April 23, 2025 • 14 mins
The traditional home care growth model is hitting a wall. With a staggering seven clients for every available caregiver—projected to reach 12:1 by 2030—agencies simply can't hire fast enough to meet soaring demand. This fundamental challenge requires a completely different approach, which we explore in depth.
Welcome to our deep dive into the hybrid care model, a revolutionary approach that's helping forward-thinking agencies break through the staffing ceiling. This isn't about replacing your valuable caregivers—it's about strategically blending their irreplaceable human skills with technology to create a more comprehensive, responsive care experience that allows sustainable growth even in today's challenging hiring environment.
We unpack three critical advantages the hybrid approach offers: growth beyond staffing limitations (one agency increased capacity by 35% without additional hires), dramatic reduction in emergencies and burnout (42% fewer crisis calls), and creating a premium service that transcends price competition (with tangible evidence of higher client value and longer retention). We also tackle the common objections head-on—concerns about cost, client technology adoption, caregiver resistance, and implementation complexity—with surprising data that challenges these assumptions.
For agency owners feeling trapped between rising demand and staffing constraints, this conversation reveals a practical, proven alternative. The hybrid care model isn't just a temporary fix but potentially a fundamental evolution in how home care delivers value. Is your agency ready to move beyond the limitations of the traditional staffing model? Listen now to discover how technology might help you unlock sustainable growth without the endless hiring treadmill.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
So welcome to the deep dive.
If you're running a home careagency, you probably know this
feeling all too well.
Trying to grow right, Right,but facing this huge wall at the
caregiver shortage, it feelswell, almost impossible
sometimes Scaling up withoutjust hiring more people.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
It really does seem like a contradiction, doesn't it
?
And that's, you know, the bigchallenge we want to unpack
today.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Traditionally, growth meant hires, simple as that
yeah but that models hitting itslimits now big time exactly,
and that's why we're doing thisdeep dive into something called
the hybrid care model.
Now, just to be clear, upfrontthis isn't about getting rid of
your caregivers not at all no,definitely not.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
It's more about blending your team, your
existing team, with technologysmartly to give well more
complete care, more responsivecare.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Right Kind of amplifying what your team can
already do, extending theirreach maybe.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Precisely Getting beyond just needing someone
physically there for everything,and that unlocks new ways to
grow, to be more efficient.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Yeah, so our mission today really is to pull out the
key insights on this.
What is hybrid care actually?
Why now, and you know, how,could it genuinely help agency
owners like you, listening, whoare probably wrestling with
staffing and scaling?
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Exactly we want to make it practical.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Okay, and to figure this out, we looked at some
interesting materials stuff onhow to explain tech-enabled care
.
Well, you know short versions,longer presentations and also
some broader ideas from likemarketing strategy.
How do you position somethingnew like this?
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Yeah, looking at frameworks like those and say
expert secrets can besurprisingly relevant here.
It's about communicating value.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Okay, so let's get right into it then.
What's fundamentally brokenabout the old way that makes
this hybrid approach sonecessary?
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Well, the core issue, like we touched on, is that
direct link Number of clientsequals number of caregivers
needed.
Growth equals hiring.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Right.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
But the reality, the really stark reality, is this
huge gap.
Demand for care is just soaringand the workforce, well, it
isn't keeping up.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Keep hearing about the numbers.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
They're pretty sobering.
Right now it's something likeseven potential clients for
every one caregiver out there.
Roughly.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Seven to one Wow.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
And the projections by 2030, that could be 12 to one
, 12 to one, yeah, so you justcan't rely solely on hiring more
people.
That's strategy.
It's just not sustainableanymore.
It's a dead end, frankly.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Okay, that definitely paints a picture, a tough one.
So how does this hybrid caremodel offer a different route?
What does it actually involve?
Day to day?
Speaker 2 (02:37):
It changes the math.
Basically, it blends youramazing caregivers with tech to
give support around the clock,even when a caregiver isn't
physically there.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Okay, so technology handles some things.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Exactly, Things like medication reminders, maybe
safety checks, even offeringsome companionship through, say,
a smart display monitoringactivity patterns.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Stuff.
