In 2018, Senior Helpers®, the nation’s premier provider of in-home senior care services, launched Senior Helpers Town Square Franchising, continuing its efforts to address the rising demand for elder care. By Nancy Williams
What puts Senior Helpers at the forefront of the industry and gives them a strategic advantage in the marketplace is the continuum of care they provide far beyond basic companionship. By Nancy Williams
Senior Helpers gives its franchisees unmatched support through a new GRAD program aimed at improving revenue and profitability. By Elice Morgenson
After launching his Senior Helpers franchise, Jeremy Hancock found that both the feeling of community and the joy of helping others was incredibly fulfilling. By Rose Mango
by Rose Mango
Senior Helpers, a well-known franchisor, has opened a reminiscence therapy adult day care center built to look and feel like the 1950s. The new franchising model – Senior Helpers Town Square Franchising – is officially an affiliate of Senior Helpers, the Baltimore-based home care company. The Chula Vista, California-based George G. Glenner Alzheimer’s Family Center, which created the original Town Square prototype, will share operational expertise, along with other resources.
“Town Square franchises will help provide much needed reminiscence therapy and adult day enrichment services to the millions of Americans who have Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. I love the concept,” said Senior Helpers CEO Peter Ross.
Founded in 2001, Senior Helpers provides personal and companion care services to families in their homes. They pride themselves in offering specialized care for individuals with dementia as well as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other diseases. Senior Helpers started franchising in 2005 and currently has more than 300 locations in its network.
Each Town Square location is comprised of an indoor, simulated urban environment with more than a dozen distinct 1950’s type vignettes. That includes a 50’s diner, movie theater and additional storefronts. It is designed to be an immersive,
interactive environment, helping to preserve cognitive function and is carefully crafted to transport seniors to the past.
What is exciting is the cost for seniors to spend the day in Town Square. It is a very affordable $95 a day, an expense that includes specialized care from Senior Helpers staff, who are contracted to serve as program aides.
Senior Helpers Town Square Franchising may be an attractive investment opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to enter the booming senior care industry – but it’s one that comes with a higher price tag. The investment to start a Town Square location will likely be between $1.2 million and $1.7 million, depending on location, according to Ross.
Investors interested in opening a Town Square can either do so through a hands-on ownership model or an absentee ownership model. Allowing for absentee ownership means casting a wider net for investors with the necessary financials in place. It’s a different type of investment model, and it is desirable for a different kind of investor.
Senior Helpers Town Square Franchising will work with local real estate partners to identify Town Square sites. Investors will pick a final location, and then a preferred contractor will build it out. A local Senior Helpers home care franchisee comes along and staffs the entire franchise with care staff of 10 to 15 aides once opened.
“The plans to expand are plentiful. We have already sold 11 franchises and have more than 200 investors that have already reached out,” Ross said. The Senior Helpers affiliate franchisor is targeting 100 U.S. Town Square locations within the next three years.
“It’s a huge win for Senior Helpers,” Ross said. “You can imagine 100 Town Squares, or 100 staffing contracts with Senior Helpers franchisees around the country, so that’s significant revenue to Senior Helpers and a way to provide resources to franchisees of Town Square. We have many candidates ready to buy a franchise,” Ross said.
Due to the nature of this being a terrific solution for all types of elder care that are not being served presently, Senior Helpers Town Square franchise is being positioned to provide Town Square care in nearly every state. “There is just nothing like it!” Ross said.
For more information on franchising opportunities visit https://shtownsquarefranchise.com/
by Rose Mango
Senior Helpers, a well-known franchisor, has opened a reminiscence therapy adult day care center built to look and feel like the 1950s. The new franchising model – Senior Helpers Town Square Franchising – is officially an affiliate of Senior Helpers, the Baltimore-based home care company. The Chula Vista, California-based George G. Glenner Alzheimer’s Family Center, which created the original Town Square prototype, will share operational expertise, along with other resources.
“Town Square franchises will help provide much needed reminiscence therapy and adult day enrichment services to the millions of Americans who have Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. I love the concept,” said Senior Helpers CEO Peter Ross.
Founded in 2001, Senior Helpers provides personal and companion care services to families in their homes. They pride themselves in offering specialized care for individuals with dementia as well as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other diseases. Senior Helpers started franchising in 2005 and currently has more than 300 locations in its network.
