First A Place At Home Franchisees Hit CARE Pro Status

A Place At Home CARE Pro

A Place At Home created CARE Track, a 5-step senior-focused development program, to provide franchisees with the education and tools to grow and develop their A Place At Home franchise. The final stage of CARE Track is Step 5: CARE Pro.

New candidates enter CARE Track the minute they inquire about owning a franchise to determine Step 1: Are you CARE? Potential owners begin discussions with Jerod Evanich, President of A Place At Home. They take a free psychographic assessment to discover if they can measure up to A Place At Home’s top performers. 

“We want to find owners that can keep up with the extraordinary franchisees we already have but more importantly, we want to make sure the candidate’s values align with our “We are CARE” philosophy,” said Jerod Evanich, President of A Place At Home.

After a franchise is awarded, Step 2: CARE Launch begins. From there Step 3: CARE Coaching rolls out. After some time, once their business is operating, they begin to shine in Step 4: We are CARE. The final stage of CARE Track is Step 5: CARE Pro.

Becoming a CARE Pro

A Place At Home was established in 2012 and began franchising its successful business model in 2017. After 3 years, A Place At Home is happy to announce its first official CARE Pro’s: Alex Caudill of A Place At Home – Scottsdale, Sun City, and Chandler and George and Grace Bradley of A Place At Home – South Denver.

These franchisees have qualified as CARE Pro’s because they have been in business for a full year offering a continuum of care services. Also, their revenues have exceeded $500,000 annually, they’ve grown to at least three office employees, and have excellent customer and employee satisfaction scores. They even won Best of Home Care Provider of Choice and/or Best of Home Care Employer of Choice by Home Care Pulse. 

Dustin Distefano, CEO of A Place At Home, shared, “Owners that hit the CARE Pro milestone are in this for the long-term. They will become leaders in their market and will be positioned to build momentum over the next year.”

Alex and the Bradley’s will now begin working directly with Dustin on taking their business to the next level. They will have one-on-one access weekly to develop special projects such as developing staffing contracts, increasing additional service lines, and developing new payer sources. Dustin will also be on the ground with them during this time of growth. He will help ensure their infrastructure is strong to support the growth they are after in this next year. The goal is to triple their revenue by the end of their first CARE Pro year.

A Place At Home – Scottsdale, Sun City, and Chandler

After ten years as a sergeant in the Marine Corps, one of A Place At Home’s first CARE Pros, Alex Caudill, saw an opportunity to make a difference in the health sector. His military-taught values of duty, service, and self-sacrifice found new meaning when he became a franchisee of A Place At Home in 2018. 

Alex understood how crucial the first 90-180 days were and how they could define the route his business took. Alex said, “Those first months were the hardest. I was on my own trying to get those first clients. It’s important to have a plan, execute on it, and always push forward. I never got content because being content breeds complacency. If you’re always moving forward and pushing towards your goals you’ll move past any hurdles.”

Alex said he didn’t anticipate owning a multi-million dollar business with over 100 employees within 15 months of being open. He said, “it’s a reflection of my team. This shows me the wheels are turning as they’re supposed to be. Our client and satisfaction scores are good because we’re providing good care. We follow through on what we say we’ll do, and if there’s an issue we fix things in a timely manner.”

A Place At Home – South Denver

About thirteen hours northeast of Alex’s location is the first A Place At Home franchise in South Denver. Owners, George and Grace Bradley were the first franchisees taking the leap with A Place At Home in 2017, and it’s paid off as they’ve now hit CARE Pro status.

The Bradleys started looking for different franchises that serve the senior population. They reviewed 5 or 6 different FDD’s and were ready to schedule a discovery day with another franchise but spoke with Jerod at A Place At Home. “Jerod chatted away with me about what A Place At Home had to offer. There were several things that I really liked but thought the different sources of income were a great idea. There are 4 other ways to make money not just in-home care.”

George said, “It’s an honor to hit CARE Pro status. We pride ourselves in the quality of care we provide AND the quality of caregivers we provide. Our customer and client satisfaction scores are extremely important to us and we work hard to keep communication open. Becoming a CARE Pro is validation that everything we’ve been doing is working.”

Do you measure up to our top performers?

Ideal franchise owners are tenacious business builders, goal-oriented, and have a deep commitment to success. Our unique, scalable, and proven senior-focused development program allows owners to hit the ground running. Do you think you have what it takes to be a CARE Pro? See how you measure up and take our psychographic assessment online.

New Franchise Now Serving Seniors in Orlando

New In Home Care Franchise Owner Stephen Sherbin

A Place At Home has awarded a new franchise in Orlando. Stephen Sherbin and Nicky Sherbin are the new owners that will help fulfill A Place At Home’s larger strategy to help seniors age with dignity through personalized care. 

