For Tracy Connor, home care was never just a profession. It’s a calling shaped by family, forged through personal hardship and sustained by an unwavering commitment to helping others live safely and with dignity. With more than 23 years in the healthcare industry, Connor’s journey into home care began long before her first official role. It started in hospital rooms, recovery chairs and late-night check-ins with loved ones.
Connor cared for her grandmother through cancer treatments and later supported her spouse through diabetes, kidney issues and heart complications. Those years of caregiving laid the foundation for a career rooted in empathy, patience and purpose. “A lot of me getting into the business was caring for family,” Connor says. “It’s where my heart was.”
That heart-led approach eventually brought her to FirstLight Home Care, where Connor was asked to step into a leadership role. Today, she oversees a team that works together to ensure clients can age safely and comfortably in the homes they love.
Meeting a Growing Need With Personalized Care
The home care landscape is evolving as people live longer, opting to remain in their homes and seek support that strengthens their independence rather than limits it. FirstLight meets that need through relationship-based care, pairing clients with caregivers not just for tasks, but for connection.
Connor describes the industry as purpose-driven, a space where the work is deeply human.
“Our ultimate goal is helping that client. It's our mantra, building the relationship and really giving them joy each day. Especially this time of year, we want them to have the best days,” Connor says.
That purpose fuels the team’s commitment to being responsive, informed and present for every family they serve. It also shapes Connor’s daily routine, which begins each morning by reading caregiver notes from the previous 24 hours. These notes, small windows into a client’s day, guide follow-ups, identify needs and ensure no concern goes unnoticed.
From there, the day often moves quickly: intake calls from families exploring care options, urgent requests from clients transitioning home from the hospital and regular communication with healthcare partners across the community.
In an industry where timing matters, Connor is intentional about remaining accessible. “The phone is answered during business hours; it doesn’t go to voicemail,” she emphasizes. “It's important to answer the phone and not make them go through any more strife or emotion.”
The Art of Caregiver Matching and Why It Matters
A key part of FirstLight’s approach is thoughtful caregiver vetting. Connor considers not just experience and references, but compatibility, matching caregivers to clients based on diagnosis, comfort level and personality.
This careful approach has contributed to a caregiver retention rate above the national average, something Connor takes immense pride in.
“We go beyond just checking references,” Connor says. “Families deserve to know the people coming into their homes are supportive, experienced and truly care.”
Where Purpose Meets Reward
Despite the demanding pace, the most meaningful rewards come in quiet, heartfelt moments, including handwritten thank-you notes, emotional phone calls and stories from families who feel seen, supported and less alone during difficult chapters.
One memory stands out, a veteran’s spouse who called to express deep appreciation after Paul, Connor’s son, attended the memorial service. For Connor, it was more than a gesture; it was validation. “It confirms we’re doing the right thing,” she says.
Connor also shared a guiding personal philosophy: “If the thought crosses my mind that I should do something, then I take that step. That’s going the extra mile, being that needed resource.” That instinct, to lean in rather than step back, shapes every decision she makes.
A Family Legacy of Care
Purpose runs in the family. Connor’s son, Paul, previously worked in memory care and at CHI St. Elizabeth’s Lincoln Campus before joining FirstLight as a client care specialist. Both he and his brother cared for their father during his illness, continuing the family’s tradition of compassion through action. Watching Paul step into the care coordinator role has been a profound source of pride. “It means everything that he’s helping other people now,” Connor says.
As for the future, Connor isn’t planning on leaving anytime soon. The work is too meaningful, the need too great and the Omaha community too important to her. Serving families, day after day, year after year, is more than a job. It's FirstLight's purpose and their promise.
Alongside Connor, Christy Culver serves as office manager, equally passionate about the care FirstLight provides. Together with human resources specialist Molly Bostwick, the team is ready to serve seniors aging in place throughout Omaha.
Connor can be reached at FirstLight Home Care through the contact portal on their website, omaha.firstlighthomecare.com or at (402) 614-0413. Call today if you are looking for a new way to provide care to aging loved ones while maintaining their sense of self and dignity.
“If the thought crosses my mind that I should do something, then I should take that step. That’s going the extra mile, being that needed resource.”