Each Town Square location is comprised of an indoor, simulated urban environment with more than a dozen distinct 1950’s type vignettes. That includes a 50’s diner, movie theater and additional storefronts. It is designed to be an immersive,
interactive environment, helping to preserve cognitive function and is carefully crafted to transport seniors to the past.
What is exciting is the cost for seniors to spend the day in Town Square. It is a very affordable $95 a day, an expense that includes specialized care from Senior Helpers staff, who are contracted to serve as program aides.
Senior Helpers Town Square Franchising may be an attractive investment opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to enter the booming senior care industry – but it’s one that comes with a higher price tag. The investment to start a Town Square location will likely be between $1.2 million and $1.7 million, depending on location, according to Ross.
Investors interested in opening a Town Square can either do so through a hands-on ownership model or an absentee ownership model. Allowing for absentee ownership means casting a wider net for investors with the necessary financials in place. It’s a different type of investment model, and it is desirable for a different kind of investor.
Senior Helpers Town Square Franchising will work with local real estate partners to identify Town Square sites. Investors will pick a final location, and then a preferred contractor will build it out. A local Senior Helpers home care franchisee comes along and staffs the entire franchise with care staff of 10 to 15 aides once opened.
“The plans to expand are plentiful. We have already sold 11 franchises and have more than 200 investors that have already reached out,” Ross said. The Senior Helpers affiliate franchisor is targeting 100 U.S. Town Square locations within the next three years.
“It’s a huge win for Senior Helpers,” Ross said. “You can imagine 100 Town Squares, or 100 staffing contracts with Senior Helpers franchisees around the country, so that’s significant revenue to Senior Helpers and a way to provide resources to franchisees of Town Square. We have many candidates ready to buy a franchise,” Ross said.
Due to the nature of this being a terrific solution for all types of elder care that are not being served presently, Senior Helpers Town Square franchise is being positioned to provide Town Square care in nearly every state. “There is just nothing like it!” Ross said.
For more information on franchising opportunities visit https://shtownsquarefranchise.com/
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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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.
Share this story
by Jill Abrahamsen
A combination of fate, life experience, and passion brought Susan Amos and J’annine Sullivan together as business partners. As the owners of Senior Helpers in Lafayette, LA, the women are passionate about what they do. “We love the elderly,” Sullivan says. They believe in their business and feel strongly about the service they provide. “At the end of the day, it’s a great feeling to know that you’ve made a difference in someone’s life,” Sullivan adds.
The partners’ journey into business ownership started with a common passion. Sullivan and Amos were volunteers at the Alzheimer’s Association in their hometown of Lafayette. Because each had a parent who suffered with the disease, the women had firsthand knowledge of the strain and struggles that families experience when caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s.
Seeing the passion that Sullivan had for her volunteer work, Amos approached her to go into partnership when she had the opportunity to purchase an existing Senior Helpers franchise. “I was already retired. It was never my plan to open a business, but I felt like God was telling me, ‘I have a purpose for you,’ ” Sullivan says. As partners, divvying up responsibilities wasn’t an issue. With a strong marketing and sales background, Amos was well-suited to promote the business and develop relationships. Drawing on her management experience, Sullivan runs the daily operations and goes into the field to make sure quality care is being delivered. “At the core, we have the same morals, mission, and values. That’s why we make a great team,” Sullivan says.
When you love what you do, success comes easily. The pair took over the existing location in November of 2017, and it has since more than tripled in size. “Our office was ranked No. 4 in total company increase this period—2017 vs. 2018—out of 283 franchises,” Amos says. Senior Helpers recognized their efforts with its President’s Award, which included a trip to Ireland that they plan to take in May.
But it’s not the bottom line that drives Sullivan and Amos. They are passionate about serving their clients and the community. “I’ve been in this business for a long time. J’annine and I purchased Senior Helpers because we want to provide a different experience in home care. We’ve done that for our clients,” says Amos.
For more information, call 877.406.8749 or visit www.seniorhelpersfranchise.com.
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by Jill Abrahamsen
A combination of fate, life experience, and passion brought Susan Amos and J’annine Sullivan together as business partners. As the owners of Senior Helpers in Lafayette, LA, the women are passionate about what they do. “We love the elderly,” Sullivan says. They believe in their business and feel strongly about the service they provide. “At the end of the day, it’s a great feeling to know that you’ve made a difference in someone’s life,” Sullivan adds.
