Page 63 - Healthcare News Nov/Dec 2021

HomeCare
Continued from page 14
“As a result, we have no government contracts, and we have no debt,” she said. “We have no back-up plan, and we run on grit.”
It was with this grit and that aforementioned passion for working with seniors that Holloman started her business fromasmallofficeonMainStreetinSpringfieldin2015. After a number of years, as the business grew, she moved to new quarters on State Street. In October, HomeCare Hands took over a larger space that she knows is already too small for their future plans.
“We’re now looking for our own building,” she said. “We need the extra space because we continue to grow and we are hoping to open a CNA training school in 2022.”
How HomeCare Hands has grown so quickly and profoundly is an intriguing business story, one about a company adapting to meet merging needs and diversifying to find new ways to not only generate revenue, but serve seniors and area healthcare providers.
And in many ways, the company has the right services at the right time.
Indeed, demand for in-home senior services has seen huge growth simply because of demographics. U.S. Census figures show nearly 10,000 Americans turning 65 every day, a trend expected to continue until 2030.
On top of that growth, Holloman said more people are looking for home-care services since the pandemic. Mean- while, concern for personal safety has reduced the number of available healthcare workers, as many will no longer work in medical facilities or in people’s homes.
All this has made the pandemic a time of both opportu- nity and challenge.
At the height of the pandemic, clients and families were cancelling in-home services, and caregivers were as hard to find as many of the supplies needed to keep them safe. Holloman worried about her agency’s survival.
“When we didn’t have enough coverage, our whole
management team got into scrubs and went to see clients,” she said. “We also made our own hand sanitizer and other supplies when they were hard to get.”
As they worked through the many challenges of the pan- demic, HomeCare Hands gradually placed caregivers, as well as certified nursing assistants and home health aides, for their clients. Recruitment is an ongoing process because the need for staffing never stops.
“We have become the go-to agency for those who are not ab“letofindprofessionalstomeettheirneeds,”Thornton
We take time to get to know each caregiver who joins us. When people come here, we want them to stay and be part of the team.”
said, adding that the phone keeps ringing because of solid word-of-mouth referrals.
One key to the company’s success is its willingness to work with caregivers to help them succeed in their jobs with matters such as transportation.
Agencies commonly require in-home workers to have a dependable vehicle as a job requirement. That’s not an un- reasonable demand because clients live in many different areas, most of which are not on a bus line.
Nicole Grimes, chief operating officer for HomeCare Hands, heard about caregivers who were willing to work but had no means to get to people’s homes. This challenge led to the company creating what she called a transporta- tion division.
“When necessary, we will pick up our caregivers for their shift and bring them back home. If they are willing to work, we will make sure to support them,” she explained, adding that, while she will drive caregivers herself in a pinch, this service is offered only until the caregiver can get back on
their feet and afford their own car.
Meanwhile, in-home work often requires someone to
cover limited hours for only a few days a week. That can be difficult for caregivers seeking a full-time paycheck. Grimes works with caregivers to schedule multiple shifts for those who want more hours. It’s all part of helping people suc- ceed and become independent.
“Caregivers know they can come to us, even for personal matters such as finding an apartment or help with arrang- ingchildcare,”shesaid.
Making that extra effort is all part of the culture Holloman wants to build.
“We take time to get to know each caregiver who joins us,” she told HCN. “When people come here, we want them to stay and be part of the team.”
To help clients and caregivers feel safe, Thornton said vaccinations are a must.
“Anyone new who joins us must be vaccinated,” she noted. “At this point, none of our clients wants someone in their home unless they are vaccinated.”
Because the need for services can often occur out- side of business hours, Holloman and her team rotate
who is on call to provide 24/7 coverage.
“It could be a Saturday afternoon and someone calls us
because they just visited their mom or dad and realize they need services, but don’t know what to do,” she said. “We are there so they don’t have to wait until Monday to get answers to their questions.”
Bottom Line
On Jan. 1, HomeCare Hands will celebrate its seventh anniversary. Holloman reflected on the challenging, scary, and ultimately satisfying journey so far. “In 2015, I was ask- ing, ‘how am I going to do this?’ and now, as we approach 2022, I’m asking, ‘OK, what are we doing next?’”
Needless to say, she will answer that question with cre- ativity, enthusiasm, and, yes, a healthy amount of grit. v
HCN INDEX OF ADVERTISERS
A BETTER LIFE HOME CARE ........21
ARMBROOK VILLAGE .................11
BACON WILSON ........................... 7
BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME ........... ..............................BACK COVER
BAYSTATE HEALTH
FOUNDATION ........................22
BFAIR, BERKSHIRE FAMILY & INDIVIDUAL RESOURCES.......48
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NETWORK ..19
BORAWSKI INSURANCE ............... 7
CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTER OF HAMPSHIRECOUNTY............25
FALLON HEALTH .........................14 HCN EDITORIAL CALENDAR .......... 8 HCN REPRINTS...........................48 HCN RESOURCE GUIDE..........2, 23 HOLYOKE MEDICAL CENTER.......13 HOME CARE HANDS ..................10 HOME CITY DEVELOPMENT INC. 27 HOSPICE OF THE FISHER HOME...12 I FOUND LIGHT AGAINST
ALL ODDS ..............................29 JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT..............19 LINKTOLIBRARIES.....................31
LOUIS & CLARK PHARMACY ........ 4
MEYERS BROTHERS KALICKA, P.C. .. 5
MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION (MHA)....................................50
MIRAVISTA BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH CENTER.....................13
MONSON SAVINGS BANK..........16
NORTHAMPTON
SURVIVAL CENTER .................33
OASIS SENIOR ADVISORS ..........10 PATHLIGHT .................................35 PROSPERLIFECARE...................14
PUFFER’S SALON & DAY SPA.......49
RIVER VALLEY
COUNSELING CENTER..............5
SQUARE ONE .............................37
THOMAS COSENZI DRIVING FOR THE CURE TOURNAMENT.......39
TOMMYCAR AUTO GROUP .........46 UNITED WAY PIONEER VALLEY ...41 YMCA OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD .43 YWCA.........................................45
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021 WWW.HEALTHCARENEWS.COM 63