Right at Home Illinois Franchisee Heather Lantry To Discuss Why She Became a Franchisee on Franchise Education Webinar

Heather Lantry, celebrating a decade of service as the owner of Right at Home North Shore/Chicago Metro, is reflecting on the impact she’s had in her community and preparing to share insights with other prospective owners. Lantry will join 1851 Franchise Publisher Nick Powills on Thursday, October 24, 2024, at 11 a.m. ET to discuss her journey to success, thoughts on the industry, and growth opportunities in Illinois.

Ready to start your franchise ownership journey? Join us for our 11 a.m. EST, October 24 Webinar: Sign up for the webinar here.

Before becoming a franchisee with the in-home care brand, Lantry worked in hospice for about 15 years, so she is incredibly familiar with what it means to provide patients care in their homes and during sensitive times. As she began exploring her next opportunity, she slowly narrowed the selection pool, and Right at Home was on the shortlist.

“I was looking at acquiring an existing franchise, and it just so happened that there was a Right at Home in my area available for purchase,” Lantry said. “Coming from the health care world and knowing that, oftentimes, family members don’t necessarily live close to their elderly loved ones anymore, I was excited to join a national brand and benefit from that wide-reaching brand awareness.”

So, in 2013, Lantry acquired one large service area in Illinois.

“Within the year — actually on Valentine's Day of 2014, because we love Right at Home — we acquired two additional service areas,” Lantry said. “So now, we cover a pretty large service area.”

Since acquiring her additional territories, Lantry has worked to further expand service offerings and further bolster Right at Home’s authority in the market.

Recognizing the importance of having a nursing staff, despite no state requirement in Illinois, Lantry ensures that her Right at Home locations offer a higher level of care with registered nurses on staff. Another way that Lantry’s location stands out is that she participated in a Harvard Medical School pilot program aimed at improving triage systems and preventing common issues, such as infections, among seniors.

Under her leadership, the franchise became licensed for home nursing services and has achieved accreditation from the Joint Commission, a rare accomplishment for home care agencies in Illinois. This certification emphasizes the high standards of care that her team provides.

As demand for in-home care continues to surge, Lantry has remained committed to providing a high level of support to both clients and caregivers to ensure everyone involved gets what they need to thrive.

“I’m very proud of the benefits we offer our team members. I’m appalled by how domestic workers are treated in some industries — invisible until something goes wrong,” she said. “We’ve maintained respect, care, and support within our system, and we’ve worked to add on health, vision, and dental insurance, 401(k), and profit sharing to really wrap our arms around people and take care of them the way we want them to take care of our clients.”

With the senior population growing, Lantry recognizes how crucial it will be to continue building strong, supported teams and providing top-notch client service.

“It can be hard for people to find a quality agency to care for their loved ones, and even in a licensure state like Illinois, the quality can vary tremendously from one place to another,” she said. “The industry is in desperate need of some consistency and consolidation, and that’s a key reason why prospective owners should grow with an outstanding brand like Right at Home.”

Illinois continues to be a strong market for Right at Home’s growth, following suit as demand grows nationwide. Roughly 3.8 million Baby Boomers are expected to turn 65 each year through 2029, and the vast majority of adults will need some level of long-term care support after the age of 65. 

“There are over 2 million people 65 and up in Illinois, and the market is primed for our growth,” said Jen Chaney, vice president of franchise development. “Currently, we’re looking to add 11 new territories throughout the Illinois market, and we look forward to growing with entrepreneurs who share a passion and dedication similar to Heather’s.”

For more information on her story and the opportunity for Right at Home franchise ownership in Illinois, join Lantry and Powills on October 24th for their live webinar discussion. Lantry and Powills will dive further into her personal experience as an owner, the current state of business in Illinois, and how other entrepreneurs can begin to make a difference in their own communities.

Sign up for the webinar here.

ABOUT RIGHT AT HOME:

Founded in 1995, Right at Home offers in-home care to seniors and adults with disabilities who want to live independently. Most Right at Home offices are independently owned and operated and directly employ and supervise all caregiving staff. Each caregiver is thoroughly screened, trained, and bonded/insured before entering a client’s home. Right at Home’s global office is based in Omaha, Nebraska, with more than 700 franchise locations in the U.S. and five other countries.

If you're interested in taking the next step in making a difference in your community as a Right at Home franchisee, visit http://rightathomefranchise.com or to read more about franchise ownership, visit our blog at: https://rightathomefranchise.com/forc/.