Residential Care Homes

Nurses Entrepreneurs

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Hello all. I am so glad I found this forum. I am looking into opening my own Residential Care home. I have worked as an LPN in various positions in Geriatrics (Skilled and LTC), MRDD and Home Care for about 19 years now. I have had experience in many other areas of nursing including QA&I, IC, Staffing Coordinator and Assistant DON.

I am 44 years old and been burned out for longer than I have the time to care. I am a good nurse, but a terrible employee, and have always wanted my own business. I am not a 9-5 kind of person, punching the clock and all that. I am very good to my clients and their families, and can perform all my duties efficiently. Also have had a good amount of Business education through a year in college, though no degree.

What I am proposing to do is rent or buy a nice, roomy 3-4 bedroom house, make it "patient friendly", and advertise for clients. I can have up to 3 without being government inspected, approved, fees-out-the-wazoo and all that mess. It will be private pay, and I plan on hiring 1-2 part time employees. All meals, toiletries, etc. will be provided.

I have really thought it out and have started working on promotional materials; plan to advertise locally (and it's very cheap in a lot of the local "weekly" or "trade" papers.)

I want to file as a LLC, secure insurance, and have the home ready soon after advertising starts.

I have worked in so many nursing homes over the years that it disgusts me to even think about it now. Places where the aides do not do their jobs, administration turns a blind eye to it all, and expects their nurses to do the same. Borderline or sometimes outright abuse, severe insubordination, severe neglect of their assigned clients, and on and on.

I love the work, but I can't stand to work in any more of those kinds of places. I decided the best way to do the work I love to do and create the home environment the elderly deserve that I would do a lot of good for all concerned.

But - I am hoping that my plan will actually work. I have thought it out for some time. Now I would like opinions, ideas, etc., that any of you may have. Something I missed maybe? Something I could do better? Etc.

Thak you all for reading and I look forward to your replies.

Michele

I have been considering the exact same thing you have, a residential home for the aged. I know a nurse who runs one. She charges $1200 per month per resident for shared room, and I think about $1900-2000 for a private room. This rent includes meals, med supervision, bathing assistance, laundry, and light housekeeping.

I am still in the planning stages (I have a husband who doesn't think this will be a good idea--I think he realizes you are really chained to the business and he wants to be a "free spirit"...whatever) but I have determined that in order to make a fair living this means operating with as little debt as possible, which means either owning your business or being able to pay it off rather quickly.

The nurse I know who runs her business has 15 residents and is about bankrupt, and she doesn't even hire licensed personell. Paying employees will eat up a lot of the income. Food is another big expense. Preparing the food takes a lot of time, three meals a day plus snacks. The electric and water bills will probably be pretty hefty.

I'm sure I'm not thinking of a lot of things. Keep us posted with your progress.

I have been considering the exact same thing you have, a residential home for the aged. I know a nurse who runs one. She charges $1200 per month per resident for shared room, and I think about $1900-2000 for a private room. This rent includes meals, med supervision, bathing assistance, laundry, and light housekeeping.

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Where is this nurse located?

The services sound about the same, but I am also willing to take total care clients as well.

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I am still in the planning stages (I have a husband who doesn't think this will be a good idea--I think he realizes you are really chained to the business and he wants to be a "free spirit"...whatever) but I have determined that in order to make a fair living this means operating with as little debt as possible, which means either owning your business or being able to pay it off rather quickly.

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Anyone that wants their own business will get a lot of negative feedback, especially from family members. Don't let that stop you! If you feel confident that you can do the job then don't let anyone else hold you back.

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The nurse I know who runs her business has 15 residents and is about bankrupt, and she doesn't even hire licensed personell. Paying employees will eat up a lot of the income. Food is another big expense. Preparing the food takes a lot of time, three meals a day plus snacks. The electric and water bills will probably be pretty hefty.

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That's too many I think. I want to keep it small and private pay. That alone will save a lot. I am looking for three max, hopefully all the beds stay full! I plan on a nice home-type of place with a good size common living room and dining room, etc., 2-3 baths, and about 4 bedrooms. I plan to start at $1,295 monthly for a semi-private room, $1,500 for a private room - for assisted living and basic supervision clients. For total care I plan to charge $1,500 and $1,750 respectively, all with a first and last month's payment required on or before moving in.

Provide games, movies, Bingo, etc., provide for special occasions, easy gardening projects for those that can participate, etc.

I plan to have two PRN employees since I will do the job myself most of the time. When you start hiring regular employees you then have all the taxes, and they can kill a business fast. Also worker's compensation, insurance, and all the rest that goes along with it.

A potential problem is if someone stops paying - and will not move the client somewhere else. I would check with the Ombudsman in your area. If they don't have the answers they can direct you to someone that will be able to help you. I certainly wouldn't throw them out on the street alone! I imagined they would be assigned a guardian and they would move them or arrange for payment.

I hate to think about caring for my people and the money aspect at the same time. As a business person you must, or you will not have a business for long.

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I'm sure I'm not thinking of a lot of things. Keep us posted with your progress.

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Hopefully I have given you some helpful information. Better to know right away than finding out the hard way. When you open your own business you have to be informed as much as possible. No one can know everything until it happens, but being prepared goes a long way in being successful.

The Small Business Administration has a lot of good information, forms, sample business plans, and a lot more. Their URL is http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov/

I hope you look into it. I think it's one of the best ways to work and be at home. I am a hermit/homebody so I know it is perfect for me.

Keep me posted on your progress also. :idea:

Michele

I really don't know details, but my friend, who has a huge house in the country, decided to open her home to MR/DD clients. She choose to limit it to 3 or 4 clients.

I don't know if there are differences in the state laws, but she had to do an outrageous amount of remodeling - doors wide enough for wheelchairs, sprinkler system, all kinds of fire regulations. It costs them a small fortune and was frustrating and nerve-wracking having social workers etc. come in for inspections.

Her husband (although initially all for it) has changed his mind because of what has already been mentioned - they are chained to the house, and he gets really tired of having clients follow him all over the house, asking questions.

Sorry, realize this sounds negative, and I don't mean it that way. She enjoys it and I have another friend who does the same thing, so she can stay at home with her young son, and she loves it.

I wouldn't like sharing my home, no matter how big. Nor would I want to feel 'on duty' 24/7. But that is the beauty of nursing - so many different areas for all us individuals out there.

Best of luck to you. I can understand being tired of being the employee. Let us know how things work out.

"A potential problem is if someone stops paying - and will not move the client somewhere else."

A good contract and a credit check should help with this.

"A potential problem is if someone stops paying - and will not move the client somewhere else."

A good contract and a credit check should help with this.

Yes, you are essentially a landlord as well. I've got a big heart but I don't think I would have a lot of trouble seeing a nonpaying resident is "transferred" somewhere else.

The more I look into it, though, the less it seems like a way to make money, seems like it would be hard to break even with this kind of business. But for the right person who isn't really in it for profit it could be a good business. I am not thinking this would work for me because #1 there is no way I could share my house. I am very private #2 they would need 24 hr supervision and since I wouldn't be living there any profits would be eaten by hiring help.

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