Home Care Franchise Ireland 

The Home Instead Senior Care has been named the Irish Franchise of the Year. The award was presented by the Irish Franchise Association and sponsored by Ulster Bank. We are delighted to receive this prestigious award, particularly after just three years in operation. It is a testament to the dedication and passion of all of our franchisees who have invested so much of themselves to provide a truly caring service to Irish seniors, said Ed Murphy, Chief Executive of Home Instead in Ireland. Our aim is to alleviate the fear of growing older and having to move to an institution because of the risk of isolation.

We want to give older people the option stay at home with the companionship and support necessary to live a longer, happier life, he said.Services are provided by CAREGivers who are vetted by the Gardai and who are fully trained and insured by Home Instead. They are supervised by nurses and have 24 hour back up. The services range from a few hours a day to a live in service, depending on the individual's needs. We can look after day to day needs such as light housekeeping and laundry, meal preparation, transport and companionship, up to and including personal care, dementia care, post hospital care and disability care, said Murphy.

In terms of cost, when you take into account the tax relief available at the higher rate, our average client spends around E200 a week on services enabling them to continue living independently in their own homes.The organisation was founded in Omaha, Nebraska, USA in 1994. Today there are more than 850 franchise offices in 14 countries.

There are currently 14 independently owned offices in Ireland covering counties Dublin, Galway, Cork, Donegal, Wexford, Limerick, Tipperary, Wicklow, Waterford and Kerry with more due to open in 2009. Home Instead Senior Care in Ireland is a founding member of the Irish Private Home Care Association which was set up to improve standards and help make home care more affordable for older people and their families.

Home Instead in Ireland is no stranger to awards, having previously won the Best Emerging Franchise category in 2006 and the SFA National Small Business Service Award earlier this year.