Beehind the Scenes with Donna Golden

Some people retire and slow down. Donna Golden had a different plan.

After nearly 50 years in nursing, including 14 years leading a hospital-based wound care clinic in Boston, Massachusetts, Donna launched her own business focused on foot care for seniors. It became a retirement-ready, fully independent practice.

“I still wanted to be useful,” she said. “But on my own terms.”

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The turning point

Donna’s career spans wound, ostomy, and incontinence care. For over a decade, she ran the wound and hyperbaric center at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Plymouth, Massachusetts. But as retirement approached, Donna knew she wanted more than a farewell party.

“I was still healthy, still motivated,” she said. “But I also wanted to be free from the stress and rigidity of the hospital world.”

The turning point came when a former student introduced her to foot care for seniors, a practical, much-needed service that aligned perfectly with her skillset and passion. She studied through the American Foot Care Nurses Association, passed her exam, and got certified.

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Building a business with intention

Donna built her business with a clear endgame. Her goal? To create a streamlined, HIPAA-compliant, and eventually saleable private practice.

“From the start, I thought: this needs to run cleanly. If I ever hand it off, it should be turnkey.”

She invested in a tablet, a business phone line, professional liability insurance, and branding materials. But the real foundation was Zanda, a platform that gave her a seamless way to manage client care, scheduling, documentation, and billing in one place.

“Zanda saved me 15% of my time right away, no more toggling different systems. Everything’s in one place, and it’s easy to access between visits.”

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Why Zanda?

Zanda is the engine that keeps Donna’s solo business moving.

• Scheduling: “I know exactly where I’m going and when. I even color code by center, so I can prepare in advance.”
• Invoices on the go: “I finish a clinic day, sit in my car, and invoice from my tablet. No backlog, no mess.”
• Templates & Notes: “I worked with the Zanda team to create my own foot care charting system.”
• Client Tracking: “I can track progress visit to visit, and make smarter recommendations for ongoing care.”

She also notes how supportive the Zanda Customer Success Team was in helping her customize her setup.

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Donna’s pro tips for practitioners

Donna is the first to say: if you’ve got the skills, you can start something new at any age.

• Start with structure: “Don’t wing it. Get your systems in place before you get busy.”
• Cold call with confidence: “I called senior centers one by one and asked: Do you need a foot care nurse? That’s how I booked my first five senior centers.”
• Be prepared to learn: “Running a business is different from working in a hospital. Ask questions. Take notes. Be humble.”
• Protect your time: “Don’t say yes to everything. Build the schedule that works for you.”
• Think long term: “Even if you love what you do, plan ahead. Systems matter when it’s time to step away.”

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Purpose over pressure

Donna’s work is about preserving dignity and providing human connection in often overlooked moments.

“I’ve had clients cry during a foot soak, just because someone took time to care for them. That’s what keeps me going.”

She currently serves eight senior centers across Massachusetts’ South Shore including Plymouth, Kingston, Hanover, and nearby towns, and still makes home visits for clients who can’t travel.

“I built this to fit my life. I choose my days, and I still get to make a difference. That’s everything to me.”

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Retirement redefined

Donna’s vision of retirement means shifting gears into something more aligned, impactful, and sustainable.

Some weeks, she works three days. Others, five. But every hour is one she chooses.

“Zanda helped me build a business that doesn’t just function, it has value. That’s important when you’re thinking about selling one day.”

Her message to others wondering if it’s too late to try something new?

“It’s never too late to do work that fills you up. If it matters to you, it matters. And if you plan it right, it’s absolutely possible.”