A Place At Home Opens First Location in Massachusetts

A Place At Home Franchisee Owners

A Place At Home, the leading provider in in-home senior care services, is bringing in-home care services to its first location in Massachusetts.

APAH’s new location franchisees are a dedicated team of family members passionate and committed to offering the best caregiving services in the Merrimack Valley. This first location in Massachusetts is part of APAH‘s plan to meet the rising demand for such services.

A Place At Home’s New Location

APAH’s new franchise in Merrimack Valley is located at 73 Princeton Street, Suite 308, North Chelmsford, MA 01863. The care team for APAH’s new home includes Gary Lafreniere, Arianna Lafreniere, and their daughter Liv Lafreniere.

Gary steps in with over 20 years of management experience as a founder and COO of a software company recognized for its award-winning customer service. His wife, Arianna, has worked for over 20 years in the finance industry. She has devoted the last ten years to the Home Care industry.

Their daughter, Liv, is very passionate about caregiving. She’s committed to taking it a notch further by studying early childhood development and psychology in college.

The Why

Speaking of why he chose to provide in-home senior care, Gary says, it’s the easiest question you could ever ask him.

“This is personal for my family and when it is personal then you are passionate and driven,” Gary Said.

Nana Lafreniere’s end of life journey and struggle with dementia touched Gary’s family in 2020, and he remembers the countless challenging experiences they went through in the past four years trying to give her the best care they possibly could.

That experience inspired the Lafreniere’s, who unanimously agreed the purpose of their next venture should be to help other families easily navigate similar challenges in the Merrimack Valley area, giving their loved ones better care.

“As a family, we knew the purpose of our next venture was to help other families navigate these challenges by making sure their loved one is comfortable, cared for, and happy,” Gary said.
“The stress you can relieve from a family and loved one by providing the services they need and plan every step of the way is priceless.”

“Making a difference in somebody’s life by caring and being compassionate is the ultimate reward. My wife and I can’t wait to wake up every day and work alongside our caregivers to support and care for those in need,” Gary says.

Why A Place At Home?

Like other care teams who have partnered with APAH before, Gary’s family chose APAH as their new franchise for its team culture and philosophy.

“Reading the literature, watching testimonials, and visiting the website was what piqued my interest in APAH,” Gary said. “First we connected to the management team on a personal level. Next, we spoke to the people who worked for Dustin and Jerod.”

In his own words, Gary says, “There are plenty of competitive franchises. None of them can compare when it comes to the philosophy and the people that stand behind it.” He was explicitly awed by speaking to APAH’s management team, and several franchisees. Right off the bat wanted to be part of the team, bringing the first location to Massachusetts.

“At first, you might think it is all marketing speak. But after talking to the management team, people who work for management, and many franchisees,” Gary said, “I knew APAH was different and we had to be a part of it. Arianna and I then had some heart to heart discussions with other franchisees and our search ended. A Place At Home – Merrimack Valley was our new home.”

About A Place At Home

Founded in 2012 by Dustin Distefano and Jerod Evanich in Omaha, APAH is dedicated to providing the best in-home senior care services with its strong ‘We Are Care’ philosophy. APAH invites you to join its fast-growing network of franchisees with strong support and training resources.

A Place At Home Opens its 10th Location

Innovative senior care company continues to expand.

A Place At Home opened its doors in North Texas on Monday, October 14th. It is the tenth APAH location to open its doors nationwide. APAH has launched other franchise locations in Austin, TX, Colorado, Michigan, California, Oregon, Arizona, Arkansas, and Papillion, Nebraska. The corporate headquarters is located in Omaha, Nebraska.

Founders Jerod Evanich and Dustin Distefano opened APAH in 2012. Both men shared a passion for making changes in senior care. They created a continuum of care model to ensure APAH would be a true solution, rather than just another home care agency. This model includes four service lines which are in-home care, care coordination, senior living alternatives, and staffing.

A widely positive response led to exponential growth, ultimately culminating in the decision to open franchising opportunities across the nation. The first new franchise opened its doors in 2017 in South Denver with owners George and Grace Bradley.

This year Evanich and Distefano celebrated their tenth location by launching the First Annual Franchise Convention, where they brought all of their new franchise owners together, giving them an opportunity to socialize and benefit from a number of seminars.

“It’s the first of many milestones for the franchise system,” said Evanich. 

