Joanne Taylor’s journey to ownership of a Senior Helpers franchise began when she lost two family members within six months. She saw how difficult it was to navigate the world of hospitals, senior-care facilities, and in-home care. These experiences proved pivotal as she found herself at a crossroads in her financial services career and looking for a new opportunity.
Taylor knew she wanted to invest in a franchise rather than go it alone. She had great respect for operations and processes, which she knew were key franchising elements. After exploring options and considering criteria such as the cost of initial investment, how long she could go without a regular income, and her own experience with relatives, home care seemed to be the perfect fit.
“Not only was I empathetic to the senior experience, but I saw that senior care was a growth area,” she says. “What attracted me to Senior Helpers was their focus on disease-based programs – specifically Parkinson’s and dementia care. I felt this differentiated Senior Helpers from many of the other brands.”
Taylor could not be happier about choosing to become a Senior Helpers owner. “Compared to my former professional life, Senior Helpers has brought greater personal satisfaction. I work a lot, but I feel that our work makes an impactful difference in people’s lives.” Taylor goes on to share that she knows her team improves the quality of the relationships seniors have with their loved ones. The team assumes a lot of day-to-day logistics like personal hygiene and household duties, allowing families to enjoy time together without worrying about all the routine tasks.
In addition to caring for clients, Taylor prides herself on how she treats her team. “Women possess empathy for others, and I think that this quality helps me to be a better owner,” she says. “After having a baby, I was able to hire a full-time nanny when it was time to return to work, but I recognize that most women aren’t able to do this. That makes me less judgmental and more understanding of all the things they are juggling in their lives. I go out of my way to help when I can, so they don’t feel they have to take everything on themselves – even if that involves me babysitting!”
– Nancy E. Williams, Franchise Dictionary Magazine