Interview with the Owner: Why I Chose the Caring Field

by Ashley Keenan

I recently had the chance o sit down with the owner of Comfort Keepers Chicago, Itay Shalev, and ask him a few questions about why he chose a career in eldercare. 

"When I was a teenager I would spend the summer visiting my elderly uncle. We would work in his garden, go for walks through the countryside, eat dinner on the patio. He was a truly incredible man, so full of energy.

I remember staying up late, sitting under the porch light, listening for hours as he told me about escaping Nazi occupation, how he survived the unthinkable. He was a man that lived life to its fullest, followed every passion. You could hear it in the vibrancy of his voice when he’s share his stories. Funny thing is, I was usually the one who had to turn in first at night.

He was a true inspiration to me. Seeing him age in place, witnessing him not just get by, but actually thrive in his later years, that really moved me. I wanted to do anything possible to help others age with the same grace and dignity."