From Health Care Leader to Franchise Owner: How Faith Led Chadwick Wade to Business Ownership With Seniors Helping Seniors®

Chadwick Wade built a highly successful career in health care, working as a clinician, director of operations, and vice president of marketing and business development. Despite financial stability and professional achievements, he felt a deeper calling — one that led him to explore entrepreneurship. After much reflection and prayer, Wade discovered franchising as the ideal path forward, allowing him to leverage his health care expertise while building something of his own.

Now, Wade is embarking on his journey as a Seniors Helping Seniors® franchise owner, drawn to a brand that aligns with his values and passion for helping others. Through franchising, he found a proven system that eliminates the guesswork of starting a business from scratch, providing the structure and support needed to succeed.

Wade took the time to chat with 1851 Franchise to discuss his franchising journey with Seniors Helping Seniors® and his plans for the future. Here’s what he had to say:

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

Chadwick Wade: I am a highly decorated health care professional. I have done just about everything you can do in health care. I've been a clinician as a respiratory therapist. I have two master's degrees in business administration and health administration. I've been a director of operations multiple times. I've been a vice president of marketing and business development. I've worked in a hospital, worked in outpatient settings and I've worked in long-term acute care.

Even though I had six-figure jobs and was financially comfortable, something just didn’t feel right. I think I got to a point in my life where maybe I was having a midlife crisis, and I wanted to do something different. I’m big on faith, so I started praying about it. Things just aligned — everything has been smooth sailing. 

1851: What’s the number one thing about your story you want us to know?

Wade: My faith led me to open up a franchise business.

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

Wade: I know that you can start your own business and be successful, but there will be growing pains to do so. I started working with a franchise consultant, and he explained that when you do franchising, the franchisor has already invented the wheel. You just have to follow it.

I think people should know that franchising is a significant financial investment, but you make that to get into business the right way and get off to a good start.

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

Wade: The initial brand was formed by a woman who helped Mother Teresa. That part of it really stuck with me.

And then when I spoke to Namrata [Yocom-Jan], who is the current CEO, she just had me so fired up. I told her she needs to coach football! She really gave me this inspirational speech and made me feel like I could really do this.

They were really genuine through the process and very thorough in vetting candidates. I just enjoyed how they went through the process, and I felt like we were perfectly matched together. 

1851: What’s your big goal this year?

Wade: The biggest goal for this year is to have a grandiose opening, to spread the word, to hire some really, really good caregivers and just continue to build a foundation for this company.

My plan is to be a hands-on CEO and president for two to three years, and then in the third year, hire a general manager to run it so I can fade into the background. 

1851: What advice do you have for aspiring franchisees?

Wade: I would say to pray a lot about it. It is a challenge. I'm probably ahead of the game because I've been in health care, which is, again, why I chose this franchise. So I already know my way around and knew some of the things that needed to be done.

I also looked at owning a blinds business — going around and installing custom blinds — but I would have been a fish out of water. I wouldn’t have known anything about that and would have had to learn everything from scratch. Pick something that you've had a passion for. It has to be something you're passionate about getting up and doing every day. I figured if I got up at all times in the morning and night to deal with issues in health care for somebody else's company, I know I'll do it for my 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 moving to the U.S. in 1995 and marrying 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 home care 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 350 territories nationwide and over 180 franchise partners in 38 states. For more information on Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home care, visit https://seniorshelpingseniors.com/.