New Business in Edgewater: "IKOR USA" to Help Seniors, Disabled

A new business is opening on Friday in Edgewater, IKOR USA, which offers healthcare advocacy and guardianship services to seniors and the disabled.

Paul Shoemaker, a lieutenant with the Anne Arundel County Fire Department, is running the franchise. To start, he’ll have one employee, Vicky Conroy, a registered nurse with 28 years of experience.

Shoemaker said that he decided to launch the business because he has been contemplating retirement with the AAFD.

“I’ve been in the fire department for 21 years, looking to retire, and I was looking for the next chapter in my life,” Shoemaker said.

After perusing different franchise opportunties online, Shoemaker settled on IKOR.

“It’s a good transition from what I’ve done,” he said.

Shoemaker said that IKOR has been in business for 14 years, and about 60 percent of their business is with special needs and the disabled. However, in our market, there will also be a focus on the elderly.

Shoemaker said that what the company does is primarily advocacy and guardianship.

First they do a “total person assessment.” And with that, they create strategic long-term and short term goals. Their assessment covers medical issues, living environment, and psycho-social aspects.

The Edgewater store is the first Maryland franchise for the Pennsylvania-based company.  The Edgewater office will service Anne Arundel, Howard, Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties.

Shoemaker said that the model works off an hourly payment schedule. “So the more we do, the more we are paid, the less we do, the less we get paid,” he said.

As baby boomers begin aging up as a group, support and supervision of seniors can be a difficult task for families. Sometimes elderly or disabled family members need help with everyday tasks like paying bills, or coordinating doctor appointments. That is where IKOR comes in to help coordinate those responsibilities.

Shoemaker said that he plans to find business by direct marketing and meetings with trust lawyers, trust attorneys, banks, the Department of Aging, nursing homes, hospitals and doctor’s offices.

Shoemaker's business does not have a storefront or office - to contact IKOR, call 877-IKORUSA.