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.