Services you would pay for to help your parents?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your business sounds useless, frankly.

You must not have elderly parents to care for. It's gold.

[Anonymous]

There are services that do this, but more are needed. You need to find out about malpractice insurance. Elderly can be paranoid and their loved ones can make accusations too. Also, will you contract out most services or have your own employees? You need to consult with a lawyer about how liability works. For example, what if someone you hire or contract to takes jewelry from the elder or tells a sob story to get a check? What if the elder sustains an injury while be helped?

You also need a training program for dealing with challenging behaviors. For one parent I was willing to do a lot because he was pleasant. It's the mean and hostile parent where I outsource everything and am willing to spend top dollar. While she behaves better for outsiders on good days, the dark side comes out and we make sure anyone who works with her is trained to de-escalate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your business sounds useless, frankly.

The business as OP described is kind of useless…but others have mentioned many services that OP should seriously consider pivoting into.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello: I am starting a small business: a personal assistant sort of thing and wondering if there are certain tasks that you would pay for someone to do to help your parents who still live independently: pantry organization, pantry/fridge stocking on a weekly/bimonthly/monthly basis, ingredient prep (wash/cut produce, prepare rice/pasta/proteins for the week, schedule doctor appts/coordinate transportation, update shared calendars, etc. Any input would be greatly appreciated! Even better if you could tell me what you'd pay - and whether something like: paying per task or a monthly subscription might be preferred? Thanks!

Just some practical things to think of: Washing produce before you plan to use or cutting produce before you plan to use it, it can lead to dangerous bacteria. You are supposed to wash/cut it right before using for safety. Elderly are even more likely to get sick.

One thing my husband and I are finding a lot is doctor's appointments randomly get cancelled and rescheduled without your input and you have to catch that call/notice on the portal.I don't recall this happening at all say 5 years ago. I think it's because doctors are so overstretched. So, it's not just scheduling, but tracking, confirming, catching these changes. If you miss the change, there is a charge for the missed appointment.Then the person driving/transporting the elder needs proper insurance coverage. An aide going with the elder to appointment needs consent to hear sensitive medical info if the aide will be in the room for appointment.

If you prepare rice/pasta/proteins for the week I would put them in individual meal containers with expiration and reminders about how to store it and all ingredients listed. Also, elders can get forgetful about storage. Leaving a rice dish out too long or even potatoes can cause a deadly bacteria to grow. There is liability that comes with food prep if the person gets food poisoning.

You also need some sort of standard for clients. Some families are delusional about whether a parent is able to age in place with a low level of services. You need to understand the person's level of need. You don't want to show up to a situation where the elder needs 24-7 care, doesn't have it, and no longer understands food safety. Then, things go wrong and they blame you and you have no proof of the elder's level of functioning.

If you do create a service, I would suggesting starting out below the going rate. People pay top dollar for services with established reputations. As you get more referrals and satisfied customers then you can charge the going rate.

[Anonymous]

The service we use for my parents has a 12 hour minimum—a service with a lower weekly minimum would have been helpful.
Our service is supposed to get them lunch, be in the house doing stuff while they shower (so if they fall in the shower there is someone there to help or call for help), put laundry in or take it out or whatever (although my mom hates this), and do some light sweeping/swiffering, etc. I would like them to unload dishwasher too as the teaching is a lot for my mom. Driving to hair appointment or dry cleaner, or to nail salon (they can’t cut their own toenails anymore) would be helpful as well. If they were single. I’d add stuff like putting lotion on their back — their skin gets so dry!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The service we use for my parents has a 12 hour minimum—a service with a lower weekly minimum would have been helpful.
Our service is supposed to get them lunch, be in the house doing stuff while they shower (so if they fall in the shower there is someone there to help or call for help), put laundry in or take it out or whatever (although my mom hates this), and do some light sweeping/swiffering, etc. I would like them to unload dishwasher too as the teaching is a lot for my mom. Driving to hair appointment or dry cleaner, or to nail salon (they can’t cut their own toenails anymore) would be helpful as well. If they were single. I’d add stuff like putting lotion on their back — their skin gets so dry!

LOL. You want them to do more but work less than 12 hours a week. Delusional.

[Anonymous]

Meals are huge. Someone to help them plan and prepare lunch and dinner is great. My FIL has given himself food poisoning 3 times this year due to struggles with cooking and eating expired leftovers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your business sounds useless, frankly.

I don't think is sounds useless at all. We are starting to look into the availability of this type of service for my mother that lives independently out of state.

