“Everyone should have the option to remain in the comfort of their own home for as long as safely possible, and for a lot of people, this means getting some outside help,” says CEO Richard Forhez. “We started OptionONE with two fundamental building blocks: Assure good care by providing the finest quality caregivers, and assure client satisfaction with attentive follow-up and customer service,” added Forhez.
Achieving the former won’t be easy; OptionONE relies on a carefully crafted and rigorous 27-step pre-screening, training and on-boarding process that includes – among other things – a criminal background check. The company backs this up with 24-7-365 telephone hotline support, and numerous quality assurance processes. Together these things form the company’s backbone as they deploy caregivers who are trustworthy, experienced, and skilled.
It’s common for in-home care agencies to use independent contractors as caregivers, but doing so poses very serious risks for homeowners who later are caught by surprise when something goes wrong. “It’s unfortunate, but most people incorrectly believe their homeowners’ insurance covers everything. The fact is, almost no such policy insures workers in your home. If they get injured, there is no gray area; you are responsible,”
OptionONE staffs its caregiver force completely with employees – not contractors. This results in a much safer situation for clients. The company adds that all of its caregivers are bonded and fully insured. With these significant added expenses, the company’s management team is clearly betting that well-trained and well-treated employees will result in a higher standard of care for its clients.
OptionONE plans to employ state-of-the-
After six months of planning and preparation, OptionONE validated its strategy and processes by tapping numerous leading industry consultants, and CAHSAH – the California Association of Health Services at Home. OptionONE is a member and is “CAHSAH-certified.”
OptionONE was founded in November 2010, but has been in stealth mode until now. CEO Richard Forhez is a serial entrepreneur and has international experience. Other founding members are seasoned professionals in medical practice, business consulting, technology management and retail operations. Initially, OptionONE is launching with “non-medical”
OptionONE can be found online at www.OptionOneCareAtHome.com, and at LinkedIn, and Facebook. Twitter to follow shortly.
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OptionONE Care at Home is a San Francisco-based home care aide agency serving North Bay and East Bay.
