Some journeys begin with opportunity.
Mine began with loss.
When my mother, Dolly, grew older and needed nursing home care in Lebanon, I didn’t get the chance to visit her before she passed away in 2021. Work had consumed me. I had purchased a pizzeria in 2020 while continuing my healthcare IT consulting work, and like many small business owners during COVID, I was stretched thin.
When she died, something inside me changed.
I had already lost my father at 12 years old. My aunt passed away in 2020 after also living in a nursing home. Suddenly, I felt like I was alone in the world.
But grief has a way of clarifying what matters.
The Stories That Wouldn’t Leave Me
While running the restaurant, I would talk to seniors every day. Many of them shared stories that stayed with me long after they left.
A man whose wife had died.
Children living out of state.
Loneliness.
Isolation.
Struggling quietly.
Those conversations reopened wounds I felt when placing my own loved ones into care.
I realized something: I didn’t want to sit back and watch seniors struggle with isolation and loss. I wanted to do something about it.
Why Seniors Helping Seniors® In- Home Care
After 25 years in healthcare information technology, including work at the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and later with UMass Memorial Health, I understood healthcare systems deeply. I helped build data systems that supported physicians and improved patient care behind the scenes.
That work was meaningful. It connected me to something bigger than myself.
But I wanted to make a difference face-to-face.
That’s what led me to Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home care, a unique caregiving model that matches active seniors with other seniors who need companionship and non-medical assistance. It’s care rooted in dignity, empathy, and shared life experience.
Now, I’m proud to bring the first Central Massachusetts franchise to Worcester.
Serving Seniors Across Central Massachusetts
Our new office will serve families in:
- Worcester
- Shrewsbury
- Northborough
- Boylston
- West Boylston
- Surrounding communities
Our goal is simple: help seniors remain independent, connected, and treated with the dignity they deserve.
As franchise owner, I personally oversee caregiver hiring and matching. Compatibility matters. If someone has pets, we match accordingly. If personalities align in certain ways, we prioritize that. This isn’t just scheduling, it’s relationship building.
Because care is personal.
From Lebanon to Worcester: A Full-Circle Moment
I came to the United States from Lebanon in 1984 during the Lebanese civil war, seeking opportunity and stability. America gave me education, career growth, and the ability to build businesses.
Now, this chapter feels different.
This isn’t about career advancement.
It’s about purpose.
It’s about honoring my mother’s memory by ensuring other families don’t feel the regret I felt. It’s about stepping in when someone feels alone. It’s about restoring dignity and independence.
Caregiving isn’t just a service. It’s a calling.
A Different Approach to Care
At Seniors Helping Seniors® Central Massachusetts, many caregivers are seniors themselves. They understand loss. They understand change. They understand what it feels like when children move away or life becomes quieter than expected.
That shared understanding changes everything.
We provide:
- Companion care
- Light housekeeping
- Transportation to appointments
- Meal preparation
- Respite support for family caregivers
- And more non-medical assistance
But more than tasks, we provide connection.
Moving Forward with Purpose
I don’t want to look back years from now and wish I had done more.
This franchise gives me the opportunity to honor my family by doing for other seniors what I couldn’t do for my own, helping families across Central Massachusetts navigate aging with compassion, dignity, and heart.
My mother deserved dignity in her final years.
Every senior does.
If you or someone you love could benefit from compassionate, relationship-based in-home care in Central Massachusetts, I would be honored to speak with you.
—
George Arab
Owner, Seniors Helping Seniors® Central Massachusetts
Serving Worcester and surrounding communities