Setting the standard for Canadian home healthcare franchises

Dec. 7, 2010 - PRLog -- Ottawa, Ontario - As hospitals continue to restructure and as long-term care facilities’ lists grow longer and longer, healthcare services for seniors in Canada have transitioned to the home environment.  Since 1994, Retire-At-Home Services, a Canadian-based company, has helped seniors deal with health-related issues and crises by providing home healthcare services within the comforts of home.

Led by Founder, Irene Martin, Retire-At-Home operated as a company operation, growing to over 150 employees in its home market of Ottawa. Due to increasing demand, both from seniors and interested business owners that included healthcare professionals, Retire-At-Home commenced offering franchises in 2007. According to Jonathan Martin, Vice President Franchise Development at Retire-At-Home, “The transition to a franchise-driven organization was essential to stay ahead of consumer demand and market trends. But certainly not at the expense of superior care and service.”  To that end, Retire-At-Home Services embarked on the honourable task of attaining national accreditation for healthcare standards and provision of home healthcare.

Also in 2007, as an essential component of its comprehensive growth strategy, Retire-At-Home completed the rigorous undertaking of improving its services, systems and processes, and was awarded accreditation by Accreditation Canada (and has since renewed in 2010).  “In addition to providing clients superior care and service, the accreditation process further solidified our internal programs and built upon the foundation from which franchisees would be trained and supported. The timing of receiving accreditation and launching our franchise program was no coincidence,” exclaimed Martin. “Although not a requirement by any governing body, accreditation goes hand-in-hand with the pride we have in our national healthcare system, our organization, and in our franchisees. It’s what makes us stand out in our clients’ minds when they need us most. It’s also what attracts qualified candidates to explore our franchise opportunity.”

Recently, there’s been an influx of US-based senior care franchises enter Canada, hoping to capitalize on the needs of an ever-growing senior population from Nova Scotia to British Columbia. Projections indicate the Canadian senior population to exceed 11 million within the next 25 years, making the Canadian home healthcare market ripe for newcomers. “Many would think we’re happy to have a head start by getting accreditation out of the way,” says Martin, “but it was always our vision, and self-professed duty, to build a sustainable system for both our clients and franchisees.” Martin continues, “Accreditation, and the process of renewing the same, has always been a given. If it means others will emulate the same, so be it.”

A proud member of the Canadian Franchise Association, Retire-At-Home currently has 16 franchisees in Ottawa, British Columbia and Alberta. Building upon the principles and vision of Founder, Irene Martin, expansion plans will be more systematic than aggressive, filling out existing markets while strategically entering other key markets throughout Canada with qualified franchise candidates meeting strict criteria.

For more information about Retire-At-Home Services, please visit http://www.retireathome.com. To learn about becoming a Retire-At-Home franchisee, visit http://www.retireathomefranchise.com or call Jonathan Martin, Vice President, Franchise Development at 1-877-444-9001.