Senior Care franchise helps keep elderly stay at home
An interview with Cindy Madson & Denise Trinka, owners of Home Instead Senior Care
Q: Describe your business. What do you do?
A: Home Instead Senior Care is a franchise. We provide nonmedical care for seniors in their homes. The purpose of the business is to help elderly people remain in their homes where they are happiest. Our Caregivers provide over 75 different services including companionship, meal preparation, light housekeeping, transportation and whatever else is necessary for our clients to live at home. We have serviced over 1,300 clients and employed over 750 Caregivers in Northern Lake County alone.
Q: What made you start your business?
A: For over three years we struggled to care for our own Mom while also raising our children. As her health got worse, the task of caring for her became overwhelming. When trying to find an in home caregiver we realized the companies offered inferior service and had low standards. After our Mom passed away we researched franchises and rejoiced when we found Home Instead Senior Care, because they share the same morals and values that we do.
Q: What has been the most difficult obstacle in running or starting a small business?
A: Because of how corporate Home Instead Senior Care has designed the franchise, the struggles have been minimized. One difficult obstacle is keeping our costs affordable in a turbulent economy. Increasing small business taxes, rising insurance costs, gas prices and general rising overhead all play into the costs of home care for seniors.
Q: What do you enjoy most about operating your business?
A: Our rewards are two fold: First, we have the privilege of assisting seniors with their daily needs so they can remain in their homes which is so important to them. Secondly, experiencing our Caregivers grow in self confidence and morale as they meet their clients needs and earn income. It is a win-win situation for everyone.
Q: Is this what you pictured yourself doing when you were young? What did you want to be when you grew up?
A: Both of us had always wanted to help people in some way. Our Grandma played a very important role in our upbringing and we have always felt connected to seniors so when we came across Home Instead Senior Care we were thrilled.
Q: What keeps you up at night?
A: Knowing there are many seniors that are in dire need of help and aren't receiving it due to lack of resources. Many state programs to help seniors have been cut, and there is very little federal funding for these types of services. Even more cuts in these programs are expected in the future. It is a crime so many seniors are suffering and neglected.
Q: You could give one tip to a rookie business owner, what would it be?
A: Have unshakable belief in what you are doing. Promise only what you can deliver and deliver what you promise. That motto has been on our bulletin board since we opened our doors.
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Home Instead Senior Care
<b>Address</b>: 100 N. Atkinson Rd. Suite 203, Grayslake
<b>Owners</b>: Cindy Madson & Denise Trinka
<b>Year business started</b>: September 1, 2001
<b>Web address</b>: <a href="http://www.homeinstead.com/108/Pages/HomeInsteadSeniorCare.aspx">www.homeinstead.com/108</a>