September was a busy one for AmanaCare in North Platte—and there’s plenty to celebrate! From being voted the best in home care to welcoming a familiar face into a new role, educating our community, supporting caregivers and showing up for causes close to our hearts, our North Platte team has been making the most of the fall season.
North Platte Voted AmanaCare Best of the Region!
We’re incredibly proud to share that AmanaCare was voted first place in Best Home Health Care in the North Platte Telegraph’s 2026 Best of the Region!
Being chosen by the community we serve makes this recognition especially meaningful. For Sara Yates, Director of Operations, the award is a reflection of the people providing care every day.
“Being voted Best Home Care in North Platte is a reflection of the incredible caregivers who show up every day with compassion and heart. I’m proud to lead a team that truly cares for our clients, their families, and this community we call home.”
To our caregivers, clients, families, community partners and everyone who voted for AmanaCare: thank you for trusting us and supporting our team!
Welcome to Your New Role, Joanna!
There’s another reason to celebrate at the North Platte office: Joanna Shearer is our new Care Coordinator!
Joanna was born and raised in North Platte and is proud to serve the community she calls home. She’s also no stranger to AmanaCare. Before stepping into her new position, Joanna spent nearly two years working as an AmanaCare caregiver.
That firsthand experience gives her a valuable perspective in her new role. She understands what it’s like to walk into a client’s home, build relationships with families and experience both the rewards and challenges our caregivers encounter every day.
Outside of work, Joanna is a proud mom of four who enjoys traveling and making memories with her husband and family. Her faith is also an important part of her life. She teaches Sunday school and sings on the worship team at her church.
Joanna has a heart for helping others, and we’re excited to see her continue caring for people in a new way—supporting both our clients and the caregivers who serve them.
Congratulations, Joanna! We’re so happy to have you growing with AmanaCare.
Empowering Those Who Care
At the end of September, Heather Schanou, Director of Marketing, and McKenzie Petersen, Recruiting and Outreach Specialist, supported the Empowered Caregiver Conference in North Platte.
The free educational event was created for family caregivers, paid caregivers, healthcare professionals and others whose lives or careers intersect with caregiving. Attendees heard practical information about dementia, communication, safety, caregiver challenges and local resources while also having the opportunity to connect with organizations serving caregivers and older adults.
The event brought a great turnout—and, even better, plenty of meaningful conversations.
Caregiving can sometimes feel isolating. Bringing people together to learn, ask questions and connect with others who understand the journey is exactly why events like this matter.
Outsmarting the Scammers
Heather and Joanna also teamed up for an interactive Scam Prevention presentation at StoneBridge Suites as part of its monthly Wellness & Wisdom Wednesday programming.
Rather than simply handing out a list of warnings, they walked attendees through tips and real-world scenarios designed to help them recognize common red flags and protect themselves from scams.
The takeaway? Scammers count on panic. Safety starts with slowing down.
Of course, no AmanaCare presentation is complete without a little fun. Attendees also received word searches and other goodies, with cookies and lemonade to enjoy while they learned.
Getting Out & About in North Platte
The North Platte team found plenty of other opportunities to connect throughout the month.
Heather attended the North Platte Area Chamber & Development Corporation’s Business After Hours at Pals Brewing Company, continuing to build relationships with local businesses and community leaders. We love being part of Chamber events and the opportunities they provide to stay connected with what’s happening throughout North Platte.
Team AmanaCare also attended the North Platte Business & Professional Women meeting, where the group had the opportunity to meet Miss Nebraska Lexi Nolda. Lexi shared her community service initiative, “Be Sun Smart: Healthy Skin Is In,” which focuses on skin cancer awareness and prevention, including expanding access to free sunscreen in communities across Nebraska.
Walking for a World Without Alzheimer’s
Finally, AmanaCare was proud to sponsor North Platte’s local Walk to End Alzheimer’s, joining families, caregivers, businesses and community members in supporting those affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
Our team hosted a vendor table—with an AmanaCare cornhole challenge and plenty of prizes—and spent the day connecting with walkers and other organizations.
The Walk to End Alzheimer’s raises awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research, making it a cause especially meaningful to those of us who work alongside older adults and their families every day.
We’re grateful to have been part of such a meaningful event and proud to stand alongside our community in support of the people and families affected by Alzheimer’s.
From a Best of the Region win to a new Care Coordinator, caregiver education, community presentations, networking and causes that matter, September gave our North Platte team plenty of reasons to be proud.
And if this is what fall looks like so far, we can’t wait to see what’s next in North Platte! Home Care Services in North Platte, Nebraska | AmanaCare
- What’s New in North Platte? Big Wins, New Faces & Plenty of Community Connection - October 13, 2026
- The Omaha Office in Action: Building Connections Across the Community - October 12, 2026
- The Latest from Lincoln: Showing Up, Giving Back & Looking Ahead - October 10, 2026