The Population Reference Bureau predicts that by 2060 close to 100 million Americans will be aged 65 and older. Only 3 percent of the elderly prefer nursing homes. The remainder chooses in-home care support. There is, therefore, a corresponding growing demand for quality in-home care services which led A Place At Home to franchise it’s successful model. 

A Place At Home is set to serve over 22 areas in Orlando, Florida, from Bay Hill to Pine Castle and Pine Hills through the stewardship of Stephen Sherbin & Nicky Sherbin. The owners have extensive experience in healthcare. They will be operating from a centrally located office at Hoffner Center, Suite #234. 

“We happily welcome Stephen and Nicky to the A Place At Home family,” said Co-Founder Dustin Distefano. “They bring vast business and care experience that embodies our spirit of CARE. We believe that they are the perfect people to help us grow and serve seniors throughout Orlando.” 

About The Owners

Stephen is the president-elect of the Florida Hearing Society. He has 18 years of executive-level experience in the hearing aid industry. He is also a former member of the Economic Development Council for Brevard County and a former chair of the Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce. 

His business partner, Nicky Sherbin, is a Radiation Oncology Registered Nurse Manager in Winter Park. She has been providing care for those in her community for more than 25 years. Nicky was also a Spring Training nurse for the Washington Nationals, Montreal Expos, and Florida Marlins. She was also the nurse for the LPGA and helped launch the Sports Medicine Institute in Melbourne, Florida. Both she and Stephen are very experienced in handling VIP clients. 

Why A Place At Home Franchise?

The senior care entrepreneurs chose A Place At Home for its new franchise model and inspiring philosophy. “A Place At Home has given us the ability to offer the complete range of services including in-home companion care and in-home private care,” said Stephen. “We have also started a referral service that transitions patients to the right assisted living facilities that can meet their needs.” 

Stephen praised A Place At Home for its nurturing franchisee relations. “The agency employs its care staff in a supporting, responsible, and traditional way. Their comprehensive training program allowed us to hit the ground running.” 

The US Census Bureau confirms that Florida has the highest percentage of seniors, standing at 19%. The weather, the tax system and the vibrant community of elders are the contributing factors. Stephen and Nicky have a great opportunity to make a difference in the quality of elderly care in the state. 

“Having started my nursing career in hospice and home care and working in radiation oncology for the past 14 years, I have personally seen the life-changing results achieved by competent home care professionals,” says Nicky. “We are thrilled for the chance to make an impact in our local community filled with family and friends.” 

Stephen adds, “Success requires passion. Our passion comes from our family that is going through the same challenges as our patients’ families. We understand the strong need to provide high-quality care for those we love. We also understand the feeling of being trapped by having to work but wanting to be a caring son or daughter. Providing solutions to those problems through our new franchise is incredibly rewarding.” 

About A Place At Home

A Place At Home aims to be agile to the dynamics of the aging process through the provision of personalized services tuned to the unique and changing needs of each patient. The service model is dubbed C.A.R.E, which stands for Compassionate, Accountable, Respectful, and Ethical. A Place At Home helps seniors stay at home for longer with support and a degree of independence they desire. When the patients must move to senior care facilities, free placement services are offered. 

Visit www.aplaceathome.com to learn more about the services we offer and www.aplaceathomefranchise.com to learn about franchising opportunities. 

CONTACT: 

Jerod Evanich, MBA Co-Founder and Head of Development
O: 888-502-6310 x 101
F: 402-281-0738
E: jerod.evanich(at)aplaceathome(dot)com

5 Ways to Market Your In-Home Senior Care Services During the Holidays

Marketing During the Holidays

It’s that time of the year again! The shopping spirit is in the air, and small businesses are dreaming of big sales, of willing buyers with open wallets. However, none of that is a guarantee. Strategic marketing is needed to leverage the festivities for improved sales during the Holidays.

Remember, too, that at this time of the year, consumers are crushing under a barrage of marketing messages. If you provide in-home senior care services, your strategy should, therefore, cut through the clutter and reach the right people where they are.

Here are some excellent holiday marketing techniques for home care services:

1. Find a holiday angle to your services

The holiday feeling is about sharing and caring, and that ties in well with the nature of your senior care business. Currently, friends and family gather to share the love, and there is no better time to deliver an infomercial on your top care services.

Create a thoughtful, inspiring, and heartfelt video on the beauty of in-home senior care and how it enhances the quality of life for the elderly and their families. For example, do a video directed at family caregivers that could use a break to be “just family members” this holiday season. You offer to supplement in a few days to a couple of weeks of service and while you assist with ADL’s and medication reminders, they can focus on their family.

