HOME Instead East Northants office is based on Park Farm South in Wellingborough and is now nearly nine years into its journey to ‘change the face of ageing’ with Home Instead, and the business is going to be celebrating its 25th anniversary next year in the USA, where it was founded in the kitchen of an elderly relative’s house by Paul and Lori Hogan in Omaha, Nebraska.
In the UK there are some 200 franchised offices of Home Instead throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. All franchised offices are individually owned and operated, and attract their own clients and employ their own CAREGivers. Primarily focused on care for the elderly, services are also provided for younger adults who may have long-term disabilities and care requirements. Home Instead is also pleased to offer dementia and end-of-life care as part of its standard services.
Home Instead is a premium brand, a regulated and bespoke service, with continuity of staff and regular times for call visits and intends to reinforce the brand promise in 2019, continuing to enable our clients to live independently and with dignity, providing devoted support to families. Short term assignments are also offered to cover periods of convalescence following injury or surgery, and for families whilst they are away on holidays.
Home Instead has a great opportunity to continue to grow the business – it currently provides about 13,000 hours of care per month and employs 160 CAREGivers and support staff. Services are in increasing demand due to an extensive marketing programme in the community. Recommendations come in from a variety of sources – people who have used the services, care professionals such as hospitals, doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists etc.
In 2018 Home Instead launched several community cafe projects in conjunction with Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Castello Lounge and Marks & Spencer and works with colleagues in those places on a monthly basis to provide a place for the elderly to meet others, enjoy some activities, such as arts and crafts. These are provided free of charge and details of the times and venues can be found on the website at www.homeinstead.co.uk/eastnorthants. Home Instead can also provide information for families or an awareness of the care available to loved ones at any of the cafes and intends to expand on its community dementia training in businesses, giving employees the tools to help people they meet who may have dementia.
It is no secret that our growing population is ageing and the number of people over the age of 65 is now more than those under the age of 18. The average life expectancy has increased, thankfully, by 25 years since the end of World War 2. Many older people have made little or no provision for care that may be required in later life and the state system is under severe pressure. Dementia is a hugely growing problem for many families and Home Instead is gearing up to help in this situation with CAREGivers trained to City & Guilds standards and working closely with affected families, providing Dementia Champions to support those affected, and membership of Northamptonshire Dementia Action Alliance.
A huge programme of recruitment will be launched in 2019 which is essential if the business is to grow. Anyone over the age of 18 can provide the services, if they can satisfy the rigorous induction and initial vetting process. The training is award winning and very thorough, with much in the field support being proved to dedicated employees. Some staff only work a few hours a week but for many it is a full time vocation and there is great attachment and devotion to the clients they visit.
Non-medical services include companionship, monitoring using technology, personal care, transport and assistance with shopping trips, medical appointments and social engagements, meal preparation, and light cleaning in the home. Most of the calls are of a minimum one hour duration, but CAREgivers can attend for a shorter period for medication prompting.
Home Instead is striving to grow the business by at least 15 per cent in 2019 but to do this needs to recruit a net 25 new CAREGivers. New recruits do not need to be experienced as thorough training is provided. Retention rates are good for the industry and several staff have now been employed for more than five years. If anyone happens to know one the current CAREgivers and is introduced by them, they may qualify for a handsome reward so make sure that you let them know if you are interested.
Home Instead East Northants’ territory of operation also includes villages in North Bedfordshire, so marketing efforts will be stepped up in that region.
For further information call 01933 678775.