When Judy Clinco was 19, she made a promise to her father that would shape her life’s career and motivation. She promised him she would care for her mother after his death.
Clinco, who was adopted by "this incredible family," went on to found two Tucson companies: Catalina In-Home Services, a home care business providing care and support to people in need, and the Direct Caregiver Association Inc., a nonprofit designed to increase the amount of trained, quality home care workers during a national shortage crisis. As part of her work to make sure people in this career get proper respect, Clinco insists they be called Professional Direct Care Workers.
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In 1978 when her husband was accepted into the residency program at University Medical Center, Clinco moved here from New York. Her mom came shortly after, but Clinco couldn’t find home care that met her "very high standards."
So with $15,000 from their savings and a 12-week-old son under her arm, she started what is now known as Catalina In-Home Services. At first, Tucsonans didn’t understand her work, she said.
"They thought we were putting shingles on the house or coolers on the roof," she said.
Although Clinco has helped change that perception, including having designed a neighborhood association’s live-at-home program, she said she aspires to truly change the health care system in Arizona and across the United States.
"Within our society, within our country particularly, we don’t value and honor people who are aging and disabled and chronically ill," she said. "And because we don’t honor those people, we don’t honor the people who provide the care to them."
From her businesses, Clinco said she has learned that she "could do a lot in the area of motivating people beyond money." She added that "caring for your staff creates loyalty from the people who work for you. And, in turn, that loyalty is translated into the quality of service that they provide to our clients."
Everyone wonders "who’s going to be there for someone I love?" she said, adding that society as a whole needs to raise its awareness now.
"I believe that over time that I have become a change agent," she said. "What does Ghandi say? Be the change that you want to see."
Co-owner of Catalina In-Home Services and founder of
The Direct CareGiver Association
• Single most defining moment: Transcending indsutry competitiveness, bringing together colleagues to create The Direct CareGiver Association.
• A wish she hopes to turn into a reality: Besides winning the PowerBall, Clinco wants all direct-care workers to be respected, valued and honored and that the people who need and receive care are treated with skill, compassion and love."
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