That's important, but maybedoesn't need hands-on care every
single time.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
Precisely it's finding that sweet spot, that
balance between the human touch,which is irreplaceable, and
efficient tech support.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Now I can almost hear some listeners thinking okay,
but my clients are older, theywon't use tech.
Or maybe my caregivers, they'llhate this.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Yeah, totally understandable thoughts, very
common concerns, and we will getto those absolutely.
But the basic idea first isthis Let your skilled caregivers
focus on the things that reallyneed their expertise, their
empathy, that human connectionRight, and let technology handle
some of the well, maybe moreroutine but still vital
background tasks efficiently.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Okay, that makes sense conceptually.
Let's dig into the specifics,then.
Why is this working?
Our sources pointed to threebig advantages inspired by some
of those communicationstrategies we looked at.
Let's start with secret numberone growth beyond staffing that
whole paradox thing.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Right the paradox.
It's about challenging thatdeep-seated assumption, isn't it
?
Yeah, that growth is alwaystied to headcount.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Yeah, more clients, more staff, it seems obvious.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
It does.
But the hybrid model shows howtech can kind of decouple those
two things.
It breaks that direct link.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Okay, how Break that down for us?
How does tech actually managetasks and let an agency grow
without just hiring constantly?
Give us some examples.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
Sure, think about those regular but crucial things
.
Medication prompts, superimportant Wellness checks.
Just a quick how are youfeeling Companionship?
You know combating loneliness,monitoring for falls, changes in
routine.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
Things that need doing consistently.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Absolutely critical, but they don't always need
someone physically present,right, yeah?
So technology maybe telehealthfor virtual check ins, maybe
smart sensors, even AI forcommunication it can automate or
manage a lot of this.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
OK.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
And that frees up your caregivers.
They can then focus on theclients who need more intensive
hands on support or provide morequality time, that emotional
connection, the stuff only aperson can do.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
So it's about using your people smarter where they
add the most unique value.
I think our sources mentionedvisiting angels of Denver.
That was a specific example.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
That's right.
Yeah, they implemented a hybridstrategy and the result?
They increased their clientcapacity by 35% 35% Wow.
Yeah, and the kicker, they didit without adding any new
caregivers.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
No new hires.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
None, Just by using tech smartly to boost what their
existing team could handle.
It really shows, you know, techisn't replacing people here.
It's making them more effective, extending their reach.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
That's a real eye-opener.
So the big takeaway for thisfirst secret is tech lets you
break through that ceiling, thatlimit imposed by how many
people you can hire.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Exactly You're maximizing the team you already
have, getting more from yourexisting resources.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
And doing it in a way that actually improves the
overall care potentially.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
That's the goal Better scope, better quality,
more comprehensive support.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Okay, great, let's move to the second secret then.
This one's about reducingemergencies and caregiver
burnout Both huge issues, oh,massive For owners, caregivers,
families, everyone.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
The idea that hybrid care can help with both, that's
really powerful.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
So what's the thinking here?
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Well, the old way often assumes 24-7 care means
24-7 staffing, physicallypresent, which is, you know,
incredibly expensive.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
And exhausting for the caregivers on call.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Totally exhausting Leads to burnout.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
But here's a key statistic we found Something
like 80% of after hours callsthose emergency calls.
They turn out not to be actualemergencies 80%, seriously that
high?
Speaker 1 (06:36):
What kind of things are they then?
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Often it's well.
Maybe a client forgot if theytook their meds, or they're
feeling anxious and just needsome reassurance.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Or they have a simple question, or just loneliness
kicks in.
They want to hear a voice.
Things driven by worry orisolation, maybe minor concerns
that could grow if ignored, butaren't a crisis right that?
Second.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
I see Things that feel urgent to the client but
don't need an immediate lightsand sirens response.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Exactly so how does tech help?
Well, remote monitoring,virtual support systems.
They can often address thesethings proactively before they
become what feels like anemergency.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
Like a safety net, always on.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Kind of yeah, and this proactive approach.
It leads to a big drop inactual emergency calls.
The average reduction we sawmentioned was around 42% 42%
reduction.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
That's huge.
Think of the impact.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
It's massive Fewer crisis calls means less stress,
less burnout for caregivers.
That helps keep good staff.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Right, absolutely, retention is key.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
And it's better for clients too.