Medication organization, refills, tracking is something that we will need soon. It isn't just prescriptions but also otc meds.

Driving to appointments and activities like daily mass, physical therapy shoe shopping. It isn't just driving there. It is making sure mom gets safely inside.

Meal prep. When I go visit I make up freezer meals. Sometimes mom will cook from scratch sometimes she is so exhausted by dinner that warming up a meal is all she can manage.

Random times: assisting with calling companies like insurance, utilities, cable. These phone calls usually include a lot of waiting and navigating automated systems that are confusing to elderly with hearing issues.

Assisting with changing accounts after the death of a spouse. Getting my dad's name off of all of the utility accounts took hours.

Mailing packages

Same. I’m looking for someone in Tennessee to do this for my mom as we speak. Need someone to clean the frig twice a month. I would love for someone to to take her to mass on Saturdays. Right now she is having weird issues with her cell phone. 2 weeks ago I literally had to fly to West Tennessee to take her phone to ATT because she didn’t trust any of the in home care givers with her phone. (She’s 84).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your business sounds useless, frankly.

I don't think is sounds useless at all. We are starting to look into the availability of this type of service for my mother that lives independently out of state.

Medication organization, refills, tracking is something that we will need soon. It isn't just prescriptions but also otc meds.

Driving to appointments and activities like daily mass, physical therapy shoe shopping. It isn't just driving there. It is making sure mom gets safely inside.

Meal prep. When I go visit I make up freezer meals. Sometimes mom will cook from scratch sometimes she is so exhausted by dinner that warming up a meal is all she can manage.

Random times: assisting with calling companies like insurance, utilities, cable. These phone calls usually include a lot of waiting and navigating automated systems that are confusing to elderly with hearing issues.

Assisting with changing accounts after the death of a spouse. Getting my dad's name off of all of the utility accounts took hours.

Mailing packages

Same. I’m looking for someone in Tennessee to do this for my mom as we speak. Need someone to clean the frig twice a month. I would love for someone to to take her to mass on Saturdays. Right now she is having weird issues with her cell phone. 2 weeks ago I literally had to fly to West Tennessee to take her phone to ATT because she didn’t trust any of the in home care givers with her phone. (She’s 84).

Can you contact her parish with your church request? Ours will arrange rides with parishioners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your business sounds useless, frankly.

-1

Aww, PP…

Never ever discourage someone from going after their dreams! 👍🏽

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your business sounds useless, frankly.

-1

Aww, PP…

Never ever discourage someone from going after their dreams! 👍🏽

I'm not the meanie, but I'm concerned that OP may not have thought through worst-case scenarios, or even possible bumps: what if health or weather keeps you from showing up as scheduled? How will you know what to do when something beyond your services is needed? How will you know what's beyond you? How do you prevent mission creep? What kind of insurance will you have?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your business sounds useless, frankly.

-1

Aww, PP…

Never ever discourage someone from going after their dreams! 👍🏽

I'm not the meanie, but I'm concerned that OP may not have thought through worst-case scenarios, or even possible bumps: what if health or weather keeps you from showing up as scheduled? How will you know what to do when something beyond your services is needed? How will you know what's beyond you? How do you prevent mission creep? What kind of insurance will you have?

This. There used to be lawyers who made a small fortune suing ALs, nursing homes, etc. I suspect some will find a new fortune suing people creating these age in place businesses who are doing it through trial and error and posting on message boards for ideas. The same family members who need space from difficult elders, will run to sue if that elder falls while under your care or falls while waiting for the care who show up late. Or...what if you found a contractor to shovel, the person didn't do a good job, it freezes over and the elder falls outside? Sadly people aren't so folksy when it comes to eldercare or anything these days and they are quick to get litigious. You need a well thought out plan based on good research and meetings with a lawyer.

[Anonymous]

Someone to help downsize - sell China, crystal etc. I’ve got no idea where to start.

[Anonymous]

Change the sheets on the bed, empty the urinal, get snacks, coordinate doctors appointments, arrange for take out or meal prep, do a load of laundry, deep clean the carpets in high traffic areas, run a vacuum, buy razor blades and toothbrushes, make a list, get the car to the shop for repairs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone to help downsize - sell China, crystal etc. I’ve got no idea where to start.

This! There are companies that do this, but there is more need and it doesn't carry as much liability I would think. However, you probably need some psychological training to deal with the horder mentality. Also-it's not "sell China" but "donate China." Nobody wants to buy this stuff.