Exploring Insurance for Your Senior Care Business

When Debbie left the home care office last Monday, she was looking forward to an afternoon with her favorite senior, Mrs. Smith.  Instead she slipped on the kitchen floor while cleaning up after lunch and broke her arm. Fortunately, her employer had the foresight to protect both the business and herself by purchasing an insurance policy suitable for that business' needs, including employees injured on the job. By facing the risks associated with your home care business, assessing all your particular insurance needs and understanding the complete range of coverage available, you'll be assured you are purchasing a policy that will cover you if something unfortunate happens. Keep reading for some tips on purchasing insurance for your home care business:

Check Legal Requirements Locally

Even though you will not be offering medical services to the seniors you serve, there are usually safety and security issues involved in entering private residences and spending time with the elderly in their. Each state imposes its own particular requirements for business insurance coverage. All have basic minimum coverage requirements, but these minimums are different from state to state.  If you have franchises in multiple states, check the requirements in each one by contacting the State Insurance Commissioner's office for this information.

Assess Your Business' Needs

Some business owners unwisely decide to save money by enrolling in the minimum amount of insurance coverage they can legally carry because it is the least expensive.  This is a poor choice, as one claim that cannot be covered by your insurance has the potential to put you out of business. Instead, you should assess your business' needs accurately and realistically.  Each franchise's needs differ based on many factors including the services your business will be providing, the numbers and types of employees you will hire and the various risks associated with the business' daily functions. 

Shopping for Insurance

Speak with several insurance agents or brokers to gain a complete understanding of all their plan offerings to see which will best suit the needs of your senior care business. Get multiple price quotes on these plans. Don't hesitate to ask in-depth questions and shop around.  Take the time you need to find the best policy for your needs.  

By covering your non-medical home care franchise with a well-researched and all-inclusive insurance policy, you have financial and legal protection should any claims ever arise. With this coverage, your home care franchise can survive accidents, damage claims and other emergencies while continuing to offer excellent care to your seniors.

Smaller Markets May Mean More Success for Franchise Owners

One national franchisor recently made an unexpected and surprising discovery when new franchises were launched in small markets instead of the usual larger metro markets. These franchises all got their businesses started faster, hit their goal numbers quicker and did nearly 60 percent more in revenue in their first half year of operation than larger metro market franchises did.  Upon further study, the franchisor discovered three reasons for this trend. 

Making Community Connections

One franchisee deliberately chose a small market thirty miles from Nashville, Tennessee because he felt he would have an easier time making a useful impact right away within a small market rather than a major one. He was right. His franchise quickly became established and well-known in that community.

Businesses such as elderly care franchises are usually able to become quickly established within their local communities as they are, by their very nature, people- and service-oriented. In smaller markets, they become fixtures in the town by establishing contacts with referral sources and easily making community connections which serve the business well.

Reduced Competition

The fact that smaller markets see faster success times for their franchises is not just a matter of their connections in the community. It is also due to the reduced competition they face in their market. Another contributing factor is that existing competitors seem more willing to work with each other.  A new franchise's top referral source may be a competitor who is unable to meet client demands.  Sometimes another competitor refers business to a new franchise because they are transitioning out of their business.

Availability of Human Resources

Although the national economy is improving, there are still many people searching for work. Franchises located in smaller markets find that hiring employees is easier, particularly for caregiver businesses. Small markets have a solid available workforce from which to hire the dozens of caregivers needed to staff their franchise. 

Franchisors have had so much success with establishing fast-growing franchises in small markets that this trend can no longer be ignored.  Senior care franchises are perfect candidates for experiencing similar start-up success in small markets as they are community service-oriented businesses at heart.  If you are planning to buy a home care franchise, plan for success by setting up shop in a smaller market.

Choosing a Territory for Your Home Care Franchise

After you decide to purchase a home care franchise, one of the critical first steps in establishing your business is to select the territory in which you will operate.  A great deal of serious consideration and considerable demographic research goes into making this decision. Consider both the short-term possibilities and the long-term potential for your new franchise within any potential territory.  Once your franchise is established in your chosen territory, you will be devoting a significant amount of time to relationship-building within that local community.

Demographic Criteria to Consider in Selecting Territories

It is natural to lean toward selecting a territory near your own home. Unfortunately, the demographics of your area may not be well-suited for business success. If you live in a community populated primarily by young urban professionals, for example, you will have little to no client base.  Some new franchise owners are drawn to areas of higher income residents, but that choice may yield no clients if the age demographic is younger adults. A well-to-do area does not guarantee clients.

