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31 05, 2019

June 2019: Featured Entrepreneur

2019-06-04T11:13:27-04:00May 31st, 2019|Tags: , , , , , |

An entrepreneurial journey with purpose

by Jill Abrahamsen

Featured Entrepreneur
Peter Ross, CEO, Senior Helpers

Peter Ross spent some 20 years in corporate America before realizing he was an entrepreneur at heart. Ross had a little push from longtime friend Tony Bonacuse, whom he describes as an “entrepreneur from birth.”

Bonacuse convinced Ross to partner with him on a business, although he wasn’t quite clear on what exactly that business would be. The pair brainstormed and took some time to develop a concept. They wanted to provide a service that was in demand, had recurring revenue streams, and had a growing demographic. They also wanted the business to make a difference and provide an important service.

Looking at many industries, one kept coming up that satisfied all of their criteria: senior care. “It became clear to us that there were huge opportunities,” Ross says. The pair launched Senior Helpers in 2002 and grew the business to more than 300 locations today. The company offers in-home companion care and personal care as well as Alzheimer’s and dementia care. “Our growth and success is due to our passionate franchisees. This is a mission-driven business, so we are very selective about who joins our family,” Ross says.

The Next Step
With this huge success, you might think that Ross’s entrepreneurial aspirations were fulfilled, but he was actually just getting started. Ross was presented with a unique opportunity in January, 2018. The Glenner Foundation (www.glenner.org) introduced Ross to its innovative adult day care, which is set up to look like a town square. Using reminiscence therapy as its foundation, the goal is to trigger memories for people with dementia. The centers contain a number of vignettes that offer interactive activities for seniors, including a full-service ’50s diner and a movie theater that plays classic films. These prompts help elicit long-term memories, reduce anxiety, and improve mood and sleep quality in those with dementia.

Ross fell in love with the concept and realized that it could be a perfect complement to Senior Helpers. So he put his entrepreneurial cap back on and created Senior Helpers Town Square. “The businesses are perfect complements to each other,” Ross says. “A Senior Helpers location can fully staff the town square. The referrals are right there. It’s a perfect synergy.” But the best part for Ross is the reward of helping others. “We are not just caring for seniors – we are engaging them,” he says. “We have amazing programming that gives seniors a sense of purpose. It’s like a Disney World for seniors. They are gardening, woodworking, and socializing in a really, really cool, stimulating environment,” he says. “And at $11 an hour, it’s affordable. It’s a great way to give the family caregiver a break.”

Ross is certain that Senior Helpers Town Square will be a huge success. “We’re going to disrupt this whole industry. I pity the adult day care in the next town from us.”

Learn more at www.shtownsquarefranchise.com.

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An entrepreneurial journey with purpose

by Jill Abrahamsen

Featured Entrepreneur
Peter Ross, CEO, Senior Helpers

Peter Ross spent some 20 years in corporate America before realizing he was an entrepreneur at heart. Ross had a little push from longtime friend Tony Bonacuse, whom he describes as an “entrepreneur from birth.”

Bonacuse convinced Ross to partner with him on a business, although he wasn’t quite clear on what exactly that business would be. The pair brainstormed and took some time to develop a concept. They wanted to provide a service that was in demand, had recurring revenue streams, and had a growing demographic. They also wanted the business to make a difference and provide an important service.

Looking at many industries, one kept coming up that satisfied all of their criteria: senior care. “It became clear to us that there were huge opportunities,” Ross says. The pair launched Senior Helpers in 2002 and grew the business to more than 300 locations today. The company offers in-home companion care and personal care as well as Alzheimer’s and dementia care. “Our growth and success is due to our passionate franchisees. This is a mission-driven business, so we are very selective about who joins our family,” Ross says.

The Next Step
With this huge success, you might think that Ross’s entrepreneurial aspirations were fulfilled, but he was actually just getting started. Ross was presented with a unique opportunity in January, 2018. The Glenner Foundation (www.glenner.org) introduced Ross to its innovative adult day care, which is set up to look like a town square. Using reminiscence therapy as its foundation, the goal is to trigger memories for people with dementia. The centers contain a number of vignettes that offer interactive activities for seniors, including a full-service ’50s diner and a movie theater that plays classic films. These prompts help elicit long-term memories, reduce anxiety, and improve mood and sleep quality in those with dementia.