“The growth we’ve seen since 2017, and hosting our first annual franchise convention, is a significant turning point for our brand. We’ve gone nationwide, and are in discussion with a prospect to potentially go international in order to reach more seniors in need of our services,” adds Distefano.

Evanich said they focus on finding the right people to expand their brand. “More and more entrepreneurs are looking for meaningful business opportunities, as well as a quality service model they can stand behind.”

South Portland Gains New Senior Care Option

Local Entrepreneurs Launch a New A Place at Home

SOUTH PORTLAND, OR, AUGUST 7, 2018 – Local entrepreneurs Jerome and Kyara Philips have been awarded the right to open an A Place at Home franchise in the South Portland area. The new location is scheduled to launch this fall.

A Place at Home offers a model of senior care distinct from other options. Their senior care model includes in-home care, care coordination, community placement and staffing services. The company launched in 2012 in Omaha, NE, where it grew to serve over 800 clients and employed hundreds of caregivers, CNA’s, CMA’s, nurses, and other professional staff members. In 2017, founders Jerod Evanich and Dustin Distefano launched the NorEast Franchise Group in the hopes of serving seniors from coast-to-coast.

As a former social worker navigating the child welfare system, Jerome Philips has six years of experience working directly with families in need of services. Prior to that, he had four years of experience training and developing workers in the tech industry. He has a BS in Human Development and an Associate’s degree in Organizational Design, an educational background which offers extensive training in healthy aging, family dynamics, and care planning. He will serve as Operations Manager for the new franchise.

In addition to being Jerome’s wife and business partner, Kyara Philips will serve as the Lead RN for the new franchise. She has over eighteen years of nursing experience including being the RN Team Lead for nearly eight years at Kaiser Permanente.

The Philips’ decided to launch the business after personally experiencing the challenges of caring for Jerome’s father during an unexpected and persistent illness. “It helped us become aware of both the needs of seniors and the challenges they face in navigating their way to appropriate care. As a result, we’re passionate about maintaining the quality of life for seniors no matter what their circumstances are. We’re also committed to providing an understanding and supportive work environment for caregivers.”

The couple felt A Place at Home stood out as an innovative company offering superior senior care while maintaining a passion for the success of both employees and franchisees.

“We felt a real alignment with A Place at Home’s Core Values,” Jerome adds. “We’re focused on listening to each individual’s needs, on doing what we say we’re going to do, on listening before speaking and on living life with integrity.”

A Place at Home’s core values are summed up in its We are CARE model: compassionate, accountable, respectful, and ethical. Founder Jerod Evanich notes, “If a franchisee has a personal foundation built on these values, we can parlay their professional background and acumen into helping them become successful business owners.”

Evanich and Distefano will not award a franchise unless they feel the candidates are shining examples of the We are CARE philosophy.

Evanich and Distefano felt the best way to forward A Place at Home’s mission of providing top-notch senior care across the country was to expand services to local communities through franchising. “We wanted to share the continuum of care model across the nation to assist seniors with the complexities of the aging process by providing them with one compassionate, professional care company they can depend on.”

Considering a Senior Care Franchise?

When you join our group of dynamic business owners, as franchisees of A Place at Home, you’ll have strong support, thorough training and valuable business resources to help you succeed. Contact us to learn more.

CONTACT:

Dustin Distefano, CFE
Co-Founder and Head of Franchise Development

O: 888-502-6310
F: 402-281-0736
E: dustin.distefano@aplaceathome.com
W: aplaceathomefranchise.com

 

ABOUT A PLACE AT HOME

A Place at Home (a NorEast Franchise Group) offers a range of customized in-home care services, care coordination and assistance in identifying and transitioning to senior living alternatives. The company is dedicated to preserving the quality of life for seniors by giving them the support they need to stay as independent as possible for as long as possible. Those who would like to explore franchising should contact the owners to start a conversation. Visit aplaceathomefranchise.com or a aplaceathome.com for more information.

Metro Detroit Gains New A Place at Home Franchise

DETROIT, MI – JUNE 26, 2018

Earlier this month, local entrepreneurs Melissa Shevela and Michael Shevela were awarded the first A Place at Home Franchise in Michigan. The Shevelas have obtained exclusive rights to offer the unique APAH model to seniors in the southeast Michigan, metro Detroit region. Their office will be headquartered in Warren and will also serve the greater Macomb County.

