Sometimes, people need a little assistance if they are looking to downsize their home or relocate — especially as they get older. Kevin Rarick is committed to helping seniors with these transitions — whether a client is moving, aging in place, or managing the estate of a loved one.
Rarick recently launched Caring Transitions of Reading, a franchised service company that assists seniors and their families in areas including decluttering, resettling, clean-outs, space planning and managing estate sales and online auctions.
Rarick grew up in the Hazleton area and attended Penn State and East Stroudsburg University, where he got a master’ degrees in cardiac rehabilitation.
As a medical researcher, he studied cardiovascular physiology and brain health with a focus on aging, injury and chronic disease. He spent five years in the Army, where he contributed to research on soldier performance, nutrition, and physical training.
Most recently he worked at the Medical College of Wisconsin in medical research. He said the work was rewarding, but the results were “down the road.”
“I was hoping to make a more immediate impact on a day to day basis,” he said.
Rarick said he wanted to move closer to his parents, who live in the Lehigh Valley, and other family members living in the Harrisburg area. He moved to Muhlenberg Township.
Wanting to be in business for himself, Rarick looked at a number of opportunities, including franchises and independent businesses.
The more he looked, he said, the more he realized Caring Transitions would be the right fit. Once he made the decision, Rarick spent several months going through training and getting everything in place to launch the franchise.
He said his path to Caring Transitions has been shaped by his dedication to service, problem-solving, and helping others.
What Does Caring Transitions Do?
Caring Transitions of Reading works one-on-one with clients to determine what their needs are and how the company can help. Rarick said that sometimes he works with the older person, and sometimes it is their children.
If someone is moving from a home to a senior community, they might have to adjust to less space. Caring Transitions, according to Rarick, can help them determine what to take to fit the space and help deal with the rest.
The process starts with a conversation about objectives.
“They are welcoming us into their home,” Rarick said. “My company works with clients’ personal items — we’re cognizant of that. These are items they may not want to get rid of, which is tough. We are there to support them.”
From there, Rarick said he is able to help coordinate or manage potentially all aspects of downsizing in the home or moving and potentially selling a home. Caring Transitions will pack, and it can unpack in the new place if it’s local. If it’s not local he can coordinate with a Caring Transitions franchise in the area where the client is going.
Rarick said it can take people weeks or months to clean out a home on their own.
“We would help with organization, do the removal of the items, and take them to donation centers for people,” he said. “One of our big services is setting up and conducting an estate sale. We can set up the sale and hold the sale in a shorter time period than the client can do it.”
Rarick said that since launching his franchise in July, he’s been developing relationships with people who work with the same clients he will work with — Realtors, senior living communities, senior organizations and estate lawyers, for example.
Rarick said pricing is one of the things clients ask about up front. He said it all starts with that initial conversation about what the client needs. Prices are estimated based on the services needed, the size of the house and how many items are in it.
“We work with each individual client based on their needs, and try to find a solution to fit the budget. We try to support them as much as we can,” he said.
Caring Transitions of Reading serves Leesport, Berkley, Muhlenberg, Laureldale, Reading, West Reading, Wyomissing, Sinking Spring, Kenhorst, Gouglersville, Flying Hills and the surrounding areas.
Rarick said he is currently hiring, and people who want to apply can contact him at krarick@caringtransitions.com. For information, visit https://www.caringtransitionsofreadingpa.com/; and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CaringTransitionsofReadingPA.
Caring Transitions has 400 franchise locations across the U.S. including 13 in Pennsylvania. There are three other locations serving the tri-county region: Caring Transitions of Boyertown and Harleysville in Telford; Caring Transitions of Chester County in Chester Springs; and Caring Transitions of the Brandywine Valley in Kennett Square, Chester County.
