Emmie Knox had a career as a licensed master social worker with a broad range of experience in skilled nursing facilities, hospices and crisis intervention. While she enjoyed her work, she found the freedom and flexibility of owning a business appealing, so she and husband Louis LeSassier decided to explore franchise ownership. By Nancy E. Williams
Several years back, HomeWell Care Services’ chairman, Bruce Haase, committed to bringing together a deeply experienced executive leadership team. This team, having a combination of broad knowledge, expertise and experience, was already well prepared when the challenges of 2020 arose, resulting in a phenomenally successful year. By Cindy Charette
When you come from a family of a dozen children, working together is second nature. Misty Carver and brother Dennis Coon had already worked in business together for 14 years when their younger brother, Ben Coon, asked for help getting started in a business of his own. By Cindy Charette
In its efforts to evolve and drive the brand forward, BrightStar Care is currently experiencing a pattern of growth. The national private-duty home care and medical-staffing franchise, which operates over 340 locations across the country, is focused on recruitment and retention, recently naming Russ Nykaza as vice president of talent management. By Jessica Jones
Su and Sumit Madan honored with prestigious award at ComForCare’s annual franchise conference.
DETROIT — Canton, MA ComForCare franchise owners, Su and Sumit Madan were awarded the 2020 Franchise of the Year award at ComForCare’s 18th annual franchise conference. Franchise of the Year is the most prestigious award following Caregiver of the Year.
The Madans were recognized out of more than 200 locations for being high-level producers in the franchise system, creating and nurturing a strong local team, and being selfless givers among other qualities.
“Su and Sumit embody the ComForCare values within their office and for the population they serve,” said J.J. Sorrenti, CEO of Best Life Brands, parent company to ComForCare and At Your Side Home Care. “They care for their clients as family, serve the community passionately, realize that dignity matters, are present and engaged in managing their internal and external staff, and have fun while they do it.”
Su has been a natural caregiver most of her life. From taking care of her own extended family and neighbors, she finds caring for people incredibly satisfying and is what led her to open a home care franchise with her husband.
“In India, it is ingrained into the culture that the family takes care of the older generations as they age,” said Su Madan. “Most of the steps I’ve taken and the things I’ve done have been to care for others and to make a difference in someone’s life. Our office works hard every day for our clients and we are proud to be known as the reliable home care company in our community.”
The Madans opened their franchise in 2013 and are part of one of the fastest-growing franchise business sectors in the country. And with the number of Americans aged 65 and older projected to nearly double from 52 million in 2018 to 95 million by 2060, demand for businesses like the ComForCare franchise that the Madans operate will continue to increase as people strive to age in place.
About ComForCare Franchise Systems:
ComForCare is a premier franchised provider of in-home caregiving services with more than 225 independently-owned and operated locations in the U.S. and Canada helping older adults live independently in their own homes. ComForCare is committed to helping people live their best life possible and offers special programs for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Founded in 1996, ComForCare was acquired by private equity firm The Riverside Company in 2017 and now is part of Best Life Brands, which has plans for continued expansion of service brands across the continuum of care for aging adults. ComForCare operates as At Your Side Home Care in Houston. For more information, visit www.comforcare.com.
Luis Guzman honored with prestigious award at ComForCare’s 18th annual franchise conference.
DETROIT — ComForCare Franchise Systems, a franchised provider of in-home caregiving services, announced their Caregiver of the Year at the company’s 18th annual conference. Luis Guzman, a ComForCare caregiver in Palm Beach, FL, was awarded the 2020 Caregiver of the Year from more than 12,000 caregivers across North America.
“Over the past 12 years, Luis has been described by multiple clients as a miracle worker, respectful, honest, compassionate, patient, and nurturing,” said Melissa Morante, franchise owner of ComForCare of Palm Beach. “It’s rare to find a caregiver that works well with all clients. Particularly during this challenging time, Luis’ calm and easy-going demeanor and his comforting nature has had a profound impact on clients and their families.”
Through this award, Luis is recognized for his extraordinary commitment, hard work and dedication. Clients and family members have shared that they have peace of mind knowing that they or their family members are in the best hands possible with Luis. Luis has been with ComForCare of Palm Beach since 2008.
“Caregivers are the heart of the ComForCare franchise system across the U.S. and Canada,” said J.J. Sorrenti, CEO of Best Life Brands, parent company to ComForCare and At Your Side Home Care. “Luis embodies all of ComForCare’s core values and everything we stand for as an organization. We are honored to have Luis as a part of our team and recognize the tremendous impact he has had on so many lives.”
