When is it Time for You to Consider Non-Medical Home Care?

One dilemma often faced by families is deciding when elderly parents require the help of senior caregivers. It can be easy to miss the signs that your parents are struggling to cope with daily living. Of course, nobody enjoys being told that they are incapable of caring for themselves. Furthermore, many seniors are reluctant to request assistance, out of concern they will be taken from their homes.

Grown children should involve their parents in the decision to use a senior care franchise. This way, the parents will feel in control rather than powerless. Fortunately elderly people can still live independent, active lives at home, with the help of a home care professional. These compassionate workers provide the one to one assistance that allows favorite activities and essential tasks to be completed easily.

So, how do you know when it’s time to consider in-home care? There are numerous warning signs to be aware of that suggest your parents may need a senior caregiver. These include a decline in personal cleanliness, such as body odor, fewer showers, and a more unkempt physical appearance. Also, if your parents are ill, they might not be eating properly. Check their fridge for junk food, or food past the sell by date. They might have an empty fridge as well, or experience unexpected weight gain or weight loss. Booking an appointment with your parent’s doctor is recommended, if you notice any of the above signs.

As we get older, completing household chores often becomes more of a challenge. If your parent’s house starts to look untidy, or smells unclean, it may indicate that they require a bit of help. Also, many people have to manage their time carefully, to pay bills, keep appointments, open mail and pursue hobbies etc. If your parents are struggling to get everything done, this could be cause for concern. Moreover, if your elderly loved ones have been recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, a home care franchise can be particularly helpful. These agencies specialize in caring for those suffering from various forms of dementia.

Professional care for seniors provides real hope to older people who need a little help with their daily lives. Often, with this kind of non-medical assistance, seniors can retain their independence and enjoy life to the fullest. Obviously, this is the type of thing you can't put a price on, although thankfully in most situations in-home care is a very affordable option when compared with the alternatives.

5 Helpful Tips for Hiring In-Home Caregivers

When running a senior care franchise, one immediate challenge you will face is the need to hire staff. Throughout the first phase of your venture, you will probably end up completing a whole range of tasks, until your business takes off. Ultimately however, you will have to hire staff, because you only have one set of hands. Here is some proven advice on how to recruit the most suitable employees for your senior care franchise.

Plan Your Strategy Correctly

All good entrepreneurs realize that success is normally achieved only when an effective plan is in place. This certainly applies to recruiting caregivers for your company. Prior to the recruitment process, decide how you will choose the people you work with. You should research salary and benefits packages, because this will attract better quality applicants. You could also use an incentive program, because this will improve your staff retention rate immeasurably.

Know the Needs of Seniors

Take the time to learn what your customers need and want, with regards to their care. Listen to what they ask for. Note the types of personalities they react well to. Be aware of the particular challenges faced by your group of seniors. By evaluating and comprehending the unique requirements of your customers, you can recruit caregivers who are best qualified to satisfy those requirements.

Get as Much Exposure as Possible

Although you will save money and time by restricting your marketing and hiring efforts, you will only sabotage your home care franchise over the long term. Find out where best to hunt for new recruits, and exploit these marketing avenues as much as possible. Don't forget that you should use both conventional media platforms (such as employment publications and newspapers), as well as more modern methods (online job boards, forums and social media, etc). This way, you will be found by a large number of high caliber candidates.

Prepare for Interviews the Right Way

Decide what questions to ask, and be ready to respond to the applicant's questions about your company with confidence and an abundance of knowledge. However, do not spend the whole interview looking down at your notes, because it is important to maintain eye contact and engage with candidates directly. By doing this, you can judge whether they have the necessary people skills to add value to your organization. Take heed of the above advice, and you will be well on your way to finding the top talent, who can take your business to the next level.

Great Caregivers are Key to Your Home Care Franchise

The average age of citizens in American cities is rising. This fact has inspired people to open businesses geared towards an aging population. Most seniors live in their own homes which can be excellent for their health, but also good for the entrepreneur who has a heart for older people. Now might be the perfect time to consider opening a non medical home care franchise.

What is a Franchise?

