Home health care franchises provide in-home services for senior citizens and others who need ongoing medical and/or personal care due to disability or chronic conditions. Services range from recovery and medical care to daily personal care and housekeeping, depending on the franchise model. With a growing aging baby boomer population, increasing interest in aging in place, and the growth of telehealth to support home care, steady and strong revenue growth is likely for this industry.
There are tremendous opportunities available in health care markets in general, and home health care is certainly no exception. There are some differences when operating in this segment of the health care market, however, as compared to traditional health care in a clinic or hospital setting. Let’s look at how those differences will impact how you approach your business.
Building Relationships
Going into a person’s home to provide health care is a different experience than providing the same kind of care in a medical facility. More trust is required on the part of the patient to welcome you into the home. If that person cannot make their own decisions due to declining health, you may be working with concerned family members who want to make sure their loved one will get excellent care. Building relationships with families and presenting a concerned, caring presence is one of the keys to getting started in-home health care.
Finding a Market
Not every population center will be a good fit for a home health care business. For example, a new suburban development with many young families probably won’t contain much demand for home health care. On the other hand, an established neighborhood that has been in place for decades and has many homeowners who have lived in their houses for generations will be a great fit. The mobile nature of home health care means you can serve patients in many different locations around the region, but you need to know where to look for business and where to invest your marketing efforts. Some basic demographic research will go a long way toward getting this right.
