#33 Becky Reel is the former CEO of North America’s #1 home care agency and in this episode we unpack six of the most common growth challenges home care owners face—and how to overcome them. We talk through the pushing through revenue plateaus, the caregiver exodus, the burned-out founder, the corporate competition crisis, the success trap of growing too fast, and the work-life collision that happens when your agency becomes your identity. Becky shares real stories from her first hand-experience and  practical systems she’s used to help owners regain time, rebuild culture, and grow sustainably. 

• Becky Reel on LinkedIn
• reelhomecareconsulting.com 

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:37 Becky's Journey in Home Care
04:04 The Startup Phase of Home Care Agencies
08:03 Addressing the Caregiver Exodus
29:38 Overcoming Revenue Plateaus
37:28 Balancing Quantitative and Qualitative KPIs
40:36 Navigating Corporate Competition in Home Care
52:36 The Success Trap: Growing Too Fast
01:02:18 Work-Life Collision: Finding Your Identity Beyond the Agency

Episode brought to you by SmartAutomations.Care (www.smartautomations.care)
It's a seamless software that captures everything from phone calls to in-person visits and logs it directly into your scheduling software. No extra steps. No missed details.

#32 Eric Reinarman, VP of Government Relations at HCAOA, covers the most pressing policies being talked about on Capitol Hill. From immigration reform and workforce shortages to affordability of care and the controversial 80/20 Medicaid rule, he breaks down what’s happening in Washington and how it could reshape the industry. We also talk about the power of advocacy, why storytelling moves policy forward, and how every provider—big or small—can make their voice heard. Plus, he covers a major win with the Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act and shares practical ways to stay informed and involved at the state and federal level.

• Eric Reinarman on LinkedIn
• [email protected]
• HCAOA Issues and Policies
• HCAOA State Chapters
• State & Federal Legislative and Regulatory Tracker

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Home Care Advocacy
03:04 The Immigration Challenge in Home Care
06:10 Advocacy and Legislative Efforts
08:58 The Importance of Storytelling in Immigration
11:58 The Affordability of Home Care
17:03 Innovative Solutions for Affordability
23:43 Current Legislative Landscape on Non-Competes
29:41 Understanding Non-Compete Agreements in Home Care
34:11 The Controversy of the 80-20 Rule
39:39 Preparing for Potential Changes in Medicaid Regulations
50:53 The Impact of the Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act
01:00:07 The Value of Advocacy and Association Membership

This episode is brought to you by 24/7 Solutions (www.247solutions.co)
What do they do:

• Consulting—1:1 tailored consulting from an expert team who's been in your shoes
• Training—monthly training for your team on leadership, ownership and operations
• Powerhouse Peers—accountability for staff with weekly KPI check-ins, expert coaching, peer collaboration, and a monthly audit

#31 Running a home care agency can feel like running a marathon—at a 7-minute mile pace, on a treadmill, underwater. Most owners are stuck because they fall into one of two traps: the “set it and forget it” manager who assumes vision is enough, or the “I’ll just do it myself” manager who can’t let go of control. Emily Isbell, CEO of 24/7 Solutions breaks down why both fail and what it takes to build a management culture that actually sustains growth. She explains how to apply the TTOE framework—Teach, Train, Observe, Evaluate—and implement real training, grounded processes, and meaningful KPIs. If you’re half leading and half managing, this conversation is especially for you. 

• Emily Isbell on LinkedIn
• 24/7 Solutions (www.247solutions.co) - Learn more and inquire about their services
• 24/7 Solutions Summit (www.247solutions.co/247-solution-summit) - Hands-on intensive to learn and apply proven solutions for your business / Feb 5-6 in Nashville, TN
• 24/7 Solution Book on Amazon (available everywhere)
• 24/7 Solution Audible on Audible (available everywhere)

This episode is brought to you by 24/7 Solutions (www.247solutions.co)
What do they do:

• Consulting—1:1 tailored consulting from an expert team who's been in your shoes
• Training—monthly training for your team on leadership, ownership and operations
• Powerhouse Peers—accountability for staff with weekly KPI check-ins, expert coaching, peer collaboration, and a monthly audit

#30 Being an entrepreneur is full of unknowns and leadership can be lonely, challenging, and push you to your limits. The CEOs of AxisCare, Nevvon, and Caribou—three leading home care tech companies—share how they started their businesses, the frameworks they use to make tough decisions, the skills they’ve had to master, and how they’ve built moats around themselves in a competitive market. They also offer candid advice for home care leaders navigating their own entrepreneurial journey.

