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After more than three decades in the business, Gwendolyn Puryear is hanging up her home health hat.
Puryear has spent nearly 32 years of her life in home health care retiring from her position with Amedisys Home Care this month. Her final day punching a clock will be Oct. 23 and a special reception is planned in her honor for Oct. 27.
Puryer said the next phase of her life will be filled with enjoying the world around her.
“It’s a big world out there,” Puryer said. “I’m toing to try to enjoy it. I’ll just take it one day at a time. At this moment, I’m good. I’m able to dig in the yard. I love flowers and I have five grandchildren to keep me busy.”
Puryear said retirement is something she plans to take seriously and maintain in the years to come.
“I don’t plan to pursue any jobs,” Puryear said. “I’ve had some offers after I announced I was retiring, but not now. I think I can fill my days without going back into the work force. We’ll manage things so that I don’t have to do that.”
Although retirement is something she has looked forward to, Puryear said she has loved evry step of the way in her professional life.
“I love helping people,” Puryear said. “That has been the whole soul of me. This work has allowed me to help a lot of elderly people in a lot of different ways.”
Puryear said some of the things that gives her pride in doing her job has been her ability to help people beyond their basic health needs.
“When you don’t have food or fear having your lights turned off it’s hard to heal,” Puryear said. “I have worn many hats during my career, but helping people with needs is one I am happy to have worn.”
Puryear’s position at Amedisys found her through connections she has maintained in her life.
“I had been laid off of a job many years ago and was searching for something,” Puryear said. “I had kept in contact with my business teacher, Betty Clark. I told her if she heard of anything to let me know. She gave me a call that Mari Lynn Hammac had opened a home care agency. I went to work there on a part-time basis for someone who was on maternity leave. I revamped some of the office work to meet my needs to be more efficient. When the lady came back from maternity leave, she discovered she didn’t really want to come back to work. That’s when I went into the position full time and have been in home health care since.”
During her time on the job, Puryear has been through five acquisitions in the business.
I have seen a lot of changes,” Puryear said. “I was an administrator from 2004 to 2010 before the group was purchased by Amedisys. I’ve been able to continue my work through each of those changes. It has been a blessing from God to be able to continue working without change in the position.”
Puryear holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and sociology that helped her throughout her time on the job.
“I have been involved in community resources for our patients,” Puryear said. “To know what is available for to help people has been important. It has been something I love to be able to help our patients.”
Carmen Rose, director of operations for Amedisys, said replacing Puryear is impossible.
“We do have someone hired to come in and do the job, but there is no replacement for Gwen,” Rose said. “She’s been more than a co-worker, she’s a friend.”
Rose said that her time with Gwen at Amedisys has been a pleasure and a blessing.
“She has been here with me every step of the way,” Rose said. “She was here when I came on board as a clinical manager and then director. We’ve spent 18 years together. She has been with me through the brightest times of my life and has stood solid with me through the darkest.”
Rose said that Puryear’s knowledge goes well beyond the day-to-day operations of home health care.
“She knows everybody,” Rose said. “She knows this business (home health) inside and out. To have her here has been instrumental in our success.”
Although Amedisys doesn’t have a social worker on staff, Rose said Puryear has been just that.
“She has made sure that our patients are taken care of on some many levels,” Rose said. “She is a wealth of knowledge and someone who will be greatly missed.”
Rose said she does believe that Puryear will come back to visit from time to time just to check on the staff and keep up with what’s going on.
“She loves the Dollar Tree,” Rose said. “Since that’s just a few doors down from our office, I have a feeling she’ll be checking in with us from time to time on her trips to the store.”
Puryear said she is happy to join the ranks of the retired and hopes to have plenty of time to enjoy whatever the future holds.
“My husband has been retired for a while,” Puryear said. “It’s time now for me to join him and enjoy what life has to offer.”