1851Franchise: Right at Home is Building Innovation Staff
By expanding its corporate Innovation Team, Right at Home is investing in tools, talent, and strategy to drive the future of senior care and help franchisees meet the evolving expectations of clients by delivering cutting-edge in-home care.
As demand grows for aging-in-place services, Right at Home is positioning itself to lead the industry through thoughtful innovation. The company began laying the groundwork for its innovation strategy back in 2022, developing a three-year plan that would enable the brand to adapt to shifting demographics, emerging technology, and rising consumer expectations.
“We knew the needs of our clients were evolving,” said Chief Growth Officer Brady Schwab. “We also knew we couldn’t ask people to solve big problems on top of their day jobs, so we made a conscious investment in talent dedicated exclusively to forward-looking innovation.”
The launch of AI-driven tools, wearable technology, and more proactive care delivery models further reinforced that this was the right time to build out a specialized team.
What It Means To Build a Team of Innovation
Right at Home’s innovation team isn’t just a tech department — it’s a cross-functional initiative grounded in human-centered design. The team includes individuals with expertise in venture capital, AI integration, and behavioral science. The goal: to identify meaningful ways to improve how in-home care is delivered and how franchisees run their businesses.
“We focus on what problems exist across our ecosystem for franchisees, caregivers, clients, even internal staff, and then prioritize where we can make the biggest impact,” Schwab said.
According to Scott Dingfield, Director of Innovation, this structure allows the company to explore long-term solutions while the rest of the organization remains focused on day-to-day operations.
“We wanted a team whose full-time job is to think about the future, to ask ‘what if,’ and run toward the challenges no one else has time to focus on,” Dingfield said.
Investing in Startups and In-Home Tech
One of the most unique components of Right at Home’s strategy is the creation of a corporate venture fund to invest in startups enabling aging at home. This initiative, led by Bailey Paxton, Director of Venture Investment and In-Home Care Technology, gives the brand early access to promising innovations and industry insights that would otherwise be out of reach.
“We’re the only major in-home care provider doing this right now,” Paxton said. “Spending time in tech hubs like San Francisco and Boston has allowed us to scout tools that can transform not just our services but the entire aging-in-place ecosystem.”
The venture fund helped launch RightAssist, an in-home monitoring system that tracks activity, sleep, and safety without intrusive cameras or complicated devices. This helps caregivers adjust care plans in real-time while offering peace of mind to families.
Bringing AI Into the Home — and the Office
Right at Home’s innovation team is also building tools that improve operational efficiency, reduce caregiver burnout, and enhance client experiences. One such tool is an AI-driven system that records and transcribes in-home consultations, automating care plans and documentation.
“These tools eliminate the double-entry burden and allow us to train staff more effectively using real consultation transcripts,” Paxton said. “It’s a massive time-saver for franchisees and ensures better continuity of care.”
Other innovations include scheduling automation, AI-assisted caregiver onboarding, and CRM pilots that help franchisees track client satisfaction and streamline growth.
Supporting Franchisees With More Than Just Tech
Every new hire and innovation is designed with franchisees in mind. From the CRM pilot program to the GUIDE dementia care partnership with PocketRN and a forthcoming AI-powered COPD monitoring system with RespirAI, Right at Home is creating a technology ecosystem that supports top-line growth, staff efficiency, and client wellness.
“Technology should be a tool that helps our people, not a replacement for them,” Dingfield said. “The goal is to enhance the way we care, not complicate it.”
Right at Home’s leadership sees this innovation initiative as foundational to its long-term future. By investing in new ideas, dedicated personnel, and early-stage technologies, the company is building the capabilities to thrive in a changing health care landscape.
“We want to be a 100-year brand,” Schwab said. “And that means putting the right people in place today who can prepare us for tomorrow.”
With innovation baked into its DNA, Right at Home is helping franchisees stand out in their local markets while ensuring clients receive the best care possible — today and in the decades to come.
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