After nearly three decades in the therapy world, Holly Holton knew she wanted to do something more. As a lifelong occupational therapist, her passion for serving the elderly was unwavering — but the post-pandemic environment in long-term care left her searching for a new path.

“I just decided that I wanted to do something different from the therapy world,” Holton said. “I had seen the value of home care personally and through my work during the pandemic, when we were providing therapy in people’s homes.”

Now, as a Right at Home franchisee in Columbus, Ohio, Holton is using her clinical background to bring compassionate, personalized care to seniors in their homes. She’ll be sharing her full journey — and offering insights into the future of home care — during an upcoming webinar with 1851 Franchise publisher Nick Powills on May 13, 2025, at 11:30 am ET.

Ready to start your franchise ownership journey? Join us for our May 13, 2025, upcoming webinar at 11:30 am ET: Sign up for the webinar here.

Holton’s transition into franchising was shaped by years of experience in skilled nursing facilities, where she rose through the ranks from therapist to Vice President of Operations. Her entry into the home care space was sparked by conversations with industry providers — including a Right at Home owner in Columbus — while building an in-home therapy program.

“I started marketing that program and thinking, maybe I could do this,” she said. “My husband and I talked about it, our kids were grown, and we agreed it was the right time.”

Holton partnered with a close friend and former colleague, who launched her own Right at Home office in Marietta, Ohio. “We each have our individual companies, but going through the process together was huge. I don’t think I could have done it without her.”

Today, Holton owns two territories and is preparing to open her second office. Her deep health care background allows her to provide caregivers with specialized, hands-on training in clients’ homes — a service that’s technically non-medical, but elevated by her expertise.

“Every home’s setup is different,” she said. “We focus on safety and return demonstrations to make sure caregivers are truly prepared.”

Holton’s agency serves a diverse clientele, including veterans — through the VA — as well as clients using Medicaid’s Passport program and those with long-term care insurance. That diversity, she says, is key in a shifting landscape where demand is rising but care hours may be shorter.

“I want to be able to take VA, Medicaid, private pay, and long-term care,” she said. “The volume of seniors needing care is only going to increase, but we may see more people needing care for shorter shifts.”

Holton is also excited about an upcoming pilot in Ohio, where Medicare will cover some in-home care for clients with Alzheimer’s and dementia through the GUIDE Program.

“It’s not cheap to have in-home care, but if we can help someone stay in their home longer for less than assisted living or skilled nursing, that’s a win,” she said. 

Looking back, Holton says the decision to join Right at Home was the best move she ever made. “I absolutely love what I do and the people I get to impact,” she said. “This was the right fit for me.”

Join Holton and Powills for the upcoming webinar to learn more about Holly’s journey, her approach to personalized in-home care, and what the future holds for the Right at Home franchise system.

Sign up for the webinar here.

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/.