Top 4 Ways to Get Private Home Care Clients (In Just 6 Months!)

To get private home care clients:

• Ask for referrals from healthcare professionals
• Engage with the local community
• Build a strong online presence
• Join home care lead generation platforms

Asking for referrals is the fastest way to get private home care clients. This is because seniors and their families trust recommendations from doctors and nurses. If a doctor refers to you, they’re more likely to hire you to care for the one in need. The Page Group reports that 70% of people trust recommendations from personal connections.

Engaging with the local community shows you who needs your home care services. It also gives you the chance to show how skilled and reliable you are as a caregiver. When you’re known in the area, people will feel more comfortable hiring you to care for their elderly loved ones.

Building a strong online presence brings in leads actively searching for your service. The keyword ‘home care services near me’ receives 2.6K monthly searches on Google. You need a website and Google Business Profile (GBP) to appear first in these searches. Top-ranked sites and GBPs are more trusted and get most of the calls and inquiries.

Joining home care lead generation platforms means they handle the task of finding leads for you. For a monthly fee, you create a profile and list your services. When someone searches for your service in your area, the platform shows them your profile. You will then receive calls, messages, or emails from interested people.

In this article, we go over the 4 ways to get private home care clients. We share tips on how to build genuine connections, recommend lead generation platforms to choose from, and more. We also focus more on your online presence and how to attract home care clients there.

1. Ask for Private Home Care Referrals From Healthcare Professionals

Asking for referrals from healthcare professionals generates 50% of new home care leads. Caregiving heavily relies on trust. If a reputable doctor or nurse vouches for your service, families are more likely to trust you as well. The National Association for Home Care & Hospice reports 87% of families choose caregivers based on word-of-mouth referrals. Here’s a list of healthcare professionals you can work with:

• Doctors
• Nurses
• Social workers
• Physical therapists
• Occupational therapists
• Discharge planners
• Geriatric care managers
• Home health agencies

However, you can’t expect these professionals to recommend you if they don’t know you. This is why building relationships and establishing trust with them is crucial. Here’s how to ask for referrals:

• Attend networking events or meetings where healthcare professionals are present. Casual interactions lead to trust and recognition. Also, make sure to stay in touch and be dependable. 
• Join organizations like the National Placement Referral Alliance to connect with placement agents. These types of organizations are great for networking, building credibility, and increasing visibility.
• Tell them about your private home care service. Make them understand how your services benefit their elderly patients. Offer free resources, like brochures or a website link, to make it easy for them to learn more about you.
• Hold educational sessions or meetings. Invite healthcare professionals to discuss home care for the elderly or ill. Then, explain how your services help their patients. 
• Ask for referrals directly. Once a healthcare professional trusts you, be direct but polite in requesting referrals. For example, say, “If you ever have patients who need private home care, I would be honored to help.”
• Offer discounts or small incentives to encourage referrals. For example, give a gift card or a donation to a charity of their choice for every referral they provide. You could also offer a discount to clients referred by trusted professionals.
• Follow up and show appreciation. After receiving a referral, send a thank-you note or a small token of appreciation. Also, keep healthcare professionals updated on how you helped their referral. This maintains a positive relationship and shows their trust in your service led to a good outcome. In turn, they’ll refer you to even more people.

Karl Pierre, a home care agency owner, offers bonuses and discounts through his referral program. For clients with larger budgets, he provides referrer bonuses between $200 and $1,000. He also offers complementary services, like a week of free care for patients. Pierre believes that his referral incentives are an investment in his agency’s growth.

2. Engage With the Local Community to Increase Private Home Care Clients

Engaging with the local community increases home care service inquiries by 60%. If you offer free help and advice to the elderly, people will see you as a great caregiver. You can also take the time to talk to families or the elderly individual themselves. Understand their needs and offer the right home care support. This builds trust, and they’ll be more likely to hire your services since they already know you. Home Care Pulse says community networking is the top lead source for 70% of home care agencies. Here are other statistics on the effectiveness of engaging with the local community:

• 83% trust recommendations from people they know over any other home care advertising.
• Community-acquired clients cost 62% less than those acquired from paid advertising. 
• Community clients stay with your service 2.3 times longer than those from other sources.
• Private home care providers who are active in their communities earn 78% more trust.
• Engaging with the local community results in 4x as many referrals from clients. 

