senior services franchise - Senior Home Care Franchise

Client Safety and In-Home Care

Delivering health care in an institutionalized setting such as a nursing home or assisted living facility is very different than caring for clients in their homes. While nurses, aides and physicians have more control over a client’s day-to-day care in a healthcare facility, clients at home are in their domain and have greater autonomy—they can refuse care, and they have more power over decisions about how and whether certain interventions will be carried out.

Informal caregivers, such as family members and friends, may also provide assistance to family members at home, and home care aides have little or no authority over these individuals. An informal caregiver may choose not to administer a medication, for example, which a home care aide may not learn about until an adverse event has occurred. Additionally, every client’s home is unique, creating a greater number of variables than exist in a more institutionalized setting.

For these reasons, client safety is especially important in a home care setting. Below are some of the most important considerations.

Fall prevention — Thirty percent of people age 65 and older fall each year. Many of these falls require medical attention, making fall prevention a priority for home care aides. Having a fall-prevention program in place is important, as well as taking steps to minimize hazards at home like loose carpeting, slippery flooring, clutter and other hazards. Home care aides can help in this area by working with clients and their family caretakers to reduce these hazards.

Medication management – Seniors may take medications on their own or with the help of informal caretakers, increasing the probability of missed medications or dangerous combinations. Home care professionals should do everything possible to minimize these risks while on duty and help ensure that clients and family caretakers understand their loved one’s medication regimen as thoroughly as possible.

By implementing these and other safety measures, clients can maintain independence and autonomy significantly longer in the comfort of their own homes.

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Home Care Franchise Sector Enjoys Continued Growth

Good news for current and prospective franchise owners: the franchise industry continues to grow, despite the economic slump of recent years. The International Franchise Association (IFA) recently released a report indicating that the franchise sector has added 184,000 jobs over the last 12 months, according to a recent Forbes article.

The franchise industry supports 18 million jobs, both directly and indirectly, according to the IFA report. While franchises are often associated with fast food restaurants, the franchise model includes dozens of industries. In more recent years, especially, this has begun to include assisted living and home care for seniors. The Baby Boomers are aging, and the number of people aged 65 and older is expected to increase dramatically by the year 2030, to around 72 million in the United States. According to the Pew Research Center, more than 10,000 Americans turn 65 every day.

With our aging population will come increasing demand for non-medical in-home care for seniors, who overwhelmingly opt to stay in their homes when given the choice.

The IFA report indicates several trends, including increasing numbers of women and minorities in franchising. This is good news, as while women and minorities have traditionally played a major role as caregivers in industries like nursing and elder care, they have not played as integral a role as business owners in these industries. Among the obstacles they have faced is lack of access to start-up capital. Franchising opens new opportunities for these individuals, and many franchisors offer financing for franchise costs. Always Best Care is one of the top franchises for minorities, as featured in USA Today.

The IFA report sends a clear message: the franchise industry continues to grow and offer excellent opportunities for individuals from all walks of life to start a business.

Always Best Care is one of the nation’s largest and most reputable senior in-home care franchises. Learn what it takes to start your own home care franchise for seniors.

Learn more about the senior care franchising industry by downloading our FREE eBook.

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Senior Care Franchise Caregiver Tips for Working with Dementia Patients

Even the most skilled senior caregivers may find themselves occasionally frustrated when working with dementia and Alzheimer’s patients. While frustration and irritation may be normal emotional responses to the daily trials of caring for a dementia patient, it is critical for caregivers to remember their responsibility to respond to patients with kindness, understanding and professionalism at all times.

People with dementia can exhibit behaviors such as repetitive speech, questions and actions, paranoid behavior, incontinence, wandering, and verbal or physical aggression.

It’s important to keep in mind that you can’t control a dementia patient’s behavior, but you can control how you choose to respond to it.

Here are some tips for working with people with dementia:

Speak clearly and use simple words and sentences. If the person doesn’t appear to understand you, repeat the question or statement. If he or she still doesn’t understand you, wait for a few moments and try rephrasing the question.

Limit distractions in order to get and keep the patient’s attention. Make sure to address the person by name. State your name and communicate slowly and clearly.

Ask simple, direct questions. Using visual cues and asking closed-ended questions that require simple yes or no responses are helpful.

