Lending an 'extra hand': Krisinda Cook of Extra Hands Inc. shares how her small business makes a big difference for seniors, people with disabilities

Extra Hands Inc., an in-home care business based in Cape Girardeau, serves patients in Cape Girardeau, Scott, Bollinger, Perry and Mississippi counties. Operations manager Krisinda Cook runs the business along with her mother and sister, and together, they help individuals reside in their homes for as long as possible. Here, Krisinda explains the need for in-home care services, and where the field is heading next:

Business Today: How did you get into this line of work and how did Extra Hands get started?

Krisinda Cook: Extra Hands is a family business that my mother, Kathy Smith, sister, Tisha Todd, and I started because we felt there was a need for a locally owned in-home service and Department of Mental of Health provider in the Cape Girardeau area.

BT: What do you enjoy about working in the in-home care business?

KC: We enjoy helping the elderly and developmentally disabled individuals in our community. We love when we are able to help an individual stay in their own home and not have to move into a nursing home or other type of institution.

BT: Which services are most in-demand? What does it mean to your clients to have this care available?

KC: We have just started our CDS (Consumer Directed Services) program. This is in high demand because it provides an opportunity for consumers to choose their own personal care aide, direct how services are delivered and structure the times they receive care to meet their individual independent living needs.

BT: How has your business changed or grown over the years?

KC: Our business is run the same as it was when we started over 12 years ago and is run by the same people. Not much has changed in the kind of care we provide. We remain loyal and dependable to our consumers and employees. We have continued to grow each year and currently have 75 employees.

BT: Where is this field, and your business, heading in the future?

KC: We are currently working on opening a non-profit division of Extra Hands and have future goals of obtaining grants and funding to provide transportation and low-income housing options for clients that we care for.

BT: What is something many people don't know about your business or career field?

KC: Our doors are always open to our employees, consumers or to the public, and we welcome anyone to come by to ask questions or find out more about Extra Hands Inc. We not only care about our employees' and clients' physical well-being, but also their spirit, mind and soul. We regularly pray for our employees and clients and sincerely wish the best for them and their families.

BT: What do you think is the key to success in running a small business?

KC: The key to running to successful small business is to have a vision and a plan and to make sure your entire team is on board and shares the same vision you do. It is very important to stay consistent and realize we are in this for the long haul. This is a business that I hope my children and grandchildren will be a part of. It's also important to genuinely care about and stay in contact with your employees and clients. Even though our services are reimbursed through the state Medicaid program and the rates are very low, we always put people over profits.