Lauren Dreis, a Missouri resident with a background in health care, is taking steps to improve senior care in her community by opening a Seniors Helping Seniors® franchise. After years of working in radiology and mobile radiology, Dreis saw the challenges aging individuals often face. Her personal experience caring for her mother after losing her father showed her how much support is lacking for seniors and their families.

Driven by those experiences and a desire to give back, Lauren and her husband, Brian, decided to open a business that reflects their values and commitment to their community. Seniors Helping Seniors® was the perfect fit, offering in-home care services while also giving seniors the opportunity to stay active and find purpose by working as caregivers.

For Dreis, this isn’t just a business — it’s a way to help seniors live with dignity and create stronger connections in her community. She’s excited to provide compassionate care to those in need while also empowering other seniors to make a difference in the lives of their peers.

1851 Franchise spoke to Dreis about her franchise journey. Here’s what she had to say. 

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

Lauren Dreis: I have a medical background and have been in the radiology field since 2005. Over the years, I’ve worked in various areas of health care, including hospitals, doctors’ offices, private practices and mobile radiology. Mobile radiology stood out to me because it gave me the opportunity to visit nursing homes across northwest Missouri, where I began to see seniors in a different light.

Later, as we grew our family, we relocated to Nebraska for my husband Brian’s job and eventually moved back. During that transition, I lost my dad and my role as a daughter shifted to supporting my mom in ways I hadn’t before. That experience gave me a new perspective on seniors, including the challenges they face as they age.

At the time, my husband was still working in medical sales and I was a stay-at-home mom, focusing on raising our two kids — our daughter, who’s now 15, and our 10-year-old son. Faith and community involvement have always been central to our family. We teach our children the importance of kindness, whether it’s holding a door, helping someone with groceries or returning a shopping cart. These small acts can truly make a difference in someone’s day.

As we reflected on our family values, Brian and I started discussing how we could make a meaningful impact in our community. I wanted to return to work, but going back to a hospital setting meant time away from my family, which didn’t align with our priorities. We wanted to find something we could do together.

We reached out to a franchise recruiter to explore options. After getting to know us — our values, interests and experiences — they introduced us to Seniors Helping Seniors®. We instantly felt drawn to the concept. It aligned with our desire to help others and I could see the tangible ways this business could positively impact seniors, caregivers and their families.

For instance, my mom — now a widow — would have provided opportunities for people like her to stay active and engaged. Coming from a healthcare background, I’ve also seen how small acts of assistance — helping with laundry after surgery, organizing a pantry to remove expired food or just being there for companionship — can make a huge difference in someone’s quality of life.

The more we learned about Seniors Helping Seniors®, the more we felt it was the right fit. It wasn’t just a business — it was a way to make a meaningful impact while involving our children in the process. We’ve included them in conversations about what this journey means for our family, and they’re excited to be part of it.

This opportunity lets us live out our values, build a legacy and inspire others to help their neighbors and family members. It’s been an incredible start, and we’re so excited about the road ahead.

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?

Dreis: We have a deep passion for helping others and for supporting our community. We want to be good stewards of our faith and, more broadly, examples of what it means to be good human beings. This opportunity felt like the closest representation of who we strive to be and the values we hold dear. That’s what truly stood out to us about this franchise.

The beauty of this particular franchise lies in its uniqueness within the market. From the leadership to the trainers, everyone we’ve worked with has been absolutely wonderful. They’re genuinely passionate about helping seniors and we share that same passion. You often hear phrases like that — and it’s easy to be skeptical — but with this team, it’s clear they mean it. It’s not about making money — it’s about making a positive impact on the world. That shared mission made us feel like we were in the right place.

We decided to go the franchise route because we’re starting this business later in life — we are in our 40s — and launching a business from scratch takes a tremendous amount of time and effort. We are not opposed to hard work, but franchises offer a clear plan. If you’re willing to take the risk and follow the process, there’s a roadmap already in place.

What stood out most about Seniors Helping Seniors® was how well it’s built, the story it tells and the way it’s structured to help people. It’s a proven program that works and, more importantly, it makes a real difference. That’s the most rewarding part.

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

Dreis: This franchise is truly unique. Both my husband and I have experienced times in our lives where we’ve either had to provide or been involved in senior care within our families. We’ve seen firsthand what that progression looks like, and honestly, there’s often a lack of dignity in senior care. Unfortunately, that’s just the reality for so many seniors.

For example, my grandfather was one of the most important people in my life, and as he aged, I saw how easy it was for others to dismiss him as "just getting older" or "losing it." That’s not fair, and it’s not the way it should be. These individuals aren’t just members of our families — they’re the reason we’re here. They are a legacy to us and deserve to be treated with the respect and dignity they’ve earned.

What stood out to me most about this franchise is its unique approach. It applies a peer-to-peer model where seniors themselves are the caregivers. They’ve lived similar lives, they’re in the same stage of life and they can truly relate to the clients they’re helping. This approach allows seniors to stay in their homes longer while maintaining their dignity and pride.

That’s what excites me most — it’s about giving seniors a chance to age with dignity, to remain a valued part of society and to feel like people are still willing to engage with them in meaningful ways.

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

Dreis: Our primary goal is to help as many seniors as possible — to ensure they can age with dignity and remain in their own homes. That’s both a professional and personal mission for us. On a personal level, we also want to create something meaningful that we can pass along to our family. Professionally, we hope our children will one day develop a passion for giving back, being part of the community and continuing the legacy we’re building.

Additionally, we want to highlight that seniors have an important role to play. They don’t have to be just the clients — they can also be the caregivers. Seniors bring a wealth of experience and purpose, and they are vital to the success of this business, making up 50% of what we do. Many are retired and simply looking for something meaningful to do. This business provides them with a sense of purpose, showing that they’re still needed and valued.

Our larger vision is to reshape the way people view and treat seniors. If we can create that shift in our community, we hope it can spark a broader movement. We know this aligns with the mission of the corporate office as well — to provide seniors with dignity, respect and purpose, and to show that life doesn’t stop at a certain age. Seniors in their 50s and older could live another 40 or 50 years — that’s far too long to feel like they have nothing to contribute.

We want to support those who need help while also providing a place for others to thrive and feel like they still have a role in the world.

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

Dreis: I think it’s important to highlight that we’ve experienced this journey from our family’s perspective. We’ve lived it firsthand and seen the challenges that come with aging. From my perspective, there truly is a way to age in your own home with dignity, and that’s the goal we are striving to achieve through this business.

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

Dreis: I think when most people hear the word "franchise," they immediately think of big box brands or large restaurant chains. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can find something more niche, smaller in scale and much more approachable. It doesn’t have to come with a massive price tag or feel out of reach.

Franchising can be something you do from your home, with your family or even with your best friend. You can truly make a difference without it being a huge, overwhelming undertaking. For us, the plan is to work out of our home office for a long time. With just a laptop, a pen and a phone, we know we can do a lot of good.

Franchising used to feel intimidating to me — it seemed like this massive undertaking, tied to a huge company with so many barriers like cost and scale. But I’ve learned it doesn’t have to be that way. There are options out there that are accessible and achievable. You just have to look for the one that fits you and your vision.

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 Kiran moved to the U.S. in 1995 and married 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 homecare 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 200-plus locations, 125 franchise partners in 30-plus states and international markets. For more information on Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home care, visit seniorshelpingseniors.com.