9 Homecare Hacks: An Informative Cheat Sheet For Startups
Kenyon HomeCare Consulting • March 5, 2021
Embarking on a new adventure in life is always exciting—and usually challenging. You’ll likely need a little help along the way whether you’re starting a new career, getting married, or going down a new path for your existing homecare organization.This article is full of recommendations including a cheat sheet for startups.
How to Secure Successful Homecare Startups
Successful homecare startups don’t often come easily. To be sure you’re headed in the right direction, you need several tools. Among those tools? A handy-dandy cheat sheet. Below are 9 hacks you can use to create your own homecare startup cheat sheet.
1. Start with Research
Before you can make plans to move forward with your homecare organization, you should know what you’re getting into. First, consider your location. Is it ideal for the services your agency will offer? Do the clients in the chosen area need those services? Who is your competition? What services and rates do they offer?
In addition to location, research what it takes to run a successful homecare organization. Reaching out to knowledgeable industry experts is often your best resource.
2. Design a Business Plan
Operational systems, policies and procedures, hiring goals—these necessities and more need to be determined before you open your doors or launch a new business line. There are numerous groups and organizations you can join for inspiration and support.
3. Create a Budget
When launching homecare startups, it usually takes six months to a year before you start seeing a profit. Be sure to budget for this time, not only with funds for your personal needs but also money for business expenses. Think overhead, costs to hire staff, business equipment, and required employee education.
4. Get the Word Out
Marketing early and often shouldn’t ever be put on the back burner. It’s recommended to begin your marketing efforts and promote well before the grand opening. Again, seek out industry experts for great ideas on how to most effectively market your new services.
5. Secure Resources
Most successful homecare startups complete this step well before launch day. What do we mean by resources? Mainly, documents needed to run a smooth, competent operation. Everything from aide competency testing kits to policy and procedure manuals should be purchased and customized early to save time and hassle in the long-run.
6. Prepare Your Workforce
Start by hiring the right people, which is much easier once you’ve obtained the best aide competency testing kit. Then provide advanced education for the elite staff who make the cut. This type of training goes beyond the basics and ensures your employees are a step above the pack when providing client care.
7. Form Partnerships
Starting a community business makes you an integral part of said community. As such, it’s important to build relationships with other professionals in your area. Not only does this show that you’re invested in the town, but also benefits your bottom line. For example, in homecare, forging partnerships with doctors, rehab centers and hospitals leads to client referrals.
8. Join an Association of Homecare Professionals
It’s crucial to stay up to date on industry happenings, trends, and news to remain current and compliant. Joining a professional homecare state or national association is a good way to stay knowledgeable and relevant in the industry.
9. Work with an Industry Expert
In homecare, just like as in life, you sometimes need advice and encouragement. Whether you’re expanding your services, it’s your first time launching homecare startups, or you’re opening a new location, support is essential. Working with an industry expert helps you stay on track and experience success.
Finding an Expert in Homecare Startups
At Kenyon HomeCare Consulting, we know what it takes to succeed as a homecare organization in today’s marketplace. From researching a location, to hiring, and acquiring needed resources, we can help with all the steps along the way. Reach out to us to learn how we’ve assisted with numerous successful startups and what we can do for you!
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HOPE Question and Answer Repository
Today, this article will look at little different than out typical articles. We all know the costs of losing employees and trying to hire and train new ones. It is exhausting and expensive. So, we think about our wages and benefit packages all the time. What can we do differently that makes people stay? We can’t change the job and we don’t want to keep people that don’t like the work itself. So, how do we acknowledge employees in a way that is valuable to them and that our businesses can afford to do? 5 Things To Consider About Employee Recognition At Your Christmas Party: 1. Years of Service: These can be based on milestone work anniversaries (5, 10, 15 yrs, etc.). If a person has been at your agency 11 years, you pull them up and acknowledge them in the group of employees who have been there at least 10 years up until the time they hit the 15 years landmark. This way longevity is recognized yearly. 2. Special Employee awards: Now, this may be difficult if your staff is very small, but acknowledge the employee who has gone the extra mile in the job they do. Tell the story. The employee needs to know when the employer is proud of the work that has been done. Consider a plaque or certificate. Don’t minimize the value of the employee having them to display. 3. Acknowledge all employees in the mix: Because we are a clinical industry, the administrative staff is often overlooked on day-to-day operations. Ultimately, don’t miss the chance to acknowledge the employee who was able to catch billing errors or collect on a large account. Staff doesn’t like to hear about money, but those types of collections keep Christmas bonuses in place! So, make sure the other staff knows the accomplishments of the finance department or the office manager that every caller loves to speak to. Don't ever forget the IT staff that is on call more than any clinical person in your agency! 4. Letters from the administration: Add a personal note to your staff either collectively or individually depending on the size of your agency. If you are larger, there are employees you don’t often see or get to talk to on a regular basis, so take the time so send a note with that Christmas bonus. 5. Consider the Christmas bonus: Listen, some of you can afford to do substantial monetary bonuses and that is fantastic. However, if you are not in that position, consider something in its place. Maybe small gas cards go with the letter from administration. With the cost of groceries, consider something that helps with the costs of daily living for employees. Big box gift cards in your area will always be used. You may do a lot of these things on a yearly basis to employees. All this being said, it doesn’t mean there aren’t reasons for acknowledgement throughout the year. However, your annual Christmas party is a good way to do it collectively. Between your annual party, write the individual cards to employees when you hear a patient interaction worthy of praise. Or, maybe you buy a gas card for the employee who has picked up extra shifts and always shows up on time. Ultimately, employees will feel valued. You will not regret the time, effort, and energy put into these efforts. Merry Christmas! If you want help with recruitment and retention strategies for your agency, please call Kenyon Homecare Consulting at 206-721-5091 or contact us online today.