Conversations from the Heart with Haley Johnson: Owning a Home Care Franchise in Tennessee

Episode Summary

In this episode of Conversations from the Heart, Glenn Leingang, VP of Franchise Development, talks with Haley Johnson. She and her husband, Brian, own Touching Hearts at Home of Middle Tennessee, a senior home care franchise they opened more than seven years ago.

Haley shares how she went from a 15-year career in higher education, ending as a campus president, to owning a home care franchise in Tennessee. She explains why running a home care business felt familiar, how she builds a caring team culture, and what it takes to keep caregivers happy in an industry with high turnover. She also talks about her work on the franchise advisory board and the award her office earned for both caregiver and client satisfaction.

Key Takeaways

• Skills transfer. Haley’s years in education prepared her for home care. Building relationships with caregivers, managing operations, and marketing all carried over.
• Complementary partners help. Haley leads with vision. Brian brings marketing and people skills. Their executive director handles the details.
• Reputation comes first. The team leaned on their personal network early on. It was their top referral source for a long time.
• Hire smart, then trust. Haley hires people who are stronger than she is in key areas, then gives them room to do their jobs.
• Caregivers need support. The office holds quarterly caregiver meetings, names a caregiver of the month, and shares positive client reviews. Haley says 47% of caregivers have stayed a year or more, which is high for the industry.
• Lead with the heart. Every monthly staff meeting ends with the same reminder: “Lead with the heart and the outcomes will come.”
• Build a bigger table. Franchise owners in the network cheer each other on and make room for new owners instead of competing.

Thinking About Owning a Home Care Franchise?

Haley’s story shows that a background in senior care isn’t required. Caring leadership, a strong team, and community relationships matter more. Learn more about the franchise opportunity, check available territories, or contact us to start a conversation.