Right at Home

<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-selden-a19b30126/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=right-at-home-franchisee-finds-new-purpose-2730044" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jennifer Selden</a> was planning to become a franchise owner. After spending 19 years at home raising her children, she wasn’t looking for a career shift. “I had never thought about it. It wasn’t on my radar,” said Selden, who has owned&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rightathome.net/wilmington?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=right-at-home-franchisee-finds-new-purpose-2730044" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Right at Home Wilmington</a> in North Carolina for nine years. “That was never the plan, but once I had kids, I didn’t care about anything else.”Selden’s franchising journey began when her grandparents in Colorado suddenly needed 24-hour care, a situation her family had never navigated before. As Selden was considering her “what’s next” moment, her mother — who lived near her grandparents — was arranging services with agencies like&nbsp;<a href="https://rightathomefranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=right-at-home-franchisee-finds-new-purpose-2730044" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Right at Home</a>. During that time, her mother suggested she speak to a friend who owned a Right at Home in Missouri.&nbsp;“I had spent so many years taking care of people — my kids, their friends — and had all these intimate relationships as part of that,” Selden said. “I wanted my next chapter to feel meaningful and fill my heart.”The conversation inspired Selden to explore business ownership for the first time. “I thought, ‘Maybe I can open a business and be my own boss,’” she said. “‘Then I only have to prove myself to me.’” After looking into the opportunity, Selden signed on with&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/rightathome/info">Right at Home</a>. “We looked into it, and now here I am.”&nbsp;Since opening, Selden has embraced both the challenges and the rewards of leading a team in the senior care industry. “I did reinvent myself. Mission accomplished,” she said. “Raising my children was the best thing I’ve ever done, but this is pretty great too.”Selden recently joined 1851 Franchise Publisher&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/powills/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=right-at-home-franchisee-finds-new-purpose-2730044" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Nick Powills</a> on an episode of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFDgqY_DAM0&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=right-at-home-franchisee-finds-new-purpose-2730044" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">“Meet the Zee”&nbsp;</a>to discuss her journey. A transcript of Selden’s interview with Powills has been provided below. It has been edited for brevity, clarity and style.Nick Powills: How did you accidentally fall into franchising? What’s your franchise backstory?Jennifer Selden: It’s probably a little different than ones you’ve heard before. I had never thought about it. It wasn’t on my radar. I stayed home with my kids for 19 years. That was never the plan, but once I had kids, I didn’t care about anything else. Eventually, they grew up and didn’t need me as much — they wanted me out of their business — and I started trying to decide what the next phase of my life would look like.Coincidentally, my grandparents in Colorado suddenly needed 24-hour care. My grandmother needed it specifically, and my family had never navigated that before ... So we didn’t have much experience managing in-home care.My mom and her two sisters lived near my grandparents, so it fell on them to figure out 24-hour care. As I was going through my midlife “What’s next?” moment, I was watching my mom go through that with her parents. They called agencies like Right at Home to provide care, so home care became part of the family conversation.My mom was friends with a Right at Home franchisee in Missouri and suggested I talk to her. I had spent so many years taking care of people — my kids, their friends — and had all these intimate relationships as part of that. I wanted my next chapter to feel meaningful and fill my heart.I spoke with the franchise owner, and when she explained what the business was and what it had meant to her, it felt like a good direction. We looked into it, and now here I am. Today is my nine-year anniversary.Powills: So you take this call because your mom’s friend owns a Right at Home. Were you thinking about it from the emotional connection of navigating aging grandparents, as a sort of life coach call, or as a possible business opportunity?Selden: I took that call because I was trying to figure out how to reinvent myself. I wasn’t sure how to do that after being home for 18 or 19 years. If someone hasn’t done that, it’s hard for them to see the value you can bring once you go back into the workforce.I struggled with how I’d present myself to an employer. My husband — in the nicest possible way — suggested I might be a little bit of a control freak, maybe a little bossy. He said, “We could open a business.” That left every possibility in the world. The connection to my mom’s friend was just a first step toward exploring that. I thought, “Maybe I can open a business and be my own