After spending 15 years in banking, Amy Kanouse wanted to do something more fulfilling. At the bank, she saw many seniors struggling with money and finding good care. Her experiences with her own grandparents also motivated her to look into senior care.
She decided to buy a Seniors Helping Seniors® franchise in Lansing, Michigan. This was easier than starting a new business and matched her values of helping seniors live with dignity and independence. Now, five years later, her franchise is a key support for seniors in Ingham, Clinton, Eaton, and Ionia counties, helping them stay in their homes as they age.
Kanouse believes the franchise gave her everything she needed to succeed, even without a medical background. By using her leadership skills and compassion, she has built a successful business that helps many people in her community.
Key Takeaways
Amy Kanouse’s Seniors Helping Seniors franchise provides home care services to Lansing-area seniors, employing older adults as caregivers and focusing on personalized care.
- Kanouse’s unique approach employs older adults as caregivers, giving clients comfort in being looked after by someone who understands their life journey.
- The franchise collaborates with local organizations, such as the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, to provide vital support systems for veterans and other community members.
- Seniors Helping Seniors focuses on personalized care, adapting services to fit each person’s unique needs and creating strong connections between caregivers and clients.
Community-centric employment opportunities
Kanouse’s unique approach focuses on employing older adults as caregivers. Seniors Helping Seniors® hires active seniors to care for others who need a little more help. This method gives clients the comfort of being looked after by someone who understands their life journey. It also provides older adults with job opportunities they might not have elsewhere.
This unique hiring approach has positively impacted the local community by providing senior caregivers with a renewed sense of purpose and connection. Kanouse highlighted that one of their proudest accomplishments is employing older adults, offering opportunities to those who might struggle to find work elsewhere.
These jobs help caregivers stay active, socially engaged, and financially secure. This positive impact spreads through the community, helping seniors stay involved and contribute to society.
Collaborations enhancing senior support
Kanouse’s franchise is more than just help for its clients; it’s a key part of the local community. By teaming up with organizations like the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), they make sure veterans in Lansing get the home care benefits they need. This is a vital support system for veterans who might be missed otherwise.
Moreover, the franchise also works with local groups, giving time and resources to better connect and support the people they help. These partnerships show how Kanouse cares not just for individual clients, but for the wider community too.
Personalized care leading to meaningful connections
At the core of Seniors Helping Seniors® is a focus on personalized care. This approach allows them to adapt services to fit each person’s unique needs, creating strong and lasting connections.
Kanouse shares a memorable story about a client who wished to stay in her beloved home, even though her children lived far away. At first, they provided weekly cleaning services, but as her health declined, they offered around-the-clock support. This care allowed the client to remain at home until she passed, showing their commitment to respecting personal wishes and maintaining dignity.
In another story, Kanouse received heartfelt gratitude from the sister of a client who had recently passed away. She thanked them for the compassionate care her loved one received, noting how it made a big difference in her final days. These stories highlight the powerful impact of compassionate care on both clients and their families.
Looking ahead
As the franchise celebrates its fifth year, Kanouse is focused on getting more involved in other counties it already serves. Instead of expanding to new areas, she wants to build the client base and improve services. This approach shows a commitment to quality and community, making sure clients and caregivers grow together.
Kanouse is also looking to hire more caregivers, especially older adults, to keep up with the rising need for in-home care. By staying true to the Seniors Helping Seniors® mission, she aims to make the franchise a trusted resource for seniors.