Be sure to share this on your social media pages, promote it on YouTube and email to local community reps. Be prepared to answer questions especially if families are bringing loved ones home from long-term care facilities and need extra help. Learn the ‘vacation’ rules for Medicaid and Medicare coverage to provide extra peace of mind.

2. Get your clients involved

The best holiday messaging should tell the story of happiness and overcoming challenges. If you have clients willing to testify for the excellent quality of your care services, ensure to leverage that. Self-proclamation and inflationary claims don’t accomplish as much as user testimonies do.

You can send out these personal client stories through email, publish them as a series of social media posts, on flyer distribution, or online video. Don’t forget to thank your clients, their families, and everyone involved, wishing them happy holidays and include a call to action. For example, they may have family in town for the holidays so offer additional hours of care so they can enjoy their company and not put them to work or worry about things that need to get done.

3. Give away something meaningful

Let your business reflect the giving that embodies this holiday season. Your current and potential clients expect to be treated this time of year. Promotions can help you break through the market even when you are just starting out.

Your holiday promotion this year can be informed of surprise gifts for the families of your existing clients, discounts to past clients or prospects, or a community senior fun event. You can also partner with other non-competitor brands, health services providers, churches, and other organizations in spreading seniors love this holiday season. Just ensure that there is an awareness value for your business in that arrangement.

Holiday gifting helps to:

  • Spread awareness
  • Increase brand love and deepen brand loyalty
  • Increase the number of referrals

4. Add a festive holiday appeal to your website

It’s a new digital age that we are living in. Pew Research reports that 70 % of seniors go online and use digital services. The inventor of the Web, Tim Berners Lee, is himself a baby boomer, and that shows that the elderly don’t live in a faradays cage of sorts. And if the seniors are not that internet savvy, at least their kids and supporters are.

This holiday season your social media pages and website should be extra interactive full of thank you messages and best wishes. Your landing pages should be holiday-themed. Your entire site needs to be current and informative, enjoyable and assuring of the legitimacy and professionalism of your services.

5. Get out, be part of the community and build a dependable referral program

Unlike most other businesses, an in-home senior care business mostly thrives on referrals. You will find that more than half of your quality client introductions come from health service providers. Introductions from community leaders and local organizations can also give you the leap you desire.

Ensure, therefore, to engage with these people often, more so this holiday season, and offer them incentives/gifts as an appreciation for their leads. Remember to also keep in touch with clients and caregivers through postcards or greetings cards this holiday season.

Don’t let your senior care business miss out on the growth potential of the holiday cheer. Follow the above simple marketing during the holiday strategies and watch your business grow.

Considering a Senior Care Franchise?

When you join our group of dynamic business owners, as franchisees of A Place at Home, you’ll have strong support, thorough training and valuable business resources to help you succeed. Contact us to learn more.

South Portland Gains New Senior Care Option

Local Entrepreneurs Launch a New A Place at Home

SOUTH PORTLAND, OR, AUGUST 7, 2018 – Local entrepreneurs Jerome and Kyara Philips have been awarded the right to open an A Place at Home franchise in the South Portland area. The new location is scheduled to launch this fall.

A Place at Home offers a model of senior care distinct from other options. Their senior care model includes in-home care, care coordination, community placement and staffing services. The company launched in 2012 in Omaha, NE, where it grew to serve over 800 clients and employed hundreds of caregivers, CNA’s, CMA’s, nurses, and other professional staff members. In 2017, founders Jerod Evanich and Dustin Distefano launched the NorEast Franchise Group in the hopes of serving seniors from coast-to-coast.

As a former social worker navigating the child welfare system, Jerome Philips has six years of experience working directly with families in need of services. Prior to that, he had four years of experience training and developing workers in the tech industry. He has a BS in Human Development and an Associate’s degree in Organizational Design, an educational background which offers extensive training in healthy aging, family dynamics, and care planning. He will serve as Operations Manager for the new franchise.

In addition to being Jerome’s wife and business partner, Kyara Philips will serve as the Lead RN for the new franchise. She has over eighteen years of nursing experience including being the RN Team Lead for nearly eight years at Kaiser Permanente.

The Philips’ decided to launch the business after personally experiencing the challenges of caring for Jerome’s father during an unexpected and persistent illness. “It helped us become aware of both the needs of seniors and the challenges they face in navigating their way to appropriate care. As a result, we’re passionate about maintaining the quality of life for seniors no matter what their circumstances are. We’re also committed to providing an understanding and supportive work environment for caregivers.”

The couple felt A Place at Home stood out as an innovative company offering superior senior care while maintaining a passion for the success of both employees and franchisees.