Ross fell in love with the concept and realized that it could be a perfect complement to Senior Helpers. So he put his entrepreneurial cap back on and created Senior Helpers Town Square. “The businesses are perfect complements to each other,” Ross says. “A Senior Helpers location can fully staff the town square. The referrals are right there. It’s a perfect synergy.” But the best part for Ross is the reward of helping others. “We are not just caring for seniors – we are engaging them,” he says. “We have amazing programming that gives seniors a sense of purpose. It’s like a Disney World for seniors. They are gardening, woodworking, and socializing in a really, really cool, stimulating environment,” he says. “And at $11 an hour, it’s affordable. It’s a great way to give the family caregiver a break.”

Ross is certain that Senior Helpers Town Square will be a huge success. “We’re going to disrupt this whole industry. I pity the adult day care in the next town from us.”

Learn more at www.shtownsquarefranchise.com.

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16 05, 2019

Senior Helpers’ New Survey Data Verifies Family Caregivers Require Periodic Respite

2019-05-16T16:12:04-04:00May 16th, 2019|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

National Survey Details How Caring for Aging Loved Ones Impacts Mental Health and Wellness

BALTIMORE — May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Senior Helpers®, the nation’s premier provider of in-home senior care services, has just released the findings of a 1,000 person survey that highlights the need to help family caregivers manage factors that can impact mental health. With more than 65 million people across America acting as family caregivers1, it is a far-reaching issue. The Senior Helpers survey found that most family caregivers experience constant pressure and combat periodic anxiety and depression. The results confirmed the need to help family caregivers with a periodic break from their struggles with the emotional and mental demands of providing care.

“While caring for loved ones can be extremely rewarding, it is also very taxing on family members. For many families the requirement for around-the-clock care results in tremendous sacrifice and effort,” said Peter Ross, CEO and founder of Senior Helpers. “We are acutely aware of the challenges that family caregivers face and are deeply committed to offering families an alternative that can help ease the hardship of being the sole caregiver while still allowing their loved ones to age in place.”

The implications of this new information are significant: today’s family caregivers face challenges with anxiety, depression and maintaining a healthy work/life balance. The survey found:

  • Anxiety & Depression — 77% of caregivers have personally experienced anxiety and/or depression
  • No Breaks or Balance — 42% are working so hard that they do not have the time or energy for their other responsibilities
  • Caregiving Obligation — 68% became caregivers because no one else could help
  • Working & Caregiving — 53% believe that caregiving has kept them from other income
  • Rewarding Service — Despite the challenges, 54% of respondents feel a sense of purpose and fulfillment from caregiving for their loved one

With over 300 locations across the nation, Senior Helpers’ mission is to ensure a better quality of life for elderly clients and their families by providing dependable and affordable care to seniors so that they may age in place with dignity. “Whether families need occasional assistance or continuous care, we offer a wide range of professionally supervised, affordable services that range from specialized care for those with Alzheimer’s and dementia, to companion and personal care and even housekeeping assistance,” added Ross.

For more information on Senior Helpers visit www.seniorhelpers.com.

1 According to The National Alliance for Caregiving in collaboration with AARP

About Senior Helpers®

Senior Helpers® is the premier provider of care for seniors, and offers services ranging from specialized care for those with diseases such as dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, to personal care to help individuals looking for a little assistance with daily activities. Founded in 2001 with a vision to help seniors who wish to remain in their homes despite age-related illnesses and mobility challenges, Senior Helpers® has hundreds of franchised and owned businesses that have cared for tens of thousands of seniors.

Senior Helpers®  is the first and only national in-home senior care company to be certified as a Great Place to Work™, is one of a select few in-home care providers to be approved by the U.S. Government for the Military Spouse Employment Partnership and has been ranked by Entrepreneur Magazine as a Top 500 Franchise.  Senior Helpers is also an active member of the Healthcare Leadership Council. Learn more by visiting http://www.seniorhelpers.com.

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25 04, 2019

Senior Helpers® Commits to Helping Military Spouses Find Meaningful Careers in Caregiving

2019-04-25T14:43:19-04:00April 25th, 2019|Tags: , , , , , , , |

Leading in-home Senior Care Company Joins National Military Spouse Employment Partnership

BALTIMORE — Senior Helpers®, the nation’s premier provider of in-home senior care services, today announced its participation in the Department of Defense Military Spouse Employment Partnership. Through the national employment and career partnership program, Senior Helpers joins more than 390 partner employers across the country who are committed to helping connect military spouses with portable careers.

