Griswold, the non-medical in-home care franchise, is celebrating a milestone year in the 2026 Best of Home Care Awards, earning top national recognition across both franchisee-specific and industry-wide categories. Most notably, Gary Hawkins, owner of Griswold Home Care for Berks County, Pennsylvania, has been named the No. 1 home care provider in the country out of more than 4,300 participating locations.
The honors, presented annually by Activated Insights, are based entirely on third-party Caregiver and Client satisfaction surveys. This year, Griswold achieved:
“It’s a big deal, especially this year,” said Matt Ericksen, vice president of sales and operations at Griswold. “Gary has been operating for 37 years, and he is a great example of why Griswold has embraced these awards and how franchisees see them drive their business success, both from a growth standpoint and a recognition of what they’ve always done right. It’s been a record year for us — just for the number of awards given overall for the brand, and the top spot being won by Griswold.”
For Hawkins, the recognition is deeply personal. “We really just wanted feedback from the Clients and Caregivers,” Hawkins said. “So getting this award after 37 years for doing something we’ve always done is very nice.”
Hawkins’ journey with Griswold began in 1989, when he served as director of residential services for a company that supported individuals with developmental disabilities. At the time, he was overseeing more than 50 group homes when he learned of an opportunity to open a Griswold office in Berks County.
“I went down and got interviewed, and I liked what I heard, but I was still unsure if I wanted to leave my comfortable job,” he said. “After I met founder Jean Griswold, I knew I wanted to do this. There was something about her that was overwhelming. She was talking to me about her vision, her dreams, and her hopes. I really fell in love. Thirty-seven years later, I am still carrying her dream.”
Leaving the security of corporate leadership was daunting. “The idea of having to start a business from the ground up, with no Caregivers or Clients, was scary,” Hawkins said. “I remember that first morning, looking at the office and thinking, ‘Oh my God, what do I do now?’”
He printed flyers. He educated his community about non-medical home care. He hired his first Caregiver, who stayed with him for 26 years. “We treat our people so well that the average time a Caregiver stays with us is 15 years,” Hawkins said. “I have three people who have been with me since the beginning.”
Today, Griswold's growth in Berks County is largely driven by word-of-mouth referrals. At the heart of his office’s success is a philosophy rooted in Jean Griswold’s original mission.
“We treat our Caregivers and our Clients like family,” Hawkins said. “When Caregivers thank me for giving them a job, I’ll stop them halfway through and tell them, ‘No, thank you for helping us carry on Jean’s philosophy.’ We aren’t any of the other companies — we are based on love, compassion, and caring. That comes down to how we treat people and each other. I’ve been in this for over five decades. It’s all about helping others.”
When he learned he had been named the No. 1 provider in the country, Hawkins was overwhelmed.
“Last year I was number 11, and I was really thinking about where I would be this year,” he said. “I couldn’t believe it — I cried. I recorded the announcement on my phone. I was totally blown away. We had finally been recognized for something that we’ve done for over 30 years. I attribute that award to our staff, our Caregivers, and Jean Griswold. Jean would be thrilled. If she were alive, she would be so proud.”
The Best of Home Care Awards, presented annually by Activated Insights, are determined exclusively through third-party satisfaction surveys completed by both Clients and Caregivers. Participating agencies must meet strict eligibility requirements, including achieving a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 8.75 out of 10. Results are benchmarked against other providers at the regional and national levels using a formula-based scoring methodology, ensuring agencies are measured objectively against their peers. Because the awards are based entirely on direct feedback — not nominations or internal reporting — they are widely regarded as one of the most credible and respected recognitions in the home care industry.
“It’s all based on Caregiver and Client surveys,” Ericksen said. “The Best of Home Care Awards are third-party validation of Jean’s original vision for the brand, and our owners continue to pick up that torch and carry it and validate our brand.”
Beyond Hawkins’ individual achievement, the brand itself received confirmation that it holds the highest Caregiver and Client satisfaction scores among franchise competitors. “We’ve always coached to outcomes — are your Caregivers and Clients happy? If you follow that, the results speak for themselves,” Ericksen said. “That’s why we set a new record every year for awards and recognition.”
With record-breaking participation, top national rankings, and industry-leading satisfaction scores, Griswold’s 2026 Best of Home Care recognition underscores what the brand has prioritized for more than four decades: people first.
“It was all based on that concept that was created by Jean,” Ericksen said. “We are here to help each other. That is the philosophy that I go by and live by.”
As Griswold continues to grow nationwide, the message remains clear: when Caregivers and Clients are treated like family, excellence follows.
To find out more information on costs to buy a Griswold franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/griswold/info.