Consider, instead, choosing territories populated by a significant number of older homeowners who have been in their homes for decades, more than likely raising their families there. Such territories may be further away from your residence, but the longer commute is compensated for with a successful and thriving business.  Remember that many of the individuals who will benefit from your home care services have reached the last years of their lives and are now on reduced income with little or no money. It may actually be their adult children who hire you.

Potential franchise owners who thoroughly study territory demographics must learn each one's geographic boundaries, if any rival franchises providing similar services are present, how many residents in the area's population are 65 or older, and what potential sources of client referrals exist in the territory (i.e. medical offices, social services, welfare offices).  You must also be aware that demographics can be misleading and, at times, even incorrect. Check information from multiple sources whenever possible.

Home care franchises exist to provide in-home care for the elderly with everyday tasks, meal preparation, socialization and many other types of activities. This allows seniors to remain independently living at home longer.  An elderly care franchise owner who plans to establish a flourishing home care business will choose a territory with a population large enough to need and hire the company's services.

The Importance of Maintaining Your Home Care Franchise Blog

Since most consumers go straight to the internet when they want to find a particular company offering a service, more and more businesses are establishing a presence on the internet each day. This is true for almost all industries, including the home care industry. 

It makes sense to start by creating a website, but there’s more than just setting up a website and leaving it alone. This is where blogging can make a big difference to how you come across in a competitive field.

Blogging Benefits

Here are some reasons you should add a blog to your website:

• You and your staff come across as approachable and down-to-earth
• Blogging offers an opportunity to demonstrate how experienced and knowledgeable you are
• Writing a blog is an effective SEO tactic
• A current blog post shows your company is operational

Obviously, when it comes to home care you want to be both professional and personable. Empathy and skill must go hand-in-hand. A blog allows the writer to show an emotional side while remaining professional and focused on a relevant topic is a major plus.

A blog isn’t purely informational – one can use SEO as a way for search engines to recognize home care blogs and websites, which help home care franchise owners rise in search engine results. With enough time and practice, there is the potential to rank on the first page of large search engines like Google. It’s important to keep your blog updated and relevant to your business, or else Google and other search engines may not give your blog the proper credibility

The Payoff Will Come

Writing a blog is a fantastic idea, but the results won't be instant. Patience will be rewarded over time, especially since many other companies don’t utilize the opportunity to blog. Without allowing enough time one cannot determine whether this tactic would have worked, but experts say it's important to keep writing. Consistency leads to success.

If you don’t feel like writing new, newsworthy blog posts for your home care business, you can always rely on a professional marketing and SEO company to do so for you. Make sure the company understands your business and the voice that you wish to write in before paying them the big bucks, however. 

Don’t underestimate the power of blogging as both an informational tool and SEO tactic to help grow your home care franchises. 

The Importance Of Relationship-Building with Your Client’s Families

As in-home care business owners, you are undoubtedly well-aware of the importance of building strong and trusting relationships with the clients for whom you are caring.  After all, the client is why we do what we do, and without a solid relationship, we would really have no foundation from which to build.  

In addition to our clients, it is equally important to build a strong relationship with their family members.  It is a huge---and in many instances, an extremely emotional---decision to entrust the in-home care of their loved one to someone else, and it is critical that we build an open and trusting relationship with all parties involved.  Here are some key points:

Start with the Basics: A Clear-Cut Contract  

When you meet with your new client and the family, make sure that they have a detailed understanding of your company's responsibilities.  Explaining everything---and having it in writing---at the onset will enable everyone to confirm that their needs will be met.  In addition to clarifying what they expect from your staff, be sure to advise family members of your expectations and what assistance you may need from them to successfully care for their loved one.

During discussion of your contract and expectations on both ends, it's important to set limits; i.e. not saying "yes" to something that is clearly outside of your company's guidelines.  Being honest and upfront at the onset regarding any limitations is key---you should never make a promise that you know you cannot deliver.

Get to Know Everyone

Get to know the family, in addition to the client, as they are often instrumental in the initiation of this care in the first place.  When you take the time to show sincere interest and go the extra mile to meet the family members, friends, and neighbors (where appropriate), the family will feel at ease building a relationship with you because they see that you care about their loved one and everyone around them.  

Don't be afraid to ask questions!  

Although naturally, you'll be answering many questions from your client and their family, don't hesitate to ask questions on your end.  Going beyond the standard "contract questions" is definitely a way to initiate the building of a strong relationship.  (Your client and his or her family would be pleasantly surprised if you asked them what they think you could do better---just be sure to follow through on whatever feedback you receive.)

In the senior care business, a strong relationship will not only make your clients feel comfortable and at ease, but will also inspire confidence in their families and assure them that they made the correct decision to entrust this all-important care to you.

