Right At Home Responds To Growing Senior Population, Expands Franchise Opportunity

In-Home Supportive Care Agency Offers Affordable Senior Care Alternative

OMAHA, NE (Tuesday, August 08, 2006) - With the number of Americans over the age of 65 expected to skyrocket to 70 million over the next two decades and the resulting demand for senior home care services on the rise, business concepts addressing the needs of the aging population are fast becoming a dominating force in franchising.



One major player in this growing franchise segment, Right at Home, is filling a unique niche with in-home supportive care and assistance that helps seniors continue to live independently. Founded by former hospital administrator Allen Hager in 1995, Right at Home began offering franchises in 2000. Today, it has more than 90 offices operating in the United States, with 20 additional offices expected to open by the end of 2006, and a total of 300 locations projected within the next five years.



Keeping pace with trends, franchise concepts like Right at Home keep a watchful eye on aging Baby Boomers. As that generation reaches 60, an increasing number of Boomers are faced with the challenges of caring for their aging parents, while trying to balance the responsibilities of their own busy lives. In fact, research indicates that 65 percent of family members who worked while caring for an aging parent experienced conflict with their jobs, including tardiness, lost hours or income, or sacrificing of vacation time. Right at Home addresses that challenge by creating an option for families whose aging parent may need some extra help around the house, but is independent enough to live on his/her own.

"Studies overwhelmingly show that seniors prefer the comfort, safety, and security of their own home," said Hager. "But with today's two-income families and busy lifestyles, time for managing your loved ones ongoing senior care isn't always an option. Individuals who are part of the "sandwich generation" are juggling the responsibilities of caring for both their children and their parents. Right at Home provides peace of mind to both our clients and their families by offering one of the most comprehensive arrays of companion, homemaker, and personal care services in the industry."

Right at Home offers a variety of highly personalized and flexible home care services at reasonable rates for as little as a few hours per week to as much as 24-hours a day. Services offered include light housework, meal preparation, medication reminders, shopping and errands, laundry, local transportation, companionship, bathing, and more. Most offices also offer personal care services, such as assistance with bathing, eating, oral hygiene, toileting, and walking.



A "Home" Grown Concept

Hager knows first hand of the dramatic need for quality home care providers. Working as a hospital administrator in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, Hager saw the daily anguish that families faced in finding someone to provide long-term, at-home supportive care for their parents or other loved ones.

In order to develop a true understanding of how best to deliver these at-home supportive care services, and to better understand the experience from the care recipient's perspective, Hager did something of which most executives would never dare. He completed a certification course, rolled up his sleeves, and took a $7.00 per hour job working as a certified nursing assistant caregiver for nursing homes and senior home healthcare agencies. His reasoning was quite simple – to understand how to develop a system that provides great home care services, he needed to experience it from the perspective of the frontline field staff that provide the care and interact directly with the clients who are receiving the care.

Having learned invaluable lessons from this experience, Hager then took it upon himself to master the intricacies of running a senior home care business. In 1995, he opened the doors to the flagship office of Right at Home. Very soon, he realized that this service could benefit seniors and disabled individuals across the nation.

Instead of hiring management staff to run the business while he sold franchises, Hager spent the next five years living and breathing what every Right at Home franchise owner experiences – the daily management of the agency. From hiring caregivers, to making cold calls and managing receivables, he grew his agency into one of the largest senior home care agencies in the area. With the experience of a hospital administrator, caregiver, and home care agency owner, Hager sold his first franchise in 2000.

The "Right" Choice

The Right at Home difference is in its caregivers. According to Hager, Right at Home caregivers love what they do and it shows through in the quality of care clients receive. In fact, many of the company's caregivers say that working for Right at Home is like volunteering with a paycheck.



Before hiring a caregiver, Right at Home conducts reference checks and background clearance, driving records, competency testing, abuse registry clearance, sex offender registry clearance, and personal interviews. Caregivers that are chosen by Right at Home participate in ongoing, specialized training to educate them on the high standards of care expected by the company. This includes learning how to work with elderly clients that have common health issues such Alzheimer's, hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. All caregivers are also fully bonded and insured.

"When families are put in this situation, they often open the phone book and pick the first and least expensive caregiver listed," Hager added. "However, what they don't realize is that this may make their loved ones vulnerable to theft, abuse, and other negligent situations. When families choose a national service such as Right at Home, the fees already include employer taxes, workers compensation, background checks, and much more. That's where our clients see the critical advantage in hiring Right at Home over an independent. We ensure peace-of-mind."

In addition, Right at Home offers medical staffing services, another growing segment in the senior care market. The company can provide skilled nurses to temporarily fill in when help is needed at hospitals, nursing homes, doctors' offices, clinics, and urgent care centers.



Franchise Opportunity to Write "Home" About

Right at Home offers a tremendous franchise opportunity ideal for nurturing and compassionate individuals with a positive attitude and an entrepreneurial spirit. No previous medical or healthcare experience is required.



The cost to open a Right at Home franchise ranges from $38,200 to $69,450, which includes an initial franchisee fee of $24,800. Ongoing royalty fees amount to five percent of gross sales. A typical franchise territory encompasses 300,000 to 500,000 individuals (approximately 35,000 to 40,000 seniors).



As a benefit of joining Right at Home, franchisees will receive initial and ongoing support including an expansive two week training program at the company's headquarters, access to the company's propriety continuing education program Right at Home University, professionally designed marketing and advertising materials, a robust Intranet support site, informational newsletters, and much more.



Franchisees will also have the advantage of Right at Home's cutting-edge technology. Some examples include electronic time and attendance solutions to track field staff, fall detection devices for frail clients, medication dispensing machines, and online tutorials that help owners drive traffic to their individual Right at Home Web sites.



In addition, Right at Home is also the only home care company to be recognized as a member of the AARP National Employer Team, a program designed to help Americans aged 50 and over maintain a presence in the workforce.



"The core of this business is understanding and satisfying the needs of our clients," said Hager. "At the end of the day, our franchisees are successful business owners who also feel good about what they do. That's what most people strive for in their jobs, and we offer it through a franchise where you can feel satisfied with your work and be your own boss. It's the best of both worlds."



About Right at Home

Right at Home was founded by Allen Hager in 1995 and began franchising in 2000. The concept offers in-home supportive care and assistance to seniors and other adults to help them continue to live independently. Right at Home has more than 90 offices operating in the United States. Company plans call for 20 additional offices by the end of 2006, with total of 300 within the next five years. For more information, call (877) 697-7537 or visit www.rightathome.net.

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