Home Helpers® Home Care is an in-home healthcare service that has been providing top quality care for over 25 years and has grown to over 300 locations. By Nancy E. Williams
Providing quality service to others is central to Assisting Hands Home Care, according to Vikki Hurley-Schubert, director of community relations and communications for Monmouth County, New Jersey. By Cindy Charette
Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce small business award recognizes the franchise’s growth, market service and promising future.
SARASOTA, Fla. — Town Square Sarasota, an adult daycare and memory care center, is the winner of the Rising Star Award, an annual award from the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce recognizing best new Small Businesses. Part of a national reminiscence therapy franchise model, Town Square Sarasota opened February 2022, serving individuals with Alzheimer’s or related dementias.
The Sarasota Chamber 2023 Frank G. Berlin, Sr. Small Business Awards celebrates companies that have exceeded targets for growth and financial performance; best demonstrated an understanding of their competitors, customers, and their markets; and have the foundations in place for continued success. Awards were presented at a luncheon for 600.
“The Town Square Sarasota team is humbled to receive the Rising Star Award as the best new Small Business by the Greater Sarasota Chamber,” says Michael Finn, who along with his wife Sherri owns and operates the center. “We’re proud of the work we do daily helping individuals affected by Alzheimer’s and dementia – and their families and caregivers – and especially want to thank Center Director Jill Grinnell-Blehinger and our incredible staff for their ongoing commitment to care, kindness and love, which makes all of this work.”
He also notes that Grinnell-Blehinger was separately chosen by the Chamber as part of its leadership program. The Sarasota Chamber leadership program – whose past graduates lead companies all over the area – creates awareness of the community and its needs by examining how leadership in the historical, economic, governmental and cultural segments work together to advance Sarasota County.
“This event today is hands down a favorite event that we do every year,” says Sarasota Chamber CEO & President Heather Kasten, citing the organization’s mission of supporting businesses in a competitive market, helping them grow and creating an attractive business climate. A short video from the event can be found here.
Town Square Sarasota is a 12,000-square-foot 1950s-themed Day Care Center built for seniors affected by aging, Alzheimer’s and other dementias. The interior looks like a 50s main street with a diner, theater, city hall, park, library and more; guests move through these storefronts with the aid of highly-trained care staff, and participate in programming in each storefront, built to engage and entertain. Seniors enjoy socialization and programming while families and caregivers get a much-needed respite.
Michael and Sherri Finn are developing three additional Town Square locations, from Sarasota to Ft Myers. Nearby, Town Square University Parkway, on the border of Bradenton and Sarasota, opened in March of this year.
Other Town Square news
Town Square Sandy Springs, in Metro Atlanta, hosted an Alzheimer’s and Brain Health Conference in June as part of that month’s national designation for Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness. That center’s owners and director and the directors and owners of other Town Square locations continue to serve as resources for media on topics ranging from memory, aging, caregiving and more. Meanwhile, Town Square corporate says, in keeping with its growth and expansion, will have several corporate announcements coming soon.
Town Square provides a safe, comforting and immersive environment where members – as Town Square day guests are called – spend the day while caretakers take a break. Members take part in a range of engaging activities facilitated by highly qualified Program Assistants. A product of the renowned George G. Glenner Centers, Town Square’s proprietary programming evokes a time when seniors were teens or young adults. Town Square also created proprietary software exclusive to its franchise owners. About franchising with Town Square: email Lori McCauley, 612-816-9300.
PERRY HALL, Md. — SH Town Square Franchising, Inc. (Town Square), which fills a nationwide elder care market gap for adult daycare and memory care centers, continues its growth, with new locations opening, leases signed and additional franchise owners coming on board. The four-year-old organization also is expanding its leadership team with the addition of a new position, Vice President of Marketing & Business Development.
With a just-opened University Parkway (Bradenton, FL) Town Square; the lease signed for a Town Square in the Greater Charlotte area (Fort Mill, SC); and new owners of a Bergen County, NJ, Town Square ramping up, Town Square Franchising improves the momentum already established in 2022.
“We’ve been on a roll since June of 2021,” says Pete Spillum, VP of Operations for Town Square. “In addition to seven centers up and running, we have 15 other committed locations. Like families and caregivers, franchise owners are recognizing incredible national demand for quality daycare for those with dementia. We are delighted to serve more seniors while also giving caregivers a respite from 24/7 care.”
