Phyllis Swinton of Baltimore uses her personal experience when her grandmother reached her elderly years as a springboard into a career with Right at Home. She hopes that everyone in their later years can be comfortable and stay at home, and she intends on helping many more people in the area. In this Q&A Phyllis gives insight to why she operates Right at Home in Baltimore.
Where are you from in the area and how long have you been in the area?
I am originally from Detroit MI, but relocated to Maryland 6 years ago.
Find out what's happening in Annapolisfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
When did you start with Right at Home?
We opened our Right at Home of Baltimore office in June 2013. We are approaching our one year anniversary with Right at Home.
Find out what's happening in Annapolisfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Why did you start with Right at Home?
My grandmother became sick and eventually she had to go into a nursing home. It broke my heart to know that my grandmother had to leave her home, a place where she had always stated that she wanted to remain until she went to her “heavenly home”. At the time I was not aware of companies like Right at Home and had to rely on the caregivers within the nursing home. She was very unhappy and became depressed. Within a month of her stay at the nursing home, she passed away. Her death made me reconsider my purpose in life and as I reflected over my life I decided to quit my job and take the necessary time to determine what I wanted to do. As my husband, Omari was in flight he saw an ad for Right at Home. After further research and discussions with the Right at Home corporate office, we determined that Right at Home was the right franchise for us. Right at Home allows us to help people, provide services in an area where others do not, and to educate people about home care and the services available to allow them to age in place, wherever that may be.
What did you do before owning Right at Home?
I graduated with a Computer Science degree from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University in 2003. The majority of my career was spent as an IT Project Manager, where I spent more than nine years in various management positions, managing projects with US Aid and Veteran Affairs. In conjunction with that, I am a proud mother of four children Omari Holmes Jr. (6 years), Nyla Faye (4 years), Jamir Benjamin (18 months), and Nasir Patrick (3 months).
What services does your Right at Home provide to the local community?
Right at Home Baltimore provides in-home caregiving services for almost any family and practically any situation. We offer companionship and help with everyday tasks that have become challenging for an aging person. This may include things like meal preparation, laundry, housekeeping, transportation, hygiene and grooming. We also offer services for those with special care situations caused by numerous medical conditions such as Strokes, Cancers, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
Our office is also licensed by DMMH to provide personal and skilled care services such as medication administration, catheter care, wound care, and hospice support services.
What experiences along the way solidified your choice to franchise with Right at Home?
When clients express their appreciation for our services and state that they have come to depend on us. As one client stated “I have made lifetime friends with all the Right at Home staff. They were Right a Home when they came and went above and beyond.” Hearing these statements truly warms my heart and confirms our decision to franchise with Right at Home.
How can the community contact Right at Home?
Call our Right at Home Baltimore office at 443-835-4413 and ask to speak with Omari or Phyllis. Contact us online at www.rahbaltimore.com or email us at info@rahbaltimore.com. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Our office is located at: 3455 Wilkens Ave., Suite 202, Baltimore, MD 21229 in the St. Agnes Medical Center Building.
