Care doesn’t always begin with a business plan. Sometimes, it begins at a bedside — with love, responsibility, and the quiet realization that families deserve better support during life’s most vulnerable moments.
For many home care founders, the decision to enter this industry is deeply personal. It’s shaped by caring for a parent, grandparent, or loved one and witnessing firsthand how difficult it can be to find care that feels both competent and compassionate. Those experiences often spark a bigger question: What if home care could be built differently — with dignity, trust, and humanity at its core?
Turning personal caregiving into a purpose-driven home care business requires more than good intentions. It demands clarity of vision, a commitment to quality, and the courage to build systems that protect both clients and caregivers as the agency grows. Purpose becomes the anchor — guiding decisions around hiring, training, communication, and even how technology is adopted.
This story explores how one founder transformed a deeply personal caregiving experience into a sustainable, values-led home care business, proving that when purpose and structure work together, care can truly change lives.
To shed some light on the same, we interviewed a home care industry expert to bring her perspective on turning personal care into a purpose-driven home care business.
Who Did We Interview?
Inspired by her own caregiving journey, Laniece built Cedar Grove to give seniors and families in Northeast Georgia the peace of mind they deserve. With a hands-on leadership style and a deep commitment to quality, she blends heartfelt care with strong systems, ensuring seniors remain safe, supported, and valued at home while families feel confident every step of the way.
Let us now delve into what she has to say about turning personal care into a purpose-driven home care business:
Cedar Grove was inspired by my own experience caring for my grandmother, and witnessing how hard it can be for families to find care they can truly trust. I felt called to create a company that not only provides quality care but also gives families peace of mind. From the very beginning, my vision was centered on dignity, respect, and helping seniors remain safely at home while feeling valued and supported.
What truly sets Cedar Grove apart is that we lead with heart while operating with intention. We are very hands-on, intentional about caregiver placement, and committed to consistent oversight. We don’t see our clients as cases – we see them as family. Compassion, communication, and accountability are non-negotiable in how we serve.
One of the biggest challenges has been learning how to grow without losing control of quality and compliance. I overcame this by building strong systems, investing in staff training, and learning how to delegate while still staying connected to daily operations. Structure has allowed us to grow sustainably and with purpose.
I believe AI will play a valuable role in improving efficiency, documentation, scheduling, and communication within home care. At Cedar Grove, we are open to exploring AI-enabled solutions that support our operations while keeping people at the center. Technology should support caregivers and leadership, not replace the human connection that care requires.
My advice would be to stay grounded in your “why” while building solid systems early. Compassion is essential, but structure, compliance, and consistency are what sustain growth. When you balance purpose with operational excellence, you create a care model that truly serves people and stands the test of time.
Laniece Appling’s journey is a powerful reminder that the strongest home care businesses are built where purpose meets discipline. Her story shows that compassion alone isn’t enough to sustain growth, it must be supported by structure, accountability, and a willingness to evolve.
By staying rooted in her “why” while investing in systems, training, and thoughtful use of technology, Laniece has created a care model that honors both people and process. For home care leaders navigating growth, her experience offers a clear takeaway: when heart and operational excellence work together, meaningful, lasting care follows.
AI Hub
