the role of Director of Nursing and Compliance, bringing her extensive regulatory knowledge and compliance with process improvement to take positive patient outcomes to the next level of clinical care from BrightStar to home and/or facility.  As of August 2022, she is a proud co-owner of the BrightStar Care Wheaton franchise. Diane is most passionate about family-centered care, Dementia care, and the concept of ‘aging in place’. She loves the fact that she is able to make a significant difference in the lives of clients by helping them stay safe and healthy wherever they reside.


Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

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Contact Diane Vitolka:


Contact Pam Dunwald & Linda Kritikos | Your Nurse Advocate Consulting: 

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