Paul Strippgen with Maria Nisbet.
No place like home: Home Care Solutions sees growing market
The owner of Home Care Solutions of St. Louis said demand for her company’s services plummeted at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
“It was the third week of March when COVID made its way to St. Louis,” said Maria Nisbet. “Overnight, our business dropped 40 percent due to fear. There was fear of a domino effect if either a client or a caregiver would be exposed to COVID. Also, a lot of clients have children who are teachers, so they had more time to be home and help their loved ones.”
The company provides private-duty, in-home care for the elderly. After the restrictions were eased, its business skyrocketed, Nisbet said.
“Since I started the business over six years ago, this past week (in mid-October) was our best week ever,” she said. “Our business has doubled since the lockdown. Now, there’s more of a need than ever.”
Home Care Solutions is headquartered at 113 Hilltop Village Center, Eureka. Nisbet said the company’s caregivers take all necessary safety precautions when going to a client’s home.
“Now, it’s just the new norm,” she said. “We are following the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines. Our employees all wear masks when with our clients. They all have hand sanitizer. They know to frequently wash their hands and disinfect high-traffic areas.
“Prior to employees going on shift, they must conduct a COVID assessment. They take their temperatures and answer a handful of questions. If any answer is yes, they cannot go on shift and must call a supervisor.”
She said these steps are in addition to an infection-control policy the business already had in place.
She said Home Care Solutions (website: homecaresolutions-stl.com) is doing well.
“The business was founded with the purpose and passion of helping the elderly stay in their homes,” Nisbet said. “We’ll never let fear derail that outcome.”
