Senior-Care Agency to Open NWA Office

Kendall Price and Lori Williams, owners of Christian Companion Senior Care in Fort Smith, plan to expand the in-home service to Benton and Washington counties.

Price, who lived in Springdale for 17 years and still has strong ties to the city, said they’re just starting to look for caregivers in the area as well as someone to serve as an office administrator.

That office will likely be in Springdale, Price said.

“But if we ended up with most of our clients predominantly in, say, Bella Vista or Rogers, we might change that,” he said.

Price and Williams, who own the franchise along with their spouses, Kathy Price and Denis Williams, opened the Fort Smith location last fall. They’ve served between 60 and 70 families, they said, and have about 30 caregivers.

Besides helping with personal care, transportation and light housekeeping, Christian Companion offers “spiritual care.” This may include prayer for personal concerns, reading the Bible, sharing devotionals, singing favorite hymns and accompanying the client to church services.

“Our caregivers aren’t just there to offer the basic needs, but to love on these people, pray with them, encourage them,” Lori Williams said.

She said they’ll also help with pet care, whether it’s washing a dog or cleaning a bird cage.

“It makes a difference between a senior having to give their pet away or getting a little extra help,” Williams said.

The company started in 2004 with an office in Oklahoma City. It now has 31 franchise units in seven states, according to its website.