Canton-based home care agency named MBE of the year by U.S. SBA
Suvarcha Madan, owner of ComForCare, talks about how she grew her company from the ground up
Suvarcha Madan had to confront people who doubted her when she first started her business, ComForCare in Canton, Massachusetts.
Madan earned her master’s degree in dietetics and public health nutrition in New Delhi, India and had always been a natural caretaker, but she said some critics didn’t think she would be able to succeed in running her own non-medical, private home care agency.
Suvarcha Madan. photo: courtesy Norman Eng/U.S. SBA
“Most people didn’t think I would succeed because of my lack of business experience and my accent,” she said.
Madan said what helped her thrive was the fact that she genuinely cared about her business and her passion for working with the elderly and veterans, including those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
In 2014, Madan was awarded a $50,000 loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration in partnership with South Eastern Economic Development Corporation, to start ComForCare. Her solo venture turned into a five-employee business, and today the company employs 15 full-time and 100 part-time staff members.
Vulnerable communities
ComForCare provides hourly and live-in services including: personal care, errands, bathing/dressing, safety supervision, meal preparation, transportation, homemaking, companionship and medication reminders.
In 2016, her previous SEED loan was increased to $120,000 to help finance ComForCare’s expansion.
According to Madan, the company currently serves approximately 90 clients all over Massachusetts, but mainly in Canton, where the office is located.
ComForCare is also a preferred provider for the Veterans Administration, with more than 40 veteran clients.
Not only does Madan provide direct care services to seniors with dementia, but she spends time working to decrease the stigma and lack of understanding surrounding the neurocognitive disorder as a member of the Dementia Friendly Communities Initiative, an organization committed to building dementia-friendly communities by offering education, tools and resources.
“Some people may not know how to react when they come across people with dementia in their business or daily life,” she said.
Accolades
The SBA has recognized ComForCare for its growth, naming the company the 2018 Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year for Massachusetts and New England.
“Suvarcha started ComForCare in a highly competitive field without significant business experience,” said SBA Massachusetts district director Robert Nelson. “Due to hard work, passion and perseverance, and help from the SBA, she has built a seven-figure business that is truly making a difference in people’s lives.”
Madan will be honored at the annual SCORE Boston/SBA awards luncheon along with other 2018 Massachusetts Small Business Week winners at the Sheraton Needham Hotel on Friday, May 4, 2018.
