Sliding Scale Fee for the Elderly

[bubblesthepowerpuffgirly]

Hi All. I am considering marketing some of my business toward the elderly, and/or getting an independent contract in a nursing home. Since so many have limited funds, I'm considering charging on a sliding scale. Does anyone have any information on how to do this? I'm wondering how I could work out a system so that I am really giving discounts only to people who really need it. And how to decide how much of a discount to give. I appreciate anyone's helpful advice!

 

[Annettest]

I find a "need based" scale to be a slippery slope. Who will be the one deciding which clients have true "need" vs those who don't? Will you require financial disclosure? Ask for a note from their accountant? Get a doctor's order? What will you do with those records? How do you explain to one client living on soc sec that they don't qualify because of their $100/mo pension vs the other client on soc sec that doesn't have a pension?

Rhetorical questions really...

In my experience an "honor based" sliding scale is the better way to go. Certainly less hassle because the clients are deciding if they are in true need or not. I did this for awhile, but stopped because I want to develop a different client base than the ones who were attracted to that particular option.

 

[eric mayer]

I do give a discount to GROUPS of seniors, but not a sliding scale. I figure someone else's income is none of my business, and there are too many factors to consider that I couldn't possibly deal with it all. EH listed a couple, but there are so many more. What if one client has more income but no prescription drug insurance and tons of meds? Then they have less discretionary money than someone with less income and full insurance or no medications. The "what if's" go on and on, and people who want the discount will have plenty of reasons why they need it. And sliding scale is generally multiple levels of discounts.....trying to figure out what to charge which client all day would make me crazy.

My reasoning for giving a discount is because I am outcall based only, I spend a ton of time outside the massage time on each appointment. When I go into an assisted living home/senior apartments, etc., I have a sign up sheet for the day, set up one time and stay all day. They come to me one after another, so that even with their discount, I make more money that day and come out less exhausted. The discount is an incentive for them to sign up for that day rather than having me go in just for them. It does the trick. Everyone there pays the same price so there is no comparing or jealousy, I do not have to stick my nose in their finances or worry about their finances, and I am prone to worrying about others. :roll: They or their families are very able to figure out how often they can sign up if the money is tight. And, for what it's worth, money isn't all that tight for as many as I thought. They do not have much income, but many have had almost no expenses outside their housing for quite some time, and they do not have much opportunity to spend that money - or in an assisted living home, have no place to put "stuff", so they welcome this way to spend a bit on themselves. Family members are also happy to buy massage gift certificates - ending the dreaded "she doesn't NEED anything and has no place to PUT anything...." headaches.

 

[eniamer]

Thanks for your opinions!

Thankyou for your help Amy & Sharon. It's good advice that I'll keep in mind as I get going in this sector of massage.