The Kelowna Daily Courier

August 23, 2008

Nurse Next Door

by STEVE MACNAULL

Kelowna is getting a Nurse Next Door franchise.

Local couples David and Tricia Russell and Scott and Lynn Jacobsen have purchased the Central Okanagan franchise and hope to be in business Oct. 1.

In the meantime, it is in hiring mode, looking for companion caregivers with certification like community service worker, care aide, licensed practical nurse and registered nurse.

The franchise also offers training for new hires. It has also started marketing to seniors, the disabled and the sick who might need the firm’s home care, housekeeping, companion or healthcare services.

David Russell is also vice-president of the Raymond James Investments office in Kelowna.

Nurse Next Door was founded by John DeHart, who grew up in Penticton.

His great great uncle was Francis DeHart, who was Kelowna’s second mayor a century ago.

DeHart lives in Vancouver, where he has built Nurse Next Door to multiple outlets and 1,100 staff.

He identified Kelowna last fall as one of the first points of expansion outside the Lower Mainland and started the search for franchisees.

A good chunk of the aging population is wealthy, creating a bigger market for private home health care.


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