Caregiver with arm around patient

A survey of 1,400 home caregivers nationwide found that having a positive impact on patient health and well-being far outweighed compensation when it came to caregiver satisfaction.

The poll by home care software management firm HHAexchange found 80% of caregivers polled listed making a positive impact on their patients’ health and well-being as the biggest work motivator, followed by having a flexible schedule at 9% and wages and benefits at 6%.

HHAexchange President Stephen Vaccaro noted the results were surprising due to the recent challenges caregivers faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of new technologies.

“Yet caregivers remain inspired by their roles, seeking daily to improve the lives of their clients,” Vaccaro said. “As a result, it’s critical that the entire industry comes together to provide homecare agencies and their staff with the tools and resources required to improve patient care, reduce burnout, and ultimately fulfill value-based care requirements.”  

One important tool caregivers cited in the survey was technology. They said having access to innovative technology, such as mobile apps that record patient observations, could help them deliver better outcomes to patients. Notably, 67% of caregivers polled said access to that kind of technology could induce them to spend more time with their patients. 

Many providers agree that technology could be a way to mitigate staffing challenges and ease work burdens on staff. In a 2023 trends report released last month by home health technology firm Axxess and professional services firm SimiTree, nearly half of the providers polled said technology that provides prescriptive analytics, remote patient monitoring, streamlined automation and workflow solutions could improve patient outcomes. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it more difficult to recruit and retain caregivers. The direct care industry is expected to need 8 million nurses and home care aides by the end of the decade to care for the growing population of aging Americans.