From seeking care for a loved one to being a family Caregiver, respectively, Juan Canaan and Miledy Cruz know firsthand how vulnerable the process can be. Together, they recognized there was not enough high-quality senior care in Rhode Island to support those who needed it. They made it their mission to fill in the gaps and invested in their first Griswold in-home care franchise. 

Canaan and Cruz want to help seniors and adults in their community remain as healthy and comfortable in their own homes as possible. Their long-term goal is to serve more communities across Rhode Island and, eventually, expand beyond the state. Ultimately, they hope to leave the business to their children, who can continue building on what they started.

Canaan and Cruz sat down with 1851 Franchise to discuss how their personal experiences with Caregiving led them to Griswold and why they see the brand as the right fit for building a long-term family business in Rhode Island. Here’s what they had to say:

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

Juan Canaan: I've been either in business or a business owner for almost more than half my life — between the distribution sectors and food distribution, and I've always kept ownership of everything I've tried to do. So it just made common sense to go this route because my wife is a nurse. She's been in the medical industry for so long and she's seen the deficiencies that there are in this area. I also have personal experience where the person that raised me died of cancer at home with medical aid, and it wasn't the best experience I had. 

Miledy Cruz: I’ve dedicated more than 10 years of my life to caring for others. As both a nurse and a family Caregiver, I understand the challenges families face when trying to find dependable care for a loved one. My passion for serving others inspired me to become a business owner and open Griswold Home Care for Kent and Washington Counties alongside my husband, Juan Canaan.

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

Cruz: My health care journey began as a Certified Nursing Assistant. I later became a Medical Assistant and eventually fulfilled my dream of becoming a Registered Nurse. As an RN, I have worked in a variety of health care settings, including the Neuro ICU at Rhode Island Hospital, women’s health, and community care.  We founded our agency with a simple mission: to help seniors and adults remain safely and comfortably in their own homes while receiving the compassionate support they deserve.

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?

Canaan: At first, I was kind of skeptical. You're always like, "Am I going to be working for them? Do I have a boss?" But when you really look into it, it's not like that at all. It's a partnership. And then again, especially when going into a field that you're somewhat unaware of. Obstacles could come, but they have the road map — you just have to follow it. I run a USDA plant at the moment, and just knowing that rules and regulations are always changing, you'd rather deal with somebody that knows what they're doing. They can help you through all the processing and all the steps, have the experience and the background, and you can build together.

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

Canaan: The story just with Jean Griswold and how she started, and then meeting everybody at Griswold and how they're just so passionate and they want to help you start. You have so many tools at your disposal, it's kind of remarkable how they pretty much have everything covered from A to Z. It's just how organized they are and how any questions we came across, they were ready to answer them. Another thing about Griswold is the transparency—when you see a franchise say, "Hey, no, talk to the other owners. They will give you a list of people to talk to, we'll set you up to talk to them.” That's firsthand experience that you won't get anywhere else.

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

Cruz: At Griswold Home Care, we believe every person deserves to age with dignity, respect, and independence. Our goal is not only to care for our Clients but also to become a trusted partner for the families we serve throughout our community.

Canaan: We started with one unit in southern Rhode Island, serving Washington and Kent counties. We want to take over all of the Rhode Island section because Rhode Island's a small state. There's about two or three more sections that we can start buying into. So that's our plan, and hopefully leave this for our kids to keep growing, and maybe open up in another state later on in life and keep growing again. Something that we can be proud of.

1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?

Cruz: Throughout my career, I have cared for patients and families during some of the most challenging moments of their lives. These experiences taught me that quality care goes beyond medical treatment; it is about building trust, preserving independence, and supporting families every step of the way. Our team is committed to providing personalized, professional, and compassionate non-medical home care services that families can trust.

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

Canaan: Look into it, don't be scared about it. Do your own research. Not all franchises are the best, but you'll find one that fits your needs and can help you. Just take your time and look, research, it's all out there. It's a lot easier now to research and look than it was a few years ago.

ABOUT GRISWOLD:

With over 200 locations across 31 states, Griswold is one of the country’s top home care companies, providing and referring professional, compassionate Caregivers around the clock. 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. Griswold has been recognized as one of the top 500 franchises in Entrepreneur’s 2026 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.