Cottage Home Care Services/Brooklyn Institute of Vocational Training Creating lasting change in the Caribbean community

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

This couple is driven by a desire to create positive change in society, and their passion lies in finding innovative and effective ways to bring about that change.

They have a clear vision of the change they want to create, and they have identified the social issues that resonate with them. They have set specific goals, determining the target beneficiaries, and developed a well-thought-out plan to achieve those goals. As business owners, they took the time to identify the root causes of social problems and continue to address them through long-term, sustainable solutions.

For them, it is about making a difference; by establishing clear metrics and indicators, they have assessed the effectiveness of their initiatives and made informed decisions about allocating resources in a way that benefits not only them, but their communities. It is not just about providing immediate relief; it is about creating lasting change. They have mastered the art of philanthropy, investing in initiatives and organizations that have the potential to generate sustainable impact over the long term.

Shova (COO) and her husband Navin Shivpal (CEO) are the magic behind Cottage Home Care Services (CHCS) and the Brooklyn Institute of Vocational Training (BIVT). Navin and Shova are on a mission to “Empower women,” claiming that they have established an environment where anyone who is ready to work can find employment.

 “Think positive, be positive. Think negative, be negative.”

Navin was born in Parika, on the East Bank of Essequibo, in Guyana. His family moved from Parika to Georgetown, and at the age of 13, he moved to join his family in New York. His mom Devi Dhanpaul, dad Krishna Shivpal, and elder brother Arvin Shivpaul lived there at the time. He recalls fond memories of his aunt and her husband taking care of him and his brother like she would her own kids. That is imprinted in his heart forever, and now that I think about it, probably has a lot to do with how much care he shows for people in his community.

In 2000, the family moved to Florida where Navin continued with his studies.

“There were no jobs,” Navin shared with me, “So I went back to school for healthcare. I enrolled at the University of Tampa and graduated with a degree in Health Care Administration. During that time, my family had invested in restaurants, and other projects, and they were doing well.  Then came the recession in 2008. It was a tough time for us, but I did not lose heart. My family returned to New York and had to start all over again.”

He was introduced to the homecare industry by a businesswoman who had an agency. He was inspired once again by the love and care that this woman had for people, and this sparked something in him.

“I realized that if we keep the patients out of the hospital, it will save money for everyone. In 2014, I started to work with the company, and believe me when I tell you, I saw some things that broke my heart. In 2015, there was a case when nobody changed a woman for three days. I worked with an aid to help stabilize that case.”

Navin is among the few that knows the different aspects of the care industry. He studied and memorized the laws to get a better understanding of care practices and protocols. He was so good that he began to consult for other agencies. In 2019, Navin opened the Brooklyn Institute of Vocational Training. This incredible private school is a school for vocational training that enrolls 90 students per month, the majority of whom are of Caribbean descent. There was a lot of great work happening at the institute, so much that the vocational training center quickly gained recognition.

The private school trains home help aides. Graduates get jobs and most of them prefer to stay with Cottage Home Care Services, because of the love they receive from Shova and Navin. There are a lot of immigrant women who do not have training and need work here in the United States, and Navin takes great comfort in knowing that he can make a difference in someone’s life with the resources he has and never misses an opportunity to do that.

“I make sure that my aides are taken care of. I ask them questions and get feedback. Every day is an opportunity to make life better for a person the next day. I treat everyone with the same respect that I would treat my loved ones.”

In January 2020, he purchased Cottage Home Care Service three months before the start of the COVID-19 lockdown. Imagine that! To add to this story, when he acquired it, the business was almost bankrupt. It only had 25 patients at the time. Navin and Shova succeeded in turning a failing business into a multimillion-dollar company.

“1,000 patients, and 1,400 workers, three years later, we are doing very well. My staff is multilingual due to the diversity among them; they meet the needs of immigrants from the Caribbean, as well as a significant portion of the South Asian community.  We are able to bridge the gap between the South Asian and Caribbean, and we are one of the only Guyanese owned healthcare services.

I was one of the first ones to take aides from Queens to Long Island,” Navin shares with me. “I remember working with patients who were home alone, and needed help, so I figured out how I was going to help them. I have learned in this business that it is about respect. From that first patient contact to the last time that we are brought into service a patient, everything is done with them in mind, honoring them during their difficult time. It is a lot of work, but thankfully, I have a great partner.”

During the interview, Shova was busy ensuring that business was running as usual. I was able to steal her away for a moment, and she quickly shared her story with me.

“I came here when I was 17 years old, and life was challenging. My father had open heart surgery, and times were tough. I had to figure out how to earn money to help my father. I didn’t know anything about homecare, but it was introduced to me. I ended up meeting Navin at my very first placement, and he became my mentor, and then my husband. I am forever thankful to him for taking the time to show me what he knew, which allowed me to take care of my family.”

I will be honest, that was one of my favorite parts of this interview, learning how two people with the same passion were able to meet each other, and build something that serves a great purpose.

This power couple have big, audacious goals, and they ended the interview by sharing some of these goals with me.

“We are looking to expand our services to Pennsylvania. I also want to open a senior center for Guyanese in New York. With the property already acquired, I expect to have it up and running in a couple months. I want this because there are so many elderly people who are at home and don’t do anything. Our senior center will help keep them active, and help them to really enjoy their lives, socialize with elders like themselves, and enjoy their old age.

I also want to help people who are struggling with substance abuse and drugs. By opening a drug rehab facility, I know I can help them get their lives back on track.

Finally, I intend to open an office in Guyana. This idea stemmed from the fact that Guyana is a multicultural society and the market for senior citizen care is not very big but is in demand. It is about educating and empowering our community. Somebody has to do it, and why not let it be me.”

For more information on these two powerful initiatives, you can visit:

Brooklyn Institute of Vocational Training Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/HHACertified/videos/639735328046168/

Brooklyn Institute of Vocational Training Instagram Page

https://www.instagram.com/mybrooklyninstitute

Cottage Homecare Services Instagram Page

https://www.instagram.com/cottagehcs/