Seniors Helping Seniors® In-Home Services Establishes Latest Franchise in Columbia, South Carolina
April 9, 2009
Wyomissing Hills, Pa – April 9, 2009 – To help meet the growing demand of older South Carolinians who want to remain in their own homes and stay as self-sufficient as possible, Seniors Helping Seniors® In-Home Services (SHS) has established a new franchise in Columbia, South Carolina that will also cover most of Richland and Lexington counties.
Seniors Helping Seniors–which has five regional owners and some 50 franchise partners in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, New York, Ohio, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Michigan, Florida, Washington and California–is a national caregiver and companionship organization and the only one that matches seniors who need in-home care services with seniors who provide them.
The newest franchise is owned and operated by Lisa K. Smith, Columbia, who retired recently from the United States Army as a Sergeant First Class with 21 years of service. She worked as a human resources manager, serving in the U.S., Germany and South Korea. She has a BS in business administration from TUI University (formerly Touro International University), Cypress, Calif.
“I joined the Seniors Helping Seniors family for the opportunity to continue serving my countrymen. The values and beliefs embraced by Seniors Helping Seniors are consistent with those of the military. For me, this transition has been seamless and immediately rewarding,” she explained. “Facilitating the awesome exchange of abilities and compassion for friendship and care is the privilege we share in this community.
In the Army, Smith’s responsibilities include serving families of retired veterans who had died as a Casualty Assistance Officer. In this role she helped with preparing documents, banking, transportation and memorial services. She also participated in numerous community outreach programs benefiting senior veterans.
“I believe strongly in improving the lives of our senior veterans. Seniors Helping Seniors will allow me to do that in two ways—helping seniors who need services by matching them with other seniors who desire to provide those services. I want to expand quality companion care by offering meaningful service and by exceeding my clients’ expectations,” she said.
Philip Yocom, who manages the national Seniors Helping Seniors franchise organization, said he is pleased to welcome Lisa as a franchise partner.
“She comes to our Seniors Helping Seniors community with many years of military and management experience and a deeply personal knowledge about what it means to be a caregiver for senior veterans especially. She will make an excellent addition to our franchise family, people who are dedicated to providing the Seniors Helping Seniors brand of loving, giving, caring and compassionate service and who will fulfill our mission in further expanding our care giving and companionship services in South Carolina,” he said.
Added Smith, “The services we offer are vitally important to both the receivers and the providers. Receivers are given back their freedom of choice, independence and privacy in their daily lives. Providers are afforded the enriching opportunity to share their valuable skills and talents. Our services also give caregivers respite and peace of mind, knowing that their loved ones are receiving quality care and companionship from a trusted organization.”
Philip Yocom, and his wife, Kiran Yocom, co-founded Seniors Helping Seniors In-Home Services (SHS), which began as a non-profit organization serving Reading and Berks County, Pennsylvania. That first non-profit organization today encompasses more than 250 senior providers helping more than 600 senior receivers. In 2007, the non-profit Seniors Helping Seniors provided nearly 17,000 hours of service.
Philip Yocom said, “What began as a heartfelt mission to fill a need that was not being served by our local community is now being recognized as a prime business opportunity being fueled by the fastest growing demographic in our society.” He said, “We want the existing Seniors Helping Seniors organization and our franchises to be the first place that seniors in need of non-medical services and those seeking extra income call.”
“We support all of our franchises with all of the expertise we have gained in running Seniors Helping Seniors. We also provide marketing, sales, management, and technology support.” He added, “We believe we have found a practical, cost-effective way to help seniors remain independent and to continue contributing. As we grow nationwide, we remain committed to providing our brand of loving, giving, caring, compassionate service.”
For more information, contact Lisa Smith by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at 803-865-5234. For more information about franchises, visit www.seniorshelpingseniors.com, e-mail [email protected] or call 610-858-2556.
