When a loved one faces a health challenge, transitioning into this new reality can be a daunting time for everyone. Questions about care, safety, and quality of life arise. You want to ensure they receive the best possible support, but the uncertainty can be overwhelming. Doctors and physical therapists assure you they’ll be well cared for, but nothing prepares you for the moment you walk in to find Jenn Nogodula at their side — not only guiding them through the motions of physical therapy (PT) but lifting their spirits, making them laugh, and reminding them of the simple joy of feeling valued.
Many consider physical therapists like Nogodula a lifeline. She delivers expert care with an air of dignity, connection, and joy that many thought they had lost. In 2004, following in the footsteps of her mother, Kathy Keele, and motivated by her respect for older adults, Nogodula began providing intentional care to her PT patients in their homes. Her humble beginnings led her to PT school, where she found her purpose in geriatric care — an underserved population she chose to focus on early in her career at a skilled nursing facility.
But it was her transition to home health in 2007, after Nancy Graham Gunn recruited her, that made Nogodula’s career truly fulfilling. After her first child, Jaydee, was born in 2009, she became a full-time home health physical therapist. During that time, she found the flexibility needed to balance her work with her children’s lives and, importantly, a way to bring personalized care directly into the homes of those who often felt overlooked.
“I thoroughly enjoy working with the geriatric population,” Nogodula said. “I try to relate to them and provide PT services along with fun and entertainment in their home. I just want them to feel special and better overall. Often, the geriatric population gets overlooked, and they feel unworthy and unloved. I don’t ever want that to happen.”
Now, with a dedicated team at Adoration Home Health, Nogodula and her colleagues are enhancing their patients’ quality of life and strengthening their community.
“I am overjoyed when I see my patients improve and become more independent in their homes,” she said, describing her motivation to improve their health and wellness.
Nogodula moves with a unique grace, seamlessly bridging the parts of physical therapist, compassionate caregiver, and advocate. As a home health physical therapist with Adoration Home Health, she carries out their philosophy, blending medical expertise with empathy.
“There’s definitely more to home health than PT and physical activity. There’s an emotional and social aspect, too,” she explained. “Many of my patients don’t have family or friends to talk to, so they appreciate the social interaction. I have learned so much from them — they are so interesting to talk with.”
Her patients often become dear friends and even family.
“I often become very close with my patients, and it’s very difficult when they pass away due to the strong relationships we’ve built,” she shared. “They become like family.”
Her patients, many of whom are older adults living alone, light up when she arrives. Some days, the PT sessions become meaningful conversations, with Nogodula listening to their stories, sharing a laugh, and nurturing their emotional well-being.
Nogodula and her team at Adoration Home Health consistently go above and beyond, arranging transportation for appointments, coordinating meal services, and offering additional support.
“Therapists are trained to identify other needs the patient might have, like medical equipment or food,” Nogodula said.
Among her most rewarding moments are the small wins — the pride on a patient’s face when they achieve greater independence or the joy in their eyes when they simply see Nogodula arrive.
“Improving someone’s quality of life and helping them become more independent and safe at home is what makes my job fulfilling,” she said.
In addition to her responsibilities as a physical therapist, Nogodula dedicates her time to enhancing the community’s well-being alongside her family. Together with her husband, she participates in local initiatives, including the Dusty Elam Foundation and the Sportsmen & Businessmen’s Charitable Organization. Through these groups, she has mobilized resources to meet critical needs, like organizing pest control for patients’ homes or building accessibility ramps. She believes wholeheartedly in the community’s power to support one another.
Recently, when fire victims in her community lost everything, Nogodula and her husband provided food, clothing, and essentials through the Dusty Elam Foundation. She also supports broader efforts like One Day of Hope and Career Day for middle school students.
At the foundation of Nogodula’s work are footprints of kindness and a desire to restore physical health and dignity in those she serves. She dreams of a future filled with continued support for her patients and an even stronger community foundation for the next generation. Throughout her career, she has proven that health care means valuing each person as a whole and finding ways to heal the body and spirit.
When the time comes to consider home health care for your loved one, it can feel incredibly daunting. If you find yourself facing that challenging moment when your loved one needs PT, know that Nogodula and her team at Adoration Home Health are there to support you. They might just restore your family’s hope when you need it most. GN
