By Carol Britton Meyer

Seniors Helping Seniors prioritizes hiring active seniors to provide a wide range of in-home care services to their less-active counterparts, meeting their needs in a “graceful and respectful manner,” according to Michael Salerno, co-owner of the Weymouth franchise with his life partner, Michelle Sonia.
The program aligns caregivers and care recipients based on abilities and needs. Available services include companionship and socialization, light housekeeping, reading or watching a favorite television program together, meal preparation, memory-loss support, transportation, relief of family caregivers, personal care, and daily living assistance, among others – all within a friendly, compassionate atmosphere.
“We’re here to help folks who are aging, baby boomers coming of age, and the sandwich generation with children who are also caring for their parents or other older family members,” Salerno said.
The Weymouth franchise covers the South Boston to Humarock area and everything in between.
‘People want to age gracefully’
“Ideally, people want to age gracefully, and Seniors Helping Seniors helps clients do that by keeping their minds active and engaged and getting them out into the community whenever possible,” he said.
Salerno left a banking career and Sonia one as a management consultant to take advantage of this opportunity after deciding they would like a change of pace.
“We were both looking for new opportunities and a way to get involved in the local community and to make a positive impact closer to home,” Sonia said. “We started working with an entrepreneurial consultant and got to know our different strengths, which complemented each other. This enabled us to bring our best skills together to start a Seniors Helping Seniors franchise,” which seemed to be the best fit from among a number of other business opportunities.
“We just fell in love with the program, which is all about mature adults helping other mature adults with their daily living needs,” Salerno said. “Seniors tend to be more empathetic to the challenges that they and fellow seniors may face.”
The foundation was already in place while allowing Sonia and Salerno to make the business their own and the freedom to be creative in their approach.
It’s all about meeting clients where they are.
“Being a caregiver is an opportunity to give back and to build relationships, which goes far in cultivating initial trust and rapport,” they agree.
Spirit of diversity
The program matches clients and caregivers in the spirit of diversity, based on similarities in age, health, language, background, and life experiences to provide the most comfortable environment for everyone involved, with a focus on physical, emotional, and social well-being.
“We’re hoping to hire 100 caretakers over the next two years,” Sonia said.
In addition to helping around the home, Seniors Helping Seniors caregivers bring cheer and companionship and help active seniors remain independent, allowing them to live the life they want in the comfort of their homes.
“Our caregivers help our clients blossom,” Salerno said.
Sonia said a woman asked about becoming a client because she was looking for companionship. As it turned out, she decided to become a caregiver instead, giving back to others while satisfying her own need for more socialization.
Seniors Helping Seniors encourages those who are currently homebound to get out into their communities with their caregivers to experience the beauty that surrounds them and to pursue both old and new interests.
The program was founded in 1998 by husband-and-wife team Kiran and Philip Yocom. Kiran, who grew up in India, later worked to advance humanitarian efforts alongside Mother Teresa. The brand became a franchise in 2006, building upon the foundation of providing loving care to seniors.
‘Good communication is the key’
The “power of love” theme sets Seniors Helping Seniors apart from other senior-care agencies. “Good communication is the key,” Sonia said.
Salerno and Sonia have met with every council on aging and senior center director in their territory and also reached out to senior living communities such as Linden Ponds, with very positive feedback, including from the overall community.
In addition, they are seeking opportunities to partner with local fitness centers, senior-living communities, and other organizations to host a senior prom and other events to help seniors in the area get to know each other and to add to their enjoyment of life.
For more information, visit www.shsbostonsouthshore.com, email info@shsbostonsouthshore.com, or call 781-626-4800. The Weymouth office is located at 534 Main St., Unit 1.

Pullquote:
An open house at Seniors Helping Seniors is planned for Friday, September 5, from 3 to 8 p.m. at 534 Main St., Unit 1, in Weymouth.