A large company will sometimes sell to business owners the right to use their name, slogan, and logo to operate their own business. In this arrangement, the original company regards the franchise as independently owned and operated. Many home care facilities are organized as franchises.

With home care businesses, the owner earns money by providing non-medical home care. They also help consumers find accredited, high-quality assisted living.

Support for the Franchise

You won't be on your own if you work with a strong home care organization - one that supports its team of franchise owners. There will be support from headquarters and from a local branch as well. They help prepare new branch owners for licensing and assist in finding training programs for staff.

Hiring the Right People

Various levels of training and certification are required by employees. Some just need a first aid certificate and screening for a criminal record. For a non-medical caregiver, compassion and patience are more important than a degree. Skilled caregivers must be compassionate and have obtained some nursing qualifications.

Keeping Good Care Givers

Your in HYPERLINK "http://www.franchisewithalwaysbestcare.com/"home care franchise will do well with excellent people representing you, but the turnover rate in this industry is extreme. Caregivers are left to deal with traumatic situations but not given enough training and support to grow professionally or to cope. Clients are sometimes injured in the presence of the home care worker. Death is a reality when one's clients are elderly. Emergencies occur even when safe guards are in place. A non-medical employee wants to feel confident helping a client who is seriously injured in his home.

With support from head office, franchisees know where to access programs to upgrade and maintain employees' skills. This way, they never feel overwhelmed by situations or fearful about handling emergencies.

Examining the Details of Elder Care Business Opportunities

Home care franchises have seen a phenomenal growth spurt during the past six decades. Senior care franchises are among the fastest growing business entities today. One reason home health care franchises witness tremendous growth is because they do not cost large amounts of money to open. A person can start a senior care franchise for as little as $150,000, in comparison to more than $500,000 for a food-related franchise.

Low Initial Start-Up Costs and High Revenues

Besides the fact that elder care business opportunities cost less money as start-up businesses, they also tend to yield high revenues for budding business entrepreneurs. With more and more baby boomers reaching ripe old ages, the average home health care franchise witnesses a whopping $2 million revenue per year.

Senior Care Franchises Seek Opportunities Abroad

Home care franchises are not limited to American-based locations. On the contrary, as other countries witness growing elderly populations in need of additional care in their own homes, more home care businesses are open to international expansion. 

Insurance Companies Recognize Home Health Care Franchises

Senior care franchises are more readily recognized by insurance companies obligated to follow complex laws proposed by various governmental agencies. Recognition means that franchise owners have improved chances to receive help from lobbyists who influence legal regulatory changes.

Franchises Enable Seniors to Live in Their Own Homes

Senior care services enable older seniors to avoid living in nursing homes or similar facilities. Instead, seniors can stay in their own homes and receive needed care. The chance to live at home instead of in a nursing home is an opportunity every senior welcomes. Consequently, people who start a senior care franchise perform good deeds that benefit older senior citizens.

Check out the Different Available Franchises

Of course, a person who is interested in finding the best senior care franchise needs to do homework that involves extensive online research. Some franchises provide skilled nursing services needed by chronically ill seniors, while other non-medical home care franchises do not offer these types of services. Interested persons can read online reviews written by current senior care franchise owners.

Are Your Home Care Business Blogs Brimming with Info?

Franchise home care business owners who want to successfully promote their services need to become established locally as the "go to" expert on current issues related to in-home senior care services through an active website.  Your website should have an informative and entertaining blog that is updated often. The best senior care franchises provide blog content for their franchise owners but that content, when used by 300 or more national franchises, is no longer original. What you need is not this duplicated content, but original content that is fresh and locally focused.

How do you accomplish this? 

In-home senior care is serious business, but your writing style needs to be engaging enough to keep your readers interested in perusing each article and returning for more.  That's assuming you have the writing skills necessary to create your own blogs. If you don't, you need to hire someone to write them and be your business’ "face" for the purpose of marketing.  Consistency in your messages and accountability for your content is vital. The reputation of your business depends upon it. Check what your writer produces before posting it. Keep the posts to between 300 to 700 words long. 

