Meet Shareese Sumpter | Owner of a personal care home for the elderly

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shareese Sumpter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shareese, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I wanted to start my own business because I was tired of being unappreciated and undervalued as a special education teacher of 22 years. I knew that my worth was greater and the only way to achieve that was to start my own business. The other reason why I wanted to start my own business was to show my only child that entrepreneurship gives you freedom. Freedom to grow independently, financially, and mentally. I also want to leave a legacy for my son and generational wealth especially being an African American male. My son is 11 years old and has a mood disorder and anxiety and I named the business after him. As a single mom I wanted to show my son that no matter how hard things get you can overcome them and be successful!

What should our readers know about your business?
I have a personal care home for the elderly in a residential area. I have a 24 hour live in caregivers. I accept residents/Senior friends who need help with daily living skills such as bathing, toiletry, eating, medication management, housekeeping, laundry, and grooming. My Senior friends love my home because it’s very family oriented and I’m very hands on. I even take my 2.5 lbs Chihuahua with me in which she is considered the house dog. My Senior friends love her and some of them ebrn buy doggy treats for her. She is a comfort to them. My son loves showing the residents his video games and he tells me “mommy since the business is named after me what is my title” and I said ” my assistant” and he said ” I want a high ranking title” and I said ” Ok you’re my CFO and I’m the CEO”. He loves that and he knows the business very well and knows what each Senior friend likes to eat etc. My business name is Sky’s Unlimited Personal Home Care and my son is named Skyler. And even though our name isn’t we are family, we are family. I keep in close contact with my families on the progress of their loved ones, I’m always checking in on my Senior friends as I call them and not just my clients/residents. I love celebrating the holidays with them and birthdays and once a week I’ll buy food for the whole house like Olive Garden etc. I have games for my Senior friends to play and I plan to take some of them to Louisiana to the casino because two of my Senior friends use to gamble but are now bed bound and my motto is to improve or maintain their way of life.

This business isn’t easy. Healthcare is 24/7 and I sometimes have to wake up at 1 am or 3 am to go check on one of my Senior friends because they are really sick or one has passed away because they are on hospice. I’ve lost two Senior friends who passed away and I thought I couldn’t do this anymore because I get really attached to my Senior friends and their families. It hurt me so much and I still keep in touch with the families and one of the wives comes over for lunch since my personal care home is where her husband took his last breath. That’s what keeps me going because I realize people need me. I am appreciated and my families are grateful because they know my staff and I really care for and about their loved ones and for that reason I keep going. It’s the kind of appreciation I never felt when I was teaching. I mean my parents and students loved me but some of the administration was ruthless. The lessons I’ve learned the way so far is your health is your wealth because my Senior friends go through alot and if you’re able to walk, talk, use the restroom without wearing a diaper, not on a feeding machine, in your right mind/no dementia etc you have a million dollars! Be thankful. As the bible says we come in this world as babies and we leave as babies. Other lessons I’ve learned the way as far as this particular business is you have to have thick skin and you have to be able to have great marketing skills. Everyday you have to sell your business and network. Your phone rings all day with nurses calling, other medical professionals, families wanting to tour, agencies calling, your caregiver calling, the families of the Senior friends calling etc but I absolutely love it and this is exactly what I was supposed to be doing. You know people say what is your passion or do what you love….I could never answer that until now!!! I just turned 48 this July and I finally found my passion so it’s never too late and you never know when you will find it so never give up! That’s what I want the world to know! God says take care of the babies and the elderly so I’m doing God’s work. Plus the elderly are wise and they have taught me so much and have been a blessing to my son and I!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well when I’m not at my business my son and I love the midtown area/W. Gray St/Shepard, Westheimer, Montrose area (All of these areas are very artsy like and cool in the city of Houston). Then I’d go to Pappaduex and Pappasittos to eat. I love the Galleria Mall and the Cheesecake Factory. Then I’d go out to Cinco Ranch in Katy and they have some nice shops and eateries. If you love the water I love going to Galveston and Lake Conroe which aren’t far from Houston. Lastly a must check out is Lucy’s Ethiopian Restaurant off of Southwest fwy and Bellaire. Superb service, great food, and the honey wine…yummy…and a nice hookah lounge in the back!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Thanks to one of my bestfriends Andi Sompon who referred me to Darlene Kelley who in turn referred me to my now the best business partner in the world Renee Jones! We are great friends now also. She has been a blessing to me and helped me start my business! I owe her my life and success and love her dearly! Renee continues to support, guide, and help me and I am so grateful to her! I also want to thank my mom for letting me use her rent house to open up my first personal care home! I want to thank Shana Benson for being the best house manager/caregiver that cared for my very first residents/Senior friends.