Page 12 - HealthcareNews Jan_Feb 2021

TGolden Opportunities
Healthcare Venture’s Principals Named ‘Top Entrepreneurs’ in Region
he principals who have orchestrated the stunning growth of East Longmeadow- based Golden Years Home Care Services
were named the ‘Top Entrepreneurs’ for 2020 by HCN’s sister publication, BusinessWest.
Since being launched in 2016, this company, which started with home-care services, has expanded in every way imaginable. That includes its geograph- ic footprint — it has moved well beyond its Greater Springfield roots and into Central Mass. and North- ern Conn., with a new satellite office in downtown Boston set to open later this year.
“The exciting thing
is that we’ve only scratched the surface.”
The growth also includes new services; sens-
ing opportunities, the company has expanded into behavioral-health services and will soon open a staff- ing component as well.
There’s also been seemingly constant expansion
of the facilities in East Longmeadow, with a buildout now in progress for the staffing and behavioral- health pieces of this ever-changing puzzle. And, look- ing ahead, plans are taking shape to franchise some services, expand into many more states, and perhaps take the company public to raise the capital to fuel all this expansion.
Like an artist’s canvas, Golden Years is taking shape — and changing shape — quickly and dra- matically, with those holding the brushes not exactly sure what the picture will look like when they’re done — or what ‘done’ will mean.
The sign on the prop- erty in East Longmead- ow’s center announced the arrival of the Gold- en Years Behav- ioral Health Group, one of many indicators of growth at this com- pany.
From left, Golden Years principals Brian Santani- ello, Mary Flahive- Dickson, and Cesar Ruiz Jr.
“We’re beginning our fifth year of operation, and it’s said that, when you hit that fifth year, that’s when you really lay down that foundation,” said Ruiz. “We have grown by leaps and bounds in terms of our census, not only with our clients, but also with our caregivers; overall, we’re an organization that’s now
managing more than 1,000 people, including admin- istrative, caregiver staff, and clients.
“And the exciting thing,” he went on, “is that we’ve only scratched the surface.”
Please see Golden, page 38
Mary Flahive- Dickson says the pandemic initially forced many to cancel or sus- pend home- care services. But as time went on, many came to see the home as a safer alterna- tive to nursing homes and other facilities.
12 WWW.HEALTHCARENEWS.COM JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021