It’s no secret there are many home care agencies in Santa Monica, Marina del Rey, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, and the adjacent communities. Los Angeles County forms a huge metropolis, and its senior care providers serve thousands of aging adults and vulnerable patients. But many folks don’t realize these caregiver companies come in vastly different sizes, from small and locally owned to large and managed abroad.
Each version of in-home care provider has its pros and cons. And a handful of caregiver companies in Santa Monica and West Los Angeles might even maximize the benefits of size while minimizing the negatives.
Here’s a look at various home care agency options and their corresponding tradeoffs.
Pros & Cons of Smaller Agencies
Small home care agencies can have advantages over their larger counterparts. It’s important for families to remember that caregiver companies are usually for-profit businesses. They are not charities or government funded, so they must compete in the free market. And home care agencies that lack the advantages of size are likely to bend over backwards for their clients.
These companies often distinguish themselves with superior quality of care and service. They usually focus more on personal touch and find ways to add value to their services. For example, some may offer free “care management” and concierge extras (like coordinating doctors’ appointments and the delivery of durable medical equipment to the home).
Of course, smaller agencies also suffer disadvantages that can affect clients. Their biggest weakness is often a shortage of caregiver staff when compared to big organizations. They might also lack the latest technological tools and may limit clients’ payment options. Specifically, some smaller companies only accept major credit cards and don’t participate in certain government and insurance contracts, such as VA programs and long-term care insurance.
Pros & Cons of Larger Agencies
Large home care agencies also have their unique advantages within the industry. Their size and scale often allow them to recruit more caregivers. And they are likely to be contracted with organizations and government programs that fund home care services for families. Also, these caregiver companies usually provide 24/7 availability through on-call staff and can be reached on holidays.
But a home care agency’s large size can also have negative consequences for clients. Although company representatives may be available 24/7, they are likely working at a centralized call center or may even be outsourced to another country. So, a family is unlikely to reach someone familiar with their case afterhours. And service may be less than personal, with priority placed on streamlining the needs of many rather than spending too much energy on just one client.
Finally, large caregiver companies often lack care management services and concierge “extras.” Their business models are often so focused on increasing and managing scale that they cannot afford to invest in ground-level care managers or frequent patient reassessments.
Franchise vs. Corporate Ownership
Another agency distinction that often, but not always, correlates with size is ownership status. Franchised caregiver companies, such as BrightStar Care of Marina del Rey, are locally owned and operated. Most experts believe this model promotes high quality care and service, since the owners are hands-on in the daily operations and heavily invested in the office’s success.
Other home care agencies are managed from centralized headquarters. They may or may not have satellite branches, but decisions are usually being made at a high (and distant) level. Many home care clients have found this business model doesn’t encourage personalized service or the prioritization of individual needs.
Having Your Cake and Eating it Too
Families might feel disheartened hearing there’s a tradeoff when choosing between smaller and larger home care agencies and ask themselves, “Why can’t we get the best of both worlds?” Fortunately, there are some caregiver companies that do work to bridge this gap. And they usually do so by combining large corporate support with localized ownership and operations.
BrightStar Care of Marina del Rey is one such home care agency. It’s part of the large BrightStar Care family, which boasts nearly 350 locations nationwide. But it’s also locally owned and independently operated. The company makes it’s own decisions based on what the owner thinks is best for his clients and community while also having access to a variety of resources thanks to its national network.
For example, BrightStar Care purchased nearly $2,000,000 worth of personal protective equipment (PPE) in March of 2020—a time when most Americans had barely heard about COVID-19 let alone prepared for it. The company was able to leverage its national presence to purchase PPE at scale, while simultaneously distributing it to its network of localized agencies. And with current labor shortages, BrightStar Care of Marina del Rey benefits from brand recognition that attracts great caregivers who are less likely to work for smaller and more obscure agencies.
Best of all, BrightStar Care’s “big company” benefits come without suffering a loss in personalized care and service. Clients can always talk to managers who know their case and live nearby. And the agency also provides complimentary care management and concierge levels of service that aren’t afforded by other large corporations.
Big or Small—Which Agency to Choose
At the end of the day, no Santa Monica, Brentwood, or Pacific Palisades home care agency can credibly claim to have the market cornered on quality of care and service. The truth is many caregiver companies do a wonderful job. But agency size does usually result in tradeoffs, so families should know what qualities they prioritize. And for those hoping to get the best of both worlds, a national company with locally-owned offices, such as BrightStar Care of Marina del Rey, may be just the right fit!
