Fortune magazine’s 2025 Best Workplaces in Aging Services rankings placed Senior Helpers fifth among at-home care providers, marking a significant achievement for the franchise network less than two years after Chicago-based Waud Capital Partners acquired it from Advocate Health. The recognition, based on survey feedback from over 196,000 employees across the eldercare industry, highlights the operational continuity maintained through the March 2024 ownership transition (https://www.mcknightshomecare.com/news/fortune-recognizes-15-home-care-firms-in-2025-best-workplaces-list/).
Senior Helpers operates more than 380 franchised and corporate-owned locations across 44 states, Canada, and Australia, providing non-medical services including meal planning, medication reminders, and specialized programs for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. The company’s consistent workplace recognition—having also earned spots on Fortune’s list in 2023 and 2024—demonstrates stability through its transition from nonprofit to private equity ownership (https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/waud-capital-partners-announces-the-acquisition-of-senior-helpers-302095268.html).
Healthcare Portfolio Fit
The Senior Helpers acquisition represents Waud Capital Partners’ seventh investment in home care and post-acute services, joining portfolio companies including Concierge Home Care, PromptCare, and Ivy Rehab. Reeve Waud, who founded the private equity firm in 1993, has built a track record of healthcare services investments spanning over 460 transactions (https://www.waudcapital.com/en/media/waud-capital-partners-announces-the-acquisition-of-senior-helpers/).
Steve Jakubcanin, an executive partner at Waud Capital with over 20 years of healthcare operating experience, assumed the role of executive chairman following the acquisition. His appointment reflects the firm’s executive partnership model, which pairs seasoned industry leaders with portfolio companies to drive operational improvements while preserving organizational culture.
Employee-Centric Approach Yields Results
Fortune’s methodology for determining the Best Workplaces relies on anonymous employee survey data analyzed by Great Place to Work, focusing on trust, respect, fairness, pride, and camaraderie metrics. Senior Helpers’ strong showing suggests that Waud Capital’s ownership has maintained the employee-first culture that existed under Advocate Health’s stewardship.
The achievement gains additional significance given the broader context of private equity investment in healthcare. While PE-backed providers account for only 3.3% of U.S. healthcare provider revenue according to July 2024 Pitchbook data, their influence on workplace practices and operational standards carries outsized importance (https://homehealthcarenews.com/2025/01/why-2025-will-be-pivotal-year-for-private-equity-investment-in-at-home-care/).
Building Scale Through Altocare Platform
Waud Capital Partners expanded its home care presence in April 2025 by acquiring MedTec Healthcare and combining it with Senior Helpers under a newly formed holding company called Altocare. This platform approach, frequently employed by Reeve Waud across healthcare investments, creates operational efficiencies while maintaining individual brand identities (https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/altocare-a-newly-formed-home-care-holding-company-of-waud-capital-partners-acquires-medtec-healthcare-302432784.html).
The combined entity serves both private-pay and Medicaid-supported clients, positioning it to address diverse market segments as demand for home-based care continues growing. Industry projections show the home care market expanding as America’s aging population increasingly prefers receiving services at home rather than in institutional settings.
Track Record of Healthcare Value Creation
Reeve Waud’s experience building healthcare platforms extends back to his founding of Acadia Healthcare in 2005, which grew to become one of the nation’s largest behavioral health systems before going public in 2011. He continues serving as Acadia’s board chairman while leading Waud Capital Partners’ healthcare investment approach (https://www.waudcapital.com/en/team/reeve-waud/).
The firm’s approach emphasizes partnering with experienced management teams rather than replacing them—Senior Helpers CEO Peter Ross retained his position following the acquisition, providing continuity for franchise partners and employees. This stability likely contributed to the strong employee satisfaction scores reflected in Fortune’s rankings.
Kyle Lattner, Principal at Waud Capital, emphasized the firm’s commitment to home-based care, stating: “We strongly believe in the value of services that enable seniors to thrive independently and affordably in the comfort of their own homes” (https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/waud-capital-partners-announces-the-acquisition-of-senior-helpers-302095268.html).
Looking ahead, Senior Helpers targets adding 35 new locations in 2025, building on 30 additions in 2024. With approximately 500 territories still available for development, the company sees substantial growth opportunities while maintaining the workplace culture that earned Fortune’s recognition. Under Reeve Waud’s investment stewardship, the franchise network demonstrates how private equity ownership can enhance rather than compromise employee satisfaction in healthcare services.
