Why are we so passionate about Empowered Care?
From Co-Founder and Executive Director Sue Buckalew:
"I’m Sue Buckalew, co-founder of Empowered Care and proud mother of two. My journey into disability services began with my daughter Kristen, who was born with Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome). Her diagnosis changed the course of my life—and ultimately became the reason this agency exists.
After leaving my career in pharmaceutical sales to care for Kristen full-time, our family relocated from California to Oregon in search of more sustainable living on a single income.
Over the years, Kristen faced a number of complex medical challenges, including a diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes and, later, a rare condition known as Down Syndrome Regression caused by autoimmune encephalitis. Each of these milestones required a new level of advocacy, flexibility, and love.
When Kristen entered high school, we discovered Oregon’s K-Plan, which allowed families like ours to hire in-home support professionals. I became her full-time coordinator—hiring, training, scheduling, and managing more than 30 Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and Personal Support Workers (PSWs) over the years. One of our first DSPs, Carly, stayed with us for over a decade and is still part of our family.
Through these experiences, I realized how powerful the right support can be—not only for individuals with disabilities, but for the entire family. I also saw how many other families were struggling to find caregivers who truly fit their needs.
With encouragement from friends, family, and especially my son Nathan—now my co-founder—we launched Empowered Care. After years of planning and preparation, we were officially licensed in April 2025.
At Empowered Care, our mission is simple: to help individuals with disabilities and their families find the compassionate, capable support they deserve. Because the right care changes everything”
From Co-Founder Nathan Buckalew:
"Growing up with my sister, Kristen, I saw up close what most people never see — caring for a loved one with a disability isn’t just ‘hard sometimes.’ It’s constant, and it’s far from easy. My parents were her primary (and often only) support for the majority of my life.
Kristen hasn’t had the easiest life. She was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at a young age, and later faced the onset of her regression — changes that shaped her needs and our entire family’s day-to-day reality. It took a real toll on my parents: balancing work, managing appointments and medications, coordinating care, driving me to soccer practice (thanks, Mom and Dad!), and carrying the emotional weight of always being ‘on’ with very little backup.
Everything changed when we finally brought Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) onto Kristen’s team — and over time, some of them truly became part of our family. Having the right people around her didn’t just help Kristen; it transformed all of our lives. Kristen gained consistency, new opportunities, and meaningful connection. My parents finally had breathing room — more stability, more support, and the ability to be more than caregivers 24/7. We learned what support is supposed to feel like: a trusted team around your loved one, not a burden carried alone.
That’s the heart behind Empowered Care. We built this company from lived experience — with the belief that every person deserves respect, independence, and meaningful relationships, and every family deserves real support they can rely on.
We also know how vital family caregivers are, and how often they’re stretched thin. That’s why we help families understand their options — including how loved ones may be able to become paid caregivers — so providing great care doesn’t come with added financial stress. Our mission is simple: make it easier for families to access high-quality support, and build a team of DSPs who truly change lives, the way they changed ours."