Create Your Own Brand to Market Home Care Services

There are marketing materials and methods you can use to attract new clients for your senior care business. To build your company's business image, the most important step to take in marketing your business is to develop your company's brand.  Branding is a marketing practice. It includes the development of your company's name, logo or some design/symbol that represents it, and an identity/slogan that differentiates it from other companies that perform the same type of service.

Your brand presents your company's message to potential customers.  Your brand must appeal to clients so that they will choose and use your company over the services of another company. Your brand should be consistently used on all of your logos, business cards, brochures, ads, signs, letterheads and your website. This is what is meant by branding your home care business.

Branding can be done well even by a small company or on a small budget.  When branding your business, do your preparation work carefully.  Determine and define the mission of your company for yourself so that you can clearly express it to others.  Outline, understand and be ready to explain the features and benefits of your service. Know what your former clients thought of and your present clients think about your company. Knowing the answer to that question it is vital to gather feedback from them. Survey them to find out:

• What do they like the most about your company?
• What do they think the strengths of your company are?
• What do they think of your specific services?
• What would they say to a friend when recommending your services?

Compose a list of all the feedback you receive. Highlight what clients especially love about your company's services.  Incorporate all this information in your branding.

If your company is a part of a particular home care franchising business, you will be tapped into their company branding and much of this part of your marketing strategy will already be developed by your parent company.  Independent companies need to develop your own unique mission statement from which to create a tagline/slogan that sums up your company's best features and is your own brand message. It must be sincere, consistent, short and simple. Use it on everything from business cards to your website. Above all, make absolutely sure you and your company live up to it.

Once you choose your logo, your slogan and your message, stick with it. Use the same font, the same colors and the same pictures on all your advertising. Avoid Clip Art and photos downloaded without permission from the Internet.  Use professional looking images legally obtained from sources such as ThinkStock and iStock.  If you can afford it, work with a professional to develop your company's logo. It is the "face" of your company out in the advertising world. Successful branding often makes or breaks a business in the long run.

Using SEO to Market Your Home Care Business

One of the most successful consumer marketing tool used by owners of a leading non-medical home care businesses is Search Engine Optimization (SEO), according to Home Care Pulse.  In fact, their 2014 Benchmark Study reports that companies using SEO as their top marketing tool achieved annual 2013 revenues over 32 percent higher than the industry's yearly average.

The era of using the yellow pages to search for businesses is nearly over. Today's consumers log onto the Internet to look for service providers.  This includes senior citizens, who are becoming more computer savvy, as well as their adult children.  It is crucial for your company to have an easy-to-access, well-designed and content-loaded business website, and to concentrate on SEO in order to attract the greatest number of consumers possible to your website.

When consumers conduct a search for "home care services," your SEO goal is for your company to appear on the first results page on all the search engines such as Google.  To make this happen, you have to set your company up as an expert in the home care field. Once you achieve that, search engines will lead consumers to your website where potential clients may choose your services.  This process does not occur overnight. Your own efforts make it happen through insuring that your website remains active, up-to-date and full of valuable and useful information on home care for seniors.

To achieve SEO success, you must first understand that all search engines want to provide their consumers' inquiries with the most truly relevant websites in their search results. For your website to be one of them, you have to have the best website for the services you provide in the area in which you provide them. 

Offer a blog on your website and keep it up-to-date. Make the blog posts relevant to your field and of interest to people seeking information on home care, senior care and related topics. Use your blog posts to show that you are an expert in your field. By updating your blog posts regularly you are demonstrating that your website is actively managed and relevant with current information on it. Now that you have made sure your website is active, credible and relevant, you may work to make it popular through link building.

You need other credible non-medical home care franchise websites to link to yours in order to become popular. One appropriate way to accomplish this is by finding their blogs and participating in the comments left there. Make them informative and thought-provoking in order to demonstrate your expertise. Add something to the overall discussion that is worthwhile.  Leave a link to your site. Invite that site to leave a link on yours. Networking is all about building relationships with other experts and enhancing your company's reputation.

Using Volunteers to Help Your Home Care Franchise

According to a recent study, one of the complaints most frequently offered by elderly clients of home care services is that their care providers do not exert themselves to help those clients. They may request to have their fingernails painted, their shoulders massaged or their hair trimmed, only to be turned down.  The care giver says he or she does not have the time or is not comfortable providing that service, but the clients feel that they are not appreciated or special.

This should be taken seriously by all elderly care franchise owners.  Owners must figure out how to enhance their services to help their clients feel they are valued and their needs are being met without forcing their employees to perform services they are not comfortable doing.  One way to solve this problem is to tap into the community and seek out the help of willing volunteers. By building up a pool of trustworthy volunteers to provide some special services for your clients, you can meet everyone's needs at little expense to your company.

