Aug. 19, 2022

Avera@Home has reached an agreement to form a joint venture with Kore Cares, a Sioux Falls-based personal care services agency. Avera@Home will transition the clients in its personal care services line, as well as some staff, to Kore Cares in several phases starting fall 2022.

Home health and hospice patients will remain with Avera@Home. The joint venture with Kore Cares currently is focused in South Dakota.

Personal care services involve those such as meal planning and preparation, personal care, housekeeping, help with transportation or companionship.

“This is an essential part of the care continuum, especially as these patients are some of our most vulnerable,” Sandy Dieleman, CEO of Avera@Home, said in a statement.

The joint venture with Kore Cares strengthens the support of patients, staff and Avera, and allows Avera@Home and Kore Cares to serve more people as well as expand the types of care and services provided, including a focus on expanding to private-pay patients, Avera said, adding Kore Cares was selected in part because the company is guided by a mission that reflects Avera’s.

Kore Cares has been operating in the Sioux Falls region since 2016 and has partnered with Avera for years. Co-founder and owner Gabrielle Hoing will lead the joint venture as its CEO.

The joint venture will do business under the name Kore Cares to provide continuity for clients and referral sources.

“Over the last six years, our team has grown from two people to 60,” Hoing said “We are extremely grateful for the clients who have shared their lives with us and for the team members who live out our mission and values. This new phase provides opportunity to expand our scope to provide services to more of the people in the community who need our care.”