Small problems get nipped inthe bud before they become big
problems.
Better outcomes.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
And peace of mind for the families.
That must be huge too.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Immense reassurance, knowing there's that extra layer
of oversight, that continuoussupport.
We even heard an anecdote aboutan agency owner finally being
able to sleep through the nightwithout the phone ringing
constantly.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
I can only imagine that alone sounds transformative
.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
It really is.
It shifts the whole dynamicfrom reacting to crises,
constantly putting out fires, toproactively supporting people,
preventing issues.
It's a big mental shift too.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Okay, that makes a lot of sense.
Let's talk about the third keyadvantage.
Then, secret number threecreating a premium service,
moving beyond just competing onprice.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Right, Because in a lot of markets, let's be honest
many agencies look kind ofsimilar from the outside,
offering hours of care.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Yeah, it becomes a commodity.
Who's cheapest per hour?
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Exactly Leads to price wars.
Squeezed margins not ideal, butthe hybrid model gives you a
chance to offer somethinggenuinely different, to stand
out.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
How so?
What makes it feel premium to apotential client, or, say, a
hospital discharge planner?
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Well, you're not just selling blocks of time anymore,
You're offering a completesolution.
Right?
You've got the essentialin-person care, yes, but it's
blended with 247 virtual support, maybe continuous monitoring,
proactive digital check-ins.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
So it's the whole package More comprehensive, more
responsive.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Precisely, it's a different level of service,
Always on support, peace of mind.
That's a much higher valueproposition than just you know.
Caregiver hours.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
And that lets you position yourself differently,
command better rates.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
It should.
Yes, you can justify premiumpricing because you're offering
demonstrably more value andreferral sources.
They often want the bestsolution for their clients, not
just the cheapest.
They'll likely prefer an agencyoffering this comprehensive,
tech-enabled approach.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
And maybe it attracts better caregivers too, people
who want to work for aninnovative agency.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
That's part of it too .
Good caregivers are drawn toplaces that are forward-thinking
, that provide better tools,better support, focus on quality
outcomes.
It all ties together.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
And better service, better outcomes.
Yeah, that should mean happierclients who stay longer right,
better retention.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Absolutely.
The example used in thematerials was home instead of
Portland.
After they went hybrid they saw, I think, a 22% increase in
average client value 22%.
Significant and maybe even moretelling the average client
stayed with them four monthslonger.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
Four months yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
That says a lot about how clients and families value
that extra support, thatreliability.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Okay, so those three secrets growth beyond staffing,
reducing emergencies and burnoutand creating a premium service
they paint a really compellingpicture.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
But there are always hurdles.
Right Practical concerns.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Exactly.
Let's tackle those objectionshead on.
Things people listening mightbe thinking right now like, ok,
sounds good, but what about thecost?
Isn't this tech expensive?
Speaker 2 (10:32):
It's a fair question.
There is an initial investment,no doubt, but the
counterargument is what's thecost of not changing?
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Explain that.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Well, think about loss growth because you can't
staff cases.
High turnover costs becausecaregivers are burnt out,
clients leaving because youcan't provide consistent
coverage.
Sticking with the old model hashidden costs, big ones.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
Right the cost of inaction.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Exactly, and the return of inaction Exactly.
And the return on investmentfor hybrid care.
We saw figures suggesting itcan actually be quite fast,
maybe seeing a positivefinancial impact in like 60 to
90 days sometimes.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Oh, that's quicker than I would have guessed.
Okay, what about the clients,especially older clients?
They won't use technology.
We hear that a lot.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
It's probably the most common assumption, but the
data we looked at it kind ofchallenges that when the tech is
chosen carefully, user-friendly, simple, and when it's
implemented well, with goodtraining, good support, the
adoption rates among olderadults even those over 85, can
be surprisingly high.
Like 94% adoption was onefigure cited 94% Really.
(11:36):
Yeah, the key is making it easy, non-intimidating and showing
the clear benefit to them Safety, connection, independence.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
So it's how you introduce it.
Okay, what about the caregivers?
Worried about tech replacingthem or just adding more
complexity to their jobs?
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Another valid concern .
