Welcome to another episode of Focus on Seniors presented by Expert Home Care. Your host, David Goodman welcomes Kamran Nasser to today’s episode. Kamran is the founder and president of AidQuest, a company that has developed the technology that can dramatically increase client and caregiver engagement and connection.

Key Takeaways:

[:53] Kamran shares a brief introduction about himself.

[5:01] A technology that provides a higher engagement level.

[7:00] What kind of results is Kamran getting from customers? What type of customer uses Aquest technology?

[10:12] What are the methods that agencies should have in terms of engagement?

[13:20] How does the platform that Kamran developed help to find a caregiver?

[17:14] Why certain agencies are reducing their marketing efforts?

[17:58] Kamran explains why an agency should always have a solid pipeline of customers coming in.

[19:57] Running a home care agency is a continuous hiring process.

[20:50] What distinguishes the technology that Kamran developed?

[23:40] Aquest provides a constant availability of chat personnel to start a conversation.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Expert Home Care

Email Kamran at [email protected] or call (650) 477-8125

AidQuest

In this episode, David Goodman is joined by Stephen Tweed, who is the President and CEO of Leading Homecare, he is an author, speaker, and expert in the home care space and overall, a good guy.

Stephen shares how he got involved in the industry of home care as well as his own experience with raising a child that is physically disabled and uses the services of home care on a daily basis.

Stephen assesses the question of how technology is going to change the home care industry and the innovations that would allow people to provide more effective services while running businesses more efficiently. Home care will always be a person to person kind of business, no technology can really disrupt the industry.

Ten thousand baby boomers a day are turning 65 and the demand for home care is only going to skyrocket through this next generation; unfortunately, caregivers are not rising in number, which brings a challenge to the home care industry. Stephen discusses the different possible approaches to solve this shortage of professional caregivers in the near future.

Stephen details what clients value in a home care company:

• Dependability
• Reliability
• Continuity of care

Stephen dives deep in the importance of continuing research to understand the trends in the home care industry in order for businesses to grow and be more effective.

Mentioned in this episode:

Leading Homecare

Conquering The Crisis: Proven Solutions for Caregiver Recruiting and Retention, Stephen Tweed

The dream of all entrepreneurs is to start a business, grow it beyond their own expectations, and then sell it for a tidy profit. David Goodman, president and founder of Careshyft, one of the nation’s leading Home Care providers, welcomes Kamran Nasser to this episode, who openly shares how he started and sold a Home Care Agency successfully. 

Kamran started his own Home Care business in 2013, three years later Inc Magazine named Nuevacare one of the five fastest-growing private companies in America. Later, San Francisco Business Times and Silicon Valley Business Journal also named it one of the top 100 fastest-growing companies in those areas.

Kamran shares how he started in the Home Care Business with barely any background in the field, but looking for an industry that had growth potential. He began to learn the essentials about how to start a Home Care business by hiring Companion Connection senior care. 

In the beginning, Kamran didn’t know he will end up selling the company, neither that the business will become so successful. He had a plan to grow the company as fast as possible while providing the best service to seniors, those two goals were the ones that brought opportunities, customers, and ultimately attracted potential buyers.

Kamran dives deep into how he dealt with a very competitive market, even when he was not prepared for it.  Differentiation was the key feature that helped the company stand up among the other Home Care agencies in the area.  

One of the biggest challenges for all Home Care businesses is to find onboarding caregivers, but Kamran realized that when the right systems and processes for recruiting and hiring are in place, the caregivers stay and bring more caregivers to the agency.

Kamran shares how his company got to the top lists of fastest-growing companies, he gives the tools to maximize exit strategies and points out the pitfalls to be aware of while selling a Home Care agency.

Mentioned in this episode:

Careshyft 

Companion Connection Senior Care

David Goodman and Jeffrey Hatten are joined today by Frank Esposito, who has been in the Home Care business for over 30 years. The topic of today’s episode is the stress of being a long-distance caregiver, according to a study conducted by the National Alliance for Caregiving in collaboration with AARP, 15% of the estimated 34 million Americans who provide care to older family members can be considered long-distance caregivers, living one hour or more away from their relatives. 

There are many concerns that long-distance caregivers have, and Home Care agencies are the ones offering solutions to make sure your loved ones are safe. Some families also opt for care management companies which usually can take care of doctors’ appointments (from scheduling an appointment to actually taking the senior to it), medication management, bill paying, groceries, and even home repairments when needed.

The situation with seniors can change rapidly, in only months they can lose their ability to take care of themselves and their homes, it is important to be attentive to the warning signs such as unpaid bills, household conditions, and the freshness of food in their kitchens.

What does Home Care provide for families?

• The ability to spend quality time with loved ones since daily chores are taken care of. 
• Accompanying seniors to their medical appointments and advocate on their behalf.
• Safety checklist to make the house appropriate and safe for the senior.