When approaching the community, always build genuine connections first. From there, introduce your private home care service. Here is how to engage with the local community: 

• Volunteer and organize local senior events. Actively participate in senior health fairs, Alzheimer’s support groups, and relevant charity events. Organize at least one community event to build credibility. Show your commitment to helping the elderly. 
• Visit senior facilities regularly. Offer your time by visiting and simply connecting with seniors. Build relationships through friendly conversations, not just sales talk. 
• Attend local churches and community centers. Many elderly people and their families go to local churches or community programs. Introduce yourself, offer to speak about caregiving, or help out during events.
• Join local Facebook groups or neighborhood apps. Most communities have online spaces where people ask for recommendations. Be helpful in those groups by giving advice or answering questions. Avoid hard selling – just show that you care.
• Offer free workshops for families. Host short sessions on how to care for aging parents or what to look for in a caregiver. This shows your expertise and helps families see the value of your service.
• Give away simple care tools. Offer free things like medication trackers, safety checklists, or caregiver tip sheets. These little tools show you’re helpful and keep your name in people’s minds.

Candyce Slusher, a non-medical home care consultant, says community engagement is crucial. Besides meeting potential clients, you can also learn about their specific health challenges. In turn, it’s easier to explain what your service does and why it matters. A message that meets the needs of these families will draw attention to you.

3. Build a Strong Online Presence for More Private Home Care Clients

Building a strong online presence reaches more potential clients in your area. Around 87% of families look into private home care options online before hiring. If you’re not visible there, you miss at least 200 qualified leads searching for your services. The best way to establish your online presence is with a website and Google Business Profile (GBP). Here are some statistics showing the effectiveness of a website and GBP:

• Websites with clear contact information get 38% more inquiries from potential clients.
• 75% of people don’t scroll past the first page on Google, making a website crucial for visibility. 
• Services with a Google Business Profile are twice as likely to be seen as reputable.
• 56% of local searches on Google result in a phone call or visit within 24 hours.

Creating a website or business profile may seem daunting to a private home care provider. You may have no idea where to start or what to include to attract leads and convert them into clients. If that’s the case, here’s what you can do:

• Use a website builder. All you need to do is choose a template, drag and drop the design, and add your information. Website builders like Snapps.ai allow you to create a super basic website for free. 
• Fill out all the information on your Google Business Profile. Make sure your business name, address, phone number, services, and hours are accurate. This helps your business show up in local searches.
• Make your contact details visible. Place your phone number and email at the top of the page. People should easily find a way to contact you.
• Upload high-quality images. Use photos of yourself in action or happy senior clients (with their permission). Visual proof builds trust and makes your site feel more personal.
• Display reviews. Add as many client reviews and testimonials as possible. Positive feedback shows potential clients that your private home care service is reliable.
• Clearly list your private home care services. Be specific so visitors know exactly what they can get from you.
• Put clear call-to-action buttons. Include buttons like “Get in Touch for Personalized Home Care Today!” or “Request Your Free Home Care Consultation.” These guide visitors on what to do next and encourage them to take action.
• Write a personal ‘About Me’ page. Share your story and why you care about helping the elderly. A personal touch to your business always builds trust with visitors.
• Use local keywords. To reach the right audience, use keywords like “private home care in [your city].” Include these types of keywords in your website content, meta descriptions, and GBP. With this, people in your area find you when they search online.
• Add a contact form. Make it easy for people to request a call or appointment by adding a simple, quick to fill out form.
• Link your website to your social media accounts. This expands your reach and makes it easier for people to find you online.

