Franchise Owner Continues His Family’s Senior Care Legacy with Seniors Helping Seniors®

Jimmy Johnson has always had a passion for helping people and building communities. After three decades in the corporate medical sales world, he decided it was time for a change. Recently, he became a franchise owner with Seniors Helping Seniors®, the senior care franchise with over 100 units, including three territories in Texas that cover Comal and Guadalupe Counties, North San Antonio, and Northwest San Antonio/Kendall County.

The decision to pivot to the senior care industry was one inspired by Johnson’s childhood and family experiences. When he was younger, his grandfather owned two senior care facilities and would often bring the grandchildren in to visit with the seniors. Johnson always felt completely comfortable on these visits and really enjoyed forging connections with the seniors. As an adult, he learned more about the senior care industry through finding a caregiver for his mother. Johnson’s mother built a strong relationship with her caregiver, who remained by her side until she passed a year and a half later. The same caregiver then remained with Johnson’s stepdad for five more years, despite his ability to live independently.  Bottom line is she’d become part of the family. 

Knowing the positive impact a well-matched caregiver can have on the life of a senior (and vice versa), Johnson looks forward to facilitating these bonds while also achieving his dream of business ownership.

1851 Franchise spoke with Johnson about his journey into franchising and his plans for the future. 

FEATURE QUESTIONS

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Johnson: I spent three decades in corporate medical sales. After a while, I decided that, although the corporate world was great to me, I didn't want to continue down that path. I took some time off to figure out what I wanted to do, and four months later, a company called Amada (which is another senior care brand) reached out to me via LinkedIn. 

I understood the industry because my mother had two years of home care back in 2015 and 2016 with Visiting Angels. I got to see the ins-and-outs of how it all worked, and it was overall a positive experience. The brand that first reached out to me via LinkedIn would have required a move because they didn’t have an available territory in my area, so I joined up with a recruiter and ended up picking Seniors Helping Seniors®. I was pleased with the brand’s method of positioning seniors that are of good health and mind to help care for other seniors. 

I saw the good and the bad in the senior care industry with mother’s care. For example, she cycled through three people in the first couple of months because they just weren't a good fit for her needs and they didn't have a strong connection with her. The fourth caregiver who came in stayed for another six years. My mother died a year and a half later and then my stepfather retained her for companion care the following 5 years.  At this point, she was like family to all of us.

That connection my mother and stepdad had with their caregiver showed how positive this kind of experience can be, which really inspired me to select Seniors Helping Seniors® because the brand is focused on that connection and finding the right fit. The brand is always making sure all of the teammates are very engaged, and it makes for a very motivating, impactful community.

I am really looking forward to having a business that allows me to make a positive impact in the community, while also experiencing the benefits for myself and my family. 

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchise owner, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Johnson: My understanding was very limited before I started looking into franchising. My twin sister and her husband have been franchise owners for 15 years with Great Clips*, and they now have nine franchises. I would hear them talking about it but did not ask a lot of questions.  

Now that I’m more aware, I think it's amazing how so many businesses we see on TV and stop into every day are franchises. Some people have it in them to start their own independent businesses, but I'm not one of those. I enjoy selling and building relationships, but I’m not very good at all the tasks and development strategy that goes into running a business, which is why franchising made sense for me; I am very well supported.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Johnson: I really admire the brand’s focus on finding a good fit for people that are comfortable working together in terms of the caregiver and receiver of care relationship. 

Another thing about Seniors Helping Seniors® is that the corporate team is very communicative and supportive. On a local level, we have quarterly team building events such as lunches or picnics, and the sense of community is really great.

I know this isn’t the case with all care brands. I called my mother’s caregiver, and she actually left her company right after my stepdad passed away. Her top reason was she never knew any of her colleagues because there was no engagement or communication with anybody in the organization, which gave her a strong sense of  isolation. That made me appreciate what Seniors Helping Seniors® does, because it makes a difference.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Johnson: I want to be successful and make an impact in the community. In this industry, I know there are a lot of competitors, but I also know there's room for me and probably many more senior care services. My initial goal is to get traction and gain a loyal customer base providing them with a great service. I want my care receivers to, without a doubt, recommend me to their neighbor or another family member.  

I plan to scale into the three markets and grow from there. My current territories cover Comal and Guadalupe Counties, North San Antonio, and Northwest San Antonio and Kendall County.

 1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Johnson: I have always enjoyed helping people and building communities. Whether it was growing up playing in the neighborhood, getting into competitive athletics or starting up a fraternity when I was in college, I have always loved building teams. I enjoy teaching and helping people and watching others grow. It's something I do innately, so I think a senior care franchise suits me perfectly. I look forward to building a community among my caregivers and care receivers, and helping both the employees and care receivers feel fulfilled. 

I have also enjoyed engaging with the older population for as long as I can remember. Our neighbors a few years ago were in their 80s, and I naturally went out of my way to help them anywhere I could.  

My grandfather owned two nursing homes back in the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. When I was a child, he loved taking me, my siblings and cousins to visit the elderly people who lived there.  I was the most comfortable of all us younger family members and really loved being around these people and connecting with them. 

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Johnson: When you invest in a franchise, you need to commit to following the process. I would advise that 90% of what you should do is based on the brand’s tried and true method and the other 10% leaves room for you to make it your own. 

ABOUT SENIORS HELPING SENIORS:

Seniors Helping Seniors® franchise system was founded by husband-and-wife duo Kiran and Philip Yocom. Kiran, who grew up in India, later worked to advance humanitarian efforts alongside Mother Teresa. After Kiran moved to the U.S. in 1995 and married her husband Philip, the Yocoms felt called to provide loving care to seniors and to cultivate an exchange of gifts at every generational level. Together, the Yocoms founded Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home services in 1998, opening the brand up to franchising in 2006. With a mission to be the most respected and rewarding homecare provider in the U.S., Seniors Helping Seniors® locations stand apart from competitors as the only company that prioritizes hiring active seniors to provide care services to their less-active counterparts. Seniors Helping Seniors® service aligns caregivers and care recipients based on the abilities and needs of both by offering a wide range of care services. Seniors Helping Seniors® network has grown to 200-plus locations, 125 franchise partners in 30-plus states and international markets. For more information on Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home care, visit seniorshelpingseniors.com.