• Todd Allen
• James Cohen
• Alex Oosterveen
• AxisCare—operational software
• Nevvon—caregiver training platform
• Caribou—caregiver rewards and recognition tool
• Book: Give and Take by Adam Grant

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Home Care Entrepreneurs
02:08 Motivations Behind Starting a Business
08:51 Embracing Pain and Discomfort in Entrepreneurship
17:08 Navigating Change: Push Through vs. Pivot
24:44 People Management: The Heart of Business
34:35 Hiring for Culture vs. Skill
39:39 Developing Hard Skills for Success
40:33 Curiosity and Pattern Recognition in Business
41:32 The Importance of Forecasting and Growth
44:12 Navigating Financials and Corporate Governance
48:31 Understanding the Moat Framework for Business Success
55:26 Operational Excellence and Customer Retention
01:00:16 Balancing Current Needs with Future Opportunities
01:09:58 Entrepreneurial Advice for Home Care Leaders

This episode is brought to you by 24/7 Solutions (www.247solutions.co)
What do they do:

• Consulting—1:1 tailored consulting from an expert team who's been in your shoes
• Training—monthly training for your team on leadership, ownership and operations
• Powerhouse Peers—accountability for staff with weekly KPI check-ins, expert coaching, peer collaboration, and a monthly audit

#29 Jen Kulig, Director of Market Operations at Tribute Home Care, shares how a $32M agency hires and retains only the top 1% of caregiver applicants. She walks through their 7–10 day hiring process, driven by situational interviews that surface grit, empathy, and motivation, and explains why referrals make up 40% of new hires. Jen also highlights the Caregiver Excellence Department’s 90-day support program, quarterly awards, annual happiness surveys and the Everyone Out program. She also breaks down their Salary Program, Tribute Secure, that guarantees caregivers 30 or 40 hours per week. 

• Jen Kulig on LinkedIn
• Tribute Home Care

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Tribute Home Care
00:55 Jen Kulig's Journey in Home Care
07:12 Overview of Tribute Home Care's Operations
09:36 Caregiver-First Mentality at Scale
10:05 Hiring Process and Recruitment Strategies
18:17 Retention Strategies and Caregiver Excellence
44:32 Innovative Retention Programs
01:11:06 Future of Home Care and Workforce Challenges

This episode is brought to you by The Home Care CPAs.
Are you managing your bank account, or is it managing you? The Home Care CPAs specialize in helping home care agencies—from startups to $40 million businesses—optimize cash flow, streamline billing and payroll, and build scalable financial strategies. Whether you need full-service bookkeeping or expert coaching, their team ensures your finances are working for you, not against you.

#28 After two decades in the home care industry, Bob Roth found himself at a crossroads. Bob shares why he had to completely reimagine Cypress Home Care, from rebuilding operations post-Honor Care Network to transforming caregiver recruitment using machine learning and automation. He shares his candid take on today’s workforce challenges, the generational shifts shaping senior care, and why “home care is hard” but worth doing right. He opens up about the power of community partnerships, rewriting the narrative on aging, and the importance of self-care from his own lived experiences. 

