When Emma Dickison was in the fifth grade, her grandmother suffered a stroke and needed comprehensive care. It was an adjustment for her entire family, who balanced work, life and those medical needs, but they were able to maintain her health in a home-based setting for more than 18 years. It was an experience that shaped Dickison’s view of what home health care should be. By Jessica Petrucelli
COVER STORY
When Emma Dickison was in the fifth grade, her grandmother suffered a stroke and needed comprehensive care. It was an adjustment for her entire family, who balanced work, life and those medical needs, but they were able to maintain her health in a home-based setting for more than 18 years. It was an experience that shaped Dickison’s view of what home health care should be.
“There were decades of my life when we were caring for multiple family members at one time,” Dickison noted, detailing her grandmother’s stroke care which unfortunately coincided with her father’s terminal cancer diagnosis and some health battles for her mom. “It was not an easy period of time, but it really helped me clearly understand just how personal and profound home health care can be.”
Dickison, who has served as president and CEO of Home Helpers Home Care for the past 18 years, says she often reflects on those lessons daily.
“We have the ability to impact so many families across the country not only by providing exceptional care and companionship, but also by helping individuals remain independent at home,” Dickison said. “I’m grateful that we are such a trusted brand, one that allows a family to still be a family while their loved one is getting the dignified care that they need and deserve.”
But Dickison’s journey into home healthcare was not always so clearcut. “It was always my goal to become a high school teacher, but after earning a degree in history, I found out at a young age that teaching was not going to support my journey as a single mom,” she said.
That’s how Dickison ended up working for a large franchise brand in the 1990s, moving around and transferring to different cities before becoming involved in corporate training.
“I loved the concept, I loved the brand, and I took on every challenge and opportunity that the role offered,” she said. That led her to pursue a global operations path at another education-based franchise. She was happy in her position when the founder of Home Helpers reached out to her about a compelling opportunity.
“I was making a difference in the education space, finally blending my degree and desire to be a teacher in this leadership role,” she said. “But when I spoke to Home Helpers, I knew I wanted to be a part of building a great brand.”
Over the past 18 years, Dickison has helped the nationwide in-home care franchise to expand to serve over 1,500 communities across 40 states. Providing a range of services including personal care, companionship, meal preparation, 24/7 monitoring through their Direct Link technology, and skilled care in several communities, the brand has become recognized for its innovative Cared-4 program, which streamlines care for clients, and helps individuals remain independent at home.
Dickison has garnered numerous accolades during her tenure, including recognition among the Inaugural Legendary Women of Wonder (2024), multiple appearances in the WOW: 50 Women of Wonder (2019-2024), and the prestigious International Franchise Association Crystal Compass Leadership Award for her contributions to franchising.
Her industry influence extends beyond Home Helpers. She successfully guided the home care industry through the challenges of COVID-19 as Homecare Association of America Board President from 2020 to 2022 and recently began serving on the International Franchise Association’s Board of Directors in 2025.
“I’m proud of the team that’s been built here and the network of franchisees who are so giving with their time and talent,” she said of her decades of work at Home Helpers. “I feel as though we’ve made such a difference in communities all over the country and have enabled families to keep their loved ones at home – which is the most rewarding goal I could have ever set.”
Jessica Petrucelli