Home Health Consultants Help Your Agency Grow With Specialty Services
We’ve all seen the home health care industry grow by leaps and bounds over the past decade. With more home health care agencies and service providers than ever before, the competition is getting tougher. Client expectations are growing as well, and as the Baby Boomer generation reaches its peak, there is an even greater demand for specialty services. Home health care agencies that don’t take the time to listen to clients and look for unique ways to remain 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 Specialty Services
When clients compare home health care agencies, they often all look the same and there isn’t anything specific that differentiates one from another. Agencies that want to continue to grow now must offer specialty home care services that fulfill 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 stand out from the crowd?
Home health consultants can assist you with developing a broad range of specialty home care services, including:
• AM care (rise and shine) and PM care (fluff and tuck)
• Sleepovers
• Foot care
• Exercise/rehabilitation or ambulation care
• Home modifications
• Pet care and assistance
• Mother and baby care assistance
• Day surgery support and care
• Holiday helper assistance
• Gardening or yard services
• Child care or sick child care services
• Spa services
How to Choose Specialty Services
Instead of trying to guess which of these specialty services are a good fit for your home health care agency, start by listening to your clients. Do they ask for assistance during a specific time of day? Are you receiving requests for new mothers and their babies? Do you have clients with pets who could use assistance taking care of their furry companions? Home health consultants can also provide insight into the right type of specialty service for your agency.
With the holidays quickly approaching, many of your clients may be starting to talk about the tasks and events that accompany this time of year. Offering a holiday helper service is a great way to help them enjoy all of the activities of the season. You can assist with:
• Shopping for presents
• Wrapping gifts
• Decorating the house
• Baking cookies and treats
• Attending holiday 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 attract new clients to your home care agency as well. If you need help getting started, home health consultants can help get you up and running right away.
Establishing Specialty Services
Specialty services don’t have to be offered exclusively by in-house staff. You can forge partnerships with local providers to offer a wide variety of services at a discounted rate. When you consider a partner, you will want to look for vendors who have shared customers, goals, and markets. Examples of partnerships for specialty home care services include:
• Medical alert systems
• Grocery and meal delivery companies
• Transportation companies
• Wholesale pharmacies
• Cell phone providers
• Home repair companies
• Nail and hair care specialists
• Dog groomers, walkers, and veterinarians
• Lawn and garden care services
• Housekeeping companies
As you consider working with home health consultants and other service providers, whatever you do, remember to talk and truly listen to your clients. You may be surprised by how an off-handed client remark can lead to an opportunity to provide a new service. Also, keep in mind that many clients may not be aware of the specialty home care services you offer today. Your ability to adapt and meet their changing needs can help you stay competitive in this growing industry.