Bryan Marn and Julie Dey know firsthand the challenges families face when caring for aging loved ones. Between Marn’s experiences helping his grandmother transition into assisted living and Dey witnessing her family navigate care options for her 95-year-old grandmother, the two saw a growing need for in-home senior care.

With extensive experience in client relations, operations and problem-solving, the duo bring a strong foundation in understanding individual needs as well as a deep desire to make a lasting impact in their community. In March, they will officially open their Seniors Helping Seniors® franchise, offering compassionate, peer-to-peer care that allows seniors to age in place while providing fulfilling jobs to older adults who want to stay active and engaged.

1851 spoke with the duo to learn more about their backgrounds, what drew them to Seniors Helping Seniors® and their 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?

Bryan Marn: I started my career as a caregiver in college, then transitioned into the service industry in New York before moving to Los Angeles. I’ve spent most of my career in hospitality, working as a director of events for the past few years.

When I moved back home to Ohio after meeting Julie — we’ve been together for four years — we started looking for something we could do together. 

After college, I worked as a caregiver for individuals with special needs (mentally handicapped/developmentally disabled adults). I was also living with my grandmother and watched as her health declined until she eventually moved into assisted living. My parents are now in their 80s, and I’m seeing firsthand what that transition looks like. All these personal experiences lined up, and we realized this was an opportunity to make a real difference in our community.

Julie Dey: I work in new home construction, primarily building ranch homes. Over the past six years, I’ve worked with so many buyers who were downsizing because their homes had become too much to manage. Many of them were looking ahead, trying to make life easier for their children based on the challenges they faced when their own parents aged.

I’ve also seen this struggle in my own family — my 95-year-old grandmother has always been independent, but as she started needing more help, we tried everything we could to keep her in her home for as long as possible. Even with a large family, it was still incredibly difficult.

My mom had retired but wasn’t content staying home, so she found a job at a local chocolate company just to stay active and be around people. When we learned about Seniors Helping Seniors®, we loved the idea of providing seniors with both care and purpose. It aligned perfectly with our experiences, and we knew it was something that could make a real impact.

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?

Dey: My sister-in-law is a franchise broker, so I’ve had exposure to franchising for years. She's also been a franchise owner herself for 10 years — that’s really where we saw how being part of a franchise can be impactful. I also saw how much easier it can be when you have the backing of a franchise. Since we’re both keeping our full-time jobs for now, we knew that having a proven model would be critical. We don’t have experience in this industry, so having brand recognition and a support system behind us was a major advantage.

Marn: I’ve spent most of my career in smaller restaurant groups and I’ve seen firsthand how high the failure rate can be. The backing of a franchise, especially one with over 25 years of experience, was a huge factor for us. Plus, this isn’t a brick-and-mortar business, so we didn’t need the massive capital investment that opening a restaurant or retail location would require.

When we met the Seniors Helping Seniors® leadership team and spoke with other franchisees, it became even more clear that this was the right fit.

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

Marn: Two things really stood out to us: the ability to help people maintain their independence and the focus on longevity — helping people live as long and as healthy as possible. We wanted something that gave us fulfillment, and this was it.

Dey: We both have backgrounds in client relations, operations and problem-solving, and a lot of the franchise concepts we looked at had that element. But this felt bigger than just a job — it felt like a calling. We’ve always wanted to make an impact, and this business allows us to do that in a way that truly matters.

Not only are we helping people who are underserved, but we’re also creating jobs for seniors who still want to work. Our current jobs involve making great moments in people’s lives — whether it’s planning events or buying a home. This is the next step, something even bigger. It’s a way to do good in the world.

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

Marn: Right now, we’re focused on making an impact in our community and successfully building our first territory. In the future, we may look at expanding, but we want to make sure we do it the right way.

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

Dey: Speak your dreams out loud. We talked about this for a long time, but we weren’t sure we’d actually be able to do it. When we finally took the leap, everything started falling into place. Look for opportunities and be open to them — you never know when the right one will come along.

No matter what happens, we know we’re making a difference. We’ll never look back and regret this decision.

Marn: Be thorough and do your research. We looked into seven different franchise opportunities before making a decision. Compare and contrast at least a couple of options, and don’t rush the process.

Also, listen to trusted people in your life. Talk to friends and family, get their feedback, and make sure it’s the right fit for you.

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.