Katie Holman O’Neill, a former hospitality and start-up professional, is transforming her career path by launching Seniors Helping Seniors in Napa, California this December. Combining her passion for community impact with her entrepreneurial spirit, O’Neill aims to provide essential support to seniors wishing to age at home while creating meaningful employment opportunities for older adults. With a strong foundation in hospitality and an eye toward building a family legacy, O’Neill’s venture aligns with her lifelong values and vision for making a difference in the lives of others.

1851 Franchise spoke with O’Neill to learn more about her story, her decision to join Seniors Helping Seniors and her plans for the future. 

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

Katie Holman O’Neill: I have always been passionate about creating memorable experiences. My professional background started in hospitality — I was a restaurant manager and general manager with the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group. Eventually, theorizing that my hospitality skillset would be impactful in other businesses, I left that industry and took a job at a tech startup — IfOnly, which focused on charity and giving. Over the last 12 years, I’ve worked in various roles across several industries and organizations, always with the aim of delivering delight via excellence.

My husband and I, who met working in startups, have long talked about working together on something more meaningful. In parallel with the birth of our two kids (now 6 and 3), my priorities have changed tremendously, with community and purpose replacing recognition and achievement. Finally, last year, I started thinking about what I truly wanted to do.  How could I create an opportunity that allows us to launch our own business, while applying my skills and experiences and bringing value to our community in the process?

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?

O’Neill: To be honest, I was thinking less about the business structure and more about finding an opportunity that allowed me to put my unique skills and experiences to work in a meaningful way.  It was also really important to me to enhance the fabric of the community where we’ve chosen to put down roots.  When I found Seniors Helping Seniors, I fell in love almost immediately with the mission and the two-way benefit proposition: how incredible it is to enable connection for both the client and the caregiver in the process of providing needed services!  The support and guidance provided by the franchise model allowed me to make the leap into a business that I don’t have firsthand experience in.  I’m really confident in the value of my operational and service skills, and truly excited to bring meaningful professional opportunities to an older demographic of workers.

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

O’Neill: We’ve had experience with older family members needing help to age safely at home, and it has opened my eyes to how difficult it can be on families and on the person needing care to provide support for people to live independently. Additionally, people close to me can’t afford to retire, and I have had a front-row seat to seniors facing ageism in the workforce. The idea of seniors helping other seniors is so powerful. Both sides benefit and it’s such a unique approach to senior care. It aligns perfectly with my values and the legacy I want to build.

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

O’Neill: I’d like us to be known as *the* place to find meaningful and rewarding professional opportunities as an older adult. For now, we’re focused on making a real impact in Napa and Sonoma by hiring 100 senior caregivers in the next 12 months.

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

O’Neill: Hospitality is such a core part of my foundation and it shapes everything I do. It’s about creating value and making meaningful connections. 

My husband and I also want to show our kids what’s possible. I grew up in a family business and it was such a great experience. We want our kids to see that they can build something of their own and we want to be values-driven in everything we do. It’s about changing our family’s trajectory while helping others.

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

O’Neill: It’s important to understand what you really need, both in business and emotionally. Ask the right questions to determine your goals for your family and your community. Who do you want to be? If you don’t take the time to aim well, you might not hit the target you’re hoping for. Take the time to find the right fit.

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.