ComForCare of Palm Beach, serving Boca Raton to Vero Beach, is a premier provider of private-duty home care to the area’s senior population. Services include assistance with all activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, feeding, transferring, ambulation and toileting. Additional services include transportation, medication reminders, light housekeeping and meal preparation. The Palm Beach office is also DementiaWise®-certified, meeting the corporate office’s high standards for dementia education and caregiving excellence. ComForCare of Palm Beach has nationally-certified Alzheimer’s educators and Parkinson’s care expertise.
About ComForCare Franchise Systems:
ComForCare is a premier franchised provider of in-home caregiving services with more than 225 independently-owned and operated locations in the U.S. and Canada helping older adults live independently in their own homes. ComForCare is committed to helping people live their best life possible and offers special programs for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Founded in 1996, ComForCare was acquired by private equity firm The Riverside Company in 2017 and now is part of Best Life Brands, which has plans for continued expansion of service brands across the continuum of care for aging adults. ComForCare operates as At Your Side Home Care in Houston. For more information, visit www.comforcare.com.
Webinar to address causes and solutions of falls in older adults.
DETROIT — In light of Fall Prevention Awareness Day on September 22, ComForCare and At Your Side Home Care, a franchised provider of in-home caregiving services, will host a webinar with Tiffany Shubert, PhD, PT, a nationally recognized fall expert, who will present “Falls in Older Adults: Identifying Causes and Solutions.”
The webinar will be from 7:30pm ET- 8:15pm on Tuesday, September 22. Those interested in attending can register HERE.
The webinar will review:
“Each year, one in four older adults experiences a fall, and those who fall once are two to three times more likely to fall again. The result of a fall can be both physical and emotional, and in some instances, the fall can be deadly,” says Stephanie Wierzbicka, Manager, Strategic Health Programs. “Our mission at ComForCare is to create safer communities and we hope this webinar will be a valuable resource for older adults and their caregivers.”
For more information on ComForCare, visit ComForCare.com.
About ComForCare
ComForCare is a premier provider of home care services with more than 200 independently owned and operated locations in the U.S. and Canada helping older adults live independently in their own homes. ComForCare is committed to helping people live their best life possible and offers special programs for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Founded in 1996, ComForCare was acquired by private equity firm The Riverside Company in 2017 and now is part of Best Life Brands, LLC, a multi-brand franchise parent company, which has plans for continued expansion of service brands across the continuum of care for aging adults. ComForCare operates as At Your Side Home Care in Houston. For more information, visit www.comforcare.com.
Membership Enables Further Education on Caregiving for Those with Dementia.
DETROIT — ComForCare and At Your Side Home Care, franchised providers of in-home caregiving services, are new members of The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA). They join AFA’s national network of member organizations with the goal of providing nationwide support, services and education to individuals, families and caregivers affected by dementia.
“Our relationship with the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America will accelerate our efforts to help individuals with dementia-related diseases,” said Sean Kajcienski, COO of Best Life Brands. “We launched our DementiaWiseⓇ program six years ago after seeing a real need for our clients and their caregivers to get stronger tools and support for managing dementia.”
“AFA works closely with our member organizations to help those affected by Alzheimer’s disease and connect them with programs, services and support,” said Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., AFA’s president and chief executive officer. “We are excited to welcome ComForCare to our member network and look forward to having them work with us to help people living with Alzheimer’s.”
ComForCare is part of Best Life Brands, a family of companies focused on the well-being of clients at any stage of life. The multi-brand organization also includes CarePatrol, the nation’s largest senior placement organization, and Blue Moon Estate Sales, the nation’s industry-leading estate sales franchise brand.
AFA works hand in hand with its member organizations to provide resources to families affected by Alzheimer’s, especially through its National Toll-Free Helpline (866-232-8484) where licensed social workers can connect callers with services in their area.
About Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA):
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, based in New York, is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide support, services and education to individuals, families and caregivers affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias nationwide, and fund research for better treatment and a cure. Its services include a National Toll-Free Helpline (866-232-8484) staffed by licensed social workers, the National Memory Screening Program, educational conferences and materials, and “AFA Partners in Care” dementia care training for healthcare professionals. For more information about AFA, call 866-232-8484, visit www.alzfdn.org, follow us on Twitter, or connect with us on Facebook or LinkedIn. AFA has earned Charity Navigator’s top 4-star rating for five consecutive years.
About ComForCare and At Your Side
ComForCare and At Your Side are premier providers of home care services helping older adults live independently in their own homes and offer special programs for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Founded in 1996, ComForCare was acquired by private equity firm The Riverside Company in 2017 and now is part of Best Life Brands, LLC, a multi-brand franchise parent company. ComForCare operates as At Your Side Home Care in Houston. For more information, visit www.comforcare.com or www.atyoursidehomecare.com.
