BrightStar Care

Expanded Clinical Capabilities & Strong Franchise Performance Drive Momentum Into 2026

BANNOCKBURN, Ill. — BrightStar Care, a leading provider of in-home care, medical staffing, and senior living solutions, announced a milestone year marked by strategic investment, accelerated franchise growth, and record-setting performance across its national network. In 2025, BrightStar Care opened more than 30 new locations, welcomed 20 new franchise owners, and saw existing owners expand into 21 additional markets. This momentum reflects the strength of the company’s nurse-led care model and its differentiated structure of five revenue streams: companion care, personal care, skilled care, staffing, and national accounts.

For the 13th consecutive year, BrightStar Care earned the Joint Commission Enterprise Champion for Quality Award, highlighting its commitment to the highest standard of care. BrightStar Care’s multiple revenue streams provide franchisees the opportunity to grow their business beyond traditional companion and personal care, which drives greater market penetration. Franchisees also continued to achieve strong financial performance.

“Demand for home-based care continues to grow, and BrightStar Care is well-positioned to support franchise expansion,” said Pete First, Chief Development Officer at BrightStar Care. “Our nurse-led model, diverse revenue streams, and ongoing investments in technology give entrepreneurs a strong foundation to build high-performing businesses. Looking ahead to 2026, our focus remains on expanding our footprint while helping franchise owners meet the evolving needs of families in their local communities.”

The company’s new partnership with a leading middle-market private equity firm marks a new era of innovation, operational support, and long-term growth, enabling investments in technology, expanded clinical resources, and enhanced systems designed to strengthen franchise support and elevate the client experience.

As care continues moving into the home, BrightStar Care enters 2026 ready for continued expansion and innovation. These strategic investments, strengthened clinical capabilities, and a growing franchise network position the company to further its mission to deliver exceptional nurse-led care across the country. BrightStar Care remains committed to raising industry standards, supporting franchise owners, and leading the future of home-based healthcare.

The Brand Earns #159 Ranking After Year of Accelerated Expansion and Strong Franchisee Performance

BANNOCKBURN, Ill. — BrightStar Care, a leading provider of in-home care and medical staffing, has been recognized, for the 16th year in a row, as one of the top 500 franchises in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500®, BrightStar Care jumped nearly 30 positions from the previous year, now ranking as #159 for its outstanding performance in areas including unit growth, financial strength and stability, and brand power.

“As demand for home-based care continues to rise, BrightStar Care’s continued momentum in the Franchise 500® reflects the strength of our franchise model,” said Pete First, Chief Development Officer at BrightStar Care. “We’re proud to offer franchise owners a model that delivers strong financial results while making a meaningful impact for families, caregivers, and healthcare partners nationwide.”

In 2025, BrightStar Care opened more than 30 new locations, welcomed 20 new franchise owners, and saw existing owners expand into 21 additional markets. BrightStar Care’s multiple revenue streams provide franchisees the opportunity to grow their business beyond traditional companion and personal care, which drives greater market penetration and strong financial performance.

“For 47 years, the Franchise 500 has been the gold standard for identifying franchise excellence. This year’s ranking proves that the best brands don’t just survive changing markets; they thrive in them,” says Jason Feifer, Entrepreneur magazine’s editor in chief.

As part of Entrepreneur’s ongoing commitment to evaluating the constantly evolving franchise landscape, the editorial team conducts in-depth research across a wide range of criteria, including costs and fees, size and growth, franchisee support, brand strength, and overall financial stability.

BANNOCKBURN, ILL — BrightStar Care, a leading franchiser of home care services providing premium home health care and medical staffing with a higher standard of clinical excellence and compassion, announced today its winners for the company’s Best & Brightest Nurse of the Year and Caregiver of the Year Awards. These awards honor exceptional nurses and caregivers on a regional and national level who exemplify a commitment to client care and embody BrightStar’s core values, including compassion, integrity, excellence, trustworthiness, accountability and reliability.

Every year, BrightStar Care invites clients, family members and fellow employees who have been positively impacted by the company’s dedicated nurses and caregivers across the country to share their stories and nominate these professionals for this prestigious award. These awards recognize the commitment and compassion of BrightStar Care’s professional caregivers, while also showcasing the company’s dedication to honoring and supporting its care team.

Hundreds of nominations are submitted for the awards annually and this year, BrightStar Care is recognizing eight individuals that represent excellence in the West, Midwest, Northeast and Southeast regions. Each winner will receive a $5,000 prize in recognition of the true impact they have made on individuals and their families by going above and beyond to ensure they are providing a higher standard of home care through compassion and clinical excellence. Out of this remarkable group of regional winners, Gabiola Jean from Norwalk, CT and Christina Roddy from Aurora, CO, were also selected as BrightStar Care’s national caregiver and nurse of the year, respectively.

“At BrightStar Care, our caregivers are at the heart of everything we do. Each year, these awards give us the opportunity to honor the nurses and caregivers within our network who truly go above and beyond,” said Andy Ray, CEO of BrightStar Care. “Recognizing their dedication reinforces appreciation for their work and reflects the company’s unwavering commitment to supporting and celebrating the people who make a tangible difference every single day.”

Best & Brightest Award Winners

Gabiola Jean, also known as Gabby, was awarded caregiver of the year for her genuine compassion and overall calming presence. Gabby’s nominator detailed how, over the course of nearly two years, she has become not just a caregiver, but a trusted friend and confidant for her patient in Norwalk, Connecticut. She has significantly improved said patient’s quality of life by encouraging them to do what brings them joy, from outdoor activities and woodworking to cornhole, live music, and bocce ball, all from the comfort of their wheelchair.

In Aurora, CO, Christina Roddy was selected as nurse of the year for helping her patients rediscover parts of themselves they thought were lost. Her nominator included powerful and deeply moving words in their submission: “Christina is more than a nurse – she is the reason I’m still here.” This patient went on to detail how Christina never treated them as a task, but as someone truly worth fighting for. She became their advocate, pushed for better treatment, and spoke up when things didn’t seem right, exemplifying what it means to provide excellent medical care with empathy and kindness.

Regional winners awarded for their outstanding attention to their patients include: Julia Allen (Asheville, NC), Nasteho Omar (Burnsville / South St. Paul, MN), Natasha Thibodeau (Carlsbad, CA), Madelyn Leader (York, PA), Landon Carson (Charlottesville, VA) and Ainsley Burlingam (Centerville / South Dayton, OH). To find out more about the 2025 Best and Brightest Winners, please visit www.brightstarcare.com.