Change is hard butinterestingly, what seems to
happen often is caregiversactually come to appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
How so.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
Because it takes away some of the tedious stuff,
maybe the constant charting, therepetitive checks.
It lets them focus on the morerewarding parts of the job the
human connection, the skilledcare.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Using their skills more effectively.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
Right and feeling more supported, less overwhelmed
.
We saw examples where caregiverturnover actually dropped
significantly after implementinghybrid care.
One figure was a 37 percentdrop.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Lower turnover.
That's huge in this industry.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Massive.
So the tech becomes a tool forthem, not a threat to them.
It enhances their work, doesn'treplace the core of it.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
That reframes it completely OK.
Last big hurdle complexity.
Just the idea of setting allthis up, finding the right tech,
integrating it, it soundsdaunting.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
It can definitely feel that way.
Yeah, like where do I evenstart?
But the good news is you don'thave to reinvent the wheel.
There are systems, blueprints,step-by-step guides now designed
specifically for home careagencies, roadmaps to follow, so
it doesn't have to be thismassive, disruptive chaos.
You can phase it in manageably.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
And that leads us to something specific mentioned in
the sources right the hybridcare launch blueprint.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Exactly that blueprint is basically a
structured guide designed tohelp agencies roll out a hybrid
model relatively quickly.
Maybe in about 30 days was thesuggestion 30 days, yeah.
And, importantly, it's based onwhat's actually worked for
other agencies real-world stuff,not just theory so it's like a
practical playbook, step by stepthat's the idea a clear roadmap
(13:30):
to make the transition, toevolve the care model, without,
you know, turning everythingupside down overnight.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
It provides a pathway okay, so bringing this all it
really feels like this hybridcare model isn't just a nice to
have anymore.
It's becoming, well, maybeessential a real opportunity to
tackle those huge staffingchallenges head on.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
I think so.
It's a way to overcome thelimits of that old staffing,
dependent way of thinking tobuild sustainable growth even in
this tough environment.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
It's about rethinking how care is delivered.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
Fundamentally and using tech strategically, not to
replace the human elementthat's crucial, but to enhance
it.
To boost quality, boostefficiency, build a more
resilient agency.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
Right?
Well, as we wrap up this deepdive, it leaves you with a
pretty big question to ponder,doesn't it?
You know thinking about thefuture.
Demand keeps rising, theworkforce challenges aren't
going away, so how mightembracing a hybrid model not
just fix today's staffingproblems, but actually reshape
the whole value proposition ofyour agency for the long term?
Speaker 2 (14:34):
It's a fundamental question, isn't it about the
future shape of home care?
What does value really mean?
Going forward?
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Definitely food for thought for every agency owner
listening.
Thanks so much for walking usthrough this.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
My pleasure.
It's a critical topic right now.
So welcome to the deep dive.
If you're running a home careagency, you probably know this
feeling all too well.
Trying to grow right, Right,but facing this huge wall at the
caregiver shortage, it feelswell, almost impossible
sometimes Scaling up withoutjust hiring more people.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
It really does seem like a contradiction, doesn't it
?
And that's, you know, the bigchallenge we want to unpack
today.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Traditionally, growth meant hires, simple as that
yeah but that models hitting itslimits now big time exactly,
and that's why we're doing thisdeep dive into something called
the hybrid care model.
Now, just to be clear, upfrontthis isn't about getting rid of
your caregivers not at all no,definitely not.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
It's more about blending your team, your
existing team, with technologysmartly to give well more
complete care, more responsivecare.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Right Kind of amplifying what your team can
already do, extending theirreach maybe.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Precisely Getting beyond just needing someone
physically there for everything,and that unlocks new ways to
grow, to be more efficient.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Yeah, so our mission today really is to pull out the
key insights on this.
What is hybrid care actually?
Why now, and you know, how,could it genuinely help agency
owners like you, listening, whoare probably wrestling with
staffing and scaling?
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Exactly we want to make it practical.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Okay, and to figure this out, we looked at some
interesting materials stuff onhow to explain tech-enabled care
.
Well, you know short versions,longer presentations and also
some broader ideas from likemarketing strategy.
How do you position somethingnew like this?
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Yeah, looking at frameworks like those and say
expert secrets can besurprisingly relevant here.
