Second Act Franchisee Sees Success in Massachusetts

Lanette Duggan obtained her Bachelor of Science degree from Bryant University in Rhode Island while simultaneously working full time for United Marketing. The experience allowed her to pay for college and kick-started her professional career. She later went on to earn her M.B.A. from Northeastern University with a concentration in business management and healthcare financial management.

 

Lanette decided to begin a career in healthcare sales and worked for Carlisle Food Service, working her way up to managing the entire mid-Atlantic area. Lanette then transitioned to a position with Herman Miller for Healthcare as the New England Healthcare Manager, working with nursing homes and hospitals throughout the East Coast.

 

At the peak of her career, Lanette’s 97-year-old grandmother fell and broke her neck. With no one able to care for her, Lanette stepped up to act as her grandma’s caregiver. Although she loved every minute of helping her grandmother, Lanette witnessed the struggles seniors go through to remain independent and in their own homes.

 

Inspired by how her father became an entrepreneur at age 52 after a 25-year career with Johnson & Johnson, Lanette, at age 50, felt like it was the right time to start her own business and turned to her family for advice. Lanette wanted to do something meaningful and give back to the community.

 

With her healthcare expertise and personal experiences with her family, Lanette wanted to find a business in the healthcare industry, specifically caring for the senior population. While on the search for the right business venture, her mother suffered from a fall and broke her neck. Lanette and her sister were able to provide their mother with the proper care with additional care from the Visiting Nurse Association. Months later, Lanette’s mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer and Lanette again became her mother’s full-time caregiver. After this experience, Lanette knew in-home care was the business she wanted to open.

 

Taking this vicissitude as a sign, Lanette performed her due diligence on the in-home care industry, and over the course of a year, she found that Right at Home was the ideal franchise opportunity for her.

 

We had a chance to speak with Duggan about her decision to become a franchisee with Right at Home.

 

1851: How did you find out about Right at Home?

 

Lanette Duggan: When my sister and I were looking for additional care for my mother, the Visiting Nurse Association informed me about in-home care and suggested looking at Right at Home because of their great reputation. I began to research the industry and quickly learned a lot of great things about Right at Home.

 

1851: Why did you choose an opportunity with Right at Home?

 

LD: Right at Home’s mission truly inspired me, not to mention Allen Hager’s healthcare background and the amount of support corporate offers to franchisees. The whole corporate team truly wants you to be successful and, most importantly, offer the right care for those in need.

 

1851: What personal experience do you have in your own family with caring for a senior?

 

LD: When my mother broke her neck and needed help, my sister and I couldn’t provide all of the appropriate care, and the Visiting Nurse Association suggested looking at in-home care companies. Right at Home was highly recommended to us. But after my mother recovered, she was diagnosed with colon cancer and I was her primary caregiver during that time. She always took such great care of me growing up, so it was rewarding to be able to take care of her.