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, there are more than six hundred thousand active duty military spouses and they face unique career challenges. Military spouses are typically employed at lower rates and earn less than their civilian counterparts. Moreover, military life comes with frequent moves, operational deployments and long hours away that impose significant stress on families. These conditions negatively impact employment opportunities for military spouses.

“Military spouses are unsung heroes,” said Peter Ross, CEO and co-founder of Senior Helpers. “We’re honored to work alongside organizations effecting positive change through economic empowerment initiatives that assist our nation’s military families. We aim to encourage all military spouses to consider a career in caregiving, because it’s not only rewarding and gratifying but also flexible. They have a home with Senior Helpers.”

Founded in 2002, Senior Helpers operates with a vision to be the leading home care company, serving military, their families and veterans. Its caregivers are fully trained and certified to offer the highest level of care possible based on the company’s Senior Gems® Alzheimer’s and dementia care program. As the gold standard for excellence in personalized in-home senior care, the program was developed in conjunction with nationally recognized dementia care expert Teepa Snow, Positive Approach, LLC. The company also offers a Parkinson’s Care Program, a specialized training program for their caregivers created in conjunction with leading experts from the Parkinson’s Foundation’s Centers of Excellence network.

For more information about how Senior Helpers is working to support military spouses in fulfilling their career goals, visit seniorhelpers.com. For more information on the Military Spouse Employment Partnership, please visit msepjobs.militaryonesource.mil.

About Senior Helpers®

Senior Helpers® is the premier provider of care for seniors, and offers services ranging from specialized care for those with diseases such as dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, to personal care to help individuals looking for a little assistance with daily activities. Founded in 2002 with a vision to help seniors who wish to remain in their homes despite age-related illnesses and mobility challenges, Senior Helpers® has hundreds of franchised and owned businesses that have cared for tens of thousands of seniors.

Senior Helpers®  is the first national in-home senior care company to be certified as a Great Place to Work™, is included in Entrepreneur’s Top 500 Franchise Ranking, is an approved partner in the Military Spouse Employment Partnership and is an active member of the Healthcare Leadership Council. Learn more by visiting http://www.seniorhelpers.com.

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9 04, 2019

Senior Helpers® of Rochester to Host Dementia and Caregiving Seminars

2019-04-09T15:08:44-04:00April 9th, 2019|Tags: , , , , , , |

Nationally Renowned Dementia Expert Teepa Snow Partners with Leading In-Home Senior Care Provider to Deliver Valuable Caregiving Insights

ROCHESTER, Mich. — Senior Helpers®, the nation’s premier provider of personalized in-home senior care, and Hospice of Michigan, the largest hospice provider in Michigan, today announced they will host educational sessions on caregiving techniques for dementia patients in Rochester, Michigan on Thursday, April 18. The sessions were created in conjunction with, and will be led by, nationally renowned dementia care expert Teepa Snow of Positive Approach, LLC.

The interactive sessions will explore the unique challenges associated with dementia and the proper caregiving practices that lead to positive interactions. In addition to expanding their Alzheimer’s and dementia-related awareness and knowledge, participants will learn effective communication techniques, strategies to connect with people in a meaningful way, and methods of providing the proper resources at the right time. The event is free and open to the public.

“At Senior Helpers, we know firsthand how difficult an Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis can be, which is why we’re passionately committed to educating our caregivers, healthcare professionals and the public on successful at-home care strategies,” said Barbara Roden, president and owner of the Senior Helpers Southeast Michigan locations. “Teepa is at the forefront of today’s conversation on Alzheimer’s and dementia care and able to provide invaluable knowledge to seminar attendees. She will not only cover the many brain, behavioral, and functional changes associated with Alzheimer’s and dementia, but how to deliver exceptional care tailored to a patient’s specific needs.”

There are currently 5.8 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s, and that number is projected to reach 14 million by 2050. Many of these individuals will need specialized care to combat the disorder, and it’s more important now than ever to equip caregivers with the necessary tools and knowledge to adequately assist those with memory loss.

