Expanded Kinder Kare Agency Opens in Barnesville
After a long hiatus, Kathryn Anderson has reopened Kinder Kare Agency in Barnesville, bringing expanded home health and waiver services to the community.
Kinder Kare Agency, a home health agency based in Barnesville, first opened in 1999 and operated until 2005.
Owner Kathryn Anderson said she initially launched the agency in response to a growing demand for providers serving individuals on waivers through the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities. At the time, she was employed by the Belmont County Board of Developmental Disabilities, where she began providing respite and Level One services to students served by the county board.
“I loved this part of the job and enjoyed spending time with all of the clients and our employees,” she said. “We worked very closely with the DODD providing needed assistance to our individuals within their homes, the community and the group home environment.”
After several years in operation, Anderson and her husband, who were both working full-time jobs while raising five children, decided to pause the agency’s operations so she could focus more time on her family.
In 2015, Anderson reapplied for licensure through Ohio Medicaid, anticipating that she would eventually reopen the agency once her children were older.
That opportunity came in 2020, when former case managers reached out to ask whether she would consider serving clients again.
“Of course, I said yes,” Anderson said.
Kinder Kare reopened as an Ohio Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver provider. In 2022, the agency obtained licensure through the Ohio Department of Health and earned accreditation from both Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP) and Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC).
The agency also expanded its services through the Ohio Department of Aging to meet growing needs in that waiver area.
Today, Kinder Kare is a fully licensed and accredited agency providing non-skilled services to individuals eligible under four waiver programs: DODD, Department of Aging, Ohio Medicaid and the MyCare Waiver.
Services offered include:
DODD Waiver
- Transportation
- Employment services
- Level One services
- Respite
- Nurse assessments
Ohio Medicaid HCBS Waiver
- Personal care
- Nurse assessments
Ohio Department of Aging
- Homemaker services
- Personal care
- Nurse assessments
MyCare Waiver
- Personal care
- Homemaker services
- Nurse assessments
In addition to Medicaid-funded services, the agency maintains contracts with certain private insurance providers and accepts private-pay clients.
Kinder Kare also provides BCI and FBI fingerprinting services to the public. Beginning in March, staff members will be trained to offer CPR, First Aid and AED certification courses through the American Red Cross. Sessions will be scheduled and advertised, with individual training available upon request.
In October 2026, the agency plans to pursue additional accreditation to expand into skilled care services. Anderson said she hopes to add skilled nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy and behavioral health services. The agency is also exploring the addition of STNA and CNA training programs, with its registered nurses expected to participate in related training this summer.
Kinder Kare’s office hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to noon Friday at 114 S. Chestnut St., Barnesville. The agency can be reached at 740-425-7048 or 740-484-9712. Walk-ins are welcome, and the agency is currently hiring. More information is found on the website.
Anderson also serves as an administrator with the East Central Ohio ESC.
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