Social Worker Continues to Serve Her Community as Right at Home Franchise Owner

Regina Le-Grand-Sawyer has always had a passion for serving others, so it doesn’t come as much of a surprise that she is now bringing Right at Home*, the in-home care franchise with over 700 units, to Yuba City, CA. When she was young, she gravitated towards her aunt who through a tragic accident became a paraplegic, eager to help in any way she could. From then on, she knew she would end up providing care services to others and has done so in a variety of ways. 

Le-Grand-Sawyer was born in Ghana and moved to the states at the age of 11. She eventually obtained an undergraduate degree in social work, later working for non-profit organizations providing home health care services before moving into a career more focused on mental health. Currently, Le-Grand-Sawyer holds a position with the California Department of Public Health. 

Her inspiration for starting her own business in home care is rooted in her experience and passions. She and her siblings took turns caring for their father in his old age, and she sometimes wishes they had used a service like Right at Home to provide some relief for their care responsibilities, especially her younger sister who lived with her dad. She also is a brain tumor survivor and knows the difference quality care can make in keeping someone comfortable and happy. 

Now, she looks forward to opening her own Right at Home franchise to provide care to those who need it in the wider Yuba, Sutter, Nevada Counties in California, likely starting in February 2024. She plans to utilize her family-oriented nature to create a nurturing, supportive environment for her caregivers so that they can provide the highest quality of care to their clients.

1851 Franchise spoke with Le-Grand-Sawyer about her journey into franchising and her plans for the future. 

PROFILE QUESTIONS

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Le-Grand-Sawyer: I am a social worker at heart. As a child, I had an aunt that was paraplegic. I found myself gravitating towards her and enjoyed helping her with food and getting out of bed. I always knew I would be a provider of care services in some way. 

I was born in Ghana and raised in the Bay Area. I knew I would be in the healthcare field, but wasn’t sure in what capacity. After completing my undergraduate degree in social work, I worked for non-profit organizations, such as home health care entities, before getting more involved in mental health. I was the director for mental health services in Sacramento, and now I work for the Department of Public Health.

I have a friend who is in the home care business, who approached me in 2016 because he felt this is something I would excel at. I wasn’t ready at that moment, but I knew I wanted to have my own business and help people in that way eventually.

As of 2021, he came back to me again, insisting that I needed to get involved with this business. I wanted to be able to give back, have my own business and find fulfillment. 

My dad passed away in 2019. While I live about two and a half hours away from my dad, my younger sister lived with him, and we all still made sure to take turns providing care for him in one way or another. He was adamant that he did not want to go into a nursing home and that he wanted us to take care of him. Now, I wish we had used a service like Right at Home to provide more relief for my sister who lived with my dad. Although we all helped as much as we could, she worked really hard and took on a lot of the responsibilities. That experience made me realize that this field is going to help a lot of people.

I'm a brain tumor survivor, as well. I had craniotomy in 2018, and after I had my tumor removed, my God Mother and my daughter helped take care of me. I know that people in my position who have had a craniotomy or other major procedures probably needed that same level of care and support, but never received it.

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?

Le-Grand-Sawyer: Prior to becoming a franchisee, I didn’t understand what it entailed. I identified franchises with fast food places like McDonald’s. I had not thought of home care and service brands. I researched what a franchise model looked like and how it can help me run my own business. They have a framework in place; why would I want to reinvent the wheel? 

Anyone looking should understand the perks that comes with franchising, they have created a series of boiler-plate modalities that would help kick start your business.

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

Le-Grand-Sawyer: Right at Home’s missions align with my own values and goals. It’s a culmination of their experiences and values that drove me to select this brand. I know how to make people's lives comfortable, especially elderly people, because nobody wants to live in the hospital and spend an excess amount of money. They would rather live in the comfort of their home. They want the people coming into their home to be well trained to provide care for them. Right at Home has the formula that allows families and clients to feel safe and comfortable. Caregivers are also revered in this organization and it is very important to recognize the hard work that these professionals exhibit daily. The infrastructure for this company is solid and they are always looking for innovative ways to expand and provide better tools for franchisees.  

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

Le-Grand-Sawyer: I hope that once I get my first territory established – I am starting from scratch, building a brand new territory – I will have great staff on board, as the caregivers will be the backbone of my company. Well trained and experienced caregivers are a must to ensure  our clients receive the most excellent care. 

I am a very family-oriented person, and in this line of work, you want people to feel comfortable working for you, so I believe I will be able to build this positive relationship with my team.The Baby Boomers have undeniable expressed their desire to age from the comfort of their homes and I want our team be the beacon that our clients so deserve. My plan is to grow the current agency and acquire other territories in the future. 

I want to be involved in creating policies, executing best practices as well, and ensure that we are providing the best, most innovative services to our elderly and people with disabilities. 

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Le-Grand-Sawyer: I want people to know that I have been a recipient and provided care services. I believe in what we are doing, because I have been there. Looking at it from the client and caregiver perspective, I want people to know the passion I bring to the table. I am well-traveled and I can work with anybody and everybody; I am committed to provide the necessary services each person needs, or help them find resources when their needs are out of our scope of practice.

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

Le-Grand-Sawyer: Anyone who wants to be a franchise owner should do their homework. It’s not a walk in the park; it takes a lot of time and dedication. Do your research and understand why you want to do this. This is a lifetime commitment, so be very selective and make sure the brand’s mission and ethics align with your own. Talk to as many people as you can, and take their wisdom into consideration as you make your decision. Moreover, be prepared financially. You cannot have another job and effectively run this business. It requires full commitment. There are lots of people willing to help during your journey and take advantage of it. 

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. For more information about Right at Home, visit https://www.rightathome.net or read the Right at Home blog at https://www.rightathome.net/blog/.