There are networking tips to help you recruit community volunteers. These are different networking techniques than you use for building clients involved in home care franchising. You are not seeking new clients. You are soliciting caring people with some spare time who can provide an hour or two each week to make your elderly clients feel appreciated and happy.  Your goal is to meet their emotional needs as well as you meet their physical needs.

First, reach out to other businesses in your community. Speak with hair salon and barber shop owners and see if anyone can offer an hour each week to cut seniors' hair. See if nail salon personnel can spend time offering manicures. Second, train your care givers on how to give simple hand and shoulder massages. Bedridden elderly people can particularly benefit from a hand massage. It also releases endorphins that can lift the spirits and improves circulation.

Third, ask other friends for help. See if your snow removal company will include the driveways of your elderly clients in their routes. Check with your lawn care company to see if they can solicit some volunteers to help mow lawns. Fourth, begin an Adopt-a-Grandparent Program at your local high school. This type of community service will enhance students' college applications and build strong friendships between the young and the old.  It can certainly lower depression in your clients. The teen girls can paint fingernails and style hair. The teen boys can play video games and cards, and possibly even help the gentlemen shave.  The teens and seniors can play games, work puzzles, work on scrapbooks and read. Your clients will feel happier and more valued and appreciate your services again.

Getting your Staff Excited About Caregiver Training

Aging is inevitable for all of us, and in the new millennium, it is occurring at an even more increased rate.  Thanks to the wonders of modern medicine and healthier lifestyles, we're living longer; and in many cases, we're taking care of our parents.  Baby boomers, the largest generation born in U.S. history, will be between 56 and 74 in the year 2020. Many of them will still have their parents in their lives.    

As the owner of a non-medical home care franchise, you're probably more keenly aware of many of these facts than most people.  Now more than ever, it's important to not only provide training opportunities for your caregiving staff, but also find creative ways to encourage them to be engaged in these opportunities.  Here are some ideas:

1. First, make your training opportunities of special importance in your company.  If your staff is able to see how vitally important this training is to you as well as for their individual success, they are more likely to be positively and actively engaged.  (To encourage your supervisors to support your efforts, consider offering bonuses based on their staff achieving designated training goals.) 

2. Next, once training begins, recognize your caregivers individually in creative ways: thank-you notes, in-person acknowledgements from management, and highlighting their names on your website or company newsletter.  A framed certificate of completion is also a great way to acknowledge your staff.

3. If you will be offering a series of training courses, set up a staff drawing for a prize for completion of a set number of sessions.  And your drawing prizes don't have to break the bank---think about prizes that would be appreciated: gift cards, company shirts, or even scrubs!  Additionally, reward experienced staff by allowing them to assist with training newer caregivers---you will show that you value their experience.

4. Providing lunch before or after training might sound like a simple (or even unnecessary) thing, but think again.  You'd be surprised how much your staff would appreciate the gesture.  And again, it doesn't have to be overly expensive: deli sandwiches and pizza are always crowd-pleasers.

Home care is one of the most critically important jobs around, and ongoing training will make for a more competent and engaged caregiving staff.  Acknowledging your staff for their dedication will not only increase their job satisfaction, but also result in them providing care with an enhanced knowledge and pride in their work.

Safe Home Tips for Clients of Home Care Franchises

As seniors grow older and their physical abilities change with age, their own homes may begin to become hazardous places for them. Statistics from the U. S. CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) indicate that for people age 65 or older, one of the leading causes of death is from falling. Falls generate many health risks for seniors including bone fractures, critical head injuries and permanent disabilities. Senior care providers must be diligent about providing their services in making clients' homes safe so the clients may continue to live in them comfortably and with reasonable mobility.

It is vital for home care franchise owners to develop and implement a means of assessing the safety of a client's home and then train their caregivers how to implement any needed changes to insure the safety and comfort of the client. One of the most thorough and consistent ways to assess home safety is through a Home Safety Checklist. The franchise may generate their own, taking care to include the key items/areas of a home that generate the most accidents or causes for concern. The key rooms to consider are kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and the primary living spaces.

