When someone you love requires senior care, it’s important that they receive care from a provider who puts seniors first. The sudden boom in America’s elderly population has made senior care one of America’s most lucrative industries. While many owners of senior care agencies and facilities are getting into the industry for the right reasons, too many others only see dollar signs. Instead of putting seniors first, they’re prioritizing the bottom line. Steering Clear of Profit-First Senior Care
At Visiting Angels®, we’ve been focused on seniors’ well-being for more than twenty years and have become one of the most trusted names in the senior care industry. We know that a profit-first approach to senior care is not the right answer. What’s more, we believe in giving families the information they need to find trustworthy care for their loved ones.
Here’s why. As a business-owner, the bottom line is always a concern. There’s a simple reason. If you’re losing money, you can’t stay in business. And if you can’t stay in business, you can’t provide care to the seniors who need your support. But if maximizing profits is a bigger priority than optimizing quality of care, that’s a problem.
Nothing has underscored this more clearly than a New York Times report on American nursing homes published this January. Reporters discovered heartbreaking stories of malpractice and mistreatment in a series of nursing homes engaged in shady business practices. It turned out that the owners were buying services and supplies from companies they owned separately from their nursing homes. By making these purchases at artificially high prices, the owners were able to mask how much money they were actually making.
Thankfully, these transactions are unlikely to occur in the at home care industry.
Choosing a Trustworthy Senior Care Provider
The good news is that there are still senior care agencies and facilities that put seniors first instead of focusing solely on profits. Here are a few tips on how to steer clear of senior care agencies and nursing facilities that put profits ahead of the seniors in their care.
- During your initial consultations with care providers, gauge how flexible they are with regards to your loved one’s care concerns, personal preferences, and scheduling requests. High-quality providers understand the unique needs of their clients and customize their services accordingly.
- If possible, research their reputation within the community. A quality provider will happily provide references from past clients. Online reviews can be an excellent resource, particularly for well-established agencies and care facilities.
- When a provider is part of a national brand, pay close attention to the wider reputation of that brand. Different brands hold their locations to different standards and operate according to different values. Trusted names, like Visiting Angels, are trusted for a reason.
For home care services that put seniors first, contact your local Visiting Angels. Call 800-365-4189 or contact your local office to get detailed information on our senior care services or to schedule a free in-home consultation with your local director.
Steering Clear of Profit-First Senior Care
Steering Clear of Profit-First Senior Care Steering Clear of Profit-First Senior Care Steering Clear of Profit-First Senior Care Steering Clear of Profit-First Senior Care Steering Clear of Profit-First Senior Care Steering Clear of Profit-First Senior Care Steering Clear of Profit-First Senior Care Steering Clear of Profit-First Senior Care
