Choosing Home fosters the opportunity for older Hoosiers to continue life at home for as long as possible.

Navigating Life's Later Years
Choosing Home utilizes nursing and social work skills to provide a high-quality, holistic plan of care, and helps with alternative arrangements when remaining in the home is no longer appropriate.

Additionally, Choosing Home:

• Provides support to remain safe and healthy at home.
• Navigates the health care system and coordinates care with providers.
• Provides respite care for caregivers.
• Prepares homemade meals.
• Strengthens the client’s circle of care and keeps everyone informed and involved.
• Provides psychosocial support to clients and families.
• Advocates for the client’s well-being within their home and in their community.

Our Vision
Choosing Home believes that if Central Indiana elders and caregivers are supported and empowered to remain living at home, and if a guiding, knowledgeable professional advocates, then caregivers and aging individuals will have the resources to meet the needs of their loved ones and older Hoosiers can remain empowered to make their own life decisions and integrate and interpret health care information and services to avoid crises. Furthermore, older Hoosiers can remain residing in their own home or community.

Our Mission
Choosing Home uses nursing and social work to foster the best possible quality of life for aging Hoosiers who wish to remain at home, and thus provides what caring families would do if they possessed the time and expertise.

Our Values
Choosing Home embraces and integrates the values of kindness, self-determination, dignity, honor, respect, hope, independence, justice, well-being, satisfaction and collaboration as essential components in all of its programs to accomplish its vision.

Jennifer Kappes, RN, MSW
Over 20 years ago, Jen began her health care career in a nursing home, which profoundly affected the way she believed older individuals should live out their later years — with dignity, individualism, acceptance and a focus on hope, all while maintaining quality of life. Through this experience, she also learned the magnitude of seeing the patient as a person, first. Since that time, she has been involved in the care of others recovering from surgery, experiencing cancer diagnosis and treatment, primary care, and supporting care givers and their loved ones in the later stages of life.

Jen received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Xavier University and has been a licensed registered nurse since 1996. During her years providing nursing care, she desired to acquire a stronger skill set that would empower patients and caregivers to overcome obstacles and avoid pitfalls. In 2008, Jen completed her Masters in Social Work from Indiana University. This combination of nursing and social work affords her the unique ability to shepherd clients and caregivers through the many needs and challenges of life’s later years.

Jen does not hire aides and other staff. She provides the direct care herself. She develops trust as the sole, consistent care provider, whether helping with a bath, filling the pill box, communicating changes with physicians, updating family or talking about fears at the end of life. Jen recognizes that kindness must always be the single most important guiding principle in her work and that a basic, yet compassionate, human experience is the foundation for high quality care.

Social work has taught her the importance of communicating well and with patience. She has the skills to listen to what is said, while recognizing that much can remain unsaid during times of change and crisis. Nursing has taught Jen the art of noticing subtle yet important changes, to speak up for clients when there is concern, and to remain compassionately present regardless of what the day may bring. She is a guiding professional friend and a knowledgeable advocate.

Jen is a counselor with the Indiana State Health Insurance Program, trained to help individuals eligible for Medicare to make informed choices and changes in their medical coverage. Jen is also a professional member of the Aging Life Care Association, a leader in the national community of aging life care professionals through education, professional development, and the highest ethical standards.