The Three Steps TruBlue Total House Care Takes to Ensure Successful Aging in Place

TruBlue Total House Care, the handyman and home maintenance franchise, has carved out a lucrative niche as the only franchise brand focused on providing maintenance services for seniors who want to age in their homes and busy adults. TruBlue believes that aging in place starts with a safe home, and the company offers ongoing in-home maintenance and senior modification support to help seniors remain at home for as long as possible. Now, with the senior population growing and the demand for home services skyrocketing post-COVID, the brand is preparing for widespread growth throughout the country, aiming to more than triple its size by the end of 2025.

“As a country, we are experiencing a change in how and where people want to grow old,” said Sean Fitzgerald, TruBlue’s President. “Plenty of companies have identified the growing desire from seniors to remain at home and, as a result, these companies have started offering more advanced in-home care services that address the medical needs that come with aging at home. However, almost no one is offering home maintenance and modifications specifically for seniors, despite staggering demand. We’re virtually alone in this segment, and we’ve seen tremendous growth as a result.”

Here are the three steps that will allow seniors to live in their homes longer and how TruBlue helps make them happen.

1. Home Safety Assessment

The first step to successfully aging in place is taking a good hard look at the home. Hospitals and senior facilities are typically set up to aid seniors in adjusting to their changing needs, but once they are released back home, the environment isn’t always set up to satisfy their new situation. TruBlue addresses that problem head-on by performing thorough safety assessments for each home to determine how it can be made safer and more comfortable for seniors, reducing the risk of falls and other health hazards. 

“All of our franchisees are certified to perform these assessments,” said Fitzgerald. “We do an extensive assessment both inside and outside of the home. Some companies may do an assessment of the patient and make recommendations on updates for the home, but they very rarely offer a full home safety assessment. That is the first step to aging in place — what can be added or taken away, to make the home safer and more comfortable for this senior?”

2. Home Modifications

Once the assessment is complete, TruBlue acts as a comprehensive solution by actually modifying the home to address all of the potential issues identified. These can include a wide range of services and will depend heavily on the specific home and client, but some common examples include simple fixes like installing grab bars or handheld shower heads, as well as more complex updates like building wheelchair ramps or walk-up bathtubs. 

“The nice thing about TruBlue is that we not only do the assessment, we also do the actual modifications,” said Fitzgerald. “That has been a challenge in the marketplace historically — the assessment companies didn’t do the actual work needed to get the home environment ready for seniors.”

3. Ongoing Maintenance 

Because seniors require ongoing help around the house, maintenance is not simply a matter of installing a few key modifications and moving on to the next job. That’s where TruBlue’s recurring service offering, Home Ally VIP, provides a key differentiator from other brands in the home services industry. Seniors can sign up for Home Ally VIP services and receive ongoing maintenance services and reminders about routine to-do lists that are scheduled regularly throughout the year. 

“Most handyman companies come in, do a quick assessment of the home and then make the necessary modifications, but that’s where the work stops,” Fitzgerald explained. “With Home Ally VIP and VIP Plus, we schedule regular visits in advance to check air filters, clean, do yard work, change lightbulbs — all sorts of things that seniors can’t easily do themselves. That is a major part of fall prevention that is often missed. So many of these falls are caused by seniors doing tasks they shouldn’t be doing (like climbing on a ladder or step stool). We want to take care of those routine chores and get the client out of harm's way.”

The Advantages of Franchising With TruBlue

For TruBlue franchisees, the brand’s differentiated, three-step consumer offering translates to a loyal and repeat customer base, as well as a robust pool of referrals. Best of all, Home Ally VIP offers a lucrative recurring revenue and subscription-based model, with clients in steady contact with franchise owners all year round.

“There is a high demand for quality home services, and the industry is notorious for poor customer service,” Fitzgerald said. “That alone makes us stand out. Our handymen and women are background checked and are trained to provide the best ongoing help and support for seniors living at home and busy adults. Our three-step process is really unique to TruBlue. Seniors need to live in the right environment to age in place, but they don’t always have the help, and doing it themselves puts them in a very dangerous situation.”

Overall, as awareness around the importance of aging in place continues to increase, TruBlue is emerging as a leading franchise in the space due to its comprehensive, three-step strategy. The brand has also been partnering with national senior care companies to further build out its offerings and create the most holistic experience possible for clients.

“Think of it this way: what is the main reason an adult may put their elderly parents into a nursing home? Peace of mind,” said Fitzgerald. “They want care, a safe facility and a place that is specifically designed for the needs of seniors. Well, with brands like TruBlue, we can do all of that from home now. We can provide that same peace of mind at a much more affordable price, especially as we partner with senior care companies. It is really a win-win for all, and while comprehensive home maintenance was a big missing piece of the aging-in-place puzzle for a long-time, TruBlue is a tremendous solution.”

TruBlue is actively seeking new franchise owners in markets across the country and has identified Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville and Naples, Florida, as well as Houston and Dallas, Texas, as key development markets.

The total investment estimate for a TruBlue Total House Care franchise ranges from $65,050–$91,400. To learn more about franchising with TruBlue, please visit https://trubluefranchise.com/.