Former Healthcare Executive Launches Seniors Helping Seniors® Franchise in Florida

Ken Kozielski is a seasoned corporate healthcare executive, and now, he is setting his sights on a new challenge – entrepreneurship. After a thorough search for a venture that resonated with his values, Kozielski found his calling in Seniors Helping Seniors®, a franchise dedicated to providing top-notch care to seniors. Enthused by his newfound sense of purpose, he is gearing up to launch his own franchise in Florida, catering to the southern half of Orange County and Osceola County.

In a recent interview with 1851 Franchise, Kozielski discussed his foray into franchising and his vision for the growth of his venture.

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

Kozielski: This is my first small business ownership endeavor. Most recently, I served as the Vice President of Customer Experience for Orlando Health. In my five years at Orlando Health, I learned that healthcare has changed dramatically in the last couple of decades. Healthcare systems have grown by acquiring new points of care, including labs, physician practices, imaging centers, SNFs, ambulatory surgery centers and more. They’re not just hospital systems anymore; they are full-fledged healthcare systems that extend along the full continuum of care. And they’ve done a great job of driving high quality inside of their “silos of clinical excellence.” But something I’ve noticed is that most people spend 95-99% of their time outside of a doctor's office or hospital, and they're having to take care of themselves and navigate across complex, disjoined systems to the next step in their care on their own. It’s a daunting and seemingly impossible task for some.  Many give up.  This is where healthcare systems have yet to fill in the gap… in those spaced in between. In order to address this unmet need, I wanted to align myself with a brand that was offering a solution.  Seniors Helping Seniors® was the best way that I could do that.

I discovered Seniors Helping Seniors® while looking for new business opportunities. I was speaking to a franchise consultant who brought them to my attention. Immediately I knew there was no contest, Seniors Helping Seniors® was the perfect match for me. They align with my personal values, and as far as franchise opportunities go, it made the most sense for me.

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?

Kozielski: I thought they were scams. I didn’t know what they did or how people got into it. So, I took the time to investigate it myself. And now, I really appreciate franchising as a whole. If you gave me 50 years, I couldn’t come up with a quarter of the things that make up the Seniors Helping Seniors® business model. The model, the process and the technology that they’ve already established allow me to focus on what I care about, which is taking care of our seniors. I’ll gladly write a royalty check so that those resources can be provided to me so I can continue to do what I’m passionate about.

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

Kozielski: I like the differentiated model that Seniors Helping Seniors® offers. The concept of targeting seniors as caregivers does a couple of things for us. It makes sure that our caregivers appreciate and understand what our clients are going through. Plus, caregivers are typically in the industry because they want to make a difference, not just because they may be looking for a paycheck. It’s important to note, the retention rate among senior caregivers is also significantly higher. That makes a huge difference, and it gives us and our care receivers an advantage. It’s a benefit for my business because it also reduces the expense of replacing caregivers. It’s really a win-win for everyone.

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

Kozielski: I hope to be the fastest-growing Seniors Helping Seniors® franchise ever to launch. I’m off to a good start too because we broke a record with the speed at which I received my license. Typically, franchise owners take two to three months from the time they submit their application until they get licensed. I got mine one month to the day. I think that’s a nice start. Additionally, I plan to leverage partnerships at scale. I want to partner with physicians and have as many resources available to help take care of my care receivers. If I could have a steady stream of resources available, that would be a game changer for not only my business but also for the people I’m serving.

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

Kozielski: I’m very involved with my church. I sing in the church choir and I’m also a Stephen Minister. I’m trained to be a listening ear to people who are going through difficult times. The idea of companionship and offering help to people who need it has always been important to me. I want people to feel welcome and cared for. I don’t want to think of my business as just offering a service or product. Instead, I view it as a relationship. It’s about telling people’s stories and being mindful of the story we’re writing together. That’s what’s important.  I was able to find a local phone number for our business that will serve as a reminder to me, to all my caregivers and to our clients of the core principle that drives us and answers why we exist.  It’s (321) BE-LOVED.  Love is the answer to every question.  Facing a challenging client relationship?  Love on them.  We want all of our clients to feel loved.  

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

Kozielski: Small businesses give you an opportunity that just isn’t available through working for a large corporation. You can create the business in your own image and focus on the things you value most. If you work for a large company, you’re always going to be asked to compromise your values or morals, but you don’t have to do that when you open your own business. Just be true to yourself and your conscience, and focus on what’s important and valuable to who you are.

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/.