If you’ve been researching the best franchises to own, you already know that in-home senior care franchises are booming right now. Your next step is choosing the right one. With so many options to choose from, it can be hard to know what differentiators to look for—who will set you up for maximum success in the industry? One aspect that not enough new senior care entrepreneurs are considering is dementia care training—but it’s something you shouldn’t overlook.
More than 10,000 Americans turn 65 every day, and one in ten of them have or will develop dementia, according to Columbia University. Another 22% have mild cognitive impairment. These clients all have unique needs that require caregivers who are equipped with specific strategies and training for dementia care. The best senior care franchise will be the one that provides this training, for the benefit of clients, caregivers, and the company as a whole.
Right now in America, over 6 million people are living with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia. As the disease progresses, they will encounter significant changes in their memory, behavior, and ability to handle daily life. Already, the vast majority of people with dementia are living and receiving care at home, but their families often experience burnout. When they do seek outside help, they often have difficulty finding appropriately trained caregivers.
The strain is already apparent. Families of people with dementia feel it as they struggle to take care of their loved one’s basic needs, not to mention their happiness and well-being. Caregivers feel it when they’re asked to enter a person’s home and they aren’t properly equipped to help them. And home care agencies feel it as their caregivers seek other employment, frustrated by a lack of dementia-specific support, training, and tools.
But forward-thinking companies like ComForCare are being proactive rather than reactive, putting solutions in place today that address these growing needs.
The Alzheimer’s Association predicts that the number of people with Alzheimer’s disease will double to 12.7 million by 2050—and with it the need for dementia-capable home care. We’ve known for several years now that people living with dementia at home experience greater quality of life and social connectedness than those living in care facilities. But in order to help more people live better lives at home, their families will need more positive, effective support.
With this inevitable growth in demand, more and more people with entrepreneurial aspirations are turning to senior care. But success in this market will take more than showing up. It will mean aligning yourself—and more importantly, your caregivers—with proven strategies for rising to the unique challenges of the dementia care landscape.
Choosing a franchisor who can give you access to acclaimed, accredited, and science-backed dementia care training is key. And the only home care agency currently capable of providing that level of first-class training is ComForCare.
Home care for clients with dementia takes more specific knowledge and skills than many people realize. Beyond the duties of assisting them with their daily activities like eating and bathing, optimizing their home for safety, and educating families, caregivers must also navigate the challenging behavioral symptoms of dementia—and often face resistance to the help they’re trying to give.
ComForCare’s DementiaWise® training program teaches caregivers highly researched, evidence-based strategies for dementia care. It not only allows them to assist with a person’s basic needs but opens space for meaningful interactions, improved well-being, and overall better quality of life.
We consulted with Partnerships for Health to completely transform dementia care training for our teams. DementiaWise® engages trainees with collaborative problem-solving, reasoning, and reflection, building skills that help them optimize and provide:
Kayliegh Morris
ComForCare
Franchising Advisor