Today we’d like to introduce you to Wannetta Wells.
Hi Wannetta, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I will begin with the fact that my mother and my oldest sister were both in the Healthcare field and me being a young lady who witnessed them work on a regular basis, providing care for others. That not only gave me the inspiration, but I feel like it also triggered my desire to learn more about the healthcare field. I initially started out working one on one in individuals homes, providing in-home care services, assisting with various levels of care according to their needs. It was then that I developed the desire to help more individuals. Although, I was satisfied with providing the necessary care for one individual, as a young healthy adult I was in the position to help multiple individuals and at that point, I decided to expand my experience in the Healthcare field working in multiple long-term care and rehab facilities. I enjoyed providing the services for individuals in these facilities but, my desire to learn more and advance further in the healthcare field drove me to seek more. So I did whatever was necessary in order to obtain a position in a level two trauma hospital (Temple University) in Philadelphia. This employment opportunity allowed me to advance farther than I had ever imagined, while my department was primarily pulmonary. I worked on various MedSurg units including oncology, infant ICU, intensive care units, cardiac units, neurology, and the emergency room. This allowed me to experience so many different levels of Healthcare and to provide various levels of care to multiple people in a very vast environment. I have always prided myself in providing the maximum level of care for each and every individual I encountered regardless of their nationality, culture, background, etc. I recall the very first moment in my young career that actually changed my life and my perspective of people I was working through a Staffing Agency at the veterans home in Philadelphia on Woodland Avenue during my time there, I encountered multiple residents. I have always felt it is important to acknowledge every individual as a person and to engage in conversation with them because simply providing care for someone is just not enough. We need to see them as the human beings that they are regardless of their disability and regardless of their current situation. I met a gentleman there, he was a veteran of course who was previously homeless and because he was homeless for so many years, he had been so accustomed to pushing a shopping cart and keeping all his personal or valuable things into that shopping cart that even in the veteran facility, he would use a wheelchair to push around and store everything he felt was of value or importance to him including food, clothing, toilet paper, etc. just as he would have while living on the streets. I never really serviced him in any of my personal care assignments until one day the caregiver who was originally assigned to him was not working and I was given her assignment for the day. He never really spoke when he walked through the hallways or sat in the dining area, but this day I was asked to encourage him to accept a shave. I approached him in his room, asked politely and to my surprise he accepted, while giving this individual a shave, he began to engage in a conversation with me and I must admit that this was the best conversation I ever had in all of my young adult years. To actually hear him speak and realize the intellect and wisdom he possessed, although he never exhibited it while walking through the halls where he remained quiet and never spoke to anyone, we had the best conversation the entire time that I shaved him. That one moment completely changed me and I knew what I wanted to do as a career and what I needed to do in life. He gave me a totally different outlook on people especially the homeless usually we cross the street when we see a homeless person we stray away from them assuming that they always want something from us. However, this individual helped me to see and to understand that everyone has a past history or situation that has placed them in the position they are in life, and we don’t know what that could be yet we judge them and from that moment I have never judged anyone again. I love the work I do, I treat my clients/residents as the individual people they are and I acknowledge that they have feelings, that they have opinions, they have concerns, they have needs and that their choices should be respected. When I work with individuals, I don’t see them simply as a job I build relationships with them because ultimately they are simply looking for someone they can trust to provide the care and understanding they require. Recently, I had the pleasure to care for someone who became a really good friend to me I truly appreciated and enjoyed the opportunity and we built a lasting relationship. She always said to me that we were meant to be sisters in another life regardless of the fact that she was 84 and I was 47. Unfortunately, in June of 2025 she passed away I keep a picture of her on the dashboard of my car and I take her with me on my journey every day. Caring for others is not a job it’s not a skill for me It’s a lifestyle and a privilege, you have to possess the desire to not only help others, but to truly see them as the individual person they are. In addition having the desire to help them live the best life possible, no matter what again I love my job and this is why I chose to start my own home care business. People like myself are very rare to find but, I want it to be known that there truly are individuals like myself who strive to be everything that you or your loved ones may need.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I can never honestly say it’s been a smooth road because nothing in life is ever easy life in itself is a challenge. However, I’ve always believed that only the strong survive and the weak will self-destruct and I’ve never been one to give up. First and foremost I believe in God, I believe that he has a plan for all of us and that we were all put here for a purpose. Most of my struggles were more Financial not having the finances to accomplish the things that I wanted to at specific points and time in my life. Also, I am a mother of nine children so being the second provider in addition to my husband has always come first and my goals and wishes had to come second they had to be pushed to the back burner so to speak but, that was never an issue for me because I love my kids with my every being and they are the inspiration to the title of my business.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about 9 Hearts Independent Homecare LLC?
9 Hearts is a minority owned small business starting out in Norristown, Pennsylvania. My company is committed to providing the best level of care for all individuals in need of our services. We not only provide in-home care to seniors, but we also provide in-home care and community support to individuals with IDD and physical disabilities as well. Everyone deserves to live their lives as they see fit we provide the support services to assist individuals in maintaining healthy productive lifestyles in their own homes and their own communities. Helping them to remain active, participate and have social lifestyles the same as anyone else without discrimination. I feel that what sets me apart from other agencies is that I don’t simply establish business relationships, I establish personal relationships with my individuals as well. We provide continuity of care and put forth the effort to provide the Security and reassurance individuals need to not only feel safe, but to know that they will always be cared for in the best way possible. I am most proud of the relationships I build in my experience I’ve had so many patients, clients and families say to me that I am one of a kind and all the care I provide is exceptional. One of the most important things that I want your readers to know about my company is that we are like no other there are so many agencies that profess to be better than the rest but, I can truly and honestly say that I stand out from others, I am very different and the staff that I seek to hire, will have the same passion and value for human life as I do our quality of care will always be the highest. We will always realize that as caregivers it’s never about our choices, our wants or our needs IT’S ABOUT THE INDIVIDUALS!
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I will say that I’ve always been inspired by watching various others in my field whom I’ve worked with in multiple locations that stand out and have provided the same exemplary care. Margo Crawford, D’anne Rivers, Vivian, Vincent Burkheimer, Debra Russell and so many more I’ve worked with so many people throughout my career who have no idea of how they’ve inspired me. However, they’ve all been so supportive and encouraging, and they’ve always acknowledged the great work that I’ve done always giving me the confidence that I needed to continue to move forward with my ultimate goal.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://9heartsofindependence.org
