Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian And Lauren Dreis.
Hi Brian and Lauren, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
We always wanted to own a business – but that business had to have a specific purpose. We wanted to help people.
Like many families, ours experienced firsthand how overwhelming and lonely aging can feel, both for seniors and for the people who love them. We saw the gaps: great medical care, but not always enough day-to-day human connection, consistency, and support at home. That experience changed how I looked at aging and what “care” really means.
My husband Brian and I discovered Seniors Helping Seniors and were drawn to its simple but powerful idea: active older adults helping seniors. It felt different — more relational, more dignified, more human. We opened our KC North location with a clear purpose: to create a service built on compassion, trust, and meaningful connection, not just tasks and schedules. Our model is different by design.
In the early days, we wore every hat — answering phones, meeting families at kitchen tables, onboarding caregivers, filling shifts ourselves when needed. Slowly, through word of mouth, community partnerships, and a lot of listening, we grew.
Today, we serve families across multiple counties, employ an incredible team of caregivers and care managers, and continue to expand our services to meet the real needs of aging adults in our community. But the heart of what we do hasn’t changed: helping seniors stay in their homes, feel valued, and stay connected — while giving families peace of mind.
This isn’t just a business to us. It’s personal. It’s our way of offering another way to experience aging, one relationship at a time.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all — it’s been meaningful, but far from easy.
Like most small businesses, especially in healthcare, we faced challenges early on with hiring and retaining the right caregivers, building trust in a competitive market, and learning how to balance quality care with the realities of running a business. Finding people who truly share our heart for seniors — not just those looking for a paycheck — took time.
There were also seasons of uncertainty: slow growth periods, staffing shortages, long days and late nights, and moments where we questioned if we were doing enough or doing it right. The emotional weight can be heavy too — walking alongside families during difficult transitions, illness, and loss stays with you.
But each challenge shaped how we operate today. We built stronger systems, invested deeply in training and support, and became more intentional about our culture and values. Most importantly, the hard moments clarified our “why.”
Those struggles didn’t stop us — they strengthened our commitment to do this work with excellence, integrity, and compassion.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At our core, we provide non-medical in-home care that helps older adults remain safe, independent, and connected in their own homes. That includes companionship, personal care, light housekeeping, transportation, meal support, medication reminding, round the clock care, respite for family caregivers, and specialized support for individuals living with Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, and other chronic conditions.
What we specialize in — and what we’re best known for — is our peer-to-peer care model. We intentionally hire active, compassionate older adults to care for other seniors. That creates something powerful: instant relatability, mutual respect, and genuine friendships. Care doesn’t feel clinical or transactional; it feels human.
We’re also known locally for being deeply hands-on. We don’t just place a caregiver and disappear. Our care managers stay closely involved, our team is accessible, and families know they can reach a real person who understands their situation. We spend time matching personalities, routines, and values — not just availability.
What I’m most proud of is the culture we’ve built. Our caregivers feel valued and supported. Our clients feel seen and protected. And our families feel like they have a true partner, not just a service provider. Seeing a senior regain confidence, stay in their home longer than expected, or simply smile again because they have someone who truly cares — that never gets old.
What sets us apart is that we lead with relationships first, systems second. We invest heavily in training, communication, and consistency, but we never lose sight of the fact that this is about people, not schedules. We also operate very locally — we know our communities, our resources, and our families personally.
In short, we’re known for compassionate, reliable care — delivered by people who truly understand aging, because they’re walking that journey too.
What does success mean to you?
For us, success isn’t just measured in numbers or growth — it’s measured in impact.
Success looks like a senior who feels safe staying in their own home. A family who can finally sleep at night knowing their loved one is cared for. A caregiver who finds purpose, dignity, and connection through meaningful work. When those three things are happening — clients thriving, families supported, and caregivers valued — we know we’re doing something right.
Of course, a healthy, sustainable business matters too. It allows us to serve more families, support our team well, and keep improving our services. But growth is the result, not the goal.
Ultimately, success to us means building something that improves lives, strengthens our community, and treats people with compassion and respect — every single day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shskcnorth.com
- Instagram: @shskcnorth
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/SHSKCNorth
