Comfort Keepers in Franklin recently celebrated its 10th anniversary in the in-home care business.

Owner Ed Patnesky has helped hundreds of senior citizens and other area residents continue to live independently and safely within their own homes since opening the Comfort Keepers franchise in July 2002.

Patnesky said he believes much of his company’s success can be traced back to the overall mission of Comfort Keepers — “to provide clients with the highest quality of life that is achievable.”

Since the franchise opened in 2002, serving Western Tidewater, it has experienced steady growth, according to Patnesky.

“We owe our success to the families of Franklin, Suffolk, Chesapeake, Southampton and Isle of Wight counties, who initially made the decision to put their trust in Comfort Keepers to care for their senior loved ones,” he said.

“We are very proud of the growth and success that our organization has had over the years. Our hard work is truly paid off at the end of each day, when we settle in at home knowing that our office has made a difference in the lives of so many.”

Prior to purchasing the Comfort Keepers franchise, Patnesky had a 30-year career as a health care executive, including spending the previous 14 years as president and CEO of Southampton Memorial Hospital.

He received a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Military Institute and a master’s degree in health care administration from the University of Pittsburgh.

In addition to acquiring a Virginia nursing home administrator’s license, he achieved the highest level of recognition in his professional society, as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Comfort Keepers franchisees provide in-home care services for aging adults, new mothers and others who need assistance with daily activities, thereby enabling them to stay in their own homes.

Services include personal care, such as bathing, toileting and transferring, as well as companionship, meal preparation, light housekeeping, grocery shopping, incidental transportation, recreational activities and more.