Griswold

November marks National Home Care &amp; Hospice Month, a time to recognize the Caregivers, families, and professionals who bring dignity, comfort, and independence to those aging or recovering at home. For more than 40 years,&nbsp;<a href="https://griswoldhomecarefranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-griswold-empowers-families-and-franchisees-during-national-home-care-hospice-month-2730755" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Griswold</a> has been a leader in compassionate home care — empowering franchisees and Caregivers alike to serve their communities with empathy and excellence.Few embody that mission more than&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mirza-donegan-csa-b874286?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-griswold-empowers-families-and-franchisees-during-national-home-care-hospice-month-2730755" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mirza Donegan,</a> director of Griswold Home Care for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.griswoldcare.com/silver-spring-montgomery-north/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-griswold-empowers-families-and-franchisees-during-national-home-care-hospice-month-2730755" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Silver Spring &amp; Montgomery County North</a>. Her journey into home care began, as it does for so many, with a personal experience that changed everything.“Before, I used to do marketing for a nonprofit in alternative transportation,” Donegan said. “What started my road to Griswold was when my mother-in-law got very old and developed dementia. I was in a job transition, so I was able to care for her. That experience opened my eyes — helping her find the right companies, coordinating her care — I realized, ‘I think I can do this.’”When she began exploring home care companies,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/griswold/info">Griswold&nbsp;</a>stood out immediately. “It had not only a business sense that I appreciated, but also&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/griswold/how-griswold-has-grown-and-evolved-over-40-years-2723561">that Jean Griswold side</a> that is really important to me,” Donegan said. “That started my path, and it hasn’t changed. I’m still very involved in running my office because I really care and want to stay connected with my clients. I appreciate their trust in us — not just to take care of them, but to give them the best care possible.”For Donegan, that means overseeing every detail — from finding the right Caregiver to ensuring each care plan fits seamlessly into a client’s daily life. “All the pieces that fall into place matter,” she said. “I’ve found another niche in the company and am so emotionally invested in what we do.”<h2>A Life of Service</h2>Donegan’s commitment to compassionate care runs deep. “I was adopted and grew up in a military family,” she said. “My father served three terms in Vietnam, and that really impacted our lives. I learned to care for those who needed care very young. Now, as one of the providers for the VA, it’s such an honor to serve other veterans. I deeply understand what those families went through.”After 13 years with Griswold, Donegan now owns two territories and oversees a diverse team of nearly 100 Caregivers.&nbsp;“It’s been so rewarding to hire amazing people who have this passion for seniors,” she said. “They come from different parts of life, but they all have that central desire to care because they’ve cared within their own families. Helping them follow their dreams — seeing them grow and succeed — has impacted my life in incredible ways.”<h2>Becoming Part of the Family</h2>At its core, Griswold’s mission is about connection —&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/griswold/planning-for-the-future-how-griswold-supports-families-during-national-long-term-care-planning-month-2730415">bridging the gap between families and the Caregivers who support them</a>. Donegan says her team often becomes an extension of the families they serve.“These people are taking care of their own children and their parents,” she said. “They need someone who is really going to care and become part of their family. That’s what we do — we become that extra part of the family, caring for their loved ones like our own.”That perspective has played out in Donegan’s own life.“My mom had a stroke recently, and my Caregivers have been so incredible,” she said. “Now they are our family. The ones helping me at home have gotten to know our grandkids and our family. They&nbsp;know our family. It’s come full circle — I’ve experienced firsthand the impact of what we do.”<h2>A Legacy of Compassion and Excellence</h2>Donegan’s story reflects the lasting impact of its founder, Dr. Jean Griswold, who began the company in 1982 after recognizing the need for compassionate in-home care.&nbsp;This National Home Care &amp; Hospice Month, Griswold celebrates the people who make its mission possible — the Caregivers, franchisees and families who bring compassion to life every day.“I didn’t think this is where I would find my purpose,” Donegan said. “But now I know this is what I was meant to do. To care for others, to build a team that shares that passion, and to help families feel safe — that’s what makes Griswold so special.”For more information about Griswold and its compassionate home care services, visit<a href="https://www.griswoldcare.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-griswold-empowers-families-and-franchisees-during-national-home-care-hospice-month-2730755" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">&nbsp;https://www.griswoldcare.com</a>.

Griswold Home Care | National Home Care & Hospice Month

1851 Franchise

The leading home care franchise is honored to spotlight franchisees like Mirza Donegan of Maryland, whose compassion drives the brand’s legacy of service.

