Glen Scharfeld is a seasoned entrepreneur and the co-owner of Senior Helpers, a leading provider of in-home care for seniors in Citrus County, Florida. With over two decades of experience in the healthcare sector, Glen has dedicated his career to enhancing the lives of the elderly and their families. He holds a degree in Healthcare Management and has leveraged his extensive background in community service to develop compassionate, innovative care solutions tailored to the unique needs of seniors.
Glen’s expertise spans strategic planning, operations management, and community outreach, all of which have been instrumental in establishing Senior Helpers as a trusted name in senior care. He is particularly passionate about integrating technology into care solutions to improve the independence and safety of seniors. Glen’s leadership is marked by a commitment to ethical practices, ongoing professional development for his team, and a personal mission to ensure that every client receives the highest quality of care. His work not only supports the physical health of seniors but also addresses their emotional and social well-being, making a significant impact in the community.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My typical day starts early with a review of my schedule and priorities. I make it productive by focusing on structured time management, ensuring that every hour counts. I dedicate specific blocks of time to different aspects of Senior Helpers, from operations and client meetings to caregiver training sessions. Staying disciplined with my schedule helps me maintain productivity and effectiveness in running the business.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I bring ideas to life through collaboration. Whenever I conceive a new idea that could improve our services, I discuss it with my team to get different perspectives. This collaborative approach allows us to refine the idea, anticipate potential challenges, and devise practical implementation strategies. This way, each idea is thoroughly vetted before execution.
What’s one trend that excites you?
The trend towards using technology in elder care really excites me. Innovations like telemedicine, wearable health monitors, and AI-driven personal assistants can significantly enhance the quality of life for seniors, making care more proactive and personalized.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
A key habit that boosts my productivity is starting each day with a clear agenda and a set of goals. Knowing exactly what I need to achieve by the end of the day helps me stay focused and measure my progress effectively.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I would advise my younger self to embrace every challenge as an opportunity. Early in my career, I often saw obstacles as setbacks instead of chances to learn and grow. Understanding this perspective sooner would have accelerated my personal and professional development.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
I believe that the elder care industry can benefit immensely from adopting even more advanced technology, faster than currently accepted. Some may see rapid tech integration as too disruptive for seniors, but I believe it’s crucial for improving care quality and efficiency.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Consistently ask for feedback. Whether it’s from clients, staff, or industry peers, feedback has been invaluable for my personal growth and for improving our business at Senior Helpers. It helps identify blind spots and opens up new ways to enhance our service.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
When overwhelmed, I take a step back and prioritize my tasks, often using the Eisenhower Box method to distinguish between what’s urgent and what’s important. This helps in refocusing and tackling tasks in a more manageable, less stressful way.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Building a strong network has been instrumental. Networking within and outside the healthcare industry has opened up numerous opportunities, from partnerships and collaborations to gaining insights into best practices that have significantly influenced our strategic direction.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
One failure was underestimating the importance of a tailored marketing strategy in the early days of Senior Helpers. We overcame this by hiring marketing professionals who understood our mission and could communicate our value effectively. The key lesson was recognizing when to bring in specialized expertise to complement our existing strengths.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
A service that coordinates and personalizes end-of-life care planning for families. This service would not only handle the logistics but also provide emotional and legal support during a difficult time.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Trello is a software tool that boosts my productivity immensely. I use it to organize tasks, track project progress, and manage team assignments efficiently. It’s simple and visual, which helps in keeping everything on track without complexity.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
One of my favorite books is “Being Mortal” by Atul Gawande. It’s a profound exploration of aging and mortality, providing valuable insights that have influenced how I think about caregiving and the services we provide at Senior Helpers.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I recently enjoyed watching “The Kominsky Method” on Netflix. It’s a series that combines humor with the realities of aging, and I appreciate how it addresses serious issues with a light-hearted touch, making it both entertaining and reflective.
Key learnings
- Emphasis on Communication and Personalization
- Strategic Approach to Caregiver Selection
- Gradual Introduction and Continuous Evaluation