Local Couple Makes Career Out of Caring for Others

Carlsbad Residents Return Home From the U.K. to Open Homecare Business

For San Diego residents Scott and Emma Smith, homecare isn’t just a business – it’s personal. The Smiths, who purchased San Diego’s ComForcare Senior Services franchise in July, are longtime homecare veterans with more than eight years of industry experience and a personal passion for caregiving. They are looking forward to growing their business and are planning to expand to nearby territories in the coming years.

The Smiths bought San Diego ComForcare in order to move back to the U.S. from the U.K., Emma’s homeland, where they ran a homecare business together for five years. At the end of last year, they decided to return to Carlsbad – where they first met – to be closer to friends and family, but wanted to keep working in the homecare industry.

In the spring, Scott and Emma began looking into a homecare company with a similar business model as their business in the U.K. When they learned about ComForcare, they jumped at the opportunity to become business owners again and moved back to California to open their business in July.

“We wanted to continue to work in a field that improves the lives and well-being of others,” Emma said. “ComForcare affords us the opportunity to provide high quality in-home care to residents of our hometown.”

For the Smiths, homecare is a passion that stems from the couple’s experiences caring for aging parents and family members. When Emma’s mother started showing signs of needing additional care, they devoted extensive time and effort to finding a suitable provider. That, Emma said, ultimately inspired them to open their own business.

“Our personal experiences taught us the importance of getting professional, compassionate care for seniors and other vulnerable adults,” Emma said. “You want to make sure your loved one’s care provider is qualified, experienced, and reliable. ComForcare has an extensive vetting process for all employees, so our clients can rest easy knowing their elders have the best caregivers in the business.”

Although they have only owned their ComForcare franchise for a few months, the couple said the business is thriving – in spite of the economic climate.

“As the life expectancy for Americans continues to increase, requirements for in-home care are steadily growing,” Emma said. “Seniors are the largest and fastest-growing segment of the population, and we hope to continue to provide the residents of San Diego with quality homecare for a long time.”

The Smiths are already looking forward to continued growth and expansion: they plan to grow their current business and then add additional territories in the near future.

ComForcare has more than 145 franchise owners who operate 165 territories in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. Long-term growth plans call for approximately 40 new franchise locations by the end of 2012 and to reach 200 or more franchises by the end of 2013.