TRURO, N.S.
Colin Bagnell started providing services to seniors when he was 12 years old. Now he’s doing it through his own business.
Bagnell formed Home Care Online Lifestyle Support Services about a year and a half ago, to help those who live in their home get quality service.
“When I was growing up I mowed the lawn for my grandparents, and their elderly neighbours then hired me,” he recalled. “I ended up getting a Masters of Business Administration and working as a project manager for Nova Scotia's largest seniors' health care provider.”
He noticed a gap in services for seniors when his mother-in-law was struggling to care for her ailing husband, sometimes unable to take a couple of hours to get the everyday supplies she needed. If something were to go wrong with the house she didn’t always know where to turn.
“When I moved back to Truro I noticed that a lot of the people I grew up with had moved away,” said Bagnell. “My parents were calling me for things and I wondered who people were calling if they had no family around.
“I had always wanted to own my own business and I thought I could start one that would make a difference and give back.”
Customers contact HCO when they need help with home maintenance, errands and deliveries, professional services and caring for a loved one.
Service providers that apply to be on the HCO list are interviewed and screened and the one that will best suit a situation is contacted when help is needed. HCO negotiates with the service provider to ensure the customer is charged a fair rat, schedules service and ensures work is done properly. If the customer isn’t happy they contact the service provider for them. HCO makes money by charging a small management fee.
“The service I provide is ease of finding help, negotiating a fair price and making sure the job is done to their satisfaction,” said Bagnell. “We focus on seniors and try to keep them from being taken advantage of. I wanted the business to grow slowly, and it’s definitely picking up now.”
For more information visit the website at www.homecareonline.ca
