When U.S. Navy veteran and former federal investigator Sacha Butts began exploring the senior care industry, it was driven by her own personal experience navigating a fragmented system during a family health crisis.  

Butts was caring for her mother after an unexpected cancer diagnosis, a moment that forced her and her family into the unfamiliar and often urgent world of in-home care. Like many families, she quickly discovered how difficult it can be to identify reliable support amid emotional strain.

Butts recalled working with multiple agencies during that period, offering her insider’s view of the in-home care industry. One caregiver, in particular, stood out for her professionalism and compassion. 

“It made the process so much easier and less stressful,” says Butts. “It allowed me to go back to being a daughter, and not just a caregiver.”

That moment also reshaped her view of senior care and her career path. It indeed became the foundation for her decision to enter the senior care business, officially launching in September, Right at Home Simi Valley, a franchise providing non-medical in-home care services designed to help seniors and adults with disabilities maintain their independence.  

Demand for such services has surged in recent years, fueled by longer life expectancies, hospital capacity constraints and a strong preference among seniors to age in place rather than move into institutional settings.

In Ventura County alone, the population of residents age 60 and older is expected to grow to 240,000 by 2040 – a more than 14% jump, according to the California Department of Aging. As of now, residents aged 65 and older make up 30% of the county’s population.

Navigating the system

The path from personal experience to entrepreneurship came with its own challenges. Butts began the franchise process in October 2024, embarking on what she describes as a long, arduous journey to obtain her professional license, navigating regulatory compliance and developing her overall operational setup.

“It was a very long, tedious process to get my license and get everything set up,” she said. “It’s been an interesting learning experience – this is my first time owning my own business.”

Her military and investigative background proved very useful in managing the structure, long hours and attention to detail. Yet the learning curve of the senior care industry was steep – understanding the distinctions between in-home care and home health care, and how families often rely on both, required extensive research, Butts says.

In-home care provides non-medical assistance with daily tasks such as bathing, cooking and cleaning. In contrast, home health care provides skilled, medical and therapeutic services prescribed by a medical doctor.

“No one thinks about that stuff until you are faced with a situation and realize you know absolutely nothing,” she says. “So it was a very long process, many hours, deep diving into the differences between in-home care and home health care – having to utilize both.”

While working as a federal investigator, Butts regularly logged 50-hour work weeks and couldn’t always be physically present for her mother. In those moments, in-home care became essential.

With in-home care, “the caregivers gave me peace of mind that if my mom needed anything, someone was there,” she says.

‘What is a caregiver?’

Today, that philosophy shapes how Butts approaches staffing and operations at Right at Home Simi Valley. She applies the same scrutiny she once used as an investigator – evaluating professionalism, reliability and compassion – to building her caregiving team.

“The role was just thorough research,” she says. “What is a caregiver, and what do they do? Contacting various agencies to find someone who fits our needs and has a level of professionalism as well as compassion.”

Now, she brings that same care and scrutiny to her own team, serving a community she knows well.

Opening Right At Home was more than a business venture for Butts. It was shaped by a continued passion for service and a different approach to caregiving.

“I wanted to be able to give that peace of mind to someone else,” Butts says.

Read the original article here: https://valley.labusinessjournal.com/healthcare/veteran-brings-right-at-home-to-simi-valley/