Finding good, reliable home care is a growing challenge for many families, as the demand for compassionate and skilled caregivers continues to grow. Despite the vital role caregivers play in supporting individuals at home, the industry often struggles with high turnover, low pay, and a lack of appreciation, which makes it difficult to maintain a stable and effective caregiving workforce.

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These challenges not only impact the caregivers themselves but also create significant stress for families who rely on consistent, quality care for their loved ones. Understanding the factors behind these difficulties is key to addressing the issue and improving the home care experience for both caregivers and families.

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What Caregivers Want vs Reality

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Caregivers often feel undervalued despite the vital role they play in supporting individuals and families. Many agencies offer low pay, limited benefits, and minimal professional growth opportunities. This lack of appreciation can leave caregivers disheartened and disconnected from their work.

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• What caregivers want: Fair compensation, a sense of appreciation, and the ability to make meaningful connections with the people for whom they provide care.

• Reality: Many work with multiple agencies to cobble together a livable income, which dilutes their focus and commitment to any single client.

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Mismatch Between Needs and Offers

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Agencies often match caregivers and clients based on availability rather than compatibility, leaving both parties feeling mismatched. This transactional approach undermines the personal connections that make caregiving meaningful.

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• Impact on Caregivers: They may feel frustrated or unsupported when they don’t resonate with the needs or personality of a client.

• Impact on Families: Families may struggle to build trust when the match lacks alignment with their loved one’s preferences or cultural values.

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While privately hiring a caregiver can be a good alternative, handling the legal responsibilities (e.g., tax filings, employment law) associated with being an employer can feel overwhelming; you can read more about payroll and compliance as an employer here. At Clara, we make compliance simple so that you can focus on getting high-quality, compatible care for your loved one.

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The Human Element is Missing

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Caregiving is deeply personal, yet the systems in place often reduce it to a logistics problem, shifts to fill, schedules to meet, ignoring the emotional and relational aspects of care.

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• Why It Matters: For both caregivers and families, the work becomes fulfilling when it involves real human connection, feeling seen, heard, and valued as individuals.

• Where It Falls Short: Agencies sometimes fail to invest in building those bridges, leading to high turnover and dissatisfaction.

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At Clara, we believe that finding the right fit is critical to establishing a strong foundation for compassionate, high-quality care rooted in personal connection. We're here to help guide you through that journey to find the right caregiver for your family. Learn more about how about how you can build trust with your caregiver from the first meeting, here.

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Retention and Turnover Challenges

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When caregivers are not valued or supported, they’re more likely to leave for better opportunities. This high turnover disrupts continuity of care, leaving families in a constant cycle of adjusting to new caregivers.

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• For Families: This instability creates stress and anxiety as they struggle to find consistent, high-quality care.

• For Caregivers: They may feel disheartened, never staying long enough to develop meaningful relationships with clients.

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What does Clara do differently?

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By focusing on personalized care and flexibility, Clara provides a tailored solution that better meets the needs of both families and caregivers. Unlike traditional agencies with rigid schedules and high fees, Clara uses an innovative digital platform to connect families with a network of thoroughly-vetted, high quality caregivers. This approach ensures compatibility between clients and caregivers, fostering stronger, more meaningful connections and ensuring more consistent care.

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Clara’s model also helps families save money by offering lower service fees, while caregivers are guaranteed fair compensation for their work. This combination of flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and caregiver satisfaction makes Clara a great option for families seeking reliable, high-quality home care.

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You can learn more here, or schedule a call with a Clara Care Advisor to discuss how Clara can help you today.