Description

Running a home care agency shouldn’t mean your agency runs you. In this episode, home care consultant and former agency owner Becky Reel shares how leaders can build an agency rooted in their values, with clear boundaries, a healthier culture, and clients and caregivers who actually fit. Becky breaks down why most owners get into home care in the first place, how things drift off-course, and the practical moves that bring you back to a business that supports your life instead of consuming it.

What you’ll learn

• The 4 core motivations that bring people into home care (and why naming yours matters)
• How to stop letting clients and caregivers set your rules, rates, and policies
• The 80/20 reality: identifying the small set of clients or caregivers creating most of your headaches
• Why “culture” isn’t parties and posters, it’s what caregivers say when you’re not in the room
• How to reduce turnover by noticing early warning signs (tone shifts, call-offs, over-documenting, fading enthusiasm)
• How to scale culture as you grow by hiring on heart and values, not just industry experience
• Why narrowing your service area can sometimes help you grow faster

A story you won’t forget
Becky tells the powerful story of a hospice case where her team did the right thing even when it meant walking away from revenue, a decision that later generated significant growth through trust, reputation, and one unforgettable review. The lesson: revenue matters, but it can’t be your only metric.

Episode highlights

• Your “why” isn’t fluff. It’s your decision filter for clients, caregivers, policies, and boundaries.
• You can’t be everything to everyone. The more selective you get, the more sustainable (and often stronger) your agency becomes.
• Caregivers don’t stay because of pay alone. Respectable wages matter, but retention comes from consistency, communication, and feeling genuinely supported.
• Support beats supervision. Checking in only when there’s a scheduling problem is not leadership, it’s chaos management.

About Becky Reel

Becky Reel is the founder of Reel Home Care Consulting and former owner of For Papa’s Sake, a nationally recognized home care agency. She now works with private pay home care agencies to improve culture, operations, referrals, and long-term sustainability through coaching and small-group events.

Resources and links

• Becky’s website: reelhomecareconsulting.com
• Follow Becky: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn (search “Becky Reel” / “Reel Home Care Consulting”)

Call to action

Becky’s book (March release)

Borrowed Time: What Home Care Taught Me About Living
A business book with memoir elements, written for agency owners and entrepreneurs who want to build something meaningful without losing themselves in the process.

Events

• Dinner Series (Austin): February 22
  Intimate, facilitated dinners for agency owners (20–25 people) designed for real conversation and peer support.
• Book launch party (Chicago): April 16
  Details and tickets available on Becky’s website.

About the host

Hosted by Kenneth Accardi of ANKOTA, supporting home care and HCBS organizations with tools that reduce admin burden and help teams stay focused on care.

Podcast: Home Care Heroes and Day Service Stars

Home Care Heroes and Day Service Stars is produced and sponsored by Ankota - If you provide services that enable older or disabled people to continue living at home , Ankota can provide you the software to successfully run your agency. Visit us at https://www.ankota.