Chrisy Heiss, owner of Right at Home of Marietta, gained substantial experience helping patients return home safely as a physical therapist working in post-acute care. When she decided to transition to business ownership, the in-home care space seemed like the perfect fit — an industry where she could leverage her prior experience and make a difference in her community.

“I was looking for another opportunity. I had spent about 15 years in the post-acute care space, and I wanted to have a change in direction, but I still wanted to work with the senior demographic,” she said. “I found the in-home care space, and I thought, ‘I bet there is a humongous need for this, specifically in my area.’”

Heiss also had personal experience with home care, noting that the presence of caregivers in her grandparents’ lives made a remarkable difference.

“My grandma and grandpa were able to live out their days at home with the care that they had, and my parents, aunts and uncles really needed that assistance,” Heiss said. “Throughout their time, their in-home care providers became like a part of our family. They were there during Christmas to help grandma and grandpa so the family could relax. It was a very big part of our lives. It always interested me how incredibly impactful that work is, and it’s something that you don’t know that you need it until you need it.”

Heiss officially signed the agreement for her first Right at Home territory in December of 2021 and was open by March 2022. With Right at Home’s systems and support, she was able to move quickly and launch confidently, even as a first-time business owner. Now, Heiss has grown to employ seven office team members and serve 130-plus clients.

Heiss will join 1851 Franchise Publisher Nick Powills to discuss her journey with Right at Home, reflect on her growth, and share insights for prospective franchisees during an upcoming webinar.

“The majority of my jobs when I first started was covering shifts so I could maintain the current business that I had to get new business,” Heiss said. “It worked for me, but there were lots of growing pains in finding the right people — and I’m still learning every day. Everyone I’ve run into in the Right at Home system has been incredibly supportive.”

Having this support and the freedom to build her own agency, within the guardrails provided by Right at Home, has allowed Heiss the opportunity to create something truly meaningful, serving the community she loves with the support of a strong, national brand.

“The in-home care market is the market to be in,” she said. “We have a significant amount of care that’s going to be needed in the foreseeable future. Whether you’re a big metropolitan territory or a more rural territory, when people need this care, they’re going to need it. And as a Right at Home owner, they’ll call you.”

With growing demand across Ohio, Right at Home is looking to add 13 new territories, focusing on growth in Akron, Cleveland, Youngstown, Dayton, Canton, Fayetteville and Springfield.

Join Heiss and Powills for the upcoming webinar to hear more about Heiss’s journey, her advice for prospective owners, and insights on the opportunities for growth with Right at Home in Ohio.

If you're interested in taking the next step in making a difference in your community as a Right at Home franchisee, visit https://rightathomefranchise.com/.