In March 2021, Gary Lefreniere launched A Place At Home in North Chelmsford, MA, bringing a mission-driven senior care franchise to the community he’s always called home. Backed by more than 20 years of leadership experience, Gary now leads a dedicated team of 50 employees committed to providing compassionate, professional care to local families. He was drawn to A Place At Home for its comprehensive training, strong corporate support, and values that mirror his own.
Offering a full continuum of senior care services, including in-home care, care coordination, staffing, and senior living placement, Gary’s growing business is a reflection of both the strength of the franchise model and his deep-rooted passion for service. His journey shows how A Place At Home empowers purpose-driven entrepreneurs to build impactful, community-based businesses.
In a few sentences, please tell us a little about yourself!
I’m a lifelong Chelmsford resident, and my wife and I have proudly raised our family here. Because of this, opening A Place At Home in our hometown felt like a natural next step. Before launching this senior care franchise, I spent 20 years as the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of a data storage software company.
What made you decide to look into purchasing a franchise?
Having been a co-founder in my previous career, I was already familiar with the demands of running a business. At this stage in my life, I knew I didn’t want to work for anyone but my clients. Owning my own company was the only path forward, and partnering with a senior care franchise like A Place At Home offered the operational and marketing support I needed to succeed.
How does the franchisor support and encourage your success?
A Place At Home corporate does an amazing job supporting its franchisees. Constant training, coaching, support, and marketing are always available. There are weekly webinars, round-tables, and coaching sessions available to all owners.
What are you most proud of and why?
As a senior care services provider, what we’re most proud of is our reputation within the community. Many of the inquiries we receive now come purely through word of mouth. We get a lot of referrals from local families we’ve had the privilege to support. These are the most meaningful leads because they don’t come from advertising, but from the trust and appreciation of those we’ve helped. There’s no greater compliment than someone sharing their positive experience with others.
What advice would you give to new or potential franchise buyers?
Take the time to thoroughly research the franchise’s corporate leadership—the individuals shaping the vision and direction of the brand. If their values and goals don’t align with yours, it’s likely not the right fit. Strong leadership sets the tone for the entire organization, so it’s important that you trust and believe in the people at the top.
Most importantly, make sure you’re genuinely passionate about the work. True success and fulfillment come when you care deeply about what you’re doing—beyond just the financial rewards.
A Non-Medical In-Home Senior Care Franchise Opportunity
Franchising since 2017, A Place At Home has earned six awards in 2025 alone, including:
- Top Franchises Culture Award Winner
- Top Franchises Recession-Resistant Satisfaction Award
- Top Franchises Satisfaction Award
- Top Franchises for Women Award Winner
- Top Low-Cost Franchises Award Winner
- Franchise Rock Star Award Winner
Highlights Include:
- 100% of franchisees are likely to recommend this brand to others
- 100% of franchisees believe their franchisor acts with a high level of honesty and integrity
- 100% of franchisees rate the long-term growth opportunity for their business as strong