boss. Then I only have to prove myself to me.” It wasn’t some dramatic, emotional origin story. It was about reinventing myself and finding work that felt meaningful.Powills: I’d argue your story is emotional. I love a reinvention story. Caregiving for children is one of the hardest jobs there is, even if it’s not always recognized as a “career.” You were debating your own self-worth, discounting what you’d done for years, while also dealing with your grandparents’ situation. That’s powerful. Now you’re at nine years. Has it gone by quickly?Selden: Yes. Honestly, I didn’t even realize it was my anniversary until one of my employees came in with balloons and flowers. It’s gone by so fast. I don’t even know who I was before I started — the version of me who didn’t know how to do home care or live and breathe it. I did reinvent myself. Mission accomplished. Raising my children was the best thing I’ve ever done, but this is pretty great too.Powills: How do your kids look at what you’ve accomplished?Selden: They haven’t used the word “entrepreneur,” but they’ve told me they’re proud of me. They were old enough at the beginning to see me navigate it. There were nights when my husband brought them to the office after school and we’d have an assembly line putting interview packets together. They supported me and were excited.I hope I’ve set an example for them, especially as women, that you can have it all. I stayed home with them and then went back to have another meaningful career. I think that’s important for young women to know: There’s time, and you should go for it. They’ve even called me a badass, which I’ll take.Powills: When did you give yourself permission to say, “I did this. I am a great business leader”?Selden: It wasn’t one moment. It’s lots of little ones. They usually happen when we have a big impact on someone’s life, especially during difficult times like end-of-life care. When a family tells me what it meant to have our support, I think, “That wouldn’t have happened without me and what I’ve built.”Powills: The emotional side of your work is huge. How do you balance it?Selden: I don’t take emotion out of it. Compassion is part of good care and good business. Of course, you can’t let emotions dictate every decision or you’d give everything away for free. From the employee side, there’s a reason there’s a caregiver shortage; most people can’t do it well. Those who can are often in it for the emotional paycheck. It’s okay to be sad when a client is unwell or to cry with their family.Powills:&nbsp; Has caregiving as a career improved since you started?Selden: Yes, but there’s still work to do. It’s a great career for people who want flexibility, like parents coordinating schedules. Early on, most calls were for companionship. Now, people wait longer to seek help, so clients have more acute needs.We have to train caregivers beyond companionship, give them skills, support, and continuing education. That opens more opportunities, builds confidence, and increases income.Powills:&nbsp; How is reinvention going for you now, and what’s the next step for your business?Selden:&nbsp;&nbsp;Every day I wake up a little scared. The great thing about being part of the Right at Home system is they’re always finding ways to help us pivot — new opportunities, new vendor partnerships, better caregiver and client experiences.When I opened, I thought I’d just be caring for older adults. I didn’t realize how important it would be to give people jobs. I want to keep building our culture. I’d love to create a scholarship fund for employees, offer financial education, and support their kids starting careers. Taking care of our team is good business, and the right thing to do.Powills: That’s the magic. Taking care of people leads to good results. You’ve gone from watching your grandparents get care, to reinventing yourself, to building something spectacular in nine years.Selden: When you get the chance to do meaningful work, you can’t help but be emotional about it. I’m grateful to have the opportunity, my employees are grateful for their jobs, and our clients and families are grateful for our care.Powills: I remember when I first worked with Right at Home in 2005 or 2006, few people knew home care existed. The industry’s come a long way in 20 years.Selden: That’s part of why I chose Right at Home. When I went to Discovery Days in Omaha, everyone cared about my experience. That’s never changed. Some might debate fees, but I don’t mind because the corporate team uses that money to build systems and support us. They treat us like they work for us. The support is incredible, from corporate to franchisees.Powills:&nbsp; That’s a perfect close. Congratulations on nine years, and thank you for sharing your story.Selden:&nbsp;&nbsp;Thank you. I’ve enjoyed it.Watch the full interview above or on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFDgqY_DAM0&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=right-at-home-franchisee-finds-new-purpose-2730044" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">YouTube</a>.&nbsp;If you're interested in taking the next step in making a difference in your community as a Right at Home franchisee, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://rightathomefranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=right-at-home-franchisee-finds-new-purpose-2730044" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://rightathomefranchise.com/.</a>&nbsp;

