Name of People featured: Larry and Nell Neal

Name of business: Home Instead Senior Care

Street address: 4433 Godwin Blvd. Suite A, Suffolk, VA 23434

Phone number: (757) 255-9070

operating hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday

E-mail address: larry.neal@homeinstead.com

Nature of business: Home Instead Senior Care is the world’s most trusted non-medical source of companionship and home care for seniors.

principle owners: Larry and Nell Neal are franchise owners of the Suffolk, Isle of Wight and Southampton counties territory.

year founded: We opened our doors on March 16. We have offices in the local areas in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake/Portsmouth, Norfolk and on the peninsula in Hampton and Newport News.

Number of employees: Right now we have six CAREGivers hired and many more going through our extensive process of background checks and referencing.

How’s business? We are in the process of building up our client base and things are going very well.

One thing you wish everyone knew about your business: The thing we would want everyone to know about our business is how rewarding it is to be able to help seniors or anyone with the services that will provide a way for them to remain in their homes (or wherever they call home) for a longer period of time. We also help improve their quality of life and keep their independence.

something you offer that a customer won’t find elsewhere: We are referred by thousands of health care, medical and social services organizations throughout the world. We require our CAREGivers to complete a multi phase training program that enables them to respond to unique situations.

advice to young entrepreneurs: Our advice to anyone going into business for themselves is to make sure that the endeavor, whatever it may be, is being of some service to help others in need. Make sure it’s a cause greater than yourself and, most of all, that you have a passion for this cause. We have found that, through this business that we are in, our lives have a purpose and meaning that we have never experienced before. I wake up and look forward to the day that awaits me because I know I’m making a difference in people’s lives and that is a very rewarding experience.

your first job: Delivering newspapers.

Your role model: We really didn’t have a role model until we met the founder of Home Instead Senior Care and he has inspired us and changed our lives around for the better. His name is Paul Hogan. Together, with his wife, Lori, they have created a vehicle for countless business people and entrepreneurs alike to explore the world of giving and helping others.