Items to check should include:

• Kitchen: use tea kettle/coffee maker with automatic shut off feature
• Kitchen: keep hazardous materials well away from food storage areas
• Kitchen: rotate food stuffs/check expiration dates on products
• Kitchen: store sharp objects (knives) in racks or drawers
• Bathroom: install balance and mobility aids (handle bars, shower seats)
• Bathroom: skid-proof mat in shower or tub
• Bathroom: cold and hot water faucets clearly marked
• Bathroom: only use door locks that allow the door to be opened from either side
• Living area: remove clutter/ease access through the space
• Living area: secure edge of carpets/area rugs with non-skid pads or double-sided carpet tape
• Living area: ensure stair rails are in good repair/firmly attached to wall
• Living area: restrict access to stairs if necessary

Caregivers can be trained to safeguard every client's home based on the standardized system of assessment provided in your Home Safety Checklist.  This ensures your non-medical home care franchise offers consistency of care for all clients, regardless of which caregiver is providing the home service of each client.

The Advantages of Owning a Senior Care Business

The last six decades have seen strong growth in the franchise market. In fact, franchises have surpassed every other type of business in the marketplace. Out of all the categories of franchises, one superstar is the fastest growing of them all. It is the Home Care or Senior Care niche. Each year, Forbes lists the top ten best franchises to buy into and this year three of those numbers were in the senior home care niche.

This franchise niche has not merely grown, but it has also experienced phenomenal growth. Only 13 home care brands existed in 2000 and today there are over 60. Only 300 locations existed in 2001 and today there are approximately 6,000 nationwide. The home care industry is certainly a growth industry.

What has contributed to this impressive growth? There are three key factors:

• Lower franchise costs to start a business
• High revenue potential
• Growing demand for senior care services

While some franchises cost as much as $450,000 to buy into, many of the home care franchises cost less than $150,000. This is very appealing to many people trying to start a business in today's economy. In addition to this low initial investment, a senior care franchise has high revenue potential. High volume for a low investment just makes good business sense.

Studies indicate that home care franchises consistently bring in more business every year than do non-franchise home care businesses (independents). Franchises offer their owners aggressive marketing strategies and networking support. They also provide them with large territories. Franchises have help with all the government regulations (local, state and federal) that are constantly changing and can have better insurance through their franchise for covering their caregivers when on duty in a client's home.

The demand for health services and home services for senior citizens will only grow in the coming years. By the year 2050, the number of people over the age of 65 in the United States is projected to triple. For the owner of a non-medical home care franchise, that means you are assured a growing customer base until your own retirement.

There are multiple home care franchises from which to select. Study them carefully, ask lots of questions and read all their literature and contracts very carefully. Purchasing a franchise is somewhat like beginning a marriage. You will be together for a long time and you want the partnership to be successful.

The Characteristics of a Great In-Home Care Franchise Owner

Before you invest in a home care franchise opportunity, you should ask yourself if you are the right person for the job. Do you have the qualifications and characteristics necessary to be a successful owner and operator of franchising in home care? Some people are born for this role and others find it is not a good fit for them. What are the characteristics needed to make the ideal home care franchise owner? They are:

• A caring heart
• Business savvy
• Marketing skills
• Developing relationships with referral sources

One of the most critically important characteristics of all for someone who plans to own a home care franchise is a big heart. Home care's central purpose is to assist seniors in achieving the highest level of well-being, comfort and happiness that they can achieve. When the senior care industry does this, they also provide assurance and relief to that senior's family and other close people that their loved one is cared for to the highest possible degree.  The fact that home care franchise owners truly invest in their clients is a key indicator in how well the business will perform. Ideal franchise owners do everything imaginable to provide excellent service and care for their clients.

The perfect home care franchisee must have some business savvy as well. Compassion is an absolute must but will not ultimately sustain a business devoted to helping others without some good business sense thrown into the mix. A franchise is, after all, a significant investment of money, time and work. Business savvy is required to assure that all that commitment and work will reap solid financial rewards. Marketing skills are also helpful. Some franchises grow through remarkable word-of-mouth or because of fortunate locations, but it helps to be prepared to educate families and the community about the value of the services your business offers.

Dedication to pursuing relationships with the doctors, nurses, health departments, senior centers and financial planners in communities is valuable for building the client base of a home care franchise. Research indicates that at least 90 percent of all franchises receive business from these sources. Getting out and establishing strong relationships in the community is another characteristic of model franchise owners. A caring heart is the first and foremost trait motivating home care specialists. Those with successful franchises also know how to run it as a business and promote it in the community.

A Franchise Opportunity You Can Feel Good About

Owning a business offers freedom from mundane workdays and provides financial security. If you are an aspiring entrepreneur looking for a solo opportunity that also offers the support needed for success, why not consider a franchise? Specifically, consider in-home care franchising. Unlike other franchises, a senior care franchise has lower startup cost.

A fast food business might require $500,000 or more to get up and running, but you can get your own senior home care business going for a little as $150,000, and that is a big difference! What's more, a senior care franchise will offer security for your family now, and can continue as a family-owned business for years.

