Terri Haswell Finds Fulfillment in Franchising with Seniors Helping Seniors®

Terri Haswell has ventured into several industries throughout her career, but she discovered that nothing compared to the satisfaction she found in working with senior citizens. Recognizing this, she founded her own business as a relationship coach focusing on tools to help improve family relationships before deciding to open a Seniors Helping Seniors® franchise. Her franchise is expected to open on June 1st, which is the day she lost her father last year, and will cater to three Georgia counties, including Cobb, Cherokee, and Pickens. Through this new adventure, Haswell hopes to honor her father, and offer help and hope to others who are going through similar experiences. 

In an interview with 1851 Franchise, Haswell delved into her decision to enter the world of franchising and shared her reasons for choosing the Seniors Helping Seniors® brand.

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

Haswell: I like to think I’ve done a bit of everything. I’ve got experience working in corporate environments, I started my own business as a relationship coach, I worked in education and I also worked for a nonprofit where I worked with a senior home facility. That was really my introduction to working with senior citizens. After our son was born, I worked part-time with seniors who were relocating and I really enjoyed it, though I saw how difficult it can be for families as well. But I really became interested in this field over the last couple of years. Sadly, my dad had a stroke and then was diagnosed with cancer. My stepmom also had health concerns which prevented her from being able to care for my dad so I became one of his primary caregivers.  I was the closest in proximity, so I frequently found myself going back and forth to their house taking care of them. At the same time, my son was in his last two years of high school, so those couple of years were very difficult and busy for my husband and me. I ended up losing my dad last June and our son left for college in August. Though it was one of the hardest times in my life, it was also a time to reflect on what matters most. After that, I guess my husband and I were just looking for new opportunities to make a difference. And with our son out of the house, we became empty nesters and we wanted a new adventure.

Eventually, we were approached by a franchise consultant who presented us with some franchise opportunities. Seniors Helping Seniors® was one of them. Right away I knew it was what I had been looking for. Seniors Helping Seniors® was going to allow me to follow my passion for helping others who aren’t able to help themselves. Plus, I already had experience working with seniors and caring for my dad, so it just made sense.

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

Haswell: I always knew there were franchise opportunities out there, but I never saw myself doing it. Once I started working as a relationship coach, I got a little bit of entrepreneurial experience beneath me, which helped me transition into franchising. But I liked the idea of franchise networks as a whole. They’re established, they’ve already put processes in place and they’re there to support you. I really liked the idea of that. It can be hard to start a business from scratch on your own, so that’s one of the reasons franchising stuck out to me.

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

Haswell: I really like the heart of this company. We’re connecting seniors and helping them stay active. This is a service that’s needed all over the world. Again, I saw it in my own family. My dad needed help. I’m glad I could be there for him, but that’s not the case for everyone. Some families are just so busy or they are states away from their loved ones. Our neighbors are a prime example of that and we have been able to be there for them until their daughter could move here. I really appreciate the fact that Seniors Helping Seniors® is looking to meet that demand. I like that I’m able to help people and make an impact in the community. I get to connect seniors who want to be productive and find meaningful work with other seniors who want to remain in their homes as long as possible but may need a little extra help. They get to have that much needed interaction. This also gives peace of mind to their family members.  It is a win for them and a win for us because at the end of each day, we’ve accomplished something we can feel good about.

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

Haswell: We’re certainly open to growth, but we’re really focused on making an impact in the community we’ve lived in for over 30 years. Where we’re situated, we’re right between all three of our territories, which is convenient and allows us to reach as many people in the area as possible. As we grow, we’d like to bring on more people. But in my opinion, there’s really no limit to what we can do with this. We’re just going to see where this takes us. We know there’s a demand for this type of service, and we’re ready to dig in and start helping people. Ideally, we’d like to  be able to focus as much on the caregivers, both family caregivers and our employees, as we do on our clients. I know first-hand how difficult it can be to be a caregiver, so I want to make sure that we’re encouraging them and providing every available resource to them. 

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

Haswell: This is what I’m meant to do. Throughout my entire life, I’ve always had a passion for helping seniors. When my son was born, I would take him to a senior community and he would just roll the ball with seniors and they loved that connection. I would also go to the Humane Society and take puppies over to people in senior facilities just so they’d have that experience. I want to connect with as many people as possible. This is where I’m meant to be, and this is what I’m meant to do. I want to help make a difference.

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

Haswell: Well, because I wasn’t sure where to start, we did use a franchise consultant. And I think if you’re looking at franchising but are a little hesitant, that can be a good place to start. But I also think it’s extremely important to find a franchise that reflects who you are. There are a lot of franchise opportunities out there. Choose the one that suits your needs and aligns with your values the most.

ABOUT SENIORS HELPING SENIORS®
Seniors Helping Seniors® 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 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® stands apart from competitors as the only company that prioritizes hiring active seniors to provide care services to their less-active counterparts. Seniors Helping Seniors® aligns caregivers and care recipients based on the abilities and needs of both by offering a wide range of care services. Seniors Helping Seniors® has grown to nearly 200 locations in 30-plus states and seven international locations, with 125 franchise partners. For more information on Seniors Helping Seniors®, visit https://seniorshelpingseniors.com/.