Nick Bonitatibus says, for best results, get more Google reviews. These boost SEO and social proof when people check out your private home care service online. If you don’t have clients yet, offer to care for elderly family members or friends’ family. Do this in exchange for a Google review. 

4. Join Private Home Care Lead Generation Platforms 

Joining home care lead generation platforms allows you to focus on your service. You don’t have to worry about finding leads because they will do it for you. These platforms put your service profile in front of interested leads. Health agencies report that they got their first home care patient in just 30 to 40 days this way. Since these platforms focus on home care, many people search for services there. A Home Care Pulse report showed that visitors on these platforms rose by 30% in 2019. Here are some lead generation platforms that get thousands of monthly visitors: 

• Caring.com 
• SeniorAdvisor.com
• CareinHomes.com
• CarePathways.com
• HomeAdvisor
• Thumbtack
• Porch

However, these platforms are a bit expensive. You may have to pay a subscription fee to get your service profile up there. Plus, you may also have to pay for each qualified lead given to you. So while it’s super easy and convenient, it might not be for you. But if you decide to go down this path, here is what to do: 

• Create your private home care profile and list it on the platform. Fill out every section, including your service types, location, years of experience, and what makes your care unique. Add a professional photo or logo. Keep your tone warm and trustworthy. A complete and friendly profile increases the chances that families will reach out.
• Invest in premium placements. Upgrade to paid listings that appear at the top when families search for home care services. While free listings help, premium placements give better visibility, especially if you’re new. Budget $300 to $500 monthly to generate consistent inquiries.
• Encourage positive reviews. Request satisfied patients and their families to leave reviews on the platform. Home care services with 10+ positive reviews receive 3x more inquiries. 
• Optimize your profile for local searches. Include neighborhood names, landmark references, and local terminology in your listing descriptions. Also, add the specific private home care services you provide in those areas.
• Track and measure your lead sources. Use specific phone numbers or contact forms for each platform. This way, you’ll see which one brings in the most leads. Then, you can put more of your budget into the ones that work.

Aaron Bogle suggests using specific keywords in your lead gen platform profiles. Home care is a broad search, especially in platforms focused on these types of services. Always be clear and specific, like “Dementia Home Care in Dallas.” With this, families will easily see that you offer exactly what they’re looking for. They’ll pick you over the broader ‘private home care’ services.

How Do I Assess a Private Home Care Client’s Needs Online?

• Gather online questionnaires. Make forms to gather basic info on daily activities, health history, and help needed. These forms let you understand what level of care your private clients need.
• Do video calls. Use Zoom or FaceTime to spot health issues by observing the patient’s home and how they move around.
• Host virtual family interviews. Talk with family members using ready-made questions about their loved one’s needs.
• Send safety checklists. Give families a home safety checklist to complete before starting your services. These checklists identify any risk that you need to address.
• Provide care needs calculators. Use these online tools to estimate how many hours of care someone needs based on their abilities.
• Build health information forms. Create ways for families to share medical information and medications. Pick tools that protect privacy while gathering details about patients.
• Create personal preference forms. Ask about daily routines, food preferences, and lifestyle. Understanding these details allows you to provide home care based on individual needs.
• Do memory screenings. Use online tests to check for memory or thinking concerns to determine the type of care needed.
• Provide technology options. Show families available monitoring devices like motion sensors or medication reminders.
• Do service matching. A care assessment tool evaluates a person’s daily abilities and suggests the right level of care. These tools also provide an estimate of the cost based on the care hours needed.

What Are the Best Website Builders for Healthcare Services?

The best website builders for healthcare services are:

• Snapps.ai – the best option as it focuses on local services and lead generation.
• Wix – super easy and quick to get your website up and running.
• Webflow – great for building appealing websites with more design flexibility.
• Squarespace – ideal for creating sleek, modern websites with minimal effort.
• WordPress – perfect for complete control over website features and functions.
• Webnode – easy-to-use website creation with simple design tools.