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FirstLight celebrates success with first annual conference

From our Care Blog

Our first annual national conference last week was a huge success! A sincere thank you to each and every franchisee, employee and caregiver who made it to the conference at Big Cedar Resort—I firmly believe we have the best team in the industry. The three day event incorporated panels and roundtable sessions on best tips and practices of successful networking, effective management, administration and training techniques, plus focus groups for recruiting, advertising, social media and care coordination. Special presentations from industry experts and guest speakers were also heard. The event gave me the opportunity to bestow top franchisees and caregivers...

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Spring Summit a success for FirstLight Home Care

From our Care Blog

Last week’s Spring Summit in Indianapolis was a great success! Attendees heard from our panel of experts on topics such as networking, recruiting, office efficiency, SEO, team building, dementia care, aging in place and risk management, and discussed best practices with one another as well as other invaluable insider knowledge on different aspects of the business. A lineup of interesting guest speakers gave a fresh perspective on client loyalty and service excellence to help remind us of our goals. The “State of FirstLight Home Care” presentation helped chart our course for the future. The Spring Summit also gave owners an...

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What is a PERS?

From our Care Blog

FirstLight franchisee, Michael LaVell, of Clarkston, Mich. discussed the benefits of a personal emergency response system (PERS) with The Eldercompass Blog earlier this week. Here are a few facts to get started: Approximately 12 million individuals currently receive home care from over 33,000 providers in the United States according to the National Association for Home Care and Hospice. As many of our nation’s elderly opt to remain in their home as they age, extra measures need to be taken to ensure their safety and independence. Part of maintaining autonomy is being prepared for unforeseen accidents or emergencies that may occur....

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FirstLight makes its Nebraska debut

From our Care Blog

After dedicating some time towards various missions travelling the world and sharing their faith, Dale and Nancy Ocken became FirstLight franchisees last month. As the premiere FirstLight franchise in the Omaha market, the Ockens' business will service West Omaha, Fremont, Arlington, Bennington and Elkhorn. “We have seen how everything has changed to accommodate the baby boomers, and one of the things that will change is home care is going to be more of an option for insurance companies [with regard to] paying for their aging clients,” Nancy told the Midlands Business Journal in an article that was published earlier this...

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Customers come first

From our Care Blog

Many of you may not know that much of FirstLight’s focus on client satisfaction comes from my son’s experience working at the Ritz Carlton in Atlanta. Devin, 27, worked at the hotel for three years before coming on board at FirstLight. The training he received at the Ritz taught him that customers come first; a happy customer means a happy business owner. And that’s a philosophy that can be easily transferred to elderly care. Our mission at FirstLight is helping seniors stay in the comfort and security of their own home. I’ve learned over the years—through various jobs and caring...

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Couple infuses business with passion

From our Care Blog

Growing up in the suburbs of Atlanta, John Tolbert spent a great deal of time with his grandmother when his parents were at work. While she helped raise him for many years, she unfortunately fell sick when John was a teenager. That’s when the family enlisted the help of a caregiver. Unlike a nursing home, they felt as though an in-home caregiver would give her the personal attention she required. And they were right. The experience had such a great impact on John that he and his wife, Shea, opened FirstLight Home Care this September. As the first FirstLight franchise...

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FirstLight Home Care Expands Across the Country

From our Care Blog

After just six months of franchising, we have expanded our services throughout six states: Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Georgia, Nebraska and Illinois. And it doesn’t stop there. We plan to award an additional 24 locations in 2011 and 36 in 2012, totaling 74 franchises awarded and/or developed within three years. During a time when many businesses are closing their doors, it feels great to be bucking the trend. At FirstLight, we do our best to help foster a “Culture of Care” based on the hallmarks of trust, open communication and solid relationships. We build a “franchise family” that will work together...

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Personal Stories, Personal Care

From our Care Blog

More than 20 years ago, Kim Motter remembers when her grandmother, Olivia, could no longer live independently in her home after suffering from a severe fall. Kim remembers how at the time, in-home care options were limited. Nursing homes were really the only viable care option for her family, who lived some 250 miles away from her ailing grandmother. Today, times are different. Kim, who recently opened a FirstLight Home Care business with her partner Liza M. Burns in Dayton, Ohio, never forgot Olivia’s story. Its lasting impact carried over into a mission of providing in-home care for those who...

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Welcome Aboard, Our First Franchisee!

From our Care Blog

It’s been a celebratory week for us here at FirstLight Home Care, as we announced the signing of our first franchisee as well as four additional planned openings in the coming months. Tammy Iuso, 56, who will provide care to clients in the Orlando, Fla. market, is as passionate about providing in-home care as we are. Tammy's story is an interesting one. As a first generation Cuban, she has personal ties to the caregiving field since her father was struck by an illness more than 10 years ago. Like many children of elderly or disabled parents, she had difficulty finding...

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New Study Indicates Home Care is on the Rise

From our Care Blog

While franchising in the home care industry only began in the last 20 years, the past 10 years alone have yielded some tremendous growth. A new study released by the web portal Franchise Direct indicates that the increase in demand for home care is not only the result of an aging population; now more than ever people desire to age in place surrounded by the comforts of their home and loved ones. According to the study, 70 percent of American seniors spend the rest of their lives in the place where they celebrated their 65th birthday—even though an overwhelming number...

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