HCAOA Board President Brings ‘We Got This!’ Attitude to Association

It is with great pleasure that HCAOA welcomes Margaret Haynes, President & CEO of Right at Home, as the 2024 HCAOA President. Haynes has been an active member of HCAOA since joining. In 2023, she held the position of HCAOA’s Vice President and has been a member of the HCAOA Board of Directors since 2022. In addition to her duties on the Board of Directors, Haynes is a member of the Finance Committee, regularly participates in HCAOA educational events, and is a supporter of the HCAOA Advocacy Fund.

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“As the new President of HCAOA, Margaret Haynes will undoubtedly play a crucial role in advancing our organization's mission, fostering collaboration among our members, and driving innovation in the home care industry. We are confident that under her leadership, HCAOA will continue to thrive and make significant contributions to the home care industry,” said Jason Lee, HCAOA CEO.
 
HCAOA recently talked with Margaret to learn more about her background, what makes her tick, and what she hopes to accomplish during her term as president.

HCAOA: What brought you to the home care industry, and why are you passionate about it?
Haynes: I have always been on the business/product development side of things, having spent 18 years of my career in various roles tied to supporting the financial services industry. And while there were great opportunities to continue to grow professionally, I found that I loved the people I worked with, but I wasn’t passionate about the industry.

So, in 2010, I set out on a quest to find a way to blend my business experience with something in health/human services and found my way to Right at Home. Since the first day I started with Right at Home in January 2011, I knew I was truly “home” and immediately connected to its mission. Now, 13 years under my belt, my passion for the brand and the industry at large is as strong as ever. During my time I’ve had the pleasure of not only helping Franchisees grow their own businesses, but I’ve also been a consumer of Right at Home’s services. It was the amazing caregivers that helped my dad, my sisters, and me navigate and support my mom as her Alzheimer’s progressed. There are not enough words of gratitude to describe the impact the Right at Home services had on me and my family. When I think about how many other individuals are experiencing the same type of support and peace of mind every day from great agencies across the industry, I am both inspired and moved.

HCAOA: You’ve achieved some exciting things in your career. Is there an accomplishment you feel particularly proud of?
Haynes: I’ve been truly blessed in so many ways throughout my career, and I can contribute the successes I’ve had to the strong teams I’ve had the pleasure of being a part of and great role models. Most recently, I feel proud about the transition from COO to CEO a couple of years ago. It was a very pivotal time, and I experienced moments of self-doubt, but with a “We’ve Got This” mindset and drawing on the collective strength of the team surrounding me, I’m very proud of all that has been accomplished in a relatively short period of time.

HCAOA: You have been very involved with the Home Care Association of America and the Finance Committee. Why is involvement important to you? How has this benefited you and your business?
Haynes: I find that giving is far more rewarding and meaningful than just being a consumer of what others have to offer. To this point, being actively involved with HCAOA is an important way to create a collective voice, and to advocate and elevate the industry at large. This, in turn, increases the relevance of homecare within the healthcare ecosystem and supports growth and enhanced quality at an agency level.

HCAOA: What opportunities do you foresee for HCAOA and the home care industry in 2024?
Haynes: The future is very bright for HCAOA and the home care industry. With the growing needs of the aging population and those living with a disability or needing assistance, the demand for home care services will continue to outpace supply. This, in turn, means that it is imperative that we continue to work collaboratively as an industry and association to advocate for policy at the state and federal levels that will support access and appropriate funding of home care services. We must continue to educate elected officials about the industry and continue to find ways to present meaningful data that demonstrates the value of home care. Those of us in the industry know that home care plays a critical role in reducing the resource strain on entitlement programs. In 2024, we need to continue to bring a unified voice and drive collaboration across the various payor sources.

HCAOA: Here's a fun one. Do you have any hidden talents?
Haynes: Hmmm… this question made me pause. I guess any hidden talent I do have… needs to stay hidden 😊. While I don’t think of this as a talent, I do love to sing… but usually not in public. Instead, my family must put up with me singing in the car, shower, etc.