From Coca-Cola to Care: Seniors Helping Seniors Franchisees Celebrate Career Encore

Mollie and Brian Gaggin have both had successful careers — Mollie in life insurance, event planning and interior design, and Brian as an executive for soft drink giants — but now they feel it’s time to give back.

Through their personal experiences with their own aging parents, the couple has developed a passion for senior care. Mollie's father had dementia, while Brian's mother had both dementia and Alzheimer’s. The two witnessed loved ones receiving a variety of care, both in facilities and at home, and it became clear to them that the combination of companionship and in-home care made a big positive impact.

“We’ve had family members who were able to stay in their homes for as long as possible because they had care and people coming in to spend time with them,” said Brian. “It might have been neighbors or family, and they may have been providing meals, helping with cleaning or just providing companionship, but it allowed them to stay in their homes and made a big difference.”

Now, the Gaggins hope to provide this opportunity to as many seniors as possible in their West Michigan community as franchisees with Seniors Helping Seniors.

1851 Franchise spoke with the Gaggins about their journey into franchising and their 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?

Mollie: Prior to franchising, I was in life insurance for 18 years. Then I did home organization, home decorating, interior design and event planning. 

Brian: My career was in consumer products, soft drinks in particular. I worked for Coca-Cola for about 25 years and then I finished my career with the National Beverage Company, which owns Lacroix and some other soft drink brands such as Faygo and Shasta. I was a general manager — I ran bottling plants across different parts of the country. With Coca-Cola, we moved 12 times in 24 years, but we have spent the last 20 years in Michigan. I ended my career as an executive vice president and general manager of a business unit.

We've had a home in West Michigan for more than 40 years. It's a summer home. We're very familiar with West Michigan and the territory we have with Seniors Helping Seniors. 

Mollie: Our plan to go into franchising was mission- and purpose-driven. We have had two very successful careers and decided it was time to give back. We both have experienced working with aging parents. My father had dementia and his mother had dementia and Alzheimer’s. We went looking for something that allowed us to work with seniors.

Brian: We've seen the need and had a strong desire to work with seniors for quite a while. We have a lot of experience with that and just thought that the Seniors Helping Seniors provided the best model because they put caring first and that’s really in sync with our values. 

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

Mollie: It’s a wonderful opportunity to get into business. We’ve learned that this particular franchise is a lot different from other franchise brands as we have friends who are franchisees with other concepts. Seniors Helping Seniors’ franchise package is very complete. This is our first involvement with franchising and the brand has left me feeling incredibly impressed. 

Brian: They have a complete infrastructure. It manages both the caregiver side and the client side; it helps you get up to speed very quickly. It’s very comprehensive. 

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

Mollie: We intend to provide the highest care possible for seniors looking to stay in their homes, and we are also excited to provide more active seniors the opportunity to become more involved and build meaningful relationships with their less active counterparts.

Brian: We’re hoping to provide a resource for as many seniors as possible. We want to give them the opportunity to stay in their homes. We would like to expand the reach of our footprint as time goes on to improve the lives for as many seniors as we can. 

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

Mollie: Brian’s mother was in a long-term care facility for 12 years. The ratio of long-term care residents to staff was roughly one to 15. It’s hard to see a parent sitting alone in a bedroom for so many hours of the day and only being brought into a community space a couple of times a day. Seniors need more stimulation and more one-on-one care.

Brian: We’ve had family members who were able to stay in their homes for as long as possible. 

Those experiences moved us and had an impact on our thinking. If there were more people who could experience the ability to stay home and be comfortable, it would be a good thing.  

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

Brian: Have a definite mission or the purpose of the franchisor? How does that convey to the franchisee? Align yourself with the philosophical approach of the franchisor, and if you do that, it's hard not to be successful. 

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.