It's about communicating value.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Okay, so let's get right into it then.
What's fundamentally brokenabout the old way that makes
this hybrid approach sonecessary?
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Well, the core issue, like we touched on, is that
direct link Number of clientsequals number of caregivers
needed.
Growth equals hiring.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Right.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
But the reality, the really stark reality, is this
huge gap.
Demand for care is just soaringand the workforce, well, it
isn't keeping up.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Keep hearing about the numbers.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
They're pretty sobering.
Right now it's something likeseven potential clients for
every one caregiver out there.
Roughly.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Seven to one Wow.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
And the projections by 2030, that could be 12 to one
, 12 to one, yeah, so you justcan't rely solely on hiring more
people.
That's strategy.
It's just not sustainableanymore.
It's a dead end, frankly.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Okay, that definitely paints a picture, a tough one.
So how does this hybrid caremodel offer a different route?
What does it actually involve?
Day to day?
Speaker 2 (02:37):
It changes the math.
Basically, it blends youramazing caregivers with tech to
give support around the clock,even when a caregiver isn't
physically there.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Okay, so technology handles some things.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Exactly, Things like medication reminders, maybe
safety checks, even offeringsome companionship through, say,
a smart display monitoringactivity patterns.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Stuff.
That's important, but maybedoesn't need hands-on care every
single time.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
Precisely it's finding that sweet spot, that
balance between the human touch,which is irreplaceable, and
efficient tech support.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Now I can almost hear some listeners thinking okay,
but my clients are older, theywon't use tech.
Or maybe my caregivers, they'llhate this.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Yeah, totally understandable thoughts, very
common concerns, and we will getto those absolutely.
But the basic idea first isthis Let your skilled caregivers
focus on the things that reallyneed their expertise, their
empathy, that human connectionRight, and let technology handle
some of the well, maybe moreroutine but still vital
background tasks efficiently.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Okay, that makes sense conceptually.
Let's dig into the specifics,then.
Why is this working?
Our sources pointed to threebig advantages inspired by some
of those communicationstrategies we looked at.
Let's start with secret numberone growth beyond staffing that
whole paradox thing.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
Right the paradox.
It's about challenging thatdeep-seated assumption, isn't it
?
Yeah, that growth is alwaystied to headcount.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
Yeah, more clients, more staff, it seems obvious.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
It does.
But the hybrid model shows howtech can kind of decouple those
two things.
It breaks that direct link.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Okay, how Break that down for us?
How does tech actually managetasks and let an agency grow
without just hiring constantly?
Give us some examples.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
Sure, think about those regular but crucial things
.
Medication prompts, superimportant Wellness checks.
Just a quick how are youfeeling Companionship?
You know combating loneliness,monitoring for falls, changes in
routine.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
Things that need doing consistently.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Absolutely critical, but they don't always need
someone physically present,right, yeah?
So technology maybe telehealthfor virtual check ins, maybe
smart sensors, even AI forcommunication it can automate or
manage a lot of this.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
OK.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
And that frees up your caregivers.
They can then focus on theclients who need more intensive
hands on support or provide morequality time, that emotional
connection, the stuff only aperson can do.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
So it's about using your people smarter where they
add the most unique value.
I think our sources mentionedvisiting angels of Denver.
That was a specific example.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
That's right.
Yeah, they implemented a hybridstrategy and the result?
They increased their clientcapacity by 35% 35% Wow.
Yeah, and the kicker, they didit without adding any new
caregivers.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
No new hires.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
None, Just by using tech smartly to boost what their
existing team could handle.
It really shows, you know, techisn't replacing people here.
It's making them more effective, extending their reach.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
That's a real eye-opener.
So the big takeaway for thisfirst secret is tech lets you
break through that ceiling, thatlimit imposed by how many
people you can hire.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
Exactly You're maximizing the team you already
have, getting more from yourexisting resources.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
And doing it in a way that actually improves the
overall care potentially.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
That's the goal Better scope, better quality,
more comprehensive support.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Okay, great, let's move to the second secret then.
This one's about reducingemergencies and caregiver
burnout Both huge issues, oh,massive For owners, caregivers,
families, everyone.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
The idea that hybrid care can help with both, that's
really powerful.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
So what's the thinking here?
