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.