Seniors Helping Seniors hopes to bridge long-term care, employment gaps
As Arizonans age, many will need some kind of long-term care or support at home. At the same time, it can be challenging for seniors to find employment after retirement — something many do to supplement their income. Now, a new business model aims to address both issues.
It’s called Seniors Helping Seniors. Owners Mike and Julie Emmelhainz are hoping this non-medical model of older adults taking care of older adults takes off.
"Teen thousand people a day in the U.S. turned 65. So, we are in a very aging population. And I think our model is part of that solution," said Mike Emmelhainz. "Because there just aren't enough people to take care of those [people]. So, you almost have to be intragenerational — taking care of each other.
Julie Emmelhainz is a retired nurse. She said older caregivers come in with a different perspective.
"They realize they're going to be there someday. Right now they're active, but they want to help those that are not as active as they are," she said.
Seniors Helping Seniors currently operates in the southeast Valley.