Details on the event may be found below:

  • Alzheimer’s and Dementia: Coping with Challenging Behaviors—Teepa will lead three, two-hour and fifteen-minute presentations to help care partners and caregivers understand difficult behavior in patients, and how to assist with trying situations. Attendees will also explore real life examples in small group discussions. Social workers and registered nurses can receive two complimentary CEUs for attending.

For questions about the event, please call (248) 865-1000. Seating will be limited.

Founded in 2001, Senior Helpers operates with a vision to be the leading home care company in each community it serves. Its caregivers in Rochester are trained to offer the highest level of care possible based on the company’s Senior Gems® Alzheimer’s and dementia care program. For more information about the Senior Helpers Southeast and Mid-Michigan locations, please visit https://www.seniorhelpers.com/oaklandmi/.

About Senior Helpers®

Senior Helpers is a premier provider of in-home senior services ranging from specialized care for those with diseases, such as dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, to personal and companion care to help individuals looking for a little assistance with daily activities.  Founded in 2001 with a vision to help seniors who wish to remain in their homes despite age-related illnesses and mobility challenges, Senior Helpers has 315 franchised businesses that have cared for tens of thousands of seniors with a pledge to “provide care and comfort at a moment’s notice.”    
 
Senior Helpers was recently ranked in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 Ranking, and appointed to the Healthcare Leadership Council—an exclusive alliance of leading healthcare companies from all health sectors committed to advancing the American healthcare system. Learn more by visiting http://www.seniorhelpers.com.

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21 03, 2019

Senior Helpers® Certified as a Great Place to Work®

2019-03-21T19:14:42-04:00March 21st, 2019|Tags: , , , , , , , |

BALTIMORE — Great Place to Work® Institute has recognized Senior Helpers® as the first national in-home care company to achieve certification as a Great Place to Work. Senior Helpers’ rapidly growing business is laser-focused on helping older adults age with dignity, and the company cares for tens of thousands of seniors across the globe.

The Great Place to Work evaluation considers more than 60 elements of the team member experience using feedback from surveys sent to more than 12,000 employees across the country. The factors considered include the respect with which people are treated, employee pride and camaraderie, and the recognition that the work team members do makes a real difference for clients. Rankings are based on the experiences and perceptions of all employees and every role.

“This independent recognition is a very proud moment for Senior Helpers,” said Peter Ross, CEO and co-founder of Senior Helpers. “We understand that company culture is an important driver of overall success and we have worked diligently to build a culture of inclusion and appreciation. Our employees care deeply about our clients, and it brings us great joy to know that they feel recognized and appreciated for their work.”

Senior Helpers’ culture is based on strong core values, recognition of achievements and respect. The executive team receives monthly feedback from both clients and employees. “Our internal data has consistently been positive,” said Chuck Sullivan, CMO of Senior Helpers. “We are very pleased that we now have independent verification that shines a light on our rich culture and appreciation of Senior Helpers as a Great Place to Work.”

“We applaud Senior Helpers for seeking certification and releasing its employees’ feedback,” said Dr. Jacquelyn Kung, of Great Place to Work’s senior care affiliate Activated Insights. “These high ratings measure Senior Helpers capacity to earn its employees’ trust and create a great workplace for high performance.”

The Great Place to Work Trust IndexTM methodology is taken by millions of employees in thousands of companies annually. It represents the gold standard in measuring culture and employee engagement. 

About Senior Helpers®

Senior Helpers is the nation’s premier provider of in-home senior services ranging from specialized care for those with diseases, such as dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, to personal and companion care to help individuals looking for a little assistance with daily activities. Founded in 2002 with a vision to help seniors age with dignity despite age-related illnesses and mobility challenges, Senior Helpers has hundreds of franchised and owned businesses that have cared for tens of thousands of seniors.

Senior Helpers is included in Entrepreneur’s Top 500 Franchise Ranking, is an approved partner in the Military Spouse Employment Partnership, and active in the Healthcare Leadership Council—an exclusive alliance of leading healthcare companies from all health sectors committed to advancing the American healthcare system. Learn more by visiting http://www.seniorhelpers.com.

