By Stephen Tweed

What will be your legacy when you finish your career in home care?  What will you leave behind that will continue to make a difference?

Last Thursday, August 17, 2017, I had the opportunity to witness an amazing transition in home health care that will live on forever. Mark Baiada, founder and CEO of Bayada Home Health Care celebrated his 70th birthday, and launched a major transition.  The first transition was to move to the role of Chairman of the Board, and promote his son David Baiada to the role of President.  The second transition was to transfer the businesses of Bayada into a new Not-for-profit organization that will be governed by a Board of Directors so that the company will live on.

I had the privilege of being an unexpected witness to this amazing transition.  Mark is a long time friend, so I called him to let him know I would be in town that day and asked if we could meet for breakfast.  We’ve been having breakfast together in August at the beach in New Jersey each year for the past three years.  He graciously agreed, and then me know it would be his birthday. Instead of meeting at our favorite breakfast place in Avalon, we met near his office in Moorestown. I was honored that he would agree to have breakfast with me on this very special birthday.  Little did I  know the huge celebration that is family and office team had planned.

After a wonderful conversation at a little cafe down the street, we walked back to the new company headquarters. We were greeted by a video team, photographers, and dozens of Bayada team members dressed in company colors.  Mark graciously invited me in to join in the celebration.  Here’s a video from a local TV news station:

The Bayada Legacy

Here’s the company statement on the passing of the torch to David, and the creation of this new not-for-profit entity:

Mark Baiada and family to transform BAYADA Home Health Care into a nonprofit organization to perpetuate our mission and protect the company from ever being sold

“Founder and President Mark Baiada wants to ensure that the company he began 42 years ago is never sold and that the company’s mission, vision, beliefs, and values (The BAYADA Way) continue to guide employee actions for the next 100 years and beyond. Putting mission over money to ensure long-term sustainability, Mark Baiada and his family are transitioning BAYADA Home Health Care (a private, family-owned company) into a nonprofit that Mark will steward as Chairman beginning August 17, 2017—his 70th birthday. At the same time, Practice President David Baiada, Mark’s son, will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer of BAYADA.

This plan to restructure BAYADA into a nonprofit, starting in April 2018, reflects the combined purpose of helping people live safely at home with comfort, independence, and dignity; protecting employees’ livelihoods; and promoting BAYADA’s vision of making the highest quality home health care available to everyone, worldwide.”