McKnights Home Care: Griswold’s New Scholarship Program Honors Caregivers, Founder’s Legacy

In 1982, Jean Griswold founded Griswold Home Care, the first non-medical home healthcare franchise in the country. She was already 51 years old, twelve years after her MS diagnosis and confined to a wheelchair. Dr. Jean’s diagnosis is where her mission began.

Griswold Home Care was born from Dr. Griswold’s first hand understanding of people’s need for in-home care. Now, nearly 40 years later, the legacy Dr. Jean has left behind — a network of more than 168 independent franchise units in 29 states and a foundation in her name — continues her mission.

The foundation will be awarding five scholarships annually of up to $2,000 to deserving caregivers who wish to further their education in a care-related field. Applicants do not have to be associated with Griswold Home Care, and the funds will be paid directly to the institution where the caregiver will be receiving education.

“The fact that the scholarships are intended for caregivers – those working to improve the lives of others – would have special meaning to her as she loved the caregivers that she got to know through her work,” said Kent Griswold, Jean’s son and former president and CEO of Griswold Home Care. “She always believed that caregivers are the foundation of a home care business, and it’s only through supporting them that success would be achieved.”

The foundation will announce its first set of scholarship recipients later this spring.