Siblings Kamal and Krushna Panda, with the help of their niece, Shantadeepa Pani, are forging a family pact inspired by their parents in India. After spending over 25 years building success in the U.S., the sting of their inability to care for their aging parents abroad started to feel all too familiar. Losing their father to COVID-19 was the final heartbreaking revelation—it was time for a new chapter rooted in service.

Like many care industry franchisees, Kamal says his family came in with a plan: senior care or bust. They vetted a number of legacy brands, but it was Griswold, a leading in-home care franchise, that stood out for its culture of compassion and leadership that felt like “an extension of family.” By combining Kamal’s business savvy, Krushna’s community networking skills and Shantadeepa’s background in marketing, this joint family is now building a legacy befitting of their roots in Farmington, Michigan.

Kamal, Krushna and Shantadeepa took the time to chat with 1851 Franchise to discuss their transition into entrepreneurship and why home care is more than just a business for them.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?

Kamal Panda: I have been in the United States for 25-plus years working in the banking and financial sector, but because of that, I've really been away from my parents. That gap of being able to serve and being available for taking care of the elderly has always been in my head. I lost my dad to COVID. In a personal way, I really felt connected to this concept of being a Caregiver or being in that industry as a transitional career choice for me.

Krushna Panda: I am a very social person and an active member of a community here of about 200 Indian families. My husband and I lead the society; we do volunteering and social work because we love people. I have been in the U.S. for 26 years working in the IT industry, but serving older people has always been my passion. I have a happy family here, and my husband is also very active and curious about our new journey.

Shantadeepa Pani: As for me, I received my bachelor's degree in science and my master’s in business with HR and marketing. I have eight and a half years of experience together in both sales and marketing. We grew up in a traditional joint family in India, so it has instilled in me a profound respect for elders and a strong sense of caring for family members and fostering an environment of love, affection, and respect.

1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Shantadeepa: I entered the United States in 2012, but at that time I didn't have my work authorization. From 2021, I started working, but all of a sudden I realized that having something of my own would be more fruitful for me. I am more inclined towards health and home care... We all decided this will be a good venture for us. We can all be together. 

Krushna: I worked in the IT industry for 26 years. While that profession is very different, I developed very good networking and relationship skills. I decided franchising made sense because I wanted to be independent, survive on my own, and no longer plan to work for someone else. I felt I could utilize my social skills and my network to prosper in a business that allows me to serve people. Everyone gets old and will eventually need service, so this has much more demand in the long run.

Kamal: We felt going through a franchise will give us a jump start, provide the resources and know-how to get up to speed quickly, and get past a lot of the regulatory and compliance angles quickly — even the tools, technologies, marketing, all of that. 

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?

Krushna: A few years ago, I actually considered partnering with friends in an Indian restaurant. However, I saw that some of those businesses were unsuccessful because they had too many partners or the market was too crowded. Now that I am in this, I want people to know that it is more than just a typical business. You are dealing with lives and people who really need your affection and service. It is a way to fulfill a passion while also building a stable, business-oriented future.

Shantadeepa: For me, I didn't know we had to create an LLC or DBA — all the technical stuff. I just thought you have to create your company, one LLC. There are other requirements that aren’t widely known, particularly for the home care industry, like NPI (National Provider Identifier). We discussed with many people who are the business owners in different locations, and they’ve been really helpful in catching us up to speed.

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

Kamal: We actually looked at three of them, and we connected with Griswold more than the others because of the personal connections we built. Starting from the franchise development officer to the COO, meeting with all the staff — it felt a little bit more connected versus just a pure business model. The biggest thing is it feels like you could ask a question either to the head office or to a franchise owner and there is a desire to share, coach and make somebody more effective... It feels a lot more connected and positive and not as competitive.

Krushna: Exactly. While there wasn't a huge difference between this and other franchises on paper, the thing I loved most was the people. From the way they approach you to the way they help, I felt like I was communicating with a family member. That was the main interest that led me to join. 

Shantadeepa: Learning about the founding story of Griswold created an immediate connection. It reminded me of how my parents care for my grandmother and how my grandparents cared for us growing up. The core values we grew up with in our family are the things we need in this particular business. We are going to spend more and more time with the elderly people who need affection just like their own people and the support for their daily living.

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

Kamal: Do whatever it takes to reach the break-even number of clients as well as Caregivers in the first year. And then year two and three, we would like to expand to another territory next to it.

Krushna: The initial plan was to take a couple of territories together, but since this is new for me, I didn't want to start alone. We decided to start with one to gain experience. Simultaneously, the plan is to grow, take more territories and expand so that my niece and brother can start on their own in Ohio and California. We want to capture more territories so we can expand our business and serve more people.

1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?

Kamal: We are a family. We grew up in a joint family, so this is something we saw in our childhood. That piece was a common theme amongst the three of us. And since my niece and sister were both looking for work, they are really trying to leverage this as a full-time thing. They’re not just involved casually; they’re committed to making this their career moving forward.

Krushna: This business is very personal for me. My mother-in-law, father-in-law and my father have all passed away, and I could not be there to serve them. I really missed that. Now, I want to treat my customers just like my own family members. There are many ways to earn money, but I opted for this because it is my passion. I am in my 50s, and I don't think I could find anything better than this. With my nature and my skills, I know I will do well.

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

Kamal: If you're on the fence, you should jump. There is a lot of help and, if you want to do something in the space, a lot of the franchise companies are very organized and get you up to speed quickly. We spent a lot of time just thinking, mulling over and analyzing. You should jump because it's better than I thought.

Krushna: Everybody wants to do a business to be independent and survive, but I feel everyone should focus on the quality of the service provided. Don’t just do it to get money; you are dealing with lives. You are dealing with older people who really need your affection. Focus on providing quality service rather than just money-making. If you focus on the quality, the business will ultimately be there.

Shantadeepa: I believe home care will grow, and it will not have any lack of demand in the future. The older population in the U.S. is rising. If somebody wants to come to this business, they should absolutely consider it.

ABOUT GRISWOLD:

With over 200 locations across 30 states, Griswold is one of the country’s top home care companies, providing and referring professional, compassionate Caregivers around the clock. Griswold’s “Live Assured” promise gives both clients and their loved ones peace of mind, so they can live without the weight of worry. Griswold helps adults maintain quality of life despite advanced age, onset of illness, or post-surgery recovery through services including companion care, home services, personal care, and respite care. Founded by the late Jean Griswold in 1982, the company has maintained its founder’s profound sense of empathy for older and disabled adults and those living with chronic conditions. Griswold has been recognized as one of the top 500 franchises in Entrepreneur’s 2026 Franchise 500® and named a 2023, 2024 and 2025 Best of Home Care® Endorsed National Provider. For more information, visit www.GriswoldCare.com or call 215.402.0200.