Help Senior Family Caregivers by Starting a Support Business

Have you been the caregiver for a disabled or elderly member of your family?  Were there times when you wished there was someone who could provide you with assistance, or even give you guidance in finding the right type of care for your loved one, or counseling to help you deal with the pressure and stress you are going through? If this is something you have gone through in your personal life, then you may want to use your experience to help others.

Over the years you spent as a caregiver, you have probably learned a lot of things you wish you had known from the beginning. You almost certainly have knowledge which would be invaluable to other family caregivers in your community.  However, how can you share your experience and knowledge with others? Is there a way you can provide a real service, and earn an income while helping others, too?  

Recently,  Claire Wentz, the owner of CaringFromAfar.com, reached out and asked me if I thought the readers of this blog would be interested in learning how to start a Caregiver Support Business in their community.  If you think this is something you might like to do, you will that find this month's guest post on launching a Senior Family Caregiver Support Business is very helpful.  Her post is below:

How to Launch a Senior Family Caregiver Support Business

The role of a senior family caregiver is not an easy one. Family caregivers often deal with high levels of stress, financial concerns, time management issues, sleep deprivation, social isolation, and an array of difficult emotions. Providing support services to these selfless individuals is a great business model, and can provide them with greatly needed assistance. You will enjoy an undeniable sense of fulfillment by pursuing an entrepreneurial path which has a real impact on people who are struggling. Check out the following tips to get started!


Consider Which Services You’ll Offer


There are a number of different services you could offer to family caregivers. Counseling, transportation, caregiving assistance (also called respite care), and food delivery are just a few of the services you could offer. If you have experience with family caregiving yourself, think about your experiences and what kind of support services you would have liked to use, had they existed.

You could also start a business helping families evaluate long-term care options. Moving a senior loved one into long-term care is very mentally, physically, and emotionally taxing. Consider building a business designed to guide family members through the decision-making process so they can feel confident that their loved ones will receive high-quality care.


Write a Business Plan


When starting a new company, it is crucial to consider all aspects of your business in order to create a detailed and comprehensive roadmap for success. Your business plan should include an introduction that outlines the purpose and goals of your company, as well as information on your target market, products or services, marketing strategy, and financial projections. Additionally, you should think about factors such as your competition, legal considerations, and growth potential.


Find Funding


When it comes to starting a new business, one of the major challenges is finding the funding you need to get off the ground. While many entrepreneurs rely on bank loans or venture capital, securing this type of financial support is not always possible, especially if your credit report indicates a low credit score. Fortunately, there are other options for funding your new business. One option is to look into government grants and loans, which often come with fewer restrictions than traditional sources of funding. Additionally, many websites now offer crowdfunded financing platforms which allow individuals to band together and invest in promising new companies.


Create an Employee Training Plan


If you’re going to hire employees for your business, this is a good time to establish a training plan. You’ll want to teach your employees all of the knowledge and skills they need to do their jobs successfully. Be sure to schedule regular training sessions to help them maintain essential skills. Beyond basic workplace training, be sure to train your employees on important topics like harassment prevention, workplace violence, and diversity. This training can prevent your staff from falling victim to unconscious bias and micro-aggressions, both of which are unfortunately present in the senior care industry.


Review Your License and Permit Requirements


Most small businesses will need certain licenses and permits. These vary depending on your state, your type of business, and the kinds of activities in which you are involved. The U.S. Small Business Administration explains that states often regulate business activities, including healthcare, transportation, and retail. You will have to research your specific state, county, and city regulations to learn more.


Establish Your Online Presence


Creating an online presence is essential for finding clients. Start by building a website and creating social media accounts where you can share information about your business with potential clients. You could even use your website to offer virtual support services! Get started with a simple website building tool like Wix or Squarespace so you can get a website up and running quickly without hiring a developer.

When it comes to creating social media accounts for your business, follow the 80-20 rule. Dedicate 80% of your social media content towards informing, engaging, or entertaining your audience, and use the other 20% to promote your business services.

Creating infographics is a great way to give useful information to your clients or followers, while also increasing brand recognition. Not only do infographics share important information quickly and easily, but they can also be eye-catching and creative depending on the design chosen. To create your infographic, use online templates that you can adapt to include your own copy, images, and icons.


Build a Community Around Your Business


If you really want your business to thrive, consider building an engaging community around your brand. Use your website to offer free resources and support services. Link to complementary businesses like counselors or respite care providers. Chat with your followers on social media and listen to their suggestions. You could even create a community forum on your website where family caregivers can interact and share their thoughts. HubSpot suggests writing some general discussion topics to get the ball rolling on your community forum.

Launching a caregiver support business is bound to be fulfilling. Whether you decide to start a business offering respite care or choose to help families transition their loved ones into long-term care, you won’t regret working in the senior caregiving industry.

by Claire Wentz

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Order gifts at DeborahDianGifts.etsy.com

If you want to tell a caregiver how much you appreciate what they are doing, you can find encouraging gifts for seniors and their caregivers on DeborahDianGifts.etsy.com.  It is a thoughtful way to show them that you understand what they are going through.  This "Just for Today" coffee mug is one such gift, although you can also find uplifting jewelry (like a bracelet that says "You are Enough"), tote bags and more.  Give a caregiver something to lift their spirits.

