Holly has been caring for her elderly father since 2022. He is among the 80% of older adults in America who want to age in place at home. But while Holly wants nothing more than to fulfill her dad’s last wishes, providing around-the-clock care for him has become challenging.
Like the other 53 million family caregivers in the U.S., Holly faces multiple hurdles. Tending to her father’s daily needs is emotionally and physically taxing. Holly rarely has time for herself and is experiencing stress and sleep issues.
Holly’s bank account is also stretched thin. The average annual out-of-pocket cost to care for a loved one is $7,200.
Luckily, there is hope for Holly. Home health aides can assist with her father’s medical tasks, personal care, and household chores. They also provide the social interaction and emotional support Holly’s dad needs.
However, the demand for home care is forecast to surge 22% by 2034, leading to significant workforce shortages.
For Holly and the millions like her, this talent shortage can impact her well-being and the care her father receives.
Home health care recruiters provide a much-needed solution.
The demand for home health services isn’t the only thing skyrocketing. The older population is also growing. There are roughly 62 million adults 65 and older in the U.S., accounting for 18% of the total population. By 2054, that is expected to hit 23%.
As the number of older adults rises, the need for home health workers will follow suit, widening the talent gap.
Burnout, a lack of qualified professionals, and high turnover only compound the problem. The University of California, San Francisco found that home health agencies have significantly high turnover rates of 21% on average.
Additional home health care challenges include:
Licensing and Qualifications: The requirements vary by role and state, from CNAs to LPNs to home health aides. Some clients need a nurse skilled in wound care or medication administration, while others require an aide trained in mobility support and dementia care.
Soft Skills Are Non-Negotiable: A calm bedside manner, emotional intelligence, patience, and strong communication skills are just as important as clinical knowledge. Home care isn’t performed in a sterile hospital but in living rooms and kitchens. The caregiver must be both a professional and a welcomed guest.
Logistical and Legal Hurdles: Background checks, insurance requirements, HIPAA compliance, and scheduling logistics are a heavy lift for families trying to navigate the system alone.
It’s no wonder that staffing remains a top challenge for home-based care providers.
Fortunately, healthcare recruiters like Hire Health provide organizations with strategies to solve top hiring challenges.
Here’s how:
Hire Health looks beyond the résumé. Every candidate we present has been thoroughly screened for technical expertise and emotional readiness.
Can they perform complex wound care? Yes. But can they also explain what they’re doing in a way that makes the patient feel calm and respected? That matters just as much.
We stay current on state-by-state licensing requirements, liability insurance norms, and evolving regulations around home health delivery. Organizations don’t need to guess whether a caregiver is “qualified enough.” We ensure they are.
Much like families, no two home health care providers are the same. We take the time to understand an organization’s values, as well as the routines, language preferences, and home environments of their clients.
Do they need someone who speaks Spanish? Are there pets in the home? Does the patient need a caregiver who understands the nuances of memory care? These aren’t afterthoughts. They’re key to a successful match.
We’re facing a perfect storm in healthcare: an aging population, a shrinking caregiver workforce, and a rising preference for home-based services.
This convergence has made the role of specialized healthcare recruiters essential.
The U.S. Census projects that by 2035, older adults will outnumber children for the first time in history. This demographic shift is already placing unprecedented demands on home health services. More seniors want to age in place, and more adult children are acting as informal caregivers and reaching burnout. The need for professional support at home is growing daily.
Post-pandemic, the healthcare sector is grappling with a severe talent shortage. Nurses are retiring faster than they’re being replaced. Caregiver turnover remains high, and burnout is rampant. Identifying and retaining top talent is a competitive advantage in such an environment.
Specialized recruiters know where to look, how to engage passive candidates, and how to attract them with roles that align with their career goals and personal values.
Today’s home health positions are more complex than ever. Nurses in the home may be managing ventilators, coordinating care across multiple providers, or supporting advanced dementia care.
Recruiters with a deep understanding of healthcare can assess a candidate's clinical capabilities and readiness for independent decision-making and interdisciplinary coordination.
There are checks and balances in a clinical setting. In-home caregivers often work solo. Patients are also letting these people into their homes. That means the hiring process must be thorough.
A general staffing agency may not understand the gravity of that responsibility, but specialized recruiters do. Our vetting standards are higher because the stakes are higher.
When a hospital discharge happens suddenly, or a family realizes they can no longer manage care alone, they need help fast. But they also need the right help.
Specialized home health care recruiters operate with both urgency and precision. At Hire Health, we maintain an active talent pool and can fill roles quickly without sacrificing quality.
Thanks to their partnership with Hire Health, a local home health care provider equipped Holly and her father with a compassionate, dependable, certified professional who provides optimal care.
Now, Holly’s dad has the care he needs to age in place, and she has peace of mind knowing he is in good and capable hands.
Hire Health believes that placing the right caregiver changes lives. Our mission is to match skilled professionals with the families who need them most, like Holly and her father. In a time when the home is becoming the heart of healthcare, specialized recruiters aren't just part of the system—they are central to its success.
Whether you're an organization seeking more candidates or a clinician looking for meaningful work, let us help you find the right fit. Reach out today.