Columbus and Clotye Jones honored with prestigious award at ComForCare’s annual franchise conference
DETROIT — Columbus, MS ComForCare franchise owners, Columbus and Clotye Jones were awarded the 2019 Franchise of the Year award at ComForCare’s annual franchise conference in Houston, Texas, on November 16, 2019. Franchise of the Year is the most prestigious award following Caregiver of the Year.
The Joneses were recognized out of almost 200 locations for being high-level producers in the franchise system, creating and nurturing a strong local team, and being selfless givers.
“Columbus and Clotye embody the ComForCare values within their office and for the population they serve,” said Mark Armstrong, founder and president of ComForCare Franchise Systems. “They care for their clients as family, serve the community passionately, and shine with how they support their caregivers both at work and at home.”
Columbus and Clotye started working with older adults before they opened their ComForCare location. Cloyte volunteered with an organization that provided companionship and emotional support for seniors remaining at home. When Columbus became a deacon for their church, together they regularly visited those with chronic illnesses, disabilities, as well as aging adults in the community. The satisfaction from these visits led to their decision to open a home care agency.
“We are passionate about the level of commitment and reliability we provide our clients. I am committed to getting to know every one of our clients and their families personally,” said Columbus Jones. “That same level of commitment runs through our team. When we say we will be there, we’re there. When we say we will do something, we do it.”
The Joneses opened their franchise in 2010 and are part of one of the fastest-growing franchise business sectors in the country. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of people 65 and older is expected to increase to 55 million in 2020, and demand for businesses like the ComForCare franchise that the Joneses operate will continue to increase as people strive to age in place.
About ComForCare:
ComForCare is a franchised provider of in-home caregiving services with nearly 200 independently-owned and operated locations in the U.S. and Canada helping older adults live independently in their own homes. ComForCare is committed to helping people live their best life possible and offers special programs for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Founded in 1996, ComForCare was acquired by private equity firm The Riverside Company in 2017 and now is part of Best Life Brands, which has plans for continued expansion of service brands across the continuum of care for aging adults. ComForCare operates as At Your Side Home Care in Houston. For more information, visit www.comforcare.com.
Franchise Business Review ranks FirstLight No. 30 out of Top 200 franchise opportunities based on survey of owner satisfaction and performance
CINCINNATI — FirstLight Home Care, a leading national provider of non-medical home care, has been named by Franchise Business Review as a top franchise opportunity for 2019 based on franchisee satisfaction and performance, ranking No. 30 on the list of 200.
More than 30,000 franchise owners were surveyed, representing 310 franchise brands, to determine the best franchises of 2019. Franchise Business Review’s top franchise list is based on franchise owner answers to questions that focused on areas such as the home office’s leadership, training, core values and also the owner’s business lifestyle and how much they enjoyed running their franchise.
“Making this list is very satisfying because it’s based on surveys of owners and shows how happy they are to be a part of the FirstLight family,” said Jeff Bevis, co-founder and CEO of FirstLight Home Care. “We feel that the key to our continued growth is to serve our home care clients exceptionally well and to do everything in our power to make our owners successful. We take the team concept very seriously and a ranking like this proves that our approach is working.”
FirstLight serves seniors, adults with disabilities, new mothers, veterans, those recovering from surgery and other adults in need of assistance. The company’s caregivers help with many needs – from personal hygiene and household duties such as cooking, cleaning and running errands to mobility assistance and dementia care.
The news comes on the heels of FirstLight being named for the second straight year to the Franchise Times Fast & Serious list. That annual ranking is based on growth, and FirstLight reported 20.1 percent sales growth in 2018.
In recent months, the company has also made the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing, privately held companies, the Franchise Times Top 200+ of the 500 largest franchise companies and Franchise Business Review’s Top 100 Franchises for Innovation and Top Franchises for Veterans lists.
Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com to see the full description of the 2019 Top Franchises.
For more information about FirstLight Home Care’s franchise opportunities, visit www.firstlightfranchise.com.
FirstLight Home Care is a top rated non-medical home care provider with a network of offices that provides more than 100,000 hours per week in care for more than 4,900 clients in over 34 states. The company has created a new standard in home care by combining best practices with innovative approaches to make them an emerging market leader in a rapidly growing industry. Their 4,900 caregivers provide companion and personal care services at private residences, assisted living and retirement communities, nursing homes, adult-family homes and group homes. Clients include seniors, new mothers, and individuals recovering from surgery, veterans, adults with disabilities and anyone 18 and over who might just need a little extra care or assistance. Visit www.firstlighthomecare.com to learn more.