 Why a Senior Home Care is a Great Business Opportunity

It is no secret that people are living longer. Medical advances have made it possible for individuals to live longer beyond the conditions that shortened lifespans in years past. Many seniors want to live independently for as long as possible. They don't want to live in long-term care facilities, nor do they want to live with family members. As a non medical home care franchise owner, your staff will most likely provide help for seniors such as basic housekeeping, assistance with getting to medical appointments, meal preparation and taking medications as prescribed. This is what makes a senior care business so rewarding--it is a win-win for the business owner as well as the senior clients who use the service.

What Kind of Support Can a Senior Care Franchisee Expect?

Franchisees are part of a larger network that has the strength in numbers to get things done. Being a part of a franchise means that you will have name recognition. Name recognition brings connections to professionals such as attorneys and insurance companies. It also means that there are people lobbying for you to make sure government regulation and other "red tape" does not strangle your ability to do business. As a franchisee, you can expect to learn how to:

• Set up and run a professional organization.
• Market your services
• Hire the best staff
• Build partnerships with community organizations
• Work with clients and families to assess needs and develop a plan of service.

Owning a franchise that provides care for seniors is worth exploring. Not only is it a great business opportunity for you, but also, it will contribute to your community by providing jobs for others--and most importantly, you will provide care for those who need it most. 

Going Green with Your Senior Home Care Franchise

The practice of "going green," or being ecologically minded, is good for personal health, finances, and quality of life. What is advantageous for the individual can be a crossover benefit to a business as well, including the non-medical home care industry.

Green policies help the profit side of the books by reducing the basic costs of running the business. In addition, potential clients, social workers, lawyers and other home care agencies find any business that respects the earth's natural systems commendable. This helps promote the business. So, what are some basic green practices that are easy to codify into good business practices for the in-home care franchise?

Look at Paper Consumption

In the modern office environment, each person should be consuming less paper. Documents are created, stored and sent in speedy digital formats, thereby reducing the number of printed and filed documents. When paper is needed, be sure to purchase post-consumer recycled paper.

What’s Going on with Water?

Any toilet in the building should be high-efficiency, that is, one designed to use smaller amounts of water per flush. Also, inexpensive faucet aerators cut water usage.

Light Bulbs Save Energy

Old incandescent light bulbs drive up the electric bill. Instead, replace them with CFL (compact fluorescent lights) or LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs. Their initial cost is more than ordinary bulbs, but they provide great light and use 1/3 to 1/2 less energy. These bulbs last much longer than their conventional counterparts, as well. 

Recycle

Follow the disposal guidelines of the local municipality, and recycle all:

• Glass
• Plastic
• Paper
• Cardboard

Consider what Vehicles are in Use

Old gas-guzzlers that need work and maintenance tend to drive fuel costs up. Replace company cars with hybrids or alternative fuel vehicles. Initial price may be higher, but long-term savings and green benefits abound.

Get New Appliances:

• The break room stove, dishwasher, refrigerator, and microwave
• The hot water tank
• Toilets
• HVAC system

These green policies take a little thought and planning but pay big dividends for sustainability of the environment and your in-home care business's bottom line.

Start-Up Costs Associated with a Home Care Franchise

According to Forbes.com, the from-the-ground-up complete starting costs of an assisted living facility for elderly care stands at $11 million for approximately 80 rooms. Since very few people seeking to start their own business have the financial ability to build such a facility without bank financing, equity partners or a combination of the two, there are less expensive business models to consider. A much more financially reasonable alternative for a new business entrepreneur is to begin an in-home senior care business.

The Cost of a Non-Medical In-Home Care Franchise

The purpose of an in-home care company is to provide professional staff members to work with the clients in their own homes, eliminating the need for a building in which to house the business and all the costs that entails. Purchasing a franchise and launching a home care business typically requires a financial investment of between $100,000 and $150,000. That is a much more affordable goal for an individual seeking to be a business owner. It is also recession proof industry for the next twenty or thirty years. As all the country's Baby Boomers continue to age, the demographics of the population age continue to shift. People who are 65 and older will account for 20 percent of the U.S. population by 2040 (instead of their 13 percent currently).  If your business goal is to help seniors with their home care needs, your potential customer base will continue to grow in the years ahead.

The Purpose of Home Care Franchises

The cost of a franchise for elderly care varies according to the services your company will provide. Most provide non-medical services that are designed to offer assistance with the client's daily living tasks.  The everyday commonplace activities and tasks upon which non-medical in-home care focuses are chosen in consultation with the client and designed around his or her specific need.  These tasks typically fall into three categories:

• Home helper services
• Companionship services
• Personal care services

These may include help with dressing and bathing, preparing and cleaning up after meals, making grocery lists and shopping, picking up prescriptions, helping the client water plants and care for pets, playing cards and visiting, running errands and providing companionship. If your goal in starting a business is to help seniors, a non-medical in-home service is a great choice, as the home care industry is booming, and you’ll be serving a vital aspect of your community through care and compassion. 

