While home-based healthcare continues to experience staffing issues, demand for home care is increasing. With an aging baby boomer population, historically low earnings in the home care profession, and the burnout that frequently comes with delivering care, the difficulty in locating quality and long-term employees is increasing in tandem with demand.
We spoke with many home care executives about the future of home care, the trends they’re seeing, and what they feel agencies must prepare for to remain competitive. So, without further ado, here is a closer look at how home-based healthcare is expected to change in 2023.
Availability of Various Caregiver Retention and Recruitment Programs
Caregivers are critical to a home care agency’s success. This is why prioritizing the retention and recruitment of home care employees will be a prominent home-based healthcare trend in 2023. The industry has a high turnover rate, and understanding that caregivers are the link between customers and companies is critical for success in the home healthcare market.
Emphasizing employing the proper individuals for the job rather than merely filling a post with a body will be key. So, organizations that carefully consider who they hire and promote continuous training will benefit from higher employee retention rates and customer satisfaction.
Rise of Remote Healthcare
While telehealth allows healthcare practitioners to check in on patients, it does not allow them to gather vital signs. RPM, or remote patient monitoring, is the solution to that dilemma. RPM has grown in popularity recently, especially as COVID-19 has increased pressure on doctors to visit more patients.
RPM provides real-time data, allowing care practitioners to modify therapy while regulating symptoms and disease progression. In addition, the opportunity to perform all RPM from home can be quite reassuring for many patients.
Better Training, Pay, and Support for Caregivers
Numerous research and personal stories and trends in the home healthcare market have proven that improved training, support, and salary contribute to higher employee retention rates. Quality training, in particular, appears to help caregivers feel secure while providing high-quality care, allowing agencies to retain high-quality employees.
However, agency management people aren’t the only ones who can assist in turning the retention problem around. In fact, home-based healthcare businesses can collaborate with hospitals, rehab facilities, physicians, and hospice organizations to effect change and advocate for greater training, support, and compensation.
Caregiver Shortage Continues While Demand Increases
Home care employees earn between $9 and $12 per hour on average, which isn’t much considering the living costs in the US. Caregiver shortages are rising, and low pay isn’t attracting enough individuals to help alleviate the problem.
Given the personal nature of their professions and continual exposure to people, the coronavirus epidemic has highlighted the dangers of the position and the importance of home caregivers. And this problem is set to continue in 2023.
Wrapping Up
Home-based healthcare will be a major subject in 2023 as the older population expands. Due to this, increased companionship services, innovative technology, remote patient monitoring, and home care franchising are all on the horizon.
With staffing issues, agencies will be compelled to reconsider who they recruit and how they hire and keep people. So, follow the abovementioned trends to remain up-to-date with how the home healthcare industry will pan out.
