Advantages of Owning a Senior Care Franchise During the Pandemic

When COVID-19 became worldwide news in early March 2020, the senior care industry was already dealing with various challenges, including retention and recruitment to meet the growing need of ailing individuals. Nevertheless, our franchisees and their staff continue to face these challenges head-on by socially distancing themselves, wear the proper PPE, and adhere to cleaning guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

As we’ve begun to ease into a seemingly “new normal,” our industry is emerging stronger than ever, showing the benefits of owning a franchise even amid the pandemic.

Consistent Support

Support when owning a business is one of the many aspects that can make it or break it. Whether that support comes from family, investors, or other stakeholders, it’s critical. In-home care franchising offers owners the opportunity to tap into a robust network of marketing, financial, operations, and peer support. When the pandemic hit, Homewatch CareGivers had already established comprehensive guidelines to help our franchisees thrive.

Our support system includes:

• Engaging and interactive online training
• Increased virtual communication protocols
• Training platforms for ongoing education
• Caregiver retention initiatives and best practices

This kind of substantial assistance adds value to a franchise brand and gives franchisees a sense of security. Historically, this can also help owners garner larger interest in some markets if the opportunity to transfer ownership ever comes.

Brand Recognition

Name recognition is important when owning a business. People tend to trust brands they know, have heard of before, or are highly recommended by peers. Starting a business from the ground up forces entrepreneurs to build recognition and implement inventive ways to get their name in the marketplace. For home care franchisees with Homewatch CareGivers®, our name is already well-known; we have a proven model and an established customer base, which wasn’t affected by COVID-19. In fact, the pandemic thrust our name into the forefront, solidifying our credibility, helping us scale opportunities, and strengthen our franchise network.

An Increase in Skilled Labor

During the pandemic, many skilled workers were laid off or furloughed from their jobs, forcing them to consider other career alternatives and opportunities. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that home health aide (HHA) and personal care aide (PCA) positions will grow by 34% (which is well above average) over the next decade. This will directly result from the baby-boomer generation becoming a part of the elderly population, increasing the demand for services. Similarly, COVID-19 has created a necessity for seniors to age in place for fear of contracting the virus if relocated to a senior living community or nursing home. With the growing demand for skilled workers, senior care franchisees are poised to hire experienced and specialized staff.

Our team at Homewatch CareGivers is ready for the influx of available and professional home care staff hired by our franchisees. We offer comprehensive screening and hiring processes and employee coaching to ensure franchise owners are prepared to attract and retain employees.

Visibility for Recruiting

Staffing has been an ongoing challenge for home care agencies. However, one of the positives of COVID-19 was that it shed light on the need for health care and home care workers. The pandemic helped create better visibility and credibility for the recruiting process by:

• Classifying home care workers as essential
• Increasing compensation with the passing of the CARES Act, allowing states to allocate funding for necessities
• Prioritizing provisions, such as personal protective equipment, for home care workers

With these new practices and procedures in place, senior care franchisees with Homewatch CareGivers can find success during an economic downturn or a health crisis.

Homewatch CareGivers Continues to Support Franchisees During COVID-19

Even with the increase of COVID-19 and the Delta variant, our franchise owners continue to be steadfast and dedicated to changing their communities. We hold tight to our commitment to their efforts, responding with more communication, training, vaccine resources, and more. As 2021 comes to an end, Homewatch CareGivers continues to offer support and guidance for current franchisees and entrepreneurs ready to begin their journey with us.