University Parkway Town Square has strong start
Spillum notes that Town Square University Parkway, on the border of Bradenton and Sarasota, opened its doors March 6. More than 450 people attended the Open House to see the innovative adult day facility offering activities and enabling reminiscence and socialization. Town Square University Parkway franchise owners John and Catherine McDermott have plans to open two more Town Square centers in the coming years to serve the Manatee County area, north of this first location.
Geriatric psychiatry expertise drives Town Square near Charlotte
Likewise, franchisees Kelli and Rob Gagne recently signed a lease for their Fort Mill, SC, Town Square, due to open in early 2024, serving the Charlotte, NC, area. Kelli is a psychiatric mental-health nurse practitioner with her own geriatric psychiatry practice and Rob served in the U.S. Navy before a long career as a director of facilities overseeing the campus of a state university, so they are well-suited to provide senior care in an area that lacks adequate adult day care and memory care facilities. They too plan to open additional locations in the Charlotte market.
Town Square aligns with existing businesses
Some of the latest Town Square owners have just completed New Owner Training and will be opening in Bergen County, NJ, in 2024. Owners Mike Tucci and Stacey Lopis and business partner John Lopis are excited that Town Square will offer families affordable and engaging memory care, as well as rewarding and consistent work for their caregiving staff, including opportunities for career advancement.
Growth drives leadership team expansion
As its first Vice President of Marketing & Business Development, Sarasota-based Lori McCauley brings 25 years sales & operations experience, with a decade in healthcare and 15 years in franchise development.
“I know from experience there is nothing quite like Town Square in the healthcare marketplace,” McCauley says. “The brand is exciting plus the team is passionate, and our centers, as we call them, benefit not only the member, but also caregivers who need respite support. Our goal when we partner with franchise owners is for Town Square to be the ‘Center of Excellence’ in adult day dementia care. From every activity to the centers’ décor, we’ve built it with strategic, meaningful purpose.”
About Town Square®
Town Square provides a safe, comforting and immersive environment where members – as guests are called – spend the day while caretakers are at work or taking a break. Members take part in a range of engaging activities facilitated by highly qualified Program Assistants. Town Square is the first adult day center model grounded in reminiscence therapy, specifically for individuals with Alzheimer’s or related dementias. A product of the George G. Glenner Centers, Town Square’s proprietary programming evokes a time when seniors were teens or young adults. Town Square also has proprietary software exclusive to franchise owners. About franchising with Town Square: email Lori McCauley, 612-816-9300.
Town Square locations now open include Sarasota, FL (in addition to University Parkway); Perry Hall, MD; Jersey Shore (Brunswick), NJ; Princeton, NJ; Sandy Springs, GA; and (NW) Austin, TX. As the population shifts, the 50s and 60s theme of Town Square facilities will roll through subsequent decades.
Multi-brand portfolio continues to expand services to support people to live their best life.
TROY, Mich. — Best Life Brands, LLC (“Best Life Brands”), a franchised organization that includes Blue Moon Estate Sales, CarePatrol, ComForCare, At Your Side Home Care and Boost Home Healthcare, ended 2022 with multiple awards and 96 franchise agreements awarded across all brands.
“2022 has been a year of tremendous growth across all of our brands,” said J.J. Sorrenti, CEO of Best Life Brands. “With the first baby boomers starting to turn 80 years old in 2025, we have yet to see the full magnitude of the demand for senior care services. This equally presents both challenges and opportunities for the sector that we as an organization are committed to addressing by continuing to add more locations and providing support to franchisees so they can grow their teams and their businesses.”
Highlights across the Best Life Brands network in 2022 include:
Best Life Brands:
ComForCare/AtYourSide Home Care:
CarePatrol:
Blue Moon Estate Sales:
Boost Home Healthcare:
To learn more about ComForCare, visit www.comforcare.com/.
To learn more about CarePatrol, visit www.carepatrol.com/.
To learn more about Blue Moon Estate Sales, visit www.bluemoonestatesales.com/.
To learn more about Boost Home Healthcare, visit https://www.boosthomehealth.com.
About Best Life Brands, LLC
Based in Troy, Mich., Best Life Brands, LLC is a holding company that includes ComForCare and At Your Side, premier franchised providers of home care; CarePatrol, the nation’s largest franchised senior care solutions organization; Blue Moon Estate Sales, the leading estate sale franchise in the U.S., and Boost Home Healthcare, dedicated to providing superior in-home nursing, therapy, and home care services, which together include more than 550 franchise locations across the U.S. and Canada. With a private equity investment from The Riverside Company, Best Life Brands is a platform of award-winning complementary businesses that serve people along the continuum of care.
