John Hughes

Outdoorsman, Farmer, Passionate Senior Advocate

“If their heart is in the right place, you know they’re going to do a good job.”

Why I Opened My ComForCare Location

“What am I going to do when I grow up?” 

I had this thought driving home from the job I had for over 23 years as a software developer. I was facing an impending layoff, the second in three years, and I knew I wanted something bigger for my life. It was important to me to find something fulfilling where I was able to help others in a meaningful way. 

When I was growing up in rural Oregon, my mother routinely volunteered with aging adults in the community. Because of this, a passion for service was instilled in me at a young age. As she grew older, I was frustrated with the lack of options and resources available to her. When I opened this location, I wanted to keep others from feeling the frustrations I had. My team and I are empathetic to everyone we come in contact with because we’ve been where you are. We understand the challenges that come along with aging, and we have dedicated ourselves to becoming resources for our community.

My Most Memorable Moment

We had a client who had passed away while the family and caregiver were at the home. After the client’s body was taken to the funeral home, the family left to visit another family member. Once they were gone, the caregiver stripped the hospital bed the client had passed in. They washed all of the linens and folded them. They collapsed the hospital bed and put it on the porch for hospice to pick up. All of this was done without a second thought, without obligation and without pay. It was out of the caregiver’s own volition and compassion. 

The family was so overwhelmed with this kindness, they called to thank me and asked about giving the caregiver a bonus. The caregiver had never even mentioned it to me. The caregiver didn’t want recognition or praise for stepping up, they just knew it was important to the family. Those are the people we routinely bring into our ComForCare family.

Location Credentials

• DementiaWise®-certified office
• Home Care Pulse Certified™ Trusted Provider
• Nationally Certified Readmissions Professional, a designation given by the National Readmissions Prevention Collaborative to locations with in-depth training to prevent hospital readmissions
• Proud financial contributor and supporter of the Alzheimer’s Network of Oregon
• Provider of training and support to first responders who may encounter older adults with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia

John’s Credentials and Education

• Certified Senior Advisor®, a national certification to train individuals to better work with seniors
• Certified Cognitive Stimulation Instructor, a certification for professionals who service older adults with memory challenges
• Certified Alzheimer’s Educator (CAEd) from the National Certification Board of Alzheimer and Aging Care
• Radio show host of “Aging in Willamette Valley” on KMUZ 88.5 FM and 100.7 FM
• Bachelor’s in software engineering from the Oregon Institute of Technology
• Master’s in software engineering from the Oregon Graduate Institute

Whether your loved one needs assistance only a few hours a week or around-the-clock, our team is happy to help! Call (503) 400-6637 to learn more about the transition care services offered through ComForCare Home Care (Salem, OR).