Keeya Gillard knows firsthand how difficult it can be to find caregivers you trust. As the full-time caregiver for her adult son, who has autism and epilepsy, Gillard has spent years navigating the health care system — and experiencing the gaps in it. That’s why, when she and her husband began looking for a business to launch in their community, Griswold stood out. Backed by a deep personal connection to caregiving, the Gillards opened their Griswold location in Beaumont, Texas. Now, they’re on a mission to be the region’s go-to home care provider, offering the kind of trusted support they know families need.

1851 Franchise spoke with Gillard to learn more about her story and her journey to joining the Griswold family. 

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?

Keeya Gillard: I’m a caregiver for my son. He’s 30 years old and has autism and epilepsy. That’s really what gravitated us toward the caregiving business — we know how much people need help when it comes to taking care of their loved ones. That’s basically why we chose to do a home care business.

1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Gillard: I was a dental hygienist for 15 years. Then I worked with adults in a day program where I taught them how to use communication devices. After that, we opened a Firehouse Subs franchise and did that for several years. We retired for about five years, but then I decided I wanted to go back to work. We started researching and eventually found our way to Griswold.

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

Gillard: My husband is really an entrepreneur at heart — he’s had a carpet cleaning business, an industrial safety business — and he’s a fireman by trade. He always had a side venture. We went the franchise route because of the support they give you instead of opening a mom-and-pop shop. When we did Firehouse, it seemed like it went really well.

We were a little afraid to start a brand-new home care business on our own, so we decided to go the franchise route again.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Gillard: The Griswold team reached out and we saw some information. When my husband first brought up Firehouse Subs, it took me a year to say yes. But this time, when he showed me Griswold, it was much closer to my heart. I thought, “Wow — I think this is it.”

We researched it and looked around, and the brand really stood out because of Jean Griswold’s story. It really resonated with us. It just made sense, especially from our perspective with our son. My grandmother also had a stroke two years ago, so we’ve seen the importance of the caregiver side from both ends. We ran into the same problems we’ve had with our son — finding good people you trust to come into your home and care for someone you love. That’s a big deal.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?

Gillard: We want to grow and get bigger — we want to be the number one home care provider in our area. 

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?

Gillard: Do your research. Call and ask questions. We’ve had a lot of great support so far, but you have to make sure it’s the right fit. There are a lot of businesses out there, and they aren’t all the right one for you. You have to find the one that really clicks.

ABOUT GRISWOLD

With 196 locations across 31 states, Griswold is one of the country’s top home care companies, providing professional, compassionate Caregivers 24/7. Griswold’s “Live Assured” promise gives both clients and their loved ones peace of mind, so they can live without the weight of worry. Griswold helps adults maintain quality of life despite advanced age, onset of illness, or post-surgery recovery through services including companion care, home services, personal care, and respite care. Founded by the late Jean Griswold in 1982, the company has maintained its founder’s profound sense of empathy for older and disabled adults and those living with chronic conditions. In 2024, Griswold was ranked #206 on Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 and named a 2023, 2024 and 2025 Best of Home Care® Endorsed National Provider. For more information, visit www.griswoldcare.com or call 215.402.0200.