After being trained in recreation therapy, Brooke Beney ‘05 saw an opportunity to bring recreation-based care to client's homes. 

When Beney ‘05 enrolled in the Recreation and Leisure Services program at Mohawk, a career in recreation therapy was not even on her radar. Along the way, that changed. She started her own home care company more than 12 years ago. 

Brooke’s Home Care is a recreation-based home care company that takes a unique approach to the industry. They work with seniors and people with disabilities who live in a variety of settings, such as long-term care homes, hospitals, retirement communities or single-family homes. “We help seniors stay active and remain connected to their community,” explains Beney. ”We have really meaningful interactions using the tools that we have as recreation therapists.” Having the opportunity to work one-on-one with a client at a previous job, Beney quickly realized that there was a need for the style of care she could provide as a recreation therapist. 

She started her own business with just one client. That grew to two and more, and soon after she was hiring employees to help her meet demand. Since its inception in 2007, Beney’s business has been growing. Once known as Vitality Health Care Services, Beney’s Home Care now operates with a team of eight recreation therapists, serving many clients annually. 

While at Mohawk, Beney was inspired by Joanne Brohman, the program coordinator of Recreation Therapy. Joanne’s passion for the field is what piqued Beney’s interest and led her to pursue it. 

“They (Mohawk grads) do stand out in an interview as they are ready for the field. They are ready to work and have been properly prepared.” – Brooke Beney ‘05 

“It’s such a tight-knit community, I love that I still see my classmates and other Mohawk grads in the field,” says Beney. “We have a great connection. I love that. I still see it today in the Mohawk grads I encounter.” 

Beney continues to stay connected to Mohawk College and enthusiastically hires Mohawk grads. Of them, she says, “They do stand out in an interview as they are ready for the field. Mohawk grads are ready to work and they have been properly prepared.”  

She explains that it’s not just the skills of being a recreation therapist that makes someone the right fit, but that she can always count on Mohawk grads to be prepared in other ways for the unique demands of the field. 

Brooke adds, “The program has changed immensely since I took it," says Brooke. “When I'm interviewing a Mohawk grad, I jokingly—but I'm only partially joking—tell them my ears are wide open because I can often learn something new from them.” 

By: Jenna Yeomans ‘19 

This story was originally published in Spring 2020 of the Mohawk Alumni In Touch magazine.