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Well, the old way often assumes 24-7 care means
24-7 staffing, physicallypresent, which is, you know,
incredibly expensive.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
And exhausting for the caregivers on call.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Totally exhausting Leads to burnout.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
But here's a key statistic we found Something
like 80% of after hours callsthose emergency calls.
They turn out not to be actualemergencies 80%, seriously that
high?
Speaker 1 (06:36):
What kind of things are they then?
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Often it's well.
Maybe a client forgot if theytook their meds, or they're
feeling anxious and just needsome reassurance.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Or they have a simple question, or just loneliness
kicks in.
They want to hear a voice.
Things driven by worry orisolation, maybe minor concerns
that could grow if ignored, butaren't a crisis right that?
Second.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
I see Things that feel urgent to the client but
don't need an immediate lightsand sirens response.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Exactly so how does tech help?
Well, remote monitoring,virtual support systems.
They can often address thesethings proactively before they
become what feels like anemergency.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
Like a safety net, always on.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Kind of yeah, and this proactive approach.
It leads to a big drop inactual emergency calls.
The average reduction we sawmentioned was around 42% 42%
reduction.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
That's huge.
Think of the impact.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
It's massive Fewer crisis calls means less stress,
less burnout for caregivers.
That helps keep good staff.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Right, absolutely, retention is key.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
And it's better for clients too.
Small problems get nipped inthe bud before they become big
problems.
Better outcomes.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
And peace of mind for the families.
That must be huge too.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Immense reassurance, knowing there's that extra layer
of oversight, that continuoussupport.
We even heard an anecdote aboutan agency owner finally being
able to sleep through the nightwithout the phone ringing
constantly.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
I can only imagine that alone sounds transformative
.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
It really is.
It shifts the whole dynamicfrom reacting to crises,
constantly putting out fires, toproactively supporting people,
preventing issues.
It's a big mental shift too.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Okay, that makes a lot of sense.
Let's talk about the third keyadvantage.
Then, secret number threecreating a premium service,
moving beyond just competing onprice.
Speaker 2 (08:22):
Right, Because in a lot of markets, let's be honest
many agencies look kind ofsimilar from the outside,
offering hours of care.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
Yeah, it becomes a commodity.
Who's cheapest per hour?
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Exactly Leads to price wars.
Squeezed margins not ideal, butthe hybrid model gives you a
chance to offer somethinggenuinely different, to stand
out.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
How so?
What makes it feel premium to apotential client, or, say, a
hospital discharge planner?
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Well, you're not just selling blocks of time anymore,
You're offering a completesolution.
Right?
You've got the essentialin-person care, yes, but it's
blended with 247 virtual support, maybe continuous monitoring,
proactive digital check-ins.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
So it's the whole package More comprehensive, more
responsive.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Precisely, it's a different level of service,
Always on support, peace of mind.
That's a much higher valueproposition than just you know.
Caregiver hours.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
And that lets you position yourself differently,
command better rates.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
It should.
Yes, you can justify premiumpricing because you're offering
demonstrably more value andreferral sources.
They often want the bestsolution for their clients, not
just the cheapest.
They'll likely prefer an agencyoffering this comprehensive,
tech-enabled approach.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
And maybe it attracts better caregivers too, people
who want to work for aninnovative agency.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
That's part of it too .
Good caregivers are drawn toplaces that are forward-thinking
, that provide better tools,better support, focus on quality
outcomes.
It all ties together.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
And better service, better outcomes.
Yeah, that should mean happierclients who stay longer right,
better retention.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Absolutely.
The example used in thematerials was home instead of
Portland.
After they went hybrid they saw, I think, a 22% increase in
average client value 22%.
Significant and maybe even moretelling the average client
stayed with them four monthslonger.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
Four months yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
That says a lot about how clients and families value
that extra support, thatreliability.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Okay, so those three secrets growth beyond staffing,
reducing emergencies and burnoutand creating a premium service
they paint a really compellingpicture.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
But there are always hurdles.
Right Practical concerns.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Exactly.
Let's tackle those objectionshead on.
Things people listening mightbe thinking right now like, ok,
sounds good, but what about thecost?