Home Care Providers Benefit from Pay-Per-Visit Prototype

The Current State of Home Care

In today's recovering, yet still volatile economy, residential care providers continue to seek ways to deliver quality care while increasing profits in a fiscally responsible manner.  Many companies have found that providing care in a pay-per-visit format has enhanced this effort.  As providers continue to evaluate their industry's best practices, it appears that the move towards a combination of salaried and per diem employees is not only enabling them to continue to provide quality care, but also maintain---and many times increase---their profits. 

Benefits of Per Diem Staff Delivering Non-Medical Home Care

Providers have found that the combination of employing salaried and per diem staff to deliver care has:

• Increased productivity of employees, enabling them to provide high quality care, which resulted in improved client surveys
• Trimmed unnecessary expenditures, which resulted in increased profits
• Streamlined office staff, while not sacrificing service delivery
• Allowed better tracking of length of visits and employee travel

Providers have also reported that employee involvement while testing this service delivery prototype was key---it enhanced morale because employees felt that their input was valued during the transition to the per diem model.  Employee benefits included:

• More opportunity for raises once unnecessary costs were reduced
• Increased work schedule flexibility (per diem nurses could opt for part-time status by reducing client visits)

Other providers, who have adopted a 70/30 split of salaried staff with a guaranteed visit quota, combined with per diem staff that go on extra weekly visits if necessary, have found that:

• Offering the salaried option attracts quality, qualified staff
• Also offering the per diem option to 30 percent of their employees allows them to be prepared for supply/demand fluctuations
• They have been able to achieve 95% of their guaranteed visit goals

As service delivery costs continue to rise and providers continue to seek ways to deliver optimum care in the most efficient manner possible, it is evident that offering this care using per diem staff combined with salaried staff will continue to increase. 

Although this prototype would need to be tailored to providers based on type of care and company size, there is still enough evidence to support the fact that it is worth the attempt---for the benefit of employees and those who receive needed in-home care from a reputable home care franchise. 

Pros and Cons of Hiring a Franchise Broker

If you or somebody that you know is interested in buying into a franchise, you may want to consider hiring a franchise consultant or broker to help you choose which franchise is best for you.

There are hundreds of successful franchises in the United States, from burger joints to senior care franchises, so it may be hard to make a decision on which industry to invest in.

Franchise brokers act as middle men or intermediaries between the company that owns a franchise and a prospective franchisee. Keep on reading for a few pros and cons about bringing in a franchise consultant to help you make your decision.

Pros

Free Service – Usually the services of a franchise broker come free of charge, with the franchisor paying the broker’s fee after a franchisee buys into their franchise.

Experienced – A good franchise broker will have experience in a wide variety of industries. Make sure that you ask him or her the various industries that they have consulted in, and ask them if they have experience in a few industries you are interested in.

Avoid Losing Money – Your franchise broker will should be able to let you know whether or not the company you are looking at presents an opportunity to make money and succeed, rather than lose money and fail. This, obviously, is very important. You will not always be able to tell if a franchise is a good investment simply by reading their franchise marketing material.

Cons

Brokers are Salesman – Don’t forget that at the end of the day, your consultant will be compensated by the company that you choose to go with. This means that your broker will probably try to sell you hard on a few business models that he or she has found successful in the past. The industries that these businesses are in may not be the route that you want to go, so don’t be pressured into making an investment you are uncomfortable with.

Limits – While working with an experienced broker can be very beneficial, it will limit the number of franchises that you can choose from. If your broker doesn’t do business in the senior care franchise industry, he or she won’t have any information for you to digest in order to make a healthy decision for you and your family. 

Keep in mind that the final decision on investing in a franchise is entirely up to you. If your broker is pressuring you or isn’t living up to their end of the deal, look elsewhere.

Allergies and Your Senior Loved One

It’s no secret that millions of people in the United States suffer from some sort of allergies, especially when spring and summer time roll around. Seniors, in particular, feel the effects that pollen and other allergens bring about during warmer weather. Because this year’s winter was warmer than those in the past, an increased amount of allergens is present. If you or somebody you know is aging and is affected by allergies, here are some tips to help survive the “itchy eye” season:

 Keep an Eye Out for Signs – One myth about seniors is that they aren’t as susceptible to allergies like younger people are, when they are actually equally likely to be affected. Contact your local non-medical home care franchise and have them notify your caregiver to be on the lookout for sneezing, watery or itchy eyes and runny noses when caring for your elderly loved one.