Nine-Year Right at Home Franchisee Found New Purpose

1851 Franchise

https://www.youtube.com/embed/KFDgqY_DAM0

After two decades focused on raising her children, Jennifer Selden reinvented herself by building a meaningful career with her in-home care franchise in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Nine-Year Right at Home Franchisee Found New Purpose After Years as a Stay-at-Home Mom

This brand page has been paid for by RIGHT AT HOME. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

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Long before she became a&nbsp;<a href="https://rightathomefranchise.com/">Right at Home</a> franchisee in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rightathome.net/janesville">Janesville, Wisconsin</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-villa/">Katie Villa</a> had spent much of her adult life as a caregiver. She started in the field during college and continued in patient care after becoming a nurse. This past year, she took care of her grandfather during his end-of-life hospice care.&nbsp;“That was very eye-opening and really showed me the importance of having seniors age in their home and providing them that dignity,” she said. “And also having caregivers in the home who are compassionate and provide quality care.”Katie began looking into in-home care, including hospice nursing, as a possible next step. Around that time, she came across a newspaper article about&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/rightathome/info">Right at Home</a> and sent it to her mom,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryjovilla/">Mary Jo Villa</a>. Mary Jo encouraged her to learn more, and before long, she was interested in the opportunity, too.Mary Jo spent her career in human resources and operations for a group of newspapers and radio stations, where she held almost every seat except the newsroom. Now, she works for a large holding company, where she supports 20 different companies with benefits work.&nbsp;“When Katie saw this article and sent it to me, my first piece of pride was, ‘Yes, she's still reading the newspaper.’ But I told her we should absolutely explore it,” Mary Jo said. “I have been so impressed with Right at Home. They were clearly selecting us, and we were selecting them.”From the early discovery process through onboarding, the Villas were impressed with how much structure and support the brand provided. The training programs and ongoing business coaching gave them confidence in the business.&nbsp;“Katie's only 30 years old, and so yes, she has me, but you need someone other than your mom validating what your mom says,” Mary Jo said. “So I’ve been extremely impressed with the expertise coming out of Right at Home corporate&nbsp;and how they bring new owners on.”<h2>What It’s Like Working as a Family</h2>Working with your mom, or any family member, isn’t for everyone. It can often be polarizing, with some people not recommending it at all, and some not being able to recommend it enough. Katie and Mary Jo see their different strengths, and the time they spend together, as part of what makes the partnership work.“I never could have imagined doing this without my mom,” Katie said. “Obviously, her knowledge and her expertise, but also her support. I think that we're so fortunate to have a close relationship. I've watched her my entire life. She's been a boss my entire life and this really embodies that and being able to continue that legacy in our family.”For Mary Jo, one of the most rewarding parts has been watching Katie step into her own expertise. Katie oversees the caregiving and client side of the business, while Mary Jo handles operations and strategy, giving the two a natural division of responsibilities.“I'm here and highly involved and working, but Katie is the principal operator,” she said. “I've worked in family offices my whole life. You just draw those boundaries. There are the things that you're going to make a mutual decision on and there are the things that you say, ‘No, this is your decision’ or 'This is my decision.’ And then you don't second-guess each other.”Because their skill sets are so different, the partnership has been easier to navigate. Katie leads decisions around care plans and client relationships, while Mary Jo takes the lead on business systems and financial structure.“We enjoy being together and we laugh a lot. We believe in hard work, but we have fun. There's nothing that is so profound that it would affect our mother-daughter relationship,” Mary Jo said.&nbsp;<h2>How They Are Building a Presence in Janesville</h2>The Villas are building their business with a strong focus on their community. Having lived and worked in the area for decades, Mary Jo sees that as a major advantage.“I've been established in the community for almost 40 years,” she said. “We consider our entire family a part of this, even if they won't be employed, so to speak. Our whole family is going to be in T-shirts at events. We'll be out as a public face in the community.”As a young owner, Katie plans to stay involved and continue building both the client base and the caregiver network. She sees Right at Home as an opportunity to serve seniors and create opportunities for people in the community who want to step into caregiving roles.“I want to be able to be the go-to person in this community for both our clients, for the seniors, but also for our caregivers,” she said. “Whether you're a student, whether you've been a caregiver for your family, whether you're retired and looking to help out somebody in the community, I really want to encourage people and empower the caregivers to do those things and come up with creative ideas to help grow the business.”If you're interested in taking the next step in making a difference in your community as a Right at Home franchisee, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://rightathomefranchise.com/">https://rightathomefranchise.com/</a>.&nbsp;

Why This Mother and Daughter Team are Opening a Right at Home Franchise Together in Janesville

