For Chi Hong Shen, launching a Seniors Helping Seniors® franchise in San Antonio isn’t just a career pivot — it’s the culmination of a lifelong commitment to family, empathy and purpose. A Taiwanese immigrant who came to the United States in 1992 with plans to earn a business degree and return home to run his father’s factory, Shen’s journey took an unexpected turn the day he met his future wife at the San Antonio International airport.

More than 30 years later, he’s traded in a successful career in engineering and pharmaceuticals to help seniors age with dignity — a mission inspired by his father’s Parkinson’s diagnosis and the power of compassionate, in-home care.

1851 spoke with Shen to learn more about his inspiring story, his journey to the Seniors Helping Seniors® franchise and his plans for the future. 

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

Chi Hong Shen: I came to the United States in 1992 from Taiwan, originally planning to get my business degree and return to run my father’s factory. But the very first day I landed, I met my wife at the airport. She asked me to help with her luggage — and we’ve been together ever since. A year later, we decided to stay in the U.S. I earned my engineering degrees, got sponsorship and began working in corporate America, including time with Kimblerly-Clark and Nestlé.

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

Shen: I spent 26 years in the pharmaceutical and engineering industries. I was leading large projects and teams, managing up to $35 million in initiatives and solving complex problems. But I always emphasized empathy in my personal values, and eventually, I wanted to put those values to work. A coworker I saw on LinkedIn had become a franchise owner, and that caught my interest. I reached out to him, and he introduced me to his consultant. I explored six franchises before narrowing it down to Seniors Helping Seniors®. It really fit what I wanted to do.

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

Shen: Before I started this journey, I thought franchising was just for fast food. I had no idea there were models like this one — built on values and compassion. Seniors Helping Seniors® really focuses on helping people transition from corporate to purposeful business ownership. The support they provide, combined with their mission, makes them very different from the other options I looked at.

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

Shen: The difference between Seniors Helping Seniors® and traditional home care companies is that our caregivers are also seniors who have gone through the same life experiences as our clients. Because our caregivers are active seniors themselves, they can better understand our clients’ needs and are able to build strong bonds with clients while providing care, making our clients more comfortable to receive the quality of care they deserve.

Seniors Helping Seniors® matches personalities and hobbies of caregivers and clients, creating a unique relationship that both caregiver and client enjoy. Happiness creates long term relationships. The connection is stronger, and the care is more personal. Younger generations often don’t understand what the elderly are going through. Seniors Helping Seniors® bridges that gap.

I got into this because my father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and needed full-time in-home care. I was lucky — my father built a business and gave me the opportunity to afford quality care. That allowed me to be a son again, instead of just a caregiver. I want others to have that same chance.

Our clients want to stay in their homes, but they also face loneliness. Our caregivers understand them. That connection — that empathy — is what makes this brand so special.

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

Shen: Our first goal is to run this franchise successfully and provide premium in-home care to elderly people. Once we do that, we hope to expand into another territory. The need is growing, and I want to be part of the solution.

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

Shen: I come from a project management background, so I treat this business the same way I would a multimillion-dollar project. I created a detailed launch timeline from the beginning. Risk assessment, resource allocation, contingency planning — those are the things I brought with me. If you want to be successful, you have to prepare, mitigate risks and stay focused on your goals. Franchising gives you the roadmap, but it's up to you to drive.

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 400 territories nationwide and over 200 franchise partners in 37 states. For more information on Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home care, visit https://seniorshelpingseniors.com/.