Marketing Your Services

Marketing Your Services

PACE 

Service Offering Playbook

Marketing Your Services


Providing home care services for clients through PACE involves marketing to two different audiences. The first audience is the client themselves and/or their family members. These are the individuals who require care and are, perhaps, unaware of the resources they can take advantage of through PACE.

The other audience is the community resources and professionals who provide services for clients in other areas of their lives and/or may already work with clients through PACE. Marketing (and building strong relationships with them) is critical to getting consistent referrals to your agency for the veterans who require assistance.

As such, you need to be mindful about how you are targeting both types of audiences when marketing your services. In this section, we are going to discuss the online and digital marketing opportunities as well as the community marketing focus to help you optimize interest from both audiences.

Online/Digital Marketing

Our clients and their families live in a digital world and, as such, it is important that you have a strong online presence. This involves having a digital marketing plan that targets and reaches potential clients and their family members. A strong online presence will also help you reach caregivers to service your clients. The success of this digital marketing plan lies in understanding the unique needs and concerns of veterans. By providing them with relevant, valuable, and easily accessible information, you can establish your organization as a trusted source of support and care.

A strong online marketing strategy has a few key components.

1. To increase website traffic
2. To generate more qualified leads per month
3. To improve conversion rates from initial inquiry to client sign up
4. To improve social media following for future client and caregiver acquisition.

These will be discussed in more detail in the section on tracking key metrics.

Target Audience

The target audience for your online marketing includes clients in need of care as well as professional referral sources who routinely work with those clients that may require care in the home.

Components of an Online Marketing Strategy

1. Content Creation – Effective content for your target audience will help to drive traffic to your website and social media platforms. Optimized content will also help increase your SEO by using keywords that are frequently used by the target audience. If you are focusing on providing care for veterans, focus on creating informative and engaging content through these types of mediums:
a. Blog posts – write and publish blog posts with titles such as “Understanding your Home Care Options” or “5 Signs that It’s time to Consider Home Care”. You can also write directly about the PACE Home Care Process in a step-by-step guide that includes tips and insights for clients that have to navigate the system
b. Videos – create informative videos about home care for seniors and promote them on your website and social media platforms
Pro tip – Using AI can make the creation of blog posts or marketing content much faster and easier!
2. Social Media Marketing – it’s important to consistently post content on your social media platforms to increase visibility and awareness. Keep in mind that Qualicare Home Office posts more general social media content twice per week on Instagram and Facebook but you will want to get to the point where you are posting 5-6 times per week for the most effective results.
a. Utilize social media platforms to engage with clients and their families
b. Create informative and engaging content that addresses the unique needs and challenges of clients seeking home care assistance
c. Join relevant senior and caregiver groups on platforms like Facebook or LinkedIn to share valuable insights and establish your agency as a trusted resource
d. Share success stories that show inspiring stores of clients that have benefited from home care assistance (Ensure you do this with permission from the client)
3. Email Marketing – implementing an email marketing campaign to nurture leads and engage with existing clients will also have an impact on your ability to generate interest from your target audience.
a. Drip campaign - You can use your database of leads and contacts to create a drip campaign, which is an automated email sequence that provides further information about care for seniors and Qualicare’s services and gently leads a potential client toward scheduling an in-home assessment.

b. Newsletters – Sending out newsletters also aids in keeping Qualicare front of mind for potential leads. Newsletters can feature new blog posts, company updates, client stories, caregiver recognition and helpful resources specific to home care. (Note – it is important to keep in mind any privacy policies regarding direct content. For example, you may not be able to ONLY send information regarding specific services to a client but it can be part of a list of general resources)
4. Google Ads/Paid Advertisements – You can also run targeted ads aimed at seniors and their family members, focusing on a strong call to action to book an in-home assessment.
a. Digital agency - Working directly with a digital marketing agency with experience in PPC (pay per click) within the home care industry is key to your success in this area.
b. Budget – In order to see effective results from PPC, you will need to be prepared to spend at least $1000 per month.

Developing a digital and online strategy may not be something you are familiar with or have experience in doing. Work with your business coach to help develop a strong strategy and to understand the key performance metrics. Your business coach can also help to analyze the results and help make decisions on what may need to change based on the results.

Local Community Marketing

While a strong digital marketing plan is key to attracting your target audience in the online space, it is still of utmost importance that you focus intentional time and energy on the local community marketing. Many of the seniors in your target audience (and their family members) look to local professionals and resources to help them navigate the challenges of receiving financial assistance in the home care space. Building relationships with those professional services and establishing yourself as a local resource will help you win more clients at the local level.

Before understanding how to build relationships with specific professionals within the senior community, it is important to understand where/who your target audience may interact with on a daily basis and how they may find out about a program like PACE.

Potential clients can learn about PACE through various channels. Here are some common ways they might learn about the program:

Healthcare Providers: Doctors, nurses, social workers, and other healthcare professionals may inform patients and their families about PACE, particularly if they believe the individual would benefit from the comprehensive services the program offers.

Medicare and Medicaid Offices: Since PACE is a joint Medicare and Medicaid program, individuals might learn about it through their state's Medicaid office or from the Medicare website.

Senior Centers and Community Organizations: These organizations often have information about resources available to older adults, including PACE. They may have brochures or other informational materials, and they might also hold informational sessions or workshops.