This brand page has been paid for by GRISWOLD. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

How Griswold Empowers Families and Franchisees During National Home Care & Hospice Month

how-griswold-empowers-families-and-franchisees-during-national-home-care-hospice-month

FRANCHISE INFORMATION

Own a Griswold

Own a Griswold Franchise

Franchisee Highlight

Company Momentum

Learn

Download Brochure

Visit Website

GRISWOLD

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

YouTube

Instagram

LEARN MORE

PocketRN and Griswold Announce a National Strategic Partnership to Test Medicare Dementia Care Model

Home for the Holidays: How Griswold Helps Families Stay Connected and Cared For During the Most Important Time of Year

GRISWOLD MOST READ STORIES

1851 LOGIN

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

ABOUT GRISWOLD

CONTACT GRISWOLD

facebook

instagram

twitter

First Name

Last Name

Email

Phone

City Of Interest

State Of Interest

Inquire About Griswold Franchise Opportunities

1851 Franchisee Spotlight graphic with photos of Kamal and Krushna Panda, Shantadeepa Pani, Griswold

Culture Over Capital: Why the Panda and Pani Families Chose Griswold for Their Transition Into Franchising

griswold-panda-pani-family-franchise-story

image of dennis hodapp from Pflugerville and Round Rock, Texas griswold franchise owner

 Former Minister and Software Engineer Opens New Griswold Franchise to Serve Austin-Area Seniors

griswold-franchisee-dennis-hodapp-pflugerville-round-rock

Beaumont Enterprise: Local Woman Brings Griswold Home Care Franchise to Greater Beaumont, Texas

griswold-home-care-greater-beaumont-opening

BLUE BELL, Pa. —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.griswoldcare.com/">Griswold</a>, the leading non-medical in-home care franchise, announced the winter 2026 recipients of its National Caregiver Scholarship Program in honor of National Caregivers Day on Feb. 20, 2026. The program, administered in partnership with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jeangriswoldfoundation.org/">Jean Griswold Foundation</a>, awarded its largest scholarship class to date, with 32 scholarships awarded totaling more than $73,000.“We are really excited for the Winter Scholarships winners — this was our biggest year ever,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-latini-61835b2">Sarah Latini</a>, director of the Jean Griswold Foundation. “It really shows how far the message of the opportunity and its impacts are reaching across the country.”The scholarship recipients represent Caregivers at many stages of their education and professional journeys — from those pursuing CNA training to others advancing into nursing, gerontology, behavioral health, and graduate-level health care programs.“We have a wonderful representation of both men and women at different stages of their careers,” Latini said. “Many of them were touched by a personal experience of caring for a loved one or somebody in the community that inspired them to advance their careers.”This year’s winter scholarship recipients include Caregivers from across the country who plan to use their awards to pursue education and training in high-need care fields. Below are those associated with Griswold offices nationwide:<ul><li>Aries J. (San Antonio, Texas) — pursuing board-certified behavior analyst coursework.</li><li>Ayris W. (Gwynn Oak, Maryland) — pursuing certified nursing assistant/high school diploma pathway.</li><li>Elias A. (Washington, D.C.) — pursuing certified nursing assistant training.</li><li>Ester C. (Plano, Texas) — pursuing advanced geriatric care education.</li><li>Eturnity S. (San Antonio, Texas) — pursuing physical therapist assistant program.</li><li>Garine "Gigi" G. (Atlanta, Georgia) — pursuing registered nurse degree.</li><li>Grace M. (Greensburg, Pennsylvania) — pursuing bachelor's degree in gerontology and aging services.</li><li>Joycy B. (Baltimore, Maryland) — pursuing registered nurse degree.</li><li>Kawana S. (Camden County, New Jersey) — pursuing Master of Science in Nursing.</li><li>Nadine C. (Camden County, New Jersey) — pursuing licensed practical nurse degree.</li><li>Paulina P. (Plano, Texas) — pursuing certified nursing assistant certification.</li><li>Rachel C. (Honolulu, Hawaii) — pursuing Master of Social Work.</li><li>Shachana M. (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) — pursuing continuing education in nursing/care.</li><li>Symone B. (Cleveland, Ohio) — pursuing registered nurse degree.</li><li>Vilma F. (Montgomery County, Maryland) — pursuing certified medical assistant and Child Development Associate credential.</li></ul>Latini emphasized that the scholarship program is rooted in the values of Griswold’s founder — and in the belief that Caregiver education strengthens families and communities.“Dr. Jean Griswold believed in continuing one’s education throughout one’s life,” Latini said. “She herself got a PhD later in life and was always encouraging staff to advance in their careers. We feel strongly that we are continuing her legacy by providing scholarships for Caregivers. We really feel we are living out her legacy with this scholarship program.”The program also reflects the urgent workforce needs facing health care today, especially in nursing and direct care roles.“In the health care field, there is a strain and a need for people to enter the nursing field in particular,” Latini said. “We see the pipeline as a direct line to the nursing fields. There is a lot going on right now, and we know that these frontline workers are essential to our communities.”The Jean Griswold Foundation surpassed a major milestone in annual scholarship support last year, a benchmark it aims to reach again in 2026.“In 2025, we gave away over $100,000 in scholarships total,” Latini said. “It is our goal to give away the same amount in the next year. Since we started in 2022, we’ve given 135 scholarships, and that totals over $300,000 awarded overall.”Applications for the Summer 2026 scholarship cycle opened Feb. 1 and close on March 31, 2026. For more information about the National Caregiver Scholarship Program and eligibility, visit:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jeangriswoldfoundation.org/scholarship">https://www.jeangriswoldfoundation.org/scholarship</a>.&nbsp;Your support makes our Caregiver Scholarship possible:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jeangriswoldfoundation.org/donate#waystodonate">https://www.jeangriswoldfoundation.org/donate#waystodonate</a>.ABOUT THE JEAN GRISWOLD FOUNDATIONHonoring the founder of Griswold Home Care, Dr. Jean Griswold, The Jean Griswold Foundation is a public non-profit whose primary goal is to support Caregivers. Funds raised through private donors, corporations, franchisees, and employees will focus on Caregiver education through scholarships. The Jean Griswold Foundation believes that everyone deserves to age with dignity and the availability of quality Caregivers is the key to achieving this goal. By supporting the profession of caregiving in all its forms, communities across the nation will be happier and healthier places to live. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.jeangriswoldfoundation.org">www.JeanGriswoldFoundation.org</a>.ABOUT GRISWOLDWith 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<a href="http://www.griswoldcare.com">&nbsp;www.GriswoldCare.com</a> or call 215.402.0200.

