How To Overcome Caregiver Turnover Challenges?

Senior Care is the greatest challenge the industry is encountering at present. A simple change in the daily routine can disturb our day to day activities and imagine the case of senior citizens who are unable to execute even simple household chores due to old age, injury or fragility. Old people are vulnerable to change and it can affect them drastically both physically and mentally. Even a simple change can cause huge repercussions in their life. Senior care services find it tough to sustain in the industry due to the large staff turnover, elaborate recruitment process including background check and training the staff for senior care. Statistics has it that it cost an agency around $3,500 to replace an employee who works on an hourly basis.

What is alarming, is the turnover rates. There is a steady increase in the turnover rates and it is estimated to be 39.4% in the year 2009 and 61.5% in the year 2014 as per the 2015 Home Care Pulse’s Private Duty Benchmarking Study. The annual turnover rates vary from one state to another and it stands between 60% and 100% according to the Institute for the Future of Aging Services. There is a shortage for caregivers especially in the long term care sector. The turnover is high and remedies to keep up the quality of care are primary.

The reason for caregiver turnover being high is attributed to low wages, irregular work timings, no overtime pay and poor benefits. The research by the Ball State University’s Center for Business and Economic reveals that there is a 23% hike in the caregivers’ employment since the year 2000 but the salaries remain at just $21,000. Moreover, The National Private Duty Association informs asking the employers to shell out overtime means the seniors need multiple caretakers as every senior needs around 40 hours of care in a week. This could be a financial burden on the family and the seniors will be deprived of any help.

Caregivers attribute better pay to better services. Some of the other factors to facilitate retention of caregivers are providing regular training to enhance their skills. The turnover happens during the first 60 days of joining work and it is attributed to lack of confidence. Offering recognition for their effort could go a long way in helping them develop a fondness for the job. Professional mentors not just boost the morale of the caregivers but also help retain high quality.