Today we’d like to introduce you to Yemi Ogunleye.
Hi Yemi, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Wellness Homecare was established through a practical and experience driven journey that began in real estate. I started by purchasing houses in the city of Detroit, renovating them, and either flipping or renting them out. Over time, I bundled properties, carried out full renovations, and ensured the homes were safe, attractive, and genuinely liveable. Detroit has a significant population of students, including many international students, which resonated with me because I also came to the United States as an international student.
Through this work, I identified a persistent housing challenge facing international students. Rental requirements in Michigan are often strict, with landlords demanding extensive financial documentation. Most international students work limited hours and are unable to meet these requirements. To address this gap, I simplified the rental process by verifying student status rather than imposing unrealistic financial conditions. I introduced shared housing arrangements where students could rent individual rooms at affordable weekly or monthly rates. Instead of paying six hundred to one thousand dollars per month, students were able to live comfortably for approximately five hundred to five hundred and fifty dollars while sharing housing with others in similar circumstances.
As my involvement in housing expanded, I began to work with Section 8 programmes. This experience broadened my understanding of community needs. I encountered individuals living with disabilities, older adults, and people supported by government assistance. I observed how housing, healthcare, and social wellbeing are closely connected. Although many of these individuals had Medicare coverage and housing support, there was still a significant gap in daily care, emotional support, and human connection.
This realisation led me into caregiving and home based care services. I worked with established care providers and spent time in clients’ homes. What stood out was the level of isolation many people experienced. Beyond physical assistance, they needed companionship, conversation, and genuine presence. I also observed that while caregiving services existed, the quality of care and empathy varied significantly.
These experiences formed the foundation of Wellness Homecare. The organisation was created to provide compassionate, people centred homecare services that prioritise dignity, emotional wellbeing, and human connection.
Wellness Homecare serves communities across Detroit and surrounding counties in Michigan. It is grounded in lived experience and a commitment to meaningful care. The channel exists to share this journey, educate others, and demonstrate how intentional, empathetic homecare can improve quality of life and strengthen communities.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Like every organisation in the homecare sector, Wellness Homecare has faced challenges. The main challenge is not the quality of care or service delivery, but client acquisition. The care industry is highly competitive, with many providers offering similar services. This makes visibility, trust, and referrals extremely important.
Many providers focus on group homes or residential care settings where clients live on the property and receive round the clock support. In those settings, caregivers manage daily routines such as meals, personal care, and supervision throughout the day and night. Home based care operates differently. Clients remain in their own homes, and services are delivered based on assessed needs and approved hours. This means providers must continuously source and match clients whose care requirements align with available caregivers and schedules.
In homecare, referrals are critical. Families need to trust that a provider will genuinely care for their loved ones. Clients often come through word of mouth, community recommendations, social workers, or case managers. Until people know your organisation, understand your values, and see evidence of quality care, they are unlikely to refer clients. Building that trust takes time and consistency.
Another challenge is the variation in care needs. Some clients require only a few hours of support each day. Others need extended care, such as sixteen hours covering both daytime and night support. In more complex cases, clients may require twenty four hour care because they live alone or have significant medical or cognitive needs. Matching caregivers to these varying schedules while maintaining quality and continuity can be demanding, especially for a growing organisation.
Despite these challenges, the core issue remains access to clients rather than service delivery. Once clients are engaged, the focus shifts to providing disciplined, compassionate, and engaging care. This includes personal care, companionship, conversation, outings, and daily activities that keep clients mentally and emotionally engaged. Wellness Homecare prioritises caregivers who are not only trained, but also patient, empathetic, and committed to treating clients with dignity.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about WellnessHomecare?
Wellness Homecare is a community focused homecare organisation based in Michigan, serving Detroit and surrounding counties. The organisation provides non medical, home based care for older adults, individuals living with disabilities, and people who need daily support while remaining in the comfort of their own homes. Our services are designed to support both physical wellbeing and emotional health, recognising that quality care goes beyond basic tasks.
We specialise in personalised homecare services tailored to each client’s specific needs. These include personal care, companionship, meal support, mobility assistance, daily routines, and engagement activities that promote mental and emotional wellbeing. We also provide flexible care schedules ranging from a few hours a day to extended and twenty four hour care, depending on the client’s situation. Our approach is relationship driven, ensuring continuity of care and meaningful connections between caregivers and clients.
What sets Wellness Homecare apart is our emphasis on dignity, presence, and genuine human connection. We are not solely task focused. Our caregivers are trained to engage clients through conversation, companionship, and daily interaction, helping to reduce loneliness and isolation. We place strong emphasis on caregiver discipline, empathy, and consistency, because we understand that trust is essential in homecare. Families choose us because they know their loved ones are treated with respect and compassion.
Brand wise, we are most proud of the trust we build with clients, families, and community partners. Much of our growth comes through referrals, which reflects the quality of care we deliver and the relationships we maintain. Our organisation was built from lived experience in housing, caregiving, and community support, and this foundation shapes our values and service standards.
We want readers to know that Wellness Homecare is not just a service provider, but a partner in care. Our mission is to help people live safely, comfortably, and with dignity in their own homes while feeling seen, heard, and valued. We are committed to community impact, high care standards, and delivering homecare that truly makes a difference in people’s daily lives.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I see myself as a risk taker, but in a calculated and disciplined way. The biggest risk I took was deciding to start the business in the first place. Any time you start a business, there is uncertainty. You do not fully know whether it will work until you take that first step. For me, that meant registering the business, forming an LLC, paying the required fees, securing office space, and covering operational costs before having any clients. That initial commitment was the real risk.
What guided me through that stage was mindset. I strongly believe in maintaining a positive and focused mindset. When you believe something is possible and commit yourself to it, you are more likely to find solutions and make progress. That does not mean everything goes exactly as planned. Reality often tests your expectations. However, once you accept that challenges are part of the process, you become more resilient and consistent in your efforts.
This was not my first experience with entrepreneurship. I already owned Flourish Real Estate, and I also run Straight Up Fits. Because of this background, I understood that starting a business requires patience, confidence, and the willingness to move forward even before results appear. In real estate especially, risk is unavoidable. You purchase a property, invest significant funds into renovations, and trust that the market will respond positively. You move forward believing that your work will create value and that you will recover your investment.
I believe that everything is achievable with the right mindset and work ethic. I do not see limitations as permanent barriers. In my view, America offers opportunities for those willing to work, learn, and stay committed. Timing is important, but consistency and credibility matter more. Once people know you, trust your work, and see your integrity, opportunities begin to open. Clients come, referrals grow, and your focus shifts from survival to structure, systems, and service quality.
Overall, my approach to risk taking is grounded in confidence, experience, and belief in execution. I take the step, stay disciplined, and focus on doing the work well, trusting that results will follow.
Pricing:
- $30 hour
- $27.50 hours
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wellnesshomecare.care
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wellnesshomecare-com-llc/
