All About Starting A Home Business Caring For Elders

There is a high demand today for eldercare services like cooking, cleaning, errand running, mobility and self-hygiene that allows many elderly individuals to stay safely in their homes. This business does not require much startup capital or education, but it requires compassion, patience and good communication skills for its success.

Steps to start a home business caring for elders:

Step 1: 

Review the laws of your state regarding elder care service provider, elder abuse identification and reporting procedures; some states require individuals to have certification in CPR, first aid, behavior management, license as nurse aides or to be listed on the public registry as qualified care providers to provide direct care to elderly persons in their homes.

Step 2: 

Obtain necessary training or certification during the process of opening the business; you could get training as a nurse aide in 4 to 6 months and a CPR certification in a single 12-hour course.

Step 3:

Draw up a business plan outlining what services you can provide, how far you are willing to travel to clients' homes, standard emergency plans and the backup resources available to ensure your elderly clients still receive the assistance in the event you become ill or injured. It should also include advertising and networking strategies, the fee structure and accounting methods you will use and the method of obtaining any needed startup funds.

Step 4: 

You should designate an area of your home to serve as an office, and set up a computer, printer and phone line solely for business use. Next you will have to document what tasks were performed, the general condition of the elderly person and any other important information every time you provide care, as well as record financial or relevant medical information. In addition ensure you have adequate storage for paper records as well as secure electronic storage and a means for backing up information on your computer.

Step 5: 

According to the rules of your state you will have to file a fictitious business name with your local County Clerk or Secretary of State; the name should clearly indicate that you offer home care and assistance to elderly persons. However be careful as some localities impose restrictions on certain terms and reject a business name that implies that  you are offering licensed medical treatment or services.

Step 6: 

Next contact your city or county government for information pertaining to any business licenses or zonal permits.

Step 7: 

Next submit an SS-4 form or apply online to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN).  An EIN helps to protect you from identity theft, with your number being already available for use if you choose to hire additional care providers later. Your federal EIN also helps you to register with state and local tax boards for business taxes.

Step 8: 

Ensure you purchase liability insurance to cover your home care business and vehicle if it is used to transport elders on errands or to doctor; if you need additional security and protection you could discuss it with your insurance provider. It is best to discuss and understand if your homeowner's insurance covers business losses such as your computer equipment, or financial damages related to loss of client records.

Step 9: 

Next consider ways to increase your elder care business by advertising in local newspapers and senior-oriented publications and contacting local community centers, senior centers, aging councils, Alzheimer's associations, caregiver support groups and similar organizations to notify them of your services for referrals.

Image Courtesy: Google