Kathryn “Kathee” Murphy has dedicated a lifetime to helping not only her country but her community, as well. She spent 24 years as an active-duty Navy nurse before retiring from the military in Jacksonville to continue her career at Mayo Clinic in the ’90s.
The Illinois native spent five years at Mayo Clinic before her department was ultimately disbanded, leaving her to wonder which steps to take next.
“I didn’t know what I wanted other than I knew that I wanted to use my clinical experience as a nurse, and I wanted to use my leadership experience that I gained through the Navy,” Murphy said. “I did a lot of research, and through the help of a headhunter, I found Comfort Keepers in about 2001.”
Comfort Keepers is a licensed home health agency for personal care with a mission to provide clients with home health care that enables them to have the highest level of quality of life that is achievable.
It’s part of a global franchise, one that Murphy bought in March of 2002 with her first territory in the Jacksonville area. Today, she owns three territories total, which serve St. Johns County and parts of Duval, Volusia and Flagler counties.
“There are definitely hard days, challenging days, but at the end of the day, I ask my staff to think back and think of all the lives they’ve touched,” Murphy said. “Through their guidance and their direction of our caregivers in the field, with us helping families find solutions to keep their loved ones home and safe, it relieves a lot of the pressure.”
Comfort Keepers operates with professional caregivers who are equipped to assist with a variety of needs. From temporary post-surgical care to round-the-clock, longer-term assistance for seniors with neurocognitive disorders, Comfort Keepers creates a specialized plan for each individual.
The organization is not health-insurance related and requires private pay, but Murphy was adamant about securing a VA contract for fellow veterans who require at-home care.
Nearly 24 years after opening Comfort Keepers in the Jacksonville area, Murphy says she is happy to give peace of mind to the community wherever she can and enjoys spending her free time (in between running Comfort Keepers) mentoring the next generation of young business owners.
“I feel now that I’m in the position to help others, as many have helped me along the way,” Murphy said.
You can learn more about Comfort Keepers and its services at www.comfortkeepers.com/offices/florida/jacksonville.