If you’re researching home care agencies in Santa Monica, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, or the nearby areas, be sure to contact BrightStar Care of Marina del Rey today for a free assessment from our Director of Nursing!
Each version of in-home care provider has its pros and cons. And a handful of caregiver companies in Santa Monica and West Los Angeles might even maximize the benefits of size while minimizing the negatives.
Here’s a look at various home care agency options and their corresponding tradeoffs.
Pros & Cons of Smaller Agencies
Small home care agencies can have advantages over their larger counterparts. It’s important for families to remember that caregiver companies are usually for-profit businesses. They are not charities or government funded, so they must compete in the free market. And home care agencies that lack the advantages of size are likely to bend over backwards for their clients.
These companies often distinguish themselves with superior quality of care and service. They usually focus more on personal touch and find ways to add value to their services. For example, some may offer free “care management” and concierge extras (like coordinating doctors’ appointments and the delivery of durable medical equipment to the home).
Of course, smaller agencies also suffer disadvantages that can affect clients. Their biggest weakness is often a shortage of caregiver staff when compared to big organizations. They might also lack the latest technological tools and may limit clients’ payment options. Specifically, some smaller companies only accept major credit cards and don’t participate in certain government and insurance contracts, such as VA programs and long-term care insurance.
Pros & Cons of Larger Agencies
Large home care agencies also have their unique advantages within the industry. Their size and scale often allow them to recruit more caregivers. And they are likely to be contracted with organizations and government programs that fund home care services for families. Also, these caregiver companies usually provide 24/7 availability through on-call staff and can be reached on holidays.
But a home care agency’s large size can also have negative consequences for clients. Although company representatives may be available 24/7, they are likely working at a centralized call center or may even be outsourced to another country. So, a family is unlikely to reach someone familiar with their case afterhours. And service may be less than personal, with priority placed on streamlining the needs of many rather than spending too much energy on just one client.
Finally, large caregiver companies often lack care management services and concierge “extras.” Their business models are often so focused on increasing and managing scale that they cannot afford to invest in ground-level care managers or frequent patient reassessments.
Franchise vs. Corporate Ownership
Another agency distinction that often, but not always, correlates with size is ownership status. Franchised caregiver companies, such as BrightStar Care of Marina del Rey, are locally owned and operated. Most experts believe this model promotes high quality care and service, since the owners are hands-on in the daily operations and heavily invested in the office’s success.
Other home care agencies are managed from centralized headquarters. They may or may not have satellite branches, but decisions are usually being made at a high (and distant) level. Many home care clients have found this business model doesn’t encourage personalized service or the prioritization of individual needs.
Having Your Cake and Eating it Too
Families might feel disheartened hearing there’s a tradeoff when choosing between smaller and larger home care agencies and ask themselves, “Why can’t we get the best of both worlds?” Fortunately, there are some caregiver companies that do work to bridge this gap. And they usually do so by combining large corporate support with localized ownership and operations.
BrightStar Care of Marina del Rey is one such home care agency. It’s part of the large BrightStar Care family, which boasts nearly 350 locations nationwide. But it’s also locally owned and independently operated. The company makes it’s own decisions based on what the owner thinks is best for his clients and community while also having access to a variety of resources thanks to its national network.
For example, BrightStar Care purchased nearly $2,000,000 worth of personal protective equipment (PPE) in March of 2020—a time when most Americans had barely heard about COVID-19 let alone prepared for it. The company was able to leverage its national presence to purchase PPE at scale, while simultaneously distributing it to its network of localized agencies. And with current labor shortages, BrightStar Care of Marina del Rey benefits from brand recognition that attracts great caregivers who are less likely to work for smaller and more obscure agencies.
Best of all, BrightStar Care’s “big company” benefits come without suffering a loss in personalized care and service. Clients can always talk to managers who know their case and live nearby. And the agency also provides complimentary care management and concierge levels of service that aren’t afforded by other large corporations.
Big or Small—Which Agency to Choose
At the end of the day, no Santa Monica, Brentwood, or Pacific Palisades home care agency can credibly claim to have the market cornered on quality of care and service. The truth is many caregiver companies do a wonderful job. But agency size does usually result in tradeoffs, so families should know what qualities they prioritize. And for those hoping to get the best of both worlds, a national company with locally-owned offices, such as BrightStar Care of Marina del Rey, may be just the right fit!
If you’re researching home care agencies in Santa Monica, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, or the nearby areas, be sure to contact BrightStar Care of Marina del Rey today for a free assessment from our Director of Nursing!