MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

          Owner:  Julianne Roth

          Business Opened: 2005

          Chamber Member Since: 2006

Explain the services offered by Companions for Living, LLC and your innovative approach to senior living.

Our philosophy at Companions for Living is that seniors and disabled individuals can be very significant contributors to our community.  Through our services, we encourage clients to stay active while enjoying the comfort and independence of remaining in their homes.

Companions for Living offers companion/homemaker and personal care services.  These services are available both on an hourly and live-in basis.  We also offer the Re-NEW process which is a program designed to encourage clients to renew old interests, as well as develop new interests. Our coaches are motivating and patient so that our clients may facilitate positive changes in their quality of life.

What made you decide to open a business?  How have you been able to manage such tremendous growth?

After about 20 years in a corporate setting, I decided that I wanted to make a change.  I wanted to make a difference.  I had experienced my grandmother requiring continual care.  I also foresaw other family members needing help in the coming years.  I began to researching companies in the industry.

As a mother of two young kids, job flexibility was
important to me.  I put together a business plan and never looked back.  The day my children started school in 2005 – Companions for Living open its doors.

www.CompanionsforLiving.com has under gone a transformation.  Explain the new features and how you hope they will reach potential clients.

We recently redeveloped our website to reflect our updated brand.  I wanted a website that gave people a sense of what the company is about.  We worked with satisfied clients to create video testimonials.

Our services are very personal; these testimonials resonate with people on a deeper level.  Much of our business comes from referrals – that said, these videos highlight the quality of care and high level of customer satisfaction that Companions for Living strives to achieve.

Our website is very interactive – I speak in a video featured on the homepage about our mission.  It is important for people to put a face with the company and feel supported throughout the process.  The liveliness of our website parallels our mission, which is too keep seniors active and engaged. 

Companions for Living was recently were recognized for its achievements.  Explain.

Hartford Business Journal recognized Companions for Living as the 2010 Healthcare Heroes Corporate Achievement Award recipient.  It was a wonderful honor to be recognized for our efforts in Healthcare industry.  With so much negative press about healthcare – it is easy to forget about the evolution of services and the passion healthcare workers have for their field.  Companions for Living is dedicated to providing the most innovative services based on client needs.  We look forward to growing with the industry and continuing to offer the highest quality services available.

Explain how you have been able to expand your business in a time where businesses are working to stay open.

Companions for Living has grown significantly since opening its doors in 2005.  Seniors are faced with the same challenges as all homeowners right now – selling may not be the best option for them.  Companions for Living offers an alternative to selling their home.  By providing a caregiver, many clients are able to remain in their own home where they feel most comfortable. 

We are pleased to announce our expansion down the I-91 corridor to New Haven County.  We have hired fellow Chamber (and Board) Member, Elaine Reid, to manage the new area for us.  We look forward to continued expansion.

Companions for Living has been a tremendous support of the Chamber - chairing our Marketing Committee, sponsoring our Women in Business program, to sitting on our golf committee.  Explain how these partnerships benefit your business.

I believe that Chamber membership has given us a stronghold in the West Hartford market and its surrounding communities.  The Chamber is run through committees, and chairing the Marketing Committee has enabled me to make many meaningful connections.  The services that CFL provides are very need-driven – when colleagues are in a position that requires homecare, they will look to Companions for Living for help. 

As the owner of a company, the Chamber is also a great social and professional network for me.  The monthly networking events are a great vehicle to meet to people and interact with other business owners. 

I am proud of what the Marketing Committee and the Golf Committee accomplish for the Chamber.  I encourage all Chamber members who are able, to get involved.  Whether that means volunteering for an event, or sitting on a committee – the Chamber runs on the support of its members.