The importance of companionship and care for seniors seeking to age in place has never been more at the forefront of the cultural conversation than it is today. And while it’s true that Baby Boomers are rapidly aging out of the workforce and into a population in need of care, it’s even more true that seniors confer incredible gifts to those fortunate enough to work with them. It is in this interest of giving and receiving, both on the part of the client and the caregiver that the life-changing in-home care brand Seniors Helping Seniors® was born.

Seniors Helping Seniors®, an in-home care franchise that practices employing senior caregivers, is a family-oriented brand that is focused on making a difference through The Power of Love®. The in-home care services franchise brightens the lives of seniors by providing compassionate care with a helping hand and supporting seniors to continue to live independent lives by taking care of day-to-day tasks that become more challenging with age. Franchise owners overwhelmingly see Seniors Helping Seniors® as a highly rewarding opportunity, allowing them...a way to give and to receive®.

A Call to Care

Seniors Helping Seniors® was founded in 1998 by husband-and-wife duo Kiran and Philip Yocom. Kiran, who grew up Hindu in India, learned as a young girl about the work being done around the country by Mother Teresa after meeting her at age 7 and was instantly inspired. After years passed—during which Kiran donated her weekly allowance to The Sisters of Charity—Kiran became a devoted follower of the Catholic nun, working alongside her to advance her humanitarian efforts. Kiran was especially impacted by the importance of providing loving care to seniors and cultivating an exchange of gifts at every level. This conviction and natural continuation of her work with Mother Teresa in India would eventually inspire her to start Seniors Helping Seniors® with her husband Philip. 

Kiran moved to the U.S. in 1995 and met and married Philip Yocom shortly thereafter. Inspired by Mother Teresa’s commitment to servant leadership, the Yocoms started Seniors Helping Seniors® in Reading, Pennsylvania as a non-profit before leveraging Philip’s franchising experience and opening the business for franchising in 2006. Since bringing on Executive President Namrata Yocom-Jan and Vice President of Operations Daniel Jan in 2007, Seniors Helping Seniors® has grown to over 200 locations in 30-plus states and seven international locations with 125 franchise partners. The brand is hoping to further expand its compassionate offerings and award as many as 20 new franchises by the end of 2020.

“Our brand vision is to be the most respected and rewarding senior homecare provider in the U.S. and to make the world a better place,” said Kiran. “That is why we employ seniors as caregivers; because they can provide real companionship and understanding to those seniors in need.” 

A Differentiated Model That Puts Seniors First

“We hire active seniors to provide services to less active seniors,” said Vice President of Operations Daniel Jan.  There are a lot of franchise competitors now who provide services like personal care, companionship and dementia care. That said, Seniors Helping Seniors® stands out as the only company that practices hiring active seniors to provide care services. This means that those involved at every level give and receive equally.” 

As Jan acknowledged, Seniors Helping Seniors® stands out in a crowded senior care industry thanks to several key differentiators. Indeed, unlike other brands, the franchise focuses employing seniors as caregivers, leaning into a belief in true companionship and solidarity while also providing supplemental income. Seniors Helping Seniors® is able to align caregivers and care recipients based on the abilities and needs of both by offering a wide range of care services including: companionship, personal care, dementia care, light housekeeping, cooking and shopping, pet care, aid with household tasks, transportation to appointments, fall prevention, 24-hour care and overnight stays, and more.

The brand’s commitment to compassionate care and meaningful employment across the senior vertical translates to another important differentiator for franchise owners: A largely recession-proof model, as people will always need care, according to Jan. The Silver Tsunami continues to crest regardless of economic change. 

In addition, Seniors Helping Seniors® makes for a great investment thanks to an enviable work/life flexibility and superb franchise owner support. In addition, the franchise fee for opening a Seniors Helping Seniors® business is on the lower end in the franchise care industry. In terms of support, the brand offers resources and guidance to its owners through corporate-provided training, coaching, webinars and ongoing education, positioning even those new to the in-home care industry for success. 

“We believe we are contributing to the opportunity for franchise owners to ‘Do Good and Make Money®,” said Namrata. “That comes from our passion to help seniors on both ends of the care equation.”

Franchise Owners Who Are Passionate About Improving Seniors’ Lives

The ideal Seniors Helping Seniors® franchise owner is committed to serving in the interest of the greater good, and is not afraid to connect with new people—be they doctors, other caregivers, local professionals or other franchise owners. 

Franchise owners come from backgrounds in corporate careers such as in business sales, account management, real estate, technology and various healthcare related fields. While some business acumen is preferred, more than anything else, Seniors Helping Seniors® looks for those passionate about servant leadership. This includes those who find the most rewarding aspects to franchise ownership to be making a difference in the lives of seniors and having a positive impact on them and their families, especially when those families may not be local and in a position to provide regular care. Seniors Helping Seniors® franchise owners are extremely passionate about the brand; the love what they do and say that the brand is ‘the total package’—one they look forward to contributing to every day.

Two such examples are embodied in Diane and Joanne Nugent-Ward, franchise owners in New York. When asked what she loved about being a Seniors Helping Seniors® franchise owner, Diane was emphatic. 

“It is difficult to nail down one favorite thing about being a Seniors Helping Seniors® franchise owner,” Diane said. “The most rewarding part is knowing that we are making a difference in the lives of people who are often set aside and considered unimportant by society because their ‘useful’ or ‘productive’ years are deemed over. These ideas are far from the truth. The seniors we serve are a treasure trove of wisdom, humor and insight into life. Giving them love and care is the greatest privilege we have as franchise owners. Our providers receive so much from our receivers. We experience so much love and grace from knowing that we have brightened the day of a lonely senior, have provided security to a fearful senior or peace of mind to family members who worry about their loved ones." 

Joanne was similarly enthused.

"Seniors Helping Seniors® philosophy of hiring seniors to help other elderly folks was the most influential issue that enticed us to join the Seniors Helping Seniors® family,” Joanne explained. “There are so many people living longer and healthier lives than ever before; many of those seniors also have a desire to help others in their retirement years. What a beautiful match to enable seniors to care for others who need a little help to remain independent in their own homes. Not only does it ensure that people can age in place, but it allows other seniors to use the gifts they have to continue to make a difference in someone else’s life.”

That kind of passion isn’t just talk—it has the power to change lives. The brand provides their owners with the best of both worlds: structure and support, paired with the ability to mold the business to be their own and move toward greater financial independence.

“Seniors Helping Seniors® is about making a difference,” said Jan. “We all have the power to bring love, dignity and respect into the lives of seniors; that’s why love is in our care. It’s not just about logistical care like cooking a meal or vacuuming; it’s about the relationships that we create between client and caregiver.”