admin As the healthcare landscape shifts, home care has taken on a central role in supporting millions who wish to age or recover in familiar surroundings. Families across North America face difficult decisions when choosing care for their loved ones, seeking providers who offer more than basic assistance—providers who offer trust, compassion, and respect for independence. Home Helpers® Home Care has become a standout name in this field, delivering personalized in-home care through a vast franchise network spanning more than 340 locations in the U.S. and Canada.
At the heart of this growth is Emma Dickison, CEO and President of Home Helpers. With over 30 years of experience in franchising and a personal connection to caregiving, Emma has led the company through decades of expansion and innovation. Her leadership reflects a rare blend of business acumen and genuine empathy. Emma understands that home care is not just a service but a lifeline for individuals and families facing life’s most vulnerable moments. Under her guidance, Home Helpers has grown into a trusted partner for thousands of families, offering services that honor the dignity and independence of those they serve.
“Leadership grounded in integrity and compassion drives Home Helpers’ mission to deliver trusted, client-centered home care nationwide”
– Emma Dickison
Early Foundations: From Family Business to Franchise Expertise
Raised in Florida, Emma Dickison’s leadership philosophy was shaped in the environment of a small family business. From a young age, she absorbed lessons in hard work, customer service, and managing people—skills that would serve as pillars throughout her career. Originally set on a path to become a teacher, Emma’s career evolved as she recognized the expansive impact of corporate training within franchising. Her entry into the franchise world began with a small brand, soon progressing to leadership roles in two major companies.
Emma spent 14 years at Blockbuster, culminating in the position of National Director of Franchise Operations. Her role involved overseeing franchise relationships, operations, and expansion efforts. Later, as Vice President of Franchise Services at Sylvan Learning Center, Emma managed a portfolio exceeding 1,000 franchise units and revenues surpassing $660 million. This extensive experience honed her skills in scaling large networks while maintaining operational excellence and a strong culture.
Transforming Home Helpers Home Care Into a National Leader
Emma joined Home Helpers Home Care in 2007, a pivotal step aligning her professional expertise with her personal values. Founded on a founder’s own caregiving experience, Home Helpers was originally a small companion care service that has since expanded into a nationwide franchise network. Today, the company operates more than 340 franchises, serving around 1,500 communities across the U.S. and Canada.
Under Emma’s leadership, the company has grown its service offerings beyond companion care to include personal care, meal preparation, medication reminders, and innovative technology-driven solutions such as the Cared-4℠ program. This program uses remote monitoring technology combined with traditional caregiving, enabling continuous client support even when a caregiver is not physically present. This fusion of technology and human care reflects Emma’s forward-thinking approach to addressing evolving client needs.
Emma’s own family caregiving experience, notably supporting her grandmother through multiple strokes, has deepened her understanding of the emotional and logistical challenges families face. This insight fuels her dedication to making Home Helpers a company where care quality and compassion are paramount. Her father’s advice—to “always strive to do things right, but always do the right thing”—serves as a guiding principle in her leadership, balancing integrity with practical decision-making.
Navigating Industry Challenges Through Innovation and Commitment
The home care sector is marked by challenges including labor shortages, regulatory demands, and the necessity for highly personalized care coordination. Emma approaches these hurdles as opportunities to innovate. She has driven investments in caregiver training, technology adoption, and improved communication systems that enhance both franchisee operations and client experiences.
The company’s record of 27 consecutive years of growth speaks to the success of this strategy. Emma ensures the organization remains agile, expanding service lines and refining the client experience to meet demographic shifts and changing care expectations. A culture rooted in shared values and ethical leadership strengthens franchisee engagement and ensures consistent care quality nationwide.
Broad Industry Leadership and Advocacy
Emma’s influence extends beyond Home Helpers. She serves on the board of the Home Care Association of America and has held positions with the Women’s Franchise and Distribution Forum. As an active member of the International Franchise Association, Emma has earned distinguished certifications, including Certified Franchise Executive and Certified Senior Advisor.
Her participation in these organizations underscores her commitment to advancing industry standards, workforce development, and quality care initiatives. Emma also mentors franchise owners and peers, encouraging leadership rooted in integrity and collaboration.
“Innovation combined with personal commitment enables Home Helpers to turn challenges into opportunities for quality, independent living”
– Emma Dickison
Vision for Growth and Impact
Emma foresees continued growth for Home Helpers focused on deepening market penetration within North America. While international expansion remains a possibility, the company’s immediate priorities include scaling technology-enabled services and expanding caregiver training programs to meet rising demand.
She advises aspiring leaders to cultivate strong teams aligned by shared values and complementary expertise. Emma believes that success depends not only on vision but also on assembling advisors and partners who help navigate business challenges with insight and resilience.
Magazine 
