Caring Transitions continues to strengthen its leadership bench with the return of one of the most influential figures in the senior relocation industry. With a long history in senior move management and a strong connection to the brand, Nan Hayes has returned to Caring Transitions as Director of Training and Franchise Business Coaching.
Hayes brings decades of experience to the position, including her work as a founding leader in the development of the senior relocation industry and her role in helping establish professional standards that now guide the field. Her return marks a full-circle moment for both Hayes and the brand she helped shape in its early years.
Hayes’ journey into senior relocation began long before the industry formally existed. “I started volunteering with seniors when I was a teenager,” Hayes said. “I became a buyer for a large drug chain and worked as an executive, but I always volunteered with older adults. Eventually, I found myself spending more and more time helping seniors.”
That passion turned into a professional calling. In the 1990s, Hayes encountered a moment that would shape the trajectory of her career.
“There was a moment after we were flipping houses when we were left with a home that still contained all of the owner’s belongings,” Hayes said. “The family didn’t know what to do with their mom’s possessions. It was heartbreaking to see antiques thrown into the dumpster simply because no one had a process or a solution.”
Recognizing a major gap in services for older adults and their families, Hayes launched her own company and began developing systems to help seniors transition out of their homes with dignity and organization.
“At that time, senior relocation didn’t really exist as an industry,” Hayes said. “I started providing services under my own company and eventually began training people around the country on how to do this work.”
As senior relocation services gained national traction, Hayes played a central role in professionalizing the space. She was instrumental in supporting the growth of a national trade organization focused on the sector and helped develop certification programs and operational standards for professionals working with older adults.
“My whole position on the industry has always been that it is leadership’s responsibility to set standards,” Hayes said. “We needed consistency so this could become a recognized industry. What are the services? How are they delivered? What are the standards?”
Those early frameworks proved essential for a service category built on trust and compassion. “We literally created certification programs because standards in this high-touch industry were critical,” Hayes said.
From the beginning, Caring Transitions aligned closely with that philosophy.
“Caring Transitions adopted those standards very early,” Hayes said. “They understood that serving older-adult clients is a high-touch business and recognized the need for care and compassion to keep seniors safe. That’s a big reason why they’ve been such a successful franchise.”
Hayes’ relationship with Caring Transitions spans more than two decades. She began consulting with the brand in the early 2000s, working alongside leadership to help develop training programs, operational standards and franchise support systems as the company expanded.
“At the time, there were about 20 to 30 franchises,” Hayes said. “Today, there are more than 435 units across the country. It’s incredible to see how the organization has grown.”
In 2018, Hayes stepped away from her consulting role with Caring Transitions while caring for her mother, who had been diagnosed with dementia. During that time, she continued working within the industry while remaining closely connected to the mission that had shaped her career.
Now, nearly seven years later, she is returning to the organization in a full-time leadership role.
“Helping families through times of transition isn’t just my career, it’s my calling,” Hayes said. “I’m grateful and excited to once again work alongside leaders, owners and partners who share that same passion.”
In her new role as Director of Training and Franchise Business Coaching, Hayes will focus on supporting franchise owners and the coaches who guide them through every stage of their business journey.
“My focus is helping with everything from new tools and training to coaching skills and how we respond to the needs of our franchise owners,” Hayes said.
Caring Transitions’ support system for franchisees has also expanded significantly over the years, and Hayes sees that structure as one of the brand’s strongest differentiators.
“There is an understanding that Caring Transitions offers a tremendous amount of support and training for new owners,” Hayes said. “We have onboarding coaches, regional coaches, classroom training, field training and specialized business development coaching.”
New franchise owners benefit from a comprehensive onboarding process, and the support continues long after the first year of operation.
“As franchisees grow, they have a permanent regional coach who is available anytime they need guidance,” Hayes said. “We also provide specialized coaching in areas like business development and operations, along with extensive resources within our CRM platform.”
Hayes returns to Caring Transitions at a pivotal moment for both the company and the senior services industry. With the aging population driving increasing demand for relocation, downsizing and estate transition services, the market opportunity continues to expand rapidly.
“There is a huge influx of clients right now,” Hayes said. “The demand for these services is really taking off.”
But Hayes emphasizes that success in the field requires far more than operational knowledge.
“For anyone who thinks senior relocation is just a business opportunity, it’s important to understand that this work requires compassion and understanding,” she said. “You’re working with people who are going through major life transitions. It’s hard work, but it’s incredibly meaningful.”
That mindset, she believes, is what sets Caring Transitions apart. “It’s much more than a business,” Hayes said. “This is truly a calling to work with seniors. The owners in this system understand that, and that mindset really defines Caring Transitions.”
As Hayes settles into her new leadership role, she is energized by the opportunity to help guide the next generation of franchise owners entering the system.
“I’m excited to watch the next generation of owners come in and continue building on what we’ve created,” Hayes said.
She also sees tremendous opportunity for the brand to expand consumer awareness about the full scope of services Caring Transitions provides. “We’re in the thick of it now,” Hayes said. “Our job is to help families understand that we are a trusted resource who can help with everything from start to finish — sorting, organizing, space planning, liquidations, online auctions and more.”
For Hayes, the return to Caring Transitions represents a continuation of a mission she helped launch decades ago.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see the organization become the national powerhouse we envisioned years ago,” Hayes said. “Helping families navigate life transitions with dignity and support will always be at the heart of what we do.”
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/info.
Caring Transitions
SPONSORED
Hayes, a true pioneer in senior relocation, is back with Caring Transitions as the brand’s Director of Training and Franchise Business Coaching.
