Cambridge Caregivers Executives: “We know what it’s like.”
As Cambridge Caregivers geared up to celebrate its 10th anniversary, the company’s top three leaders discovered a notable commonality: None came to the company with experience in the senior living or senior care industry. But all three had personal experience navigating the challenges of caring for a senior for a parent or grandparent.
CEO Adam Lampert’s previous career was in mergers and acquisitions. In the company’s early days, he turned to Cambridge Caregivers to find in-home caregivers for his elderly father-in-law.
Chief Relationship Officer Brian Levy’s career spanned a range of sales and marketing positions. His grandmother lived in one of the care homes run by Cambridge’s sister company, Manchester Care Homes, before she passed away.
And Chief Operating Officer Ernie Cote joined the company, in part, because of his experience as a caregiver as a young adult.
“We know what it’s like,” said Lampert. “We have seen firsthand how important it is to find compassionate and trained caregivers for our own family members.”
Shortly after he graduated from college, Cote’s mother was diagnosed with a brain tumor. As the only child, much of the responsibility for finding caregiving fell on him. Later he became the sole caregiver for his grandfather, who had advanced dementia.
“I know how heartbreaking and frustrating it is for families when they have trouble finding good quality care,” said Cote. “My family would’ve loved to have had access to the kind of amazing caregivers that Cambridge Caregivers offers.”
Growing Need
The passion that Lampert, Levy and Cote share has contributed to Cambridge Caregivers’ success. The company has grown to employ a team of more than 200 caregivers, all carefully vetted and trained. While many competitors rely on contract employees, Cambridge Caregivers are all W-2 employees.
Levy credits the leadership team’s genuine empathy for families who need care, combined with savvy business practices, for the company’s growth.
“Adam is the MBA who’s most at home working with a spreadsheet and structuring the business,” he said. “Ernie is the engine that is keeping the operation going and setting up the processes needed so that we can expand. And I’m the people person, assisting with families in crisis in determining their needs and meeting physicians, social workers, community leaders and others to share what Cambridge Caregivers offers.”
Cambridge Caregivers serves a critical need, as Americans face a growing caregiving gap. The population is getting older; families are having fewer children; and families are more spread out geographically. In 2010, every person in the high-risk age range (80 and up) had, on average, seven family members or others who were potential caregivers. By 2050, there will be only three potential caregivers for every senior in need of care.
“The need is there,” said Lampert. “We’re pleased that Cambridge Caregivers is growing so that we can continue to help every more families.”
