Lafayette Resident Opens Business To Help Senior Community

Colleen Elliott, a 53-year-old Lafayette resident, worked in the healthcare industry for over 25 years. Right after college, she started working in a long-term care facility and had a passion for working with seniors and their families. During her career, she has worked with hospital systems as well as senior living communities, home health, and hospice. She spent the past seven years working in an equine health business she co-founded - a very different experience than what she was used to. 

Just prior to the pandemic, Elliott decided to close her business and get back to a focus in the healthcare space. She just missed working with seniors and knew she had more to offer in that industry. She came across Seniors Helping Seniors, a home care provider that prioritizes hiring active seniors to provide care services to their less-active counterparts and immediately knew the brand aligned with what she wanted to do in the next chapter of her career.

Elliot bought Seniors Helping Seniors and is offering services in all of Boulder County as well as the Broomfield-to-Brighton areas. She is excited to get back into the industry where she started and be able to provide care to seniors in the area. She wants to make a difference within the senior community not only with the services offered by her business but the job opportunity it gives seniors who still want to be active. She wants her business to be known for the high-quality and compassionate caregivers it has.

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

Elliott: I spent most of my career, over 30 years, in health care. I started working with seniors, running long-term care facilities. I fell in love with working with seniors, families, and everyone else working together in the healthcare space. I see the opportunity to help seniors, in such a vulnerable community, as a gift. 

I worked for a large not-for-profit healthcare system that included hospitals, physician practices, as well as senior living communities, and home health. I loved working for a big system, but also missed being part of direct care and impact in my community. In the last six to seven years, I launched a business in something completely different, an equine business. Right when the pandemic hit, we decided not to continue the business for a variety of reasons, but I really missed the healthcare space. I knew that was my calling, and I started looking to come back into that work. I searched all types of companies/jobs involved with the senior community. I came across SHS and fell in love with the concept of older adults who want to continue to help and stay active in the community, and those who need help and want to stay home. I understand the challenge of keeping our loved ones safe and comfortable at home.

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?

Elliott: I had never considered being a franchise owner. When I thought about franchising, I thought about retail, which wasn’t a good fit for me. When I found SHS, I realized there are many service franchises, which align more with me. A lot of the branding and systems and structures are already done for you with a franchise, and it’s great to have that all in place. I was really excited to get that support that you don’t get when you’re starting your own business and building everything from scratch. I love to learn from what other people have tried and had success with.

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

Elliott: SHS really takes care of the caregivers and the clients. They tap into the idea of creating job opportunities for older adults who still want/need to work while having flexibility with their schedules and doing something meaningful, and that really pulled me toward them. I want to help seniors that are looking for us as a job opportunity and the ones who need to be taken care of. We need to take care of the caregivers, and I believe having older adults as caregivers is great. 

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

Elliott: I want to make a difference for seniors in our community, the caregivers and the clients. I want to create an organization that is a place where people enjoy working in and feel taken care of. I want to be known for high-quality and compassionate caregivers we have and the services we provide. I want to grow the business significantly throughout the state and become a collaborative partner in our community to keep providing all the services our seniors need.

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

Elliott: I really feel like this is the work I’m supposed to do. I started in this space, working with seniors from the beginning of my career when I was straight out of college and fell in love with it since. Now being back in this industry is a full-circle moment. I want to be part of the community we’re serving.

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

Elliott: Do your research. Talk to other franchisees and ask questions. Research similar franchises and make comparisons. Understand the commitment required. It isn’t a part-time job; there’s a lot to learn and do.

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.