Caring Transitions continues to strengthen its leadership bench with the return of one of the most influential figures in the senior relocation industry. With a long history in senior move management and a strong connection to the brand, Nan Hayes has returned to Caring Transitions as Director of Training and Franchise Business Coaching.
Hayes brings decades of experience to the position, including her work as a founding leader in the development of the senior relocation industry and her role in helping establish professional standards that now guide the field. Her return marks a full-circle moment for both Hayes and the brand she helped shape in its early years.
Hayes’ journey into senior relocation began long before the industry formally existed. “I started volunteering with seniors when I was a teenager,” Hayes said. “I became a buyer for a large drug chain and worked as an executive, but I always volunteered with older adults. Eventually, I found myself spending more and more time helping seniors.”
That passion turned into a professional calling. In the 1990s, Hayes encountered a moment that would shape the trajectory of her career.
“There was a moment after we were flipping houses when we were left with a home that still contained all of the owner’s belongings,” Hayes said. “The family didn’t know what to do with their mom’s possessions. It was heartbreaking to see antiques thrown into the dumpster simply because no one had a process or a solution.”
Recognizing a major gap in services for older adults and their families, Hayes launched her own company and began developing systems to help seniors transition out of their homes with dignity and organization.
“At that time, senior relocation didn’t really exist as an industry,” Hayes said. “I started providing services under my own company and eventually began training people around the country on how to do this work.”
As senior relocation services gained national traction, Hayes played a central role in professionalizing the space. She was instrumental in supporting the growth of a national trade organization focused on the sector and helped develop certification programs and operational standards for professionals working with older adults.
“My whole position on the industry has always been that it is leadership’s responsibility to set standards,” Hayes said. “We needed consistency so this could become a recognized industry. What are the services? How are they delivered? What are the standards?”
Those early frameworks proved essential for a service category built on trust and compassion. “We literally created certification programs because standards in this high-touch industry were critical,” Hayes said.
From the beginning, Caring Transitions aligned closely with that philosophy.
“Caring Transitions adopted those standards very early,” Hayes said. “They understood that serving older-adult clients is a high-touch business and recognized the need for care and compassion to keep seniors safe. That’s a big reason why they’ve been such a successful franchise.”
Hayes’ relationship with Caring Transitions spans more than two decades. She began consulting with the brand in the early 2000s, working alongside leadership to help develop training programs, operational standards and franchise support systems as the company expanded.
“At the time, there were about 20 to 30 franchises,” Hayes said. “Today, there are more than 435 units across the country. It’s incredible to see how the organization has grown.”
In 2018, Hayes stepped away from her consulting role with Caring Transitions while caring for her mother, who had been diagnosed with dementia. During that time, she continued working within the industry while remaining closely connected to the mission that had shaped her career.
Now, nearly seven years later, she is returning to the organization in a full-time leadership role.
“Helping families through times of transition isn’t just my career, it’s my calling,” Hayes said. “I’m grateful and excited to once again work alongside leaders, owners and partners who share that same passion.”
In her new role as Director of Training and Franchise Business Coaching, Hayes will focus on supporting franchise owners and the coaches who guide them through every stage of their business journey.
“My focus is helping with everything from new tools and training to coaching skills and how we respond to the needs of our franchise owners,” Hayes said.
Caring Transitions’ support system for franchisees has also expanded significantly over the years, and Hayes sees that structure as one of the brand’s strongest differentiators.
“There is an understanding that Caring Transitions offers a tremendous amount of support and training for new owners,” Hayes said. “We have onboarding coaches, regional coaches, classroom training, field training and specialized business development coaching.”
New franchise owners benefit from a comprehensive onboarding process, and the support continues long after the first year of operation.
“As franchisees grow, they have a permanent regional coach who is available anytime they need guidance,” Hayes said. “We also provide specialized coaching in areas like business development and operations, along with extensive resources within our CRM platform.”
Hayes returns to Caring Transitions at a pivotal moment for both the company and the senior services industry. With the aging population driving increasing demand for relocation, downsizing and estate transition services, the market opportunity continues to expand rapidly.
“There is a huge influx of clients right now,” Hayes said. “The demand for these services is really taking off.”
But Hayes emphasizes that success in the field requires far more than operational knowledge.
“For anyone who thinks senior relocation is just a business opportunity, it’s important to understand that this work requires compassion and understanding,” she said. “You’re working with people who are going through major life transitions. It’s hard work, but it’s incredibly meaningful.”
That mindset, she believes, is what sets Caring Transitions apart. “It’s much more than a business,” Hayes said. “This is truly a calling to work with seniors. The owners in this system understand that, and that mindset really defines Caring Transitions.”
As Hayes settles into her new leadership role, she is energized by the opportunity to help guide the next generation of franchise owners entering the system.
“I’m excited to watch the next generation of owners come in and continue building on what we’ve created,” Hayes said.
She also sees tremendous opportunity for the brand to expand consumer awareness about the full scope of services Caring Transitions provides. “We’re in the thick of it now,” Hayes said. “Our job is to help families understand that we are a trusted resource who can help with everything from start to finish — sorting, organizing, space planning, liquidations, online auctions and more.”
For Hayes, the return to Caring Transitions represents a continuation of a mission she helped launch decades ago.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see the organization become the national powerhouse we envisioned years ago,” Hayes said. “Helping families navigate life transitions with dignity and support will always be at the heart of what we do.”
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/caringtransitions/info.
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