The partners’ journey into business ownership started with a common passion. Sullivan and Amos were volunteers at the Alzheimer’s Association in their hometown of Lafayette. Because each had a parent who suffered with the disease, the women had firsthand knowledge of the strain and struggles that families experience when caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s.
Seeing the passion that Sullivan had for her volunteer work, Amos approached her to go into partnership when she had the opportunity to purchase an existing Senior Helpers franchise. “I was already retired. It was never my plan to open a business, but I felt like God was telling me, ‘I have a purpose for you,’ ” Sullivan says. As partners, divvying up responsibilities wasn’t an issue. With a strong marketing and sales background, Amos was well-suited to promote the business and develop relationships. Drawing on her management experience, Sullivan runs the daily operations and goes into the field to make sure quality care is being delivered. “At the core, we have the same morals, mission, and values. That’s why we make a great team,” Sullivan says.
When you love what you do, success comes easily. The pair took over the existing location in November of 2017, and it has since more than tripled in size. “Our office was ranked No. 4 in total company increase this period—2017 vs. 2018—out of 283 franchises,” Amos says. Senior Helpers recognized their efforts with its President’s Award, which included a trip to Ireland that they plan to take in May.
But it’s not the bottom line that drives Sullivan and Amos. They are passionate about serving their clients and the community. “I’ve been in this business for a long time. J’annine and I purchased Senior Helpers because we want to provide a different experience in home care. We’ve done that for our clients,” says Amos.
For more information, call 877.406.8749 or visit www.seniorhelpersfranchise.com.
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BALTIMORE, MD—PRNewswire
The technology divide between older and younger generations may not be as wide as you think. According to a recent survey of 1,000 seniors issued by Senior Helpers®, the nation’s premier provider of in-home senior care, more than 68 percent of people ages 65+ rate their technology skills either average or above average. The survey, which examined seniors’ attitudes on everything from apps and internet usage to social media habits, also found that while most would not consider themselves “tech-savvy” (71 percent), nearly 60 percent of seniors think younger generations underestimate their knowledge and aptitude for technology.
“Technology is constantly evolving, but seniors are much more adept at using tech than many people give them credit for,” said Peter Ross, CEO and co-founder, Senior Helpers. “It’s become integral to so many other aspects of their lives, they are embracing it.”
The study findings show that about 39 percent of seniors utilize technology to help them get things done more efficiently, while 31 percent embrace it as a matter of “pure survival.” Senior Helpers’ survey also highlights more about how senior citizens are using technology:
When asked what tech innovation they couldn’t live without, 29 percent of senior respondents reported a cell phone. Most (nearly 70 percent) use a smart phone, and 38 percent use an iPhone. However, 13 percent still don’t own a cell phone.
TV followed closely at 27 percent, with iPad/tablet (almost 11 percent), CD/MP3 players/stereos (6 percent) and GPS (4.5 percent) trailing further behind.
Thirty-two percent of seniors spend more than 20 hours a week on the internet, with 10 percent of those online for 40-plus hours per week.
More than half of seniors use Facebook as their social media site of choice. Less than 8 percent of seniors combined favor Pinterest, Instagram or Twitter.
When it comes to app usage, seniors use social media apps the most (almost 23 percent), followed by maps/navigation services (17 percent), online banking (14 percent) and games (8 percent).
When asked in a lighthearted way what movie best describes their relationship with technology, 28 percent of participants said Beauty and the Beast “because they had to warm up to it.” Another 28 percent noted Mission Impossible because they “can’t keep up.” Others likened it to Fight Club, admitting they “don’t like it but use it” (24 percent); or Cheaper by the Dozen, appearing to welcome technology (“Give me more gadgets!” at 19 percent).
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 serves elderly individuals and their families around the world. Senior Helpers differentiates itself with its proprietary, specialized programs that have been developed in collaboration with leading medical experts. The company was the first provider in the industry to offer specialized care services for individuals with Alzheimer’s, dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
For more information about Senior Helpers, visit http://www.seniorhelpers.com.
About Senior Helpers
Senior Helpers is a premier in-home senior care provider in the U.S. with over 311 franchised businesses operating across the globe. 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 now cared for tens of thousands of seniors with a pledge to provide “care and comfort at a moment’s notice.” Senior Helpers offers a wide range of personal care and companion services, including trained Alzheimer’s, dementia and Parkinson’s care, to assist seniors who wish to live independently. Learn more by visiting http://www.seniorhelpers.com.