Seniors Helping Seniors Opens Franchise Serving Delaware County, PA
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Seniors Helping Seniors Opens Franchise Serving Delaware County, PA

July 21, 2008 // Franchising.com // - Wyomissing Hills, Pa – To help meet the growing demand of older Pennsylvanians 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 that will serve all the boroughs and townships of Delaware County, Pennsylvania north of Philadelphia.

Seniors Helping Seniors--which has four master license holders and 43 franchise territories in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Delaware, Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Michigan 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. Seniors Helping Seniors also has Pennsylvania franchises serving all or parts of Montgomery, Lehigh, Northampton and Bucks counties.

The newest franchise is owned and operated by Christine McDonnell and Colleen Cook, who both live in Delaware County. Their franchise will cover the entire county, including several boroughs—Ridley Park, Upland, Eddystone, Trainer, Marcus Hook, Brookhaven, Rose Valley, Swarthmore, Chester Heights, Media, Morton and Rutledge.

Christine McDonnell, a native of Southwest Philadelphia, studied pre-nursing at Temple University, Philadelphia, and received a BS in nursing from Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, in 1996. She began her nursing career at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital, Darby, Pa, and then joined the staff at Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Chester, Pa, in 1999. At Crozer she has served in the fields of oncology, cardiology and emergency medicine.

Colleen Cook is a native of Delaware County and received her nursing degree from Delaware County Community College, Media, Pa. She has worked in several nursing fields, including telemetry at Lankenau Hospital and cardiology and emergency medicine at Crozer-Chester Medical Center. Both are members of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce.

They decided to become partners in a Seniors Helping Seniors franchise because they wanted to more directly serve their community with their nursing experience. Both have also enjoyed their previous work with seniors. "I saw an ad for Seniors Helping Seniors and it immediately piqued my interest. The more I learned, the more it appealed to me because I liked what they were offering, an opportunity to build caring relationships based on shared experiences and respect," said McDonnell.

For Cook, the franchise will empower seniors to help each other, benefiting both receivers and providers. "They can do this on their terms and that fosters growth and independence. It was this idea that drew me to Seniors Helping Seniors and what I believe will set us apart in the rapidly expanding caregiver market. Also, this will allow me to continue to use my experience and skills that I have gained as a nurse in an exciting new opportunity."

"We want our franchise to become a vital part of the community, one that serves as a resource for all seniors and their families. We want to raise awareness of seniors and their place in society, "said McDonnell. Added Cook, "We believe that it is important for seniors to be able to remain in their own homes and we can help many of them do that with our services.

Sharon Santoni, Seniors Helping Seniors' regional owner for eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, said she is pleased to welcome Christine McDonnell and Colleen Cook as franchise owners. "They come to our Seniors Helping Seniors community with many years of nursing and healthcare experience and a deep personal knowledge about what it means to be a caregiver. Christine and Colleen will make excellent franchise owners. I am looking forward to working with them and I have no doubt that they will fulfill the Seniors Helping Seniors' mission in Delaware County."

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 any future franchises to be the first place that seniors in need of non-medical services and those seeking extra income call."

"We will support all our franchisees with all of the expertise we have gained in running Seniors Helping Seniors. We'll 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 Christine McDonnell and Colleen Cook by email at seniorswithseniors@comcast.net, or by phone at 610-546-4064 . For franchise information, email Philip Yocom at philip@seniorshelpingseniors.com.

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