The review’s independent survey shows that franchise owners of the San Antonio-based non-medical senior home care company are highly satisfied with its performance.
SAN ANTONIO — For the second year in a row, Caring Senior Service, a private-duty, non-medical senior home care services company, has been recognized as one of the 200 best franchise opportunities in the United States by Franchise Business Review, a market research firm that performs independent surveys of franchisee satisfaction and employee engagement.
This is the 18th annual ranking of the elite list of franchises. Companies are chosen by rankings provided by franchise business owners and the complete list is available at https://franchisebusinessreview.com/page/top-franchises/.
“Not only are we thrilled to make Franchise Business Review’s list for the second year in a row, we are humbled by the fact that we earned this honor because our owners have demonstrated how satisfied they are with our collaborative efforts,” said Caring Senior Service CEO and founder Jeff Salter. “Caring Senior Service’s success relies on our franchise owners throughout the country. It speaks volumes that our franchisees feel that our corporate team is providing them with the types of support and engagement they need to remain successful.”
Caring Senior Service was among more than 360 franchise brands, representing more than 38,000 franchise owners, that participated in Franchise Business Review’s research. Caring Senior Service’s franchisees were surveyed on 33 benchmark questions about their experience and satisfaction regarding critical areas of their franchise systems, including training & support, operations, franchisor/franchisee relations, and financial opportunity.
Caring Senior Service conducted their franchise review in July 2022 and collected feedback from 86% of their active franchisees. Highlights of the survey include:
Franchise Business Review President and COO Michelle Rowan said that franchisee satisfaction levels hit an all-time high in 2022, despite the pandemic.
“We are pleased to report that our 2023 research shows satisfaction has remained sky high—a sure indicator that franchisee satisfaction is a top priority for franchise companies—and that’s good news for franchise owners and anyone thinking about investing in a franchise,” Rowan said. “As an independent research firm, Franchise Business Review is committed to helping prospective franchisees get an objective view of the best franchise opportunities available based on actual feedback from the people who own them. This year, nearly 38,000 franchisees completed our survey and from there we identified the franchise brands with the highest levels of satisfaction and performance to educate potential buyers about which franchise to invest in. Each of the 200 Franchisee Satisfaction Award winners on this year’s list achieved stellar ratings from their franchisees.”
For more information on Caring Senior Service, please visit https://www.caringseniorservice.com/ and to learn more about becoming a Caring Senior Service franchise owner, please visit https://caringfranchise.com/.
Caring Senior Service is a non-medical home care services company based in San Antonio, Texas. Founded by CEO Jeff Salter in 1991, the company provides assistance to seniors, the disabled population and any adult who may need help with the tasks of everyday living such as bathing, running errands and preparing food. After adding locations throughout Texas in the 1990s, the company extended its reach through franchising in 2002. It now boasts more than 50 locations throughout the U.S. Its non-profit “Close the Gap in Senior Care” began in 2021 to raise awareness of the overlooked and underserved aspects of senior care. This program was launched when Salter rode an electric bike more than 9,000 miles to each Caring Senior Service location nationwide to raise awareness of home modifications needed to avoid fall risks among the senior population. For more information on Caring Senior Service, please visit their website at https://www.caringseniorservice.com/.
Leading In-Home Senior Care Provider Jumps 23 Spots on Coveted, Annual Listing.
BALTIMORE — Senior Helpers®, one of the nation’s premier providers of in-home senior care, has been named to Entrepreneur‘s Franchise 500 list, the world’s most comprehensive franchise ranking, for the twelfth consecutive year. The company jumped 23 spots from #195 in 2022 to earn #172 in this year’s ranking, which recognizes exceptional franchise brands for their outstanding performance in areas such as unit growth, financial strength and stability, and brand power. Of the 500 companies listed in the 2023 list, Senior Helpers was named among the top-ranked national homecare providers. The country’s aging population combined with an increasing preference for aging in place will continue to drive demand for safe, quality in-home health care for seniors.
“Being recognized as a top franchise for the twelfth year in a row by Entrepreneur is a testament to the collective, unwavering success of our franchisees and the services they provide,” said Rob Cantrell, executive vice president of franchise development at Senior Helpers. “This honor also reflects the strong collaboration between our franchise owners and our team at headquarters to continue providing high-quality care to each and every client we serve as the in-home senior care industry evolves.”
