Seniors Helping Seniors®, an in-home care franchise, is seeing increased demand for its services amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The brand has experienced a 14% increase in website traffic in recent weeks. Seniors are the most at-risk demographic and coronavirus presents a major concern in nursing homes.
“Seniors are one of the most high-risk demographics in the COVID-19 pandemic, and the mandatory quarantine guidelines can take a toll on their mental health and wellbeing,” said Daniel Jan, VP of Operations for Seniors Helping Seniors®. “Plus, with nursing homes presenting a major risk if an outbreak occurs, more people are moving their senior loved ones into an in-home setting to minimize exposure and ensure safety.”
Coronavirus Impact on Seniors
When it comes to COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, older people are especially vulnerable the illness. Recent research shows adults 60 and older are more likely to have severe coronavirus infection than other age groups. This is especially so for those with preexisting medical conditions including heart disease, lung disease, diabetes or cancer.
COVID-19 may be similar to the seasonal flu. According to the CDC, between 50 and 70 percent of flu-related hospitalizations, occur among those 65 years and over. Therefore, it’s clear the disease presents a stark risk to seniors.
Seniors Helping Seniors® Demand Bump
The increased demand for Seniors Helping Seniors® services is allowing the company to create 1,500 caregiver jobs throughout the country. The company’s demand bump is providing job opportunities for out of work seniors (the company primarily hires seniors).
“The senior community needs our help, now more than ever. We are very fortunate to be able to continue to provide our services through loving and compassionate care to seniors and offer job opportunities for those that have lost work due to the impact of this pandemic,” said Kiran. “Bringing Love into the lives of Seniors with Dignity and Respect® is at the core of our business model. We all have the power to bring love, dignity and respect into the lives of seniors; that’s why love is in our care. It’s not just about logistical care like cooking a meal or vacuuming; it’s about the relationships that we create between client and caregiver.”
About Seniors Helping Seniors®
Seniors Helping Seniors® was founded in 1998 by husband-and-wife team Kiran and Philip Yocom. The couple’s goal was to provide loving and compassionate in-home care to seniors. Kiran, who grew up in India, was inspired by Mother Teresa and the work she was doing in the country. After years of donating her weekly allowance to The Sisters of Charity, Kiran became a follower of the Catholic nun and worked alongside her to help with humanitarian efforts. This work solidified Kiran’s belief in providing loving and empathetic care to seniors and provided the foundation for Seniors Helping Seniors®. Kiran moved to the U.S. in 1995 and married Philip shortly after that. In 1998, the Yocoms founded Seniors Helping Seniors® in Reading, Pennsylvania as a non-profit. In 2006, the Yocoms decided to leverage Philip’s franchising experience and opened the business for franchising.
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