Home health consultants help your agency grow with specialized services
We’ve all seen the home health care industry grow by leaps and bounds over the past decade. With more home health agencies and service providers than ever before, the competition is getting tougher. Customer expectations are also growing, and as the baby boomers come into their heyday, there is an even greater demand for specialized services. Home health care agencies that don’t take the time to listen to customers and look for unique ways to stay competitive will have a hard time standing out. Home health consultants can help you capitalize on these growth opportunities by identifying the best specialty services for your market.
The need for specialized services
When customers compare home health agencies, they often all look the same and there is nothing specific that sets one apart from another. Agencies that want to continue to grow must now offer specialized home care services that meet the diverse needs of clients. Standard services like personal care and assistance are expected, but what other services can your home health care agency offer to make you stand out from the crowd?
Home health consultants can help you develop a wide range of specialized home care services, including:
• AM care (lift and shine) and PM care (lint and crease)
• Sleepovers
• Foot care
• Exercise/rehabilitation or ambulation care
• Changes at home
• Pet care and assistance
• Assistance for mother and baby care
• Support and outpatient surgery care
• Holiday helper assistance
• Landscaping or landscaping services
• Child care or sick child care services
• Spa services
How to choose specialized services
Instead of trying to guess which of these specialized services are right for your home health care agency, start by listening to your clients. Do they ask for help during a specific time of day? Are you getting requests from new moms and their babies? Do you have clients with pets who might need help caring for their furry companions? Home health consultants can also provide information on the right type of specialty service for your agency.
With the holidays fast approaching, many of your clients may start talking about the chores and events that accompany this time of year. Offering a vacation helper service is a great way to help them enjoy all the activities of the season. You can help with:
• Purchase of gifts
• Wrap gifts
• Decorate the house
• Bake cookies and treats
• Attend Christmas productions and religious services.
• Transportation to the homes of friends and relatives
This type of seasonal home care service can benefit many of your active clients and also attract new clients to your home care agency. If you need help getting started, home health consultants can help you get up and running right away.
Establishment of specialized services
Specialized services do not have to be offered exclusively by internal staff. You can forge partnerships with local providers to offer a wide variety of services at a reduced price. When considering a partner, you’ll want to look for providers who have shared customers, goals, and markets. Examples of associations for specialized home care services include:
• Medical alert systems
• Grocery and meal delivery companies
• Transport companies
• Wholesale pharmacies
• Cell phone providers
• Home repair companies
• Specialists in nail and hair care
• Dog groomers, walkers and veterinarians
• Lawn and garden care services
• Cleaning companies
When considering working with home health consultants and other service providers, whatever you do, remember to truly speak and listen to your clients. You might be surprised how a careless comment from a customer can lead to a new service opportunity. Also, keep in mind that many clients may not be aware of the specialized home care services you currently offer. Your ability to adapt and meet your changing needs can help you stay competitive in this growing industry.