• Bob Roth on LinkedIn
• Cypress Home Care Solutions website
• Book: The Potentialist by Ben Lytle
• Book: Ambiguous Loss by Pauline Boss 
• Book: Negotiate This by Caring, But Not that Much by Herb Cohen

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Home Care Strategy Lab
00:55 Bob Roth's Journey into Home Care
06:17 Reimagining Cypress: The Last 18 Months
11:36 Challenges in Home Care Workforce
17:13 Innovations in Home Care Services
24:06 Changing Perceptions of Aging
29:40 Rewriting the Narrative on Aging
36:39 Community Engagement and Partnerships
44:23 Building Awareness in Home Care
48:44 Self-Care for Home Care Owners
56:01 Advice to Younger Bob, Starting Out

This episode is brought to you by AxisCare.
Running a home care business is challenging enough—your software shouldn’t be part of the struggle. That’s why top-performing home care leaders and enterprise agencies choose AxisCare, rated the #1 home care operating system for the past two years. With powerful, scalable tools, best-in-class customer support, and a team that truly understands home care, AxisCare helps agencies streamline operations and scale with confidence.

#27 If you’re waiting hours (or worse, days) to follow up with caregiver applicants, you’re already losing the best talent. Louie Frank of Activated Insights breaks down why “24 minutes is the new 24 hours” when it comes to caregiver recruiting—and how agencies can fix mid-funnel drop-off before it costs them hires. You’ll learn how to audit your own application process, speed up first contact, and use culture as a conversion tool, not just a retention play. You’ll take away practical, data-backed steps to improve applicant-to-hire ratios and keep your pipeline moving.

• Louie Frank on LinkedIn
• [email protected]
• Activated Insights Recruit Tool
• 2025 Benchmarking Report

Chapters:
02:32 Understanding Workforce Analytics in Home Care
08:21 Analyzing Turnover Rates and Their Implications
12:33 The Importance of Culture and Mission Alignment
16:42 Mid Funnel Challenges in Recruitment
22:43 Effective Communication Strategies for Applicants
23:29 Engaging Applicants Through Text Messaging
30:27 Scheduling and Conducting Interviews
36:30 Automating Background Checks and Metrics
42:04 Qualitative vs Quantitative Hiring Metrics
50:28 The Future of Recruitment in Home Care

This episode is brought to you by 52 Weeks Marketing.
80% of home care revenue is driven by referral marketing. Yet, less than 50% of home care businesses have a dedicated sales person focused on building relationships with referral partners. That’s where 52 Weeks Marketing comes in, providing a complete referral marketing system designed by Debbie Miller, who built a $10 million home care business in just 10 years. With done-for-you marketing tools, a healthcare referrer database, and a CRM to track results, 52 Weeks helps you build a scalable marketing engine that drives real, long-term growth.

#26 AI is transforming how home care agencies operate. Matt Ericksen, VP of Sales and Operations at Griswold, breaks down the exact AI tools, workflows, and formulas he’s using to reclaim hours, improve recruiting, and scale franchise operations. You’ll hear how he built a job ad grader that boosts hiring results, layered Microsoft Copilot across internal systems to save 17 hours a week, and created a compliance companion tool in under 30 minutes. Matt also shares the “Overall Productivity Index” formula for calculating AI ROI and the six-step anatomy of a winning prompt. If you’ve been tinkering with AI but aren’t sure how to make it stick, this episode is your blueprint for adoption and measurable results in home care.

• Matt Ericksen on LinkedIn
• Griswold website
• Practical AI podcast

Matt’s AI preferred tools:

• Microsoft co-pilot - works best for those using the Microsoft business suite
• chatGPT - writing text, summarizing text, data analysis, simple tasks, and more
• Claude - write, edit, finesse written copy, emails, etc. 
• Decktopus - create presentations
• Replit - easy to use AI app builder

The Anatomy of a Prompt:

1. Role
2. Task
3. Context
4. Reasoning
5. Output / format
6. Stop conditions

AI Overall Productivity Index (OPI):

Overall Productivity Index = (Hours Reclaimed × Avg. Hourly Cost) − Weekly AI Tool Cost

