Whether you’ve always wanted to own your own business or you’ve finally decided to leave the 9-to-5 job behind, buying an in-home care franchise is a great entry point for an entrepreneur. The home care industry has been growing steadily for the last 10 years, increasing in line with an aging population.

You may think you need home care experience to manage your own franchise. However, at Visiting Angels®, we believe it’s never too late to make a career change, especially if you have the right partner.

The term “home care” can cover many different services. Some clients may already have an idea of what they need, while others may rely on you and your staff for guidance. As an in-home care franchise owner, you’ll need to know how these services compare and when they’d be most beneficial for a client.

To help familiarize you with this field, we’ll cover two of the primary services that an in-home care franchise offers.
What You Need to Know About These In-home Care Franchise Services

Every care situation is different as each client has distinct needs based on their physical condition, their cognitive abilities, the assistance they receive from family and friends, and many other factors.

In general, though, personal care and companion care are the two most common terms heard in the home care industry. Many clients will come to you assuming they are the same. While many features do overlap, they also have differences. Let’s look at each one in depth:

What is Companion Care?

Companion care is a type of home care that covers basic household duties for seniors who need more help at home. A home care companion can take care of basic chores like minor housekeeping, running errands, and preparing meals for clients.

To further enhance each client’s quality of life, caregivers provide companionship by accompanying clients on outings and engaging them in interesting conversations and activities at home. This type of care is especially beneficial for seniors who live alone or at risk of social isolation.

Companion care is foundational to all forms of home care. The caregivers you hire should be warm, friendly and outgoing individuals who can easily engage a client in conversation. They should be willing to participate in activities the client enjoys and be open to establishing a relationship with the clients they support.

What is Personal Care?

Personal care builds upon all the same supportive services as companion care, but also includes more direct physical assistance.

Caregivers who provide personal care should have the experience and training required to help clients perform physical tasks like going to the bathroom, bathing, and getting dressed. Walking and transfer assistance also fall under this form of care.

This option is best suited to clients with physical disabilities, mobility restrictions, or chronic conditions that limit their ability to perform day-to-day tasks. Many clients may begin with only companion care services and add additional personal care support as their individual situation progresses.

As a Visiting Angels franchise owner, you’ll also offer more specialized services including:

Throughout all these services, companion care and personal care will remain the foundation of the care you provide.

Contact Visiting Angels to Learn More

Are you ready to own your own business in a lucrative field and make a difference for families in need?

When you buy a Visiting Angels in-home care franchise, you’ll receive all the training and support you need to open, manage, and grow your business. You’ll have complete control over your day-to-day affairs, but can still benefit from a clear roadmap and countless resources.

From initial in-class training to webinars to monthly lead generation, we’ll provide everything you need to succeed. To learn more about purchasing an in-home care franchise with Visiting Angels, call 800-365-4189 or request more information online.