When Arista Home Care Solutions was named one of 28 finalists for the 2026 Better Business Bureau (BBB) Torch Awards for Ethics, we were already deeply humbled. Today, we are beyond proud to share that across all business sizes and categories, Arista was named one of the 8 official winners.
The BBB Torch Awards honor organizations whose leaders demonstrate exceptional personal character, ensure practices meet the highest standards of ethics, and generate authentic trust with customers and the community. To secure this honor, we submitted a comprehensive application detailing how we operate every day. Here is an inside look at the questions we answered and the philosophy that guides our work.
Criteria 1: Character — Trust Rises from the Top
Business integrity and ethical practices are established at the top by founders Clayton and Paula Birney. Our philosophy rests on two simple rules:
- Walk the walk, and talk the talk. If we expect our team to act with integrity, we must lead by example.
- Everyone has a boss. As business owners, we answer directly to our clients, our employees, and our community partners.
Founded 12 years ago from the ground up—not as a franchise—we live and work right here in the Toledo area. We screen every prospective team member against our core values (Compassion, Integrity, Professionalism, Consistency, and Quality Training) by asking: Are you compassionate? Do you do what’s right when no one is watching? Daily operations reflect this through rigorous staff accountability (background checks, bonding, ongoing training) and personalized advocacy, with initial care assessments conducted personally by co-owner Paula Birney, a Certified Dementia Practitioner.
Criteria 2: Culture — Choosing a Culture of Trust
Home healthcare presents a unique challenge because care happens in remote, decentralized client settings. We overcome this by uniting our team through open-door communication, quarterly in-person staff meetings, and twice-weekly nurse department huddles.
We empower our team and monitor quality using advanced online systems, including the SHP Clinical Scorecard suite, which helps our Director of Nursing track CMS compliance, clinical findings, and outcomes to provide targeted support. In 2026, we launched new employee recognition programs—rewarding merit points, tracking attendance, celebrating milestones with social media shout-outs, and featuring team members on our office “Wall of Excellence”. We are also immensely proud that our staff independently recognized us as a Toledo Blade Top Workplace.
Criteria 3: Customers — Prioritizing Trust in Relationships
True transparency starts from the very first phone call or portal inquiry. When families ask about private-pay costs, we gently shift the conversation toward what their loved one truly needs to remain safely and independently at home.
Our customer commitment is further demonstrated through:
- In-Home Care Plan Books: Every home receives a communication log book for seamless daily messaging between staff and family.
- Shadow Shifts: We provide free in-home training and shadow shifts so new staff can adapt to each household’s unique culture.
- Integrity Over Revenue: We believe ethical care sometimes means making the difficult choice to turn down business. If an initial assessment reveals insurmountable environmental barriers or safety risks that we cannot safely fulfill, we provide an honest evaluation and guide families toward appropriate alternatives or facility placements.
Criteria 4: Community — Being a Proactive Partner
As local residents, Clayton and Paula are heavily invested in community advocacy, senior welfare, and health initiatives. Key involvements include:
- Alzheimer’s Association: Longtime corporate sponsors and active walk team organizers, with Clayton having chaired the Monroe County Walk from 2017–2019, and Paula providing community dementia education.
- Gerontological & Elder Advocacy: Arista is an annual sponsor of NOGA (Northwest Ohio Gerontological Association), where Clayton served as Board President from 2018–2024. Paula serves as secretary for C.O.P.E. (Coalition of Organizations Protecting Elders) to help prevent elder abuse and neglect.
- Leadership & Local Support: Paula recently completed a term as President of the Maumee Rotary Club and currently serves as an Assistant District Governor. We also support the Stroke Life Center annual fundraising gala, the NAMI Walk, United Way and provide an RN at the Sylvania Senior Center each month to perform free blood sugar readings.
A Shared Victory
Winning the 2026 BBB Torch Award for Ethics belongs just as much to our dedicated team – nurses, home health aides, office professionals, and field staff – as it does to our leadership. Thank you to our community, our referral partners, and our incredible team for trusting Arista Home Care Solutions to care for your families like our own.