Isn't this tech expensive?
Speaker 2 (10:32):
It's a fair question.
There is an initial investment,no doubt, but the
counterargument is what's thecost of not changing?
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Explain that.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
Well, think about loss growth because you can't
staff cases.
High turnover costs becausecaregivers are burnt out,
clients leaving because youcan't provide consistent
coverage.
Sticking with the old model hashidden costs, big ones.
Speaker 1 (10:55):
Right the cost of inaction.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Exactly, and the return of inaction Exactly.
And the return on investmentfor hybrid care.
We saw figures suggesting itcan actually be quite fast,
maybe seeing a positivefinancial impact in like 60 to
90 days sometimes.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Oh, that's quicker than I would have guessed.
Okay, what about the clients,especially older clients?
They won't use technology.
We hear that a lot.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
It's probably the most common assumption, but the
data we looked at it kind ofchallenges that when the tech is
chosen carefully, user-friendly, simple, and when it's
implemented well, with goodtraining, good support, the
adoption rates among olderadults even those over 85, can
be surprisingly high.
Like 94% adoption was onefigure cited 94% Really.
(11:36):
Yeah, the key is making it easy, non-intimidating and showing
the clear benefit to them Safety, connection, independence.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
So it's how you introduce it.
Okay, what about the caregivers?
Worried about tech replacingthem or just adding more
complexity to their jobs?
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Another valid concern .
Change is hard butinterestingly, what seems to
happen often is caregiversactually come to appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
How so.
Speaker 2 (12:03):
Because it takes away some of the tedious stuff,
maybe the constant charting, therepetitive checks.
It lets them focus on the morerewarding parts of the job the
human connection, the skilledcare.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
Using their skills more effectively.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
Right and feeling more supported, less overwhelmed
.
We saw examples where caregiverturnover actually dropped
significantly after implementinghybrid care.
One figure was a 37 percentdrop.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Lower turnover.
That's huge in this industry.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Massive.
So the tech becomes a tool forthem, not a threat to them.
It enhances their work, doesn'treplace the core of it.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
That reframes it completely OK.
Last big hurdle complexity.
Just the idea of setting allthis up, finding the right tech,
integrating it, it soundsdaunting.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
It can definitely feel that way.
Yeah, like where do I evenstart?
But the good news is you don'thave to reinvent the wheel.
There are systems, blueprints,step-by-step guides now designed
specifically for home careagencies, roadmaps to follow, so
it doesn't have to be thismassive, disruptive chaos.
You can phase it in manageably.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
And that leads us to something specific mentioned in
the sources right the hybridcare launch blueprint.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Exactly that blueprint is basically a
structured guide designed tohelp agencies roll out a hybrid
model relatively quickly.
Maybe in about 30 days was thesuggestion 30 days, yeah.
And, importantly, it's based onwhat's actually worked for
other agencies real-world stuff,not just theory so it's like a
practical playbook, step by stepthat's the idea a clear roadmap
(13:30):
to make the transition, toevolve the care model, without,
you know, turning everythingupside down overnight.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
It provides a pathway okay, so bringing this all it
really feels like this hybridcare model isn't just a nice to
have anymore.
It's becoming, well, maybeessential a real opportunity to
tackle those huge staffingchallenges head on.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
I think so.
It's a way to overcome thelimits of that old staffing,
dependent way of thinking tobuild sustainable growth even in
this tough environment.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
It's about rethinking how care is delivered.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
Fundamentally and using tech strategically, not to
replace the human elementthat's crucial, but to enhance
it.
To boost quality, boostefficiency, build a more
resilient agency.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
Right?
Well, as we wrap up this deepdive, it leaves you with a
pretty big question to ponder,doesn't it?
You know thinking about thefuture.
Demand keeps rising, theworkforce challenges aren't
going away, so how mightembracing a hybrid model not
just fix today's staffingproblems, but actually reshape
the whole value proposition ofyour agency for the long term?
Speaker 2 (14:34):
It's a fundamental question, isn't it about the
future shape of home care?
What does value really mean?
Going forward?
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Definitely food for thought for every agency owner
listening.
Thanks so much for walking usthrough this.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
My pleasure.
It's a critical topic right now.
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