With a vision to be the leading home care company in each community it serves, Senior Helpers caregivers are trained to offer the highest level of care possible based on the company’s Senior Gems® Alzheimer’s and dementia care program, which was developed in conjunction with nationally recognized dementia care expert Teepa Snow, Positive Approach, LLC. Additionally, Senior Helpers utilizes a data-driven assessment tool, LIFE Profile, to capture and evaluate micro social determinants of health that affect senior health and well-being. This proprietary tool provides a holistic view of the risks and factors that influence an individual’s ability to age in place, allowing Senior Helpers to provide the highest caliber of personalized in-home senior care across all of its franchise locations.
“The past year underscores the extraordinary opportunities that the franchise industry presents for entrepreneurs of all levels,” says Jason Feifer, Entrepreneur editor-in-chief. “The companies named to our 44th annual Franchise 500 list represent some of the most innovative, creative, and trusted brands across many industries and highlight what it takes to build the kind of momentum that drives long-lasting success.”
To see the full list of the Franchise 500, click here. Results are published in the publication’s January/February 2023 issue.
Senior Helpers Franchise is a top low-cost franchise, with a franchise fee of $55,000 and total investment between $125,800 – $169,800. For more information on the Senior Helpers franchise opportunity, visit https://www.seniorhelpersfranchise.com/.
About Senior Helpers®
Senior Helpers® is one of the nation’s premier providers 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 was the first and remains the only national in-home care provider to be certified as a Great Place to Work. The company has been named by Fortune Magazine as one of the best places to work in the aging services category and one of the best places to work in the state of New York. Senior Helpers is named to the Entrepreneur 2020 Top Low-Cost Franchises list as well as one of Entrepreneur’s Top 500 Franchise Companies. Moreover, the company is an approved partner in the Military Spouse Employment Partnership. Senior Helpers is also an active member of 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.
TROY, Mich. — Best Life Brands, LLC (“Best Life Brands”) today announced Jennifer LoBianco as chief marketing officer.
“Jennifer has been outstanding as our senior vice president of marketing with her ability to juggle the direction and strategy of four brands. She has contributed massively to everything we have done since she joined our business in 2021,” said J.J. Sorrenti, CEO of Best Life Brands. “As our new CMO, she has huge potential to positively impact our growth, as well as play an important role interacting with our franchisees and with our executive leadership team.”
Prior to joining Best Life Brands in 2021 as senior vice president of marketing, LoBianco served in several executive roles, including chief marketing officer for Huntington Learning Center, a national education franchise, where she directed brand, franchise development and franchisee marketing programs. Before that, she was the chief marketing officer for American Financial Resources and VP client strategy for a franchise focused marketing firm.
“I recognize and deeply value the importance of Best Life Brand’s mission to serve seniors and their families on the continuum of care,” LoBianco said. “I look forward to creating new opportunities to expand our offerings, increase demand for our services, attract more franchisees and engage customers.”
To learn more about Best Life Brands, visit https://www.bestlifebrands.com/.
About Best Life Brands, LLC
Based in Troy, Mich., Best Life Brands, LLC is a holding company that includes ComForCare and At Your Side, premier franchised providers of home care; CarePatrol, the nation’s largest franchised senior care solutions organization; Blue Moon Estate Sales, the leading estate sale franchise in the U.S., and Boost Home Healthcare, dedicated to providing superior in-home nursing, therapy, and home care services, which together include more than 500 franchise locations across the U.S. and Canada. With a private equity investment from The Riverside Company, Best Life Brands is a platform of award-winning complementary businesses that serve people along the continuum of care.
Sixth in the franchise and first in Atlanta, Town Square Sandy Springs offers support that may delay progression of Alzheimer’s, other dementias.
ATLANTA — Town Square® Sandy Springs, an innovative adult day center for those in need of memory or cognitive care, is now open. The first of its kind in Atlanta and the sixth in the U.S., the facility offers experiential adult day enrichment.
“Our person-centered, strengths-based approach to healthy aging supports interventions that reduce risk for disease, may delay dementia progression and postpone the need for long-term care,” says Town Square Sandy Springs Director Mary Caldwell, an experienced and credentialed gerontologist. “We are committed to serving our members, but also any person impacted by Alzheimer’s or dementia by providing free care consultation, care planning, care partner support groups and education.”