Griswold
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The leading in-home care franchise has earned top national honors for Client and Caregiver satisfaction, with Berks County franchisee Gary Hawkins named the highest-rated provider in the country.
Griswold, the non-medical in-home care franchise, is celebrating a milestone year in the 2026 Best of Home Care Awards, earning top national recognition across both franchisee-specific and industry-wide categories. Most notably, Gary Hawkins, owner of Griswold Home Care for Berks County, Pennsylvania, has been named the No. 1 home care provider in the country out of more than 4,300 participating locations.
The honors, presented annually by Activated Insights, are based entirely on third-party Caregiver and Client satisfaction surveys. This year, Griswold achieved:
“It’s a big deal, especially this year,” said Matt Ericksen, vice president of sales and operations at Griswold. “Gary has been operating for 37 years, and he is a great example of why Griswold has embraced these awards and how franchisees see them drive their business success, both from a growth standpoint and a recognition of what they’ve always done right. It’s been a record year for us — just for the number of awards given overall for the brand, and the top spot being won by Griswold.”
For Hawkins, the recognition is deeply personal. “We really just wanted feedback from the Clients and Caregivers,” Hawkins said. “So getting this award after 37 years for doing something we’ve always done is very nice.”
Hawkins’ journey with Griswold began in 1989, when he served as director of residential services for a company that supported individuals with developmental disabilities. At the time, he was overseeing more than 50 group homes when he learned of an opportunity to open a Griswold office in Berks County.
“I went down and got interviewed, and I liked what I heard, but I was still unsure if I wanted to leave my comfortable job,” he said. “After I met founder Jean Griswold, I knew I wanted to do this. There was something about her that was overwhelming. She was talking to me about her vision, her dreams, and her hopes. I really fell in love. Thirty-seven years later, I am still carrying her dream.”
Leaving the security of corporate leadership was daunting. “The idea of having to start a business from the ground up, with no Caregivers or Clients, was scary,” Hawkins said. “I remember that first morning, looking at the office and thinking, ‘Oh my God, what do I do now?’”
He printed flyers. He educated his community about non-medical home care. He hired his first Caregiver, who stayed with him for 26 years. “We treat our people so well that the average time a Caregiver stays with us is 15 years,” Hawkins said. “I have three people who have been with me since the beginning.”
Today, Griswold's growth in Berks County is largely driven by word-of-mouth referrals. At the heart of his office’s success is a philosophy rooted in Jean Griswold’s original mission.
“We treat our Caregivers and our Clients like family,” Hawkins said. “When Caregivers thank me for giving them a job, I’ll stop them halfway through and tell them, ‘No, thank you for helping us carry on Jean’s philosophy.’ We aren’t any of the other companies — we are based on love, compassion, and caring. That comes down to how we treat people and each other. I’ve been in this for over five decades. It’s all about helping others.”
When he learned he had been named the No. 1 provider in the country, Hawkins was overwhelmed.
“Last year I was number 11, and I was really thinking about where I would be this year,” he said. “I couldn’t believe it — I cried. I recorded the announcement on my phone. I was totally blown away. We had finally been recognized for something that we’ve done for over 30 years. I attribute that award to our staff, our Caregivers, and Jean Griswold. Jean would be thrilled. If she were alive, she would be so proud.”
The Best of Home Care Awards, presented annually by Activated Insights, are determined exclusively through third-party satisfaction surveys completed by both Clients and Caregivers. Participating agencies must meet strict eligibility requirements, including achieving a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 8.75 out of 10. Results are benchmarked against other providers at the regional and national levels using a formula-based scoring methodology, ensuring agencies are measured objectively against their peers. Because the awards are based entirely on direct feedback — not nominations or internal reporting — they are widely regarded as one of the most credible and respected recognitions in the home care industry.
“It’s all based on Caregiver and Client surveys,” Ericksen said. “The Best of Home Care Awards are third-party validation of Jean’s original vision for the brand, and our owners continue to pick up that torch and carry it and validate our brand.”
Beyond Hawkins’ individual achievement, the brand itself received confirmation that it holds the highest Caregiver and Client satisfaction scores among franchise competitors. “We’ve always coached to outcomes — are your Caregivers and Clients happy? If you follow that, the results speak for themselves,” Ericksen said. “That’s why we set a new record every year for awards and recognition.”
With record-breaking participation, top national rankings, and industry-leading satisfaction scores, Griswold’s 2026 Best of Home Care recognition underscores what the brand has prioritized for more than four decades: people first.
“It was all based on that concept that was created by Jean,” Ericksen said. “We are here to help each other. That is the philosophy that I go by and live by.”
As Griswold continues to grow nationwide, the message remains clear: when Caregivers and Clients are treated like family, excellence follows.
To find out more information on costs to buy a Griswold franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/griswold/info.
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