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Our Story
Click here to view a video about GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE
On a crisp January morning in 1982, Jean Griswold sat at her dining room table in Erdenheim, Pennsylvania and began making phone calls, gathering a group of competent, caring people to help older and disabled individuals stay safe in their homes. Inspired by a growing need in her community, Jean Griswold began an organization now recognized as the World's Oldest, Multi-national, Non-medical Home Care Company and one of the first home care services to offer 24-hour service to older, disabled, or at-risk individuals at highly affordable prices.
The idea for GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE came as a result of a tragedy that happened to an older widow who was a member of the church where The Reverend Doctor Lincoln Griswold (Jean's husband) was the pastor. Although she was affluent, the parishioner could not find anyone to help her when a friend who was helping her fell and broke her hip. The woman was terrified at night; fearful of having a heart attack when no one was there to help. Although her family lived close, the woman, left alone, did not drink enough fluids. As a result, her kidneys failed and she died.
This incident inspired Jean Griswold to start Overnight Sitting Service in her home. Word of this new service spread like wildfire, largely by word-of-mouth. As the demand rose, around-the-clock in-home care was initiated and services were expanded to include personal care and homemaking. Overnight Sitting Service was renamed Special Care Services to more accurately describe what we do. Eventually, the name became Special Care, and more recently GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE, to incorporate the role of our founder and into the company name.
As GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE's reputation spread, requests for care came from distant locations. Additional home care offices were opened to meet the growing need in new communities. Each new home care office served the local community; using Caregivers who knew the area and who could better service neighboring Clients, even in bad weather conditions. Only office Directors who share Jean Griswold's philosophy of providing excellent service at an affordable rate are welcomed into the network.
Today, GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE has non-medical home care offices throughout the United States and in three countries, referring more than 9,000 Caregivers. In the 20-plus years since its inception, Caregivers have helped more than 65,000 individuals and families. GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE's home care service has been profiled in Forbes, Success, and Entrepreneur magazines and on NBC's Today Show . Jean Griswold personally has received numerous regional and national awards and honors for her outstanding service and remarkable achievements.
| Our Rich History - Since 1982 |
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| 1982 A legacy begins. Inspired by the tragic death of a friend, Jean Griswold begins making calls from her dining room table, rounding up a group of caring, supportive people who wish to help others in their community. Jean Griswold shared a deep compassion for those with physical disabilities as she herself had been living with Multiple Sclerosis since 1969. |
| 1983 The name of the company changes from Overnight Sitting Service to Special Care Services to better reflect the non-medical home care services provided by the Caregivers. The company opens its second home care office to better service portions of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. |
| 1984 Jean Griswold hires 9 office employees to keep up with the growth of the business. |
| 1985 The Reverend Doctor Lincoln T. Griswold joins his wife, Jean, in the home care business full-time and the company is incorporated under the name Special Care, Inc. |
| 1986 Special Care begins to receive recognition outside the Chestnut Hill area. The Philadelphia Inquirer runs a feature article on Special Care and Jean Griswold and Your Health magazine discusses the role of Special Care in its article featuring home care services in the 80's. |
| 1987 Special Care celebrates five years of home care service in the community. Kent C. Griswold, Ph.D., MBA. Moves to Pennsylvania from Melbourne, Australia to assist his parents with the business. With 11 home care offices operating in Pennsylvania, Special Care begins expansion into the state of Delaware. Inc. magazine recognizes Special Care as the fastest growing privately held homecare company in the US. |
| 1988 CBS television presents Jean Griswold with the prestigious "Spirit of Philadelphia" award. Special Care continues its expansion into the state of New Jersey. At this point the company has 13 home care offices in the tri-state area. The corporate offices introduce a company-wide quality review process to ensure the continuation of excellent quality as the organization grows. |
| 1989 Jean Griswold is recognized as Citizen of the Week by Montgomery Newspapers in Pennsylvania. |
| 1990 Forbes magazine features Jean Griswold and Special Care in its October issue, resulting in more than 300 inquiries from potential office Directors in 49 states and several countries. |
| 1991 NBC's Today Show profiles Jean Griswold's work in Philadelphia's Delaware Valley. Special Care begins doing business under the name GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE and opens offices in Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, and Massachusetts. |