Town Square provides a safe, comforting and immersive environment where members spend the day while caretakers are at work, running errands or taking a break from daily routines. Members – as Town Square day guests are called – take part in a range of engaging activities facilitated by highly qualified Program Assistants (with an 8-to-1 caregiver/participant ratio) who leverage therapeutic reminiscing techniques to spark memories and stimulate the mind.
“The impetus for Town Square was to be part of the innovation of the adult day space,” says Kellen Stennett, owner of Town Square Sandy Springs. “We saw a huge need to elevate the level of dignity and compassion of people who need cognitive or memory care. I’m proud of the impact we’re making in the north Atlanta community.”
The 12,000-sq. ft., state-of-the-art facility (8601 Dunwoody Place, Suite 130, just off GA 400 Exit 6) resembles a mid-century American town, with 13 stylized activity rooms representing popular storefronts that existed during that era: a 1950’s diner; Starlite Theater; a music room called Spinners; Health Club with themed exercise; a vintage 1964 Ford Thunderbird; as well as a library; working hair and nail salon; craft room; recreation room, among others.
“There is an incredible demand in Atlanta and around the country for quality daycare and resource centers for those with dementia,” says Pete Spillum, VP of Operations and Franchising for Town Square. “We are delighted to serve seniors while also giving caregivers a respite from 24/7 care.”
In addition to daytime programming (Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), Town Square is available for rent, evenings and weekends, for corporate meetings, birthday and anniversary parties, and group visits from senior living facilities.
Spillum notes that the seventh Town Square will open in Bradenton, FL later this year. In addition to Atlanta (Sandy Springs), other Town Square locations include Sarasota, FL; Perry Hall, MD; Jersey Shore (Brunswick), NJ; Princeton, NJ; and (NW) Austin, TX. Four additional locations are in-process to open in 2023: two additional New Jersey locations, one in North Carolina and one in Las Vegas. As the population shifts, the 50’s and 60’s theme of Town Square facilities will roll through subsequent decades.
About Town Square®
Town Square is the first adult day center model grounded in reminiscence therapy, specifically for individuals with Alzheimer’s or related dementias. A product of the renowned George G. Glenner Centers, its proprietary programming evokes a time when seniors were teens or young adults. Reminiscence therapy has been shown to improve mood, communication and sleep quality, while also reducing anxiety, depression and agitation in those with dementia. Prompts such as movies, music, images, games and other vintage props stimulate long-term memories.
More information: (404) 595-2034, email Mary Caldwell, Center Director, at mcaldwell@townsquare.net. Find us on Facebook, Instagram or on the Website. Franchise info.
TROY, Mich. — Best Life Brands, LLC (“Best Life Brands”) today announced the addition of David Tarr as vice president of franchise development. Tarr will lead the Best Life Brands franchise sales team to help accelerate the growth of the company’s senior care brands, as well as future acquisitions.
“David comes to us with an extensive background in sales and franchising,” said J.J. Sorrenti, CEO of Best Life Brands. “With his sales planning and leadership and our desire to continue to grow our portfolio of brands, it’s an ideal fit to help us advance the momentum the company has built.”
Prior to joining Best Life Brands, Tarr served in several executive roles, including vice president of franchise development and expansion for Liberty Tax Service, where he facilitated the growth from 700 locations to 4,400 locations throughout the U.S. More recently, he was the brand manager for St. Gregory Development Group, LLC and director of franchise development for REP’M Group, a full-service franchise development firm, where he oversaw the growth of Lime Painting from five locations to 70 throughout the US.
“I have a deep appreciation for Best Life Brand’s mission to serve seniors and their families on the continuum of care and look forward to growing the portfolio,” said Tarr. “Joining a multi-brand franchise company that continues to evolve is exciting. I look forward to helping recruit, select and qualify even more new franchisees across all our brands, while working with the Best Life Brands team and our existing franchisees to ensure we are delivering our senior care solutions to as many clients as possible.”
To learn more about Best Life Brands, visit www.bestlifebrands.com.
Based in Troy, Mich., Best Life Brands, LLC is a holding company that includes ComForCare and At Your Side, premier franchised providers of home care; CarePatrol, the nation’s largest franchised senior care solutions organization; Blue Moon Estate Sales, the leading estate sale franchise in the U.S., and Boost Home Healthcare, dedicated to providing superior in-home nursing, therapy, and home care services, which together include more than 500 franchise locations across the U.S. and Canada. With a private equity investment from The Riverside Company, Best Life Brands is a platform of award-winning complementary businesses that serve people along the continuum of care.