Lifelong Health Professional Sarah Verretta Makes Her Community Care Even More Personal by Opening her Own Seniors Helping Seniors® Franchise

Sarah Verretta has worked in the healthcare industry for her entire professional career. She started as a CNA in a nursing home, and now more than a decade later, she’s pursuing her own vision of business ownership. But, Verretta isn’t departing from her life in healthcare. The healthcare industry is her passion, and to help give back to her Colorado community on a more personal level, Verretta has signed up to open her own Seniors Helping Seniors® franchise, an at-home senior care franchise.

Verretta is still in the process of opening her business, and she’s expected to serve territories like Denver Metro and Denver North.

1851 Franchise recently spoke to Verretta to hear what prompted her to embark into the world of franchising.

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

Verretta: I have always loved healthcare, and I’ve worked in the healthcare industry since I was 16 years old. I’m a Registered Nurse by trade and I have spent my entire career here. I’ve worked in healthcare administration for over 15 years now, and I never really envisioned myself opening my own business, but here I am.

I was really just looking for an opportunity to give back to my community, clients and patients. I wanted to connect with individuals on a more personal level than ever before. So I was open to opportunities outside of the corporate world, but I wasn’t really looking into franchises. Then one day, I was contacted by a franchise consultant, and I decided to listen to what she had to say. She presented me with a variety of different options, and one of them was Seniors Helping Seniors®. At that time, I didn’t know much about franchising, but after I did some research, it sort of struck a chord with me and seemed like a great fit. Having a healthcare background, and being able to work with an aging population, Seniors Helping Seniors® sounded like something that I could really engage with and enjoy.

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?

Verretta: I’ll be honest, I didn’t know a whole lot. When I thought of franchises, I thought of places like McDonald’s or Burger King. I thought of huge companies that are worth multi-millions of dollars. For the most part, I thought franchising was unattainable for the majority of the population. But, going through this process, I’ve learned a lot about franchising and the various arenas that make up the industry. It’s more attainable than I think most people realize.

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

Verretta: I began my career in healthcare a long time ago as a CNA in a nursing home.I have experience working with senior citizens and I always wanted to get back into that realm of healthcare. I really wanted a chance to give back to our senior citizens, who are a vital portion of our society. I want to give them the ability to remain independent and in their homes comfortably. The idea of helping seniors and offering them the opportunity to participate in that level of care, that’s really important to me. With Seniors Helping Seniors®, you really hit both sides of the spectrum. You get to deliver care with a purpose, and you get to give people purpose with the ability to deliver care.

Not to mention, with Seniors Helping Seniors®, there’s a ton of room for growth and individualization. You really get to be the owner and operator, and you can carve the business out and make it your own.

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

Verretta: I love pushing the status quo. That's something I've always kind of been known for in my healthcare career. I want to make my client’s lives easier, and the lives of their families easier, as well. I want to enhance the in-home care experience and let our seniors age in their homes more comfortably. Whether that’s through sourcing supplies, offering Meals on Wheels or just helping with the simplest and smallest things. My goal is to elevate the in-home care experience to a level that’s beyond what’s currently offered. I want to help my clients and their families.

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

Verretta: I’ve always approached life a little differently. I became a mom at a very young age, and went back through school to get my RN, my BSN and eventually my MBA-HA. That taught me a lot about resiliency, leaping at opportunities with both feet and just trying to figure out how to make it work. I really believe that if I can make this work, anyone can. You just have to have the determination and some grit.

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

Verretta: Go for it. Find something that fits you, that feels like a great natural fit. And go for it.

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/.