The more frequently you add articles to your home care business website, the more website traffic you attract. One new blog per week is the minimum goal. Make blogging a key component of your overall marketing plan. Make two to four key points in your blog topic. Think about your readers and not generating key words on Google. One key word set is sufficient. Choose a topic on which the adult child of an elderly parent would appreciate more information. Catch your readers' attention by beginning with a question or adding photographs to your articles. Inexpensive photos are available at BigStockPhot.com and other sites.  Engage readers' interest with amusing titles, keeping them to 65 characters or less.

Never discuss your competition or post home care franchise reviews other than your own. Feel free, however, to promote your blog posts on Facebook and other social media sites. Many "likes" on Facebook is a great way to connect with your local community in an open and friendly manner.

Illinois Mandates Training Seminars for In-Home Care Workers

Illinois' Department of Human Services recently mandated that any in-home care worker in the state is now required to participate in a three hour training seminar for such workers. This mandate applies not only to professional home care workers but also to any family members who received monetary compensation for providing care to a relative.

The Movement behind the Mandate

The SEIU began working with Illinois' public officials to have them stipulate that any home health care worker must become part of their union, which set off several lawsuits. These lawsuits eventually led to the Supreme Court's ruling that neither independent caregivers nor paid family members could be forced to pay union dues if they did not want to join the union.

The SEIU was upset by the decision, firmly claiming these workers would benefit from union efforts to increase benefits such as protections and pay and, therefore, should financially contribute to the unions as they would reap the same benefits. The Supreme Court's ruling had blocked a potential source of significant financial support. 

The Mandate and Its Requirements

A contract was signed between the Illinois Department of Human Services and SEIU for the union to provide training seminars to in-home caregivers. The state pays the union $2 million annually to conduct these three hour sessions. During 30 minutes of each session, the SEIU is allowed to promote union membership and activities.

At first, there were few public mentions of these mandated meetings. Gradually, more information became public. Critics complain that the politicians are still just paying back union officials for their political support.  The Illinois Policy Institute now has representatives attending these meetings to make sure they are not attempts by the union to push union membership on unsuspecting care giver participants. They inform all attendees that they are not obligated to pay membership dues (around $600 annually) or join the union.

In Home Care Giver Training

Until the mandate is changed by the state of Illinois, it is still in effect. Search online to learn about the variety of home health care business opportunities available where you may work and receive training. Senior care franchise opportunities allow you to operate your own in-home care business in your local area.

Q & A with a Home Health Care Franchise Owner

As somebody deeply involved in the home care industry, as both a caregiver and a blogger, discussing home care franchises and the non-medical home care industry with a person familiar with this aspect of personal employment proved to be eye opening in several ways. It was gratifying to hear from someone who has enthusiasm for such a business. Keep reading below to see our conversation in-depth.

Q: Why do you believe opening a home health care franchise was the right business decision for you? 

A: After caring for my family elders during my teen years, I realized I had a lot to offer the geriatric community, including patience, respect and understanding for their needs. It is good to live the remainder of life in one's own home, with familiar possessions and memories. Although it is a large financial commitment, I believe in the concept. I have confidence in my education and ability, my work ethic and in being an advocate for seniors.

Q: What have you learned that maintains your interest in pursuing such an endeavor?

A:  I have done my homework, researching and speaking with others who have completed their purchase of a franchise. I learned there are a few things I need to educate myself on, such as marketing, how to advertise, and how to choose the right, trained employees. I believe a home care agency is a worthy path for my life.

Q: What do you think you will like about this work?

A: To assist people in keeping their lifestyle as much as possible by helping them in their homes is satisfying work. Since I have had that experience, I want to share my knowledge and support with others. I hope to build an agenda with like-minded caregivers.

Q: Do you have any advice for those who may be interested in this endeavor?

A: Yes, do your best inquiry, review everything possible about the franchise first.

Q: Have you uncovered any resources that have been helpful?

A: The library is open to everyone. Become versed in the details and prepared to train in all facets of the job.

Q: Do you have any more thoughts to share?

A: Yes. To anyone searching for the right franchise: be patient and research top home care franchises first. If you have the courage to pursue your dream, you will complete it.

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.