Kiara and Lorenzo Dickens have built their Seniors Helping Seniors® franchise on a foundation of personal passion and professional expertise. As a registered nurse and a pharmacist, respectively, the husband-and-wife team brings a firsthand understanding of the challenges aging individuals face — both in clinical settings and at home. Their decision to enter franchising wasn’t just about starting a business; it was about creating something meaningful for their family and their community.

“For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to start an assisted living facility,” Kiara said. “I was extremely close with my grandmother and could never imagine putting her in a home. As a family, we took care of her. I wanted to open a facility where individuals would be comfortable leaving their loved ones.”

Their franchise journey began with an open mind and a trusted advisor. “We looked at several franchises across completely different industries — food, retail, home improvement,” Lorenzo said. “Some seemed very professional, others clearly weren’t as developed. We kept an open mind. We worked with a franchise coach who helped us see things we never would have found on our own. Before we met her, we had some vague ideas. After working with her, our mindset changed. She introduced us to Seniors Helping Seniors®.”

What drew them to the brand was its purpose-driven model and the opportunity to create connections across generations. “This is the kind of work that doesn’t feel like work. If we didn’t need to make a living, we’d still want to do it. It’s just something we love,” Lorenzo said. For the Dickens family, the franchise is more than a business — it’s a legacy built on empathy, service and faith.

1851 spoke with the Dickenses about their franchising journey with Seniors Helping Seniors®, as well as their personal commitment to family and their goal of providing older adults with meaningful work. Here’s what they had to say:

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

Kiara Dickens: We’re both health care professionals — Lorenzo’s a pharmacist, and I’m a registered nurse. We are very close with our families. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to start an assisted living facility. I was extremely close with my grandmother and could never imagine putting her in a home. As a family, we took care of her. I wanted to open a facility where individuals would be comfortable leaving their loved ones.

So, when the opportunity came around for Lorenzo and me to start looking at creating a business of our own — something we could be proud of, something to pass on to our children and involve our family with — Seniors Helping Seniors® just felt like a natural fit. Now we have the opportunity to not only hire individuals we can welcome as part of our family, but also serve our community and help our vulnerable population with dignity and respect, keeping them in their homes.

Lorenzo Dickens: I’ve worked as a pharmacist in retail — like CVS and Walgreens — and currently I’m in a hospital setting. In both settings, I’ve interacted with patients in tough situations because they didn’t have anyone around. I’ve seen people end up in bad circumstances simply because they were alone — no one to help with medications or check in on them. Sometimes those situations have tragic outcomes. With this model, someone is checking in on those people and communicating with family. That’s huge for long-term health.

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

Kiara: Our household is a family of six. We have three boys and one girl, so throughout our marriage, life has revolved around our kids’ sports and activities. But now we’re heading into the next chapter. Our daughter is a junior, about to graduate, and we’re thinking about what we want to do when the house is quieter. We want to build something that our kids can choose to be a part of or not — something that we believe in and that aligns with our hearts, not just something that makes money.

Funny story — I actually started in education, working as a teacher and eventually an assistant principal. I loved kids, but not the administrative side. Lorenzo encouraged me to go back to school, so I did. I became a nurse and worked in a neuro progressive care unit, then as a house supervisor, and eventually as director of operations for a Medicare Advantage program. We focused on preventative care to avoid those hospital visits. I loved that job, and it aligns perfectly with what we’re doing now.

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

Lorenzo: We looked at several franchises across completely different industries — food, retail, home improvement. Some seemed very professional, others clearly weren’t as developed. We kept an open mind. We worked with a franchise coach who helped us see things we never would have found on our own. Before we met her, we had some vague ideas. After working with her, our mindset changed. She introduced us to Seniors Helping Seniors®.

Now that we’re in it, we’ve seen how much work goes into the process — the paperwork, the licensing, the day-to-day stuff. It’s not all smooth sailing, and even something like licensing can vary depending on who reviews your file. It’s been organized, but it’s also shown us that you can’t control everything. That’s been eye-opening.

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

Kiara: When I think about Seniors Helping Seniors®, I think about my grandmothers. My current grandmother is in her 80s and sharp as a tack mentally, but she’s slowing down. Sometimes she just needs a gentle reminder or someone to play cards with. This model allows us to provide that kind of support to a lot of people, and that excites me.

Lorenzo: Professionally and personally, I’ve had hundreds of conversations with older adults — some in decline, others incredibly sharp. The active ones are the ones who stay mentally fit. My own mom is like that. She’s always busy. I love the idea that Seniors Helping Seniors® pairs active older adults with those who need help. It’s purpose-driven work. And honestly, sometimes I talk with older patients at the hospital and wish I could stay and chat longer. Now we can facilitate those kinds of relationships.

Kiara: When we first met the team, I thought, “These are people I could have dinner with.” It was a family atmosphere, not just a business. That sense of community and willingness to support each other is so real in this network.

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

Kiara: I’d love for people in the community to know our name and see us as a resource. Not from a dollar standpoint, but from a community involvement standpoint. I want people to say, “Seniors Helping Seniors® of South Hillsborough — that’s Kiara and Lorenzo Dickens.” I want us to be known for stepping in to help people before they need more intensive care.

Lorenzo: We’re fortunate to be in this territory. It’s growing, and the surrounding areas are being snapped up quickly. There are so many people retiring, and life gets expensive. We want to be a solution to age discrimination — where older adults can find meaningful, optional work. Maybe they don’t have to work, but they want to. This business lets them help others and feel useful. And some of them might one day become clients themselves. It all comes full circle.

1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?

Lorenzo: This is the kind of work that doesn’t feel like work. If we didn’t need to make a living, we’d still want to do it. It’s just something we love.

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

Lorenzo: Keep an open mind. We saw some opportunities we would never have considered if we hadn’t worked with a franchise coach. I recommend working with one — ours helped us tremendously.

Also, keep your finances in order so that when the right opportunity comes along, you’re not playing catch-up. Fortunately, we were in a good spot when we found this, but that’s not always the case.

Kiara: Find your passion. Once you know what you love, pairing that with a franchise coach makes everything easier. Yes, there’s a lot of work, but it doesn’t feel like a grind if your heart’s in it.

And take that leap of faith. We were both W-2 employees. It can be scary, but I’m elated about the opportunities we now have — for our family, for our clients and for our employees. Follow your passion and step out on faith.

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/.