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NORA’S CARING COMPANIONS ADULT DAY CARE CENTER LLC is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday – Friday, excluding major holidays. Program activities are provided for social, group, individual, educational, recreational, and health activities, as well as basic medical services, such as blood pressure monitoring, etc. Our participants will have the opportunity to socialize, enjoy peer support, and receive monitoring of their physical and mental health.

Our Story

When Nora Jenkins first visited the Florence Area SBDC in August 2017, she told Business Consultant, Eddie Watson that she wanted to upgrade her catering service—which at the time was her “side hustle”—to a brick-and-mortar restaurant. When sharing her aspirations with Watson, Jenkins admitted that while she enjoyed the culinary arts, her true passion was caring for the elderly. With this insight, Watson recommended to his client that she postpone launching a restaurant to give him time to conduct a comparative market analysis of both industries.

“Eddie and I were both surprised to learn that in nearby Bennettsville, where I am from originally, an adult day care business was more likely to thrive than a restaurant,” Jenkins said. “That gave me something to think about.”

However, despite empirical evidence and her gut instincts, Jenkins opted to open a restaurant. “My children were big fans of my cooking and encouraged me to pursue it professionally. Their input heavily influenced my decision.”

Nearly two years later, when she felt the timing was right to become a full-time restaurateur and business owner, Jenkins returned to the Florence Area SBDC. Watson had since retired, so it was Business Consultant Charles Page who would guide Jenkins through the startup process.

“I had found what I thought was the perfect site for my restaurant,” said Jenkins. “I needed money to purchase the building, so I asked Charles if he could help me find a lender.” That is when Jenkins received some distressing news: due to a former tenant’s irresponsibility and the ensuing repossession of her mobile home rental unit, she didn’t qualify for a commercial loan. In fact, it would take at least three years for her to re-establish an acceptable credit rating.

Fast forward to May 2021. “It was now nearly three and a half years after my first conversation with Eddie Watson,” said Jenkins, “and it had been one calamity after another. With everything that had occurred, I questioned my chosen path. Perhaps this was fate nudging me in a different direction, affirming that I should have followed my heart. Geriatrics is my first love, period.”

So, with Page’s assistance, Jenkins wrote a new business plan, prepared financial projections, and began taking all the necessary steps toward starting her own adult day care business. “Soon after, everything started falling into place…seamlessly, effortlessly,” said Jenkins.

In September 2021, Jenkins paid $10,500 in cash for a facility in downtown Bennettsville that would require nearly $100,000 in renovations. “I knew I needed a loan, so to help make me more appealing to lenders, Charles helped me refine my business plan, calculate my startup and operating costs, prepare revenue projections, and research DHEC regulations governing adult day care facilities.” While conducting his research, Page learned that Bennettsville had a desperate need for adult care providers. This worked to Jenkins’ advantage.

Two months later, serendipity once again favored Jenkins. “I had learned that it would cost nearly $675,000, not $100,000, to bring the existing facility up to code,” Jenkins said. “That’s when I spotted another much larger, vacant building.” The renovations needed for this new site would be considerably less extensive. Moreover, it was a roomy 6,519 sq. ft. compared to the previous site’s 2,400. “God is in the midst of all this,” she said.

More good news followed. In January 2022, South State Bank awarded Jenkins a $529,000 commercial loan. “Charles was a reassuring presence throughout this entire process. He even helped me with the bank closing checklist,” Jenkins said.

In November 2022, to the relief of the 15 families desperately needing quality geriatric care for their loved ones, Jenkins opened the doors to NORA’S CARING COMPANIONS ADULT DAY CARE CENTER LLC. As is the case with many small businesses, managing the day-to-day functions of NORA’S CARING COMPANIONS will be a family affair. “My granddaughters will share the Nurse Manager responsibilities while my daughter and son will provide hot lunches to our participants through their catering business, a Special Touch,” Jenkins explained.

Thanks to the additional square footage of her site, Jenkins is licensed to accommodate up to 75 daily participants. She said that based on the number of calls she has been receiving, both from people seeking care and those wanting employment, it shouldn’t take her long to be operating at capacity.

“The SC SBDC has been a Godsend,” she said. “Charles Page patiently and knowledgeably walked me through every stage of the startup process. It’s hard to quantify how much he has helped me—both professionally and personally.”

In-Home Care

Started in 2023 (see Adult Day Care story)

Non-Discrimination Policy

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.