Lebanon franchise owner combines best of both worlds with Seniors Helping Seniors

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Central Pennsylvania native Pam Shirk has a background in health care and franchise ownership.  

It seemed natural then, that though she wasn’t seeking another franchise ownership recently, one such opportunity presented itself to her. The Seniors Helping Seniors franchise that serves Lebanon and Lower Dauphin counties was secured by Shirk last summer, and she’s excited about its future as she combines the best of her background.  

“We joined August 1 of this year,” said Shirk. “We weren’t out looking. I was taking a break from owning my own business and doing some part-time work for a friend. This just kind of fell in my lap and here we are.  

“I thought it was a great fit with my background in franchising and my background at a health care facility for so long. I was excited to see what the franchise offered and what kind of brand they are. I was really impressed researching them.”  

Shirk spent 15 years in health care, working at Fredericksburg Health Center, now UPMC Primary Care Fredericksburg.  

“I started out in family practice and did almost everything in the practice,” Shirk said. “Medicine is a lot different now than it was then. I started out as a certified medical assistant and did everything from front office to back office, vaccines, stress tests, all sorts of procedures. When I left, I was the floor supervisor.”  

Shirk went from family practice to franchise ownership with Edible Arrangements in 2008 and stayed with the company until 2015.  

“I was thinking that if I’m working this hard for someone else, I want to do it for myself, but I didn’t know a lot about business,” said Shirk. “I thought franchising was the way to go with brand recognition and also to help me learn business.”  

Shirk eventually purchased not just one franchise but three, owning locations in Lebanon, Lancaster, and in Lititz.  

“I thought, ‘I could work in the kitchen and my husband could make the deliveries,’” she said. “But my husband stayed with his job, so three stores later I was doing it by myself. I thought, ‘I don’t want to do this anymore.’ It taught me a lot about business and got me entrenched in the community in Lebanon. I love the business world in Lebanon.”  

Shirk said she sold the stores in Lancaster and Lebanon and closed the one in Lititz.  

Born in Lancaster, Shirk moved to Lebanon County in elementary school. Now she’s supporting seniors and veterans in Lebanon who prefer to stay independent at home. Seniors Helping Seniors provide non-medical support for clients and help them stay comfortable in their surroundings as they age in place.  

“This came up and I thought, ‘How can I not do it?’” said Shirk. “So here we are, combining both of my passions. It’s been a great transition and we’re still transitioning. We’ve only been in it for a few months, and I can’t wait until next year at this time when we’re settled in to see what it really feels like.  

“We bought the franchise from another couple who owned it for 17 years. There are good and bad points when you’re buying an existing franchise. My issue right now isn’t getting clients, my issue is getting caregivers. When you’re building from the ground up, you’re worried about getting clients so we’re a little bit unique in that situation.”  

Shirk said her staff is continuing to service the clients they have while looking to continue to grow.  

“My immediate concern and the immediate thing that we’re working on is developing a really good, strong caregiving staff,” she said. “We’re working with a company trying to find qualified caregivers in the area that meets all of our criteria. The other owners had a good strong team in place, but I need more if we want to continue to grow.  

“Our immediate concern is getting folks hired that meet our criteria and want to give some time back to our communities.”  

Shirk said that as her business is seeking seniors who want to help other seniors, they’re looking for a specific age group.  

“The age group we’re looking for doesn’t want to work a lot of hours and I get that,” she said. “That for us is a unique problem. But when we do find qualified caregivers, they’re much more reliable and dependable in giving their time and energy to what they want to do. Once they want to do it, they fully commit.  

“It’s been a challenge. The pool (of workers) is there. I think it’s just finding a way to connect with those people.”  

If Shirk were to advise others seeking to own a franchise, she would tell them to research the company and make certain their brand is one they have a passion for.  

“You’re in business for yourself but not by yourself, which is a great thing,” said Shirk. “I would also caution that it’s hard work. There are a lot of responsibilities that go along with being a franchise owner. It’s a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, but there’s also people you can call on for support. Make sure you understand what the involvement is from you as well as the franchise and what they’re willing to do for you.”