EP #58 - Gabrielle Kenney: Home Care Reimagined

Ever wondered what it takes to build a successful family business that changes lives? Meet Gabrielle Kenney, who grew up watching her parents build Right at Home, a thriving senior care company now serving communities from Boston to New Hampshire and Maine. Gabrielle is passionate about dispelling misconceptions about home care, emphasizing that it's not about taking away independence but helping seniors maintain autonomy while aging safely at home through services like light housekeeping, personal care, and companionship.

Gabrielle's own journey is equally inspiring. Despite being told she wouldn't graduate high school due to her dyslexia, she persevered, graduating early from Bentley University. This determination mirrors the company's mission to "change the world one human interaction at a time." Having known since age ten that she wanted to work in the family business, Gabrielle's story highlights the heart of Right at Home's personalized, compassionate care. Whether you're caring for an aging loved one or curious about the unique qualities of family businesses, this episode offers valuable insights into how the right support can help seniors thrive. Contact Right at Home at 978-744-5151 for more information on their flexible care options.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, YvonneGodfrey.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Today I have the distinctpleasure of introducing
Gabrielle Kenney.
She is the manager of Right atHome and we are excited to have
her with us to share sometidbits and insight into Right
at Home.
Let's get started, Gabrielle,how are you doing today?

Speaker 3 (00:32):
I am good.
Thank you so much, and thankyou so much for having me on
your podcast.

Speaker 2 (00:36):
Oh, it's wonderful to have you here.
Can you please tell ourlisteners about your company?

Speaker 3 (00:41):
Absolutely so, right at Home.
We're a family-owned business.
My parents, jay Kenny andRosaline Daugherty, started it
23 years ago with athree-year-old and a
six-month-old and zero home careexperience, and so our mission
is we change the world one humaninteraction at a time, and we
do that through providingsupport for seniors in our

(01:02):
community through lighthousekeeping, personal care,
companionship and whatever theymay need.

Speaker 2 (01:08):
So you were born into this, I was.

Speaker 3 (01:13):
I cannot believe that I'm here 23 years now, sitting
where I am.
I never thought that I would behere, but from a really young
age I knew that this is where Iwanted to be and what I wanted
to do.

Speaker 2 (01:23):
Wow, awesome.
Can you elaborate a little bitmore on that?
Are you an only child?

Speaker 3 (01:29):
I am not an only child.
I actually have an olderbrother and he is super into the
science stuff and all that typeof jazz and he's in
pharmaceutical school doing histhing and really didn't want
much to do with home care orright at home.
But I was happy to take it over.
You know, I've known I wantedto do this for a fact since I
was 10 years old.

(01:49):
Like I said, I grew up with it.
So you know I remember threeyears old, I'm going to assisted
livings and going to nursinghomes and all those types of
things and I was really seeingthe impact that we were making
Awesome.

Speaker 2 (02:02):
Awesome, that's beautiful.
So, gabrielle, what are somemyths or misconception that
you've discovered in the homecare industry?

Speaker 3 (02:12):
You know that's a great question.
I think one of the biggestmyths about home care is that
we're here to take away yourindependence and, to be quite
honest with you, it's actuallythe opposite of that.
You know, our goal for all ofour clients is for them to age
safely in the comfort of theirown home, and so sometimes, when
we slow down, we need a littleextra help, and that's what

(02:33):
we're here to do.

Speaker 2 (02:35):
Beautiful, perfect, and still maintain that
independence.
I love it.
I love it.
So, outside of work, gabrielle,what do you do for fun?

Speaker 3 (02:51):
You know I feel like I'm still in college Sometimes.
I'm always out hanging out withmy friends.
We love going on hikes.
I actually live in Marblehead,so walking on the beach, walking
the causeway, is one of myfavorite things to do.

Speaker 2 (02:59):
Nice, nice, nice.
So let's change gears for alittle bit.
Can you describe one hardshipor one of life's challenge that
you rose above and can now saybecause of it you're better and
stronger?
What comes to your mind,gabrielle?

Speaker 3 (03:15):
Immediately.
It's a struggle that I stilldeal with every single day.
In fourth grade I was diagnosedwith dyslexia, which is a
language-based learningdisability, and I had teachers
tell me I wasn't going tograduate high school, let alone
going to college.
So you know, I had a reallylong or really hard time, you
know, in school keeping up withmy classmates, but I put in the

(03:37):
work because I knew that my endgoal was I wanted to work, I
wanted to be an owner right athome, I wanted to make an impact
, and so I went to work.
I wanted to be an owner rightat home, I wanted to make an
impact, and so I went to school.
I went to Landmark High School,which specializes with kids
with learning disabilities,which, honestly, was a godsend
for me, and because of them andbecause of the dedication that I
put into my education, I wasable to graduate from Bentley

(03:58):
University a semester early andstart working.
Perseverance, yes, lots ofperseverance and, like I said, I
still struggle with it everysingle day, but it's a part of
who I am and it's something I'mhonestly proud of.

Speaker 2 (04:14):
Well, and it's great to know that you had the support
from your parents, so thatplayed a big role, I'm sure.

Speaker 3 (04:21):
Yes, absolutely.
My parents are my number onecheerleaders and my biggest
supporters in life, and theyalso never put pressure on my
brother and I to ever take overthe company, be a part of the
company.
It was always a choice that wehad.
So when I told my parents fromsuch a young age, this is what I
wanted to do, they're like yeah, okay, you know you're 10.
You'll probably change yourmind and want to be an actress

(04:41):
tomorrow, but you know, here Iam.

Speaker 2 (04:44):
So awesome, awesome.
Gabrielle, can you please tellour listeners one thing that
they should remember about rightat home?

Speaker 3 (04:53):
You know I think one thing that you need to remember
about right at home is thatwe're here for you and home care
is not a one size fits all typeof deal.
You know our services arecustomizable to what you need
and you know if whether it'sjust hanging out with somebody,
having somebody help withshowers, go grocery shopping,
you know we're here to do it.

(05:13):
We're flexible and we want to.
You know, just be able to helpyou age safely in your home.

Speaker 2 (05:18):
Beautiful, beautiful, well said, thank you.
So how can our listeners learnmore about Right at Home?

Speaker 3 (05:26):
There are a lot of different ways to get in contact
with us.
We do services actually fromBoston all the way up to the New
Hampshire border and then up inMaine, so we're a little bit of
everywhere.
So the best way to find us iseither on the internet, at
rightathomenet, or just give usa call 978-744-5151, and we will

(05:47):
pick up your call and we'rehere to help.

Speaker 2 (05:50):
Gabrielle, we really appreciate you being on the show
with us today.
We thank you for your input,your insight and for educating
our listeners that much moreabout Right at Home, right here
in our North Shore area.
We wish you and Right at Homeall the very best moving forward
.

Speaker 3 (06:08):
Thank you so much and thank you again for letting me
come on this podcast.
It has been great, it's beenour pleasure.

Speaker 1 (06:16):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go to GNPNorthshorecom.
That's GNPNorthshorecom, orcall 857-703-9406.