Take things one step at a time. Breaking down tasks step-by-step can be helpful for those with dementia. Use gentle reminders if the person forgets a step in the process.

Be aware of your body language and tone of voice, which communicate your mood and feelings more powerfully than words. Use a gentle touch, tone of voice and body language to convey your message.

Be patient and understanding.

Remember that people with dementia may take longer to respond and accomplish tasks and may need you to repeat things several times. Managing any frustration you might feel is important for both you and the patient.

Working with patients with dementia can be challenging, but it can also be a rewarding experience to help those with special needs. With patience and understanding, caregivers of a senior care franchise can improve seniors’ quality of life.

Improve someone’s life through your work, learn more about franchising in the rewarding senior care industry by downloading our FREE eBook.

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How Will the Healthcare Mandate Affect Seniors and the Senior Care franchise Industry?

The Affordable Care Act is a healthcare reform measure that aims to make health insurance more affordable and accessible to Americans.

Among the ways it does this is by barring insurance companies from denying people coverage based on preexisting conditions, requiring that insurance companies cover 10 essential health benefits, including preventive and pediatric services, and subsidizing the cost of coverage for eligible participants.

Impact to Seniors

Seniors on Medicare should not be affected by the Affordable Care Act in terms of losing coverage. In fact, the ACA will extend additional benefits to those on Medicare, including reductions in the cost of prescription drugs and the addition of several free preventive services.

For most people on Medicare, costs will remain the same. For higher income individuals, the monthly cost of Medicare will increase, but this will impact a small number of people of those on Medicare (around five percent), according to webmd.com.

Since senior care services, including assisted living, are most often paid for with private funds, the impact on the senior care industry should be minimal, in terms of payment for services.

Impact to the Senior Care Industry

The impact on assisted living facilities and other senior care services will likely be minimal in terms of changes to patient care. The biggest impact will revolve around employer obligations to provide caregiver staff with health insurance.

Beginning in 2015, employers with 50 or more full-time equivalent (FTE) employees will be required to offer employees health insurance or face a per-employee penalty of

$3,000. Employers with fewer than 50 FTE employees will not be subject to the same requirement. Employers will ultimately need to do a cost assessment to determine whether it is in their best interest to provide employees with health insurance or pay the penalties.

Employees who do not receive health insurance through their employer can purchase coverage via their state’s health insurance exchange (if available) or through the federal exchange. Depending on income level some people may qualify for a subsidy to help pay for coverage.

The Affordable Care Act aims to provide Americans with affordable access to health insurance. The launch of the federal health insurance exchange website has been met with many technical glitches, frustrating consumers.

As time passes, and these issues are addressed and corrected, the full impact of the Affordable Care Act and the healthcare mandate will become more clear.

Always Best Care is among the leading companies with senior care franchise opportunities, to learn more contact an area rep near you.

To learn more about franchising in the senior care industry, download ourFREE eBook today!

Please refer to our most recent Franchise Disclosure Document for important details.

Volunteer Opportunities for Seniors

Seniors are all too often an untapped resource of invaluable wisdom, knowledge and guidance. As many people age, they lose touch with family members and friends, which can create feelings of loneliness and isolation. It’s important for people to feel like they’re making a difference in the world, and seniors are certainly no exception. Seniors can offer valuable advice and life lessons to people of every age.

While some may have physical limitations, there are still numerous ways seniors can get active in their communities and volunteer. We’ve highlighted some volunteer opportunities below.

Foster “grandparent” — There is no shortage of kids who need guidance and support, and who could benefit from the wisdom and attention seniors can provide. Foster grandparents help children with activities like reading and writing, they mentor troubled youth, and help children who have suffered abuse or neglect. There is no limit to how a foster grandparent can help a young person in need.
Elder companion — Elder companions offer assistance to those who are ill or have limited mobility, or who are simply seeking companionship. Becoming an elder companion is a rewarding experience for all involved.
Nature guide — Seniors who have a love for the great outdoors can make excellent nature guides. Whether taking kids on local hikes, or giving presentations at a nature center, there are many ways seniors can share their knowledge about nature and help promote stewardship.
Community service — There are dozens of ways to get involved in the local community, from food drives, to youth outreach and education. And there is no shortage of local and national organizations where seniors can find volunteer opportunities, including Senior Core, a division of AmeriCorps.