Chapters:
02:46 Matt's Journey in Home Care
05:46 The Impact of AI on Career Development
08:58 First Aha Moment with AI
12:04 AI Adoption in Home Care
14:51 Essential AI Tools for Home Care
17:52 Anatomy of Prompting in AI
23:53 Overall Productivity Index (OPI) for AI Tools
34:36 Understanding OPI and Its Importance
37:12 The Role of Natural Language in AI
37:52 Introducing the Job Ad Grader Tool
44:20 Leveraging Microsoft Copilot for Internal Operations
49:18 Creating Effective Meeting Summaries with AI
51:48 Developing a Companion Tool for Compliance
59:15 Future of AI in Home Care
01:04:32 AI Experiment Challenge for Business Owners

This episode is brought to you by The Home Care CPAs.
Are you managing your bank account, or is it managing you? The Home Care CPAs specialize in helping home care agencies—from startups to $40 million businesses—optimize cash flow, streamline billing and payroll, and build scalable financial strategies. Whether you need full-service bookkeeping or expert coaching, their team ensures your finances are working for you, not against you.

#25 What if you could replace dozens of scattered hourly shifts with one scalable model inside an independent living community? In this episode, Rob Rister of HomeWell Care Services shares how he built his “Support On Site” program—turning caregiver shortages into retention wins, driving 45% margins, and embedding his agency in 10 communities across three states. He breaks down the numbers, the operations, and the technology (hello CINCH) that made it possible. Whether you’re frustrated with the limits of hourly care or curious about expanding into new markets, this is a blueprint for cracking the community care model.

• Rob Rister on LinkedIn
• Email: [email protected] 
• HomeWell Care Services of Lexington, KY

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Home Well Care Services
01:06 The Aha Moment: Transitioning Business Models
10:31 Scaling the Community Care Model
18:35 Understanding the Financials and Billing
20:13 Building Relationships with Communities
31:50 The Role of Caregivers in Community Care
32:21 Finding the Right Caregivers
37:09 Building a Career Path for Caregivers
41:12 Innovative Scheduling and Technology in Care
45:56 Client Retention and Referral Dynamics
51:06 Navigating Community Relationships and Management Changes
55:51 Current Operations and Future Growth Plans
59:55 Identifying the Right Fit for Community Care

This episode is brought to you by Caribou.
Do you want to build a high-performing team through the power of recognition? Caribou helps home care agencies boost recruitment, retention, and performance by tapping into simple to use technology and powerful data to engage your care team in the behaviors that matter most to your business. With Caribou, you can build a culture of appreciation that keeps caregivers engaged, connected, and committed for years, not months.

#24 Wayne Morgan opens up about the persistence, mistakes, and lessons that finally got him in the door at Spaulding, the nation’s #2 rehab hospital. Alongside Breanne Muchemore, who led Spaulding’s care management team, they share what actually matters to hospital partners and why most agencies never make the cut. This is an inside look at the conversations, questions, and trust-building that turn ignored emails into a first-class referral relationship.

• Wayne Morgan on LinkedIn
• Amada of Central NJ website
• Breanne Muchemore on LinkedIn‍
• Spaulding Rehabilitation Earns #2 Rank in U.S. News & World Report “Best Hospitals"

Chapters:
02:10 Wayne Morgan's Career Journey
06:42 Breanne Muchemore's Background and Expertise
10:00 Building Long-Term Relationships in Home Care
11:18 Initial Approaches to Spalding Rehabilitation
18:15 The Importance of Passion and Understanding
21:39 Understanding Spalding's Patient Population
23:18 Follow-Up Strategies After Initial Meetings
29:19 Discovery Phase Insights from Breanne
35:43 Key Questions for Building Relationships
37:26 Understanding Managed Care Admissions
42:46 Building Relationships with Referral Sources
46:07 Addressing Social Determinants of Health
50:31 Identifying Key Community Partners
54:47 Maintaining Relationships for Continued Success
01:06:18 Learning from Mistakes and Growth

This episode is brought to you by AxisCare.
Running a home care business is challenging enough—your software shouldn’t be part of the struggle. That’s why top-performing home care leaders and enterprise agencies choose AxisCare, rated the #1 home care operating system for the past two years. With powerful, scalable tools, best-in-class customer support, and a team that truly understands home care, AxisCare helps agencies streamline operations and scale with confidence.