Franchise Beast interviews Valerie Amador, founder of Placement Helpers

In 2007 I began my career as a Senior Care Advisor, helping families navigate the complexities of senior care and placement.

In 2009 I was approached by my brother, Glen Amador, to start a new brand, Assisted Transition, which soon became a franchise. With my experience in the senior living industry, my office in Long Beach, CA became the model unit and training hub for new franchises.

In 2012, Placement Helpers was born, I parted ways with my brother who had recently sold the Assisted Transition franchise business. I had to start from scratch and have been able to build a reputation alongside my dedicated team as the one of the most trusted senior care placement companies in California, with extensions to Arizona, Texas and Florida.

Personalized, Hands-On Approach, We take the time to talk or meet with families, listen to their needs, and provide customized recommendations. Each senior has unique care needs, and we tailor our services accordingly, ensuring they find a community or service that truly fits them.

Local Expertise, As a local service, we have in-depth knowledge of the various senior living communities in the area. We vet each community carefully, so families can have peace of mind knowing that the recommendations come from a reliable and trusted source.

Comprehensive Service, From the initial consultation to touring potential communities, we support families every step of the way. Our goal is to make the transition as smooth as possible for everyone involved.

At Placement Helpers our mission is to provide families with trusted, compassionate, and personalized guidance as they navigate the senior living and care options available, helping them make informed decisions that enhance the quality of life for their loved ones.

Vision to become the most respected and trusted senior living placement service in every community we serve, making a positive impact on families, seniors, and our partners. We envision a world where every senior has access to personalized, dignified, and high-quality care.

Franchisees receive comprehensive training at our corporate office in Pasadena before launch, where they participate in a five-day program. This training covers everything from understanding the senior care industry to client relations, partner network development, and marketing strategies. Once their franchise is ready for its grand opening, we provide ongoing support, including an additional five-day training in their local territory to focus on marketing assistance within their community. We also offer materials and supplies discounts, operational guidance, and access to our 200+ page franchise operational manual. Franchisees gain access to our proprietary CRM system and can rely on our team members to help establish partnerships in their communities. Additionally, they become part of a growing network of advisors and corporate partnerships. Our goal is to ensure franchisees feel confident and supported at every stage of their journey.

The ideal franchisee for Placement Helpers is compassionate, community-oriented, and has a genuine desire to help families. They should possess strong interpersonal skills and the ability to empathize with clients during a potentially stressful time. Self-motivated, hardworking and charismatic personalities. Experience in senior care isn’t necessary, but a background in sales doesn’t hurt. The ideal candidate is someone who truly wants to help and make a difference in someone's lives.

The typical initial investment for a Placement Helpers franchise includes the franchise fee, startup costs, and initial marketing expenses. We can recommend financing partners to offer options that make the franchise opportunity more accessible to potential franchisees.

We maintain consistent quality through rigorous training and a strong support system. Our advisors follow established protocols for prescreening senior care communities and the agencies we partner with. We also encourage open communication and provide ongoing education to keep our advisors informed of industry changes and best practices. We will require all of our franchises to become a Certified Care Advisor through our partnership with the Society of Certified Senior Care Advisors (CSA).

The senior care industry is expanding rapidly, and Placement Helpers is poised to grow along with it. We continue to establish more and more partnerships with senior living communities and senior care agencies on a local and corporate level. We see tremendous opportunities for expansion into new territories, particularly as more families seek trusted advisors to help them navigate senior care. We plan to continue building our brand’s reputation as a reliable, local resource in communities across the country.

Placement Helpers stays ahead by closely monitoring industry trends and regularly updating our training programs and CRM systems to reflect the latest updates or personnel changes. We prioritize innovation, incorporating technology to enhance client consultations, streamline operations, and improve overall efficiency. By staying responsive to industry changes and evolving client needs, we empower our franchisees to deliver top-notch services. We also maintain an ongoing dialogue with our franchise network, gathering insights that help us continually refine our processes. We believe that adapting to market trends and maintaining consistency in daily operations are essential to long-term success.

My advice would be to think about your personal motivations and how much you enjoy helping others. With Placement Helpers, your role goes beyond business—you’re truly making a difference in people’s lives. You’re not only helping clients and families but also working alongside social workers, case managers and doctors, building connections with new people and professionals throughout your community. If you have a passion for helping families and want to be part of a supportive and rewarding industry, then our franchise might be the perfect fit.