Griswold National Caregivers Day Scholarship Winners

Caregivers all over the country were awarded more than $73,000 to advance education and strengthen the future of frontline care.

Griswold Celebrates National Caregivers Day, Announces Winter Scholarship Winners Through the Jean Griswold Foundation

griswold-celebrates-national-caregivers-day-by-announcing-winter-scholarship-winners-through-the-jean-griswold-foundation

BLUE BELL, PA. —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.griswoldcare.com/">Griswold</a>, one of the nation’s leading in-home care franchises with a 43-year legacy, is closing out 2025 on a high note after achieving record growth across franchise development, systemwide performance and brand recognition. The milestone year positions the brand for even greater momentum in 2026 as&nbsp;<a href="https://griswoldhomecarefranchise.com/">Griswold</a> continues to expand thoughtfully while investing in innovation that helps older adults safely age in place.“This year was spectacular for Griswold — we hit every goal across the board,” said CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-slupecki-08b2288">Michael Slupecki</a>. “Our franchisee royalty growth was right there at double digits. We signed 21 franchise agreements and opened 16 locations, and our five company-owned locations all delivered spectacular year-over-year growth. It’s been a great year.”Throughout 2025, Griswold expanded into 13 states. North Carolina led the way with four new franchise awards, while additional openings across secondary and tertiary markets reinforced Griswold’s belief that the right owners can thrive anywhere.“The aging population is really happening everywhere,” Slupecki said. “Because this is a people business, it’s about finding the right partners with the right mission and values. When you do that, they can be successful wherever they are, and we’re seeing tremendous performance across the system.”In addition to expansion, Griswold earned more external recognition in 2025 than any year in its history, including three top honors from&nbsp;<a href="https://franchisebusinessreview.com/top-franchises/griswold-home-care/#brand_awards_module">Franchise Business Review: Top Franchise, Top Recession-Resistant Franchise and Top Franchise Culture</a>. The home office team was also recognized for the fourth consecutive year by&nbsp;<a href="https://sponsored.inquirer.com/top-workplaces-2025-ranked/">the Philadelphia Inquirer as a Top Workplace</a>.“We’re not just hitting our internal goals; we’re being recognized externally,” Slupecki said. “Prospective franchisees come into Discovery Day already having done their validation. They’ve spoken to existing owners about our culture, our mission and our support. It’s a great blend of culture and being able to make money, and that gives people confidence to step away from a 9-to-5 and invest in a Griswold franchise.”A key driver of Griswold’s long-term growth strategy in 2025 was continued investment in tech. While not a health care provider, the brand increasingly operates with a health care mindset — using technology tools that help monitor client well-being, identify early signs of decline and reduce unnecessary hospitalizations.“We think like a health care company,” Slupecki said. “By leveraging technology and data, we’re raising our game and differentiating ourselves. Our goal is to become the provider of choice for families by keeping clients safe, healthy and in their homes longer.”Looking ahead to 2026, Griswold aims to sign approximately 23 new franchise locations, with target markets including Utah, Wisconsin and Alabama.“We don’t want to sell a lot of locations and do it poorly,” Slupecki said. “We want 100% of the people who trust their investment with us to succeed. Holding ourselves to higher standards allows us to provide the support franchisees need to win. We’re in a great position to take the success of 2025 and do it even better. If we can grow faster, open more successful locations and roll out technology that truly differentiates our franchisees, that’s a win across the board.”ABOUT GRISWOLDWith 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<a href="http://www.griswoldcare.com">&nbsp;www.GriswoldCare.com</a> or call 215.402.0200.

With 21 franchise agreements signed, 16 new locations opened and expansion across 13 states, Griswold strengthens its national footprint while doubling down on tech, culture and franchisee success.

Griswold Closes Out 2025 With Record Franchise Growth and Positions Brand for Continued Momentum in 2026

griswold-closes-out-2025-with-record-franchise-growth-and-positions-brand-for-continued-momentum-in-2026

How Griswold Empowers Families and Franchisees During National Home Care & Hospice Month

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS