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For more than thirty years, Dušan Elko has led a family-owned business that connects Eastern European caregiving professionals with the increasing needs of an aging population in Western Europe.
The family’s journey—from his sister’s beginnings as a caregiver to her evolution into a recognized employer, recruiter, and clinic proprietor—illustrates the diverse landscape of entrepreneurship.
In a remarkable display of commitment, Elko’s mother, now 77 years old, remains active in managing the office, showcasing the family’s enduring dedication.
Elko is now focused on global expansion, particularly targeting the UAE, and his story exemplifies a lesson in transformation, resilience, and vision.
Q: What motivated you to venture into entrepreneurship?
The inception occurred in the early 1990s, following the dissolution of the Iron Curtain in Eastern Europe when there was a soaring demand for caregivers in Western Europe.
Seizing this opportunity, our family began hiring skilled workers from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Serbia, and Ukraine to serve private homes in Germany.
What began as a modest family effort initiated by my mother has blossomed into Euprogres.com, which is now recognized as one of Slovakia’s leading recruitment agencies, consistently offering numerous job vacancies in the caregiving field.
Three decades of operation is impressive. What has contributed to your business’s sustainability?
Continuous evolution has been vital. The healthcare and caregiving arena in Slovakia and across Europe has undergone monumental changes in the last ten years. We’ve had to innovate swiftly and adaptively. For example, as local demand for elderly care surged in Slovakia, we established Opatrovanie24.com to provide home caregiving services, becoming an official partner for EU-sponsored government programs managed by the Ministry of Employment.
Why are you now exploring talent from the UAE and nearby areas?
Western Europe, especially Germany, is confronting a serious aging issue with a declining pool of caregivers. Concurrently, Eastern Europe—our traditional sourcing region—is facing similar demographic shifts. Recognizing this need, we sought talent beyond our usual boundaries. Filipino caregivers, for example, are not only exceptionally skilled and caring, but they also have legal pathways to work in the EU via Slovakia, which can lead to permanent residency and potentially citizenship. The UAE serves as an ideal conduit for this talent migration.
With the rapid changes in Europe, have you initiated any new projects to maintain your competitive edge?
Certainly. Anticipating future trends—be they economic, social, or geopolitical—plays a crucial role in remaining competitive. One of our recent initiatives is Profisetra.sk, which offers specialized home nursing services, such as physiotherapy, IV treatments, blood tests, and injections. Moreover, we’ve utilized our industry insight to establish a forward-thinking dental and wellness clinic, aiming for a comprehensive approach to health and eldercare. All these efforts align with our objective to progress with the evolving market.
What does the future hold for your business?
Our next step involves establishing meaningful partnerships outside Europe, particularly with regions like the UAE. We’re transitioning from merely recruiting talent to forming a global caregiving ecosystem. Given the aging population globally and the increasing demand for compassionate, high-quality care, we see Slovakia positioning itself as a pivotal part of a broader international framework. We are just at the beginning of this venture.