Franchisee Testimonial: Kara F. - Illinois

What made you decide to open a Senior Helpers location in your community? Why not something else?

The Senior Helpers mission is personal to me, I have seen first-hand how important quality senior care was to my grandmother to be able to continue to live comfortably in her own home. It's my privilege to provide that same care for the people of Bolingbrook.

What excites you most about opening your Senior Helpers business?

I love the richness of the diversity of people who live and work in my local area. Key to supporting the community is how the growing number of seniors are cared for. Opening any business is exciting… but opening a business with such a purpose is even more exciting! 

Kara was named 2023 Rookie of the Year. Hear what this means to her.

What are you passionate about?

I'm passionate about great customer service and I hope that shines through in everything we do as a team. My mantra is to always "Share a smile, know your stuff and show you care". What I love most about Senior Helpers is the impact we can have locally by improving the quality of lives for our clients, their families and our employees.

Tell us a little about your family (Married? Kids? Pets?) and/or what accomplishments are you most proud of?

I live with my husband and two sons, Emre and Ozan. I'm very proud of my boys and particularly enjoy it when they adopt the multicultural aspects that represent their heritage. My husband's family are English, my family Turkish and they were born in America. I love to see how all this presents itself in my boys.

What do you enjoy doing during your spare time?

I play an active role in my local community. I spend a lot of time with local children's charities and promoting events for seniors. I also love seeing my boys grow their interests which are martial arts and soccer and like most parents provide a never-ending personal taxi service.

Do you volunteer in your community or are there any special charities or social causes that are meaningful to you? If so, please share where and why?

I am a member of Bolingbrook Chamber. I volunteer in community events especially the ones that hold at Levy Senior Center. I attend the senior center monthly meetings to help educate seniors regarding their options for care in our community.

Is there any additional information you would like included on your Meet the Office Page?

I was born in Trabzon an area near the Black Sea in Turkey. We later moved to Istanbul as a family. At the age of 17, I decided to travel alone to the UK to see if I could find a way of making a living and therefore be supportive of my family needs back in Turkey. It was a brave step, but with a lot of hard work and determination I found jobs which funded my education resulting in two degrees. I guess that I'm a good example of "social mobility". Through pure determination and tenacity, I now find myself owning a business and one which provides care and opportunity for others.