Denton Record-Chronicle: North Texan is taking care of sandwich generation
When our loved ones need care beyond what they or family members can provide, a helping hand can make a huge difference. That is why Michelle Rankine owns a home care franchise called Right At Home, covering three areas of North Texas.
An altruistic entrepreneur
Michelle Rankine has a Ph.D. in higher education, a master’s degree in sports management and pedagogy administration, and a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Purdue University. But while she had a career in sports, in 2011, her brother was in a car accident that left him paraplegic. This major life event changed her goals. She and her mother rotated spending time at the hospital with her 22-year-old brother, and she realized the need for a helping hand.
"The best choice we made was hiring a home care agency out of Indiana to assist us," Rankine said. "It was very instrumental for me to learn about home care. I got to meet the owner of the agency and realized I didn’t need to be a nurse to own a home care agency. So, I started doing research about franchises, and made my decision with Right At Home."
Rankine purchased a franchise located in both Collin County and Denton County, with her headquarters in Lewisville. Texas was a brand-new state for her, but said it’s moving has been a great decision. She has since added a third territory for the company as well, in the Mid-Cities area.
Right At Home is a mobile business, and caregivers go to clients in their homes for assessment and care. The heart of Right At Home’s mission is service, she says. While the company does not offer skilled nursing, it does offer care from certified nursing assistants who help keep people more independent in their homes.
"When people need extra hands and they’re not able to live independently to do activities of daily living, we’re able to come and assist," Rankine said. "While the majority of our clientele is predominantly seniors, but we’re licensed for any adult."
Clients have ranged from a 20-year-old coming out of surgery without a partner to assist them, to folks in their eighties who need extra assistance for the activities of daily living, all the way to end-of-life care.
"We meet people where they are, whether it’s assistance for short term, or for the long-term," Rankine said.
Rankine says the most rewarding part of her work is the relationships that are formed and the peace of mind that they offer families.
Read the full article from the Denton Record-Chronicle where Right at Home franchise owner Michelle Rankine also discusses her Free Wheelchair Mission trip to Kenya for Walkabout Foundation.
