Bridging the age gap between seniors and caregivers, Seniors Helping Seniors is an in-home senior care company that provides compassionate care in the comfort of your home. As the name suggests, the company uses mature caregivers who make perfect companions for their clients. The premise behind the business is twofold: Seniors can help each other age more happily and gracefully, and seniors who give, and those who receive, benefit equally.
Seniors Helping Seniors was founded in 1998, and in May of this year, Mike and Melissa Walters opened a franchise of the company that serves all of Flagler, St. Johns, and Volusia counties. Originally from Cincinnati, Mike worked for the Social Security Administration for almost two decades, helping people apply for retirement, disability, survivors, and spousal benefits. Melissa was a former teacher and a stay-at-home mom.
Looking for a business they could do together, that would also be meaningful, they found Seniors Helping Seniors.
“Mike had a lot of experience working with seniors at Social Security, and I connected with the caretaking side,” said Melissa. “Seniors Helping Seniors just really touched our hearts.”
Once Mike and Melissa settled on Seniors Helping Seniors, they decided to also fulfill their dream of living in Florida. “We thought since we were going to start a business, we might as well go to the beach,” laughed Melissa.
“Throughout my career at Social Security, I had a lot of experience with retirees and the issues they faced as they aged,” said Mike. “Many needed care, but many others simply needed to find purpose again. Seniors Helping Seniors allows us to fulfill both needs for our community’s seniors, which is especially gratifying.”
“Our caregivers do everything from light housekeeping, pet care, laundry, meal prep, running errands, shopping, overnight care, medication reminders, escort to appointments, outings, trips, companionship, and more,” said Melissa. “There are so many things our caregivers can do. They are the best!”
What makes Seniors Helping Seniors unique is their focus on hiring able-bodied mature adults. “Our caregivers understand how important their job is, and for most of them, money isn’t the reason they became a caregiver. They want to do something meaningful, stay active and give back to the community. They have the heart of a volunteer which makes it feel more like a friend coming over to help,” said Melissa.
“It also solves all the frustrations people have experienced in the past. We’ve heard the stories of caregivers showing up late or not at all, being on their phone instead of caring for your loved one, quitting after a day and having to frequently switch caregivers, etc. You can’t teach the empathy that comes with caring for your own mom and dad. Our caregivers have it, and that translates to treating your loved ones with the dignity and respect they deserve. That relatability and true empathy goes a long way.”
To learn more about Seniors Helping Seniors or to apply to be either a caregiver or a client, go to SeniorCareECFL.com or call 386-985-2292.
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