Why Start a Non-medical Home Care Business
If you enjoy helping people live happier, healthier lives — and want to make a living doing such work — starting a non-medical homecare business could be a rewarding career path for you. Many elderly people today seek in-home care to help them get from place to place, take care of errands, and handle other personal needs. And as the number of elderly Americans grows, the demand for home care is also going up.
Non-medical home healthcare businesses provide care and support for the elderly or disabled in a non-medical capacity. For those interested in starting a home healthcare business, here are four reasons to consider going the non-medical route.
Reason 1: A variety of services to choose from
Not all non-medical home care businesses are alike. In fact, these businesses vary significantly, with some focusing just on transportation services while others offer in-home care. Because there are so many different types of care services, you can start a business that focuses on those areas that best fit your skills and interests.
Some common types of non-medical homecare services include:
- In-home care. Many elderly and disabled people need help with day-to-day tasks such as going to doctor’s appointments, buying groceries, maintaining personal hygiene, and more. Care providers can assist seniors for whom such tasks have become difficult or unmanageable.
- Around-the-clock care. Some individuals need care 24-hours a day in order to have their needs met and to prevent unnecessary accidents. A home care business that provides 24-hour service usually employs care providers who work different shifts around the clock.
- Equipment and facilities services. Many homes today are outfitted with wheelchair ramps, handicapped-accessible showers, and other equipment to accommodate elderly or disabled people. You could choose to focus your non-medical home care business on obtaining, providing, and installing these tools.
- Transportation services. These services assist people who have difficulty getting from place to place on their own due to age or disability. Starting a transportation-based home care business may require you to have a specialized, larger vehicle suited for transporting people who use wheelchairs or other mobility tools.
- Technical services. Seniors sometimes need assistance adapting to new technology tools and services. A care provider can guide people to help them adapt to modern technology.
Your non-medical homecare business could provide just one or a number of services. Depending on your goals, you can choose to specialize or diversify your business.
Reason 2: Opportunities for income and growth
The U.S. population is growing older. According to Population Reference Bureau, 16 percent of Americans were over the age of 65 in 2019. That figure is expected to go up to 23% percent by 2060. This means the number of elderly people who need home care will likely rise significantly in coming years.
The income you can expect for your home health business will vary on many factors. The areas you plan to serve, the services you offer, and the amount of experience you have will all affect your potential earnings. In addition, your own business savvy in successfully marketing your services to potential clients will play a big role in determining your business income. The national average salary for non-medical home healthcare is $49,396, according to Payscale.
Reason 3: Smaller initial investment
Compared to most businesses, non-skilled home health businesses are inexpensive to start. Unless your focus requires specialized equipment, you won’t need to make expensive investments just to get your business going.
A non-medical homecare business is also one you can start on your own, without hiring additional employees. In addition, compared to medical providers, non-skilled home health providers typically don’t need intensive specialized education and training. This too can help you get started quickly and easily.
Depending on your state, you may need to get licensed and certified in order to start your business. In that case, those licensing and certification fees will likely be your biggest starting cost.
Reason 4: Chance to serve the people in your community
Running a non-medical home healthcare business can be emotionally enriching. After all, the services you provide to your individuals can make a big difference in improving the quality of their lives.
Non-skilled home health providers often serve as the right-hand person for individuals who need support. From serving as a companion to forestalling preventable emergencies, these providers create an important support system for people who need it and often find the work they do gives them purpose and fulfillment.
If you decide to start a non-medical home healthcare business, you’ll want to make sure to retain insurance. NOW insurance offers simple, fast, and affordable professional and liability insurance trusted by many home health agencies and professionals.
Ready to get started? Check out our step-by-step guide to starting a home health business, whether it be medical or non-medical.
Learn more about the Home Health Care Insurance we offer to find out why this service is critical to your practice. Then, get an immediate quote from our online app to get started.