One of the best things that happened to me when I was living in New Hampshire, is that I discovered a great home care service for elder people. The New Hampshire Health and Human Services Commission recommended the agency to me, because the agency I worked for provided home care services for elderly people. My job as the agency director was to make sure they were licensed and properly trained in providing care services. This is an important consideration, because home health care services are not usually provided by these agencies unless they have a valid license.
Most agencies provide home care service for elderly people who are at least 65 years old. Sometimes they are even older. Most of the time, though, the home care service provides daily medical care, assisted living home, and respite care. (Respite care is basically just a round-the-clock help wanted. If you need help cooking or bathing, the agency will dispatch a caregiver to you.)
My agency was recommended by a friend, and we did not have to wait long to find out if it was really what we needed. My dad was getting older and needed this kind of home care service the most. He had two jobs, one at the hospital and one at home. He used to come home from work, spend the day drinking coffee, and then retire for the night. It was becoming very dangerous for him, because he couldn’t drive home anymore without falling down or slipping on the wet floor of his bedroom.
We asked around to see if anyone knew of anyone else who might benefit from a care service for elder people. Most people said yes. There was one woman, though, who told us that she didn’t want anyone else taking care of her dad because she was too young. I totally understand that; my own parents were in their thirties or forties when they took care of me. And, while they loved me dearly, they loved me even more because they could take care of themselves. (By the way, their middle-aged husbands are currently living on their own, and they absolutely love it!)
When my dad went in for an evaluation at the local nursing home, the social worker that handled his case was wonderful. She listened carefully to all of his concerns, then provided him with a detailed list of services that he would receive while staying at this particular home. She also explained to him that the majority of elderly citizens end up at the nursing home, because they either became too uncomfortable or couldn’t handle the independence that was part of their senior years. He was really relieved to know that someone was there to help him, even if it was just a few minutes a day. He also learned that he would be able to stay in his own home if he needed to, because the staff would take care of him if he wasn’t there.
That was over seven years ago. Recently, my dad decided it was time to try out the home care service for elder people program. He lives at home, so his family had to move, as well. He still doesn’t know anyone at the new location, but he has enjoyed the company of the other seniors. As I sat there and watched him interact with his new friends, I thought to myself that I wish I could help them out as much as he has helped me. It is such a lovely thing to see someone accomplished their goal of “going old age” in such a manner!
How do I start a home care business in New Hampshire, is a question that many people often ask but few give the right answer. New Hampshire is an ideal state for starting a home care business. Its population is aging and the hospitals are always fully staffed, even during times of illness or emergency. So you can have peace of mind knowing that if you have expertise in nursing, doctors or other health care professions, you can make good money running a home care business that will take care of your clients and loved ones at home – relieving their stress, giving them the personal care they deserve, and most importantly, giving them a sense of independence and rejuvenation.