Shellie Horan, a habilitation technician from Butler, has been caring for a 36-year-old woman with developmental disabilities as if she were part of her family for three years and counting.

That dedication earned her the top award from her employer, Bayada Home Health Care, a national provider of in-home care services.Bayada named Horan its Habilitation Technician National Hero of the Year for 2021 for exemplifying the highest standards of care.She accepted the award May 20 during the company's annual awards event, which was held online because of the COVID-19 pandemic.Horan said she won a regional award before being announced as the national award winner.“It really threw me for a loop,” Horan said. “It was just wonderful.”She has been working with her client, Kristen, in her family's home in Zelienople for all of the three years she has been working for Bayada.

Due to a brain hemorrhage at birth, Kristen acquired cerebral palsy, cortical blindness and developmental disabilities. Instead of sending her to a long-term care facility, her parents engaged Bayada to help her with her daily activities.“I treat her like I would treat any loved one,” Horan said. “I help her with her personal care, her personal routine.”Bayada trains habilitation technicians and matches them one-on-one with clients to help people have a safe home life with comfort, independence and dignity. Founded in 1975, the company has 26,000 employees serving 150,000 clients in 22 states and eight countries.Horan's efforts have helped Kristen become more independent.“I personally have seen how far she's come along,” Horan said. “At first, I didn't realize how much of an impact it was having on her. It's wonderful to know that. It takes a lot of patience. Seeing her happy is gratitude enough. She hugs. She'll give me a hug.”

Horan said she goes to Kristen's home twice a day, five days a week. She spends time there in the morning, goes home and then returns in the evening. She helps Kristen bathe, brush her teeth and change clothes.Horan prepares Kristen's meals and helps her eat. Horan also helps Kristen with her online occupational and speech therapy sessions.“Anything I can do to help her,” Horan said.Keeping Kristen's parents updated on what she does every day is also part of the job.“She has a great family,” Horan said.

Before she started working for Bayada out of its office in Monroeville, Horan said she helped care for elderly family members and friends for 10 years.Bayada provides regular training for employees, she said. “They're good to you,” Horan said. “They're great company. I love my job. It's very rewarding.”Kristen will likely need the kind of care and attention that Horan provides for the rest of her life.“I'll work with her indefinitely,” she said.

Shellie Horan