Volunteering in the community can be a truly rewarding experience for seniors, whose wisdom and knowledge change lives. Regardless of physical capabilities, opportunities to help are all around. Assisted living and In-home care franchise assistants can help clients find local volunteer opportunities in the community, and in doing so, improve clients’ quality of life.

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Creating a Pleasant Holiday Season for Residents with Dementia and Alzheimer’s

The staff at assisted living facilities can go a long way in helping make the holiday season a fun and pleasurable event for residents. Feeling a sense of home is important to residents whose lives in assisted living facilities are likely very different than when they were at home, and the holidays can help spark feelings of warmth, family and tradition.

Familiar Items Can Bring Comfort and Good Cheer

Despite memory problems associated with Alzheimer’s and dementia, patients with these conditions often remember events deep in their pasts with surprising clarity.

Decorating a resident’s room with treasured Christmas ornaments or other holiday memorabilia with the help of the resident’s family members can create a sense of familiarity and bring comfort during the holiday season. It is important to keep in mind, however, that change can be disconcerting or disorienting for some with dementia, so the resident’s wishes must be respected when it comes to decorating or moving things around the room.

Deck the Halls

Decorating the facility, playing holiday music and holding social gatherings for residents during the holiday season can help create a festive, lively atmosphere. You may be questioning whether it’s worth the effort, considering many residents may not be aware of the season, but it’s important to note that while the short-term memories of patients with dementia can be fleeting, it’s difficult to know with certainty what they may be picking up on and what events they may remember.

People with dementia can teach us a lesson about living in the present moment. While it may be forgotten tomorrow, if a holiday song or social gathering brings a resident pleasure, the effort put into creating those special moments is fully worthwhile.

Always Best Care is among the leading senior franchises and providers of in-home care and assisted living services in the nation. Learn more about becoming a franchisee and helping seniors on our website, www.www.alwaysbestcare.com/franchising.

To learn more about the franchising in the senior care industry, download our FREE eBook today!

Please refer to our most recent Franchise Disclosure Document for important details.

Nutrition and Aging

Your nutritional needs change as your body ages. Physiological changes occur slowly, over time, constantly altering your body systems and their nutritional requirements. Life’s events, illness and injuries, genetics, lifestyle choices and socioeconomic events influence these physical changes to speed the aging process even more. Even though your body has changed over the years, chances are good that your eating habits have remained the same.

As you age, you lose lean muscle and gain body fat. Physical activity usually decreases with age, and this means you need to take in fewer calories each day. The challenge is to meet the nutritional needs you had when you were younger, while consuming fewer calories.

One way to do this is to cut down on your fat intake: fat contains more calories than does protein or carbohydrates. High fat diets are also associated with many chronic and serious diseases, such as heart problems and obesity.

You should try to get 60 percent of your calories from carbohydrates, preferably complex carbohydrates. Fruits and vegetables contain complex carbohydrates, are low in calories, and contain no fat. Fruits and vegetables also contain fiber for digestive health. Grain products, cereals, seeds, nuts, and beans are also good low-calorie, no fat sources of fiber.

Iron, calcium, and zinc levels can drop as you age. Eat vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables to improve absorption of iron. Tomatoes and cheese are good sources of calcium. Eat low-fat meat, eggs, and seafood for zinc.

Vitamin E may play a role in slowing the development of Alzheimer’s disease, while low levels of vitamin B12 are associated with memory loss and age-related hearing loss. Whole grains, peanuts, nuts, vegetable oils, and seeds are rich in vitamin E, while meat, poultry, fish, eggs and dairy foods increase vitamin B12 levels.

As you age, it becomes increasingly important that you take in more calcium, fiber, iron and protein, and vitamins A, C, and folic acid, which is a form of vitamin B9.

Supplements can improve your nutrition as you age. Consult with a professional with experience in nutrition and aging to learn how to slow the aging process in your body today.

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Three Types of Arthritis

Arthritis is inflammation in one or more of your joints. Normally associated with senior citizens, you can get arthritis at any age. Symptoms include pain, stiffness, swelling, redness and a decrease in range of motion in a joint. These symptoms are often more acute in the mornings and subside throughout the day.

