Qualicare’s successful model of in-home caregiving is exemplified in caregivers like San Diego’s Larry Carl and Jasmine Gomez, and Whitby’s Amanda Fisher [<--link here when caregiver spotlight is live.] Compassion, patience, humor, professionalism, and a positive outlook on life are what caregivers say makes them great at their jobs. Today’s blog highlights these values, and more, that Qualicare’s caregivers, nurses, and franchise partners bring to clients.
When a loved one requires extra support, families can consider many different options for care. Skilled nursing facilities, independent in-home care providers, government-run programs, and other options are considered. What families really want is a continuity of care. This is something Qualicare’s clients always receive.
From the first meetings with clients, Qualicare franchise partners and nursing managers make sure that a regular in-home caregiver is a good fit. Caregiving teams also support each other, like sisters Jamie Schneider and Nikki Miller, of Qualicare Kansas City. The sisters said that their camaraderie and quality care kept one elderly client joking with the sisters during visits. The client liked them so much she kept the team on for longer than she originally intended.
Another franchise owner, Jerry Tsia, who has owned Qualicare Burlington for the past 9 years, says that it’s important to stay on top of things because a patient’s health situation can change at any time. His team has regular check-ins with nurses every 6 months, to re-evaluate the situation and see how the patient is doing. Having great coordination between caregivers and nurses makes sure that nothing slips through the cracks.
A unique element of Qualicare is the wealth of knowledge that franchise partners have absorbed over the years, and Qualicare’s built-in spaces for peer-support, and idea-sharing. When one franchise partner learns a useful lesson, they’re encouraged to share it, and to continuously help each other build better companies, with always-improved care options.
When seeking out in-home senior care and home health care, prospective clients can often feel frustrated by the lack of flexibility many companies offer. Some companies have minimum hourly visits at 4 hours, for example. However, Qualicare’s franchise partners have chosen to create the most flexible offerings they can, with 2-3 hour minimums, and in Jerry Tsia’s case, a new offering in the works of a 1-hour minimum visit. This option is something Tsia hopes can bring more seniors the care they need, while still supporting caregivers. It’s something that could work well especially in large buildings where seniors live.
Many franchise partners come to Qualicare because they’ve had a personal experience with family members needing in-home care. It is incredibly painful to watch family members suffering from difficult medical conditions. As Nathan Weber, Vice President of Franchise Development of Qualicare, said in the article Starting a Home Care Franchise, many franchise partners “lost a family member, and realized senior care was so complex and arranging it was so tough, they think: maybe we can do this. Maybe this is our calling.”
Qualicare was initially founded by a couple, Wayne and Andrea Nathanson, who cared for Wayne’s father with Lou Gherig’s disease. While experiencing the challenging care coordination the disease required, Andrea, a nurse, came up with a system that allowed Wayne’s father to have the holistic care he needed. This system sparked Qualicare’s “360 degrees of care” model that exists today. The 360 degrees of care model reflect the family values that guide Qualicare’s caregiving.
Recruiting and retaining quality caregivers is a high-priority to Qualicare. The home care industry in general has been struggling greatly with caregiver shortages. Showing appreciation, and maintaining great communication, are some of the most important elements of retaining great caregivers.
Linda Larson, a Nurse Manager at Qualicare San Diego, and Qualicare’s home office, said in the article 4 Tips to Successfully Recruit and Retain Caregivers that “showing caregivers their lives are important is a recipe for success.” Larson created incentives for caregivers who go “above and beyond” and gives out gift cards, and celebrates caregivers of the week, month, and year. She also said that taking an interest in caregivers' lives, and prioritizing listening, helps her branch retain great employees.
Interested in starting a Qualicare franchise? Check out our website & request more information today!