“We felt a real alignment with A Place at Home’s Core Values,” Jerome adds. “We’re focused on listening to each individual’s needs, on doing what we say we’re going to do, on listening before speaking and on living life with integrity.”

A Place at Home’s core values are summed up in its We are CARE model: compassionate, accountable, respectful, and ethical. Founder Jerod Evanich notes, “If a franchisee has a personal foundation built on these values, we can parlay their professional background and acumen into helping them become successful business owners.”

Evanich and Distefano will not award a franchise unless they feel the candidates are shining examples of the We are CARE philosophy.

Evanich and Distefano felt the best way to forward A Place at Home’s mission of providing top-notch senior care across the country was to expand services to local communities through franchising. “We wanted to share the continuum of care model across the nation to assist seniors with the complexities of the aging process by providing them with one compassionate, professional care company they can depend on.”

Considering a Senior Care Franchise?

When you join our group of dynamic business owners, as franchisees of A Place at Home, you’ll have strong support, thorough training and valuable business resources to help you succeed. Contact us to learn more.

CONTACT:

Dustin Distefano, CFE
Co-Founder and Head of Franchise Development

O: 888-502-6310
F: 402-281-0736
E: dustin.distefano@aplaceathome.com
W: aplaceathomefranchise.com

 

ABOUT A PLACE AT HOME

A Place at Home (a NorEast Franchise Group) offers a range of customized in-home care services, care coordination and assistance in identifying and transitioning to senior living alternatives. The company is dedicated to preserving the quality of life for seniors by giving them the support they need to stay as independent as possible for as long as possible. Those who would like to explore franchising should contact the owners to start a conversation. Visit aplaceathomefranchise.com or a aplaceathome.com for more information.

Metro Detroit Gains New A Place at Home Franchise

DETROIT, MI – JUNE 26, 2018

Earlier this month, local entrepreneurs Melissa Shevela and Michael Shevela were awarded the first A Place at Home Franchise in Michigan. The Shevelas have obtained exclusive rights to offer the unique APAH model to seniors in the southeast Michigan, metro Detroit region. Their office will be headquartered in Warren and will also serve the greater Macomb County.

Melissa Shevela will serve as the new franchise’s President. She spent 13 years as the owner-operator of a business in the automotive industry. She guided that business through an exponential growth period, increasing sales eightfold during her time there. She has been in the community for 47 years, and has held many volunteer leadership positions as well. She served as the Coordinator for a Salvation Army Soup Kitchen, for example, and remains active at St. Louis Church. She has a B.A. in Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relations from Central Michigan University.

Michael Shevela will serve as the new franchise’s Operations Manager. He has 30 years of experience leading professionals in the automotive industry. He spent 13 years working side-by-side with Melissa on their automotive business. He is known for being a consummate problem-solver who relentlessly follows industry standards. He is a lifelong resident of the southeastern Michigan community.

“After caring for my mother during her battle with cancer, and after caring for my father-in-law during his end-of-life stages,” says Ms. Shevela, “I came to understand the struggles inherent to finding good in-home care. I wished it could have been better for our loved ones. But now, we have an opportunity to make things better for other people’s loved ones. Seniors deserve respect, compassion, and high-quality care during their golden years. A Place at Home puts emphasis on high-quality care-giving and on ensuring seniors can thrive in a safe, happy environment.”

Mr. Shevela agrees, and notes, “A Place at Home stood out as being well-prepared to handle different levels of senior-care needs. We were impressed both by the quality of care they offer and by the company’s commitment to employee development. We align strongly with A Place at Home’s core values.”

A Place at Home follows four core values. Its founders, franchisees and employees all pledge to be “compassionate, accountable, respectful and ethical.” They call it the CARE model.

Mr. Shevela adds, “We promise to uphold the CARE core values for both our clients and employees, no exceptions.”
Company co-founders Jerod Evanich and Dustin Distefano hope to see the APAH “We are CARE” model offered coast-to-coast.

“We truly believe the best way to ensure seniors throughout the nation receive the best care is through franchising,” says Evanich. “Partnering with passionate-minded business professionals who align with our values and who are committed to sharing the Senior-Focused Care model will help complete our Mission ‘to be Passionate Professionals Providing the Compassionate Care Solutions You Need, Where and When You Need Us’.”

Evanich and Distefano launched APAH in 2012. They began franchising in 2017 after experiencing exponential growth.
Evanich and Distefano make it clear anyone hoping to start an APAH franchise should first examine themselves to ensure they can say they are already shining examples of the CARE philosophy.

“If we can see those qualities in a person we will gladly help them parlay their professional background and acumen into running a successful APAH business,” adds Distefano.

Fortunately for seniors in the Detroit metro area, the Shevelas have successfully risen to the challenge.