The pain of arthritis is associated with joint damage. Joints are those moveable points where two or more bones meet. The ends of these bones are coated in cartilage to allow these bones to slide over each other smoothly. A tough membrane, known as the joint capsule, encloses all the joint parts. The synovium lines the joint capsule and secretes synovial fluid, which lubricates the joint and nourishes the cartilage.

Osteoarthritis

In osteoarthritis, normal wear and tear damages the cartilage in between bones. This damage may become significant enough to allow bone-on-bone contact, resulting in the ends of bones grinding against one another. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It is a chronic disease, caused by many years of use.

This degenerative disease worsens over time, causing increasing pain and disability. Doctors use imaging, like x-rays and MRI, to diagnose arthritis. A doctor may order blood tests to rule out other causes of pain, like rheumatoid arthritis. Your doctor may opt for joint fluid analysis, or send fluid drawn from the joint to the lab to rule out gout and infection.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis describes a condition where the body’s own immune system attacks the joint and inflames the synovium, causing swelling, pain and redness. This is a very destructive disease, destroying cartilage and bone within the joint. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic condition, causing pain, swelling and loss of function, and can cause long-term disability.

Gout

Gout is a form of arthritis caused by excessive levels of uric acid in your blood. Not everyone with high uric acid levels experiences gout, but some people accumulate this uric acid in the synovial fluid in one joint. These people may produce too much uric acid, or their bodies have a hard time getting rid of it. Acute gout typically affects one joint, often the big toe. Chronic gout, or gout that keeps coming back, tends to affect more than one joint. There is no known exact cause for gout, but some groups of people seem to experience gout more than others do, including men, post-menopausal women and people who drink alcohol.

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Study Shows Blood Pressure Drug Reduces Alzheimer’s Risk

A recent study led by Johns-Hopkins shows that taking certain blood pressure medications reduces the risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease, a devastating condition that affects more than five million people in the United States.

Blood pressure drugs that reduce the risk for Alzheimer’s disease

The research team analyzed data previously gathered on 3,000 elderly Americans. The researchers found that people over the age of 75 with normal cognition who used certain blood pressure drugs had half the risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease. The drugs include angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, commonly known as ACE inhibitors, and angiotensin-1 receptor blockers, or ARBs for short.

Diuretics, commonly known as “water pills” also proved beneficial in those whose minds were still sharp. Additionally, the researchers found diuretics reduced the risk for Alzheimer’s disease in those who were already showing signs of mild cognitive impairment. Other blood pressure drugs, particularly beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers, did not show promise for reducing the risk for Alzheimer’s disease.

Indentifying new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia is critical to improving the health and well-being of an increasing number of older Americans. Alzheimer’s is a common cause of social and intellectual decline that substantially decreases the quality of life for the elderly.

Senior citizens living at home alone or in an assisted living facility should always take medications as directed to get the most out of drug therapy. Sometimes these treatments deliver more benefit than they had advertised.

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Fall Prevention Checklist for Non-Medical Home Care Workers

Senior care patients who choose to remain in the home experience more independence, while still remaining healthy and safe. However, home care business workers should keep a close eye on their patients’ environments for anything which might put a patient at risk for falls. Among the elderly, falls are the most frequent cause of injury-related death, but they can also lead to reduced mobility and a decreased sense of security. Here is a brief checklist of hazards for non-medical home care workers to help keep their patients safe from falls:

Perception Problems

Seniors often experience hearing loss, vision problems, mental confusion, and decreased feeling in their feet, which can all cause them to misjudge situations when moving around the house.

Medications

Medications such as vasodilators, anti-hypertensives, sedatives, or pain medication can have side-effects which affect perception. Be aware of what types of medication the client is taking.

Physical Conditions

Many chronic conditions and disorders like osteoporosis and arthritis can make moving around difficult.

Previous Injury

Prior falls and previous injuries can make it difficult for seniors to navigate environments which previously gave them no trouble.

Improper Footwear

Shoes with rubber soles, slippery soles, or heels greater than 1.5 inches can cause problems. Avoid these types of shoes, and suggest walking shoes with elastic laces.

Floor Hazards

Scatter rugs, uneven surfaces, bathroom rugs, and thick plush carpet can all cause problems for seniors. Where possible, suggest they repair damaged flooring and install more consistent surfaces.

By keeping a lookout for falling hazards, non-medical home care business employees can keep their clients safe in their homes.

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