Spotlight on Local Business: Seniors Helping Seniors reaps mutual benefits

By Marti Gacioch

While some senior citizens need the assistance of caregivers to continue living independently in their own homes, other senior citizens are seeking part-time work to supplement their retirement incomes. Matching those two groups of elders together is the mission of Seniors Helping Seniors, a national network of senior caregivers who provide essential services to senior clients.

Now Seniors Helping Seniors caregivers are available to serve clients in Point Loma, Coronado, La Jolla, downtown San Diego, Hillcrest, Mission Hills, Scripps Ranch, Tierrasanta, El Cajon and La Mesa. Two franchise partners serve North County — coastal and inland.

“Our clients find that working with other seniors makes them more comfortable because they feel that seniors understand and appreciate the challenges of remaining independent,” said Sue Erskine, co-owner of Seniors Helping Seniors.

After Erskine sold her Essential Learning Company in San Diego, she began looking for a new business. Having cared for her father with Alzheimer’s in his home, Erskine realized the value of enabling seniors to maintain their independence at home rather than moving to a facility.

The experience of helping her father inspired Erskine, along with her daughter, Tricia Izadi, and her sister, Doris Corey, to buy a company that helped seniors. The trio purchased the Seniors Helping Seniors franchise last summer and launched their business in December.

Erskine and her daughter operate the San Diego business, and Corey operates their New Jersey franchise. Erskine’s franchise currently has 20 caregivers, but she needs to hire more.

“We’re looking for mature seniors whose main interest is helping others,” Erskine said. “People who have taken care of a parent or family member are good candidates; they can make their own schedules and work as often as they like or as little as they like.”

Seniors Helping Seniors clients need a variety of support services, including light housekeeping, gardening, pet walking, companionship, respite care for family members, and transportation to medical appointments and leisure activities (movies, museums, shopping, library, etc).

“We interview prospective caregivers and screen them with criminal background checks before we hire them,” Erskine said. “Then we match them with clients based on their personalities and interests.”

— Seniors Helping Seniors is at 5694 Mission Center Road, Suite 602-449, San Diego. For more details, call (619) 346-4535 or visit

seniorshelpingseniors.com

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