Home Care Isn't "Supportive" - It's Foundationalby Jamie Daugherty, Executive Director Home care is often described as a “supportive” service. But for those of you providing it, that word doesn’t quite capture reality. Because in many cases, home care is not just supporting care—it is what makes care at home possible in the first place. The Reality on the Ground For many patients and clients, especially older adults, the ability to remain at home depends on consistent, reliable, non-medical support. Assistance with:
These are not secondary needs. They are the foundation that allows individuals to stay in their homes—and often the factor that determines whether higher levels of care can be avoided or delayed. The System Is Catching Up There is increasing recognition across the healthcare system that home-based care is essential. But within that conversation, home care is still too often overlooked or misunderstood. It is sometimes viewed as:
Those assumptions don’t reflect operational reality. Home care providers are navigating:
All while delivering highly personal, relationship-based care. Workforce Looks Different Here Workforce challenges in home care are distinct. Recruitment and retention of caregivers is not just about filling shifts—it’s about building a stable, reliable workforce in a role that is demanding, often under-recognized, and critical to the system. Turnover has a direct impact on:
And unlike other parts of healthcare, there is often little margin for disruption. Why This Matters Now As the population ages and more individuals choose to remain at home, demand for home care will continue to grow. At the same time, other parts of the system are increasingly relying on home care to:
But reliance without understanding—and without support—creates risk. If home care is not adequately supported, the entire home-based care system feels it. A Place for Home Care in the Conversation One of OAHC’s priorities is ensuring that home care providers are fully represented in the broader conversation about care at home. That means:
This is not about comparing service lines. It’s about recognizing that each plays a critical role—and that home care is foundational to the system working as a whole. Moving Forward For those of you leading home care organizations, the work you do is essential—not just to your clients, but to the broader healthcare system. And for the field as a whole, there is an opportunity to better define and elevate the role of home care in the months and years ahead. Because care at home doesn’t happen without it. OAHC will continue working to ensure that home care providers are fully represented in the conversations shaping the future of care at home. |