Health Insurance Expert Launches Seniors Helping Seniors In Michigan

With over two decades of experience helping people in the health insurance industry, Sheila Samples was seeking a way to help an overlooked segment of our society. Alongside her husband, Joseph Samples, they found inspiration from caregiving for their parents. Through this experience, the pair quickly witnessed the demand for dependable and compassionate caregiving services in their community of Farmington Hills, Michigan. Sheila and Joseph began seeking out business opportunities that aligned with their mission, passion and values, then discovered Seniors Helping Seniors, the at-home non-medical senior care franchise.

Inspired and encouraged by the brand’s services and history, the Samples are now set to open their own Seniors Helping Seniors franchise and will serve Farmington, Farmington Hills, Novi, Walled Lake and Wixom.  

1851 Franchise recently spoke to the duo to learn more about why they chose 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?

Sheila: I’ve been in the health insurance industry for more than 25 years. While I’m still keeping up with my current job, I’m gearing up to dive into our Seniors Helping Seniors® franchise. Our journey into franchising came from a personal place; both Joseph and I were primary caregivers for our parents. We tried balancing work and caregiving, but this quickly became a challenge for us. This is what led us to Seniors Helping Seniors. Through our own experience, we realized the demand for reliable caregiving services. That’s what we’re now striving to give back to our community.

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?

Joseph: Before becoming franchisees, we didn’t have a strong perception or understanding of franchising. We associated franchising with fast food restaurants like McDonald’s or Subway. We didn’t fully understand how many different franchise opportunities were out there until we started meeting with various franchise representatives and people in the industry.

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

Sheila: We didn’t start looking into franchise opportunities until after my mother passed away. We wanted something that really spoke to us and something that we could be passionate about. And as we drove by nursing homes and elderly care facilities in our community, it hit us how much seniors are in need. We wanted to make a difference, not only for those who needed care but also for our community by creating jobs. When we learned about Seniors Helping Seniors, it felt like the perfect fit and like something we could really get behind. And we were — and still are — so excited about it. The idea of helping people while also contributing to our community inspires and encourages us.

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

Joseph: Our main goal is to make a meaningful impact right here in our community through a service that resonates with us. We are dedicated to addressing the needs of an underserved community.  We believe that the demand for the kind of services that Seniors Helping Seniors offers is on an upward trajectory, and we want to be at the forefront of meeting that rising demand.

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

Joseph: We’ve been in the shoes of those needing care. We’ve taken care of our own parents before they passed, and we’ve seen the good and bad of caregiving services. There are companies and organizations that just seem like they’re in it for the money, and then there are those that truly care. We want to be in the second category. We’re dedicated to creating an inspiring environment. We want to hire the absolute best, most caring individuals out there — the ones who are just as passionate about this work as we are. We want to put people first and create an environment where our clients and employees are always smiling.

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

Joseph: Do your homework and explore all of your options. Don’t rush into anything.

Sheila: Find something you're passionate about and make sure it serves a purpose. If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.

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. The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Seniors Helping Seniors® franchise ranges from $86,785 to $141,390. For more information on Seniors Helping Seniors®, visit seniorshelpingseniorsfranchise.com.