About Great Place to Work

Great Place to Work is the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. Through its certification programs, Great Place to Work recognizes outstanding workplace cultures and produces the annual Fortune “100 Best Companies to Work For®” and Great Place to Work Best Workplaces lists for Millennials, Women, Diversity, Small & Medium Companies, industries and, internationally, countries and regions. Through its culture consulting services, Great Place to Work helps clients create great workplaces that outpace peers on key business metrics like revenue growth, profitability, retention and stock performance.

Learn more at Greatplacetowork.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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15 02, 2019

Helpful Tips to Ensure a Lasting Caregiver/Client Relationship

2019-02-15T16:43:46-04:00February 15th, 2019|Tags: , , , , , , , |

Leading In-Home Senior Care Provider Shares Advice for Finding the Perfect Match to Commemorate National Caregivers Day, Feb. 15

BALTIMORE — In honor of National Caregivers Day (February 15), Senior Helpers®, the nation’s premier provider of in-home senior care services, is offering helpful tips to ensure lasting and rewarding relationships between caregivers and their clients. According to AARP, today there are nearly 40 million family members, neighbors, strangers and caregivers helping those in need with everyday tasks, and as the “Silver Tsunami” rises, it’s more important than ever that these caregiving relationships go the distance.

Peter Ross, CEO and co-founder of Senior Helpers, outlines four ways to make sure a caregiver/client relationship is a match that can withstand the test of time:

  • Partnering Personalities—As with any personal relationship, it’s important that caregivers and clients share a good personality match. A complementary personality is not only key to helping avoid clashes on a regular basis, but caregivers with an adaptive personality also tend to have an easier experience working with many different types of clients. At Senior Helpers, clients and caregivers take a personality test to best determine what their needs are and what they can provide to those around them.
  • Cultural Compatibility—Finding caregivers with cultural similarities to their clients can assist in creating a meaningful connection. Language can be a critical factor in finding the right fit for caregivers because it’s crucial for open communications. Taking holidays, cooking, traditions and customs into consideration when finding the right caregiver can provide a deeper understanding between the two and alleviate any potential stress or frustration.
  • Connecting Compassion and Patience—One of the most important traits for ensuring a lasting caregiver/client relationship is identifying caregivers who have natural compassion and patience. Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia or recovering from a recent fall can be frustrating for everyone involved, but having patience and treating others with compassion and respect goes a long way.
  • Uncover Similar Interests—It’s important for caregivers to take the time to learn what their client enjoys—and what their client is physically capable of doing. Whether it’s reading, going for a walk, playing board games, listening to music or watching a favorite movie, these are all activities that can be enjoyed together. These types of activities give seniors the opportunity to share something personally meaningful and are also great ways to keep the mind and body active. This approach to building a long-term relationship goes far beyond solely taking care of a person’s physical needs and focuses on improving social ties and quality of life.

“There’s a high demand for senior care, and we need to take extra care in pairing clients with compatible caregivers to create lasting, healthy relationships,” adds Ross. “At Senior Helpers, we hold our caregivers to high standards and want every pair to enjoy each other’s company as much as possible. We look at a potential match from all angles to make sure caregivers, clients and their families are happy.”

Founded in 2001, Senior Helpers operates with a vision to be the leading home care company in each community it serves. Its caregivers are fully trained and certified to offer the highest level of care possible based on the company’s Senior Gems® Alzheimer’s and Dementia care program. As the gold standard for excellence in personalized in-home senior care, the program was developed in conjunction with nationally recognized dementia care expert Teepa Snow, Positive Approach, LLC. The company also offers a Parkinson’s Care Program, a specialized training program for their caregivers created in conjunction with leading experts from the Parkinson’s Foundation’s Centers of Excellence network.

For more information on Senior Helpers or to learn about hiring opportunities in your area, visit www.seniorhelpers.com/jobs.

About Senior Helpers®

Senior Helpers® is a premier provider of in-home senior services ranging from specialized care for those with diseases, such as dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, to personal and companion care to help individuals looking for a little assistance with daily activities. Founded in 2001 with a vision to help seniors who wish to remain in their homes despite age-related illnesses and mobility challenges, Senior Helpers has 311 franchised businesses that have cared for tens of thousands of seniors with a pledge to “provide care and comfort at a moment’s notice.”

Senior Helpers® was ranked in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 Ranking, and appointed to the Healthcare Leadership Council—an exclusive alliance of leading healthcare companies from all health sectors committed to advancing the American healthcare system. Learn more by visiting seniorhelpers.com.

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