Good Neighbor Podcast: North Shore
Bringing together local businesses and neighbors of North Shore
Good Neighbor Podcast: North Shore
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.
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Yvonne Godfrey.
Speaker 2:Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. Today I have the distinct pleasure of introducing Gabrielle Kenney. She is the manager of Right at Home and we are excited to have her with us to share some tidbits and insight into Right at Home. Let's get started, Gabrielle, how are you doing today?
Speaker 3:I am good. Thank you so much, and thank you so much for having me on your podcast.
Speaker 2:Oh, it's wonderful to have you here. Can you please tell our listeners about your company?
Speaker 3:Absolutely so, right at Home. We're a family-owned business. My parents, jay Kenny and Rosaline Daugherty, started it 23 years ago with a three-year-old and a six-month-old and zero home care experience, and so our mission is we change the world one human interaction at a time, and we do that through providing support for seniors in our community through light housekeeping, personal care, companionship and whatever they may need.
Speaker 2:So you were born into this, I was.
Speaker 3:I cannot believe that I'm here 23 years now, sitting where I am. I never thought that I would be here, but from a really young age I knew that this is where I wanted to be and what I wanted to do.
Speaker 2:Wow, awesome. Can you elaborate a little bit more on that? Are you an only child?
Speaker 3:I am not an only child. I actually have an older brother and he is super into the science stuff and all that type of jazz and he's in pharmaceutical school doing his thing and really didn't want much to do with home care or right at home. But I was happy to take it over. You know, I've known I wanted to do this for a fact since I was 10 years old. Like I said, I grew up with it. So you know I remember three years old, I'm going to assisted livings and going to nursing homes and all those types of things and I was really seeing the impact that we were making Awesome.
Speaker 2:Awesome, that's beautiful. So, gabrielle, what are some myths or misconception that you've discovered in the home care industry?
Speaker 3:You know that's a great question. I think one of the biggest myths about home care is that we're here to take away your independence and, to be quite honest with you, it's actually the opposite of that. You know, our goal for all of our clients is for them to age safely in the comfort of their own home, and so sometimes, when we slow down, we need a little extra help, and that's what we're here to do.
Speaker 2: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:You know I feel like I'm still in college Sometimes. I'm always out hanging out with my friends. We love going on hikes. I actually live in Marblehead, so walking on the beach, walking the causeway, is one of my favorite things to do.
Speaker 2:Nice, nice, nice. So let's change gears for a little bit. Can you describe one hardship or one of life's challenge that you rose above and can now say because of it you're better and stronger? What comes to your mind, gabrielle?
Speaker 3:Immediately.
Speaker 3:It's a struggle that I still deal with every single day.
Speaker 3:In fourth grade I was diagnosed with dyslexia, which is a language-based learning disability, and I had teachers tell me I wasn't going to graduate high school, let alone going to college. So you know, I had a really long or really hard time, you know, in school keeping up with my classmates, but I put in the work because I knew that my end goal was I wanted to work, I wanted to be an owner right at home, I wanted to make an impact, and so I went to work. I wanted to be an owner right at 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 and because of the dedication that I put into my education, I was able to graduate from Bentley University a semester early and start working. Perseverance, yes, lots of perseverance and, like I said, I still struggle with it every single day, but it's a part of who I am and it's something I'm honestly proud of.
Speaker 2:Well, and it's great to know that you had the support from your parents, so that played a big role, I'm sure.
Speaker 3:Yes, absolutely. My parents are my number one cheerleaders and my biggest supporters in life, and they also never put pressure on my brother and I to ever take over the company, be a part of the company. It was always a choice that we had. So when I told my parents from such a young age, this is what I wanted to do, they're like yeah, okay, you know you're 10. You'll probably change your mind and want to be an actress tomorrow, but you know, here I am.
Speaker 2:So awesome, awesome. Gabrielle, can you please tell our listeners one thing that they should remember about right at home?
Speaker 3:You know I think one thing that you need to remember about right at home is that we're here for you and home care is not a one size fits all type of deal. You know our services are customizable to what you need and you know if whether it's just hanging out with somebody, having somebody help with showers, go grocery shopping, you know we're here to do it. We're flexible and we want to. You know, just be able to help you age safely in your home.
Speaker 2:Beautiful, beautiful, well said, thank you. So how can our listeners learn more about Right at Home?
Speaker 3:There are a lot of different ways to get in contact with us. We do services actually from Boston all the way up to the New Hampshire border and then up in Maine, so we're a little bit of everywhere. So the best way to find us is either on the internet, at rightathomenet, or just give us a call 978-744-5151, and we will pick up your call and we're here to help.
Speaker 2: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 more about Right at Home, right here in our North Shore area. We wish you and Right at Home all the very best moving forward.
Speaker 3:Thank you so much and thank you again for letting me come on this podcast. It has been great, it's been our pleasure.
Speaker 1:Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to GNPNorthshorecom. That's GNPNorthshorecom, or call 857-703-9406.