Founded in 1997, Cincinnati-based Home Helpers is one of the nation’s leading senior care franchises specializing in comprehensive home care services for seniors, new and expectant mothers, those recovering from illness or injury, and individuals facing lifelong challenges. Home Helpers currently has a presence in more than 600 communities across North America and was recently ranked by Entrepreneur magazine as the #3 Senior Care Franchise (after Home Instead Senior Care and Comfort Keepers).

Home Helpers is affiliated with Direct Link (Help At The Touch Of A Button), a national provider of medical alert units, including 24-hour personal emergency response systems, an automated medication dispenser, and vital signs monitoring units that enable seniors to feel safer and live independently at home for longer than might otherwise be possible.

As everyday life becomes more challenging for the aging population, Home Helpers is improving its clients’ quality of living by expanding its continuum of care to include medical services.

“As Home Helpers continues to grow exponentially nationwide, we need to evolve to meet the needs of our clients,” said Emma Dickison, president of Home Helpers. “By adding medical services to our continuum of care, our professionally trained caregivers are able to continue caring for clients in the comfort of their homes longer than would otherwise be possible.”

The medical services, which became available in January 2012 at participating Home Helpers franchises, include:

• Medication Management– Research shows that 25 percent of all nursing home admissions are related to improper self-administration of medicine. A trained Home Helpers health care professional can administer dosage directly or load the Direct Link automated medication dispenser to ensure the correct dosage of medication is taken at the appropriate time, thereby providing peace of mind to both the clients and their families.

• Care Management – According to the Alliance for Health Reform, approximately 20 percent of seniors are using about 50 prescriptions and seeing an average of 14 physicians every year. With Home Helpers’ care management services, registered nurses coordinate and manage all physician visits and medications while observing the clients’ overall health and well-being.

• Vital Signs Monitoring– Home Helpers health care professionals can monitor chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, hypertension, and COPD, in the comfort of the clients’ homes by measuring blood pressure, pulse, glucose, and weight; or clients can do so themselves using the line of monitoring units by Home Helpers’ affiliate, Direct Link.  Monitoring chronic illnesses from home significantly reduces the amount of time, money, and hospital visits necessary to live safely.

Home Helpers’ non-medical services include companionship, bathing, dressing assistance, meal preparation, local transportation, and light housekeeping. With the addition of medical services to its expanding continuum of care, Home Helpers offers a comprehensive home care solution that enables seniors to age in place in the comfort of home rather than moving to an assisted living community or nursing facility.