Company celebrating one year under new ownership
HENDERSON, Nev. – When Michael and Jackie DiAsio purchased the local Visiting Angels franchise located at1701 N. Green Valley Pkwy. one year ago, they knew they’d made the right business decision. Nevada seniors are expected to be the fastest growing segment of the population in the next 20 years, and with that growth comes the need to provide services.
Sure enough, since the DiAsios purchased Visiting Angels in January 2010, they have grown the company’s client base 40 percent despite the down economy. As a result, they have hired 43 additional employees – an increase of 29 percent. They now have 190 total employees.
“As a result of its dry, warm climate that’s often recommended for the elderly,Southern Nevadaattracts a large number of seniors who need – or will need – the services we provide, which help seniors keep their independence,” Jackie DiAsio said. “Our goal at Visiting Angels is to help our clients continue to live on their own by assisting them with their basic, everyday needs.”
There are several reasons the DiAsios’ company, specifically, has seen such an increase in growth:
- The DiAsios have continued to build on the excellent reputation established by the founders (Bonnie and Steve Robbins) and Jackie DiAsio, who was the Robbins’ office manager.
- In this challenging economy, they have helped seniors by cutting prices below the market and by offering flexible care options to clients in the form of two-hour increments (most places offer a minimum of four hours) at an hourly rate of just $20. This keeps their services affordable to those who might not be able to them otherwise.
- The DiAsios’ Visiting Angels has many common clients with local healthcare providers such as The Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Brain Center and Nathan Adelson Hospice. In fact, Nathan Adelson and the Alzheimer’s Association assist with employee training for Visiting Angels.
- They continue to hire and retain responsible employees (caregivers) who assist their 425-plus clients every day in their homes. Even with the new 43 employees, the company’s average employee has been with Visiting Angels for about four years. Since the DiAsios have taken over, three caregivers have been promoted to office positions.
Not only has the DiAsios’ Visiting Angels experienced rapid growth of clients and employees, but they have also been able to provide a spotless record with the State of Nevada:
- During a 2011 unannounced Focused State Re-licensure Survey conducted by the State of Nevada’s Bureau of Health Care Quality and Compliance, Visiting Angels had no deficiencies.
- During its 2011 unannounced Program Compliance Review by the State of Nevada’s Division of Health Care Financing and Policy (Nevada Medicaid), Visiting Angels obtained an overall score of 100 percent.
- The DiAsios continue to maintain an A-plus rating with the Better Business Bureau. All of the company’s caregivers have had extensive background checks and are licensed caregivers.
Focusing on in-home services, Visiting Angels’ caregivers provide a variety of services to the growing senior population and the disabled, including everything from personal care and light housekeeping, to grocery shopping, companionship and meal preparation. These services also give the family member (caregiver) a respite.
“While the services we provide are basic, they’re essential to a person’s ability to continue living alone, which is important to many seniors’ sense of identity,” Michael DiAsio said. “We largely promote socialization and activity (exercise) by helping our clients with the daily tasks that may have become a little difficult for them.”
The DiAsios’ franchise of Visiting Angels first opened its doors in Henderson, Nev. in 2000 to serve the Las VegasValley’s growing senior and disabled communities. Although assisted living facilities, hospitals and other treatment centers existed, none of them served seniors and disabled with the sole purpose of keeping those individuals in their own homes. In the past decade, its caregivers have served more than 1.2 million hours of in-home care all across theLas VegasValley. The large staff consists of 190 caregivers who have been with Visiting Angels for, on average, four years.
The company is looking to double the size of its client base and number of employees in the next 10 years and keep up with the growing senior population in the area.
Visiting Angels also makes efforts to educate and direct families in need to the elderly care resources available in theLas VegasValley. Such services include hospice, grant programs, government programs, The Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, elder care attorneys, assisted living facilities and home health care agencies.
Visiting Angels is senior home care with more than 400 franchises across the United States. With three franchises in Southern Nevada, the Green Valley Parkway office – located at 1701 N. Green Valley Pkwy.– is owned by the DiAsios and is the largest inSouthern Nevada. It serves Henderson, the south, southwest, west and northwest regions of Las Vegas. Due to an increase in need, the DiAsios have opened a satellite office in Summerlin off Lake Mead Boulevard andRampart Road.
For more information on Visiting Angels or to apply for a position as a caregiver for the company, visit www.visitingangels.com or call 1-800-365-4189.