Caring Hands
Healing with kindness is a core value at Caring Hands Clinic in Wakarusa. Owner Jana Schenkel celebrates the services she and the staff provide as an extensive menu of treatments for ailments ranging from the flu to infertility, addressing the root causes of health concerns rather than offering short-term symptom relief.
Jana opened the clinic in 2024 to offer the community a hub where people can find medical healing and feel heard. Patients are cared for by staff who stand by a motto of treating patients with a personal approach often absent at larger medical facilities. “We want to take care of all of the community’s medical issues, meeting people where they need it most, including home visits,” Jana explains.
Caring Hands Clinic is a full-service health care clinic that treats most medical issues. In addition to comprehensive clinical services, the clinic will begin offering MRI and CT imaging, with services expected to open in mid-May. When specialized services are not available on-site — such as X-rays for fractures — patients are referred to trusted local medical partners to ensure continuity of care.
The clinic’s staff includes Rhonda Anderson, a nurse practitioner with a doctoral degree and expertise in genetics. She has served the health care needs of the Amish community for many years and brings a strong commitment to caring for children with special needs. She is joined by Geraldine Darkwood, who focuses on geriatric care, Department of Transportation physicals and wound care.
Keeping it all in the family, Jana’s mother, Ludmila, specializes in medical foot care. A native of Germany, she brings both clinical expertise and a cultural understanding of the Amish community she serves. “Though often overlooked, medical foot care can play an important role in identifying underlying health concerns, with conditions such as diabetes, fungal infections and circulatory issues sometimes detected through careful examination of the feet,” Jana says.
She explains further, saying, “Rather than foot care on the level of a salon pedicure, Ludmila’s work is far more comprehensive, focusing on medical evaluation and treatment of issues such as corns, pressure points, warts and ingrown toenails, providing patients comfort while supporting overall health and early diagnosis.”
With more than 15 years of experience in health care, Jana began as an emergency room nurse and went on to work in intensive care and other medical units before transitioning to home care while pursuing midwifery. After graduating, she moved to Indiana, working in a federal health care center and at Saint Joseph Health System before serving the community as a midwife. Three years ago, she completed her family nurse practitioner certification, allowing her to care for patients across all stages of life, which she describes as “from the womb to the tomb.” Her husband Richard, an attorney, manages the clinic’s office, making Caring Hands Clinic what Jana refers to as “a true family affair.”
Caring Hands Clinic is committed to health care for those who are underinsured or without insurance. Community members can rely on the clinic for receiving free vaccines for newborns and children up to age 19, as well as for underinsured or uninsured adults who are unable to access vaccines elsewhere, all at no cost.
A midwife and licensed family practitioner, Jana opened Happy Stork Midwifery in 2021 to provide prenatal, maternity and delivery services. Working with women and infertility is her own area of specialty, explaining that when a patient is struggling to become pregnant, she spends time exploring the cause of the issue to resolve it foundationally. In most cases, pregnancy will naturally follow when the root cause is addressed and treated.
“I help women prepare the soil for the hard work of becoming pregnant, because restoring health is the ultimate answer, rather than approaches that offer short-term relief without resolving the underlying problem.”
The clinic does not accept health insurance for payment, except for labs, MRI and CT scans, which are eligible for insurance coverage. This keeps fees affordable. Office visits are offered at a flat rate of $50, regardless of the reason for the visit.
Same-day appointments are available, especially for pediatric needs, something Jana understands deeply as a mother herself. She knows how stressful it can be when a young child is sick and needs care right away.
“We understand that a clinic has to operate as a business, but we don’t believe care should be driven by financial concerns,” she said, noting that the clinic is always willing to work with patients to arrange payment plans when needed.
Patients come to the clinic from across the region, including Michigan City, Rochester and LaPorte, with plans to expand services in the years ahead. The clinic also works with local school districts and area businesses to provide Department of Transportation physicals and preventive care such as sports physicals to help keep the community healthy. Jana’s experience in the health care field created a following in communities including Noble, LaGrange, South Bend, Fulton and Marshall counties.
Jana says the trust placed in the clinic by patients and the community has made it possible to remain a private clinic, without relying on hospital systems. At the same time, she notes that the clinic welcomes partnerships with others in the community who share its mission.
“God’s grace provides all that’s needed,” she said.
Caring Hands Clinic is currently seeking a radiologic technologist with experience in CT and MRI. Those interested are encouraged to reach out for more information.
Caring Hands Clinic is located at 207 Elkhart St. in Wakarusa.
Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For questions and more information, call 574-390-0241 or email caring4uclinic@gmail.com. You can visit them online at caringhandsclinicin.com.
