When Steve and Julie Garrison opened their Home Helpers® Home Care in Lexington, Kentucky, they were familiar with the industry and knew how vital in-home senior-care services were for the community. Steve was a corporate director in one of the largest mental health boards in Kentucky, and Julie had extensive experience in sales. By Elice Morgenson
When Steve and Julie Garrison opened their Home Helpers® Home Care in Lexington, Kentucky, they were familiar with the industry and knew how vital in-home senior-care services were for the community. Steve was a corporate director in one of the largest mental health boards in Kentucky, and Julie had extensive experience in sales. When Steve reached a point in his career where he could retire, he and his wife decided that owning a franchise would be their next career step together.
“We were looking at what we can do, where we can make a difference and where there was a need. We landed on in-home care,” said Steve.
Julie’s mother had recently required additional assistance in the home, and the Garrisons quickly realized how complex it can be to navigate home care without any outside assistance. Appointments quickly resulted in missed time at work, and Julie was forced to leave her job.
“You get, maybe, five weeks of vacation a year, but that doesn’t cover the number of appointments they’re going to have,” Steve said. “We were not successful as family caregivers. We didn’t think we could have her in our house; we had steps, and she wasn’t able to do steps. What we know now is that, with help, we could have easily cared for her at home.”
The Garrisons’ passion paired with their hard work and the support of the Home Helpers corporate team has helped them grow their location into the reliable, essential business it is today. “We choose not to have an answering service here. When someone calls, it rings directly to my cell phone. We want to be responsive to our clients and caregivers. If I don’t know the clients, it is much more difficult for me to make a well-informed decision, so we personally know every client and every caregiver. We think that is the best way to operate,” he said.
Home Helpers Home Care provides a wide range of services and technology that helps clients age in place comfortably and safely. When the Garrisons first entered the business, they understood that their job was to get clients and take care of them with compassion. With Home Helpers’ innovative tools, they’re able to do just that.
“My heart goes out to the clients. I want to help them and make their lives better. Julie, who is the other half of the business, shows extra care for the families of the clients. Because she knows how much they are struggling,” Steve said.
According to the Garrisons, the success of the business is completely up to the dedication of the owner. Home Helpers’ comprehensive support systems, including its National Support Center and Innovation Council, provide ongoing support and guidance to franchisees committed to the company’s proven model.
“The questions I get asked by people considering the business is how quickly they can be successful. I tell them it is completely up to them. It depends on how much time you want to dedicate to it and how committed you are. Those two things ultimately predict where you are going to end up,” Steve said.
Elice Morgenson