| 1992 As the company marks its 10-year anniversary, President George Bush offers congratulations and commendations for "a job well done." Dozens of governors, senators, and others offer words of praise and support. Jean Griswold receives the Seattle-based GIRAFFE AWARD for "sticking her neck out" and for making the world a better place by creating a model home care service business. |
| 1993 When company president, Kent Griswold takes a leave of absence to write his first novel, Dr. Lori Rosenquist is appointed acting president. With a master's degree in gerontology and a doctorate in social policy, Lori Rosenquist begins leading the organization in various advocacy efforts and establishes a research department. |
| 1994 The Douglass Society Award is presented to Jean Griswold. |
| 1995 Jean Griswold earns Rutgers University's Distinguished Alumni Award. Dr. Lori Rosenquist becomes Dr. Lori Griswold when she marries Kent Griswold and their courtship is featured in The CEO Chronicles. |
| 1996 NATION'S BUSINESS presents Jean Griswold with the prestigious: BLUE CHIP ENTERPRISE CEO AWARD . Jean Griswold is also the recipient of the ART OF LIVING award and is named one of Pennsylvania 50 Best Women in Business. |
| 1997 GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE celebrates its 15th anniversary. Hillary Rodham Clinton commends Jean Griswold for her "efforts to alleviate the suffering of others and to improve the quality of life for the people . . .". Jean Griswold also received accolades from Pennsylvania Governor (later Secretary of Homeland Security), Tom Ridge, Tipper Gore, New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman, Philadelphia Mayor (and later, Pennsylvania Governor) Ed Rendell and countless others. |
| 1998 Success magazine profiles GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE. The company opens its first home care offices in Maryland and Virginia. |
| 1999 GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE expands its home care service into Michigan, the first mid-western office. The Quality Improvement Program is introduced to recognize those achievers who have improved on the already-high standards. Bronze, silver, and, gold heart achievement awards symbolize the varying degrees of excellence. Care Force One, a customize software application begins development to help improve efficiency. |
| 2000 GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE goes international with home care offices in South Korea and Mexico. |
| 2001 The Delaware Home Care Offices begin using the GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE name. The company continues its westward expansion by opening its first home care office in Tennessee. |
| 2002 Home care offices in New Jersey and Pennsylvania adopt the GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE name and we celebrate 20 years of helping people to live longer. Development in the mid-west continues as GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE opens its first Illinois home care offices. |
| 2003 The push north and west continues with home care offices in Ohio, Vermont, and Texas. Jean Griswold is presented with the national Athena award. GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE responds to the growing need for help in facilities by opening GSC Staffing, a division that staffs hospitals, nursing homes, adult day cares, and other facilities with RN's, LPN's, and CNA's. |
| 2004 Jean Griswold receives the Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year award. GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE continues growth into South Carolina. |
| 2005 The corporate office introduces ten separate awards to recognize the achievements of Caregivers throughout the organization. GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE expands into Louisiana. The Younger Adult Assistive Services Division is introduced to focus on individuals with disabilities and other younger adults. Over 9,000 Caregivers are in the field helping thousands of Clients and the company has formed relationships with more than 300 insurance companies and other third-party payers to better service the community with quality and affordable non-medical home care. |
| 2006 Holy Family University confers Jean Griswold with the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa. |
| 2007 Sandwich Generation Month: GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE became national sponsor of Sandwich Generation Month, to commemorate and celebrate the dedication, patience and caring of adults who are part of the Sandwich Generation--those caring for their children as well as their own aging parents. The 25th Anniversary Commemorative Quilt: GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE offices pieced together a quilt of fabric patches designed by individual Caregivers and Clients, with each square conveying their appreciation of GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE, as well as congratulations for the 25th Anniversary. GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE 25th Anniversary. 2007 marked the 25th anniversary of the founding of GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE, which boasts 98 offices in 17 states. GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE lights up Philadelphia. In honor of GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE’s 25th anniversary, the Philadelphia Electric Company tower message board, congratulated GSC, and was visible across the entire city. |
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All rights reserved. ® GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE, Inc. 2006 Website by Advance Design Interactive
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