Seniors Helping Seniors is a unique caregiving company that sets itself apart from the competition by placing an emphasis on hiring active seniors to provide in-home services to other seniors who are less able to care for themselves.
Dadong “DJ” Wan, who owns a local Seniors Helping Seniors franchise, recently spoke with The Dallas Express to elaborate on the uniqueness of Seniors Helping Seniors and how his facility, located at 5105 Dillard Ln., Ste. 160, in Dallas, continues to expand and has an added focus on supporting veterans. Wan’s current service area includes Dallas and surrounding areas, such as Wylie, Greenville, Rowlett, Sachse, Rockwall, and Garland.
Seniors Helping Seniors in-home services was founded in 1998 by Kiran and Philip Yocum, a husband-and-wife team, who opened the company to franchising in 2006. The company has sites in over 30 states and abroad, comprising over 200 locations internationally.
Their unique approach to care ensures that seniors receive the quality attention they need and fosters a sense of camaraderie and understanding between seniors, which can be highly beneficial for their emotional and mental well-being, explained Wan.
Three years ago, Wan left the corporate world and then experienced the unexpected loss of his wife. Her death left Wan with a “soul-searching period for a year or two,” during which he moved from Chicago to Dallas. When Wan’s career coach told him about Seniors Helping Seniors co-founder Kiran, who “was from India and spent 14 years with Mother Theresa as her right-hand person,” it gave him an idea about the organization’s culture.
“The rest was history,” said Wan. “Everyone in the organization is so nice and compassionate. It was meant to be. … This is my calling. I feel this is my mission for the rest of my life.”
Wan opened his franchise in 2023. There are standard training classes its paid caregivers must complete, explained Wan.
“We have one of the best training courses in the industry. When we onboard caregivers, we have them go through the proper process and understand the expectations,” he said. “With that said, one of the biggest requirements is to have a big heart and not look at this as a job but as a passion for the people we care for. Secondly, we look for reliability, accountability, and empathy.”
Wan’s franchise has organically unfolded to assist mostly veterans, with 10 current veteran clients receiving in-home services. One client, Jon Butler, a Vietnam-era field artillery Army veteran, spoke with The Dallas Express about his experience with Seniors Helping Seniors.
“I am a disabled veteran who has a deep passion for helping other veterans,” said Butler, adding that he educates other veterans about the services Seniors Helping Seniors offers.
“We want people to be able to stay in their homes safely and independently,” said Wan, noting that clients can receive a wide range of services, such as dressing, bathing, cooking, transportation, and individual companionship.
VA benefits cover the services offered by Seniors Helping Seniors, which means that clients who are veterans pay nothing out of pocket.
“I don’t pay anything for the service,” said Butler. “I get 44 hours [of in-home services] per week, and the VA pays for it all. It’s a wonderful program.”
“Many veterans I talk to ask if they are working now or making money will it affect their ability to get services from Seniors Helping Seniors,” said Butler. “The answer is, if they need the help, it will not affect their ability to obtain services.”
In explaining the services he receives, Butler said, “Physically, I have someone to come in to cook and clean and just do anything that I might need. It is very helpful to me and my wife. I really appreciate the service. I was not aware of Seniors Helping Seniors, but since meeting DJ at the VA and getting on the services, it has really been a game-changer in my house.”
“We connect with other veterans and can really make a positive difference in their lives,” added Wan. “Each veteran we serve goes through a process with the VA that we assist them through to get the level of care they need and to continue the services for as long as they need.”
“VA has a great system, which has many caring people employed, so we try to go to the VA and share with veterans what information the VA has to offer, help them through the process and paperwork, including obtaining resources and services here at Seniors Helping Seniors,” he said.
For more information about Seniors Helping Seniors, email [email protected] or call 972-303-8787.
