This article is a summary of a recent home care provider study, analyzing the thoughts and perspectives of 450 small to medium sized home care agencies across the nation.
The study, available for download, offers a crucial snapshot of the challenges faced today by American home care providers. The participant demographics spanned across various roles, with 82% Owners, 15% Directors, and 3% in other positions.
Key findings from the study include:
- A staggering 89% of home care agencies have had to turn away care due to workforce limitations.
- The majority, 76%, believe the industry has not fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic.
- More than half, 84%, reported a portion of their clients are reluctant to work with young caregivers.
- Racial bias is evident with 81% of providers indicating a portion of their clients have race-specific staffing requests.
- Workforce recruitment and retention issues have worsened in the past six months for 53% of agencies.
- Nearly half highlighted frequent shift cancellations due to transportation and childcare challenges among caregivers.
“This study carries significant implications, underscoring the pressing requirement to overhaul the culture of our care industry,” said Brandi Kurtyka, the Chief Executive Officer of MissionCare Collective. “It is imperative to build a robust community support system and implement effective policies to enable caregivers to excel in their roles, thereby continuing their priceless service to those dependent on them.”
While agencies have escalated wages in the past year, they are yet grappling to match other industries. “Despite receiving relatively low wages, a significant 53% of caregivers, many of whom belong to underserved communities, rely on some form of public assistance. They persist in their roles, fueled by a passion to care for people, but their financial hardships can hamper their availability,” Kurtyka elaborated.
Furthermore, the study underscores the impact of specific client demands, like age and race preferences, that intensify workforce strain. It provides an in-depth analysis of the phenomenon of “racial refusal” and the distinct challenges and prospects related to working with younger caregivers.
Small to medium-sized agencies reported declining an average of 510 care hours per month, with a median of 100 hours per month. “It’s deeply distressing for home care agencies to turn away those in need of care. Many joined this profession, motivated by personal experiences and a love for people,” Kurtyka added. “People join the care industry to provide care, and it’s challenging without an adequate workforce to meet the burgeoning demands of America’s swiftly aging population.”
Kurtyka continues, “As the leader of the nation’s largest network of companions, home health aides, and CNAs through our myCNAjobs community, the prospect of experienced caregivers leaving the industry is a worrisome thought that haunts me. To address the enduring workforce challenges in caregiving, we must unify our efforts. Our approach should incorporate targeted strategies focused on retaining the current workforce, thereby safeguarding the very essence of care.”
The complete report, entitled “Through the Provider’s Lens: A Study on Workforce Dynamics from the Perspective of an Agency”, can be downloaded at https://www.missioncare.com/provider-study-download.
Brandi Kurtyka
Co-Founder & CEO, MissionCare Collective
Brandi Kurtyka is a nationally recognized speaker in the care industry and the direct care workforce. As CEO and Co-Founder of MissionCare Collective, the parent company of myCNAjobs and CoachUp Care, Brandi’s team manages the largest caregiver community in the nation and connects 3M people to work annually while serving 8K healthcare providers. Brandi actively speaks on the latest research, insights, and data impacting the care workforce bringing people and stories together to drive change to help move care from where it is to where it needs to be.