Resources for Seniors who do not have a community that can assist them or the financial ability to afford home care:

• Most counties have an Office On Aging which provides several options in programs for seniors.
• Veterans benefit (Aid and Attendance Program) can cover over $30,000 per year.
• Consider a Nursing Home.
• Medicaid services-
• Meals On Wheels provide more than just food by keeping an eye on our loved ones and even to their pets.
• A reverse mortgage or life insurance can ease access to capital in order to get the needed care.

Mentioned in this episode:

Frank Esposito CSA on Linkedin

Expert Home Care

VA Aid and Attendance Program and Other Pensions for Aging Veterans

Office on Aging

Meals On Wheels

David Goodman and Jeffrey Hatten are joined by Frank Esposito to this episode, he is a renowned senior expert who has been working in the home care space for over 30 years.

In this episode the complexity of the medication management for seniors is addressed, having under consideration that 85% of people over the age of 80 are trying to manage more than one chronic illness at the time.

There is a certain complexity in how medications are supplied and the compliance of the patient is crucial. We need to educate our seniors and their families that they just can’t skip a dose. David, Jeffrey, and Frank discuss the vital importance of a caregiver next to a senior to really prevent consequences coming from the noncompliance with medications, they also dive deep into the resources that are offered to facilitate this process. 

These are some actionable tips to help a senior with medication management:

• Set up a pill tray system.
• Set up a phone reminder.
• Download an app to compare medication prices, as it is GoodRx
• Check Online Pharmacies
• Use an electronic dispenser when the patient is compliant.

Mentioned in this episode:

GoodRx

Frank Esposito CSA on Linkedin

Expert Home Care

David Goodman and Jeffrey Hatten welcome Frank Esposito to this episode, he is a nationally known senior care expert, who has been in this business for over 30 years.

Today’s episode is dedicated to a difficult topic which is the time when we need to decide whether we should take the car keys away from an elderly loved one; sometimes motivated to a danger that has already happened or any other cases trying to prevent an accident that can occur.

Our parents were the ones giving us the keys when we were 16 years old and the time comes when it is our turn to face them with the reality that they are no longer suited to keep on driving, often they won´t agree with us, and that is why David, Jeffrey, and Frank are diving deep into the subject to provide the necessary information for you to prepare yourself and act responsibly and creatively with your loved one. 

Sensory debilitation and loss of mental sharpness, most of the times, are the reasons why it becomes a necessity for a senior to stop driving, Frank shares how introducing Uber to his own father at the right time allowed him to keep his freedom to a certain extent; but technology can turn into a hassle for seniors most of the times, they need us to take the time to really explain how it functions.

Here are some practical tips you can put into action when needed

WHAT TO DO ABOUT TAKING THE CAR KEYS FROM MOM OR DAD

• Be prepared to have multiple conversations.  Don’t look upon it as a one-shot deal.
• Start with appropriate conversation openers.  Rather than tell a parent that “you need to stop driving,” it is more effective to begin by talking about the importance of safety and health, other options that may be available to help them get around, the dangers of certain road situations, etc.
• Use mishaps or near misses, self-regulation, or health changes as a lead-in.  For example, praising a senior for choosing to limit her driving to day time or discussing how the taking of a new medication may make them sleepier or less alert should be considered.
• Observe the senior at the wheel.  A conversation has far more meaning when the senior’s driving is experienced first hand. Studies have shown that people are more willing to listen to those who have driven with them.
• Investigate the alternatives to driving.  Is there a bus or train line?  Are there friends or relatives who can provide them with a ride?  Can the children increase their visits?
• Discuss your concerns with a doctor.   A recommendation to stop driving that comes from the senior’s doctor usually carries more weight than when heard from the adult children.  
• If there is initial resistance, suggest that the older adult be tested for an assessment of their driving skills.   
• Be supportive.  Adult children need to understand that this is more than just the loss of their car, but a clear blow to their freedom and independence.  
• What if all these steps fail to get the desired response?  Experts say that if a high-risk driver refuses to stop driving, the family may have no choice but to sell or disable the car or file down the keys.

Mentioned in this episode:

Frank Esposito CSA on Linkedin

Expert Home Care

Senior care experts: David Goodman and Jeffrey Hatten, welcome you to the first episode of Focus on Seniors Podcast, where along with their guests, they will deliver important information and a dose of inspiration on matters related to seniors and their families.

Jeffrey Hatten is joined by Angelo Spinola, he is an attorney and shareholder with the International Law Firm Littler Mendelson, the largest labor and employment law firm in the world, that has one of the largest practices in the home care industry as well. Angelo is a former caregiver who transitioned into the law career which gave him a unique perspective on this matter. 

During this thoughtful conversation you will hear about:

• The challenges that small independent providers face to comply with regulations and requirements.
• Why there are no unions in the caregiver’s industry?
• The fragmentation of the home care industry.
• How Home Care Agencies can avoid Wage and Hour Class Action Lawsuits
• Home Care tool kit: a method to help companies to reclassify employees and manage a non-exempt workforce.
• How the Home Care industry can approach the caregiver crisis. 

Mentioned in this Episode

Angelo Spinola

Littler Home Care Toolkit

Email Angelo Spinola at [email protected] or call (404) 760-3921