Home Care Service Reflects Changing Needs

MEDIA RELEASE
5th June 2008

Doubling Of Home Care Service Reflects Changing Societal Needs For Elderly

The doubling in growth of a home care franchise service for the elderly in six months reflects changing societal needs says New Zealand franchisor Neil Farmworth.

In just six months, Home Instead Senior Care has achieved its year-end target of six franchised offices across the country namely Hamilton, Tauranga and Auckland and more recently Kapiti, Palmerston North and Christchurch. Further growth is expected during the latter part of 2008 with a total of 25 new franchise offices, anticipated by 2009.

“We receive interest from about half a dozen people a day who are interested in finding out more about becoming a Home Instead franchisee,” Neil Farnworth says. “Being a franchisee is a credible investment option, both for private individuals and companies, and is well proven overseas. The parent company offers excellent training and support for the franchisees and the carers themselves. The franchisees also have access to the exclusive franchise centre website which provides a great opportunity to learn and interact with fellow franchise owners as well as share ideas and experiences.”

Home Instead Senior Care provides non-medical home care for senior citizens, from companionship and meal preparation to 24-hour incontinent care, transportation, shopping and light house keeping. The company was established in the USA 14 years ago and is now a network of over 800 independently owned and operated franchises spanning four continents and eight countries including Japan, Portugal, Australia, Ireland, the UK and more recently, New Zealand.

Farnworth attributes the growing demand for home-based care to our aging population and changing workforce.
“Historically elderly parents were cared for by a daughter or daughter-in-law but these days a great number of women are working and they don’t have the time or energy to care for someone else, above their children and husband, as much as they would like to.
“We are finding that more and more women in their 40s and 50s are contacting us asking for home help for a relative who wants to remain independent in their home but who is struggling with the basics like shopping, cooking and cleaning.”
According to Statistics New Zealand, the 65 plus age group is projected to make up over one-quarter of New Zealand’s population from the late 2030s, compared with 12 percent in 2005. The largest increases in the 65 plus age group will occur in the 2020s and 2030s when the large births recorded in the 1950s and 1960s move into this age group. Already kiwis aged 65 plus have more than doubled from 200,000 in the 1970s to over half a million in 2005.

New Zealand rest homes charges average $750 and upwards while Home Instead Senior Care’s fees vary from between $50 to $300 per week. The cost of buying a Home Instead franchise is $35,000 which covers a substantial start-up kit for a new office, one weeks training in Hamilton and ongoing franchise support. This business offers a rewarding and meaningful career helping people in need.

ENDS

© Scoop Media