Terri Robbins is the president and owner of Assisting Hands Houston, and leads the team of Houston-area franchises as the Area Representative. Her desire for home health care stems from a dream she and her mother, Claire Gulsby, had of owning and operating a hospice business. Before they could launch the business, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.
A stay-at-home mom at the time, Robbins became the primary caregiver for her mother. Every day after she dropped off her children at school, she headed to her parents’ home. She bathed and dressed her mom, prepared meals and tidied up the house in between housekeeper visits.
“When you are taking care of someone else, you can forget to take care of yourself,” said Robbins. “And when that happens you aren’t good physically or emotionally to care for your loved one.”
When Robbins left to pick up her children from school, her mom was left in the care of her dad, sister-in-law and other family members. This went on for three years.
In 1998, Gulsby lost her battle against breast cancer. Divorced, with her children in college, Robbins decided to pursue her entrepreneurial dream. Looking to launch her own business — she assumed in food — a franchise broker presented Assisting Hands Home Care to her after learning the story of how Terri took care of her mom and their desire to own a hospice business.
Robbins took the broker’s advice, and began extensive research. After many conversations with Assisting Hands’ founder Dr. Gail Silverstein, Robbins traveled to Phoenix and saw first-hand Silverstein’s commitment to patient care. Robbins was so impressed with her knowledge of the caregiving and health care industries, she joined the Assisting Hands Home Care family as a franchise owner and area representative in Houston, Texas. In May 2008, she opened her business in Humble to serve north Houston seniors and other residents needing non-medical home health care services.
“I am passionate about the difference our caregivers make in the lives of our clients and their families,” said Robbins. “My team is comprised of professionals who share my passion of serving and enabling individuals to live at home in safety, comfort and dignity.”
Assisting Hands Houston is one of more than 80 franchise locations across the United States. Assisting Hands offers a comprehensive menu of services, which includes non-medical companionship and personal care services, skilled nursing, and total care management that fill the gap between living at home with dignity and the need for institutionalized medical care.
