How a Therapist Expanded Her Reach Becoming a Seniors Helping Seniors® Franchise Owner

Katy Yahr has always had a passion for helping others. As a former teacher and currently a therapist, she is dedicated to increasing the well-being of not only the care receiver’s life, but also the caregiver. 

What Katy loves most about Seniors Helping Seniors® is that everyone involved is able to benefit from the service they provide. Senior citizens often fall into depression after retirement because they aren’t sure what to do next. By employing seniors, Seniors Helping Seniors® allows those giving care to maintain a sense of purpose and ward off depression, and those receiving care to be helped by someone closer to their age who understands what they’re going through. 

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

Yahr: I have been a therapist for the last 20 years, and before that, I was a teacher for four years. I have always loved working with and helping people. When COVID hit, I became very busy because there was so much need. I got burnt out trying to help so many people and decided to pause taking on new patients because I wanted to help people in a different way. That’s why my husband and I decided to buy Seniors Helping Seniors® last July. 

We chose Seniors Helping Seniors® because the mission is so in-line with what I was already doing. Not only are we helping the care receiver but we’re also helping the caregiver. We love the model and how it helps everyone. It made sense for us to join the franchise and not reinvent the wheel. 

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

Yahr: At first, I was a little hesitant about the idea of a franchise. I figured that I would rather support a local mom-and-pop business, rather than a franchise. However, I’ve learned that franchising makes sense because it already has the infrastructure to help business owners be successful. A good franchise offers its franchise owners amazing support. As a franchise owner, we’re riding on the tailfeathers of people who have done it before us. 

The people at Seniors Helping Seniors® are awesome. They’re genuinely doing it because they’re trying to improve the lives of seniors. I know that I’m not alone in this and that at any time I can pick up the phone and have a question answered. 

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

Yahr: What excited me the most is that it's about people. I always thought of franchises as McDonald's. I was surprised that people helping people could be a franchise.

I now have the ability to help lots of people all at the same time. When I was doing therapy full-time, I could only see a certain amount of people a day or a week. But now, I could have a whole team out helping seniors at the same time. I also love that it keeps the seniors working as caregivers, busy and engaged, and allows them to continue to save money for retirement. It also helps the care receiver because they feel more connected to a caregiver who's closer to their own age than somebody who's 50 years younger than them and doesn't understand what they're going through at all.

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

Yahr: I’ll be able to reach more seniors in need and help seniors who want to have a meaningful job and purpose. Depression in retired people goes up dramatically. Many seniors are excited about retirement, but once they retire they’re not sure what to do with themselves. Seniors Helping Seniors® can provide meaningful jobs and allow seniors to stay in the comfort of their own homes as they grow older. I also want to give family members who are trying to take care of their kids and parents a break and be able to spend more quality time with their family rather than trying to cook, clean and take care of the home.

We’re growing slowly and quickly. We’re growing slowly because I’m being very picky about who I choose to be a caregiver at the company. If I wouldn’t send them to my mom, then I won’t hire them. However, we’re growing fast in the sense that we’re quickly entering our three territories. We’re already in Mount Pleasant, Summerville, Moncks Corner, Charleston proper and a few other places as well. 

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

Yahr:  Ever since my very first job when I was a nanny, I’ve had a deep passion for helping people. It’s exciting and engaging. This is such a natural extension of what I was already doing. 

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

Yahr: Check it out. You don’t know until you know. I had no idea a year ago that I would end up doing what I’m doing now. People can start a business even if they don’t think that they can. There are lots of people to help. 

ABOUT SENIORS HELPING SENIORS®

Seniors Helping Seniors® 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 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® stands apart from competitors as the only company that prioritizes hiring active seniors to provide care services to their less-active counterparts. Seniors Helping Seniors® aligns caregivers and care recipients based on the abilities and needs of both by offering a wide range of care services. Seniors Helping Seniors® has grown to nearly 200 locations in 30-plus states and seven international locations, with 125 franchise partners. For more information on Seniors Helping Seniors®, visit https://seniorshelpingseniors.com/.

To learn more about franchising opportunities with Seniors Helping Seniors®, please visit https://franchise.seniorshelpingseniors.com/.