If you are interested in learning more about saving money, financial planning, Social Security, Medicare, where to retire, common medical issues as you age, travel and more, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional helpful articles.

Disclosure: This blog may contain affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase from an Amazon ad, or other type of ad, I'll make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

You are reading from the blog: http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

Photo credit: Pixels and DeborahDianGifts.etsy.com

Dying at Home - What is Best for You and Your Family?

More Americans are deciding to die at home, rather than in the hospital, for the first time in over 100 years.  Many people believe they would rather spend the last few weeks or months of their life in their own home, being cared for by their loved ones.  It is true that they are likely to feel less lonely and depressed when they are surrounded by their family in their final days. There are also financial incentives for hospitals when they encourage people to leave the hospital and go home to die.  However, is this really the best thing for either the dying person or for their family?

Dr. Nathan Gray wrote an op-ed which appeared as a full-page ad in the Los Angeles Times and other newspapers on February 16, 2020.  He is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Palliative Care at Duke University School of Medicine, as well as an artist who draws informative comics on medical topics.  His editorial made some serious points which people need to consider before making the final decision about where they want to die.

Are We Truly Living Longer or Taking Longer to Die?

While experts often tout how they have extended the lives of senior citizens by a few months, they rarely describe what those additional months are like for people who are dying.  Often, the dying are nauseous, exhausted and in pain.  In many cases, I have observed that people in the final months of their lives are not truly enjoying themselves, feeling alert, and chatting with adoring loved ones.  They often spend those last months suffering through an extended, unpleasant death.  During this period of time, they are can be miserable and unhappy. They may be barely aware of what is going on.  

Who Will Care for You If You Die at Home?

If your spouse or an adult child is going to be your sole caregiver, other than a few short visits from a hospice team each week, are you expecting too much of your loved one when you ask to go home to die?  Are they going to be able to help you get up during the night to use the bathroom, manage your medications, bathe you, and feed you, while still meeting their own basic needs?  Studies show that 30 percent or more of caregivers end up dying before the patient under their care.  Are you willing to take the risk that someone you love could die while caring for you?  Is this the burden you want to place on your beloved spouse or other family member?

Can Your Family Afford for You to Die at Home?

Another point made by Dr. Gray is the high financial burden of having a loved one die in your home.  The caregiver may have to give up their current job, or they may have to hire a paid caregiver to assist them. In some cases, they may have to do both ... quit their job and hire extra help to do the things they cannot manage on their own. As a result, dying at home can create a financial burden for your spouse or adult child, making it more difficult for them to pay the bills.  You may be so "out of it" from pain medication and your loss of awareness, you may not even realize how hard life has become for your spouse or adult child, and how much stress they are under.

Will Home Hospice Help?

Fortunately, home hospice will provide some assistance to your family if you choose to die at home.  Hospice agencies are reimbursed about $200 a day to provide you with necessary medical equipment, pain medication, and a few visits from nurses each week. This compares to the approximately $2000 in reimbursements which hospitals receive to provide you with 24 hour-a-day care as long as you stay there.  Obviously, as much as they try to provide all the help they can, home hospice providers cannot do everything a hospital can do during the last few months of your life.

It is important for people to know that Medicare will pay for a few weeks in a skilled nursing facility, if you go directly there after having stayed in a hospital as an admitted patient (not just under observation) for at least three nights. If you have a low income and few assets other than a house and/or car, Medicaid will pay for an extended stay in a skilled nursing facility, but you or your family should apply for Medicaid as soon as the patient moves into the facility.  You may need to get an expert to help you with the application process. Ask the nursing home to help you or get a referral to a service which is able to help. 

Have You Planned Ahead?

If you have made arrangements in advance for long-term care insurance, or you have moved into a Continuing Care Retirement Community prior to developing a terminal illness, then you may be better prepared to die in your home or at the retirement community where you are living.  Your long-term care insurance or the CCRC where you live will help your spouse or other family members manage your care during the end of your life.  Caring for you during this emotional time will be much less of a burden on your family if you have planned ahead.

It could be helpful to read "Long-Term Care: How to Plan and Pay for it." (Ad) The information in this book will make your decision to die at home much easier for everyone.  

However, if you do not make arrangements in advance, you may wish to rethink your decision to die at home.  Spending those last few weeks in a hospital or skilled nursing facility may be the last, considerate action you can take to help your family be under less stress at the time of your death.  It's something to think about.

If you are interested in additional Social Security and Medicare information, retirement planning, where to retire, or wish find out about common medical issues as you age, use the tabs or pull down menu at the top of the page to find links to hundreds of additional helpful articles.

Disclosure: This blog may contain affiliate links. If you decide to make a purchase from an Amazon ad, I'll make a small commission at no extra cost to you

Reference:  https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-02-16/doctor-patients-send-home-to-die 

You are reading from the blog:  http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

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