In the News!!!!

Seniors Helping Seniors had our annual picnic at Millennium Park yesterday. We had a couple newspapers as well as one TV station visit us....oh yes, 200 senior citizens from the Grand Rapids Area were there too. Some of the seniors wanted to learn more about becoming one of our providers who help seniors with non-medical home care - things like: light housekeeping, companion care, respite, Alzheimer's Care, dementia, overnight care, handyman services and some of the other services that we provide.

Many of our visitors were there to learn more about receiving our loving, caring and compassionate services. We talked to them about how we can help and how they may be able to get funding for our services if finances are a concern. We did have a short article about the picnic that was in the Grand Rapids Press today.

To view the article click here 

Article from the Press

Here are some pictures from the picnic.

Amanda Thrush Talks to a Provider

200 Senior Enjoying Burgers and Dogs

Good Food and Good People

Lining up for chow

There's always room for ice cream

Provider Ken Kole shares his grilling secrets

Provider Phil Sikkema and franchise partner Dale Furman

Provider Rita Chorley shares what she loves about being a provider - she was later awarded the Kiran Yocom Spirit Award

We were blessed with a beautiful day

Dave VanderLinde Sr. Shares our story

Get 'em while they're hot!

SHS Quoted in INC Magazine

The below is from INC Magazine's Article "The Shape of Franchising in 2011"
Read the full article here

Seniors Helping Seniors has ridden a dramatic change in the way care is provided for senior citizens. “We have been able to continue to add over 70 franchise partners over the past year and a half, during the exact same time the rest of our economy was shrinking, and to expand our franchise system to over 120 territories,” says Philip Yocom, co-founder and CEO.

When it started in 2005, the Reading, Penn., company planned to double in size annually for five years and then add 100 new franchisees a year for another five years. There’s every indication they’ll achieve that. “During our past week, we have actually granted as many franchises as we did throughout our first calendar year,” Yocom says. Seniors Helping Seniors is targeting the Midwest, the Southwest, and the West Coast in its expansion plans, Yocom adds.

Why is In-home Senior Care Growing?

The "Graying of America" is something we have all heard about now for years. News stories tell us daily about boomers, our elderly and upcoming changes in health care and so forth. And, it's true. Our population is aging and our resources are being more and more stretched as we try to care for our elderly in the manner that they want to be cared for. 

Why Is the Need for Homecare Greater than Before?
 

Did anyone ever want to go into a nursing home?

Not in most cases. But historically many families were able to provide care for their elderly relatives so that they did not need to go into a nursing home or assisted living facility. And families still do provide care - 65 million Americans are already serving as caregivers.

Who Are Caregivers

Many caregivers are baby boomers themselves. Older baby boomers are starting to turn 65 now and they are becoming more aware of the need to plan for their own needs. We are seeing our government start to talk about how to deal with our aging population in the best and most cost effective manner. Caregivers themselves in many cases are trying to juggle family, work and care giving.

What Happened?

What changes have happened in our society to make this issue bigger today than it ever was in the past?

1) Adult Children are more likely to live further away (do you know anyone who has left Michigan?)

2) Higher divorce rates mean more seniors are living alone and families caring for 2 elderly parents are stretched even more

3) Lower birthrates mean fewer potential caregivers

4) Nearly 40% of chronically ill adults live alone (according to a U of M study) and many of them are married to a spouse with health issues of their own 

Seniors Helping Seniors has a well defined process to help potential franchise partners get all the information they need to make an informed and prudent business decision. At the same time we are sharing information about us with you, we also want to learn more about why you think in-home care may be a good fit for you.

Throughout our process you will have the opportunity to meet our founders as well as our entire corporate team, speak with and ask questions of existing franchise partners, go through a detailed demographic analysis to define a territory that sets you up for success and review our franchise agreement. Email today to take the first step in learning more about the franchise opportunities available with Seniors Helping Seniors In-home Services.