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<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremystarkel/">Jeremy</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-starkel-941880112/">Kristen Starkel</a> built their careers in Omaha, but both came from smaller communities in rural Nebraska. Over time, they began thinking about what it would look like to return and build something in the places where they grew up, close to family, friends, and the people they knew best.“We were really drawn back to home,” Jeremy said. “This is where we were born and raised, where our friends and family are. We wanted to do something that would give back to the community and align with our skills and our passion, whether that was healthcare from a staffing standpoint or more hands-on patient care.”That decision led them to&nbsp;<a href="https://rightathomefranchise.com/">Right at Home</a>, where they now operate five locations across northeast and central Nebraska, serving a wide range of rural and farm-based communities.<h2>Meeting a Real Need in Rural Markets</h2>Many residents in rural areas live miles from the nearest hospital or clinic, with limited options in some cases. This creates a real challenge for older adults who want to remain at home.“We serve a lot of the farm communities, the gravel roads, the cornfield areas of Nebraska where people don’t have access to care as much,” Jeremy said. “We don’t have a lot of nursing homes or hospitals in some of these areas, so people have to drive a long distance. It’s nice to be able to go to them and help them in their homes.”In many of these communities, home care is one of the only consistent options available, especially for seniors who are not ready or willing to relocate. That creates a steady, often urgent demand for&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/rightathome/info">Right at Home</a>. It also allows providers to step in as a reliable solution where other parts of the healthcare system may be harder to reach.“So it’s really rewarding to be able to give people that option,” Jeremy said. “There just aren’t a lot of choices out here, and if someone wants to stay home, we can help make that possible.”<h2>Overcoming Logistics and Building Scale</h2>Operating in rural markets comes with its own unique challenges. Travel distances are longer, hiring can take more time and scheduling requires flexibility across a wide geographic area.“It’s not unusual for someone to drive 45 minutes to an hour to get to a client,” Jeremy said. “We have to set that expectation upfront with our care staff. The clients are there and they need the care, but you might not have someone right next door, so you have to be willing to drive.”Having coverage in more remote areas can also be a challenge, especially when caregivers are not available nearby right away. But the team works to coordinate care as soon as possible, sometimes even collaboratively with other providers.&nbsp;“You might not have a caregiver in those areas already, so it can take a little bit of time to get care lined up,” Kristen said. “At the end of the day, we want to make sure the client gets taken care of one way or another.”<h2>The Advantage of Small-Town Trust</h2>Though it can be more logistically challenging in rural areas, these areas offer trust that’s usually difficult to replicate in larger markets. Reputation spreads quickly in small towns and relationships carry even more weight.&nbsp;“A lot of it is word of mouth,” Jeremy said. “If you have a good reputation in a small community, people talk. We’ve built trust over time by providing quality care, and people share their experiences with neighbors, friends, and family. That’s been a big driver of our business.”That has allowed the Starkels’ locations to expand without relying heavily on traditional advertising. New clients often come in having already heard about the brand from someone they trust.<h2>A Business That Feels Personal</h2>In rural markets, the work often feels more personal because of how closely connected communities are. Many clients are not strangers but people the Starkels and their team already know.“I’ve taken care of school teachers of mine, and we’ve worked with friends’ parents and grandparents,” Jeremy said. “When people need help, they already know we’re here and they know they can call us. That’s a really neat part of being in a small community.”The team also actively participates in local events, partners with organizations and volunteers their time to support the people they serve. That involvement helps strengthen relationships and keeps the business closely connected to the communities it serves.“We do a lot of volunteering and community involvement, whether it’s working with senior centers, partnering with the VA or helping with local fundraisers,” Kristen said. “We’ve been fortunate to be where we are, so we want to give back and be part of the community, not just operate a business in it.”<h2>Why Rural Markets Are Worth the Investment</h2>Rural markets may not always be the obvious choice for starting a franchise. Population size and geography can raise questions about scalability, but the Starkels’ experience shows that those concerns are often outweighed by opportunity.“When we were first looking at it, people might say a market like Norfolk, Nebraska isn’t big enough or doesn’t have the population to support it,” Jeremy said. “But I think we’re a testament that that’s not necessarily true. It’s really what you make of it.”In rural areas, where options can be limited, Right at Home provides a path for individuals to remain in their homes and communities. For many families, that option would not otherwise exist.“For a lot of people here, especially farmers, they don’t want to leave their homes,” Kristen said. “Being able to provide that option, to help them stay where they’re comfortable for as long as possible, is incredibly rewarding.”If you're interested in taking the next step in making a difference in your community as a Right at Home franchisee, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://rightathomefranchise.com/">https://rightathomefranchise.com/</a>.&nbsp;

From word-of-mouth referrals to gaps in care access, rural markets offer both purpose and long-term opportunity for home care providers.

Nine-Year Right at Home Franchisee Found New Purpose After Years as a Stay-at-Home Mom

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