Let Your Senior’s Doctor Know – When a doctor is more focused on your senior’s serious health issues, it may be harder for him or her to treat your senior’s allergy symptoms. Let senior’s doctor know that your loved one is suffering from allergies, and that they may not be part of the larger or ongoing sickness associated with your senior.

Be Wary of Antihistamines – Antihistamines are often prescribed for the treatment of many kinds of allergies, but doctors often stay away from prescribing them to the elderly, as they can cause confusion, dizziness and retention of urine. Contact a trusted medical professional to find out some alternatives to antihistamines.

Stay Up-to-Date on Future Treatment Options: There are some exciting treatments on the horizon that are specifically tailored to older Americans, which may be a safer alternative to traditional prescriptions. One such treatment is a steroid inhaler that utilizes an antihistamine, which is applied into the nose, essentially eliminating the dangerous side effects traditional antihistamines present for seniors.

Pay close attention to the health of the senior in your life, and always make sure to contact a doctor before buying medicine if you notice that your elderly loved one is suffering from allergies.

Benefits of Receiving Care through a Home Care Franchise

We all come to a point in our lives where we are no longer able to do things the way that we used to. Just because you are getting older, it does not necessarily mean that it is time for a nursing home. It just means that you can use a little extra help occasionally. Thankfully, there is an entire industry of home care professionals who dedicate their time to helping seniors in their community through their home care business.

Here are just a few ways that home care franchises and their non-medical home care workers provide care for older Americans in their own homes:

Meal Preparation - As we age, preparing meals can become tedious or even confusing. It is important, especially for seniors, to get the right amount of nutrition in order to stay healthy. A home care provider can help prepare and cook healthy meals so that a senior doesn't have to. This can be especially helpful for older individuals suffering from dementia, who may need a reminder on where eating and cooking utensils are located around the house.

Driving - An elderly care franchise can provide a home care professional to take care of driving for seniors if their eyesight isn't what it once used to be, or if driving has become dangerous for the individual or others on the road. Relying on a home caregiver to drive also has the potential to save money for the senior, as car maintenance costs and even gas costs can be reduced.

Cleaning - From emptying the garbage to washing the dishes, cleaning up around the house can be a chore for anybody, but particularly for older people who may not have the mobility or energy to do so. Home care franchises can customize their care plans around the needs of a senior, and as such can provide a caregiver that can help tidy up a senior's home on a regular basis.

Medication Reminders - Older men and women can become more forgetful as they age, and may unintentionally miss taking their medication. A non-medical home care business has can assign an in-home care staff member to create an easy-to-read calendar for the senior, so that he or she knows when to take their medication. They can also provide helpful verbal reminders and check to ensure that medication has in fact been taken at the right times during the day.

Every senior's needs are different, and can range from help with simple daily activities to more involved tasks that require a compassionate individual's care. What makes home care franchises unique is that they can cater to a large range of non-medical needs, to help maintain their independence and dignity.

Qualities of a Successful Home Care Franchise Owner

There are thousands of successful franchises in the United States today, in a variety of different industries. From fast food to electronic, franchises can be found on nearly every corner in every state. People choose to invest in a franchise for many different reasons, but how do you know if you would be a good fit as a home care franchise owner? Keep reading to find out a few qualities that help make a great senior care business owner.

Professional Background – Those with professional backgrounds in operations and marketing tend to do well as home care franchise owners, as do professionals who may have had a disagreement with their supervisor, yet still excelled in their position. This is because the individual succeeded within an established system, similar to a franchise’s structure.

Personality – This is where being a lover rather than a fighter helps. Those who are comfortable accepting feedback from colleagues and bosses tend to have success in the franchise game. That doesn't mean that you have to be a “yes man” or a robot, it means that you are probably capable of following rules and learning from mistakes. Since home care franchises have rules already set in place to help you become successful, you will be ahead of the game.  

Passion – One of the most common themes that senior care franchise owners comment on is the fact that they are a very passionate bunch. Not just passionate about making money, but about making a difference in their community. Home care franchise owners often say that they get a genuine sense of accomplishment and meaning, because they are helping older adults live better, more independent lives. If you are passionate about making a positive impact on another person’s life, a non-medical home care franchise may be a good fit for you.

Not everyone is cut out to invest in a franchise, especially one that deals with sensitive issues regarding the care of aging adults. However, the senior care industry is growing at a steady rate, and those with the mindset and passion to embark on a meaningful journey into the world of home care and assisted living placement can enjoy monetary success without any guilt.