Melissa Shevela will serve as the new franchise’s President. She spent 13 years as the owner-operator of a business in the automotive industry. She guided that business through an exponential growth period, increasing sales eightfold during her time there. She has been in the community for 47 years, and has held many volunteer leadership positions as well. She served as the Coordinator for a Salvation Army Soup Kitchen, for example, and remains active at St. Louis Church. She has a B.A. in Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relations from Central Michigan University.

Michael Shevela will serve as the new franchise’s Operations Manager. He has 30 years of experience leading professionals in the automotive industry. He spent 13 years working side-by-side with Melissa on their automotive business. He is known for being a consummate problem-solver who relentlessly follows industry standards. He is a lifelong resident of the southeastern Michigan community.

“After caring for my mother during her battle with cancer, and after caring for my father-in-law during his end-of-life stages,” says Ms. Shevela, “I came to understand the struggles inherent to finding good in-home care. I wished it could have been better for our loved ones. But now, we have an opportunity to make things better for other people’s loved ones. Seniors deserve respect, compassion, and high-quality care during their golden years. A Place at Home puts emphasis on high-quality care-giving and on ensuring seniors can thrive in a safe, happy environment.”

Mr. Shevela agrees, and notes, “A Place at Home stood out as being well-prepared to handle different levels of senior-care needs. We were impressed both by the quality of care they offer and by the company’s commitment to employee development. We align strongly with A Place at Home’s core values.”

A Place at Home follows four core values. Its founders, franchisees and employees all pledge to be “compassionate, accountable, respectful and ethical.” They call it the CARE model.

Mr. Shevela adds, “We promise to uphold the CARE core values for both our clients and employees, no exceptions.”
Company co-founders Jerod Evanich and Dustin Distefano hope to see the APAH “We are CARE” model offered coast-to-coast.

“We truly believe the best way to ensure seniors throughout the nation receive the best care is through franchising,” says Evanich. “Partnering with passionate-minded business professionals who align with our values and who are committed to sharing the Senior-Focused Care model will help complete our Mission ‘to be Passionate Professionals Providing the Compassionate Care Solutions You Need, Where and When You Need Us’.”

Evanich and Distefano launched APAH in 2012. They began franchising in 2017 after experiencing exponential growth.
Evanich and Distefano make it clear anyone hoping to start an APAH franchise should first examine themselves to ensure they can say they are already shining examples of the CARE philosophy.

“If we can see those qualities in a person we will gladly help them parlay their professional background and acumen into running a successful APAH business,” adds Distefano.

Fortunately for seniors in the Detroit metro area, the Shevelas have successfully risen to the challenge.

Franchises Available in Kansas City – A Place at Home

Franchises Available in Kansas City - A Place at Home

When reviewing Franchises available in Kansas City senior care and home health care is an area that has room for growth. Local demographics in nearby communities show exactly the type of population trend that could need the services that A Place at Home provides. Johnson County in Kansas is one such example.

Johnson County And Surrounding Cities

Johnson County Kansas is a part of the greater 15 county Kansas City metro area. This location covers a large area along the Missouri Kansas border. With Kansas City serving as the ‘anchor’, several sizable cities have grown around the wider metro area. Within Johnson County, pay attention to its largest cities Olathe and Overland Park. These locations are ideal for A Place at Home franchises due to their demographics.

  • Johnson County:

    Overall Johnston county has an estimated population of 572, 428. Of this, an estimated 12.7% (or 72,698) are 65 or older. The home healthcare industry is also strong in the county. Johnson County has 1,601 employees working for 53 different healthcare businesses.

  • Overland Park:

    Has an estimated population of 183,775 of this 14.2% (or 26,096) are 65 or older. The city also accounts for 20 of the county’s healthcare establishments and 887 of its employees.

  • Olathe:

    Has an estimated population of 132,787. Of this 9.2% (or 12,216) is 65 or older. Olathe also accounts for 5 of the county’s healthcare establishments and 45 of its employees.

Among franchises available in Kansas City healthcare is a viable one due to the population and established healthcare industry. Of note, Overland Park has a well-established home health industry. The city of Olathe while smaller has the figures that indicate future industry growth and need.

About A Place At Home   

As the above figures indicate Johnson county is a strong market for A Place at Home. It is an area that needs the services that A Place at Home provides senior citizens. When establishing your franchise you have options on territory size ranging from 30k, 60k, 90k, and 120k in population. 120K is the largest territory offered in the entire industry. When you review franchises available in Kansas City A Place at Home offers opportunity and the chance to truly help senior citizens.