Local Caregiver Overcomes Stroke to Earn National Recognition as Exceptional Caregiver of the Year

Home Helpers Home Care of Bradenton is proud to announce that Lead Caregiver Charles Chasen has been named the 2026 Exceptional Caregiver of the Year at the Home Helpers National Conference 2026.

Charles’s journey to this recognition is one defined by resilience, compassion, and purpose. In 2017, just four months after losing his mother, he suffered a massive stroke that changed his life. What followed was an extraordinary recovery process that included relearning how to walk and rebuilding his strength from the ground up.

Rather than allowing that experience to define his limitations, Charles transformed it into a source of connection and empathy for others.

Today, he brings that lived experience into his work as a caregiver. He forms meaningful relationships with clients and provides support that goes beyond traditional care.

“He’s the perfect caregiver,” shared his client, Barbara. “Takes excellent care of me, yet gives me space to be myself and always nearby in case I need him.”

Recently promoted to Lead Caregiver, Charles is recognized not only for his consistency and leadership, but for the genuine compassion he demonstrates every day.

“Charles does more than provide care,” said Jonathan Marsh, owner of Home Helpers Home Care of Bradenton. “He restores hope, uplifts spirits, and shows by example that strength can be found even in the hardest moments.”

Marsh added, “Charles has what I call authentic empathy. He has something that has come through life experience that you just can’t teach. He knows about being vulnerable, about recovery, and about hope. It is through those traits that he is able to connect with his clients.”

Charles’s story reflects the mission of Home Helpers Home Care. The mission is to provide compassionate, personalized care that helps individuals remain safe, independent, and comfortable in their own homes.

His recognition at the national level highlights not only his personal journey, but also the impact caregivers can have when they lead with both skill and heart.