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Baby boomers join those needing help to stay in their homes.
By Beth Anspatch, contributing writer
With the baby boomers aging, more and more seniors find themselves in need of help with day-to-day tasks. Services such as light housekeeping, medication reminders, personal care, and meal preparation are often needed in order to help elderly individuals remain in their own homes.
In response to this need, personal care businesses like Caring Senior Service, based in Kettering, have been thriving.
What the business does: According to local franchise owner, Jim Ralph, Caring Senior Service, which opened in 2009, is highly invested in the well-being of aging Dayton residents.
Besides offering non-medical services ranging from light housekeeping to errand services to simple companionship, Ralph says his company is also partnering with the Access Center for Independent Living (ACIL) in Dayton, a nonprofit organization that provides support and medical equipment for disabled individuals. "Our employees also take time from their busy schedules to deliver products to individuals in need through ACIL," Ralph said. "We connect families of former clients with the ACIL so they can donate their recently deceased loved one's medical equipment and supplies.
How the business started: Ralph said he was looking for a business when he found Caring Senior Service while doing research online. "I had an uncle who had a stroke, and I was providing a lot of personal assistance for him like grocery shopping and running errands," Ralph said. "I found out there are a lot of people out there who would like to be able to stay at home and just need some help to be able to do it... This was a way to allow seniors to maintain independent lifestyles."
Ralph started out with just himself and now has grown to "four or five dozen employees." All are state tested or certified nurses. He relies on word of mouth and partnerships with local events to help grow his business.
"99% of the people would like to stay home and with the aging baby boomers living longer, there is a tremendous call for folks who would like to have personal services in their homes rather than moving to community living or a nursing home," Ralph said.