Former Wall Street Tax Director and Family Build Thriving Senior Care Franchise With Right at Home

Regi Mathews, a former Wall Street corporate tax director, transitioned into franchising after 30 years in corporate America, driven by a personal experience caring for his mother-in-law with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He saw a growing need for senior care and wanted to make a positive impact in his community. Regi had previously owned three restaurants but was drawn to franchising this time around for the tried and tested business model and support it provided. Alongside his wife Geetha, Regi ventured into franchising with Right at Home* 10 years ago; soon after, their son Nathan, who had initially pursued a medical career, joined the team.

Now, a decade later, the family of franchisees has expanded with a new territory, bringing their total count to three and covering Northern Westchester, Putnam, and Duchess counties in New York. Together, they aim to build a lasting, community-focused business, valuing their caregivers as much as their clients.

Regi and Nathan took the time to chat with 1851 Franchise to discuss all of this and more. Here’s what they had to say.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Regi Mathews: I used to be a director of taxes with a Wall Street company. I worked in corporate America for about 30 years before deciding I needed to do something different. One of the things that’s always been close to my heart is dealing with the elderly. I’m a people person. While I was in corporate America, my mother-in-law came down with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. We spent time with her during treatment and felt there was a pressing need for senior care, especially for the disabled.

During that time, I was thinking about finding something more meaningful in life, and I realized this was the ideal opportunity. There was clearly a growing need for elderly care, especially with baby boomers retiring. I knew there was potential in at-home care, particularly with people wanting to stay at home as they age. I found my path with Right at Home. I met the people there and felt they were the ideal partners to help me launch this line of service. It’s been 10 years now.

My wife was a stay-at-home mom, with a graduate degree in Math. After we started this business, she joined me. Two years later, our third son Nathan joined as well. We made him an offer he couldn’t refuse — we told him he’d better say yes, or we’d break his legs! I guess he likes his legs. Luckily, he decided to join us, and it’s been a great journey.

We needed young blood, especially in areas like marketing, IT and compliance — dealing with New York City and health regulations on multiple fronts. 

Nathan Mathews: I was pre-med for a while, so I always wanted to get into the medical field. I thought this would be a good avenue to follow and learn alongside my parents. I have learned so much so far and grown to love what I do. I enjoy taking care of those in need and the community around us.

1851: What was your perception of franchising before becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you're in it?

Regi: When I started this journey with Right at Home, I had a general perception of franchising, but I’ve learned a lot since. I’ve always had a desire to run a business. I did a little importing and exporting, and I owned three restaurants with partners. Starting those businesses from the ground up was tough and time-consuming. Eventually, I decided to try something different.

You know what they say: if you keep doing the same thing expecting different results, that’s foolish, so I tried the franchise model. I reached out to FranChoice and started talking to people in the franchise industry. One of the main advantages of franchising is that you can hit the ground running, especially in fields where you don’t have much experience. In home care, for instance, there are many legal aspects to consider, both in labor and health care. Instead of reinventing the wheel, you can get a pre-built system with training and support to help you navigate the complexities. Franchising shortens the learning curve if you follow the model properly.

But you also have to choose the right franchise. Franchising isn’t for everyone, and not all franchisors are the same. Right at Home allowed us to speak with other franchisees, and they have a comprehensive discovery process where you spend time at the home office, learning about their operations. It’s a great program, and the people at Right at Home have heart, which was key for me. It’s been a blessing.

1851: What made you choose this brand, and what excites you most about this company?

Regi: What excites me most is how supportive Right at Home has been throughout the entire process. From starting the office to their marketing initiatives and working with franchisees, they’ve been there every step of the way. They are very selective about who they bring on as franchisees, and I’ve been fortunate to work with all the New York State franchisees. It’s a very supportive environment — if they do well, I do well, and the franchisor shares that same philosophy.

If I ever have an issue, I can call the franchisor, and they’re always willing to help. They’re knowledgeable about legal issues, licensing and more. Their strong brand reputation has also helped us grow and succeed.

1851: What’s your big goal in your first year with this new location?

Regi: Our number one goal is name recognition. We’re providing care for people in their homes, and getting invited into someone’s home requires trust. That’s something Right at Home already has. Their name carries weight in the market, and as soon as we opened the office, we started receiving inquiries from multiple clients — national sources, hospitals, rehab centers and nursing homes. Being part of a well-known franchise like Right at Home opened doors for us.

Nathan: One of our key goals is to build a company that will last. We’re not just helping our community and the people we serve; we’re also making sure that the organization we’re running is sustainable. That involves putting the right people in the right places and reinforcing our structure and operations.

1851: What’s the number one thing about your story you want people to know?

Regi: One of our missions is to take care of our caregivers as much as we take care of our clients. They are frontline workers, and we treat them with empathy and respect. They work with us, not for us. We go through a rigorous interview process to ensure we hire caregivers with the right qualities because they are going into people’s homes. Trust is critical.

We’ve also offered benefits like 401(k) plans and other support to our caregivers. We treat them like family, and that’s one of the biggest achievements we’ve had. As a result, we’ve built a strong reputation in the market.

Nathan: We’re family-run. With Right at Home, they’ve treated us like family. Our interactions with them have been fun, jovial and very loving, and we treat our clients and caregivers the same way.

ABOUT RIGHT AT HOME:

Founded in 1995, Right at Home offers in-home care to seniors and adults with disabilities who want to live independently. Most Right at Home offices are independently owned and operated and directly employ and supervise all caregiving staff. Each caregiver is thoroughly screened, trained, and bonded/insured before entering a client’s home. Right at Home’s global office is based in Omaha, Nebraska, with more than 700 franchise locations in the U.S. and five other countries. For more information about Right at Home, visit https://www.rightathome.net/ or read the Right at Home blog at https://www.rightathome.net/blog/.

To learn more about Right at Home of Northern Westchester, please visit https://www.rightathome.net/north-westchester-putnam/.