Hospitals and Clinics: Some hospitals and clinics, especially those with geriatric departments, may provide information about PACE to patients and their families.

Word of Mouth: Some people might learn about PACE from friends, neighbors, or relatives who have either participated in the program themselves or know someone who has.

Local PACE Centers: Some individuals might learn about PACE directly from local PACE centers, either by visiting in person or by reaching out for information.

Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs): These centers, found in many states, are designed to be a single point of entry for older adults and individuals with disabilities seeking long-term services and supports. They often provide information about PACE.

Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs): AAAs are local agencies tasked with helping older residents and their families access services and supports, including PACE.

By connecting with these community groups and organizations, you will be able to develop partnerships that help you to get directly in front of the veterans in need of assistance. And, if you establish yourself as a trusted authority in the industry, these organizations and groups will tell veterans to directly contact you when they are in need of home care assistance.

Professional Referral Process

As described in the previous section, there are a variety of community resources and professionals you can target to reach your ideal client and their family members. In this section, we will discuss the overall process to identify potential referral partners, prepare to market to these partners and establish strong relationships that result in referrals to your agency,

Building Professional Referral Relationships

1. Identify Key Referral Sources - Begin by identifying professionals who are most likely to refer patients for home care services. These might include general practitioners, geriatricians, neurologists, social workers, hospital discharge planners, professionals at senior living communities, or any of the options in the previous section. Create a database of these key sources with contact information of people you want to speak directly with.
2. Create Informative Materials – Collect any brochures, case studies, and one-pagers that clearly outline your services and their benefits, particularly with regard to PACE services. These materials can be distributed to potential referral sources.
3. Understand their Needs - Understand what your partners need and how you can help meet those needs. For example, they may need a reliable home care service to refer their patients to, or they may need educational resources about home care for their patients and families.
4. Communicate Your Value – When talking with potential referral partners, clearly communicate the unique value of your home care services and how they can benefit the partner's clients. Highlight specific services that meet the unique needs of their clients and the quality of care that you and your caregivers provide.
5. Establish and Grow Relationships – Having strong relationships with referral partners is not done in just one interaction. Continue to follow up with referral partners and find out how you can help them. It is meant to be a reciprocal relationship, not one built on a transaction.
6. Networking events - Networking is crucial in establishing professional referrals. Attend local medical conferences, healthcare events, and seminars to meet potential referrers. Regularly visit clinics, hospitals, and senior living communities to build relationships with the staff. Attend specific senior events and expos where you can even set up a booth to showcase your home care services and engage with seniors directly.
7. Education Sessions - Provide educational sessions or workshops on home care options for seniors. Partner with local senior centers, retirement communities and other community organizations to host these events. Provide educational materials that explain the benefits of home care assistance for seniors and how to access PACE.
8. Regular Communication - Keep your referral sources updated with changes or advancements in your services. Regular email updates, newsletters, or personal meetings can be effective for this purpose. You can also include them in any drip campaigns to referral partners that can highlight client stories, new service offerings, caregiver recognition, and company updates.
9. Client Success Stories - Sharing successful case studies or client stories can build confidence among potential referrers. It helps them understand the effectiveness of your service and its positive impact on the clients’ lives.
10. Provide Exceptional Service - Providing top-notch care will naturally encourage professionals to refer their clients to your service.
11. Follow-Up and Appreciation - After receiving a referral, follow up with the referrer to thank them and provide feedback on the client’s progress. This helps to build a solid and trustworthy relationship with your referrers.

Building strong relationships with professional referrals requires consistency, tenacity and patience. Over time, as you continue to meet with professional referrals and provide them with value, you will become a trusted partner and receive consistent referrals, helping you to grow your business and help many of these clients. If you are unsure of how to approach your potential referral partners, work with your business coach to develop a community marketing plan.

Pricing Your Service

When a home care agency wants to become a provider for a PACE organization, they will need to negotiate their rates. The pricing of these services to PACE organizations may differ from standard pricing to individual clients or other types of healthcare programs. The specifics of the contract, including pricing, will be worked out between the agency and the PACE organization. As an example, it is common contracts to have multiple tiers of services reimbursed at different rates (i.e. Tier 1 is companionship only, Tier 2 is ADLs, Tier 3 is severe dementia)

Here are some factors that might influence the pricing:
Cost of Services: Determine the costs associated with providing your services. This includes salaries and benefits for staff, administrative overhead, supplies, and any other costs your agency incurs.
Market Rates: Research what similar providers are charging in your area.
Value Added: Consider the unique value that your services offer to PACE participants. If you provide specialized services or have additional qualifications that improve the quality of your care, this can be reflected in your pricing.
Volume of Services: The number of PACE participants you're expected to serve can impact your pricing. If the PACE organization will be referring a large number of clients to your agency, you might negotiate a different rate.
● Negotiation with the PACE Organization: Ultimately, the rates will be decided through negotiation with the PACE organization. They will have their own budget considerations and may have limits on what they can pay for certain services.

Remember, your goal is to reach a pricing agreement that covers your costs, allows for a reasonable profit (aim for 40-45% gross margin), and satisfies the PACE organization's budget requirements. Be prepared to provide evidence to support your pricing, such as details of your costs and information about market rates.

It's also important to note that PACE organizations are responsible for providing all necessary care for their participants, so they have an interest in contracting with high-quality providers. The quality of your services can be just as important as the price when PACE organizations are selecting providers.





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